The present invention relates to a heat dissipation device, and particularly to a heat dissipation device having a pair of fan holders for achieving greater heat dissipation efficiency.
As computer technology continues to advance, electronic components such as central processing units (CPUs) of computers are made to provide faster operational speeds and greater functional capabilities. When a CPU operates at a high speed in a computer, its temperature undergoes rapid increase. Cooling is especially important for the CPU of the computer. Without proper cooling, the heat generated by the CPU can quickly cause the CPU to overheat and damage the CPU. It is therefore desirable to dissipate the heat quickly, for example by using a heat sink system assembled within the computer, so that the CPU of the computer operates within a normal temperature range.
A related heat sink system mounted on CPUs generally includes a heat sink, a fan and a pair of fan holders for mounting the fan on a top of the heat sink. U.S. Pat. No. 6,654,246 B2 shows an example of this kind of heat sink system. The fan holders comprise a pair of locking plates which are parallel to the fins and locked onto two opposite outmost fins of the heat sink by screws. However airflow generated by the fan is prone to escape from gap between the top of the fins and a bottom of the fan. There is a high flow resistance in a central portion of the heat sink, and cold air therefore can not enter the central portion of the heat sink, thereby reducing heat dissipation efficiency of the heat sink system. Therefore, the heat generated by the CPU can not be transmitted to the fins effectively and quickly.
What is needed, therefore, is a heat dissipation device which can quickly and efficiently transfer heat away from an electronic unit to improve cooling performance of the heat dissipation device.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a heat dissipation device for an electronic unit comprises a heat sink, a pair of fan holders and a fan mounted on the heat sink via the fan holders. The heat sink includes a base with a plurality of fins extending upwardly therefrom along a lateral direction thereof. The base forms a pair of lateral walls at two opposite lateral sides thereof. The fins are sandwiched between the lateral walls. A pair of supporting plates extend from the lateral walls for securing the fan holders on the heat sink. The fan holders are secured between bottom surfaces of the supporting plates and tops of higher ones of the fins. The fan holders cooperate with the lateral walls of the heat sink to encompass a top of the fins to prevent airflow generated by the fan from escaping from the top of the fins.
Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Many aspects of the present device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring to
The heat sink 10 comprises a base 11 having a bottom face for contacting with the CPU and a top face on an opposite side to the bottom face, and a plurality of spaced and parallel fins 15 integrally extending upwardly from the top face of the base 11 along a lateral direction of the base 11. The base 11 has an arc-shaped cross section, i.e., a middle portion of the base 11 being thicker than two lateral sides of the base 11. A plurality of channels 150 are defined between the fins 15. The fins 15 on the middle of the base 11 are higher than that on the lateral sides of the base 11, but two outmost fins 15 at two opposite outmost sides of the heat sink 10 are the highest. Except for the two outmost fins 15 which are the highest, the other fins 15 on the base 11 have an arc-shaped end at a top of the heat sink 10. A pair of slots 14 are longitudinally defined in the middle portion of the fins 15 for receiving the clip 20 therein. The slots 14 extend downwardly to the top surface of the base 11. Each of the outmost fins 15 has a supporting plate 17 extending inwardly and horizontally along the lateral direction of the fins 15. The supporting plates 17 adjacent to top edges of the two outmost fins 15 are perpendicular to the two outmost fins 15 and located above the highest top of the other fins 15.
Referring also to
The clip 20 comprises a V-shaped longitudinal portion 22 at a center thereof, first and second locking arms 21, 23 extending downwardly from opposite ends of the longitudinal portion 22 and an operation portion 24 connecting with the second locking arm 23.
Referring also 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 |
---|---|---|---|
2006 1 0062290 | Aug 2006 | CN | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5495392 | Shen | Feb 1996 | A |
6449152 | Lin | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6507491 | Chen | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6654246 | Wu | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6816373 | Lee et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6973962 | Hwang et al. | Dec 2005 | B2 |
7044204 | Chen et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
7215548 | Wu et al. | May 2007 | B1 |
7269010 | Yu et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
20040066624 | Lee et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20080049397 A1 | Feb 2008 | US |