Add-on heat sink and method
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorVernon P. Bollesen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat sink structure includes first and second add-on heat sinks mounted to a primary heat sink. The add-on heat sinks are thermally connected to the primary heat sink such that the effective heat transfer surface area for dissipating heat to the ambient environment is increased compared to the surface area of the primary heat sink alone. Increasing the effective heat transfer surface area enhances heat transfer from the primary heat sink. The add-on heat sinks also restrict air from flowing between the primary heat sink and a cabinet of the computer system. In this manner, the add-on heat sinks force air to flow between the fins of the primary heat sink, thus further enhancing heat transfer from the primary heat sink.
Claims27
A heat sink structure comprising:
- a base section;
- a first wall connected to said base section;
- a first arm connected to said base section, said first arm comprising:
- a locking feature;
- a spring arm connected to said base section;
- and
- a riser arm connected to said locking feature, said spring arm and said riser arm being connected together;
- and
- a second arm connected to said base section.
A heat sink structure comprising:
- a base section;
- a first wall connected to said base section;
- a first arm connected to said base section, said first arm comprising a first locking feature;
- a second arm connected to said base section, said second arm comprising a second locking feature;
- and
- one or more fins on a first surface of said base section.
A structure comprising:
- a heat emitting component;
- a primary heat sink in thermal contact with said heat emitting component;
- and
- a first add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms locking said first add-on heat sink to said primary heat sink, said body portion being in thermal contact with said primary heat sink, said arms comprising a first arm, said first arm comprising:
- a spring arm connected to a first base section of said body portion;
- and
- a riser arm connected to said spring arm.
A structure comprising:
- a heat emitting component;
- a primary heat sink in thermal contact with said heat emitting component;
- a first add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms locking said first add-on heat sink to said primary heat sink, said body portion being in thermal contact with said primary heat sink, said body portion comprising:
- a first base section;
- a first wall connected to said first base section;
- a second wall connected to said first base section;
- and
- one or more fins on a first surface of said first base section.
A structure comprising:
- a heat emitting component;
- a primary heat sink in thermal contact with said heat emitting component;
- a first add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms locking said first add-on heat sink to said primary heat sink, said body portion being in thermal contact with said primary heat sink directly opposite said heat emitting component;
- and
- a second add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms of said second add-on heat sink locking said second add-on heat sink to said primary heat sink, said body portion of said second add-on heat sink being in thermal contact with said primary heat sink directly opposite said heat emitting component.
A method of mounting an add-on heat sink to a primary heat sink comprising:
- positioning said add-on heat sink such that locking features of said add-on heat sink are aligned with sides of a base section of said primary heat sink;
- pressing said add-on heat sink towards said primary heat sink such that a first arm of said add-on heat sink is spread apart from a second arm of said add-on heat sink;
- and
- locking lips of said locking features to a first surface of said base section of said primary heat sink to thermally connect a body portion of said add-on heat sink to a second surface of said base section of said primary heat sink opposite said first surface, said first surface of said base section of said primary heat sink being in thermal contact with a heat emitting component.
A structure comprising:
- a heat emitting component;
- a primary heat sink comprising a base section having a first surface in thermal contact with said heat emitting component;
- and
- a first add-on heat sink comprising arms and a body portion, said arms comprising lips engaged with said first surface of said base section of said primary heat sink, said body portion being in thermal contact with a second surface of said base section of said primary heat sink opposite said first surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.