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

• US 6,418,024 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Edevold, Craig, Winch, Cary
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US09/815,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 165/80.2, 165/80.3, 165/185, 174/16.3, 257/707, 257/713, 257/718-719, 257/726-727, 361/688, 361/690, 361/704, 361/707, 361/709-710, 361/715, 361/719-720
• US Class Current: 361/707
• 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. Onceina 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, comprising:

a thermally conductive body having a mounting surface;

means for resiliently holding a circuit element, said means pivotally connected to said body for adjustable movement between a clamped position and a released position, said released position defining a first distance from said mounting surface greater than a second distance defined by said clamped position; and

wherein said means comprises a cam rotatably mounted within a cam channel defined in said body and a holding member, said holding member defining a pivot arm portion and a spring clip portion, said cam operable in relation to said body and said pivot arm portion to position said spring clip portion in said clamped position and in said released position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said body further defines a holding member retainer, and wherein said holding member pivotally engages said holding member retainer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein rotation of said cam through a first arc positions said holding member in said clamped position, and rotation of said cam through a second arc positions said holding member in said released position, and wherein said second arc is substantially greater than said first arc.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cam is rotatable in a first direction to transition said holding member from said released position to said clamped position, and wherein said cam is prohibited from rotating in a second direction once said holding member is in said clamped position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cam extends beyond said body and is adapted to interface with a cam actuator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material coupled to said mounting surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said material is adhesively bonded to said mounting surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said body further defines a base adapted to support said body on a printed circuit board, said base defining a contact surface area smaller than a cross sectional area of said body to reduce heat transfer from said body to the printed circuit board.

3. A heat sink apparatus, comprising:

a thermally conductive body having a mounting surface;

means for resiliently holding a circuit element, said means pivotally connected to said body for adjustable movement between a clamped position and a released position, said released position defining a first distance from said mounting surface greater than a second distance defined by said clamped position; and

wherein said means comprises a cam rotatably mounted within a cam channel defined in said body and a holding member, said holding member defining a pivot arm portion and a spring clip portion, said cam operable in relation to said body and said pivot arm portion to position said spring clip portion in said clamped position and in said released position; and

wherein said spring clip portion defines a plurality of individual spring clips.

6. A heat sink apparatus, comprising:

a thermally conductive body having a mounting surface;

means for resiliently holding a circuit element, said means pivotally connected to said body for adjustable movement between a clamped position and a released position, said released position defining a first distance from said mounting surface greater than a second distance defined by said clamped position; and

wherein said means comprises a cam rotatably mounted within a cam channel defined in said body and a holding member, said holding member defining a pivot arm portion and a spring clip portion, said cam operable in relation to said body and said pivot arm portion to position said spring clip portion in said clamped position and in said released position; and

wherein said means further comprises a holding member stop formed perpendicular to said pivot arm, said holding member stop adapted to engage said body to thereby secure said holding member in said cam channel.

11. An assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an electrical component mounted on said printed circuit board; and

a heat sink apparatus in thermal communication with said electrical component and adapted to remove heat therefrom, said heat sink apparatus having a thermally conductive body defining a mounting surface thereon adapted to contact said electrical component, said heat sink apparatus further including a means including a cam rotatably mounted to said body for resiliently holding said electrical component in thermal contact with said mounting surface in an engaged position and for disengaging contact with said electrical component in a disengaged position.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said means is adapted to accommodate electrical components of different sizes.

18. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material affixed to said mounting surface.

19. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said heat sink apparatus further defines a mounting base for supporting said heat sink apparatus on said printed circuit board, said mounting base having a small contact surface area to minimize heat transfer from said body to said printed circuit board.

13. An assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an electrical component mounted on said printed circuit board; and

a heat sink apparatus in thermal communication with said electrical component and adapted to remove heat therefrom, said heat sink apparatus having a thermally conductive body defining a mounting surface thereon adapted to contact said electrical component, said heat sink apparatus further including a means for resiliently holding said electrical component in thermal contact with said mounting surface in an engaged position and for disengaging contact with said electrical component in a disengaged position; and

wherein said means comprises a holding member having a pivot arm portion adapted to engage a rotatable cam positioned in said body, and a flexible spring clip portion adapted to accommodate electrical components of different sizes.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said cam includes a portion adapted to engage said pivot arm to prevent movement from said engaged to said disengaged positions by reverse rotation of said cam.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein rotation of said cam to transition said holding member from said disengaged position to said engaged position transitions said pivot arm through a fist arc of a first angle, and wherein said flexible spring clip is likewise transitioned through a second arc that is at most equal to said first arc.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said means further comprises a holding member stop formed perpendicular to said pivot arm, said holding member stop adapted to engage said body to thereby secure said holding member in relation to said cam.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said cam extends beyond said body and is adapted to interface with a cam actuator.