Heat sink apparatus and method of attaching the heat sink apparatus to a device

• US 20010030852A1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Edevold, Craig, Winch, Cary
• Granted Patent: US 6,418,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/704
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3675 characterised by the shape of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/4093 Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A heat sink apparatus for drawing heat from one or more devices and a method of attaching such a heat sink to one or more devices is provided. The heat sink includes a mounting surface, which draws heat into the heat sink where it is dissipated by fins. The heat sink can be mounted next to the device to be cooled with minimum insertion force since the weight of the heat sink is borne by the printed circuit board upon which the electronic device is installed. a rotatable cam is turned by the user, which engages a pivot arm. The pivot arm rotates a number of spring clips against the device thereby holding it in place. Once in a fully closed position, the cam locks into place to prevent the pivot arm and spring clips from rotating back to an open position. The spring clips affix the heat sink and maintains contact between the mounting surface and the device being cooled. The individually articulated spring clips allow the heat sink to be mounted over multiple devices of various dimensions and locations along the heat sink.

Claims

1. A heat sink apparatus for dissipating heat generated by a device, said apparatus comprising:

a body including a mounting surface; and

a holding member connected to said mounting surface for movement of said holding member between a clamped position and a released position.

2. The heat sink of

claim 1

wherein said mounting surface includes a plurality of cooling fins extending from said mounting surface to further radiate heat from said device.

3. The heat sink of

claim 1

wherein said holding member may be fixedly attached to a plurality of devices of varied size and location.

4. The heat sink of

claim 1

wherein said heat sink is comprised of metal.

5. The heat sink of

claim 1

wherein said heat sink is comprised of a material having a thermal conductivity sufficient to allow the conduction of heat away from said device.

6. The heat sink of

claim 1

where in said heat sink further comprises a power actuated fan.

7. The heat sink of

claim 1

and further comprising a cam pivotally mounted in said body and connected to said holding member so that rotation of said cam moves said holding member between said clamped and released positions.

8. The heat sink of

claim 7

where in said cam includes a stop member to prevent release of said holding member through reverse-rotation of said cam.

9. A heat sink apparatus for conducting heat away from a device, said heat sink comprising:

a body including a mounting surface; and

means for securing said mounting surface to said device so that said heat generated by said device is conducted by said mounting surface through said heat sink apparatus and away from said device.

10. The heat sink of

claim 9

wherein said mounting surface includes a plurality of cooling fins extending from said mounting surface to further radiate heat from said device.

11. The heat sink of

claim 9

wherein said means for securing said mounting surface to the device comprises a holding member and a user-actuated cam mechanically associated with said holding member so as to move said holding member between clamped and released positions, and wherein said holding member further includes a pivot arm and a plurality of spring clips which pivotally engage said device.

12. The heat sink of

claim 11

where said holding member is comprised of a metal with sufficient spring compression strength to maintain tension between said mounting surface and said device.

13. The heat sink of

claim 9

wherein said heat sink apparatus further comprises a cam channel, a cam member pivotally mounted in said cam channel, and a holding member connected to said body so that rotation of said cam causes movement of said holding member to a clamped position to secure said device between said mounting surface and said holding member.

14. The heat sink of

claim 9

wherein said heat sink further comprises a power actuated fan.

15. The heat sink of

claim 9

wherein said heat sink further comprises a base having a mounting surface and wherein substantially all of the weight of said heat sink is supported by said base.

16. The heat sink of

claim 15

wherein said heat sink further comprises a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material on said mounting surface.

17. The heat sink of

claim 15

wherein said mounting surface is made from a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material.

18. The heat sink of

claim 9

wherein said means for securing said mounting surface to the deice includes a holding member having an engagement surface spaced from said mounting surface and movable between a clamped position and a released position and wherein said heat sink apparatus further comprises a cam pivotally mounted in said body so that rotation of said cam causes movement of said holding member between said clamped and released positions.

19. The heat sink of

claim 9

wherein said body includes a second mounting surface, and means for securing said second mounting surface to a second device so that said heat generated by said second device is conducted by said second mounting surface through said heat sink apparatus and away from said second device.

20. The heat sink of

claim 9

wherein said heat sink further includes a means for monitoring and reporting the temperature of said device.

21. A method of mounting a heat sink to a device, said heat sink including a mounting surface and a holding member connected to said mounting surface for movement between a clamped position and a released position, said method comprising the acts of:

positioning said heat sink adjacent to said device; and

biasing said holding member toward said mounting surface so as to clamp said device between said mounting surface of said heat sink and said holding member.

22. The method of

claim 22

further comprising the additional acts of:

biasing said holding member away from said mounting surface to release said device from between said mounting surface of said heat sink and said holding member; and

removing said heat sink from said device.

23. A heat sink apparatus for dissipating heat generated by a device, said apparatus comprising:

a body including a mounting surface;

a holding member connected to said mounting surface for movement of said holding member between a clamped position and a released position; and

a cam pivotally mounted in said body and connected to said holding member so that rotation of said cam moves said holding member between said clamped and released positions.

24. The heat sink of

claim 24

wherein said mounting surface includes a plurality of cooling fins extending from said mounting surface to further radiate heat from said device.

25. The heat sink of

claim 24

wherein said holding member may be fixedly attached to a plurality of devices of varied size and location.

26. The heat sink of

claim 24

wherein said heat sink is comprised of metal.

27. The heat sink of

claim 24

wherein said heat sink is comprised of a material with a thermal conductivity greater than said device.

28. The heat sink of

claim 25

where in said heat sink further comprises a power actuated fan.

29. The heat sink of

claim 24

wherein said cam includes a stop member to prevent release of said holding member through reverse-rotation of said cam.