HEAT PIPE-ATTACHED HEAT SINK WITH BOTTOM RADIATION FINS

Abstract

A heat pipe-attached heat sink includes a radiation fin module having a plurality of radiation fins arranged in parallel, each radiation fin having an extension abutment strip, each extension abutment strip having a flat abutment edge extending perpendicular relative to the respective radiation fin and a plurality of locating grooves located on the flat abutment edge, heat pipes respectively press-fitted into the locating grooves of the extension abutment strips each having a flat heat-absorbing face kept in flush with the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins, a bonding agent applied to the locating grooves of the radiation fins to bond the heat pipes to the radiation fins, and stop blocks fastened to the radiation fins and stopped against the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins at one side to reinforce the structural strength.

Description

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 with bottom radiation fins, which uses a bonding agent to bond heat pipes to locating grooves of radiation fins and to keep the heat-absorbing face of each heat pipe in flush with a flat abutment edge of an extension abutment strip of each radiation fin for direct contact with the heat source.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A conventional heat pipe attached heat sink is known comprising: a radiation fin module, one or 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 OF THE INVENTION

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 radiation fin module, which comprises a plurality of radiation fins arranged in parallel, each radiation fin comprising an extension abutment strip having a flat abutment edge extending perpendicular relative to the respective radiation fin and a plurality of locating grooves located on the flat abutment edge, the flat abutment edge of one radiation fin being stopped against the flat abutment edge of another said the radiation fin in a flush manner, a plurality of heat pipes respectively press-fitted into the locating grooves of the extension abutment strips of the radiation fins each having a flat heat-absorbing face kept in flush with the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins of the radiation fin module, and a bonding agent applied to the locating grooves of the radiation fins to bond the heat pipes to the radiation fins. Further, the heat pipes are peripherally and tightly abutted against one another. As the flat heat-absorbing faces of the heat pipes are kept in flush with the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins of the radiation fin module, the heat pipes and the radiation fins can be directly attached to the heat source for quick dissipation of waste heat from the heat source.

Further, the bonding agent can be tin solder or any suitable material having high heat transfer coefficient.

Further, stop blocks may be fastened to the radiation fins and stopped against at least one of two opposite lateral sides of the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins of the radiation fin module to reinforce the structural strength.

Further, the stop block comprises a plurality of retaining grooves and retaining ribs located on the bottom side thereof and forced into engagement with the radiation fins. Further, each stop block has a top end edge kept in flush with the flat heat-absorbing faces of the heat pipes and the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins of the radiation fin module for direct contact with the heat source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational view of a heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken, in an enlarged scale, along line B-B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken, in an enlarged scale, along line A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, illustrating a rectangular form of the locating grooves.

FIG. 7 is an assembly view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 4 illustrating another alternate form of the locating grooves of the radiation fins.

FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 4 illustrating still another alternate form of the locating grooves of the radiation fins.

FIG. 10 is an oblique elevation of an alternate form of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a top view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an oblique elevation of another alternate form of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an oblique elevation of still another alternate form of the heat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a heat pipe-attached heat sink with bottom radiation fins in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising at least one radiation fin module 10, at least one, for example, a number of heat pipes 20, and a bonding agent 30.

The radiation fin module 10 consists of a plurality of radiation fins 1 arranged in parallel. Each radiation fin 1 comprises an extension abutment strip 11, as shown in FIG. 4. The extension abutment strip 11 comprises a flat abutment edge 12 perpendicularly disposed at one or each of opposing top and bottom sides and a plurality of locating grooves 13 located on the flat abutment edge 12 for accommodating heat pipes 20. When the radiation fins 1 are arranged together, the flat abutment edge 12 of one radiation fin 1 is abutted against that of another radiation fin 1.

The heat pipes 20 are accommodated in the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 and tightly abutted against one another side by side without leaving any gap between each two adjacent heat pipes 20, each having a flat heat-absorbing face 201 kept in flush with the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10.

The bonding agent 30 is applied to the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 to bond the heat pipes 20 to the radiation fins 1. The adhesive 30 can be tin solder or thermal adhesive.

During installation, the bonding agent 30 is applied to the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10, and then the heat pipes 20 are attached to the locating grooves 13 and abutted against one another side by side keeping the flat heat-absorbing face 201 of each heat pipe 20 in flush with the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 for direct contact with the heat source to facilitate quick dissipation of waste heat from the heat source.

Further, stop blocks 4 may be bonded to the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 and stopped against the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 at one or each of two opposite lateral sides to reinforce the structural strength. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each stop block 4 has a plurality of retaining grooves 41 and a plurality of retaining ribs 42 located on the bottom side thereof for engagement with the radiation fins 1, enhancing connection stability. This stop block mounting design is simply an example but not a limitation.

Referring to FIG. 5, the aforesaid stop blocks 4 are stopped against the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 at one or each of two opposite lateral sides to reinforce the structural strength, each having an end edge 43 kept in flush with the flat heat-absorbing faces 201 of the heat pipes 20 and the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 for direct contact with the heat source to facilitate quick dissipation of waste heat from the heat source. When desired, the elevation of the end edge 43 of each stop block 4 can be set lower than the elevation of the flat heat-absorbing faces 201 of the heat pipes 20 and the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10.

The number of the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 is determined subject to the number of the heat pipes 20. Further, the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1 may be variously configured. For example, the locating grooves 13 can be made having a smoothly arched bottom wall (see FIG. 4). Further, a bottom notch 131 may be located on the bottom side of the locating groove 13 of each radiation fin 1 for the filling of the bonding agent 30 into the locating groove 13 rapidly. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another alternate form of the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1. According to this alternate form, the locating grooves 13 have a rectangular cross section for accommodating flat rectangular heat pipes 20.

The aforesaid bottom notch 131 is not requisite and can be omitted. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bonding agent (tin solder) 30 can be directly applied to the inner wall of the locating groove 13 of each of the radiation fins 1 for the bonding of the heat pipes 20. The design of the aforesaid bottom notch 131 is for the filling of the bonding agent 30 that is selected from a material having high heat transfer coefficient.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the use of a different form of heat pipes 20a. According to this application example, the heat-discharging end 202 of each heat pipe 20a is curved and turned back and then inserted into the radiation fin module 10a again.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate still another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the heat-discharging ends 202 of the heat pipes 20a extend out of the radiation fin module 10 and then inserted into a second radiation fin module 10b, constituting a dual fin module heat sink combination.

FIG. 14 illustrates still another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the heat-discharging ends 202 of the heat pipes 20a extend out of the radiation fin module 10c in two reversed directions and then inserted into the radiation fin module 10c again.

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.

Claims

1. A heat pipe-attached heat sink, comprising:

a radiation fin module, said radiation fin module comprising a plurality of radiation fins arranged in parallel, each said radiation fin comprising an extension abutment strip, said extension abutment strip comprising a flat abutment edge extending perpendicular relative to the respective radiation fin and a plurality of locating grooves located on said flat abutment edge, the flat abutment edge of one said radiation fin being stopped against the flat abutment edge of another said radiation fin in a flush manner;

a plurality of heat pipes respectively press-fitted into the locating grooves of said extension abutment strips of said radiation fins of said radiation fin module, each said heat pipe comprising a flat heat-absorbing face kept in flush with the flat abutment edges of said radiation fins of said radiation fin module; and

a bonding agent applied to said locating grooves of said radiation fins to bond said heat pipes to said radiation fins.

2. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat pipes are peripherally and tightly abutted against one another.

3. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bonding agent is selected from tin solder or a material having high heat transfer coefficient.

4. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of stop blocks fastened to said radiation fins and stopped against at least one of two opposite lateral sides of said flat abutment edges of said radiation fins of said radiation fin module.

5. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said stop block comprises a plurality of retaining grooves and retaining ribs located on a bottom side thereof and forced into engagement with said radiation fins.

6. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said stop block has a top end edge kept in flush with the flat heat-absorbing faces of said heat pipes and the flat abutment edges of said radiation fins of said radiation fin module.

7. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said radiation fin further comprises a bottom notch located on a bottom side of each locating groove thereof for the filling of said bonding agent into the associating locating groove.

8. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat pipe has a heat discharging end extending out of said radiation fin module and then turned back and inserted into said radiation fin module again.

9. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat pipe has a heat discharging end extending out of said radiation fin module and then inserted into an external radiation fin module.

10. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat pipes each have a heat discharging end extending out of said radiation fin module in one of two reversed directions and then turned back and inserted into said radiation fin module again.