Thermal spreader assembly with flexible liquid cooling loop having rigid tubing sections and flexible tubing sections

• US 8,650,886 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Wilcoxon, Ross K., Dlouhy, David W., Lower, Nathan P., Wooldridge, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US12/283,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20100064695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 62/31, 62/32, 62/35, 62/37, 165/46, 165/69, 165/80.2, 165/80.4, 165/80.5, 165/81, 165/104.21, 165/104.23, 165/104.33, 361/688, 361/700
• US Class Current: 62/3.2
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2013/006 Heat conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/08 Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2255/02 Flexible elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/0401 Bonding areas specifically adapted for bump connectors, e.g. under bump metallisation [UBM]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73253 Bump and layer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00011 Not relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01019 Potassium [K]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/09701 Low temperature co-fired ceramic [LTCC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

A flexible cooling loop for providing a thermal path between a heat source and a heat sink includes a plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections configured for being in thermal contact with the heat source and the heat sink. The cooling loop further includes a plurality if mechanically flexible tubing sections configured for connecting the mechanically rigid tubing sections to form the loop. The loop is configured for containing a liquid. The liquid is configured for being circulated within the loop for promoting transfer of thermal energy from the heat source to the heat sink via the loop.

Claims

1. A thermal spreader assembly, comprising:

a heat source having a heat source surface;

a heat sink having a heat sink surface;

a plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections, at least one mechanically rigid tubing section of the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections extending along and contacting the heat source surface, at least one mechanically rigid tubing section of the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections extending along and contacting the heat sink surface; and

,

a plurality of mechanically flexible tubing sections, the plurality of mechanically flexible tubing sections connecting the plurality of mechanically rigid sections to form a continuous and flexible liquid cooling loop,

wherein the loop includes a liquid and transfers thermal energy from the heat source surface to the heat sink surface

wherein the heat source and the heat sink are linearly spaced apart from each other along the loop, and,

wherein the loop is positioned between the heat source and the heat sink such that a first portion of the loop extends along and conforms to the heat source surface and a second portion of the loop extends along and conforms to the heat sink surface to provide a flexible coupling between the heat source and the heat sink.

2. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid is an electrically-conductive liquid.

3. The thermal spreader assembly of claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive liquid is a liquid metal.

4. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a pump, the pump being connected within the loop via a first pair of mechanically flexible tubing sections of the plurality of mechanically flexible tubing sections, the pump further configured for circulating the liquid within the loop to promote transfer of heat from the heat source surface to the heat sink surface via the loop.

5. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a thermoelectric generator, the thermoelectric generator being connected within the loop via a second pair of mechanically flexible tubing sections of the plurality of mechanically flexible tubing sections, the thermoelectric generator being positioned within the loop at a heat transfer location for the loop, the thermoelectric generator further configured to tap a portion of the thermal energy transferred to the loop from the heat source surface and transferred from the loop to the heat sink surface, to generate electrical power from said tapped portion of the thermal energy, and to provide the electrical power to the pump for powering the pump.

6. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections are constructed of metal.

7. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections are constructed of organic materials.

8. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of mechanically flexible tubing sections are constructed of elastomeric materials.

9. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat source surface is an electronics component for a vehicle and the heat sink surface is a vehicle mounting plate.

10. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein electronics component for the vehicle and the vehicle mounting plate are connected via vibration isolators.

11. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections are configured such that the liquid flows along a length of each of the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections and such that each of the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections is rectangular in cross-section in a direction perpendicular to the length of each of the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections.

12. The thermal spreader assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of mechanically rigid tubing sections are connected to the mechanically flexible tubing sections via adhesive.