Capillary tube heat pipe and temperature controlling apparatus

• US 6,889,753 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mizutani Electric Ind. Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: TS Heatronics Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Takamizawa, Masayoshi, Kaneko, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): MCKINNON, TERRELL L
• Application Number:
  US10/321,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.26, 165/104.21, 165/104.33, 165/80.4, 165/185, 361/700, 361/699, 257714-716, 174/15.2
• US Class Current: 165/104.21
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/043 forming loops, e.g. capillary pumped loops
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/38 Cooling arrangements using the Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/427 Cooling by change of state, e.g. use of heat pipes by liquefied gas H01L23/445
• 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 capillary tube heat pipe and the like are provided, in which is applicable for a case that a heat receiving portion is separated apart from a heat radiating portion, and a sufficient space for connecting the both portions does not exist. This capillary tube heat pipe (1) is provided with two turn portions (a heat receiving portion and a heat radiating portion) (3-1) and (3-2) at the both ends thereof and a straight portion (a heat transfer portion) (5) extending between the both turn portions (3), and has a closed loop structure in which both terminals of a single pipe are communicated. Since the heat transfer portion is made from two straight pipes (7) and (9), the straight portion (5) can be small in size.

Claims

1. A capillary tube heat pipe having a heat receiving portion, a heat radiating portion and a heat transfer portion connecting said heat receiving portion and said heat radiating portion, the capillary tube heat pipe comprising:

a capillary tube which forms a closed loop;

wherein the capillary tube has an inner diameter which is less than a maximum diameter which enables the working fluid to circulate in the capillary tube while being sealed inside the capillary tube;

wherein said heat transfer portion is constructed from only one pair of going and returning passages;

wherein the working fluid is capable of alternately flowing in a forward direction and a reverse direction within the capillary tube; and

wherein the heat receiving portion and heat radiating portion comprise a high heat conductive material, and the heat transfer portion comprises a low heat conductive material.

2. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion comprises a meandering capillary tube (a meandering turn portion) having a plurality of turnings.

3. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 2, wherein said meandering turn portion is heated or cooled at one turn end side and is cooled or heated at another turn end side so as to cause a working fluid in said meandering turn portion to be evaporated and condensed, thereby increasing a flow force of the working fluid in said meandering turn portion.

4. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein at said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion, a high heat conductive member (a boss) which transmits heat conduction between the capillary tube and an object to be heated or an object to be cooled is mounted, and

wherein said boss includes a groove in which the capillary tube of said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion is embedded.

5. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 2, wherein at said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion, a high heat conductive member (a boss) which transmits heat conduction between the capillary tube and an object to be heated or an object to be cooled is mounted, and

said boss includes a groove in which the capillary tube of said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion is embedded.

6. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 3, wherein at said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion, a high heat conductive member (a boss) which transmits heat conduction between the capillary tube and an object to be heated or an object to be cooled is mounted, and

said boss includes a groove in which the capillary tube of said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion is embedded.

7. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the capillary tube of said meandering turn portion which constructs said heat radiating portion and/or said heat receiving portion is larger than that of said heat transfer portion.

8. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 7, wherein capillary tubes of said heat transfer portion are inserted into capillary tubes of said meandering turn portion.

9. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 7, wherein capillary tubes of said meandering turn portion are substantially bent into a circle.

10. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 9, wherein capillary tubes of said meandering turn portion are substantially bent into a circle having a diameter larger than a distance between said one pair of going and returning passages of said heat transfer portion.

11. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 2, wherein a width of each of the plurality of turnings of the capillary tube is larger than a width of a straight portion of the capillary tube.

12. A temperature controlling apparatus comprising a cold heat or a hot heat generating device (a heat generating device) such as a Peltier unit and a capillary tube heat pipe arranged between said heat generating device and an object to be cooled or an object to be heated,

wherein said capillary tube heat pipe includes a heat receiving portion connected to said heat generating device, a heat radiating portion connected to said object to be cooled or said object to be heated, and a heat transfer portion connecting said heat receiving portion and said heat radiating portion, and the capillary tube heat pipe comprising a capillary tube which forms a closed loop;

wherein the capillary tube has an inner diameter which is less than a maximum diameter which enables the working fluid to circulate in the capillary tube while being sealed inside the capillary tube;

wherein said heat transfer portion is constructed from only one pair of going and returning passages;

wherein the working fluid is capable of alternately flowing in a forward direction and a reverse direction within the capillary tube; and

wherein the heat receiving portion and heat radiating portion comprise a high heat conductive material, and the heat transfer portion comprises a low heat conductive material.

13. The temperature controlling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion comprises a meandering capillary tube (a meandering turn portion) having a plurality of turnings.

14. The temperature controlling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said meandering turn portion is cooled or heated at one turn end side by said heat generating device, and is heated or cooled at another turn end side by circumference air and/or by medium (for instance, air) for radiating heat produced by a heat generating element of said heat generating device.

15. The temperature controlling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a width of each of the plurality of turnings of the capillary tube is larger than a width of a straight portion of the capillary tube.

16. A capillary tube heat pipe having a heat receiving portion, a heat radiating portion and a heat transfer portion connecting said heat receiving portion and said heat radiating portion, the capillary tube heat pipe comprising:

a capillary tube which forms a closed loop;

wherein said heat transfer portion is constructed from only one pair of going and returning passages;

wherein said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion comprises a meandering capillary tube (a meandering turn portion) having a plurality of turnings;

wherein said meandering turn portion is heated or cooled at one turn end side and is cooled or heated at another turn end side so as to cause a working fluid in said meandering turn portion to be evaporated and condensed, thereby increasing a flow force of the working fluid in said meandering turn portion;

wherein the working fluid is capable of alternately flowing in a forward direction and a reverse direction within the capillary tube; and

wherein the heat receiving portion and heat radiating portion comprise a high heat conductive material, and the heat transfer portion comprises a low heat conductive material.

17. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 16, wherein at said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion, a high heat conductive member (a boss) which transmits heat conduction between the capillary tube and an object to be heated or an object to be cooled is mounted, and

said boss includes a groove in which the capillary tube of said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion is embedded.

18. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 16, wherein a width of each of the plurality of turnings of the capillary tube is larger than a width of a straight portion of the capillary tube.

19. The temperature controlling apparatus of claim 16, wherein a width of each of the plurality of turnings of the capillary tube is larger than a width of a straight portion of a straight portion of the capillary tube.

23. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 16, wherein at said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion, a high heat conductive member (a boss) which transmits heat conduction between the capillary tube and an object to be heated or an object to be cooled is mounted, and

said boss includes a groove in which the capillary tube of said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion is embedded.

24. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 16, wherein at said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion, a high heat conductive member (a boss) which transmits heat conduction between the capillary tube and an object to be heated or an object to be cooled is mounted, and

said boss includes a groove in which the capillary tube of said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion is embedded.

25. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 16, wherein an inner diameter of the capillary tube of said meandering turn portion which constructs said heat radiating portion and/or said heat receiving portion is larger than that of said heat transfer portion.

26. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 25, wherein capillary tubes of said heat transfer portion are inserted into capillary tubes of said meandering turn portion.

27. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 25, wherein capillary tubes of said meandering turn portion are substantially bent into a circle.

28. The capillary tube heat pipe according to claim 27, wherein capillary tubes of said meandering turn portion are substantially bent into a circle having a diameter larger than a distance between said one pair of going and returning passages of said heat transfer portion.

20. A temperature controlling apparatus comprising a cold heat or a hot heat generating device (a heat generating device) such as a Peltier unit and a capillary tube heat pipe arranged between said heat generating device and an object to be cooled or an object to be heated,

wherein said capillary tube heat pipe includes a heat receiving portion connected to said heat generating device, a heat radiating portion connected to said object to be cooled or said object to be heated, and a heat transfer portion connecting said heat receiving portion and said heat radiating portion, and the capillary tube heat pipe comprising a capillary tube which forms a closed loop,

wherein said heat transfer portion is constructed from only one pair of going and returning passages;

wherein said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion comprises a meandering capillary tube (a meandering turn portion) having a plurality of turnings;

wherein said meandering turn portion is heated or cooled at one turn end side and is cooled or heated at another turn end side so as to cause a working fluid in said meandering turn portion to be evaporated and condensed, thereby increasing a flow force of the working fluid in said meandering turn portion;

wherein the working fluid is capable of alternately flowing in a forward direction and a reverse direction within the capillary tube; and

wherein the heat receiving portion and heat radiating portion comprise a high heat conductive material, and the heat transfer portion comprises a low heat conductive material.

21. The temperature controlling apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said heat receiving portion and/or said heat radiating portion comprises a meandering capillary tube (a meandering turn portion) having a plurality of turnings.

22. The temperature controlling apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said meandering turn portion is cooled or heated at one turn end side by said heat generating device, and is heated or cooled at another turn end side by circumference air and/or by medium (for instance, air) for radiating heat produced by a heat generating element of said heat generating device.