Method and apparatus for manufacturing wicks

Abstract

Improve the performance of the wick. [Solution] The method for manufacturing a wick according to the present invention includes a raw material filling step of filling a mold 100, which comprises an outer frame 130 having a molding surface for forming the outer circumference of a base 10 and a slit plate 120 having a molding surface for forming pillars 20 protruding from the base 10, with raw material powder; a sintering step of heating the raw material powder filled in the mold 100 to obtain a sintered body; and an extraction step of removing the sintered body from the mold 100. In particular, in the method for manufacturing the wick 1, the outer frame 130 and the slit plate 120 can be separated from each other, and in the extraction step, the outer frame 130 and the slit plate 120 can be individually removed from the sintered body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a wick having pillars and a manufacturing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in electronic devices, with the high integration of electronic elements and the miniaturization of devices, the amount of heat generated by heat sources such as electronic elements and the heat generation density have been increasing, and the installation of a heat conduction device for releasing the heat of the heat source has become indispensable. For example, in electronic devices, as a heat conduction device that transfers the heat of a heat source by the circulation of a working fluid, a loop heat pipe, a vapor chamber, etc. are installed. In these heat conduction devices, the circulation of the working fluid is generated by the capillary force of a wick having a capillary structure. Here, inside the wick, the smaller the pore diameter of the capillary, the greater the capillary force, and the movement of the working fluid is promoted. Therefore, conventionally, a technique of improving the capillary force by forming a wick with a sintered body is known. In particular, a technique of improving the heat transport efficiency by providing pillars on the surface of a wick composed of a sintered body is known (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional method for manufacturing a wick, since the pillars are formed by machining such as wire cutting and cutting, the pores on the surface of the pillars may be crushed, and the performance of the wick may be deteriorated. An object of the present invention is to improve the performance of a wick.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, the first invention provides a method for manufacturing a wick having pillars, comprising the steps of: filling a mold with raw material powder; heating the raw material powder filled in the mold to obtain a sintered body; and removing the sintered body from the mold, wherein the upper mold and the lower mold can be separated from each other, and in the removal step, the upper mold and the lower mold can be individually removed from the sintered body. In the wick manufacturing method according to the first invention, the pillars are formed by a mold. This prevents the pores on the surface of the pillars from collapsing, thereby improving the performance of the wick. In particular, in the wick manufacturing method according to the first invention, when removing the sintered body from the mold, the upper and lower molds are removed separately from the sintered body, thereby suppressing damage to the pillars. Here, the wick is, for example, wick 1, which will be described later. The pillar is, for example, pillar 20, which will be described later. The base is, for example, base 10, which will be described later. The upper mold is, for example, outer frame 130, which will be described later. The lower mold is, for example, slit plate 120, which will be described later. The molding dies are, for example, molding dies 100 and 400, which will be described later.

[0006] The method for manufacturing a wick according to the second invention is characterized in that, in the method for manufacturing a wick according to the first invention, in the extraction step, the sintered body can be extracted from the lower mold using a jig having a push-up surface capable of pushing up the tip surface of the pillar. In the wick manufacturing method according to the second invention, when removing the sintered body from the mold, the tip surface of the pillar is pushed up by a jig, making it possible to remove the pillar from the lower mold and further suppress damage to the pillar. Here, the pushing surface is, for example, the tip surface of the protrusion 201, which will be described later. The jig is, for example, the extraction jig 200, which will be described later.

[0007] The third invention relates to a method for manufacturing a wick, characterized in that, in the method for manufacturing a wick according to the second invention, the jig is included in the molding die, and the pressing surface forms the tip surface of the pillar. The third invention relates to a method for manufacturing wicks, which makes it possible to reduce the number of parts in the apparatus used to manufacture the wicks. In this case, the molding die in question is, for example, the molding die 400 described later.

[0008] The method for manufacturing a wick according to the fourth invention is characterized in that, in the method for manufacturing a wick according to the first or second invention, the height of the pillar is 1 or more times the width of the pillar. In the wick manufacturing method according to the fourth invention, damage to the pillar can be suppressed, making it possible to form the pillar with a narrower width and a greater height.

[0009] The fifth invention relates to a wick manufacturing apparatus, which is a wick manufacturing apparatus having pillars, and comprises a mold that includes an upper mold having a molding surface for forming the outer circumference of a base and a lower mold having a molding surface for forming pillars protruding from the base, wherein the upper mold and the lower mold are separable from each other. In the wick manufacturing apparatus according to the fifth invention, pillars are formed by a mold. This prevents the collapse of pores on the surface of the pillars, thereby improving the performance of the wick. In particular, in the wick manufacturing apparatus according to the fifth invention, when removing the sintered body from the mold, the upper and lower molds can be removed individually from the sintered body, thereby suppressing damage to the pillars. Here, the wick is, for example, wick 1, which will be described later. The pillar is, for example, pillar 20, which will be described later. The base is, for example, base 10, which will be described later. The upper mold is, for example, outer frame 130, which will be described later. The lower mold is, for example, slit plate 120, which will be described later. The molding dies are, for example, molding dies 100 and 400, which will be described later.

[0010] The wick manufacturing apparatus according to the sixth invention is characterized in that, in the wick manufacturing apparatus according to the fifth invention, it comprises a jig having a lifting surface capable of pushing up the tip surface of the pillar. In the wick manufacturing apparatus according to the sixth invention, when removing the sintered body from the mold, the tip surface of the pillar is pushed up by a jig, making it possible to remove the pillar from the lower mold and further suppress damage to the pillar. Here, the pushing surface is, for example, the tip surface of the protrusion 201, which will be described later. The jig is, for example, the extraction jig 200, which will be described later. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the performance of the wick. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of Wick 1. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of Wick 1. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view of mold 100. [Figure 4] This is a plan view of the slit plate 120. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the extraction jig 200. [Figure 6] This is a plan view of the extraction jig 200. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of the molding die 100. [Figure 8]It is a diagram for explaining a method of extracting the wick 1 from the slit plate 120. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the loop heat pipe 300. [Figure 10] It is a cross-sectional view of the mold 400 according to the modified example.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Configuration of Wick 1) First, the configuration of the wick 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wick 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wick 1. The wick 1 is made of a sintered body and has a porous structure. The wick 1 is formed from SUS (Fe), Cu, Ti, Ni, Cr, Al, Ag, or an alloy thereof. The average porosity of the wick 1 is preferably within the range of 10 to 90%. That is, if the average porosity of the wick 1 is less than 10%, there is a risk that the voids will not become continuous pores. On the other hand, if the average porosity of the wick 1 exceeds 90%, there is a risk of insufficient strength. Therefore, the average porosity of the wick 1 is preferably within the range of 10 to 90%. In particular, the average porosity of the wick 1 is preferably within the range of 30 to 80%.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wick 1 includes a base 10 and a plurality of pillars 20 provided on the surface of the base 10. The base 10 is formed in a flat plate shape with a predetermined thickness. Multiple pillars 20 are provided integrally (in a series) with respect to the base 10. Multiple pillars 20 are provided on one of the surfaces of the base 10, either the upper or lower surface. Alternatively, multiple pillars 20 may be provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the base 10. Multiple pillars 20 are arranged in a grid (matrix) pattern. That is, on the surface of the wick 1, multiple rows of pillars, each consisting of multiple pillars 20 aligned in the left-right direction, are provided along the depth direction. Each pillar 20 is formed in a columnar shape that protrudes upward from the surface of the base 10. In a plan view, each pillar 20 is formed in a long, linear shape that extends along the depth direction. In this embodiment, all pillars 20 extend parallel to each other. Also, all pillars 20 have the same height. In particular, in this embodiment, the height of the pillars 20 is at least 1 times the width (dimension in the left-right direction) of the pillars 20. Furthermore, the shape and dimensions of each pillar 20 can be changed as needed.

[0015] (Wick 1 manufacturing device) Next, we will explain the configuration of the wick manufacturing apparatus. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mold 100. Figure 4 is a plan view of the slit plate 120. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the extraction jig 200. Figure 6 is a plan view of the extraction jig 200. The wick manufacturing apparatus comprises a mold (die) 100 for forming the wick 1, and an extraction jig 200 used to remove the wick 1 (sintered body) from the mold 100. As shown in Figure 3, the mold 100 is composed of a base plate 110, a slit plate (lower mold) 120, and an outer frame (upper mold) 130. The base plate 110, the slit plate 120, and the outer frame 130 are each independent components. That is, the base plate 110, the slit plate 120, and the outer frame 130 can be separated from each other. The mold 100 is then constructed by combining the base plate 110, the slit plate 120, and the outer frame 130 as a single unit. The base plate 110 is formed in a flat shape. The base plate 110 provides the shape of the tip surface of each pillar 20 in the wick 1. That is, the upper surface of the base plate 110 is a molding surface that forms the tip surface of each pillar 20. The slit plate 120 is formed in a flat plate shape. As shown in Figure 4, the slit plate 120 is provided with a plurality of slits 121. Each slit 121 is a through hole. The slit plate 120 provides the shape of the outer circumferential surface of each pillar 20 in the wick 1 and the shape of the surface of the base 10 in the wick 1 (the surface on which the pillars 20 are provided). That is, the slit plate 120 is provided with slits 121 corresponding to each of the plurality of pillars 20 provided in the wick 1. The inner circumferential surface of each slit 121 is a molding surface that forms the outer circumferential surface of the pillar 20 corresponding to that slit 121. The upper surface of the slit plate 120 is a molding surface that forms the surface of the base 10 (the surface on which the pillars 20 are provided). In this embodiment, a draft angle is provided on the inner circumferential surface of each slit 121. That is, for the inner circumferential surface of each slit 121, the inner diameter on the upper side is larger than the inner diameter on the lower side. The outer frame 130 is formed in a roughly rectangular frame shape. In this embodiment, the outer frame 130 is divided into a first frame 131 and a second frame 132. The outer frame 130 provides the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the base 10 in the wick 1. That is, the inner circumferential surface of the outer frame 130 is a molding surface that forms the outer circumferential surface of the base 10. In this embodiment, a draft angle is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the outer frame 130. That is, the inner diameter on the upper side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer frame 130 is larger than the inner diameter on the lower side. However, depending on the extraction order and direction, the inner diameter on the upper side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer frame 130 may be smaller than the inner diameter on the lower side.

[0016] The molding die 100 is constructed by stacking a base plate 110, a slit plate 120, and an outer frame 130. In this configuration, the slit plate 120 is placed on the upper side of the base plate 110, and the outer frame 130 is placed on the upper side of the slit plate 120. In particular, in the molding die 100, the slit plate 120 is positioned relative to the base plate 110 by positioning pins P. In other words, the base plate 110 is positioned relative to the slit plate 120 by positioning pins P. That is, the positioning pins P are formed in a cylindrical shape from a metal such as hardened steel. Furthermore, the upper surface of the base plate 110 is provided with recesses 111 into which the positioning pins P are fitted. In this embodiment, four recesses 111 are provided on the upper surface of the base plate 110. Furthermore, the slit plate 120 is provided with through holes 122 through which the positioning pins P are inserted. In this embodiment, the slit plate 120 is provided with through holes 122 (i.e., four through holes 122) at positions corresponding to each recess 111. Then, in the mold 100, with the base plate 110 and the slit plate 120 stacked together, the positioning pins P are inserted (fitted) into the series of recesses 111 and the corresponding insertion holes 122, thereby positioning the base plate 110 and the slit plate 120 relative to each other. At this time, the upper end faces of each positioning pin P are positioned on the inside of the outer frame 130 (i.e., the area where the wick 1 is molded) in a plan view. However, depending on the shape of the base 10, they may be positioned on the outside of the outer frame 130 (i.e., outside the area where the wick 1 is molded). Furthermore, in the molding die 100, the outer frame 130 is positioned and fixed to the base plate 110 (slit plate 120) by bolts B. In other words, the base plate 110 (slit plate 120) is positioned and fixed to the outer frame 130 by bolts B. That is, bolts B are made of a metal such as hardened steel. The base plate 110 is provided with through holes 112 through which the bolts B are inserted. In this embodiment, the base plate 110 is provided with six through holes 112. The lower surface of the outer frame 130 is provided with screw holes (not shown) through which the tips of the bolts B are screwed. In this embodiment, the lower surface of the outer frame 130 is provided with screw holes (i.e., six screw holes) at positions corresponding to each through hole 112. The slit plate 120 is provided with notches (not shown) at positions corresponding to each through hole 112 (each screw hole). In the mold 100, with the base plate 110, slit plate 120, and outer frame 130 stacked together, bolts B are inserted and screwed from the lower side of the base plate 110 into the coaxially arranged through holes 112 and the corresponding screw holes, thereby positioning and fixing the base plate 110, slit plate 120, and outer frame 130 relative to each other. At this time, if there is no impediment to release properties, the slit plate 120 and outer frame 130 may be made as a single unit.

[0017] The base plate 110, slit plate 120, and outer frame 130 are each formed from a heat-resistant material such as ceramic or stainless steel. In this embodiment, the slit plate 120 is thinner than the base plate 110 and outer frame 130. In this case, the slit plate 120 is prone to thermal deformation and cracking with repeated use, which may necessitate replacement. Therefore, it is preferable to form the base plate 110 and outer frame 130 from ceramic, and the slit plate 120 from stainless steel, which has high workability. Thus, it is preferable to select the appropriate material for the base plate 110, slit plate 120, and outer frame 130 according to the shape of each component, usage conditions, etc.

[0018] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the extraction jig 200 is formed in a flat plate shape. Multiple protrusions 201 are provided on the upper surface of the extraction jig 200. That is, the upper surface of the extraction jig 200 is provided with protrusions 201 corresponding to each of the multiple slits 121 provided in the slit plate 120. Each protrusion 201 is provided so as to protrude from the upper surface of the extraction jig 200. Each protrusion 201 has a shape corresponding to the slit 121 corresponding to that protrusion 201, and can be inserted (entered) into the slit 121 corresponding to that protrusion 201. As a result, as will be described later, when the wick 1 is extracted from the slit plate 120, the tip surface of each protrusion 201 can push up the tip surface of the pillar 20 formed by the slit 121 corresponding to that protrusion 201. In particular, the extraction jig 200 is positioned relative to the slit plate 120 by positioning pins P. In other words, the extraction jig 200 is positioned relative to the slit plate 120 by positioning pins P. That is, the upper surface of the extraction jig 200 is provided with recesses 202 into which the positioning pins P fit. In this embodiment, recesses 202 (i.e., four recesses 202) are provided on the upper surface of the extraction jig 200 at positions corresponding to each insertion hole 122 provided in the slit plate 120. When extracting the wick 1 from the slit plate 120, the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 are positioned relative to each other by inserting (fitting) the positioning pins P into each of the series of recesses 202 and the insertion holes 122 corresponding to the recesses 202, with the extraction jig 200 placed on top of the lower surface of the slit plate 120. Then, when the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 are positioned relative to each other, the tip surfaces of each protrusion 201 on the extraction jig 200 are positioned on the lower side of the slit 121 corresponding to the protrusion 201, and contact the tip surface of the pillar 20 formed by the slit 121. At this time, the upper end surface of the positioning pin P contacts the surface of the base 10.

[0019] (Wick 1 manufacturing method) Next, we will explain the manufacturing method of wick 1. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mold 100. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the method for removing the wick 1 from the slit plate 120. In the manufacturing method of wick 1, a raw material production process is first carried out. In the raw material production process, an organic additive is added to the metal powder to be used as a raw material, and the mixture is stirred to produce raw material powder p. Here, the metal powder p can be SUS powder (Fe powder), Cu powder, Ti powder, Ni powder, Cr powder, Al powder, Ag powder, or a combination of one or more of these powders. Furthermore, the average particle size of the metal powder is preferably in the range of 5 μm to 200 μm. Organic additives allow for adjustment of the filling performance and bulk density during raw material powder filling, thereby enabling adjustment of the porosity of wick 1. Depending on the desired filling performance and porosity, a configuration without organic additives may also be used. Furthermore, when mixing multiple components to produce raw material powder p, segregation and particle size segregation may easily occur. In such cases, it is acceptable to add a liquid of 0.5 ml / kg or less (for example, an oil with a viscosity of 20 mm² / s or less) to the raw material powder p. This makes it possible to suppress segregation and particle size segregation.

[0020] Next, the raw material filling process is carried out. In the raw material filling process, first, the mold 100 is assembled. That is, the base plate 110, the slit plate 120, and the outer frame 130 are stacked on top of each other, and bolts B are inserted and screwed from the lower side of the base plate 110 into the coaxially arranged through holes 112 and the corresponding screw holes. At this time, positioning pins P are inserted (fitted) into the series of recesses 111 and the corresponding through holes 122. Then, as shown in Figure 7, after filling the assembled mold 100 with raw material powder p, the raw material powder p is smoothed by scraping off excess raw material powder p using a scraper, with the upper surface of the outer frame 130 as a reference.

[0021] Next, a sintering process is carried out. In the sintering process, the raw material powder p filled in the mold 100 is sintered (heated) to form a wick 1 (sintered body). That is, the raw material powder p filled in the mold 100 is sintered together with the mold 100 in a predetermined sintering atmosphere and at a predetermined sintering temperature to form a sintered body. By sintering the raw material powder p, adjacent metal particles are diffusion-bonded, and the metal particles are combined to form a porous sintered body. In this process, the sintering atmosphere is appropriately selected depending on the composition of the raw material powder p, and may include a vacuum, an inert gas (such as nitrogen gas or argon gas), a reducing gas (such as ammonia decomposition gas, hydrogen gas, or endothermic gas), or a mixed gas of these reducing gases and inert gases. Furthermore, the sintering temperature is practically within the range of 400 to 1500°C. For example, when using bronze-based powder, it is around 600 to 800°C, and when using iron (SUS)-based powder, it is around 700 to 1350°C. These temperatures should also be appropriately selected depending on the composition of the raw material powder p. In particular, in this embodiment, the height of the pillar 20 in the sintered body is at least one times the width of the pillar 20. That is, in the manufacturing method of the wick 1, it is possible to suppress damage to the pillar 20, and thus it is possible to form the pillar 20 with a narrow width and a high height.

[0022] Next, the extraction process is carried out. In the extraction process, the wick 1 (sintered body) is extracted from the mold 100. To do this, first, the bolt B is removed from the mold 100 and the base plate 110 is removed. Next, the outer frame 130 is removed from the wick 1 (base 10). At this time, the outer frame 130 can be easily removed from the wick 1 (base 10) by separating it into the first frame 131 and the second frame 132. However, if the release properties of the wick 1 from the outer frame 130 can be ensured by the draft angle, etc., the outer frame 130 (first frame 131 and second frame 132) may be constructed as a single unit. Next, the wick 1 (pillar 20) is extracted from the slit plate 120 using the extraction jig 200. That is, the slit plate 120 is placed on top of the upper surface of the extraction jig 200. At this time, the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 are positioned relative to each other by inserting (fitting) the positioning pin P into each of the series of recesses 202 and the insertion holes 122 corresponding to the recesses 202. Once the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 are positioned relative to each other, the tip surfaces of each protrusion 201 provided on the extraction jig 200 are positioned on the lower side of the slit 121 corresponding to the protrusion 201 and come into contact with the tip surface of the pillar 20 formed by the slit 121. Then, as shown in Figure 8, when the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 are positioned relative to each other, and the slit plate 120 is pushed into the extraction jig 200, the tip surfaces of each protrusion 201 push up the tip surfaces of the pillars 20 corresponding to the protrusions 201, the bottom surfaces of each recess 202 of the extraction jig 200 push up the lower end surfaces of the positioning pins P, and the upper end surfaces of the positioning pins P push up the surface of the base 10. In this embodiment, all pillars 20 are pushed up by the protrusions 201. This makes it possible to easily extract the wick 1 (pillars 20) from the slit plate 120. Thus, in this embodiment, the positioning pins P also assist in the extraction of the wick 1 (pillars 20) from the slit plate 120. In this embodiment, the wick 1 (pillar 20) is extracted from the slit plate 120 using an extraction jig 200 during the extraction process. However, the wick 1 (pillar 20) may be extracted from the slit plate 120 without using the extraction jig 200 during the extraction process. Alternatively, the outer frame 130 may be removed simultaneously with the slit plate 120 without prior removal of the outer frame 130.

[0023] Thus, wick 1 is formed. Furthermore, various processing steps may be performed on the wick 1 after the extraction process. For example, the base 10 of the wick 1 extracted from the mold 100 may be cut into a predetermined shape by machining or other processes.

[0024] (Configuration of thermal conduction devices) Next, we will describe an example of a heat conduction device to which wick 1 is applied. Wick 1 can be applied to (used in) heat conduction devices (heat dissipation devices) such as loop heat pipes and vapor chambers. Heat conduction devices can be applied to cooling various electronic devices (personal computers, mobile terminals, etc.), PCUs (power control units) and ECUs used in automobiles, and to cooling nickel-metal hydride batteries and lithium batteries. In this embodiment, an example of applying Wick 1 to a loop heat pipe 300 will be described. Figure 9 shows a schematic configuration of the loop heat pipe 300. As shown in Figure 9, the loop heat pipe 300 is composed of a compensator 310, an evaporator 320, and a condenser 330. The compensator 310 stores the liquefied (liquid phase) refrigerant (working fluid) r. Suitable refrigerants r include water (H2O), helium (He), nitrogen (N2), Freon 22 (CHCIF2), HFC-134a (CH2F-CF3), ammonia (NH3), Freon 113 (CCI2F-CCIF2), HCFC-123 (1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane), acetone (C3H6O), methanol (CH4O), Dowsam A ((C6H5)2+(C6H5)2O), naphthalene (C10H8), cesium (Cs), sodium (Na), lithium (Li), silver (Ag), etc. The evaporator 320 comprises a heat receiving plate 321 and a wick 1. The heat receiving plate 321 is made of pure copper or the like and is positioned in close contact with a heat source h such as a CPU. The wick 1 is positioned inside the evaporator 320. In this case, the back surface of the wick 1 is positioned in contact with the refrigerant r stored in the compensator 310, and the front surface (specifically, the tip surface of each pillar 20) is positioned in contact with the heat receiving plate 321. The condenser 330 cools the vaporized (gas phase) refrigerant r and liquefies it. In the loop heat pipe 300, when heat from the heat source h is transferred to the inside of the evaporator 320 via the heat receiving plate 321, the refrigerant r that has permeated the wick 1 vaporizes (evaporates) on the surface of the wick 1, generating capillary force inside the wick 1. Using the capillary force generated inside the wick 1 as a driving force, the refrigerant r vaporized on the surface of the wick 1 flows through the vapor pipe t1 into the condenser 330, where it is cooled and liquefied (condenses). The liquefied refrigerant r then flows through the liquid pipe t2 back into the compensator 310 and permeates the inside of the wick 1. In this way, the circulation of the refrigerant r is repeated, allowing for continuous heat transport from the evaporator 320 to the condenser 330 without requiring electricity, and enabling the continuous transport and release of heat from the heat source h. In this case, by forming multiple pillars 20 on the surface of the wick 1 (base 10), it is possible to increase the area over which the refrigerant r evaporates, and the spaces between the multiple pillars 20 can be used as passages for the vaporized refrigerant r, thereby improving heat transport efficiency. Furthermore, if multiple pillars 20 are also provided on the back side of the wick 1 (base 10), it is possible to improve the permeability of the liquefied refrigerant r, thereby further improving heat transport efficiency.

[0025] (modified version) Next, a modified example of the wick manufacturing apparatus will be described. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a modified mold 400. In the above embodiment, the mold 100 and the extraction jig 200 are configured separately. However, the extraction jig 200 may also be included in the mold 400. The molding die 400 is configured such that, in the molding die 100, the base plate 110 is replaced with an extraction jig 200. Specifically, as shown in Figure 10, the mold 400 is composed of an extraction jig 200, a slit plate (lower mold) 120, and an outer frame (upper mold) 130. The extraction jig 200, the slit plate 120, and the outer frame 130 are each independent components. That is, the extraction jig 200, the slit plate 120, and the outer frame 130 can be separated from each other. The mold 400 is constructed by combining the extraction jig 200, the slit plate 120, and the outer frame 130 as a single unit. In particular, in the mold 400, the extraction jig 200 imparts the shape of the tip surface of each pillar 20 in the wick 1. That is, the tip surface of each protrusion 201 of the extraction jig 200 becomes the molding surface that shapes the tip surface of each pillar 20.

[0026] The molding die 400 is constructed by stacking an extraction jig 200, a slit plate 120, and an outer frame 130. In this configuration, the slit plate 120 is positioned on the upper side of the extraction jig 200 via a spacer s, and the outer frame 130 is positioned on the upper side of the slit plate 120. In particular, in the molding die 400, positioning of the slit plate 120 relative to the extraction jig 200 by positioning pins P is not required. However, if it is desired to assist in the extrusion of the base 10 during extraction, it is preferable to place positioning pins P. In this case, in the molding die 400, with the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 stacked on top of each other with spacers s in between, the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 are positioned relative to each other by inserting (fitting) the positioning pins P into each of the series of recesses 202 and the insertion holes 122 corresponding to the recesses 202. Once the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 are positioned relative to each other, the tip surfaces of each protrusion 201 provided on the extraction jig 200 are positioned on the lower surface side of the slit 121 corresponding to the protrusion 201. Furthermore, in the molding die 400, the outer frame 130 is positioned and fixed to the extraction jig 200 (slit plate 120) by bolts B. In other words, the extraction jig 200 (slit plate 120) is positioned and fixed to the outer frame 130 by bolts B. That is, the extraction jig 200 is provided with through holes (not shown) through which the bolts B are inserted. In this modified example, the extraction jig 200 is provided with through holes corresponding to each screw hole provided in the outer frame 130. The slit plate 120 is provided with notches (not shown) at positions corresponding to each through hole (each screw hole). Then, in the mold 400, with the extraction jig 200, slit plate 120, and outer frame 130 stacked together, bolts B are inserted and screwed into the coaxially arranged through holes and corresponding screw holes from the lower side of the extraction jig 200, thereby positioning and fixing the extraction jig 200, slit plate 120, and outer frame 130 relative to each other.

[0027] In the raw material filling process, the mold 400 is first assembled. Specifically, the extraction jig 200, the slit plate 120, and the outer frame 130 are stacked on top of each other, and bolts B are inserted and screwed into the coaxially arranged through holes and corresponding screw holes from the lower side of the extraction jig 200. At this time, positioning pins P are inserted (fitted) into the series of recesses 202 and the corresponding through holes 122. Spacers s are also placed between the upper surface of the extraction jig 200 and the lower surface of the slit plate 120. After filling the assembled mold 400 with raw material powder p, the raw material powder p is smoothed by scraping off excess raw material powder p using a scraper, with the upper surface of the outer frame 130 as a reference. In the extraction process, the wick 1 (sintered body) is extracted from the mold 400. To do this, first, the bolt B is removed from the mold 400, and the outer frame 130 is removed from the wick 1 (base 10). At this time, the outer frame 130 is separated into the first frame 131 and the second frame 132, which makes it possible to easily remove it from the wick 1 (base 10). Next, the spacer s is removed, and the wick 1 (pillar 20) is extracted from the slit plate 120 using the extraction jig 200. In other words, when the spacer s is removed and the extraction jig 200 and the slit plate 120 are positioned relative to each other, and the slit plate 120 is pushed into the extraction jig 200, the tip surfaces of each protrusion 201 push up the tip surfaces of the pillars 20 corresponding to the protrusion 201, the bottom surfaces of each recess 202 of the extraction jig 200 push up the lower end surfaces of the positioning pins P, and the upper end surfaces of the positioning pins P push up the surface of the base 10. In this modified example, all pillars 20 are pushed up by the protrusions 201. This makes it possible to easily remove the wick 1 (pillars 20) from the slit plate 120.

[0028] (Mechanism of action of the present invention) The method for manufacturing the wick 1 is a method for manufacturing the wick 1 having pillars 20, and comprises a raw material filling step of filling a mold 100, which includes an outer frame 130 having a molding surface for forming the outer circumference of a base 10, and a slit plate 120 having a molding surface for forming pillars 20 protruding from the base 10, with raw material powder p; a sintering step of heating the raw material powder p filled in the mold 100 to obtain a sintered body; and an extraction step of removing the sintered body from the mold 100. In particular, in the method for manufacturing the wick 1, the outer frame 130 and the slit plate 120 can be separated from each other, and in the extraction step, the outer frame 130 and the slit plate 120 can be individually removed from the sintered body. In other words, in the manufacturing method of wick 1, the pillar 20 is formed by the mold 100. This prevents the pores on the surface of the pillar 20 from collapsing, thereby improving the performance of wick 1. In particular, in the manufacturing method of wick 1, when removing the sintered body from the mold 100, the outer frame 130 and the slit plate 120 are removed individually from the sintered body, thereby suppressing damage to the pillar 20. Furthermore, in the manufacturing method of wick 1, during the extraction process, the sintered body can be extracted from the slit plate 120 using an extraction jig 200 having a push-up surface (the tip surface of the protrusion 201) that can push up the tip surface of the pillar 20. This makes it possible to extract the pillar 20 from the slit plate 120 by pushing up the tip surface of the pillar 20 with the extraction jig 200 when extracting the sintered body from the mold 100, thereby further suppressing damage to the pillar 20. Furthermore, in the manufacturing method of wick 1, the extraction jig 200 is included in the mold 100, and the pressing surface (the tip surface of the protrusion 201) forms the tip surface of the pillar 20. This makes it possible to reduce the number of parts in the apparatus for manufacturing wick 1. Furthermore, in the manufacturing method of wick 1, the height of the pillar 20 is more than one times the width of the pillar 20. In other words, the manufacturing method of wick 1 makes it possible to suppress damage to the pillar 20, and thus makes it possible to form the pillar 20 with a narrow width and a high height. Furthermore, the wick manufacturing apparatus for the wick 1 is a wick manufacturing apparatus having pillars 20, and includes a mold 100 comprising an outer frame 130 having a molding surface for forming the outer circumference of the base 10, and a slit plate 120 having a molding surface for forming the pillars 20 protruding from the base 10. In particular, the outer frame 130 and the slit plate 120 are separable from each other. In other words, in the wick 1 manufacturing apparatus, the pillars 20 are formed by the mold 100. This prevents the pores on the surface of the pillars 20 from collapsing, thereby improving the performance of the wick 1. In particular, in the manufacturing apparatus for wick 1, when removing the sintered body from the mold 100, the outer frame 130 and the slit plate 120 can be removed individually from the sintered body, thereby suppressing damage to the pillar 20. Furthermore, the manufacturing apparatus for wick 1 is equipped with an extraction jig 200 having a push-up surface (the tip surface of the protrusion 201) that can push up the tip surface of the pillar 20. This makes it possible to extract the pillar 20 from the slit plate 120 by pushing up the tip surface of the pillar 20 with the extraction jig 200 when removing the sintered body from the mold 100, thereby further suppressing damage to the pillar 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1. Wick (sintered body) 10 base 20 Pillars 100 molds 110 Base Plate 120 Slit Plate 130 Outer Frame 200 Extraction Jig 400 mold

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a wick having pillars, A molding die comprising an upper mold having a molding surface for forming the outer circumference of the base and a lower mold having a molding surface for forming a pillar protruding from the base, is filled with raw material powder. A step of heating the raw material powder filled in the mold to obtain a sintered body, The process includes an extraction step of removing the sintered body from the mold, The upper mold and the lower mold are separable from each other. A method for manufacturing a wick, characterized in that, in the extraction step, the upper mold and the lower mold can be individually removed from the sintered body.

2. The method for manufacturing a wick according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the extraction step, the sintered body can be extracted from the lower mold using a jig having a push-up surface capable of pushing up the tip surface of the pillar.

3. The jig is included in the molding die, The method for manufacturing a wick according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressing surface forms the tip surface of the pillar.

4. The method for manufacturing a wick according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the height of the pillar is at least one times the width of the pillar.

5. A wick manufacturing apparatus having pillars, The molding die comprises an upper mold having a molding surface for forming the outer circumference of the base, and a lower mold having a molding surface for forming a pillar protruding from the base, A wick manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the upper mold and the lower mold can be separated from each other.

6. The wick manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a jig having a pushing surface capable of pushing up the tip surface of the pillar.

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