US20130175007A1 - Heat-conducting module and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heat-conducting module and a method for manufacturing the same. A hollow aluminum tube (110) is put on a corresponding heat pipe (111) to form an aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11). Then, one or more aluminum-skinned heat pipes (11) are disposed in a casting space (22) of a die casting mold (2). Molten aluminum materials are filled in the die casting space (11) of the die casting mold (2) to form a heat-conducting module (1). By using a die casting process, molten aluminum materials are used to cover at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11), thereby finishing the heat-conducting module (1).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to a heat-conducting module and a method for manufacturing the same. Particularly, the present invention relates to a heat-conducting module which is made by using molten metallic materials to cover aluminum-skinned heat pipes via a die casting process and a method for manufacturing the same.
• 2. Description of Prior Art
• Heat-conducting elements such as heat pipes are used to dissipate heat or transfer heat. The interior of the heat pipe is made to be vacuumed. A working fluid is filled into the heat pipe to generate a phase change therein. When the working fluid is heated, it evaporates to become vapors, thereby carrying away the heat. Then, the vapor phase of the working fluid condenses to return its liquid phase and to circulate in the heat pipe. In order to manufacture a plate-type heat pipe, conventionally, a plurality of heat pipes is disposed in a solid or hollow metallic plate. Alternatively, a tubular heat pipe is rolled or pressed to form a plate-type heat pipe.
• However, the strength of the conventional plate-type heat pipe is insufficient. Further, it is difficult for heat-dissipating elements such as fins to be provided on the conventional plate-type heat pipe. As for the plate-type heat pipe formed by covering heat pipes by a solid or hollow metallic plate, it is an important issue to consider the thermal resistance generated by the gap between the heat pipe and the metallic plate. As for the plate-type heat pipe made by heat pipes penetrating into a solid metallic plate, it is difficult to control the tolerance between the penetrating heat pipe and the metallic plate. If the tolerance is larger, a gap will be formed between the heat pipe and the metallic plate, and thus a heat-conducting medium has to be applied in this gap. If the tolerance is smaller, the penetration of the heat pipe into the metallic plate becomes more difficult. As for the plate-type heat pipe made by embedding heat pipes in a metallic plate, the heat transfer effect between the heat pipe and the metallic plate will be deteriorated because the metallic plate is made of a material (aluminum) different from the material (copper) of the heat pipe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention provides a heat-conducting module and a method for manufacturing the same. The heat-conducting module is made by using molten metallic materials to cover at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe by a die casting process. More specifically, the heat-conducting module employs the aluminum material as a heat-conducting medium because the aluminum material can generate a good heat-dissipating effect and a better heat transfer effect. On the other hand, the heat-conducting module of the present invention is chemically stable and thus will not be separated or explored easily. Further, it has a better corrosion resistance.
• In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a heat-conducting module, including steps of:
• a) putting a hollow aluminum tube on a heat pipe to make an aluminum-skinned heat pipe;
• b) disposing at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe into a casting space of a die casting mold;
• c) filling aluminum materials in the casting space of the die casting mold to form a heat-conducting module, wherein the heat-conducting module includes an aluminum base and at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe, the aluminum base covers the at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe;
• wherein the aluminum materials are melted to cover the at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe by a die casting process, thereby obtaining the heat-conducting module.
• In another aspect, the present invention provides a heat-conducting module including an aluminum base and at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe disposed in the aluminum base, wherein the aluminum-skinned heat pipe comprises a heat pipe and an aluminum tube tightly covering the heat pipe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the final product according to the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the steps of the method according to the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the step Si in the method of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing that an aluminum-skinned heat pipe is subjected to a draw-forming process in the step Si of the method according to the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the state of the aluminum-skinned heat pipe before and after a draw-forming process in the step Si of the method according to the present invention;
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing that an aluminum-skinned heat pipe is subjected to a draw-forming process and both ends thereof are sealed in the step Si of the method according to the present invention;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the step S2 in the method of the present invention;
• FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the step S3 in the method of the present invention; and
• FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal construction of the final product according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• In order to make the Examiner to better understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present invention, a detailed description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is noteworthy to point out that the drawings is provided for the illustration purpose only, but not intended for limiting the scope of the present invention.
• Please refer toFIG. 1, which is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the final product according to the present invention. The present invention provides a heat-conducting module and a method for manufacturing the same. The interior of the heat-conductingmodule1 is embedded with at least one aluminum-skinnedheat pipe11. Each aluminum-skinnedheat pipe11 comprises ahollow aluminum tube110 and aheat pipe111. Thehollow aluminum tube110 is put on theheat pipe111 to form the aluminum-skinnedheat pipe11. The heat-conductingmodule1 includes analuminum base10 and at least one aluminum-skinnedheat pipe11, wherein thealuminum heat pipes11 are provided in thealuminum base10 at intervals.
• Please also refer toFIGS. 2 and 3. The method of the present invention has steps as follows. First, in the step51 shown inFIG. 2, at least oneheat pipe111 and ahollow aluminum tube110 corresponding to theheat pipe111 are prepared to form an aluminum-skinnedheat pipe11. In the present embodiment, preferably, there are a plurality of aluminum-skinnedheat pipes11. Thus, eachheat pipe111 has a correspondinghollow aluminum tube110. Further, the inner diameter of eachhollow aluminum tube110 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of thecorresponding heat pipe111, so that thehollow aluminum tube110 can be put on theheat pipe111. Thehollow aluminum tube110 may be made of aluminum-based metals or alloys thereof Alternatively, thehollow aluminum tube110 may be made of the same material as thealuminum base10.
• Please also refer toFIGS. 3 to 6. In the steps S1-1 to S1-2 shown inFIG. 2 of the present embodiment, the aluminum-skinnedheat pipe11 can be made by the following process. First, one end of thehollow aluminum tube110 is fixed onto amounting base3, and the other end of thehollow aluminum tube110 is fixed to amovable stage4. In the beginning, themovable stage4 moves in a direction away from themounting base3, thereby drawing thehollow aluminum tube110. In this way, the length “l” of thehollow aluminum tube110 is increased, and the diameter “d” of thehollow aluminum tube110 is reduced, so that thehollow aluminum tube110 can cover theheat pipe111 to form the aluminum-skinnedheat pipe11.
• After the drawing process, the aluminum-skinnedheat pipe11 is taken off from themounting base3 and themovable stage4. Then, both ends of the aluminum-skinned heat pipe11 are sealed. More specifically, two aluminum sealing heads112 are used to seal two ends113 of thehollow aluminum tube110, so that theheat pipe111 is completely covered by thehollow aluminum tube110. Thealuminum sealing head112 may be made of the same material as that of thehollow aluminum tube110 or thealuminum base10.
• Next, please also refer toFIG. 7. In the step S2 shown inFIG. 2, the at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe11 is disposed in adie casting mold2. In the present embodiment, thedie casting mold2 includes afirst mold part20 and asecond mold part21. After thefirst mold part20 and thesecond mold part21 are brought into tight contact with each other, thedie casting space22 is formed in thedie casting mold2. In thedie casting space22, thealuminum base10 of the heat-conductingmodule1 is formed.
• Finally, please also refer toFIG. 8. In the step S3 shown inFIG. 2, the aluminum material is filled in thedie casting space22 of thedie casting mold2, thereby forming thealuminum base10 in thedie casting space22. In this way, the aluminum-skinned heat pipe11 is covered inside thealuminum base10 to form the heat-conductingmodule1 as shown inFIG. 9. In other words, the heat-conductingmodule1 is formed by covering at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe11 by a die casting process.
• In the thus-formed heat-conductingmodule1 made by covering the aluminum-skinned heat pipe11 with molten metallic materials, since thehollow aluminum tube110 acts as an aluminum skin to cover theheat pipe111, a good heat-dissipating effect and a better heat transfer effect can be achieved between the aluminum-skinned heat pipe11 and thealuminum base10. On the other hand, since the heat-conductingmodule1 is made by using a die casting process to cover the aluminum-skinned heat pipe11 with molten metallic materials, the present invention has a better corrosion resistance.
• Therefore, with the above method, the heat-conducting module of the present invention can be obtained.
• Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (11)

What is claimed is:

1. A method for manufacturing a heat-conducting module, including steps of:

a) putting a hollow aluminum tube (110) on a corresponding heat pipe (111) to form an aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11);

b) disposing the at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11) into a casting space (22) of a die casting mold (2); and

c) filling aluminum materials into the casting space (22) of the die casting mold (2) to form a heat-conducting module (1), wherein the heat-conducting module (1) comprises an aluminum base (10) and the at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11), and the aluminum base (10) covers the at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11);

wherein molten aluminum materials cover the at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11) by a die casting process to thereby form the heat-conducting module (1).

2. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11) in the step a) is made by drawing the hollow aluminum tube (110) to cover the heat pipe (111).

3. The method according toclaim 2, further including a step of sealing both ends of the hollow aluminum tube (110) with two aluminum sealing heads (112).

4. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the die casting mold (2) in the step b) comprises a first mold part (20) and a second mold part (21), and the first mold part (20) and the second mold part (21) are brought into tight contact with each other to form the casting space (22), thereby forming the aluminum base (10).

5. A heat-conducting module, including:

an aluminum base (10); and

at least one aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11) disposed in the aluminum base (10);

wherein the aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11) comprises a heat pipe (111) and an aluminum tube (110) covering the heat pipe (111).

6. The heat-conducting module according toclaim 5, wherein the aluminum base (10) is made of aluminum-based metals or alloys thereof.

7. The heat-conducting module according toclaim 5, wherein a plurality of aluminum-skinned heat pipes (11) are disposed in the aluminum base (10) at intervals.

8. The heat-conducting module according toclaim 5, wherein the aluminum-skinned heat pipe (11) is sealed by aluminum sealing heads (112) at both ends (113) of the aluminum tube (110).

9. The heat-conducting module according toclaim 8, wherein the aluminum sealing heads (112) are made of aluminum-based metals or alloys.

10. The heat-conducting module according toclaim 5, wherein the aluminum tube (110) is made of aluminum-based metals or alloys.

11. The heat-conducting module according toclaim 5, wherein the aluminum pipe (110) is a hollow tube to be put on the heat pipe (111).

Images