Variable Dimension Heat Pipe Exoskeleton for Thermal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional heat pipes face challenges such as performance degradation, limited routing flexibility, and increased complexity in accommodating acute bends and hot spots, which restrict their effectiveness in thermal management and component placement.
Innovation Solution
The development of heat pipes with variable dimensions, manufactured through blow molding or additive manufacturing, allowing for adjustable length, width, and thickness, enabling flexible routing and improved thermal efficiency by reducing bending losses and accommodating diverse system layouts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional tubular heat pipes are flattened for system integration, then ease of manufacture and system integration improve, but thermal performance degrades and thicker designs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the heat pipe by introducing variable cross-sectional dimensions along its length. The width and thickness vary to optimize thermal performance in different regions, allowing thin overall design while maintaining high thermal performance where needed through increased local cross-sectional area.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe implements local quality by having different cross-sectional dimensions at different locations. Regions with higher heat loads have larger cross-sectional areas for improved heat dissipation, while regions with lower heat loads have smaller cross-sections to reduce weight and maintain flexibility, eliminating the need for uniformly thick design.
2Strength
If traditional heat pipes use fixed minimum bend radius, then structural integrity is maintained, but routing flexibility and component placement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe implements dynamics by making its cross-sectional dimensions variable along its length. Regions intended for bending have reduced thickness and width to increase flexibility and reduce minimum bend radius, while maintaining structural integrity in regions requiring strength. This dynamic variation of geometric parameters enables both flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes geometric parameters (width and thickness) along the length of the heat pipe to optimize both flexibility and strength. By reducing dimensions in bending regions and maintaining or increasing dimensions in load-bearing regions, the heat pipe achieves both routing flexibility and structural integrity.
3Reliability
If multiple heat pipes are used to manage thermal loads, then thermal coverage improves, but cost, weight, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple heat pipe functions into a single integrated component with variable cross-section. The heat pipe can have different width and thickness at different locations to serve multiple thermal zones simultaneously, replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate heat pipes and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable dimension heat pipe achieves multi-functionality by being able to address different thermal requirements along its length through varying cross-sectional dimensions. A single heat pipe can handle both high heat load regions (with larger cross-section) and low heat load regions (with smaller cross-section), serving multiple thermal management functions simultaneously.
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 solution enhances thermal efficiency, reduces weight and cost, and provides superior coverage of hot spots, outperforming dual heat pipe systems, while offering adaptable integration in various electronic devices, thereby improving overall device performance and extending battery life.
Implementation Method 1
a variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton (110) formed of a heat-conductive material
Implementation Method 2
The heat pipe exoskeleton (110) is formed by injecting material into a mold cavity and cooling the material to solidify the heat pipe exoskeleton
Data Source
AI summary
A heat pipe, including: a variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton formed of a heat-conductive material by blow molding or additive manufacturing, wherein the variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton including: a first heat pipe exoskeleton portion with a dimension having a first value; and a second heat pipe exoskeleton portion with the dimension having a second value different from the first value. Further, a method of manufacturing a heat pipe, including: providing a heat-conductive material; and performing blow molding or additive manufacturing to form a variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton of the heat-conductive material, wherein the heat pipe exoskeleton has a first heat pipe exoskeleton portion with a dimension having a first value, and a second heat pipe exoskeleton portion with the dimension having a second value different from the first value.