Heat pipe-attached heat sink   

Abstract: A heat pipe-attached heat sink includes a bottom block having an opening and locating grooves arranged on the flat bottom wall thereof, a radiation fin module consisting of first radiation fins and second radiation fins, each first radiation fin having extension abutment strip that has a flat bottom abutment edge and locating grooves located on the flat bottom abutment edge and dividing the flat bottom abutment edge into a plurality of spacer ribs, the extension abutment strips of the first radiation being tightly plugged into the opening of the bottom block, and heat pipes respectively press-fitted into the locating grooves of the bottom block and the locating grooves of the first radiation fins of the radiation fin module, each heat pipe having a planar peripheral side exposed outside the radiation fin module and the bottom block and kept in flush with the flat bottom abutment edge of the extension abutment strips for direct contact with an external heat source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heat sink technology and more particularly, to a heat pipe-attached heat sink, which keeps the attached heat pipes in flush with a flat bottom abutment edge of an extension abutment strip of each radiation fin for direct contact with a heat source for quick transfer of waste head.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A conventional heat pipe attached heat sink is known comprising: a radiation fin module, one of a number of heat pipes and a metal bottom block. During application, the bottom block is kept in direct contact with the heat source, enabling waste heat to be transferred by the bottom block to the radiation fins of the radiation fin module through the heat pipe(s) for quick dissipation. This design of heat sink utilizes the bottom block, the heat pipe(s) and the radiation fin module to transfer heat in proper order. However, this heat transfer method has a low heat dissipation speed and performance. There is known another prior art heat sink design, which eliminates the use of a metal bottom block and has the heat-absorbing end of each heat pipe be directly press-fitted into a respective mounting groove on each of a number of radiation fins. After connection between heat pipes and radiation fins, heat pipes are kept flattened and kept in parallel for direct contact with the heat source for quick transfer of waste heat from the heat source to the radiation fins for quick dissipation. According to this design, the radiation fins are not directly kept in contact with the surface of the heat source for direct dissipation of waste heat.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a heat pipe-attached heat sink, which eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid various prior art designs.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a heat pipe-attached heat sink comprises a bottom block, a radiation fin module and one or a number of heat pipes. The bottom block comprises an opening cut through opposing flat top and bottom walls thereof and a plurality of locating grooves arranged on the flat bottom wall and extended to the opening. The radiation fin module is fastened to the bottom block, comprising a plurality of first radiation fins and second radiation fins arranged in a stack. Each first radiation fin comprises an extension abutment strip. The extension abutment strip comprises a flat bottom abutment edge, and a plurality of locating grooves located on the flat bottom abutment edge and dividing the flat bottom abutment edge into a plurality of spacer ribs, Further, the extension abutment strips of the first radiation fins form a protruding block that is tightly plugged into the opening of the bottom block. The heat pipes are respectively press-fitted into the locating grooves of the bottom block and the locating grooves of the extension abutment strips of the first radiation fins of the radiation fin module. Each heat pipe comprises a planar peripheral side exposed outside the radiation fin module and the bottom block for direct contact with an external heat source. Thus, the flat bottom abutment edge of the extension abutment strip of each first radiation fin, the flat bottom wall of the bottom block and the planar peripheral side of each heat pipe form a coplane for direct contact with the external heat source for quick dissipation of waste heat from the external heat source.

Further, the extension abutment strip of each first radiation fin comprises at least one locating rib formed in each locating groove at the flat bottom abutment edge thereof for engagement with the periphery of the heat pipes. Further, the bottom block comprises at least one locating rib formed in each locating groove at the flat bottom wall thereof for engagement with the periphery of the heat pipes.

Further, the bottom block further comprises a plurality of spacer ribs formed of the flat bottom wall thereof and respectively disposed between each two adjacent ones of the locating grooves of the bottom block corresponding to the spacer ribs of the extension abutment strips of the first radiation fins of the radiation fin module.

Further, the spacer ribs of the first radiation fins have a height smaller than the depth of the locating grooves of the first radiation fins. Further, the spacer ribs of said bottom block have a height smaller than the depth of the locating grooves of said bottom block.

Further, each heat pipe comprises a flat protruding peripheral portion protruding over the flat bottom wall of said bottom block; the flat bottom abutment edges of the extension abutment strips of said first radiation fins of said radiation fin module protrude over the flat bottom wall of said bottom block and are kept in flush with the flat protruding peripheral portions of said heat pipes.

Further, the bottom block comprises a plurality of mounting holes for mounting.

Further, the bottom block can be made having a plurality of retaining holes for receiving the first radiation fins and second radiation fins of the radiation fin module tightly.

In an alternate form of the present invention, the heat pipe-attached heat sink further comprises a second radiation fin module. In this case, the heat pipes each have one end thereof respectively extended out of the bottom block and fastened to the second radiation fin module.

Further, the first radiation fins and second radiation fins of the radiation fin module can be made having a plurality of through holes. In this case, the heat pipes are U-shaped pipes each having one end thereof fastened to the locating grooves of the first radiation fins and the locating grooves of the bottom block and an opposite end thereof respectively and tightly press-fitted into the through holes of the first radiation fins and second radiation fins of the radiation fin module.

In still another alternate form of the present invention, the heat pipes each have a heat-receiving end press-fitted into the locating grooves of the first radiation fins and the locating grooves of the bottom block and a flat protruding peripheral portion located on the heat-receiving end and protruding over the flat bottom wall of the bottom block at a predetermined distance.

In still another alternate form of the present invention, the bottom block comprises a flat protrusion protruded from the flat bottom wall thereof and abutted to the opening. Further, the locating grooves of the bottom block are located on the flat protrusion. In this case, the locating grooves of the first radiation fins of the radiation fin module and the locating grooves of the bottom block are disposed at different elevations.

Further, the flat protrusion of the bottom block defines a flat contact surface corresponding to the flat bottom abutment edges of the extension abutment strips of the first radiation fins of the radiation fin module. Further, the flat contact surface of the flat protrusion of the bottom block and the flat bottom abutment edges of the extension abutment strips of the first radiation fins of the radiation fin module are disposed at different elevations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational assembly view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of one radiation fin for the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an elevational assembly view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an elevational view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention before installation of heat pipes.

FIG. 19 is a side view of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a top view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention after installation of heat pipes.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 29.

FIG. 22 is an elevational view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention after installation of heat pipes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a radiation fin module 10, at least one heat pipes 20 and a bottom block 30.

The radiation fin module 10 consists of a plurality of first and second radiation fins 1; 1a arranged in a stack. Each first radiation fin 1 comprises an extension abutment strip 11, as shown in FIG. 5. The extension abutment strip 11 comprises a flat bottom abutment edge 111 and a plurality of locating grooves 112 located on the flat bottom abutment edge 111. The flat bottom abutment edge 111 is divided by the locating grooves 112 into a plurality of spacer ribs 113. When the first and second radiation fins 1; 1a are arranged together in a stack, the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 form a protruding block 101, and the locating grooves 112 of each first radiation fin 1 are respectively kept in alignment with that of the other first radiation fins 1.

The heat pipes 20 each have a planar peripheral side respectively kept in a flush manner.

The bottom block 30 comprises an opening 31 cut through opposing flat top and bottom walls thereof, a plurality of locating grooves 32 arranged on the flat bottom wall at one or two opposite sides relative to the opening 31, and a plurality of mounting holes 33 cut through the flat top and bottom walls and spaced around the opening 31.

During installation, the first and second radiation fins 1; 1a are stacked up to form the designed radiation fin module 10, and then press-fit the protruding block 101 of the radiation fin module 10 into the opening 31 of the bottom block 30 to keep the locating grooves 32 in alignment with the locating grooves 112 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10, and then attach the heat pipes 20 to the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 and the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 to force the heat pipes 20 into tight engagement with the locating grooves 32 of the bottom block 30 and the locating grooves 112 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10, keeping the planar peripheral wall of each of heat pipes 20 and the flat bottom abutment edges 111 of the extension abutment strips 11 in flush with the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 for direct contact with the heat source to minimize impedance during heat transfer, eliminating the drawback of indirect heat transfer arrangement of the prior art design and enhancing heat transfer speed and heat dissipation performance.

As shown in FIG. 5, the protruding block 101 of the radiation fin module 10 has a cross section approximately equal to the cross dimension of the opening 31 of the bottom block 30. When press-fitting the protruding block 101 into the opening 31 of the bottom block 30, the protruding block 101 fills up the opening 31, and the flat bottom abutment edges 111 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the radiation fin module 10 form with the planar peripheral side of each of the heat pipes 20 and the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 a co-plane for direct contact with the heat source for quick transfer of waste heat from the heat source.

The extension abutment strip 11 of each first radiation fin 1 further comprises at least one locating rib 114 formed in each locating groove 112 at the flat bottom abutment edge 111 by stamping technology (see FIG. 5). When press-fitting the heat pipes 20 into the locating grooves 112, the locating ribs 114 are deformed and forced into engagement with the periphery of the respective heat pipes 20, enhancing connection tightness between the heat pipes 20 and the radiation fins 1. Locating ribs 321 can be formed in the locating grooves 32 of the bottom block 30 corresponding to the locating ribs 114 by stamping technology for engagement with the heat pipes 20 to enhance connection tightness between the heat pipes 20 and the bottom block 30.

As stated above, the flat bottom abutment edge 111 of the extension abutment strip 11 of each first radiation fin 1 is divided by the locating grooves 112 into multiple spacer ribs 113. After the heat pipes 20 are press-fitted into the locating grooves 32 of the bottom block 30 and the locating grooves 112 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10, the heat pipes 20 are kept in parallel in a flush manner and spaced from one another by the spacer ribs 113, and therefore a gap D is left between each two adjacent heat pipes 20 in the area beyond the protruding block 101 of the radiation fin module 10 (see FIG. 3).

Further, when making the locating grooves 32 on the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30, spacer ribs 322 are formed of the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 and respectively disposed between each two adjacent ones of the locating grooves 32 corresponding to the spacer ribs 113 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this second embodiment, the height of the spacer ribs 113a between each two adjacent ones of the locating grooves 112 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 is shorter than the depth of the locating grooves 112. After installation of the heat pipes 20 in the bottom block 30 and the radiation fin module 10, the heat pipes 20 are kept in close contact with one another in a parallel and flush manner. Further, the height of the spacer ribs 322 of the bottom block 30 is smaller than the locating grooves 32 so that the heat pipes 20 can be completely kept in close contact with one another in a parallel and flush manner.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that each heat pipe 20 has a flat protruding peripheral portion 201 protruding over the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 at a height H; the flat bottom abutment edges 111 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 protrude over the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 at the same height H and kept in flush with the flat protruding peripheral portions 201 of the heat pipes 20 (see FIG. 9). Thus, the flat protruding peripheral portions 201 of the heat pipes 20 and the flat bottom abutment edges 111 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 constitute a protruding platform for direct contact with a heat source during application, avoiding installation interference of surrounding electronic component parts.

Further, the design of the mounting holes 33 of the bottom block 30 facilitates installation of a fan bracket or connection of the heat sink to a circuit substrate or selected member during application.

Except the aforesaid press-fit connection method to join the radiation fins 1; 1a of the radiation fin module 10 and the bottom block 30, the bottom block 30 can be made having retaining holes for receiving the radiation fins 1; 1a of the radiation fin module 10. By means of plugging the radiation fins 1; 1a into the retaining holes on the bottom block 30, the radiation fins 1; 1a of the radiation fin module 10 are firmly secured to the bottom block 30.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the heat pipe-attached heat sink comprises a bottom block 30, a first radiation fin module 10 fastened to the bottom block 30, a second radiation fin module 10a spaced from the first radiation fin module 10 and the bottom block 30 at a distance, and a plurality of heat pipes 20; 20a fastened with the respective heat-receiving ends thereof to the first radiation fin module 10 and the bottom block 30 and with the respective cold ends 21a thereof to the second radiation fin module 10a.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. This fifth embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid fourth embodiment with the exception that each heat pipe 20b has a flat protruding peripheral portion 201b protruding over the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 at a height H; the flat bottom abutment edges 111 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 of the first radiation fin module 10 protrude over the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 at the same height H and kept in flush with the flat protruding peripheral portions 201b of the heat pipes 20b. Thus, the flat protruding middle peripheral portions 201b of the heat pipes 20b and the flat bottom abutment edges 111 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the first radiation fins 1 of the first radiation fin module 10 constitute a protruding platform for direct contact with a heat source during application, avoiding installation interference of surrounding electronic component parts.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the heat pipe-attached heat sink comprises a bottom block 30, a first radiation fin module 10 fastened to the bottom block 30, a second radiation fin modules 10b and a third radiation fin modules 10c arranged at two opposite lateral sides relative to the first radiation fin module 10 and the bottom block 30, and a plurality of heat pipes 20c installed in the first radiation fin module 10 and the bottom block 30 and connected with the respective two opposite ends 21c to the second radiation fin modules 10b and the third radiation fin modules 10c.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention. This seventh embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid sixth embodiment with the exception that each heat pipe 20c has a flat protruding peripheral portion 201c protruding over the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 at a height H; the flat bottom abutment edges 111 of the extension abutment strips of the radiation fins 1 of the first radiation fin module 10 protrude over the flat bottom wall of the bottom block 30 at the same height H and kept in flush with the flat protruding peripheral portions 201c of the heat pipes 20c. Thus, the flat protruding middle peripheral portions 201c of the heat pipes 20c and the flat bottom abutment edges 111 of the extension abutment strips 11 of the radiation fins 1 of the first radiation fin module 10 constitute a protruding platform for direct contact with a heat source during application, avoiding installation interference of surrounding electronic component parts.

FIGS. 18˜22 illustrate a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the heat pipe-attached heat sink comprises a radiation fin module 10e, a plurality of heat pipes 20e and a bottom block 30e.

The radiation fin module 10e consists of a plurality of radiation fins 1e arranged in a stack. Each radiation fin 1e comprises an extension abutment strip 11e. The extension abutment strip 11e has a flat bottom abutment edge 111e and a plurality of locating grooves 112e located on the flat bottom abutment edge 111e. The flat bottom abutment edge 111e is divided by the locating grooves 112e into a plurality of spacer ribs 113e. When the radiation fins 1e are arranged together in a stack, the extension abutment strips 11e of the radiation fins 1e form a protruding block 101e, and the locating grooves 112e of each radiation fin 1e are respectively kept in alignment with that of the other radiation fins 1e. Each radiation fin 1e further comprises a plurality of through holes 115e for the insertion of the heat pipes 20e.

The heat pipes 20e are U-shaped pipes, each having its one end, namely, the heat-receiving end respectively press-fitted into the locating grooves 112e of the radiation fin 1e of the radiation fin module 10e and its other end, namely, the heat-releasing end respectively and tightly inserted into the through holes 115e of the radiation fins 1e of the radiation fin module 10e. Further, each heat pipe 20e has a flat protruding peripheral portion 201e.

The bottom block 30e comprises an opening 31e cut through opposing flat top and bottom walls thereof, a flat protrusion 301e protruded from the flat bottom wall thereof at one or two opposite sides relative to the opening 31e, and a plurality of locating grooves 32e located on the flat protrusion 301e corresponding to the locating grooves 112e of the radiation fin 1e of the radiation fin module 10e. The flat protrusion 301e defines a flat contact surface 302e. There is an elevation difference H1 between the locating grooves 32e of the bottom block 30 and the elevation of the locating grooves 112e of the radiation fin 1e of the radiation fin module 10e, and an elevation difference H2 between the flat contact surface 302e of the flat protrusion 301e and the flat bottom abutment edge 111e of the extension abutment strips 11e of the radiation fin 1e of the radiation fin module 10e. Thus, the flat bottom abutment edge 111e of the extension abutment strips 11e of the radiation fin 1e of the radiation fin module 10e and the flat protruding peripheral portion 201e of the heat pipes 20e form a coplane at a relatively higher elevation than the other part of the flat peripheral surface area of each of the heat pipes 20e.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.