Cooling device and apparatus and method for making the same

A method for making a cooling device, the cooling device comprising a heat sink and a heat pipe integrally formed with the heat sink, the heat sink comprising a base and a plurality of fins, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a mold for making the cooling device, the mold comprising a base part and a pair of forming parts slidably engaged on the base part, the forming parts defining a void therebetween corresponding to a configuration of the cooling device;
• b) providing a core corresponding to the heat pipe of the cooling device, the core comprising a main body and a peripheral portion adjoining ends of the main body;
• c) attaching the core to one of the forming parts;
• d) closing the mold, with the two forming parts being slidingly moved toward each other;
• e) feeding molten material into the mold;
• f) allowing the molten material to cool;
• g) opening the mold, with the two forming parts being sildingly moved apart, and taking out a preform of the cooling device from the mold;
• h) removing the core;
• i) removing by-products formed as part of the preform;
• j) sealing one end of the heat pipe being part to the preform;
• k) filling working liquid into the heat pipe via an unsealed end thereof;
• and
• l) sealing the unsealed end of the heat pipe.

An apparatus for making a cooling device, the cooling device comprising a heat sink and a heat pipe integrally formed with the heat sink, the heat sink comprising a base and a plurality of fins, the apparatus comprising:

• a mold, comprising a base part and a pair of symmetrical forming parts slidably engaged on the base part, each of the forming parts defining a plurality of slots corresponding to the fins of the heat sink, a cavity at endmost portions of the slots corresponding to the base of the heat sink, and a recess in communication with the cavity corresponding to the heat pipe, wherein one portion of the recess extends transversely the slots;
• and
• a core accommodated in the recess of the forming parts;
• wherein each of the forming parts further defines a chamber adjacent the slots, and the chamber is in communication with ends of the recess;
• and
• wherein the core comprises a generally U-shaped main body and a peripheral portion integrally adjoining ends of the main body, the main body is accommodated in the recesses of the forming parts, and the peripheral portion is accommodated in the chambers of the forming parts.