IP Library Granted Patent US 9,417,017
Granted Patent B2
US 9,417,017 · App. 13/828,625 · Granted Aug 16, 2016

Heat transfer apparatus and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,417,017
App. No.
13/828,625
Granted
Aug 16, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is provided for heat transfer from a surface to a fluid. The method includes directing a first fluid flow towards the surface in a first direction and directing a second fluid flow towards the surface in a second direction. The first and second fluid flows cooperate to cool the surface.

Claims (16)

1. A heat transfer apparatus, comprising:

a first wall having first base portion, a first end portion, and a first surface extending between the first base portion and the first end portion;

a second wall having a second base portion, a second end portion, and a second surface extending between the second base portion and the second end portion, the first surface and the second surface at least partially defining a channel for heat exchange between a heat source, the heat source thermally coupled to the first wall and the second wall, and a fluid;

a first fluid driver driving a first portion of the fluid through the channel in a first direction;

a second fluid driver driving a second portion of the fluid through the channel in a second direction; and

a third flow fluid driver driving a third portion of the fluid through the channel in a third direction, wherein each of the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are substantially non-parallel.

2. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid driver comprises a blower for bulk fluid flow, the first direction being substantially parallel to the first surface and the second surface.

3. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second fluid driver comprises a synthetic jet with a nozzle disposed adjacent the first end portion.

4. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second direction is substantially parallel to the first surface.

5. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second fluid driver further comprises a second synthetic jet with a nozzle disposed adjacent the second end portion.

6. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the third flow fluid driver comprises a reciprocating agitator.

7. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the reciprocating agitator comprises a piezo actuator.

8. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 6 , wherein reciprocating agitator is actuated along an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

9. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a plurality of turbulence-inducing members.

10. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a gas.

11. The heat transfer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is air.

Assignments (14)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 12, 2025
From: THERMAL CORP.
To: AAVID THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 071573/0309 →
RELEASE (REEL047028/FRAME0743) Recorded Jul 30, 2024
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC (NOW KNOWN AS BOYD LACONIA, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; THERMAL CORP. (NOW KNOWN AS AAVID THERMAL CORP.; CSI MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 068195/0243 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042477/0565) Recorded Sep 10, 2018
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC,; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 047052/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042477/0643) Recorded Sep 10, 2018
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 047223/0380 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2018
From: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP. (F/K/A THERMAL CORP.); CSI MEDICAL, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 047028/0743 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP. (F/K/A THERMAL CORP.); CSI MEDICAL, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 047026/0666 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 40355/0672 Recorded May 23, 2017
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS SUCCESSOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
To: THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 042554/0151 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2017
From: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 042477/0565 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2017
From: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 042477/0643 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 035134/0363 Recorded Oct 20, 2016
From: PINE STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.
To: THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 040425/0584 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2016
From: THERMAL CORP.
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 040355/0672 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2015
From: THERMAL CORP.
To: PINE STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.
Reel/Frame 035134/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2014
From: AGRAWAL, SMITA; CUI, TIANHONG; HUANG, LONGZHONG; SELVI, VINNEE BHARATHI A.; SIMON, TERRENCE W.; YEOM, TAIHO; YU, YOUMIN; ZHANG, MIN; WANG, CONGSHUN; ZHU, XUELIN; ZHANG, TAO
To: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Reel/Frame 032554/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2014
From: CIULLA, ANTHONY; GERNERT, NELSON; NORTH, MARK T.; WOOD, DONALD
To: THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 032052/0101 →