Abstract:
The present invention provides a heat pipe and a method for manufacturing the same. The heat pipe includes a main body having a chamber. The chamber has at least one wick region and at least one flowing channel region. The wick region is positioned adjacent to the flowing channel region and both of them axially extend in the chamber. The wick region is provided on an inner wall of the chamber. An area occupied by the wick region is smaller than a half of the circumference of the inner wall of the chamber. A wick structure in the heat pipe can be prevented from suffering damage during its production and the yield of production is increased.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a heat pipe and a method for manufacturing the same, and in particular to a heat pipe and a method for manufacturing the same, which is capable of increasing the yield of production and preventing the wick structure inside the heat pipe from suffering damage during its production. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0004]    With the development of science and technology, heat cooling and heat dissipation are two factors having a great influence on the advancement of the electronic industry. Since current electronic products are required to have a high performance, increased degree of integration and multiple functions, it is an important issue for the electronic industry to improve the heat-dissipating efficiency and the heat-conducting efficiency. 
         [0005]    Heat sink is used to dissipate the heat generated by electronic elements or systems to the atmosphere. When the thermal resistance is small, the heat sink demonstrates a high heat-dissipating efficiency. In general, the thermal resistance includes a spreading resistance inside the heat sink and a convention resistance between the surface of the heat sink and the atmospheric environment. In practice, materials having a high heat conductivity such as copper or aluminum are used to manufacture the heat sink to reduce the spreading resistance. However, the convection resistance restricts the performance of the heat sink, which cannot conform to the requirements for heat dissipation of the new-generation electronic elements. 
         [0006]    Since the market aims to seek a heat-dissipating mechanism with a greater efficiency, heat pipes and vapor chambers having high heat-conducting efficiency are developed to cooperate with the heat sink, thereby solving the heat-dissipation problem at the current stage. 
         [0007]    In the existing heat pipe, the interior of the heat pipe is filled with metal powder and sintered on the inner wall of the heat pipe to form a wick structure. Alternatively, metallic meshes are disposed in the interior of the heat pipe to serve as a wick structure. Alternatively, the inner walls of the heat pipe are formed with annular axially-extending grooves. Then, the interior of the heat pipe is degassed to become vacuum, filled with a working fluid, and sealed. However, when the finished heat pipe is subjected to a pressure during its production, the wick structure (sintered metal powder, metallic meshes, or annular grooves) inside the heat pipe are pressed to suffer damage, so that the wick structure may fall off the inner walls of the heat pipe or generate a deformation. As a result, the heat-conducting efficiency of the heat pipe is reduced greatly and even break down. Therefore, it is an important issue to prevent the wick structure of the heat pipe from suffering damage due to the pressure caused by its production. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In order to solve the above problems in prior art, an objective of the present invention is to provide a heat pipe capable of increasing the yield of production. 
         [0009]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a heat pipe with increased yield of production. 
         [0010]    In order to achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a heat pipe, which includes: a main body having a chamber, the chamber having at least one wick region and at least one flowing channel region. The wick region is positioned adjacent to the flowing channel region and both of them axially extend in the chamber. The wick region is provided on a inner wall of the chamber. An area occupied by the wick region is smaller than a half of the circumference of the inner wall of the chamber. 
         [0011]    The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing a heat pipe, which includes steps of: providing a hollow pipe body; forming a plurality of grooves on an inner wall of the hollow pipe body; pressing the hollow pipe body flat; degassing the hollow pipe body, filling a working fluid in the hollow pipe body, and sealing the hollow pipe body. 
         [0012]    By means of the heat pipe and the method of the present invention, the yield of production of the heat pipe is increased, and the wick structure inside the heat pipe can be prevented from suffering damage during the production of the heat pipe. 
         [0013]    Therefore, the present invention has the following advantages: 
         [0014]    (I) increase in yield of production; and 
         [0015]    (II) simple in structure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the method for manufacturing a heat pipe according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing the method for manufacturing a heat pipe according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    The above objectives and structural and functional features of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings 
         [0026]    Please refer to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 1 . The present invention provides a heat pipe including a main body  1 . 
         [0027]    The main body  1  has a chamber  11 . The chamber  11  has at least one wick region  111  and at least one flowing channel region  112 . The wick region  111  is positioned adjacent to the flowing channel region  112  and both of them axially extend in the chamber  11 . The wick region  111  is positioned on an inner wall of the chamber  11 . An area occupied by the wick region  111  is smaller than a half of the circumference of the inner wall of the chamber  11 . The wick region  111  has a plurality of grooves  1111 . 
         [0028]    The chamber  11  further has a first side  113 , a second side  114 , a third side  115 , and a fourth side  116 . The first side  113  and the second side  14  correspond to each other. The third side  115  and the fourth side  116  correspond to each other. The first, second sides  113 ,  114  are connected to the third, fourth sides  115 ,  116 . The wick region  111  is provided on the first side  113 . The flowing channel region  112  has a first flowing channel  1121  and a second flowing channel  1122 . The first flowing channel  1121  is provided at an intersecting portion between the third side  115  and the wick region  111 . The second flowing channel  1122  is provided at an intersecting portion between the fourth side  116  and the wick region  111 . 
         [0029]    Please refer to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, most of the structure of the second embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, so that the redundant description is omitted for clarity. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that: the thickness of the first side  113  of the main body  1  is larger than the thickness of the second side  114 , the third side  115  or the fourth side  116 . 
         [0030]    Please refer to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, most of the structure of the third embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, so that the redundant description is omitted for clarity. The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that: the chamber  11  further has a first side  113 , a second side  114 , a third side  115  and a fourth side  116 . The first side  113  and the second side  14  correspond to each other. The third side  115  and the fourth side  116  correspond to each other. The first, second sides  113 ,  114  are connected to the third, fourth sides  115 ,  116 . The wick region  111  further has a first wick member  1112  and a second wick member  1113 . The first wick member  1112  is provided on the first side  113 . The second wick member  113  is provided on the second side  114 . The flowing channel region  112  has a first flowing channel  1121  and a second flowing channel  1122 . The first flowing channel  1121  is provided on an intersecting portion among the third side  115 , the first wick member  1112  and the second wick member  1113 . The second flowing channel  1122  is provided on an intersecting portion among the fourth side  116 , the first wick member  1112  and the second wick member  1113 . 
         [0031]    The first wick member  1112  and the second wick member  1113  are formed with a plurality of grooves  1111 . 
         [0032]    Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, most of the structure of the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, so that the redundant description is omitted for clarity. The difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that: the thickness of the first side  113  and the second side  114  of the main body  1  is larger that the thickness of the third side  115  and the fourth side  116 . 
         [0033]    Please refer to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the heat pipe according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, most of the structure of the fifth embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, so that the redundant description is omitted for clarity. The difference between the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that: the main body  1  further has a supporting structure  2  axially extending in the chamber  11 . The supporting structure  2  is positioned to correspond to the wick region  111 . The flowing channel region  112  further has a first flowing channel  1121  and a second flowing channel  1122 . The first flowing channel  1121  and the second flowing channel  1122  are provided on both sides of the supporting structure  2  and the wick region  111 . 
         [0034]    The wick region  111  has a plurality of grooves  111 . The supporting structure  2  is made of any one of sintered powder, meshes and fibers. 
         [0035]    Please refer to  FIG. 7 , which is a flow chart showing the method for manufacturing the heat pipe according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Please also refer to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . As shown in these figures, the method of the first embodiment includes the following steps: 
         [0036]    In a step S 1 , a hollow pipe body (that is, the main body  1 ) is provided. 
         [0037]    The hollow pipe body is made of materials of having a good heat conductivity, such as copper, aluminum and stainless steel. In the present embodiment, the heat pipe body is made of copper, but it is not limited thereto. 
         [0038]    In a step S 2 , an inner wall of the hollow pipe body is formed with a plurality of grooves. 
         [0039]    An inner wall of the hollow pipe body (that is, the main body  1 ) is formed with a plurality of grooves by a mechanical process. The mechanical process may be any one of a grinding process, a milling process, a shaving process, and a draw-forming process. In the present embodiment, an inner wall of the hollow pipe body is first processed by the grinding process. Then, the inner wall of the hollow pipe body is formed with a plurality of grooves by a draw-forming process. The thickness of the portion of the main body  1  on which the grooves  1111  are provided is larger than the thickness of the portion in which the grooves  1111  are not provided. 
         [0040]    In a step S 3 , the hollow pipe body (that is, the main body  1 ) is pressed flat. 
         [0041]    The hollow pipe body is pressed flat by a punching process or a rolling process. In the present embodiment, a hydraulic punching process is used as an example, but it is not limited thereto. The hollow pipe body is pressed flat by exerting a pressure gradually to the hollow pipe body. 
         [0042]    In a step S 4 , the hollow pipe body is degassed, filled with a working fluid, and sealed. 
         [0043]    After the hollow pipe body (that is, the main body  1 ) is pressed flat, the hollow pipe body is degassed, filled with a working fluid, and sealed. 
         [0044]    Please refer to  FIG. 8 , which is a flow chart showing the method for manufacturing the heat pipe according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figures, the method of the second embodiment includes the following steps: 
         [0045]    In a step S 1 , a hollow pipe body (that is, the main body  1 ) is provided. 
         [0046]    The hollow pipe body is made of materials of having a good heat conductivity, such as copper, aluminum and stainless steel. In the present embodiment, the heat pipe body is made of copper, but it is not limited thereto. 
         [0047]    In a step S 2 , an inner wall of the hollow pipe body is formed with a plurality of grooves. 
         [0048]    The inner wall of the hollow pipe body (that is, the main body  1 ) is formed with a plurality of grooves  1111  by a mechanical process. The mechanical process may be any one of a grinding process, a milling process, a shaving process, and a draw-forming process. The thickness of the portion of the main body  1  on which the grooves  1111  are provided is larger than the thickness of the portion on which the grooves  1111  are not provided. 
         [0049]    In a step S 4 , the hollow pipe body is degassed, filled with a working fluid, and sealed. 
         [0050]    After the hollow pipe body (that is, the main body  1 ) is pressed flat, the hollow pipe body is degassed, filled with a working fluid, and sealed. 
         [0051]    In a step S 3 , the hollow pipe body (that is, the main body  1 ) is pressed flat. 
         [0052]    The hollow pipe body is pressed flat by a punching process or a rolling process. In the present embodiment, a hydraulic punching process is used as an example, but it is not limited thereto. The hollow pipe body is pressed flat by exerting a pressure gradually to the hollow pipe body.