Heat pipe production process and heat pipe

Abstract

The application discloses a heat pipe production process and a heat pipe. The process comprises the following steps: a pipe manufacturing step, in which a pipe body with open structures at both ends is prepared; a necking step, in which a necking machine is used to process one end of the pipe body, so that the size of the pipe opening is reduced, and a necked end is formed; a welding end step, in which the necked end of the pipe body is welded to form a welding structure for closing the pipe opening of the necked end; a bottom punching step, in which the necked end of the welded pipe body is placed in a corresponding stamping jig, and a stamping device is used to stamp the necked end of the pipe body and the welding structure of the necked end along the axial direction of the pipe body, so that the necked end of the pipe body and the welding structure are stamped into a flat stamping part; and a capillary step, in which related materials for preparing a capillary structure are placed into the pipe body through the pipe opening at the other end of the pipe body, and the pipe body is placed into a heating device for sintering, so that a wall capillary structure is formed on the inner circumferential wall of the pipe body. By using the above process, the invalid length of the end of the prepared heat pipe can be reduced, and the performance of the heat pipe is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of heat pipe manufacturing technology, and in particular to a heat pipe manufacturing process and a heat pipe. Background Technology

[0002] A heat pipe is a heat transfer element that utilizes the principles of heat conduction and the rapid heat transfer properties of phase change media to quickly transfer heat from a heat-generating object to the outside of the heat source. Figure 1 The image shows a semi-finished heat pipe produced using existing heat pipe manufacturing processes, for reference. Figure 1 The existing heat pipe manufacturing process typically involves: first, fabricating the heat pipe body 10; then, narrowing the end of the body 10 to reduce its opening size; next, welding the narrowed end to form a welded structure 21 at the narrowed end 11 to seal it; followed by capillary fabrication of the inner circumferential wall of the body 10 and liquid injection vacuuming to produce a heat pipe as described above. Figure 1 The heat pipe semi-finished product shown. In the existing process, the volume and shape of the welded structure 21 obtained by the welding step are difficult to control, especially for the part inside the tube body 10, which results in a large ineffective length at the end of the tube body 10, affecting the performance of the heat pipe. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes a heat pipe manufacturing process that, by adding a bottom punching step, helps to reduce the ineffective length of the ends of the manufactured heat pipe, thereby improving the performance of the heat pipe.

[0004] The present invention also proposes a heat pipe manufactured using this heat pipe production process.

[0005] The heat pipe manufacturing process according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

[0006] The tube manufacturing process involves preparing a tube body as needed, with both ends of the tube body being open structures.

[0007] The necking step involves processing one end of the tube body using a necking machine to reduce the tube opening size to a preset size, thus forming a necked end.

[0008] The welding end step involves welding the constricted end of the pipe body to form a welded structure at the constricted end and to seal the constricted end of the pipe.

[0009] In the bottom punching step, the constricted end of the welded pipe is placed in the corresponding stamping fixture, and the constricted end and the welded structure of the constricted end are stamped along the axial direction of the pipe by the stamping equipment, so that the constricted end and the welded structure of the pipe are stamped into a flat stamped part.

[0010] The capillary step involves inserting the relevant material for preparing the capillary structure into the tube through the opening at the other end of the tube and placing it in a heating device for sintering, so as to form a wall capillary structure on the inner peripheral wall of the tube.

[0011] According to the heat pipe manufacturing process of the present invention, it has at least the following beneficial effects: by adding a bottom punching step after the welding end step and before the capillary step, the constricted end of the tube body and the welding structure of the constricted end are flattened in the axial direction of the tube body by stamping, so that the end of the tube body forms a flat stamped part, which helps to reduce the ineffective length of the end of the heat pipe and thus improve the performance of the heat pipe.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, during the welding end step, argon arc welding is used to weld the constricted end of the pipe body.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, during the welding end step, the argon gas flow rate for argon arc welding is controlled at 10 to 20 LPM.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the tube body is cleaned before the welding process.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, during the capillary step, a central rod is inserted into the tube body through the opening at the other end of the tube body, so that a filler gap is formed between the outer peripheral wall of the central rod and the inner peripheral wall of the tube body. Metal powder is filled into the filler gap, and then the tube body filled with metal powder, together with the central rod, is placed into a heating device for heating and sintering, so that the metal powder is sintered onto the inner peripheral wall of the tube body to form a wall capillary structure.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the end capillary structure is prepared before the capillary step, and the prepared end capillary structure is inserted into the inside of the tube body after the bottom punching step and before the capillary step, so that the end capillary structure contacts the stamping part.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when preparing the end capillary structure, metal powder is filled into a sintering fixture, and then the sintering fixture filled with metal powder is placed in a heating device for heating and sintering to obtain an end capillary structure that matches the inner diameter of the tube.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when preparing the end capillary structure and / or performing the capillary step, a reducing gas is introduced into the heating device during the sintering process.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when preparing the end capillary structure and / or performing the capillary step, a protective gas is introduced into the heating device during the sintering process.

[0020] The heat pipe according to the second aspect embodiment of the present invention employs the heat pipe manufacturing process of the first aspect embodiment of the present invention described above.

[0021] The heat pipe according to the embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: by adopting the above-described heat pipe manufacturing process, it is beneficial to reduce the ineffective length of the end of the heat pipe, thereby improving the performance of the heat pipe.

[0022] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the end cross-sectional structure of a heat pipe semi-finished product obtained by existing processes in the background art of this invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the end cross-sectional structure of the heat pipe semi-finished product obtained by the heat pipe manufacturing process of this embodiment of the invention.

[0026] Figure label:

[0027] 10. Tube body, 11. Narrow end, 21. Welded structure, 22. Stamped part, 30. Center bar, 41. Wall capillary structure, 42. End capillary structure. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0029] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0030] Reference Figure 1 The existing heat pipe manufacturing process typically involves welding at the constricted end 11 to form a welded structure 21 that seals the constricted end 11, followed by direct capillary fabrication of the inner circumferential wall of the pipe body 10. The resulting heat pipe semi-finished product is as follows: Figure 1As shown, in the existing process, the volume of the welded structure 21 obtained by the welding step is difficult to control and the shape is irregular. In particular, for the part of the welded structure 21 inside the tube body 10, there are certain undulations, which affect the preparation of the capillary structure inside the tube body 10. This results in an ineffective length of size a at the end of the tube body 10. The ineffective length is relatively long, which affects the performance of the heat pipe.

[0031] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 A heat pipe manufacturing process includes the following steps:

[0032] In the tube manufacturing step, tube body 10 is prepared as needed, with both ends of tube body 10 being open structures;

[0033] The necking step involves processing one end of the tube body 10 using a necking machine to reduce the tube opening size at that end to a preset size, forming a necked end 11.

[0034] In the welding step, the constricted end 11 of the pipe body 10 is welded to form a welding structure 21 at the pipe opening of the constricted end 11 and to close the pipe opening of the constricted end 11 with the welding structure 21.

[0035] In the bottom punching step, the constricted end 11 of the welded pipe body 10 is placed in the corresponding stamping fixture, and the constricted end 11 and the welded structure 21 of the constricted end 11 are stamped along the axial direction of the pipe body 10 by the stamping equipment, so that the constricted end 11 and the welded structure 21 of the pipe body 10 are stamped into a flat stamped part 22.

[0036] In the capillary step, the relevant material for preparing the capillary structure is inserted into the tube 10 through the tube opening at the other end of the tube 10 and then placed in a heating device for sintering, so as to form a wall capillary structure 41 on the inner peripheral wall of the tube 10.

[0037] Understandably, by adding a bottom-punching step after the welding step and before the capillary step, the constricted end 11 of the tube body 10 and the welded structure 21 of the constricted end 11 are flattened along the axial direction of the tube body 10 by stamping, so that the end of the tube body 10 forms a flat stamped part 22, reducing the undulation of its end and making the inner side of the heat pipe end relatively flat, as shown in the figure. Figure 2 The heat pipe semi-finished product produced by this method will have an ineffective length of size b at its end, which is smaller than the ineffective length of size a formed by the traditional process. This helps to reduce the ineffective length at the end of the heat pipe and thus improve the performance of the heat pipe.

[0038] In practical applications, a corresponding stamping fixture can be designed according to the inner diameter of the tube body 10 to facilitate stamping of the constricted end 11 and the welded structure 21 of the constricted end 11 along the axial direction of the tube body 10. The material of the tube body 10 is usually copper, and its inner and outer diameters can be set according to actual usage requirements.

[0039] In some embodiments, during the welding end step, argon arc welding is used to weld the constricted end 11 of the pipe body 10. It is understood that argon arc welding offers advantages such as high weld quality, high efficiency, and good protection, facilitating the sealing of the constricted end 11 of the pipe body 10 and simplifying production applications. In practical applications, in addition to argon arc welding, other welding methods can be used, such as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and resistance welding, depending on the specific application requirements.

[0040] Furthermore, during the welding end step, the argon gas flow rate for TIG welding is controlled at 10–20 LPM (including the end value). It is understood that the main function of argon gas during welding is to protect the metal at the welding location from oxidation at high temperatures. Setting the argon gas flow rate to 10–20 LPM (including the end value) achieves good anti-oxidation effects while avoiding waste due to excessive argon gas, facilitating production applications. In practical applications, the specific argon gas flow rate can be 10 LPM, 15 LPM, or 20 LPM, depending on the actual usage requirements.

[0041] In some embodiments, the tube body 10 is cleaned before the welding step. It is understood that the cleaning process can be performed after the tube fabrication step and before the necking step, or after the necking step and before the welding step, to clean the ends and interior of the tube body 10, reducing oil contamination at the ends and inside the tube. This helps ensure welding quality and the subsequent quality of sintering the capillary structure onto the inner wall of the tube, achieving better end sealing and capillary adhesion effects. In practical applications, the cleaning process can be performed by immersion cleaning or by using an ultrasonic cleaning device, depending on the specific application requirements.

[0042] In some embodiments, during the capillary step, a central rod 30 is inserted into the tube body 10 through the opening at the other end of the tube body 10, so that a filler gap is formed between the outer peripheral wall of the central rod 30 and the inner peripheral wall of the tube body 10. Metal powder is filled into the filler gap, and then the tube body 10 filled with metal powder, together with the central rod 30, is placed into a heating device for heating and sintering, so that the metal powder is sintered onto the inner peripheral wall of the tube body 10 to form a wall capillary structure 41.

[0043] Understandably, such as Figure 2As shown, after the welding step, one end of the tube 10 is a closed structure, while the other end remains open. During the capillary step, the tube 10 can be placed with the open end facing upwards, and the center rod 30 can be inserted into the tube 10, forming a filler gap (not shown in the figure) between the outer peripheral wall of the center rod 30 and the inner peripheral wall of the tube 10. Then, metal powder is filled into the filler gap. Subsequently, the tube 10 filled with metal powder, together with the center rod 30, is placed in a heating device for heating and sintering, so that the metal powder is sintered onto the inner peripheral wall of the tube 10 to form a wall capillary structure 41. The above-mentioned capillary preparation method is relatively simple. When manufacturing the heat pipe subsequently, the center rod 30 is pulled out of the tube 10 to ensure that the heat pipe has sufficient gas passage space for easy production and application. In practical applications, the metal powder can be copper powder. In addition to metal powder, the materials used to prepare the capillary structure can also include metal mesh and woven mesh. These materials can be placed into the tube 10 together or separately during the preparation of the wall capillary structure 41 for sintering. For example, copper powder can be filled into the gaps between the fillers and sintered. Then, the central rod 30 can be pulled out and a copper mesh or woven mesh can be inserted into the tube 10 for sintering. Alternatively, the copper mesh and / or woven mesh can be wrapped around the outside of the central rod 30 and inserted into the tube 10 so that the copper mesh and / or woven mesh are sintered on the inner circumferential wall of the tube 10 to form the wall capillary structure 41. The specific settings can be made according to the actual needs of the application.

[0044] Furthermore, before performing the capillary step, the end capillary structure 42 is prepared. After the bottom punching step and before the capillary step, the prepared end capillary structure 42 is inserted into the inside of the tube body 10 so that the end capillary structure 42 contacts the stamping part 22.

[0045] Understandably, such as Figure 2 As shown, unlike traditional processes, this invention adds a padding step after the bottom-punching step and before the capillary step. The padding step involves inserting a prepared end capillary structure 42 into the interior of the tube body 10, bringing the end capillary structure 42 into contact with the stamping part 22. This provides end capillary padding between the inserted center rods 30. This design ensures that after the capillary step, the end capillary structure 42 inside the tube body 10 can effectively connect with the wall capillary structure 41, increasing its capillary return efficiency. It also helps reduce the ineffective length of the heat pipe, improving its performance. In practical applications, the preparation of the end capillary structure 42 can be carried out at any time before the capillary step, as long as the padding step can be performed after the bottom-punching step and before the capillary step. The specific steps can be set according to actual usage requirements.

[0046] Furthermore, when preparing the end capillary structure 42, metal powder is filled into a sintering fixture, and then the sintering fixture filled with metal powder is placed in a heating device for heating and sintering to obtain an end capillary structure 42 that is compatible with the inner diameter of the tube body 10.

[0047] Understandably, such as Figure 2 As shown, regarding the preparation of the end capillary structure 42, in this embodiment, both the end capillary structure 42 and the wall capillary structure 41 are prepared by powder sintering. Both use copper powder, which helps ensure good bonding during the capillary sintering process and increases capillary return efficiency. In practical applications, the resulting end capillary structure 42 can be a flat cylinder. The sintering fixture can be set according to actual needs, as long as the prepared end capillary structure 42 is compatible with the inner diameter of the tube body 10.

[0048] In some embodiments, during the preparation of the end capillary structure 42 and / or the capillary step, a reducing gas is introduced into the heating device during sintering. It is understood that the main purpose of introducing a reducing gas during sintering is to utilize its reducing properties to reduce the oxides in the metal powder and tube 10, thereby reducing oxide impurities. In practical applications, the reducing gas can be hydrogen or carbon monoxide, etc., and can be specifically set according to actual usage requirements.

[0049] In some embodiments, during the preparation of the end capillary structure 42 and / or the capillary step, a protective gas is introduced into the heating device during sintering. It is understood that the main purpose of introducing a protective gas during sintering is to protect the metal powder and tube 10 from oxidation during heating. In this embodiment, the gas introduced into the heating device during sintering is a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen. Hydrogen, as a reducing gas, has good reducing properties and is relatively safe to use, while nitrogen, as a protective gas, is inexpensive, which helps reduce production costs. In practical applications, the protective gas can also be an inert gas, such as helium, argon, etc., and can be set according to actual usage requirements.

[0050] The heat pipe according to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention employs the heat pipe manufacturing process described in the first aspect embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] According to the heat pipe of the present invention, by adopting the above-described heat pipe manufacturing process, it is advantageous to reduce the ineffective length at the end of the manufactured heat pipe, thereby improving the performance of the heat pipe.

[0052] Since other components of the heat pipe in the embodiments of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art, they will not be described in detail here.

[0053] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat pipe manufacturing process, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The tube manufacturing process involves preparing a tube body as needed, with both ends of the tube body being open structures. The necking step involves processing one end of the tube body using a necking machine to reduce the tube opening size to a preset size, thus forming a necked end. The welding end step involves welding the constricted end of the pipe body to form a welded structure at the constricted end and to seal the constricted end of the pipe. In the bottom punching step, the constricted end of the welded pipe is placed in the corresponding stamping fixture, and the constricted end and the welded structure of the constricted end are stamped along the axial direction of the pipe by the stamping equipment, so that the constricted end and the welded structure of the pipe are stamped into a flat stamped part. The capillary step involves inserting the relevant material for preparing the capillary structure into the tube through the opening at the other end of the tube and placing it in a heating device for sintering, so as to form a wall capillary structure on the inner peripheral wall of the tube.

2. The heat pipe manufacturing process according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the welding process, argon arc welding is used to weld the constricted end of the pipe.

3. The heat pipe manufacturing process according to claim 2, characterized in that, During the welding process, the argon gas flow rate for argon arc welding is controlled at 10–20 LPM.

4. The heat pipe manufacturing process according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before performing the welding process, the tube body is cleaned.

5. The heat pipe manufacturing process according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the capillary process, a central rod is inserted into the tube through the opening at the other end of the tube, creating a filler gap between the outer peripheral wall of the central rod and the inner peripheral wall of the tube. Metal powder is then filled into the filler gap. The tube filled with metal powder, along with the central rod, is then placed into a heating device for heating and sintering, which causes the metal powder to adhere to the inner peripheral wall of the tube, thus forming a capillary structure in the wall.

6. The heat pipe manufacturing process according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before the capillary step, the end capillary structure is prepared. After the bottom punching step and before the capillary step, the prepared end capillary structure is inserted into the inside of the tube so that the end capillary structure contacts the stamping part.

7. The heat pipe manufacturing process according to claim 6, characterized in that, When preparing the end capillary structure, metal powder is filled into a sintering fixture, and then the sintering fixture filled with metal powder is placed in a heating device for heating and sintering to obtain an end capillary structure that matches the inner diameter of the tube.

8. The heat pipe manufacturing process according to claim 7, characterized in that, When preparing end capillary structures and / or performing capillary steps, reducing gas is introduced into the heating device during sintering.

9. The heat pipe manufacturing process according to claim 8, characterized in that, When preparing end capillary structures and / or performing capillary steps, a protective gas is introduced into the heating device during the sintering process.

10. A heat pipe, characterized in that, The heat pipe manufacturing process according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is adopted.

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