Flexible Graphite Sheet Support Structure and Thermal Management Arrangement

A flexible graphite sheet support structure comprising:

• a first support member and a second support member spaced apart from the first support member, wherein one of the first and second support members is adapted for movement relative to the other;
• a flexible graphite sheet secured to the first and second spaced apart support members and having a free standing flex accommodating section extending between the first and second spaced apart members, wherein the flex accommodating section is bell curve-shaped having a central curved portion disposed between oppositely disposed outwardly facing concave curved portions;
• and
• a first curve retention member having a convex curved surface disposed adjacent and facing a respective one of the outwardly facing concave curved portions and a second curve retention member having convex curved surface disposed adjacent and facing the other one of the outwardly facing concave curved portions, wherein the flexible graphite sheet is not secured to the convex curved surfaces.

A thermal management arrangement comprising:

• a first support member;
• a second support member spaced apart from the first support member;
• and
• a flexible graphite sheet secured to the first and second support members for transferring heat across a span between the first and second spaced apart support members, the flexible graphite sheet having a free standing curve-shaped flex accommodating section extending between the spaced apart support members.

A method of forming a thermal management arrangement comprising:

• providing first and second spaced apart support members forming a span between the spaced apart support members;
• securing a flexible graphite sheet to the first and second spaced apart support members forming a free standing curve-shaped flex accommodating section extending between the first and second spaced apart members;
• generating heat with a heat source in thermal contact with flexible graphite sheet;
• and
• transferring the heat across the span using the flexible graphite sheet.