Sliding Thermal Interface Material (TIM) Assemblies
AssigneeLaird Technologies, Inc.
InventorPawel WEGRZYNIAK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of sliding thermal interface material (TIM) assemblies or thermal solutions, e.g., with improved durability. In exemplary embodiments, the TIM assembly or thermal solution improves heat transfer between a slidable heat source and heat sink via a durable layer (e.g., metal wear-resistant layer defined by a stainless steel, copper, beryllium copper, other metal substrate or cover, other materials with high thermal conductivity and that are puncture resistant in addition to wear-resistant, etc.) disposed over or along a thermal interface material (e.g., thermal phase change material (PCM), etc.), thereby providing a durable, slide-resistant thermal interface material (TIM) with improved performance over conventional thermal solutions.
Claims21
-20. (canceled)
A thermal management assembly for sliding applications, the assembly comprising:
- a substrate having opposite inner and outer surfaces;
- and
- an interface material along the inner surface of the substrate;
- wherein the substrate defines a durable layer that is disposed over and/or along the interface material and that is configured to contact a first surface of a first component when the thermal management assembly is along a second surface of a second component and when the first surface is slidably moved relative to the second surface.
A thermal management assembly for sliding applications, the assembly comprising:
- a metal cover having an outer sliding surface and an inner surface;
- an interface material disposed on the inner surface of the metal cover;
- a plurality of inwardly protruding dimples along spaced-apart spring fingers of the metal cover, the dimples configured to be received in corresponding sockets of a heat-removal component;
- and
- first and second adhesive reinforcement strips positioned on opposite edges of the interface material and extend along edges that are perpendicular to a sliding direction, whereby the interface material is confined between the first and second adhesive reinforcement strips such that, during sliding insertion of a heat source along the outer sliding surface of the metal cover, the first and second adhesive reinforcement strips absorb edge compression and inhibit migration of the interface material;
- wherein the metal cover preserves the interface material such that the interface material is durable during repeated sliding insertion and removal cycles and such that a heat transfer path is maintained through the metal cover, the interface material, and into the heat-removal component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.