Gimballed attachment for multiple heat exchangers
First Claim
1. A joining system comprising:
- a. a plurality of heat generating devices mounted to a mounting apparatus;
b. a plurality of heat exchangers, each heat exchanger coupled to a corresponding heat generating device; and
c. a gimbal retention mechanism including a plurality of gimbal joints and one or more spring means, wherein the one or more spring means couple the gimbal retention mechanism to the mounting apparatus, and the plurality of gimbal joints couple the gimbal retention mechanism to the plurality of heat exchangers thereby coupling each heat exchanger to the corresponding heat generating device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One or more heat exchangers are coupled to one or more heat sources using a single gimballed joining mechanism. The joining mechanism includes a gimbal plate and a gimbal joint. The gimbal joint enables independent application of a retention force to the heat exchanger as a single-point load. This results in a balanced and centered application of the retaining force over the thermal interface area. The gimbal plate is mounted directly to a circuit board using spring means. The spring means regulate the amount of retention force directed through the gimbal joint to each heat exchanger. Because the gimbal joint is rotation-compliant, the two mating faces making up the thermal interface are forced into a parallel mate. In this manner, a high performance TIM interface is generated.
359 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A joining system comprising:
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a. a plurality of heat generating devices mounted to a mounting apparatus; b. a plurality of heat exchangers, each heat exchanger coupled to a corresponding heat generating device; and c. a gimbal retention mechanism including a plurality of gimbal joints and one or more spring means, wherein the one or more spring means couple the gimbal retention mechanism to the mounting apparatus, and the plurality of gimbal joints couple the gimbal retention mechanism to the plurality of heat exchangers thereby coupling each heat exchanger to the corresponding heat generating device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A joining system comprising:
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a. a heat generating device mounted to a mounting apparatus; b. a heat rejector coupled to the heat generating device, wherein the heat rejector includes a plurality of fins; c. an adapter plate coupled to a first end of one or more of the plurality of fins; and d. a gimbal retention mechanism including a gimbal joint and one or more spring means, wherein the gimbal joint is coupled to the adapter plate and the one or more spring means are coupled to the mounting apparatus, thereby coupling the heat rejector to the heat generating device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A joining system comprising:
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a. a heat generating device mounted to a mounting apparatus; b. a heat pipe assembly coupled to the heat generating device, wherein the heat pipe assembly includes one or more heat pipes, and a plurality of fins coupled to the one or more heat pipes; and c. a gimbal retention mechanism including a gimbal joint and one or more spring means, wherein the gimbal joint is coupled to the heat pipe assembly and the one or more spring means are coupled to the mounting apparatus, thereby coupling the heat pipe assembly to the heat generating device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A joining system comprising:
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a. a heat generating device mounted to a mounting apparatus; b. a heat exchanger coupled to the heat generating device, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins; and c. a gimbal retention mechanism including a gimbal joint and a plurality of mounting stands, each mounting stand includes a spring means, wherein the gimbal joint is coupled to the heat exchanger and each mounting stand is coupled to the mounting apparatus, thereby coupling the heat exchanger to the heat generating device. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification