Patent Application
20110232866
The present disclosure relates to a heat transfer device, and more particularly to a cold plate assembly.
Operation of high speed electronic components such as microprocessors, graphics processors and other modules produces heat. The heat may need to be removed for efficient operation. Heat removal provides, for example, lower operating temperatures, higher operating speeds, greater computing power and higher reliability.
Cold plates are liquid cooled structures which provide a heat transfer function for components mounted thereto.
A cold plate assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a face sheet assembly with an integral cold plate and a structure mounted to the face sheet assembly.
Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
A header assembly 32 with an inlet port 34 and an outlet port 36 communicates fluid through the cold plate assembly 20. The header assembly 32 communicates with a fluid system 38 as generally understood (illustrated schematically;
Referring to
In one non-limiting embodiment, the first end sheet 40 may be manufactured of 3004 Aluminum with a nominal thickness of 0.04 inches (1 mm), the first parting sheet 42 may be manufactured of a braze material, such as CT-23, or a Multiclad alloy with a nominal thickness of 0.016 inches (0.4 mm), the fluid path B closure bar 46 may be manufactured of 6951 Aluminum with a nominal thickness of 0.05 inches (1.3 mm), the fluid path B fin structure 44 may be manufactured of 6951 Aluminum with a nominal thickness of 0.005 inches (0.13 mm), the middle parting sheet 48 may be manufactured of a braze material, such as CT-23, or a Multiclad alloy with a nominal thickness of 0.016 inches (0.4 mm), the fluid path A closure bar 52 may be manufactured of 6951 Aluminum with a nominal thickness of 0.05 inches (1.3 mm), the fluid path A fin structure 50 may be manufactured of 6951 Aluminum with a nominal thickness of 0.005 inches (0.13 mm) and the second parting sheet 54 may be manufactured of a braze material, such as CT-23, or a Multiclad alloy with a nominal thickness of 0.016 inches (0.4 mm). It should be understood that various materials and nominal thickness may alternatively be utilized.
The parting sheets 42, 48 and 54 may include a braze alloy that melts during a brazing process that forms an integral assembly between the sheets 40-54. It should be understood that other bonding or assembly methods may alternatively or additionally be utilized. The sheets 40-54 may be brazed to the face sheet 24A as a unit to form the first face sheet assembly 22A, however, it should be understood that other bonding or assembly methods may alternatively or additionally be utilized.
Generally, the assembly is brazed together such that: the first end sheet 40 is brazed to the first parting sheet 42; the first parting sheet 42 is brazed to the first end sheet 40 and the path B closure bar 46 and the fluid path B fin structure 44; the fluid path B closure bar 46 is brazed to the first parting sheet 42 and the middle parting sheet 48; the fluid path B fin structure 44 is brazed to the first parting sheet 42 and the middle parting sheet 48; the middle parting sheet 48 is brazed to the fluid path B fin structure 44 and to the fluid path B closure bar 46 and to the fluid path A fin structure 50 and to the fluid path A closure bar 52; the fluid path A closure bar 52 is brazed to the middle parting sheet 48 and to the second parting sheet 54; the fluid path A fin structure 50 is brazed to the middle parting sheet 48 and to the second parting sheet 54; and the second parting sheet 54 is brazed to the fluid path A fin structure 50 and to the fluid path A closure bar 52 and to the first face sheet 24A.
The cold plate 26A is integral to the first face sheet assembly 22A so as to eliminate one end sheet from what would conventionally be a separate self-contained cold plate (RELATED ART;
The cold plate assembly 20 is formed with a reduced total part count through elimination of parts. Mounting hardware and/or structural adhesive for the cold plate 26A, 26B is eliminated. Weight, costs and additional processing steps are also thereby reduced as no mounting features need be machined or otherwise formed. Furthermore, a more structurally sound cold plate assembly 20 results.
It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom.
Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present disclosure.
The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content.
This invention was made with government support with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Contract No.: NNJ06TA25C. The government therefore has certain rights in this invention.
