Electronics chassis with oscillating heat pipe (OHP)

A method of forming a chassis for enclosing and cooling electronic equipment using three-dimensional (3D) printing or additive manufacturing, said method comprising:

• forming, by a 3D printer, a top, a bottom, and two side panels that define an interior space, wherein each side panel has an interior side and an exterior side, a length and a height;
• forming, by the 3D printer, at least one rail located on the interior side of at least one of the side panels, wherein the rail extends inwardly toward the interior space and horizontally along the length of the interior side of the side panel, wherein the rail is configured to contact only a portion of a circuit card assembly comprising electronic equipment;
• and
• forming, by the 3D printer, an oscillating heat pipe (OHP), wherein a first portion of the OHP extends inwardly through the rail toward the interior space and is fully enveloped by the at least one rail, and extends toward the exterior side of the at least one of the side panels and into the at least one of the side panels, and a second portion of the OHP orthogonal to the first portion extends into the height of and is fully enveloped by the at least one side panel on which the rail is located, wherein at least a portion of heat from operation of the electronic equipment passes through the circuit card assembly to the at least one rail, and from the at least one rail to the first portion of the OHP, from the first portion of the OHP to the second portion of the OHP, and from the second portion of the OHP to the that at least one side panel on which the rail is located where it is dissipated into an environment.

A system for enclosing and cooling electronic equipment, said system comprising:

• one or more circuit card assemblies (CCAs), each CCA comprising electronic equipment and a frame;
• and
• a chassis for enclosing and cooling the one or more CCAs during their operation, said chassis comprising:
• a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and two side panels that define an interior space, each side panel having an interior, an exterior, a length and a height, wherein the exterior of at least one of the side panels further comprises one or more fins for cooling;
• a plurality of rails located on the interior of each of the two side panels, wherein each rail extends inwardly toward the interior space and horizontally along the length of the interior side of the side panel, wherein each rail is configured to contact only a portion of the frame of each of the one or more CCAs, wherein the two side panels are parallel to one another;
• and
• an oscillating heat pipe (OHP), wherein an evaporator section of the OHP extends inwardly through the rail toward the interior space and is fully enveloped by at least one of the plurality of rails, and extends toward the exterior side of the at least one of the side panels and into the at least one of the side panels, and a condenser section of the OHP orthogonal to the evaporator section extends into the height of and is fully enveloped by the side panel on which the rail is located, wherein a first U-shaped end of the evaporator portion of the OHP is proximate to an inside edge or a top of the at least one rail and a second U-shaped end of the condenser section is proximate to the exterior of the at least one side panel or the at least one or more fins for cooling,
• wherein at least a portion of heat from operation of the electronic equipment passes through the one or more CCAs to the frame of the CCA, from the frame of the CCA to the rail, and from the rail to the evaporator section of the OHP, from the evaporator section of the OHP to the condenser section of the OHP, and from the condenser section of the OHP to the that side panel on which the rail is located where it is dissipated into an environment.