Heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and change

Abstract

The present invention provides a heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and variation, comprising a sealed housing. A working fluid is provided inside the sealed housing, and at least one capillary structure is disposed on its inner wall. The sealed housing has a front section, a rear section, and a deformable and flexible middle section. The middle section is located between the front section and the rear section and is connected to each other. The middle section is composed of a plurality of branches and a plurality of joint sections arranged alternately. Both sides of each joint section are respectively connected to adjacent branches, and the plurality of branches can obtain the same or different angle adjustments with the joint sections as the fulcrums, so that the heat pipe of the present invention can have multi-angle variation and positioning adjustment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to heat pipes, and particularly to a heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and change. Background Art

[0002] The so-called heat pipe is a hollow metal tube body, and an appropriate amount of a working fluid and a capillary structure are filled in the cavity of the tube body. The heat pipe is one-dimensional linear heat conduction, that is, the working fluid in the tube body first absorbs heat on the evaporation section at one end of the tube body and the corresponding heat source, and then turns into a gaseous working fluid. After passing through an adiabatic section of the tube body, it reaches the other end of the tube body, which is a condensation section, and then exchanges heat with the outside air for heat dissipation. The gaseous working fluid in the condensation section is cooled and turns into a liquid working fluid, and is adsorbed back to the evaporation section by the capillary force of the capillary structure in the tube body, and the two-phase change heat dissipation is repeated all the time to achieve the purpose of remote heat transfer.

[0003] Generally, the existing heat pipes are usually combined with a heat dissipation unit (such as a snap-on fin group or an extruded aluminum fin group or a radiator) to form a heat dissipation module, which is assembled in an electronic device (such as a computer, a server or a communication chassis, a mobile phone or a handheld device) to dissipate heat from multiple heat sources arranged on a main board.

[0004] However, the sizes and heights of each heat source on the main board of the electronic device are different, or there are height differences (inconsistent heights) in the package structures of each heat source, and there are also problems of different heights for many other electronic components around the heat sources due to space configuration problems, resulting in height differences between each heat source. As a result, when the evaporation section of each heat pipe in the heat dissipation module contacts the heat source and is lapped or combined with the radiator, there will be height differences. However, since the tube bodies of the heat pipes are all made of metal pipes (plates) with the same thickness, when it is necessary to adjust the height difference between the evaporation section and the condensation section, due to the characteristics of the metal material and the uniform thickness of the pipes (plates), if the adiabatic section is bent or folded to meet the requirement of height difference, the bridging force that pulls the two sides of the evaporation section and the condensation section of the heat pipe will cause the adiabatic section (transmission section) to be squeezed inward or pulled outward and deformed, resulting in damage to the capillary structure and the tube wall inside the heat pipe, and further affecting the heat transfer and heat dissipation efficiency, or even causing failure.

[0005] Therefore, to solve the above problems, it is proposed to use a corrugated structure or a tube wall that is thinner than the relative evaporation section and condensation section as a flexible section to connect the evaporation section and the condensation section of the heat pipe. However, the flexible section formed by the corrugated structure and the thinner tube wall will cause interference and wrinkles during flexure, and can only be bent in one angle or one direction, resulting in only being able to adjust the bending angle according to one of the electronic components, but unable to provide multiple different angles or directions of bending to meet the requirements of multiple heat sources or mechanism configurations with different height differences, and the change in angle is limited. Therefore, there is room for improvement in existing heat pipes. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a heat pipe having a deformable and flexible middle section, which is composed of a plurality of branches and a plurality of joints arranged alternately. The plurality of branches can obtain the same or different angle adjustments with the joints as the fulcrums, so that the heat pipe can have multi-angle changes and positioning adjustments, and is a heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment changes.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment changes, including a sealed housing. A working fluid is provided in the sealed housing, and at least one capillary structure is provided on its inner wall. The sealed housing has a front section, a rear section, and a deformable and flexible middle section. The middle section is located between the front section and the rear section and is connected to each other, and is composed of a plurality of branches and a plurality of joints arranged alternately. Both sides of each joint are respectively connected to the adjacent branches. The plurality of branches can obtain the same or different angle adjustments with the joints as the fulcrums, so that the heat pipe has multi-angle changes and positioning adjustments.

[0008] The length of each of the above-mentioned branches in the length direction of the sealed housing is greater than or equal to the length of each joint in the length direction of the sealed housing.

[0009] The above-mentioned sealed housing has an evaporation zone, an adiabatic zone, and a condensation zone. The evaporation zone and the condensation zone are respectively located at the front section and the rear section of the sealed housing, and the adiabatic zone is located in the middle section.

[0010] The above-mentioned capillary structure has a plurality of first capillary structures and a plurality of second capillary structures. The plurality of first capillary structures are respectively provided on the inner walls of the evaporation zone and the condensation zone, and the plurality of second capillary structures are respectively provided on the inner walls of the plurality of branches and the plurality of joints in the adiabatic zone. The first capillary structure and the second capillary structure can be horizontally connected (butted) or stacked vertically. In addition, the plurality of first or second capillary structures are sintered bodies, grooves, grids, fibers, braids, or any combination of the foregoing.

[0011] The above-mentioned sealed housing is a flat heat pipe.

[0012] The advantage of the present invention is that the heat pipe can have multi-angle changes and positioning adjustments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the heat pipe of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2A This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heat pipe of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2B This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heat pipe of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the heat pipe of the present invention with multi-angle variation and positioning adjustment.

[0017] Description of reference numerals: heat pipe 1; sealed housing 11; chamber 12; evaporation zone 121; adiabatic zone 122; condensation zone 123; front section 111; rear section 112; middle section 113; branch 1131; joint section 1132; capillary structure 13; first capillary structure 131; second capillary structure 132; extension part 1321; lengths 141, 142; length direction 151; short direction 152; angles X1, X2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The above objects, as well as the structural and functional characteristics of the present invention, will be described with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0019] The present invention provides a heat pipe 1 with multi-angle adjustment and variation. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 3, the heat pipe 1 includes a sealed housing 11, which can be in a circular, D-shaped, or flat shape. In this embodiment, a flat heat pipe is used for illustration. The sealed housing 11 has a chamber 12 filled with a working fluid (such as pure water), and at least one capillary structure 13 is provided on the inner wall of the chamber 12. The capillary structure 13 can be a sintered body, a groove, a grid body, a fiber, a braid body, or any combination of the foregoing. The sealed housing 11 also has a front section 111, a deformable and flexible middle section 113, and a rear section 112. The middle section 113 is located between the front section 111 and the rear section 112 and is connected to each other. The middle section 113 is composed of a plurality of branches 1131 and a plurality of joint sections 1132 arranged alternately along the length direction of the middle section 113. In this embodiment, each joint section 1132 is connected to adjacent branches 1131 on both sides, so that the plurality of branches 1131 and the plurality of joint sections 1132 together form a multi-section structure.

[0020] Among them, the plurality of branch parts 1131 are subjected to the same or different angular adjustments through the joint part 1132. That is, the branch part 1131 between every two joint parts 1132 makes an angular adjustment with the joint part 1132 as the fulcrum. And the connection part between each joint part 1132 and the adjacent branch part 1131 is a contact interference position, so that the joint part 1132 will generate contact interference on the adjacent branch part 1131 during angular adjustment to limit the movement of the branch part 11131 within an angular range (such as 1 degree to 89 degrees), and can also position the angular state of the adjusted branch part 1131. And every two joint parts 1132 can produce one angle or two different angle changes. For example, Figure 3 As shown, the angle X1 between one joint part 1132 of every two joint parts 1132 and the two adjacent branch parts 1131 it connects is different from the angle X2 between the other joint part 1132 and the two adjacent branch parts 1131 it connects. Therefore, multiple angle changes can be generated through the plurality of joint parts 1132, enabling the heat pipe 1 to be variably adjusted at multiple angles and positioned into various shapes such as multiple U-shaped, N-shaped or other shapes. However, during actual implementation, the angle X1 between one joint part 1132 of every two joint parts 1132 and the two adjacent branch parts 1131 it connects can also be the same as the angle X2 between the other joint part 1132 and the two adjacent branch parts 1131 it connects. For example, the angle X1 is the same as the angle X2 and is 0 degree, making the middle section 113 spread out horizontally (such as Figure 2A ). Each joint part 1132 can provide the effect of strengthening the structural strength of the middle section 113.

[0021] In addition, in each branch part 1131 of this embodiment, the length 141 along the length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11 is greater than the length 142 of each adjacent joint part 1132 along the length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11. In this way, the angle of the branch part 1131 can be increased. The length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11 is the direction from the front section 111 to the rear section 112, and the short direction 152 of the sealed housing 11 is the direction from the left side to the right side of the sealed housing 11. In some other embodiments, the length 142 of each joint part 1132 along the length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11 can also be equal to the length 141 of the adjacent branch part 1131 along the length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11, or the length 142 of most joint parts 1132 along the length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11 is less than the length 141 of the adjacent branch part 1131 along the length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11, and the length 142 of a few joint parts 1132 along the length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11 is equal to the length 141 of the adjacent branch part 1131 along the length direction 151 of the sealed housing 11. Therefore, by designing the length change of the plurality of joint parts 1132 of the middle section 113 in the above way, the angular adjustment range of the branch part 1131 can be changed.

[0022] Moreover, it should be noted that in this embodiment, an evaporation zone 121, a heat insulation zone 122, and a condensation zone 123 are provided in the chamber 12 of the sealed housing. The evaporation zone 121 and the condensation zone 123 are respectively located at the front section 111 and the rear section 112 of the sealed housing 11, and the heat insulation zone 122 is located at the middle section 113 and also between the evaporation zone 121 and the condensation zone 123. The capillary structure 13 has a plurality of first capillary structures 131 and a plurality of second capillary structures 132. The first capillary structure 131 and / or the second capillary structure 132 is, for example, a sintered body, a groove, a grid body, a fiber, a braided body, or any combination of the foregoing. The plurality of first capillary structures 131 are respectively disposed on the inner walls of the evaporation zone 121 and the condensation zone 123, and the first capillary structures 131 in the evaporation zone 121 and the condensation zone 123 can be selected to be the same or different capillary structures. The plurality of second capillary structures 132 are respectively disposed on the inner walls of the plurality of branch portions 1131 and the plurality of node portions 1132 of the heat insulation zone 122, and the capillary structures 132 in the branch portion 132 and the node portion 1132 are different capillary structures or composite capillary structures. The first capillary structure 131 and the second capillary structure 132 can be horizontally connected (butted) to each other or stacked. In this embodiment, the first and second capillary structures 131 and 132 are stacked, that is, two extension portions 1321 respectively extend from both ends of the second capillary structure 132 of each branch portion 1131 and overlap and contact the second capillary structure 132 of the adjacent node portion 1132, and the extension portions 1321 of the second capillary structures 132 of the branch portions 1131 adjacent to the evaporation zone 121 and the condensation zone 123 extend and overlap and contact the adjacent first capillary structure 131, so that the extension portion 1321 of the second capillary structure 132 of the branch portion 1131 will extend outward or retract inward on the second capillary structure 132 of the node portion 1132 as the branch portion 1131 is adjusted in angle, and the thickness of the second capillary structure 132 of the branch portion 1131 can be greater than or equal to the thickness of the branch portion 1131, so as to increase the structural strength of the branch portion 1131.

[0023] In another alternative embodiment, referring to Figure 2B As shown, the plurality of second capillary structures 132 are changed to be a single second capillary structure 132 disposed on the inner walls of the plurality of branch portions 1131 and the plurality of node portions 1132, and the extension portions 1321 respectively extending from both ends of the second capillary structure 132 extend and overlap and contact the first capillary structure 131 on the evaporation zone 121 and the condensation zone 123, so that the extension portion 1321 of the second capillary structure 132 will extend outward or retract inward on the first capillary structure 132 as the branch portion 1131 is adjusted in angle.

[0024] The outer side of the front section 111 of the sealed housing 11 is in contact with an electronic component (such as a central processing unit or a graphics processing unit; not shown in the figure) to absorb the heat generated by the electronic component, so that the working fluid in the evaporation area 121 is heated and transformed into a gaseous working fluid, and is transmitted to the distal condensation area 123 through the adiabatic area 122 to dissipate heat outward. At the same time, the gaseous working fluid in the condensation area 123 is cooled and transformed into a liquid working fluid, and is adsorbed back to the evaporation area 121 by the capillary forces of the first and second capillary structures 131 and 132 of the capillary structure 13 on the inner wall of the chamber 12. The two-phase gas-liquid change is continuously repeated to achieve the effect of heat dissipation by distal conduction.

[0025] Continue to refer to Figure 3

[0026] The above description is illustrative rather than restrictive of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art understand that many modifications, variations or equivalents can be made without departing from the spirit and scope defined by the claims, but all will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and variation, comprising a sealed housing, a working fluid is provided in the sealed housing, and at least one capillary structure is provided on the inner wall of the sealed housing, characterized in that: The sealed housing has a front section, a rear section, and a deformable and flexible middle section. The sealed housing has an evaporation zone, a heat insulation zone, and a condensation zone. The heat insulation zone is located in the middle section, where the middle section is located and communicatively connected between the front section and the rear section. The middle section is composed of a plurality of branches and a plurality of joints arranged alternately. Both sides of each joint are respectively connected to adjacent branches, and the plurality of branches are adjusted to obtain the same or different angles with the joints as the fulcrums. The capillary structure has a plurality of first capillary structures and a plurality of second capillary structures. The plurality of second capillary structures are respectively arranged on the inner walls of the plurality of branches and the plurality of joints in the heat insulation zone. Both ends of the plurality of second capillary structures of each branch respectively extend an extension portion, and the extension portion extends to and overlaps and contacts the plurality of second capillary structures of the adjacent joint.

2. The heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and variation according to claim 1, wherein: The length of each branch along the length direction of the sealed housing is greater than or equal to the length of each joint along the length direction of the sealed housing.

3. The heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and change according to claim 1, wherein: The evaporation zone and the condensation zone are respectively located in the front section and the rear section of the sealed housing.

4. The heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and variation according to claim 3, characterized in that: The plurality of first capillary structures are respectively arranged on the inner walls of the evaporation zone and the condensation zone.

5. The heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and change according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first capillary structure and the second capillary structure are horizontally connected to each other or arranged in a stacked manner.

6. The heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and change according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first capillary structure and the second capillary structure are any one or any combination of sintered bodies, grooves, grid bodies, fibers, and braided bodies.

7. The heat pipe with multi-angle adjustment and change according to claim 1, wherein: The sealed housing is a flat heat pipe.

Images