HEAT-DISSIPATING DEVICE
A heat-dissipating device is used for dissipating heat from a plurality of heat sources. The heat-dissipating device includes a plurality of elongated thermally conductive elements each having an end adapted to thermally contact a respective one of the heat sources, and a fin structure connected to the thermally conductive elements.
This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 097109858, filed on Mar. 20, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a heat-dissipating device, more particularly to a heat-dissipating device for dissipating heat individually from a plurality of heat sources so as to ensure uniform heat dissipation thereamong.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. M326999 discloses a heat-dissipating device 1 for dissipating heat from a light-emitting unit 2 which includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (21a) to (21d). The heat-dissipating device 1 includes a base 11, and the light-emitting unit 2 is mounted on the base 11 in an array configuration of a plurality of columns of the LEDs (21a) to (21d). The heat-dissipating device 1 further includes a plurality of fins 12 mounted on the base 11 and stacked in a parallel manner, and a plurality of heat pipes 13 each channeling through the fins 12. Each heat pipe 13 is U-shaped and has an absorbing section 131 that is in proximity to the light-emitting unit 2, and a cooling section 132 that is distal from the absorbing section 131.
During operation of the light-emitting unit 2, working fluid contained in each heat pipe 13 absorbs heat from the LEDs (21a) to (21d), eventually causing the working fluid to vaporize into its gaseous phase. The vaporized working fluid travels toward the cooling section 132 where it condenses back to its liquid phase due to the cooler temperature at the cooling section 132. Consequently, the working fluid performs a heat-exchange function.
However, a drawback of this configuration is that the heat from the LEDs (21a) to (21d) of each column thereof is not uniformly dissipated. For instance, the arrows shown in FIG. 2 indicate how the working fluid travels back to the absorbing section 131 after it is condensed in the cooling section 132. As a result, the LED (21a) will experience heat dissipation first from the condensed (i.e., re-cooled) working fluid before the LED (21b), and the LED (21b) before the LED (21c), and so on. A significant drawback of this conventional heat-dissipating device is that the working fluid may be too hot by the time it reaches the last LED (21d). As a consequence, the working fluid becomes less effective for reducing the temperature of the LED (21d). Ultimately, this leads to a reduction in the illumination uniformity of the light-emitting unit 2.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of the present invention is to provide a heat-dissipating device that can overcome the above drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the present invention, a heat-dissipating device is used for dissipating heat from a plurality of heat sources. The heat-dissipating device includes a plurality of elongated thermally conductive elements each having an end adapted to thermally contact a respective one of the heat sources, and a fin structure connected to the thermally conductive elements.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to
Preferably, the fin structure 5 includes a plurality of spaced-apart plate-shaped fins that are parallel to each other. In this embodiment, the heat sources 31 are light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and each thermally conductive element 4 is hollow to thereby define a hollow chamber 40 that is filled with a working fluid. The working fluid may be a liquid coolant.
In use, when each heat source 31 illuminates, the working fluid contained in the respective one of the thermally conductive elements 4 absorbs heat from the heat source 31 via the first end 41 of the thermally conductive element 4. As the temperature of the working fluid rises, the working fluid gradually vaporizes into its hot gaseous phase. The vaporized working fluid travels toward the second end 42 of the thermally conductive element 4 where it condenses back to its liquid phase due to the cooler temperature at the second end 42. The condensed working fluid returns to the first end 41 and the process repeats. As a result, the working fluid performs a heat-exchange function. By employing this design, each heat source 31 can have its own working fluid for heat dissipation so that the heat dissipation for all of the heat sources 31 is made uniform.
In summary, the heat-dissipating device according to the present invention achieves the advantage of uniformly dissipating heat from a plurality of the heat sources 31.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A heat-dissipating device for dissipating heat from a plurality of heat sources, said heat-dissipating device comprising:
- a plurality of elongated thermally conductive elements each having an end adapted to thermally contact a respective one of the heat sources; and
- a fin structure connected to said thermally conductive elements.
2. The heat-dissipating device of claim 1, wherein each of said thermally conductive elements is solid and rod-shaped.
3. The heat-dissipating device of claim 1, wherein each of said thermally conductive elements is U-shaped.
4. The heat-dissipating device of claim 1, wherein each of said thermally conductive elements is hollow.
5. The heat-dissipating device of claim 4, wherein each of said thermally conductive elements is filled with a working fluid.
6. The heat-dissipating device of claim 5, wherein said working fluid is a liquid coolant.
7. The heat-dissipating device of claim 1, wherein said fin structure includes a plate-shaped fin.
8. The heat-dissipating device of claim 1, wherein said fin structure includes a plurality of spaced-apart plate-shaped fins that are parallel to each other.
9. The heat-dissipating device of claim 8, wherein said thermally conductive elements pass through said fin structure.
10. The heat-dissipating device of claim 1, further comprising a fan disposed in proximity to said fin structure so as to direct air thereonto.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 24, 2009
Inventor: CHIN-KUANG LUO (Taichung City)
Application Number: 12/136,255
International Classification: F28F 7/00 (20060101);