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US 6,935,409 B1Granted
Cooling apparatus having low profile extrusion
AssigneeThermoTek, Inc.
InventorsOverton L. Parish IV, Roger S. DeVilbiss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooling apparatus has a low profile extrusion with a plurality of micro tubes extended there through. In the caps interconnect the ends of the micro tubes in fluid communications and to inlet and outlet tubes. The low profile extrusion is placed into thermal connection with heat producing components. A heat transfer fluid is circulated through the micro tubes of the low profile extrusion, and a heat exchanger removes the heat from the heat transfer fluid.
Claims31
A cooling apparatus for removing heat from at least one heat generating component, said cooling apparatus comprising:
- a low profile metal unitary member comprised of one piece of metal, said low profile unitary member having a first exterior surface adapted for receiving heat from the at least one heat generating component and having a plurality of micro tubes formed of said one piece of metal having a flattened heat transfer surface, said low profile metal unitary member having a micro tube inlet comprised of said one piece of metal and a micro tube outlet comprised of said one piece of metal, said low profile metal unitary member providing an entirely metallic thermal path for conducting heat from said first exterior surface to a heat transfer fluid contained within said plurality of micro tubes, said plurality of micro tubes being formed along an axis relative to said low profile unitary member;
- an inlet tube;
- cavitied inlet end cap interconnecting the micro tube inlets in fluid communication and connecting the micro tube inlets in fluid communication with said inlet tube, said cavitied inlet end cap having a width equal to a width of the low profile metal unitary member;
- an outlet tube;
- cavitied outlet end cap interconnecting the micro tube outlets in fluid communication and connecting the micro tube outlet in fluid communication with said outlet tube;
- each of said plurality of microtubes being fluidly connected to adjacent and non-adjacent microtubes via said inlet end cap and said outlet end cap, said cavitied outlet end cap having a width equal to the width of the low profile metal unitary member;
- means for circulating said heat transfer fluid through said inlet tube, said inlet end cap, the plurality of micro tubes of said low profile metal unitary member, said outlet end cap, and said outlet tube in a manner such that said fluid is injected into and ejected from said low profile unitary member parallel to said axis of said micro tubes;
- and
- means for removing heat from said heat transfer fluid.
6 more elements
A cooling apparatus for removing heat from at least one heat generating component, said cooling apparatus comprising:
- a low profile unitary member having a flattened exterior extrusion surface adapted for receiving heat from the at least one heat generating component and a plurality of micro tubes with a micro tube inlet and a micro tube outlet, said plurality of micro tubes being formed along an axis relative to said low profile unitary member;
- at least one fin on an interior surface of at least one of said plurality of micro tubes;
- an inlet tube;
- an cavitied inlet end cap interconnecting the micro tube inlets in fluid communication and connecting the micro tube inlets in fluid communication with said inlet tube, said cavitied inlet end cap having a width equal to the width of the low profile metal unitary member;
- an outlet tube;
- a cavitied outlet end cap interconnecting the micro tube outlets in fluid communication and connecting the micro tube outlet in fluid communication with said outlet tube, said cavitied outlet end cap having a width equal to the width of the low profile metal unitary member;
- means for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said plurality of micro tubes of said low profile member in a manner such that said fluid is injected into said low profile unitary member and ejected from said member parallel to the axis of said micro tubes;
- and
- means for removing heat from said heat transfer fluid.
6 more elements
A cooling apparatus for removing heat from at least one heat generating component, said cooling apparatus comprising:
- a low profile metal unitary member comprised of one piece of metal having a first exterior extrusion surface adapted for receiving heat from the at least one heat generating component and a plurality of micro tubes with a micro tube inlet comprised of said one piece of metal and a micro tube outlet comprised of said one piece of metal, said plurality of micro tubes being formed along an axis relative to said low profile unitary member, said low profile metal unitary member providing an entirely metallic thermal path for conducting heat from said first exterior extrusion surface to a heat transfer fluid contained within said plurality of micro tubes, said member having a profile of less than approximately 0.1 inches;
- a cavitied inlet end cap interconnecting the micro tube inlets in fluid communication, said cavitied inlet end cap having a width equal to the width of the low profile metal unitary member;
- a cavitied outlet end cap interconnecting the micro tube outlets in fluid communication said cavitied outlet end cap having a width equal to the width of the low profile metal unitary member;
- each of said plurality of micro tubes being fluidly connected to adjacent and non-adjacent micro tubes via said inlet end cap and said outlet end cap;
- means for circulating said heat transfer fluid through said inlet end cap, the plurality of micro tubes of said low profile extrusion and said outlet end cap in a manner such that said fluid is injected into said low profile unitary member and ejected from said member parallel to the axis of said micro tubes;
- and
- means for removing heat from said heat transfer fluid.
4 more elements
A cooling apparatus for removing heat from at least one heat generating component, said cooling apparatus comprising:
- a low profile metal unitary member comprised of one piece of metal, said low profile unitary member having a first exterior surface adapted for receiving heat from the at least one heat generating component and having a plurality of micro tubes formed of said one piece of metal having a flattened heat transfer surface, said low profile metal unitary member having a micro tube inlet comprised of said one piece of metal and a micro tube outlet comprised of said one piece of metal, said low profile metal unitary member providing an entirely metallic thermal path for conducting heat from said first exterior surface to a heat transfer fluid contained within said plurality of micro tubes, said plurality of micro tubes being formed along an axis relative to said low profile unitary member;
- an inlet tube;
- a cavitied inlet end cap interconnecting the micro tube inlets in fluid communication and connecting the micro tube inlets in fluid communication with said inlet tube, wherein the cavitied inlet end cap is disposed in direct contact with at least a portion of the at least one heat generating component;
- an outlet tube;
- a cavitied outlet end cap interconnecting the micro tube outlets in fluid communication and connecting the micro tube outlet in fluid communication with said outlet tube, wherein the cavitied outlet end cap is disposed in direct contact with at least a portion of the at least one heat generating component;
- each of said plurality of microtubes being fluidly connected to adjacent and non-adjacent microtubes via said inlet end cap and said outlet end cap;
- means for circulating said beat transfer fluid through said inlet tube, said inlet end cap, the plurality of micro tubes of said low profile metal unitary member, said outlet end cap, and said outlet tube in a manner such that said fluid is injected into and ejected from said low profile unitary member parallel to said axis of said micro tubes;
- and
- means for removing heat from said heat transfer fluid.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.