HEAT PIPE HEAT SINK

FIELD

[0001]The present invention relates to a heat pipe heat sink, which has a particularly advantageous structural design so that it can be manufactured with a relatively small amount of effort in terms of production.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002]A variety of heat pipe heat sinks for cooling electrical or electronic components which give off heat during operation are described in the related art.

[0003]One heat pipe heat sink is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2016/0054074 A1. This conventional heat pipe heat sink comprises at least one central body which comprises flow channels for a cooling medium or coolant parallel to a longitudinal axis of said at least one central body. The flow channels are separated from one another by separating webs disposed between opposite first side walls of the central body. The central body is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the central body at opposite end pieces disposed on end faces which extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The end pieces form deflection regions for the cooling medium for at least part of two directly adjacent flow channels in order to enable a meandering flow path for the cooling medium flowing in the heat pipe heat sink. The end pieces described in the aforementioned document are in particular made of multiple parts and comprise slots or openings for guiding the cooling medium.

SUMMARY

[0004]A heat pipe heat sink according to the present invention has the advantage that in particular the end pieces connected to the central body can be produced in a particularly simple and technically advantageous manner, because they consist of relatively few, at most two elements, which can be connected to one another and to the central body in an advantageous manner.

[0005]The present invention is based on the idea of mechanically processing the central body on the end faces facing the end pieces in such a way that the deflection regions or the flow reversal for the cooling medium is substantially brought about by the structural design of the end faces of the central body. The end pieces therefore essentially serve only to seal the central body in order to prevent fluid from escaping from the heat pipe heat sink.

[0006]Given the above explanation, it is therefore provided in a heat pipe heat sink according to an example embodiment of the present invention that the first end piece assigned to a first end face of the central body is configured as a cap with a base section which is preferably flat on the side facing the central body and a side wall which delimits the base section and projects toward the central body, that the first end piece forms a receptacle for the central body in the region of the first end face which is delimited by the side wall and the base section, that, in the region of two flow channels that are fluidically connected to one another or disposed directly adjacent to one another, the first end face of the central body comprises slots in the region of the separating webs that separate the flow channels from one another, wherein the slots extend from a first end surface of the central body and have a slot depth that corresponds at most to an overlap region which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the side wall of the first end piece and the central body, that the slots extend over the entire cross-section of the central body in the region of the respective separating web including the first side walls, that the base section abuts the end surface of the central body, and that the side wall of the first end piece is connected at least indirectly in a fluid-tight manner to the first side walls and second side walls of the central body which preferably has a rectangular cross-section.

[0007]Advantageous further developments of the heat pipe heat sink according to the present invention are disclosed herein.

[0008]According to an example embodiment of the present invention, with regard to the second end piece of the heat pipe heat sink disposed opposite to the first end piece, it is preferably provided that, in the region of two flow channels that are fluidically connected to one another, the second end surface of the central body, which is opposite to the first end surface and interacts with the second end piece, comprises additional slots in the region of the separating webs that separate the flow channels from one another, wherein the additional slots are formed on different webs than the slots on the first end surface, wherein the additional slots extend from the second end surface of the central body, that the additional slots extend over the entire cross-section of the central body in the region of the respective separating web including the first side walls, that the second end piece assigned to the second end surface of the central body consists of at least two elements, wherein the first element is cap-shaped, and wherein the second element is configured to create together with the first element a fluidic connection between two flow channels in the central body which have a maximum spacing from one another in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0009]The two spaced-apart flow channels, which are fluidically connected to one another by means of the second end piece, are in particular the flow channels which have a maximum spacing from one another in relation to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, i.e. are disposed on side regions of the heat pipe heat sink.

[0010]In a preferred further development of the present invention, it is provided that the first element of the second end piece comprises a preferably flat base section which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is delimited by a side wall that projects in the direction of the central body, wherein the first element forms a receptacle for the second element of the second end piece that is surrounded by the side wall of the first element.

[0011]In another preferred structural further development of the present invention, it is provided that the second element is cap-shaped and comprises a further receptacle which is adapted to the outer cross-section of the second end surface of the central body and a base section which is disposed such that it overlaps and is in abutting contact with the second end surface of the central body, that the base section comprises passages for connecting the spaced-apart flow channels which are to be connected to one another, and that the receptacle of the first element is adapted to the outer cross-section of the second element, wherein the base section of the first element is disposed at a distance which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis from the base section of the second element in order to form a gap for the cooling medium.

[0012]According to an example embodiment of the present invention, in an alternative structural design of the second element, in which the second element can be designed in a particularly simple manner, it is provided that the second element is configured in the form of an end plate which is disposed such that it overlaps and is in abutting contact with the second end surface of the central body, that the end plate comprises passages for connecting the spaced-apart flow channels which are to be connected to one another, and that the receptacle of the first element is adapted to the outer cross-section of the end plate and the second end surface of the central body, wherein the base section of the first element is disposed at a distance which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis from the end plate in order to form a gap for the cooling medium.

[0013]According to an example embodiment of the present invention, it is generally preferably provided that, regardless of the exact design of the two end pieces, the end pieces are connected to the central body by means of a material-locking connection. A material-locking connection is in particular understood to mean solder connections, adhesive connections, weld connections, here most particularly preferably laser weld connections, brazed connections or similar technologies.

[0014]The cross-sections of the flow channels are moreover preferably rectangular.

[0015]According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the two end pieces are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and are preferably configured as impact-extruded parts. The central body furthermore has a rectangular cross-section which is delimited by the two first side walls and by two second side walls, wherein the separating webs are configured as flat separating webs and extend parallel to the second side walls.

[0016]It is also preferably provided according to an example embodiment of the present invention that the central body is configured as an extruded part and is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0017]Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention and with reference to the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a heat pipe heat sink to illustrate its basic structure, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a cross-section in the plane II-II of FIG. 1, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show respective perspective views of the two opposite end faces of a central body of the heat pipe heat sink according to FIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a first end piece of the heat pipe heat sink, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through the heat pipe heat sink in the region of the first end piece, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second end piece of the heat pipe heat sink, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section through the heat pipe heat sink according to FIG. 1 in the region of the second end piece.

[0025]FIG. 9 shows a plate-shaped element of an end piece in a perspective view, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the central body according to FIG. 1 with a second element of the second end piece assembled according to FIG. 9.

[0027]FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal section in perspective view in the region of a second end piece using the plate-shaped element according to FIGS. 9 and 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0028]The same elements or elements having the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

[0029]The heat pipe heat sink 10 shown in a longitudinal section in FIG. 1 is made of multiple parts and consists of at least one central body 12, which is closed on its two opposite end faces by a first end piece 14 and a second end piece 16. The heat pipe heat sink 10 is used in a conventional manner to cool at least one heat-generating component or assembly by means of a cooling medium, in particular an evaporable coolant, disposed in the heat pipe heat sink 10.

[0030]In the region of the first end piece 14, the heat pipe heat sink 10 forms a so-called evaporator side 18, in the region of which an at least indirectly heat-conducting arrangement of the heat pipe heat sink 10 with the component to be cooled or the assembly to be cooled is provided (not shown). The cooling medium in the heat pipe heat sink 10 evaporates in the region of the evaporator side 18 and is conveyed by means of pressure pulsation in the direction of a condenser side 20 formed in the region of the second end piece 16, where the cooling medium condenses and flows back into the region of the evaporator side 18. The functional principle of the thus far described heat pipe heat sink 10 is described in the related art.

[0031]The central body 12 is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and is configured as an extruded part. According to FIG. 2, the central body 12 also has a rectangular cross-section with two first side walls 22, 24 which are disposed parallel to one another and two second side walls 26, 28 which are disposed at right angles to the two first side walls 22, 24. A plurality of adjacently disposed flow channels 30 are formed within the cross-section of the central body, 12, in this embodiment example six, which are separated from one another by five flat separating webs 32 which are disposed parallel to one another and to the second side walls 26, 28, wherein the separating webs 32 extend over the entire inner height or the entire inner cross-section of the central body 12 between the two first side walls 22, 24. The flow channels 30 are rectangular in cross-section; in the shown embodiment example they are almost square.

[0032]As shown in the illustration of FIG. 3, on the side facing the first end piece 14 in the region of its first end surface 34, the central body 12 comprises a plurality of slots 36 which are disposed in the region of its first, third and fifth separating web 32 in a direction that extends parallel to the two first side walls 22, 24, wherein the material of the separating web 32 is completely removed in the region of the slots 36 by the slots 36. The slots 36 are furthermore also formed in the region of the two first side walls 22, 24, i.e. they extend over the entire height of the central body 12.

[0033]The slots 36 are preferably created by means of a milling process or by means of a sawing process using a saw blade. The slots 36 have a slot depth s in a direction of a longitudinal axis 38 of the central body 12. According to FIG. 4, on the other hand, (only) two slots 42 are formed in the region of the second end surface 40 of the central body 12 facing the second end piece 16 that are configured on the second and on the fourth separating web 32 in a direction which extends parallel to the two first side walls 22, 24, i.e. the slots 42 are disposed laterally offset by one separating web 32 relative to the slots 36. The geometry or configuration of the slots 42 corresponds to that of the slots 36. The thus far described geometry of the central body 12 with the flow channels 30 enables a meandering flow guidance for the cooling medium.

[0034]As can be seen when considering FIGS. 5 and 6 together, the first end piece 14, which is preferably likewise made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and is configured as an impact-extruded part, comprises a flat base section 44 that is surrounded by a side wall 46 which laterally delimits the base section 44. The cross-section of the first end piece 14 is rectangular as well, wherein the inner cross-section 48 is adapted to the outer cross-section of the central body 12 in the region of the first end surface 34 in such a way that the cap-shaped first end piece 14 forms a first receptacle 50 for receiving the front-side end region of the central body 12 in the region of the first end surface 34.

[0035]FIG. 6 shows the assembled state of the first end piece 14 on the central body 12. It can in particular be seen that the base section 44 of the first end piece 14 abuts the first end surface 34 in such a way that a media-tight configuration is created between the first end surface 34 of the central body 12 and the base section 44, so that no cooling medium can overflow from one into the adjacent flow channel 30. The connection between the first end piece 14 and the central body 12 is produced in particular by means of a material-locking connection, in particular a not depicted laser weld seam.

[0036]It can also be seen from FIG. 6 that, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 38, the slots 36 extend over only a portion of an overlap region 47 which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 38 between the central body 12 and the first end piece 14. In conjunction with the aforementioned material-locking connection, in particular the laser weld seam, this enables sealing between the central body 12 and the first end piece 14 if a peripheral laser weld seam is formed outside the slots 36 on the side facing the central body 12 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis 38 in the region of the side walls 22, 24, 26 and 28.

[0037]It can also be seen that the slots 36 between two directly adjacent flow channels 30 form deflection regions 45 for the cooling medium, which is intended to be made clear by the flow arrows.

[0038]The second end piece 16 is made of multiple parts, in particular two parts, and in the embodiment example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 consists of a first element 52 and a second element 54. In terms of structure, the first element 52 has a design corresponding to that of the first end piece 14 and therefore comprises a flat base section 56 which is delimited on the edge by a side wall 58 that projects in the direction of the central body 12. The first element 52 forms a second receptacle 60, which is configured to partially receive the second element 54. For this purpose, the inner cross-section 62 of the first element 52 is adapted to the outer cross-section of the second element 54 as can be seen from FIG. 8.

[0039]As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cap-shaped second element 54 comprises a base section 64 which too is flat and extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 38 and which, in the region of the flow channels 30 that are disposed at a maximum distance in a direction of the longitudinal axis 38, comprises rectangular passages 66, 68 for the cooling medium that are all adapted to the cross-section of the flow channels 30.

[0040]The base section 64 of the second element 54 is delimited by a peripheral side wall 70, so that the second element 54 forms a third receptacle 72 for receiving the central body 12 in the region of the second end surface 40.

[0041]As can be seen from FIG. 8, in the assembled state of the two elements 52, 54 of the second end piece 16, a distance or gap 74 which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 38 is formed between the two base sections 56 and 64 of the two elements 52, 54. Like the first end piece 14, the two elements 52, 54 of the second end piece 16, too, are connected to one another by means of a material-locking connection, just as the second element 54 is connected to the central body 12. The two passages 66, 68 enable flow guidance corresponding to the flow arrow 75 for the cooling medium, in which the cooling medium flows between the two flow channels 39 that are spaced apart at a maximum distance from one another in relation to the longitudinal axis 38.

[0042]FIG. 9 to 11 show a modified embodiment of the second element 54a. In contrast to the second element 54, the second element 54a is configured in the form of an end plate 76 with two rectangular passages 78, 80. When the second element 54a is mounted on the second end surface 40 of the central body 12, as shown in FIG. 10, the end plate 76 is brought into contact with the second end surface 40 of the central body 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the first element 52a is pushed or pulled over the end plate 76 or the second element 54a and the central body 12. The distance or gap 74 is formed between the second element 54a and the base section 44a of the first element 52a when the second element 54a is used as well.

[0043]The thus far described heat pipe heat sink 10 can be altered or modified in a variety of ways without departing from the concept of the invention. For example, it is possible that the heat pipe heat sink 10 or the central body 12 has a cross-section that deviates from the rectangular cross-section. It is also possible to provide multiple central bodies 12 which are adjacent to one another in longitudinal direction and are connected to one another in a media-tight manner.