Heat Pipe Inner Ring Structural Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pipes used in electronic products face a trade-off between thermoconducting efficiency and structural strength, where increasing the surface area for heat dissipation compromises the structural integrity, leading to deformation when in contact with a heat source.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inner ring within the heat pipe that supports the body and wick structure, allowing for a thinner base design while maintaining structural strength and enhancing thermoconducting efficiency by preventing deformation and maintaining heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the surface area for heat conducting is enlarged, then the thermoconducting efficiency is improved, but the structural strength of the connection becomes weaker
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe body is segmented into multiple functional layers: a base layer for heat conduction, a reinforcement layer with rib structures for structural strength, and a cover layer. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between surface area for heat conduction and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe employs composite material construction with a base layer made of thermally conductive material and a reinforcement layer made of structurally strong material. This composite structure enables simultaneous optimization of thermal performance and mechanical strength, allowing enlarged surface area while maintaining connection strength.
2Strength
If the thickness of the base is increased to solve deformation, then the structural strength is improved, but the thermoconducting efficiency is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into a thin heat conduction layer and a separate reinforcement layer with rib structures. The thin base layer maintains high thermal conductivity by minimizing thickness, while the reinforcement layer provides structural strength through its geometric design, eliminating the need to increase overall thickness for strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing thickness in the vertical dimension to improve strength, the reinforcement layer uses horizontal rib structures that extend across the base. This dimensional transition provides structural reinforcement without adding vertical thickness, thereby preserving thermal conduction efficiency.
3Productivity
If the base area is enlarged for heat dissipation, then the heat dissipation capacity is improved, but the deformation under locking force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base combines a thin heat conduction material layer with a reinforcement material layer featuring rib structures. This composite construction allows the base to achieve large surface area for heat dissipation while the reinforcement layer prevents deformation under locking force through its geometric strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement layer introduces horizontal rib structures that extend across the base area, providing structural support in the horizontal dimension rather than increasing vertical thickness. This allows enlarged base area for heat dissipation while maintaining stability under locking force through the rib reinforcement.
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
The inner ring supports the heat pipe, preventing deformation and allowing for a thinner base that maintains high thermoconducting efficiency, effectively addressing the structural strength vs. efficiency trade-off in heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
The inner ring is disposed in the enclosed space for increasing a structural strength of the heat pipe and the inner ring is pressed against the top and the bottom of the body or in contact with the wick structure located at the top and the bottom of the body, respectively
Implementation Method 2
a heat pipe with strong structural strength that is applied to a heat dissipation module
Implementation Method 3
The wick structure is disposed on an inner surface of the body
Data Source
AI summary
A heat dissipation module includes a plurality of fins and a heat pipe connected with the fins. The heat pipe includes a body, which forms an enclosed space, and an inner ring. A wick structure is disposed on the inner surface of the body, and the inner ring is disposed in the enclosed space for increasing a structural strength of the heat pipe. The inner ring is pressed against the top and bottom of the body or in contact with the wick structure located at the top and the bottom of the body, respectively. The inner ring includes at least one opening located close to the top of the body for communicating inside and outside of the inner ring.