Liquid cooled heat exchanger with enhanced flow

• US 20020185260A1
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas P. Calaman, Matthew J. Connors
• Original Assignee: Douglas P. Calaman, Matthew J. Connors
• Inventors: Connors, Matthew J., Calaman, Douglas P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,719,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/80.4
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/022 the means being wires or pins
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/025 the means being corrugated, plate-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• 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 liquid-cooled heat sink is provided having a cooling housing including a peripheral side wall extending from the perimeter of a bottom wall and a lid sized to engage the peripheral side wall so as to form a chamber. A fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port are defined through the lid, and disposed in fluid communication with the chamber. In one embodiment, a plurality of pins project outwardly from the bottom wall so as to be positioned within the chamber and arranged in a staggered pattern. The pins include an end that engages the undersurface of the lid. In an alternative embodiment, a corrugated fin having a plurality of corrugations is positioned within the chamber so that at least one of the corrugations engages the bottom wall and at least one of the corrugations engages the under surface of the lid.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled heat sink comprising:

a housing including a side wall extending from the perimeter of a bottom wall and a lid sized to engage said peripheral side wall so as to form a chamber within said housing;

a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port defined through said lid so as to be in fluid communication with said chamber; and

a plurality of pins projecting outwardly from said bottom wall so as to be positioned within said chamber and arranged in a staggered pattern, said pins including an end that is secured to a surface of said lid.

2. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 1 wherein said bottom wall of said housing includes a recessed portion formed by a thinned region of said bottom wall.

3. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of pins project outwardly in substantially perpendicular relation to said bottom wall.

4. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of pins are in substantially perpendicular relation to a recessed portion of said bottom wall.

5. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of pins have a length that positions said end in engaging relation to said lid.

6. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of pins are arranged in a series of rows to form a non-rectangular, staggered pattern of pins such that pins in adjacent rows are off-set with respect to one another.

7. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 1 wherein a portion of a coolant fluid flowing through said chamber and engaging said pins engages each of said pins along their length, while another portion of said coolant fluid flowing through said pins passes between a gap formed between adjacent pins in a first row so as to directly impinge upon a pin positioned in a second row and spaced from said gap.

8. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 7 wherein coolant said entering housing impinges upon at least a portion of said end of at least one of said pins.

9. A liquid-cooled heat sink comprising:

a housing including a side wall extending from the perimeter of a bottom wall and a lid sized to engage said peripheral side wall so as to form a chamber within said housing;

a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port defined through said lid so as to be in fluid communication with said chamber; and

a fin comprising a plurality of corrugations positioned with said chamber so that at least one of said corrugations engages said bottom wall and at least one of said corrugations is secured to a surface of said lid.

10. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 9 wherein said fin is fixed in position within said housing by at least one pin.

11. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 9 wherein said fin comprises a plurality of fin walls that are folded relative to one another so as to form a plurality of substantially flat crests.

12. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 11 wherein said fin walls are parallel to one another, with a constant wall-to-wall separation.

13. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 10 wherein said fin includes at least one through hole arranged so as to receive said at least one when said fin is positioned within said chamber.

14. A liquid-cooled heat sink according to claim 9 wherein said fin is brazed or welded to a recessed portion of said bottom wall and said lid thereby forming a plurality of adjacent flow passages.