Flexible heat pipe and electronic equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses a flexible heat pipe and electronic equipment, relates to heat dissipation technical field, the flexible heat pipe includes pipe shell and elastic support piece, pipe shell includes polymer layer and metal layer, metal layer forms vacuum chamber in, the shape of metal layer matches the shape of polymer layer, metal layer lining is provided on polymer layer's inner wall; the elastic supporting piece is located in the vacuum cavity and internally supported on the tube shell, the elastic supporting piece is provided with an inner cavity communicated with the vacuum cavity, and a liquid absorption core and a liquid working medium are arranged in the inner cavity of the elastic supporting piece. The flexible heat pipe is sealed through the sealing metal layer, the metal layer is low in gas transmission rate and good in sealing performance, the metal layer and the polymer layer jointly form the pipe shell, the thickness of the metal layer is smaller, the flexibility of the flexible heat pipe is improved, and therefore the flexible heat pipe is good in sealing performance and high in flexibility, liquid working media are prevented from leaking, and the service life of the flexible heat pipe is prolonged. And the service life of the flexible heat pipe is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of heat dissipation, in particular to a flexible heat pipe and electronic equipment. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the market demand for head-mounted electronic devices and foldable electronic devices has been increasing, but the small effective heat dissipation area caused by the folding structure is a problem that needs to be solved urgently. Although flexible graphite sheets have a certain trans-transfer heat conduction capacity, they can no longer meet the heat dissipation needs of high-density electronic integration. In addition, the product structure is complex and the shape is three-dimensional. The flat heat pipe and heat spreader cannot meet the future heat dissipation needs.

[0003] Flexible heat pipes have excellent properties such as high thermal conductivity, bendability, and high stability. They can adapt to complex and narrow installation spaces and effectively fit the surfaces of electronic components with complex shapes, especially playing an important role in solving the problem of heat dissipation across rotating shafts.

[0004] However, the flexible heat pipes in the prior art usually lack air tightness, which causes the liquid working medium inside to easily leak, and the overall service life of the flexible heat pipe is short. The flexible heat pipes made of polymer materials are sealed by closing the inner cavity. The gas permeability of polymers is relatively large and the sealing is insufficient. The flexible heat pipes made of metal materials have good sealing properties but lack flexibility. Utility Model Content

[0005] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide a flexible heat pipe and electronic equipment, aiming to solve the problems of insufficient air tightness and short service life of flexible heat pipes made of polymer materials in the prior art, and insufficient flexibility of flexible heat pipes made of metal materials.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the flexible heat pipe proposed by the utility model comprises:

[0007] A tube shell, the tube shell comprising a polymer layer and a metal layer, the vacuum cavity is formed in the metal layer, the shape of the metal layer matches the shape of the polymer layer and the metal layer is lined on the inner wall of the polymer layer;

[0008] An elastic support member, wherein the elastic support member is located in the vacuum chamber and is supported by the tube shell. The elastic support member has an inner cavity connected to the vacuum chamber, and a liquid wick and a liquid working medium are arranged in the inner cavity of the elastic support member. The liquid working medium is used to vaporize when heated and flow out of the liquid wick. The vaporized liquid working medium is liquefied after heat dissipation, and the liquid wick is used to absorb the liquid working medium liquefied after heat dissipation.

[0009] In one embodiment, the polymer layer and the metal layer both form a bellows-like structure.

[0010] In one embodiment, the thickness of the metal layer is 0.1 μm to 30 μm, and the thickness of the polymer layer is 10 μm to 200 μm.

[0011] In one embodiment, the material of the metal layer is stainless steel, copper, aluminum or titanium, and the material of the polymer layer is polyimide film, polyester film or polynaphthalene film.

[0012] In one embodiment, the elastic support member is a metal spring or a polymer spring.

[0013] In one embodiment, the liquid working fluid is deionized water, ethanol or fluorocarbon.

[0014] In one embodiment, the wick is a flexible porous mesh fabric structure, and the wick is made of copper, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, nylon, carbon fiber, graphene or polypropylene.

[0015] In one embodiment, both ends of the tube shell are provided with joints integrally formed with the tube shell, the joints are arranged in a conical shape, and the size of the joints gradually decreases in a direction away from the other joint.

[0016] In one embodiment, the cross-section of the tube shell is circular or cylindrical.

[0017] The utility model also provides an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is applied with the above-mentioned flexible heat pipe.

[0018] The technical solution of the utility model adopts an elastic support member to support the tube shell, and the tube shell is evacuated to obtain a vacuum cavity. The tube shell is supported by the elastic support member to prevent the tube shell from being flattened by atmospheric pressure when the internal vacuum is applied. Therefore, the shape of the tube shell can be kept unchanged while retaining the flexible deformation ability of the tube shell and evacuating the tube shell. The vacuum cavity has a sufficient volume for the liquid working medium to change its shape, and the tube shell is prevented from bursting after the liquid working medium is vaporized. A metal layer is lined inside the polymer layer, and the flexible heat pipe is sealed by the sealing metal layer. The gas permeability of the metal layer is low and the sealing performance is good. Since the metal layer and the polymer layer together form the tube shell, the thickness of the metal layer is smaller, so that its flexibility is improved, thereby obtaining a flexible heat pipe with good sealing performance and high flexibility, avoiding leakage of the liquid working medium, and extending the service life of the flexible heat pipe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the utility model. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying creative work.

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a flexible heat pipe provided by the utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of a flexible heat pipe provided by the utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of an embodiment of a flexible heat pipe provided by the utility model.

[0023] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0024] 100. Flexible heat pipe; 1. Tube shell; 11. Polymer layer; 12. Metal layer; 13. Vacuum chamber; 14. Joint; 2. Elastic support member; 21. Liquid wick.

[0025] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of the utility model will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0027] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...), the directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the components in a certain specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0028] In addition, if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the utility model, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features limited to "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In addition, if "and / or" or "and / or" appears in the full text, its meaning includes three parallel solutions. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes solution A, solution B, or solutions that satisfy both A and B. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of ordinary technicians in this field to implement. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the utility model.

[0029] Flexible heat pipes have excellent properties such as high thermal conductivity, bendability, and high stability. They can adapt to complex and narrow installation spaces and effectively fit the surfaces of electronic components with complex shapes, especially playing an important role in solving the problem of heat dissipation across rotating shafts.

[0030] However, the flexible heat pipes in the prior art are usually not airtight enough, which causes the liquid working medium inside to easily leak, and the overall service life of the flexible heat pipe is short.

[0031] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a flexible heat pipe 100 .

[0032] Please combine Figures 1 to 3 In one embodiment of the utility model, the flexible heat pipe 100 includes a tube shell 1 and an elastic support member 2. The tube shell 1 includes a polymer layer 11 and a metal layer 12. A vacuum cavity 13 is formed in the metal layer 12. The shape of the metal layer 12 matches the shape of the polymer layer 11 and the metal layer 12 is lined on the inner wall of the polymer layer 11. The elastic support member 2 is located in the vacuum cavity 13 and is supported by the tube shell 1. The elastic support member 2 has an inner cavity connected to the vacuum cavity 13, and a liquid wick 21 and a liquid working medium are arranged in the inner cavity of the elastic support member 2. The liquid working medium is used to vaporize when heated and flow out of the liquid wick 21. The vaporized liquid working medium is liquefied after heat dissipation. The liquid wick 21 is used to absorb the liquid working medium liquefied after heat dissipation.

[0033] When in use, the liquid working medium is heated and vaporized at the hot end, and the vaporized liquid working medium flows out of the liquid absorbent core 21 to the cold end, and after being liquefied by heat exchange with the cold end, it is sucked back into the liquid absorbent core 21 under the capillary suction action of the liquid absorbent core 21, and this process is repeated to achieve the cooling function.

[0034] The technical solution of the utility model adopts an elastic support member 2 to support the tube shell 1, and the tube shell 1 is evacuated to obtain a vacuum chamber 13. The tube shell 1 is supported by the elastic support member 2 to prevent the tube shell 1 from being flattened by atmospheric pressure when the internal vacuum is applied. Therefore, the shape of the tube shell 1 can be kept unchanged while retaining the flexible deformation ability of the tube shell 1 and evacuating the tube shell 1. The volume of the vacuum chamber 13 is sufficient for the liquid working medium to change its shape, so as to prevent the tube shell 1 from bursting after the liquid working medium vaporizes. A metal layer 12 is lined inside the polymer layer 11, and the flexible heat pipe 100 is sealed by sealing the metal layer 12. The gas permeability of the metal layer 12 is low and the sealing performance is good. Since the metal layer 12 and the polymer layer 11 together form the tube shell 1, the thickness of the metal layer 12 is smaller, so that its flexibility is improved, thereby obtaining a flexible heat pipe 100 with good sealing performance and high flexibility, avoiding leakage of the liquid working medium, and extending the service life of the flexible heat pipe 100.

[0035] In one embodiment, the polymer layer 11 and the metal layer 12 both form a corrugated tube structure. The corrugated tube structure has good flexibility and bending performance, can be bent without affecting the performance of the pipeline, and is suitable for complex and narrow installation environments.

[0036] In one embodiment, the thickness of the metal layer 12 is 0.1 μm to 30 μm, and the thickness of the polymer layer 11 is 10 μm to 200 μm. The thickness of the metal layer 12 is less than that of the polymer layer 11, so that while the metal layer 12 ensures sealing, most of the thickness is still the polymer layer 11, maximizing the flexibility of the tube shell 1, making it suitable for more narrow and complex scenes.

[0037] Specifically, the material of the metal layer 12 is stainless steel, copper, aluminum or titanium, and the material of the polymer layer 11 is polyimide film, polyester film or polynaphthalene film. Stainless steel, copper, aluminum and titanium all have excellent thermal conductivity. The metal layer 12 uses the above materials to facilitate heat exchange with liquid working fluids, and the above materials also have good corrosion resistance and stability, and are not easy to react with liquid working fluids or external impurities, thereby extending the service life; polyimide film, polyester film or polynaphthalene film all have low gas permeability, which effectively improves the sealing of the polymer layer 11. At the same time, the above materials all have high stability, extending the overall service life.

[0038] In one embodiment, the elastic support member 2 is a metal spring or a polymer spring. The spring itself is an elastic member with a cavity inside, and its internal cavity can be directly connected to the outside, without the need to open additional holes connected to the vacuum chamber 13, etc., so using the spring as the elastic support member 2 can meet the functional requirements without the need for additional processing, saving costs and improving production efficiency.

[0039] In one embodiment, the liquid working medium is deionized water, ethanol or fluorocarbon. Deionized water, ethanol or fluorocarbon all have low boiling points and high thermal conductivity, which facilitate rapid heat absorption and vaporization and recovery of liquefaction after cooling, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0040] In one embodiment, the wick 21 is a flexible porous mesh fabric structure, and the material of the wick 21 is copper, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, nylon, carbon fiber, graphene or polypropylene. The wick 21 is a porous mesh structure, which is convenient for sucking back the liquefied liquid working medium through capillary suction, and the pores are convenient for the vaporized liquid working medium to be discharged through the holes, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. At the same time, the above materials all have high thermal conductivity, which is convenient for heat transfer and improves the heat exchange efficiency.

[0041] In one embodiment, both ends of the tube shell 1 are provided with joints 14 integrally formed with the tube shell 1, the joints 14 are arranged in a conical shape, and the size of the joints 14 gradually decreases in the direction away from the other joints 14. The joints 14 are integrally formed with the tube shell 1 to improve the sealing performance, and at the same time, the size of the joints 14 gradually decreases in the direction away from the other joints 14, rather than directly sealing, to increase the transition section, improve its pressure resistance, and improve the stability of the tube shell 1.

[0042] Specifically, the cross section of the tube shell 1 is circular or cylindrical. The circular or cylindrical shape has a stronger pressure bearing capacity, and the pressure in the vacuum chamber can be evenly distributed on the surface of the tube shell 1, avoiding stress concentration leading to damage of the tube shell 1, leakage of liquid working fluid, and other problems, thereby extending the service life of the flexible heat pipe 100.

[0043] The utility model also provides an electronic device, which uses the above-mentioned flexible heat pipe 100. The specific structure of the flexible heat pipe 100 refers to the above-mentioned embodiment. Since the electronic device adopts all the technical solutions of all the above-mentioned embodiments, it at least has all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0044] The flexible heat pipe of the utility model comprises the following steps in the specific preparation process:

[0045] S100: providing a metal layer, and covering the metal layer with a polymer layer so that the metal layer is lined on the inner wall of the polymer layer, thereby obtaining the tube shell;

[0046] S200: placing an elastic support member in the tube shell;

[0047] S300: placing a liquid wick into the inner cavity of the elastic support member;

[0048] S400: sealing both ends of the tube shell and reserving a liquid injection port;

[0049] S500: evacuating the inner cavity of the metal layer through the liquid injection port to form a vacuum cavity, and injecting a liquid working medium through the liquid injection port;

[0050] S600: Seal the liquid injection port to obtain the flexible heat pipe.

[0051] A tube shell 1 is formed by covering a polymer layer 11 on the outside of a metal layer 12. At this time, both ends of the tube shell 1 are open, an elastic support member 2 is provided inside the tube shell 1 for support, and a liquid wick 21 is placed inside the elastic support member 2, and then both ends of the tube shell 1 are sealed. Specifically, a liquid injection port is reserved on the metal layer 12, and the inner cavity of the metal layer 12 is evacuated through the liquid injection port to form a vacuum cavity 13, and then a liquid working medium is injected, and finally the liquid injection port is sealed, thereby obtaining a flexible heat pipe 100.

[0052] The above description is only an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural changes made by using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or directly / indirectly applied in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible heat pipe, characterized in that: include: A tube shell, the tube shell comprising a polymer layer and a metal layer, a vacuum cavity is formed in the metal layer, the shape of the metal layer matches the shape of the polymer layer and the metal layer is lined on the inner wall of the polymer layer; An elastic support member, wherein the elastic support member is located in the vacuum chamber and is supported by the tube shell. The elastic support member has an inner cavity connected to the vacuum chamber, and a liquid wick and a liquid working medium are arranged in the inner cavity of the elastic support member. The liquid working medium is used to vaporize when heated and flow out of the liquid wick. The vaporized liquid working medium is liquefied after heat dissipation, and the liquid wick is used to absorb the liquid working medium liquefied after heat dissipation.

2. The flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that The polymer layer and the metal layer both form a bellows-like structure.

3. The flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that The thickness of the metal layer is 0.1 μm to 30 μm, and the thickness of the polymer layer is 10 μm to 200 μm.

4. The flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that The material of the metal layer is stainless steel, copper, aluminum or titanium, and the material of the polymer layer is polyimide film, polyester film or polynaphthalene film.

5. The flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that The elastic support member is a metal spring or a polymer spring.

6. The flexible heat pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The liquid working medium is deionized water, ethanol or fluorocarbon.

7. The flexible heat pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The absorbent core is a flexible porous mesh fabric structure, and the material of the absorbent core is copper, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, nylon, carbon fiber, graphene or polypropylene.

8. The flexible heat pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that Both ends of the tube shell are provided with joints integrally formed with the tube shell, the joints are arranged in a conical shape, and the size of the joints gradually decreases in the direction away from the other joint.

9. The flexible heat pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The cross section of the tube shell is circular or cylindrical.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device is applied with the flexible heat pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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