Abstract: The subject invention includes a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly having a housing with an inlet and at least one outlet for directing a flow of air into a passenger compartment. An evaporator core is disposed within the housing downstream of the inlet and upstream from the outlet. A heater core is disposed within the housing between the evaporator core and the outlet with the heater core having an upstream surface generally facing the evaporator core and a downstream surface generally facing the outlet. The heater core includes a first portion and a second portion being angled relative to the first portion such that the upstream surface of the first portion at least partially faces the upstream surface of the second portion to define an angled heater core facing the evaporator core wherein air flowing over the upstream surfaces is evenly distributed across both of the first and second portions, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the heater core.

Abstract: A compact thermosiphon assembly for dissipating heat generated by electronic components using a working fluid includes a tube having a first end and a second end and a flat cross section defining an elongated chamber is disclosed. The tube has an evaporation region for receiving heat to evaporate the working fluid into a vaporized working fluid within the chamber disposed between a first condensation region and a second condensation region opposite the first condensation region for condensing the vaporized working fluid back into a liquefied working fluid within the chamber. Each of the condensation regions have a first portion extending upwardly at a first angle from the evaporation region and a second portion extending upwardly at a second angle different than the first angle.

Abstract: Heat sinks are provided that achieve very high convective heat transfer surface per unit volume. These heat sinks comprise a spreader plate, at least two fins and at least one porous reticulated foam block that fills the space between the fins.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly for cooling an electronic device comprises a fan housed in a shroud, the fan including a hub and fan blades extending therefrom for causing an axially directed airflow through the shroud upon rotation of the fan blades. A thermosiphon comprises an evaporator defining an evaporating chamber containing a working fluid therein and further including a condenser mounted thereabove. The thermosiphon is positioned at one end of the shroud such that the fan is aligned with the condenser for directing the axial airflow therethrough. The condenser includes a plurality of tubes forming a tube grouping. Each tube having an opening in fluid communication with the evaporator and for receiving and condensing vapor of the working fluid received from the evaporator. The tubes are axially aligned with the airflow and are laterally positioned such that a lateral width of the tube grouping is approximately equal to a width of the hub and substantially in lateral alignment therewith.

Abstract: A leak detection apparatus includes one or more detection devices that envelope the various pipe joints of a liquid circulation cooling system. In one approach, the detection devices include a pair of conductors separated by a wicking material impregnated with a crystalline salt that provides a low resistance electrical path between the conductors in the presence of a leak. In another approach, the detection devices include a pair of dissimilar metal mesh electrodes separated by an electrolyte-impregnated wicking material to form a water-activated battery that energizes an alarm in the presence of a leak. In either case, the electrodes and wicking material may be encased with a water-activated sealing material that hardens in the presence of a leak to contain the leakage.

Abstract: The presence of sufficient condensate flow for odor-free operation of an air conditioning system is detected based on the surface temperature of a thermistor disposed in a condensate drainpipe of the evaporator and the power supplied to the thermistor. The surface temperature is used to calculate the temperatures of stagnant circumambient air and water. If the temperature for stagnant air is approximately equal to the evaporator temperature, the evaporator is too dry and the operating point of the air conditioning system is lowered to reduce the surface temperature of the evaporator. If the temperature for stagnant water is approximately equal to the evaporator temperature, the drainpipe is plugged. Alternately, a constant power is supplied to the thermistor, and its surface temperature is compared to a set of experimentally determined reference temperatures to deduce the evaporator state.

Abstract: A compact thermosiphon assembly for dissipating heat generated by electronic components using a working fluid includes a tube having a first end and a second end and a flat cross section defining an elongated chamber is disclosed. The tube has an evaporation region for receiving heat to evaporate the working fluid into a vaporized working fluid within the chamber disposed between a first condensation region and a second condensation region opposite the first condensation region for condensing the vaporized working fluid back into a liquefied working fluid within the chamber. Each of the condensation regions have a first portion extending upwardly at a first angle from the evaporation region and a second portion extending upwardly at a second angle different than the first angle.

Abstract: Heat sinks are provided that achieve very high convective heat transfer surface per unit volume. These heat sinks comprise a spreader plate having a recessed area on one surface and a flat area on another surface, at least two fins and porous reticulated foam blocks having intervening gaps that fill the width and at least a portion of the length between the fins. The foam block may be a continuous single block within the space between two adjacent fins along the length of the fins or may be an array of short-length blocks having intervening gaps along the length of the fins.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly for cooling an electronic device comprises a fan housed in a shroud, the fan including a hub and fan blades extending therefrom for causing an axially directed airflow through the shroud upon rotation of the fan blades. A thermosiphon comprises an evaporator defining an evaporating chamber containing a working fluid therein and further including a condenser mounted thereabove. The thermosiphon is positioned at one end of the shroud such that the fan is aligned with the condenser for directing the axial airflow therethrough. The condenser includes a base having an upper surface and a plurality of fins extending substantially upwardly from the upper surface. The condenser also includes a plurality of tubes forming a tube grouping. Each tube having an opening in fluid communication with the evaporator and for receiving and condensing vapor of the working fluid received from the evaporator.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly for cooling an electronic device comprises a fan housed in a shroud, the fan including a hub and fan blades extending therefrom for causing an axially directed airflow through the shroud upon rotation of the fan blades. A thermosiphon comprises an evaporator defining an evaporating chamber containing a working fluid therein and further including a condenser mounted thereabove. The thermosiphon is positioned at one end of the shroud such that the fan is aligned with the condenser for directing the axial airflow therethrough. The condenser includes a base having an upper surface and a plurality of fins extending substantially upwardly from the upper surface. The condenser also includes a plurality of tubes forming a tube grouping. Each tube having an opening in fluid communication with the evaporator and for receiving and condensing vapor of the working fluid received from the evaporator.

Abstract: A thermosiphon assembly for dissipating heat generated by an electronic component using a working fluid is disclosed. The assembly includes an evaporator having a front face, a rear face, and a peripheral wall extending between the front face and the rear face and being arcuate. A heat block contacts the front face for transferring generated heat from the electronic component to the working fluid to vaporize the working fluid. A condenser is in fluid communication with the chamber and connected to the rear face for condensing the vaporized working fluid back to a liquid. The assembly further includes an acute angle between the front face and the peripheral wall such that the chamber extends upwardly at an angle from the front face to the rear face to ensure complete coverage of the heat block with the cooling fluid in any position between horizontal and vertical.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly for cooling an electronic device comprises a fan housed in a shroud, the fan including a hub and fan blades extending therefrom for causing an axially directed airflow through the shroud upon rotation of the fan blades. A thermosiphon comprises an evaporator defining an evaporating chamber containing a working fluid therein and further including a condenser mounted thereabove. The thermosiphon is positioned at one end of the shroud such that the fan is aligned with the condenser for directing the axial airflow therethrough. The condenser includes a plurality of tubes forming a tube grouping. Each tube having an opening in fluid communication with the evaporator and for receiving and condensing vapor of the working fluid received from the evaporator. The tubes are axially aligned with the airflow and are laterally positioned such that a lateral width of the tube grouping is approximately equal to a width of the hub and substantially in lateral alignment therewith.

Abstract: The subject invention includes a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly having a housing with an inlet and at least one outlet for directing a flow of air into a passenger compartment. An evaporator core is disposed within the housing downstream of the inlet and upstream from the outlet. A heater core is disposed within the housing between the evaporator core and the outlet with the heater core having an upstream surface generally facing the evaporator core and a downstream surface generally facing the outlet. The heater core includes a first portion and a second portion being angled relative to the first portion such that the upstream surface of the first portion at least partially faces the upstream surface of the second portion to define an angled heater core facing the evaporator core wherein air flowing over the upstream surfaces is evenly distributed across both of the first and second portions, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the heater core.

Abstract: An accumulator dehydrator assembly for use in a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioning system having an inner housing for separating the liquid component from the vapor component of the refrigerant and an integral outer shell being cup shaped and having a bottom and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom to an upper edge defining an opening is disclosed. The inner housing is disposed within and spaced from the outer shell and defines a chamber therebetween. At least one spacer is positioned between the inner housing and the outer shell and positioned annularly around the side walls and is compressed for holding the outer shell onto the inner housing. The spacers define a predetermined distance between the inner housing and the outer shell to establish the chamber while securing the outer shell onto the inner housing.

Abstract: A liquid-cooled heat sink for use in combination with a heat exchanger to cool electronic or electrical devices attached to said heat sink comprises a metal block having a plurality of circular passageways therethrough defined by cylindrical walls. An inlet is in fluid communication with one end of the passageways for receiving a cooling liquid, and an outlet is in fluid communication with an opposite end of the passageways for outputting the cooling liquid. At least one tape insert is mounted within at least one of the circular passageways, wherein the tape insert longitudinally bisects the circular passageway and further wherein edges of the tape insert abut cylindrical wall.

Abstract: A liquid-cooled heat sink for use in combination with a heat exchanger to cool electronic or electrical devices attached to said heat sink comprises a metal block having a plurality of circular passageways therethrough defined by cylindrical walls. An inlet is in fluid communication with one end of the passageways for receiving a cooling liquid, and an outlet is in fluid communication with an opposite end of the passageways for outputting the cooling liquid. At least one tape insert is mounted within at least one of the circular passageways, wherein the tape insert longitudinally bisects the circular passageway and further wherein edges of the tape insert abut cylindrical wall.

Abstract: A heat sink for cooling electrical or electronic devices comprises a base plate having a top surface and having a bottom surface for attaching to the electronic device. A folded fin formed from a strip of heat conducting material includes alternating planar portions and curved portions has one edge abutted to the top surface such that the curved portions extend upwardly from the top surface substantially at a right angle. Each planar portion has a plurality of louvers formed therein wherein the louvers are substantially parallel one to the other and perpendicular to the base plate.

Abstract: A heat sink for cooling electrical or electronic devices comprises a base plate having a top surface and having a bottom surface for attaching to the electronic device. A folded fin formed from a strip of heat conducting material includes alternating planar portions and curved portions has one edge abutted to the top surface such that the curved portions extend upwardly from the top surface substantially at a right angle. Each planar portion has a plurality of louvers formed therein wherein the louvers are substantially parallel one to the other and perpendicular to the base plate.

Abstract: A heat sink for electronic devices comprises a spreader plate having a top surface and having a bottom surface wherein a portion thereof is defined for affixing an electronic device to be cooled thereto. A plurality of columnar pins are spaced apart one from the other in a non-uniform manner and affixed to the top surface of the spreader plate substantially perpendicular thereto. A highly porous heat conducting reticulated foam block substantially fills a space defined by said spaced apart columnar pins.

Abstract: An improved dehumidification system for automotive use includes a rotating, wheel like heat exchanger with axially open cells that carry a water adsorbing material. Opposed ambient air and heated air flows, covering opposite halves of the wheel, continually adsorb water on one side and are recharged on the other side. Alternating radially closed cells between the axially open cells carry no desiccant material, but receive a cross cooling flow, on the water adsorbing side of the wheel only, to remove the heat released during the water adsorption process. The desiccant recharging process on the other side of the wheel is not disturbed by the cross cooling flow.