Thermosiphon for laptop computer
A heat exchanger assembly for cooling an electronic element includes an oblong condensing tube extending between ends to define an upper chamber downwardly bowed through an upwardly extending arc and a lower chamber upwardly bowed through a downwardly extending arc for dissipating heat. A continuous sheet extends in v-shaped fins between and engaging said arcs of said chambers. The internal fins extend from a center axis of the tube to reverse bends defining the opposite ends of the tube. A continuous sheet extending in sinuous corrugations extends around the exterior of the endless loop between opposite sides of a heat transfer area, which receives the electronic element.
1. A heat exchanger assembly for cooling an electronic element comprising;
a condensing tube defining a lower chamber for transferring heat from an electronic element to a working fluid to boil the working fluid and an upper chamber for transferring heat from the working fluid to the ambient air to condense the working fluid,
said lower chamber extending between opposite ends and said upper chamber extending between and in fluid communication with said opposite ends of said lower chamber to define an endless loop,
a plurality of internal fins extending within the endless loop of said tube for dissipating heat to the ambient air, and
said internal fins presenting a plurality of V-shapes as viewed in cross-section with each fin extending transversly between and engaging both of said upper and lower chambers of said condensing tube whereby each fin transfers heat from the lower chamber to the upper chamber, and
wherein said endless loop of said tube defines an oblong cross section extending from a center axis to reverse bends defining opposite ends, and
wherein the axial length of the internal fins at the center axis is greater than the axial length of the internal fins at said ends.
2. A heat exchanger assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower chamber of said tube is upwardly bowed through a downwardly extending arc between said ends and said upper chamber of said tube is downwardly bowed through an upwardly extending arc between said ends with the distance between said chambers increasing from each of said ends toward said center axis.
3. A heat exchanger assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the ratio of the distance between said chambers along said center axis to the distance between said ends is one to five.
4. A heat exchanger assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said internal fins are defined by a continuous sheet extending through v-shaped fins.
5. A heat exchanger assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said v-shaped fins progressively extend a greater axial distance from said ends to said center axis.
6. A heat exchanger assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower chamber presents an outwardly facing heat transfer area for receiving a heat generating element.
7. A heat exchanger assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of corrugated external fins extending around said endless loop between opposite sides of said heat transfer area.
8. A heat exchanger assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said external fins are defined by a continuous sheet in sinuous corrugations.
9. A heat exchanger assembly as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a fan assembly supported adjacent to said tube for moving ambient air through said internal fins and said external fins.
10. A heat exchanger assembly for cooling an electronic element comprising;
a condensing tube defining a lower chamber for transferring heat from an electronic element to a working fluid to boil the working fluid and an upper chamber for transferring heat from the working fluid to the ambient air to condense the working fluid,
said lower chamber extending between opposite ends and said upper chamber extending between and in fluid communication with said opposite ends of said lower chamber to define an endless loop,
a plurality of internal fins extending within the endless loop of said tube for dissipating heat,
a plurality of corrugated external fins extending around said tube for dissipating heat,
a fan assembly supported adjacent to said tube for moving ambient air through said internal fins and said external fins for cooling, and
said endless loop of said tube defining an oblong cross section,
said upper chamber and said lower chamber extending from a center axis to reverse bends at said opposite ends with said lower chamber of said tube being upwardly bowed through a downwardly extending arc between said ends and with said upper chamber of said tube being downwardly bowed through an upwardly extending arc between said ends with the distance between said chambers increasing from each of said ends toward said center axis and the ratio of the distance between said chambers along said center axis to the distance between said ends being one to five,
said internal fins presenting a plurality of v-shapes as viewed in cross-section with each fin extending transversly between and engaging both of said upper and lower chambers of said condensing tube whereby each fin transfers heat from the lower chamber to the upper chamber,
said internal fins defined by a continuous sheet extending in v-shaped fins between and engaging said chambers of said tube for dissipating heat,
said v-shaped fins progressively extending a greater axial distance from said ends to said center axis, wherein the axial distance of the internal fins at the center axis is greater than the axial distance of the internal fins at said ends,
said lower chamber presenting an outwardly facing heat transfer area for receiving a heat generating element, and
said external fins defined by a continuous sheet in sinuous corrugations extending around the exterior of said endless loop of said tube between opposite sides of said heat transfer area.