Braided Fiber Vapor Chamber Mounting to Prevent Overtightening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vapor chamber manufacturing processes are time-consuming and costly due to sintering requirements, leading to increased weight and thermal performance issues, and existing attachment methods can cause overtightening and poor thermal performance in thin-profile electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
The use of braided fiber structures for vapor chambers, which reduce manufacturing time and weight by using pre-made columns and wicks, and a helicoidal washer for secure attachment that limits axial load and prevents overtightening, allowing for better thermal performance and accommodation of flatness variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional sintering processes are used to manufacture vapor chambers, then structural strength is achieved, but manufacturing time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Columns and wicks are pre-formed as separate components before assembly into the vapor chamber. This preliminary preparation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual parts that can be quickly assembled, eliminating the need for time-consuming sintering processes during final vapor chamber production.
Solution Approach 2:
The vapor chamber is divided into separate functional components: columns, wicks, and the chamber body itself. These segmented parts are manufactured independently using optimized processes for each component type, then assembled together, which reduces overall manufacturing time and complexity compared to monolithic sintering.
2Strength
If traditional attachment methods are used to secure vapor chambers, then mechanical strength is achieved, but overtightening occurs causing damage to thin-profile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic compliant system. The spring arm flexes during tightening to absorb excess force, then maintains a controlled clamping force on the vapor chamber. This dynamic behavior prevents overtightening damage while ensuring adequate mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring arm is designed with inherent elasticity to act as a cushioning element before damage can occur. As the fastener is tightened, the spring arm deforms elastically to absorb surplus tightening force, preventing it from being transmitted to the vapor chamber and causing overtightening damage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid attachment structures are used, then mechanical stability is achieved, but flatness variations cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arm functions as a flexible structural element that can deform to accommodate variations in the mounting surface flatness. This flexibility allows the attachment system to adapt to non-uniform surfaces while maintaining mechanical stability through the spring's restoring force and the overall rigid connection once seated.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces vapor chamber manufacturing time and cost, enhances thermal performance, and prevents damage from overtightening, while maintaining the thin profile and thermal efficiency of electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a working fluid enclosed within the cavity, wherein the working fluid partially fills the cavity
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator plate; a condenser plate attached to the evaporator plate such that a cavity is formed between the evaporator plate and the condenser plate
Implementation Method 3
a condenser plate attached to the evaporator plate such that a cavity is formed between the evaporator plate and the condenser plate
Implementation Method 4
a helicoidal washer for secure attachment that limits axial load and prevents overtightening
Implementation Method 5
at least a portion of the one or more columns include fiber braids and one or more wicks
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D~3B
AI summary
Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can be configured to include a vapor chamber and means of attachment for the vapor chamber. The vapor chamber can include one or more columns, where at least a portion of the columns include fiber braids and one or more wicks. At least one of the wicks can also include the fiber braids. The columns can be braised to a top plate or a bottom plate of the vapor chamber. The vapor chamber can be secured over a heat source using a vapor chamber securing means that can include spring arms. The spring arms can bend, flex, rotate, etc. to absorb some of the force when vapor chamber is secured over the heat source.