1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat pipe, and more particularly to a flexible heat pipe having a high heat transfer capability when it is bent.
2. Description of Related Art
Flexible heat pipes are traditionally used in micro-electronics to help transfer heat from heat producing products. The typical flexible heat pipe includes a casing and a wick structure contacting with an inner surface of the casing. The wick structure contains a working medium. The casing includes an evaporation section connected with a heat generating electronic component such as a CPU, a condensation section connected with a heat dissipating apparatus such as a heat sink, and a flexible adiabatic section connecting the evaporation section with the condensation section for transferring heat. The wick structure is selected from mesh wick, or fibrous wick which provides capillary force to help circulation of the working medium between the evaporation section and the condensation section of the casing.
In ordinary use, the adiabatic section of the flexible heat pipe needs to be bent to achieve miniaturization of the electronic products. However, the wick structure may separate from the inner surface of the casing since the wick structure has a different flexibility coefficient to that of the casing. This decreases heat exchange between the casing and the wick structure and liquid transportation capability of the wick structure, which further decreases heat transfer through the flexible heat pipe. Therefore, there is a need for a flexible heat pipe which can be bent without overly decreasing its heat transfer capability.
The present invention relates to a flexible heat pipe. The flexible heat pipe includes a casing and a wick structure arranged in the casing. The wick structure contains a working medium. The casing includes an evaporation section, a condensation section, and a flexible adiabatic section connecting the evaporation section with the condensation section. The wick structure includes first, second and third portions respectively disposed in the evaporation, the condensation and the adiabatic sections of the casing. The adiabatic section of the casing further accommodates a supporting member therein for supporting the third portion of the wick structure to have an intimate contact with an inner surface of the adiabatic section.
Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The casing 12 includes an evaporation section 122 for connecting with a heat generating electronic component (not shown) such as a CPU, a condensation section 126 for connecting with a heat dissipating apparatus (not shown) such as a heat sink, and an adiabatic section 124 connecting the evaporation section 122 with the condensation section 126 for transferring heat therebetween. The adiabatic section 124 connects with the evaporation and the condensation sections 122, 126 via two connecting members 127. Both the evaporation and the condensation sections 122, 126 of the casing 12 are made of high thermally conductive material such as copper, stainless steel or aluminum. The adiabatic section 124 is made of flexible material such as plastics, rubber or soft metal.
Particularly referring to
The supporting member 30 is a coil spring, and is inserted into an inner surface of the wick structure 20. A diameter of an outer surface of the supporting member 30 is marginally greater than or equal to that of the inner surface of the wick structure 20 so as to push the wick structure 20 towards the inner surface of the casing 12. The supporting member 30 is made of a flexible material such as copper, stainless steel, or polyamide so that the supporting member 30 provides a radial resilient force which pushes the wick structure 20 into intimate contact with the inner surface of the casing 12.
In the present flexible heat pipe 10, the supporting member 30 is inserted into the inner surface of the wick structure 20 and holds the wick structure 20 in intimate contact with the inner surface of the casing 12. When the flexible adiabatic section 124 of the heat pipe 10 is bent, the wick structure 20 and the supporting member 30 at this section accordingly bends. Meanwhile, the supporting member 30 generates a resilient force which urges the wick structure 20 towards the inner surface of the casing 12. Therefore, the wick structure 20 of the heat pipe 10 remains in intimate contact with the inner surface of the casing 12 when it is bent. In this way significant reduction of the heat transfer capability of the flexible heat pipe 10 caused by bending of the adiabatic section 124 of the casing 12 is avoided.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
200610063418.2 | Nov 2006 | CN | national |