Rotatable Latch Compressing Thermal Interface Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for compressing thermal interface materials between heat generating and cooling electrical components lack efficient mechanisms to consistently apply and maintain compression, affecting heat transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable latch system is introduced, where a draw rod with a pin is coupled to a cooling electrical component, and a rotatable latch with a hook is attached to a heat generating component, allowing for controlled engagement and compression of the thermal interface material by rotating the latch from an unengaged to an engaged position, ensuring consistent contact and compression between the heat spreader and the cooling rack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a compression mechanism is implemented to compress the thermal interface material, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism transitions between engaged and disengaged states dynamically. When engaged, the latch applies compression force through the draw rod to compress the thermal interface material, improving heat transfer. When disengaged, the components can be separated. This dynamic state change allows the system to adapt between compression (for better thermal contact) and separation (for maintenance or reconfiguration).
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is designed to be manually operable, allowing users to engage and disengage the compression without requiring external power sources or complex control systems. The spring-loaded design provides automatic return to the disengaged state, eliminating the need for additional actuators or control electronics.
2Ease of operation
If the latch mechanism is made easily separable and re-engagable, then ease of operation is improved, but compression consistency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded latch mechanism automatically returns to the disengaged position after being actuated, eliminating the need for manual manipulation to release the compression. This self-return feature simplifies operation while ensuring that each engagement cycle starts from a consistent baseline state, maintaining compression reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-loaded during manufacturing to provide a consistent initial force. This preliminary action ensures that every time the latch engages, it applies the same compression force regardless of previous operation history, maintaining compression consistency across multiple cycles.
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 rotatable latch system effectively compresses the thermal interface material, enhancing heat transfer efficiency by maintaining consistent contact between the heat generating and cooling electrical components, while also allowing for easy separation and re-engagement, thus improving thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
Compression of the thermal interface material impacts the heat transfer between the heat spreader and the cooling rack
Implementation Method 2
a heat spreader designed to transfer heat to a cooling rack of a cooling electrical component
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses for compressing a thermal interface material between a heat generating electrical component and a cooling electrical component are provided. Embodiments include a draw rod coupled at one end to the cooling electrical component, the draw rod passing through the heat generating electrical component; wherein the draw rod includes a pin on the end opposite the end coupled to the cooling electrical component; and a rotatable latch coupled to the heat generating electrical component, the rotatable latch including a hook at one end; wherein when the rotatable latch is in an engaged position, the hook of the rotatable latch engages the pin of the draw rod such that the thermal interface material adhered to the heat generating component is coupled to the cooling electrical component.