IP Library Granted Patent US 7,420,810
Granted Patent B2
US 7,420,810 · App. 11/531,171 · Granted Sep 2, 2008

Base heat spreader with fins

Assignee: GrafTech International Holdings, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,420,810
App. No.
11/531,171
Granted
Sep 2, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A thermal management device for the removal of thermal energy useful for, inter alia, electronic devices or other components.

Claims (38)

1. A heat sink comprising:

a) a base heat spreader;

b) at least one fin including:

b1) a housing which encloses an inner area,

b2) a liquid transfer medium within the inner area of the housing;

b3) a working fluid within the inner area of the housing and at least partially contained in the liquid transfer medium; and

b4) at least one support structure within the housing, for separating the liquid transfer medium into two portions; and

c) a contact point between the base heat spreader and the at least one fin;

wherein the heat spreader can transfer thermal energy into the housing of the at least one fin such that liquid working fluid in the liquid transfer medium is evaporated to vapor working fluid and mobilized to a relatively low temperature region of inner housing of the fin causing the vapor working fluid to condense back into liquid working fluid and flow to the liquid transfer medium.

2. The heat sink of claim 1 further comprising thermal adhesive between the base heat spreader and at least one fin.

3. The heat sink of claim 1 further comprising solder between the base heat spreader and at least one fin.

4. The heat sink of claim 1 further comprising a mechanic crimp between the base heat spreader and at least one fin.

5. The heat sink of claim 1 further comprising an L-shape fitting between the base heat spreader and at least one fin.

6. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the base heat spreader is selected from the group consisting of graphite, metal, alloy, polymer, ceramic, silicon and combinations thereof.

7. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the base heat spreader is copper.

8. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the base heat spreader is aluminum.

9. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the base heat spreader is a vapor chamber.

10. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the base heat spreader is a graphite article.

11. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the housing is selected from the group consisting of a metal, metal alloy, ceramic material, semiconductor material, polymer, and combinations thereof.

12. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the housing is copper.

13. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the working fluid is water.

14. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the working fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol, ketones, CFC-type coolant, and combinations thereof.

15. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the liquid transfer medium has an affinity for liquids.

16. The heat sink of claim 15 wherein the liquid transfer medium comprises compounds selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, ═O, —NH2, —NH—, ═N— and combinations thereof.

17. The heat sink of claim 15 wherein the liquid transfer medium is comprised of carbon nanotubes.

18. The heat sink of claim 15 wherein the liquid transfer medium has a physical surface design to increase the liquid transfer medium's capacity to absorb liquids.

19. The heat sink of claim 15 wherein the liquid transfer medium has an internal structural design to increase the liquid transfer medium's capacity to absorb liquids.

20. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the support structure provides physical support to the liquid transfer medium.

21. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the support structure is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, alloy, polymer, ceramic, and combinations thereof.

22. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the support structure is copper.

23. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the support structure extends at least partially on two surfaces of the liquid transfer medium.

24. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the support structure extends at least partially between two portions of the liquid transfer medium.

25. The heat sink of claim 1 further comprising solid fins.

26. The heat sink of claim 25 wherein the solid fins are copper.

27. The heat sink of claim 25 wherein the solid fins are aluminum.

28. The heat sink of claim 1 further comprising a black layer on at least one surface of the fins and base heat spreader.

29. The heat sink of claim 28 wherein the black layer is black paint.

30. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the liquid working fluid flows by capillary force.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2023
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NEOGRAF SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 062972/0634 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 13, 2017
From: NEOGRAF SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 043843/0582 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 26, 2017
From: ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: NEOGRAF SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 043336/0472 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS RECORDED AT REEL/FRAMES 013463/0360, 024678/0830, 014357/0075, AND 035839/0754 Recorded Jul 6, 2017
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT FKA MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
To: ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES LLC AS ASSIGNEE OF GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC. FKA ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGY INC. FKA GRAFTECH INC.
Reel/Frame 043099/0502 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 14/771,229 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040647 FRAME: 0534. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 21, 2017
From: GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC.
To: ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 042938/0856 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2016
From: GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC.
To: ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 040647/0534 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 14, 2010
From: GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 024678/0830 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 15, 2007
From: ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGY INC.
To: GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 019962/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2006
From: REIS, BRADLEY E.; SKANDAKUMARAN, PRATHIB; SMALC, MARTIN DAVID; SHIVES, GARY D.; KOSTYAK, GARY STEPHEN; NORLEY, JULIAN
To: ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGY INC.
Reel/Frame 018628/0046 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080062651A1 · Mar 13, 2008