Heat exchange – With retainer for removable article – Electrical component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-03-13
Flanigan, Allen (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
With retainer for removable article
Electrical component
C165S121000, C361S697000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199624
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to cooling devices such as heat exchangers and, particularly, to a heat sink particularly adapted for cooling such components as integrated circuit chips, as in cooling central processing units (CPUs).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In various industries, such as in the computer industry, there is a need for low cost high performance heat exchangers to cool such components as microprocessors or semiconductors. Many semiconductors create so much heat that they can be irreparably damaged if the heat is not removed. Consequently, heat exchangers employing heat sinks have been used to pull the heat away from the semiconductor and disperse that heat into the atmosphere.
One type of heat sink used with semiconductors is a simple aluminum extrusion screwed down or clamped to the semiconductor. The extrusion typically has a flat bottom plate which contacts the semiconductor and a plurality of fins or parallel protrusions extending from the plate in a comb-type configuration. Such extrusions have many limitations, including the height of the fins being limited by the thicknesses of the fins. The number of fins per square inch is limited by the thickness and the height. Such limitations on the density of the fins on such extrusions reduces the efficiency of the heat removal.
A significantly improved heat sink has been designed particularly for use with fanned heat exchangers. This heat sink employs a “folded fin” configuration wherein the folded fin is clamped or bonded to a thermally conductive plate to form a heat sink assembly. In particular, a folded fin heat sink is formed by a sheet of aluminum or other heat conductive material which is folded into a wave-like pattern forming an alternating series of ridges and troughs (grooves). The folded fin may be placed directly on a substrate to be cooled or on a separate conductive base plate to form the heat sink assembly. This folded fin design offers high thermal conductivity, extremely large surface area and low costs. By taking advantage of the large surface area, less air flow is required to meet industry standard thermal specifications.
The present invention is directed to an improved folded fin-type heat exchanger which reduces air back pressure and improves the efficiency of the heat sink. The invention is particularly applicable for use with fanned heat exchangers, and the improved heat sink is capable of reducing the fan RPM and, thereby, reduce the fan noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved heat sink for use with a heat exchanger, such as a heat exchanger employing a circular fan which forces air in a volute path about a central axis.
Another object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger assembly which includes the heat sink in combination with a circular fan.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the heat sink includes a plurality of heat exchanging sections disposed in the volute path of the circular fan about the axis thereof. Each heat exchanging section includes a thermally conductive sheet folded into alternating ridges and troughs defining generally parallel spaced fins. The heat exchanging sections are oriented such that the fins of each section are at an angle to the fins of an adjacent section.
Generally, at least one of the fins of each heat exchanging section radiates outwardly from a point near the axis of the volute air path. The heat exchanging sections are generally rectangular. As disclosed herein, the heat exchanging sections are generally square, and four of the sections divide the path of air into quadrants. The fins of each heat exchanging section are generally perpendicular to the fins of an adjacent section.
Finally, the ridges of each heat exchanging section have opposite ends, and cutout portions are formed in the ridges spaced from and intermediate the opposite ends thereof. These cutout portions improve air flow through the fins. Specifically, the air flows through the cutout portions across both sides of the fins.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5132780 (1992-07-01), Higgins, III
patent: 5523918 (1996-06-01), Chiou
patent: 5582240 (1996-12-01), Widmayer
patent: 5661638 (1997-08-01), Mira
patent: 5706169 (1998-01-01), Yeh
patent: 5979541 (1999-11-01), Saito
patent: 6021844 (1998-06-01), Batchelder
patent: 6026895 (1998-02-01), Moresco et al.
Flanigan Allen
Molex Incorporated
Zeitler Robert J.
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