Wick, plate type heat pipe and container

Abstract

A plate type thin heat pipe comprises: a group of wire members comprising a plurality of first metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out, and a plurality of second metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out and placed so as to cross the plurality of first metal wire members; a container having a hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed comprising an upper plate member and a lower plate member placed face to face, each of which is made of thin copper plate, formed in such a manner that each of the upper plate member and the lower plate member contacts the group of wire members, and the group of wire members are sandwiched by the upper and lower plate members, and water as a working fluid received in the container.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 655,664, filed Sep. 6, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, and which claims priority to Japanese Application Nos. 1999-252748, filed on Sep. 7, 1999, and 1999-252749, filed on Sep. 7, 1999. This application is related to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 10 / ______ , filed on even date herewith (having attorney docket number KAWAW6.001DV2), the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates to a plate type heat pipe, wick and container used for cooling electronic devices.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art[0005] As one of the means to effectively dissipate the heat generated from semiconductor chips in the electronic devices which has been increasing, there is proposed a heat pipe. In particular, a plate type heat pipe is perceived to be effective among various heat pipes ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, when the heat pipe comprises a plate type heat pipe, it is impossible to apply the above-mentioned method to seal the container. FIG. 14 shows a conventional portion to be sealed in the plate type heat pipe.

However, although the aluminum container shown in FIG. 11 can be formed by extrusion, it is difficult to form the container shown in FIG. 11 which is made of copper by means of extrusion.

However, there is a problem in which water cannot be used as working fluid in the container made of aluminum.

More specifically, aluminum reacts with water to deteriorate the function of the heat pipe.

However, in the plate type heat pipe shown in FIG. 12, there is a problem in which it is difficult to insert the mesh stably in the container, thus producing the heat pipes with different property.

Furthermore, a conventional wick comprising mesh, braid or wire has the following problem.

However, even if the wire is received within the container, it is very difficult to securely fix the wire on the inner surface of the container in view of the structure of the container so as to form the acute angle portion therebetween.

When the wire is not securely fixed on the inner surface of the container, for example, the side surface of the wire is partly contacted with the inner surface of the container, the wire does not effectively function as the wick.

In addition, there is the following problem in the plate type heat pipe using the above-mentioned conventional wick.

However, the conventional wick does not effectively function.

Furthermore, the conventional portion to be sealed has the following problem.

Furthermore, in case of the conventional container formed by extrusion shown in FIG. 11, the heat transfer along the X direction (i.e., the direction across the partition member of the container) is inferior to the heat transfer along the Y direction (i.e., the direction along the partition member).

More specifically, when copper material is selected as the material for the container and the wick which can use water as a working fluid, it is impossible to practically place a copper wire having a diameter up to 0.5 mm.phi. along the inner surface of the container.

However, in that case, since the vaporized fluid is not supplied to the wires wound on one of the sides of the thin copper plate, i.e., the vaporized fluid is supplied to the wires wound on the other side of the thin copper plate, there occurs no condensation of the working fluid in the above-mentioned side of the thin copper plate, thus causing to provide dead space.

In addition, in case that the wire is wound along one direction on the surface of thin plate, the function of circulating working fluid is effective in one direction, thus the function of the plate type heat pipe is limited.

However, although the above-mentioned type of the wick secures the passage for vaporized fluid in upper side of the container formed by the protruding portions, the vaporized working fluid only condenses there, since there is no circulating structure.

Aluminum is excellent in workability, however, water cannot be used with aluminum container.

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