US20170038154A1

US20170038154A1 - Vapor chamber structure having stretchable heated part

Info

Publication number: US20170038154A1
Application number: US14/820,179
Authority: US
Inventors: Shih-Ming Wang; Chia-Hsun Lin
Original assignee: Chaun Choung Technology Corp
Current assignee: Nidec Chaun Choung Technology Corp
Priority date: 2015-08-06
Filing date: 2015-08-06
Publication date: 2017-02-09

Abstract

A vapor chamber structure includes a plate-shaped shell and at least one stretchable heated member. The plate-shaped shell has a hollow interior to form a cavity and has a base on which at least one throughhole is disposed. The throughhole communicates with the cavity. The stretchable heated member is disposed on the base of the plate-shaped shell. The stretchable heated member includes a heated plate and a hollow stretchable tube. The heated plate is sealedly connected to one end of the stretchable tube and the throughhole of the plate-shaped shell is sealedly connected to the other end of the stretchable tube.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plate type heat exchanger, in particular, to a vapor chamber structure having at least one stretchable heated part.
Description of Related Art
With the rapid development in the computer industry, many heat generating electronic devices applied in the computer such as the CPUs of the computers or the GPUs of the graphic cards have enhanced processing capability and consequently suffer the issue of overheating, which has been becoming a topic to be solved in the modern heat dissipation technology.
Thus, the design of heat dissipation or heat transfer for numerous heat sources to meet the requirements of heat dissipation and heat transfer is a necessary and important technique. In particular, when the numerous heat generating devices are located at different elevations, the heated contact surface of each of the heat dissipation or heat transfer devices is also adjusted to fit the different elevations accordingly. As for the traditional remedy for the above issue, in general, a tailor-made way is used. That is, the heat dissipation or heat transfer device with a single specification is used, which can only fit the corresponding electronic product. Once the elevation of any heat generating device in the electronic product is changed or adjusted, the heat dissipation or heat transfer device with the single specification is not valid any more. A new one has to be tailored. Further, though the heat exchange task such as heat dissipation or heat transfer can be performed for the numerous heat generating devices, sometimes the working fluid inside cannot be ensured to flow back due to a variety of applicable conditions. As a result, the vapor chamber will dry out easily, affecting the heat transfer efficiency or operation stability thereof and worse, losing the effect of heat transfer.
In view of this, the inventor pays special attention to research with the application of related theory and tries to overcome the above disadvantages regarding the above related art. Finally, the inventor proposes the invention which is a reasonable design and overcomes the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main objective of the present invention to provide a vapor chamber structure having at least one stretchable heated part, which can adjust the heated contact surface with each individual heat generating device depending on the elevation of each individual heat generating device. Further, the applicable scope of the vapor chamber with a single specification is widened and the contact effect between each heated surface and each heat generating device is also increased. Accordingly, a single vapor chamber can perform heat exchange for many heat generating devices at the same time. Also, the present invention can be applied to a single heat generating device in which the heating generating device is awkward to be contacted due to the elevations of the electronic devices surrounding the heat generating device.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a vapor chamber structure having at least one stretchable heated part, which can adjust the heated contact surface with each individual heat generating device depending on the elevation of each individual heat generating device to ensure the working fluid in the vapor chamber can flow back efficiently to prevent the vapor chamber from drying out and being damaged.
In order to achieve the above main objective, the present invention provides a vapor chamber structure, which comprises a plate-shaped shell and at least one stretchable heated member. The plate-shaped shell has a hollow interior to form a cavity. The plate-shaped shell has a base on which at least one throughhole is disposed and the throughhole communicates with the cavity. The at least one stretchable heated member is disposed on the base of the plate-shaped shell. The at least one stretchable heated member comprises a heated plate and a hollow stretchable tube. The heated plate is sealedly connected to one end of the stretchable tube and the at least one throughhole of the plate-shaped shell is sealedly connected to the other end of the stretchable tube.
In order to achieve the above another objective, the present invention also provides a vapor chamber structure having at least one stretchable heated part which further comprises a capillary structure assembly having a plurality of capillary structures which are floatingly connected to one another and are in turn connected between the at least one stretchable heated member and the plate-shaped shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a local cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a magnifying view of area A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an internal cross-sectional view of the present invention in vertical operation;

FIG. 5 is a detailed magnifying view of area B in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a detailed local magnifying view according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To further disclose the characteristics and technical details of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and accompanying figures. However, the accompanying figures are only for reference and explanation, but not to limit the scope of the present invention.
Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, which are the perspective schematic view of the present invention and the local cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the present invention, respectively. The present invention provides a vapor chamber structure having a stretchable heated part which helps perform heat exchange for heat generating devices 4 (shown in FIG. 4) such as the CPUs of the computers or the GPUs of the graphic cards. The present invention is also applicable to a plurality of heat generating devices 4 with the contact surfaces located at different elevations or to a single heat generating device in which the heating generating is not easily to be contacted due to the elevations of the electronic devices surrounding the heat generating device. The vapor chamber structure comprises a plate-shaped shell 1 and at least one stretchable heated member 2.
Please also refer to FIG. 3. The plate-shaped shell 1 has a hollow interior which is sealed. In the current embodiment of the present invention, the plate-shaped shell 1 is formed by stacking a lower plate 10 and an upper plate 11. The hollow interior of the plate-shaped shell 1 forms a cavity 12 between the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 11. The cavity 12 is used to be filled with adequate working fluid (now shown) and then sealed. The internal wall of the cavity 12 is covered with a wick structure layer 120 which can be made of metal mesh or sintered powder. Please also refer to FIGS. 4 and 5. The present invention mainly provides at least one stretchable heated member 2 on the vapor chamber in which the stretchable heated member 2 can deform flexibly to fit the elevation of the heat generating device 4. The number and locations of the stretchable heated members 2 can be disposed depending on those of the heat generating devices 4 in a real situation, but the minimal number of stretchable heated members 2 is one. The stretchable heated member 2 is disposed on the base 100 of the plate-shaped shell 1. The stretchable heated member 2 comprises a heated plate 20 and a hollow stretchable tube 21. The external surface of the heated plate 20 is used to contact the upper surface of the heat generating device 4. A preferred way is to apply adequate heat conduction media such as thermal grease between the heated plate 20 and the heat generating device 4. Besides, a wick structure layer 200 can be disposed on the internal surface of the heated plate 20. The wick structure layer 200 can be made of metal mesh or sintered powder.
The stretchable tube 21 can be a flexible or an elastic tube body with an enclosed edge. The flexible tube body with the enclosed edge can be a bellow. The elastic tube body with the enclosed edge can be a spring tube. In the current embodiment of the present invention, the stretchable tube 21 has a deformed segment 210 to be stretchable to change its length (lengthen or shorten), a first end opening 211, and a second end opening 212. The first end opening 211 and the second end opening 212 are individually formed at two ends of the deformed segment 210. The first end opening 211 is for disposing the heated plate 20 of the stretchable heated member 2 such that the heated plate 20 is sealed to the first end opening 211. At least one throughhole 101 is disposed on the base 100 of the lower plate 10 of the plate-shaped shell 1 and communicates with the cavity 12. The second end opening 212 is sealedly connected to the at least one throughhole 101. The number of the at least one throughhole 101 corresponds to that of the at least one stretchable heated member 2.
Therefore, by means of the above assembled structure, a vapor chamber structure having a stretchable heated part of the present invention is obtained.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stretchable heated member 2 of the present invention can deform through the flexibility or elasticity of the stretchable tube 21 such that the heated plate 20 of each individual stretchable heated member 2 can fit and contact the heat generating devices 4, 4′, 4″ at different elevations. As a result, a single vapor chamber can perform heat exchange for many heat generating devices 4, 4′, 4″ at the same time. Also, as for the case of a single heat generating device 4′ (e.g., the elevation of the heat generating device 4′ is too low and the plate-shaped shell 1 of the vapor chamber is awkward to lower its elevation to fit due to the surrounding electronic devices.), the stretchable tube 21 of the stretchable heated member 2 can be extended downward to successfully contact the surface of the heat generating device 4′ with the plate-shaped shell 1 remaining at the original elevation of installation.
Besides, the vapor chamber of the present invention not only provides the stretchable heated member 2 to fit the elevation of the heat generating device 4 by means of flexible deformation, but also further comprises at least one capillary structure assembly 3 to ensure the working fluid in the vapor chamber can flow back efficiently. For example, the present invention in vertical operation is shown in FIG. 4. The number and locations of the stretchable heated members 2 can be disposed depending on those of the heat generating devices 4 in a real situation, but the minimal number of stretchable heated members 2 is one. The capillary structure assembly 3 is disposed in the stretchable heated member 2 correspondingly and particularly disposed between the stretchable heated member 2 and the plate-shaped shell 1. The capillary structure assembly 3 comprises a plurality of capillary structures 30, 31 which are floatingly connected to one another and are in turn connected between the stretchable heated member 2 and the plate-shaped shell 1 in which when the length of the stretchable heated member 2 changes, the capillary structure assembly 3 can move to fit the corresponding connection location by means of the mutual connection of capillary structures 30, 31. In the current embodiment of the present invention, the capillary structures 30, 31 are grouped into a first capillary structure 30 and a second capillary structure 31. A connecting hole 300 is disposed in the first capillary structure 30. The connecting hole 300 can be a throughhole penetrating through the first capillary structure 30 or a blind hole penetrating into the first capillary structure 30. The connecting hole 300 is used for the second capillary structure 31 to be sleeved into the connecting hole 300 such that the first capillary structure 30 and the second capillary structure 31 are floatingly connected to each other. Further, the first capillary structure 30 is disposed on the internal surface of the heated plate 20 of the stretchable heated member 2 and is connected to the wick structure layer 200 on the internal surface of the heated plate 20. The second capillary structure 31 is disposed on the internal wall of the upper plate 11. In this way, as shown in FIG. 5, the vapor chamber of the present invention in non-horizontal operation can also be connected indeed between the stretchable heated member 2 and the plate-shaped shell 1 through the capillary structure assembly 3 in combination with the stretchable heated member 2 to ensure the working fluid in the vapor chamber can flow back efficiently to the wick structure layer 200 on the heated plate 20 of the stretchable heated member 2. Therefore, the present invention can avoid the working fluid from failing to flow back due to some external factor such as the weight of the working fluid and prevent the vapor chamber from drying out to affect the heat transfer efficiency.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, to further enhance the surface contact between the heated plate 20 of the stretchable heated member 2 and the surface of the heat generating device 4, an elastic device 22 is disposed in the stretchable heated member 2 to push against the heated plate 20 outward. The elastic device 22 can be a compressed spring. One end of the compressed spring pushes against the internal surface of the heated plate 20 or the wick structure layer 200 of the heated plate 20. The other end of the compressed spring pushes against the internal wall of the cavity 12 of the plate-shaped shell 1, like in the upper plate 11. In this way, the contact effect between the heated plate 20 and the surface of the heat generating device 4 can be further enhanced by the spring force provided by the elastic device 22.
In summary, the present invention can really achieve the expected objective and overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. Also, the present invention is indeed novel, useful, and non-obvious to be patentable. Please examine the application carefully and grant it as a formal patent for protecting the rights of the inventor.
The embodiments described above are only preferred ones of the present invention and not to limit the claimed scope of the present invention. Therefore, all the equivalent modifications and variations applying the specification and figures of the present invention should be embraced by the claimed scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A vapor chamber structure comprising:

a plate-shaped shell (1) having a hollow interior to form a cavity (12), wherein the plate-shaped shell (1) has a base (100) on which at least one throughhole (101) is disposed and the at least one throughhole (101) communicates with the cavity (12); and

at least one stretchable heated member (2) disposed on the base (100) of the plate-shaped shell (1), wherein the at least one stretchable heated member (2) comprises a heated plate (20) and a hollow stretchable tube (21), wherein the heated plate (20) is sealedly connected to one end of the stretchable tube (21), wherein the at least one throughhole (101) of the plate-shaped shell (1) is sealedly connected to the other end of the stretchable tube (21).

2. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped shell (1) is formed by stacking a lower plate (10) and an upper plate (11), wherein the cavity (12) is formed between the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (11).

3. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 1, wherein an internal wall of the cavity (12) is provided with a wick structure layer (120).

4. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable tube (21) is a flexible or an elastic tube body with an enclosed edge.

5. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 4, wherein the flexible tube body with the enclosed edge is a bellow.

6. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 4, wherein the elastic tube body with the enclosed edge is a spring tube.

7. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable tube (21) has a deformed segment (210), a first end opening (211), and a second end opening (212), wherein the first end opening (211) and the second end opening (212) are individually formed at two ends of the deformed segment (210), wherein the first end opening (211) is for sealing the heated plate (20) and the second end opening (212) is sealedly connected to the at least one throughhole (101).

8. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 1, wherein an elastic device (22) is disposed in the at least one stretchable heated member (2) to push against the heated plate (20) outward.

9. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 1, further comprising a capillary structure assembly (3) having a plurality of capillary structures (30, 31) which are floatingly connected to one another and are in turn connected between the at least one stretchable heated member (2) and the plate-shaped shell (1).

10. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 9, wherein the capillary structures (30, 31) are grouped into a first capillary structure (30) and a second capillary structure (31), wherein a connecting hole (300) is disposed in the first capillary structure (30), wherein the second capillary structure (31) is sleeved into the connecting hole (300) such that the first capillary structure (30) and the second capillary structure (31) are floatingly connected to each other.

11. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 10, wherein a wick structure layer (200) is disposed on an internal surface of the heated plate (20), wherein the first capillary structure (30) is disposed on the internal surface of the heated plate (20) and is connected to the wick structure layer (200) on the internal surface of the heated plate (20).

12. The vapor chamber structure according to claim 10, wherein the connecting hole (300) is a throughhole or a blind hole.