Ribbon-like plate heat pipes

• US 5,642,775 A
• Filed: 02/16/1996
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mizutani Electric Ind. Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Actronics Kabushiki Kaisha, Hisetaru Akachi
• Inventors: Akachi, Hisateru
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): ATKINSON, CHRISTOPHER MARK
• Application Number:
  US08/602,310
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 165/168, 165/170, 165/104.26, 165/104.21, 165/104.19, 165/104.14
• US Class Current: 165/104.14
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0283 Means for filling or sealing heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/022 with multiple channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/04 Communication passages between channels

Abstract

A ribbon-like plate heat pipe comprises a ribbon-like plate having tunnels arranged parallel to each other and defined by partitions. The ribbon-like plate has both ends closed such that the tunnels are filled with melt metal up to a predetermined depth from each end of the ribbon-like plate upon welding or soldering. The partitions are alternately eliminated by a predetermined length in the vicinity of the ends of the ribbon-like plate so as to ensure communication of the tunnels with each other to form a serpentine container having a predetermined turns. The serpentine container is filled with a predetermined amount of working fluid.

Claims

1. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe, comprising:

a plate having a plurality of tunnels arranged parallel to each other and defined by a plurality of partitions;

means for closing ends of said plate, said ends closing means being disposed up to a predetermined depth of said plurality of tunnels from each end of said plate; and

means for ensuring communication of said plurality of tunnels with each other to form a serpentine container having a predetermined turns, said serpentine container being filled with a predetermined amount of a predetermined working fluid.

2. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate is made of a metallic material having a fusing point lower than that of a pure copper.

3. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ends closing means are obtained by face-fed welding, squeezing &

welding, and butt welding.

4. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication ensuring means comprise said plurality of partitions eliminated alternately by a predetermined length in a vicinity of said ends of said plate.

5. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 4, wherein said communicating ensuring means are obtained by:

forming a groove in a surface of said plate in a position at a predetermined distance away from a corresponding end, said groove being substantially parallel to said corresponding end of said plate, said groove having a depth failing to reach a film disposed on a top wall of said plurality of tunnels, said groove having a width greater than said predetermined length of said plurality of partitions;

making a hole up to a bottom wall of said plurality of tunnels;

fitting a tape with corresponding width and thickness into said groove; and

joining said tape to said plate.

6. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 5, wherein said film is thin enough to enable confirmation of a position of said plurality of partitions.

7. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a tube arranged to charge said serpentine container with said predetermined amount of said predetermined working fluid.

8. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a tube arranged to connect ends of said serpentine container.

9. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tube is coated with said metallic material of said plate.

10. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined turns of said serpentine container correspond to at least 20.

11. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment, comprising:

a plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes disposed parallel to each other, each comprising a plate having a plurality of tunnels arranged parallel to each other and defined by a plurality of partitions;

means for closing ends of said plate, said ends closing means being disposed up to a predetermined depth of said plurality of tunnels from each end of said plate; and

means for ensuring communication of said plurality of tunnels with each other to form a serpentine container having a predetermined turns, said serpentine container being filled with a predetermined amount of a predetermined working fluid; and

means for connecting said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes to each other.

12. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein said predetermined turns of said serpentine container corresponds to at least 20.

13. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

means for ensuring communication of said serpentine container of one of said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes with that of an adjacent one thereof, said communication ensuring means enabling formation of a continuous serpentine container having a predetermined turns through said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes.

14. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 13, wherein said predetermined turns of said continuous serpentine container correspond to at least 20 turns.

15. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of plates arranged parallel to said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes, said plurality of plates and said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes being disposed alternately.

16. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 15, wherein said plurality of plates comprise means for mounting said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes.

17. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plates connecting means are obtained by point welding and point soldering.

18. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment, comprising:

a flat plate;

a plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes disposed on said flat plate at predetermined intervals to be parallel to each other, each comprising a plate having a plurality of tunnels arranged parallel to each other and defined by a plurality of partitions;

means for closing ends of said plate, said ends closing means being disposed up to a predetermined depth of said plurality of tunnels from each end of said plate; and

means for ensuring communication of said plurality of tunnels with each other to form a serpentine container having a predetermined turns, said serpentine container being filled with a predetermined amount of a predetermined working fluid; and

means for ensuring communication of said serpentine container of one of said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes with that of an adjacent one thereof, said communication ensuring means enabling formation of a continuous serpentine container having a predetermined turns through said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes.

19. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed 18, wherein said predetermined turns of said continuous serpentine container corresponds to at least 20.

20. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed 18, wherein said flat plate comprises means for mounting said plurality of ribbon-like plate heat pipes.

21. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment, comprising:

a plurality of plates disposed in series to form a plate assembly, each having a plurality of tunnels arranged parallel to each other and defined by a plurality of partitions;

means for connecting said plurality of tunnels of one of said plurality of plates and those of an adjacent one thereof;

means for closing ends of said plate assembly, said ends closing means being disposed up to a predetermined depth of said plurality of tunnels from each end of said plate assembly.

22. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 21, wherein said tunnels connecting means comprise a tube made of a metallic material which has a fusion point higher than that of a metallic material of said plurality of plates, and no possible electric erosion therewith.

23. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 22, wherein said tube is coated with said metallic material of said plurality of plates.

24. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a heat-resistant insulating coating disposed on said plurality of plates.

25. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

means for connecting said plurality of tunnels of each of said plurality of plates to each other.

26. A ribbon-like plate heat pipe equipment as claimed in claim 25, wherein said tunnels connecting means are in a form of a tunnel formed through said plurality of partitions of one of said plurality of plates.