INTEGRAL COLD PLATE AND STRUCTURAL MEMBER

• US 20110232863A1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International Inc (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International Inc (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Taddey, Edmund P., Zaffetti, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/80.4
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator

Abstract

A cold plate assembly is provided having a cold plate with a generally planar member that provides a support surface. The support surface is configured to support a heat generating device. A structural member provides attaching features that are configured to secure the cold plate assembly to a support. The cold plate is secured to the structural member by a braze material. In one example, the cold plate assembly is manufactured by arranging multiple sheets with a first braze material provided between the sheets. The multiple sheets comprise a cold plate. The braze material is heated to mechanically join the multiple sheets to one another and the cold plate to the structural member.

Claims

1. A cold plate assembly comprising:

a cold plate having a generally planar member providing a support surface configured to support a heat generating device; and

a structural member providing attaching features configured to secure the cold plate assembly to a support, the cold plate secured to the structural member by a braze material.

2. The cold plate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cold plate provides an internal fluid passage that is in an overlapping relationship with the support surface.

3. The cold plate assembly according to claim 2, wherein the fluid passage extends substantially throughout the cold plate interiorly of the support surface.

4. The cold plate assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cold plate includes first and second sheets with the fluid passage arranged between the first and second sheets, one of the sheets providing the support surface and the other of the sheets secured to the structural member.

5. The cold plate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the attaching features include tabs with holes configured to be removably secured to the support.

6. The cold plate assembly according to claim 1, comprising a fluid port secured to the cold plate.

7. The cold plate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the structural member includes a frame providing a cavity, and a reinforcing layer disposed within the cavity and secured to adjacent sheets.

8. The cold plate assembly according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement layer includes an arrangement of fins.

9. The cold plate assembly according to claim 8, wherein the structural member includes multiple layers of fins arranged in transverse relationship relative to one another.

10. The cold plate assembly according to claim 7, wherein the cavity extends across a substantial portion of the structural member and configured to be substantially free of fluid during an operating condition.

11. A method of manufacturing a cold plate assembly comprising:

arranging multiple sheets with a first braze material provided between the sheets, one of the multiple sheets providing an external support surface configured to support a heat generating device, the multiple sheets providing an internal fluid passage arranged to overlap the support surface, the multiple sheets comprising a cold plate;

arranging at least one structural member adjacent to the cold plate with a second braze material provided between the cold plate and the structural member, the structural member including attaching features configured to secure the cold plate assembly to a support; and

heating the first and second braze materials to mechanically join the multiple sheets to one another and the cold plate to the structural member.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the step of simultaneously heating the first and second braze materials.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising the step of loading the cold plate and structural member together during the heating step.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the structural member is configured to be substantially free of fluid passages.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second arranging step includes providing a frame with a cavity within which a fin layer is disposed.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein a fluid passage is disposed through the frame outside of the cavity and in fluid communication with the cold plates.