IP Library Granted Patent US 7,690,419
Granted Patent B2
US 7,690,419 · App. 11/381,439 · Granted Apr 6, 2010

Porous media cold plate

Assignee: Thermal Corp.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,690,419
App. No.
11/381,439
Granted
Apr 6, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device including a base having a recess with a base coolant inlet opening and a base coolant outlet opening. A porous core is positioned within the recess of the base, and has a core coolant inlet opening and a core coolant outlet opening that are arranged in corresponding relation with base coolant inlet opening and a base coolant outlet opening so as to be in fluid communication. A porous gasket is pinched between the porous core and the base.

Claims (89)

1. A heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device comprising:

a base having a recess;

a porous core positioned within said recess and defined at least in part by a plurality of particles attached to one another;

a lid fitted to said base and enclosing said porous core;

a plurality of coolant openings comprising a plurality of inlet openings and a plurality of outlet openings;

an inlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core, and

an outlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core wherein said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum are in fluid communication; and

a gasket positioned between said porous core and an inner surface of said heat exchanger.

2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein said gasket is porous.

3. A heat exchanger according to claim 2 wherein said porous gasket comprises a compressible material susceptible to brazing.

4. A heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of coolant openings comprise at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening.

5. A heat exchanger according to claim 2 wherein said porous gasket is brazed to said inner surface of said heat exchanger.

6. A heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein said lid corresponds to the size of said base.

7. A heat exchanger according to claim 6 further comprising at least two fins within said recess and in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein said porous core is positioned between said fins.

8. A heat exchanger according to claim 6 further comprising a plurality of fins within said recess in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein said porous core is positioned between said fins and further wherein two outer most fins of said plurality of fins each have an end that is adjacent to a wall portion of said base so as to define said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum.

9. A heat exchanger according to claim 8 , wherein said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum are in fluid communication through said porous core.

10. A heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein

said plurality of inlet openings are coaxial with themselves; and

said plurality of outlet openings are coaxial with themselves, but not with said plurality of inlet openings.

11. A heat exchanger according to claim 7 wherein said plurality of particles are brazed together.

12. A heat exchanger according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of heat transfer cores define an elongate, uneven surface that is substantially coextensive with a terminal surface of each of said fins.

13. A heat exchanger according to claim 11 wherein said particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon, tungsten, copper, aluminum, magnesium, nickel, gold, silver, aluminum oxide, and beryllium oxide.

14. A heat exchanger according to claim 11 wherein the shape of said particles is selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, oblate, prolate spheroids, regular polygonal, and filament-shaped.

15. A pumped, single phase heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device comprising:

a base having a recess;

a porous core positioned within said recess and defined at least in part by a plurality of particles attached to one another;

a lid fitted to said base and enclosing said porous core;

a plurality of coolant openings comprising a plurality of inlet openings and a plurality of outlet openings;

an inlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core, and

an outlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core wherein said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum are in fluid communication; and

a gasket positioned between said porous core and an inner surface of said heat exchanger.

16. A heat exchanger according to claim 15 wherein said gasket is porous.

17. A heat exchanger according to claim 16 wherein said porous gasket comprises a compressible material susceptible to brazing.

18. A heat exchanger according to claim 15 wherein said plurality of coolant openings comprise at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening.

19. A heat exchanger according to claim 17 wherein said porous gasket is brazed to said inner surface of said heat exchanger.

20. A heat exchanger according to claim 15 wherein said lid corresponds to the size of said base.

21. A heat exchanger according to claim 15 further comprising at least two fins within said recess in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein said porous core is positioned between said fins.

22. A heat exchanger according to claim 15 wherein

said plurality of inlet openings are coaxial with themselves; and

said plurality of outlet openings are coaxial with themselves, but not with said plurality of inlet openings.

23. A heat exchanger according to claim 21 wherein said plurality of particles are brazed together.

24. A heat exchanger according to claim 23 wherein said particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon, tungsten, copper, aluminum, magnesium, nickel, gold, silver, aluminum oxide, and beryllium oxide.

25. A heat exchanger according to claim 23 wherein the shape of said particles is selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, oblate, prolate spheroids, regular polygonal, and filament-shaped.

26. A heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device comprising:

a base having a recess;

a porous core positioned within said recess and defined at least in part by a plurality of particles attached to one another;

a lid fitted to said base and enclosing said porous core;

a plurality of coolant openings;

an inlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core, and

an outlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core wherein said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum are in fluid communication; and

a porous gasket comprising compressible material susceptible to brazing, and positioned between said porous core and an inner surface of said heat exchanger.

27. A heat exchanger according to claim 26 wherein said plurality of coolant openings comprise at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening.

28. A heat exchanger according to claim 26 wherein said lid corresponds to the size of said base.

29. A heat exchanger according to claim 26 further comprising at least two fins within said recess and in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein said porous core is positioned between said fins.

30. A heat exchanger according to claim 26 further comprising a plurality of fins within said recess in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein said porous core is positioned between said fins and further wherein two outer most fins of said plurality of fins each have an end that is adjacent to a wall portion of said base so as to define said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum.

31. A heat exchanger according to claim 26 , wherein said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum are in fluid communication through said porous core.

32. A heat exchanger according to claim 26 wherein said plurality of particles are brazed together.

33. A heat exchanger according to claim 26 wherein said particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon, tungsten, copper, aluminum, magnesium, nickel, gold, silver, aluminum oxide, and beryllium oxide.

34. A heat exchanger according to claim 26 wherein the shape of said particles is selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, oblate, prolate spheroids, regular polygonal, and filament-shaped.

35. A heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device comprising:

a base having a recess;

a porous core positioned within said recess and defined at least in part by a plurality of particles attached to one another;

a lid fitted to said base and enclosing said porous core;

a plurality of coolant openings;

an inlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core, and

an outlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core wherein said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum are in fluid communication; and

a porous gasket positioned between said porous core and an inner surface of said heat exchanger, and brazed to said inner surface of said heat exchanger.

36. A heat exchanger according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of coolant openings comprise at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening.

37. A heat exchanger according to claim 35 wherein said lid corresponds to the size of said base.

38. A heat exchanger according to claim 35 further comprising at least two fins within said recess and in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein said porous core is positioned between said fins.

39. A heat exchanger according to claim 35 further comprising a plurality of fins within said recess in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein said porous core is positioned between said fins and further wherein two outer most fins of said plurality of fins each have an end that is adjacent to a wall portion of said base so as to define said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum.

40. A heat exchanger according to claim 35 , wherein said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum are in fluid communication through said porous core.

41. A heat exchanger according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of particles are brazed together.

42. A heat exchanger according to claim 35 wherein said particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon, tungsten, copper, aluminum, magnesium, nickel, gold, silver, aluminum oxide, and beryllium oxide.

43. A heat exchanger according to claim 35 wherein the shape of said particles is selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, oblate, prolate spheroids, regular polygonal, and filament-shaped.

44. A pumped, single phase heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device comprising:

a base having a recess;

a porous core positioned within said recess and defined at least in part by a plurality of particles attached to one another;

a lid fitted to said base and enclosing said porous core;

a plurality of coolant openings;

an inlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core, and

an outlet plenum defined between said lid, said base, and said porous core wherein said inlet plenum and said outlet plenum are in fluid communication; and

a porous gasket comprising a compressible material susceptible to brazing, and positioned between said porous core and an inner surface of said heat exchanger.

45. A heat exchanger according to claim 44 wherein said plurality of coolant openings comprise at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening.

46. A heat exchanger according to claim 44 wherein said lid corresponds to the size of said base.

47. A heat exchanger according to claim 44 further comprising at least two fins within said recess in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein said porous core is positioned between said fins.

48. A heat exchanger according to claim 44 wherein said plurality of particles are brazed together.

49. A heat exchanger according to claim 44 wherein said particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon, tungsten, copper, aluminum, magnesium, nickel, gold, silver, aluminum oxide, and beryllium oxide.

50. A heat exchanger according to claim 44 wherein the shape of said particles is selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, oblate, prolate spheroids, regular polygonal, and filament-shaped.

Assignments (18)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2026
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS FIRST LIEN AGENT
To: A.B. BOYD CO. (AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC., LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC. AND CSI MEDICAL, INC.); AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC (NOW KNOWN AS BOYD LACONIA, LLC); NUVENTIX, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP. (F/K/A THERMAL CORP.)
Reel/Frame 075080/0335 →
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 021398/0300 Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: NATIONAL PENN BANK
To: THERMAL CORP.; THERMACORE, INC. F/K/A FSBO VENTURE ACQUISITIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040508/0620 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 026039/0865 Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: SANTANDER BANK, N.A. F/K/A SOVEREIGN BANK
To: THERMAL CORP.; THERMACORE, INC.
Reel/Frame 040508/0649 →
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 Feb 7, 2013
From: THAYER, JOHN G.; WERT, KEVIN L.; NORTH, MARK T.; SCHAEFFER, C. SCOTT
To: THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 029773/0940 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2011
From: THERMACORE, INC.; THERMAL CORP.
To: SOVEREIGN BANK
Reel/Frame 026039/0865 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 15, 2008
From: THERMAL CORP.; FSBO VENTURE ACQUISITIONS, INC.
To: NATIONAL PENN BANK
Reel/Frame 021398/0300 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 1097040400 · Oct 20, 2004
Provisional Application 6051273600 · Oct 20, 2003
Related Publication 20060185823A1 · Aug 24, 2006