Abstract:
A heat pipe fixing structure includes a heat pipe, a carrier body and a first fixing member. The heat pipe has a main body having a first side and a second side. The carrier body has a channel having an open side and a closed side. The heat pipe is disposed in the channel with the first and second sides respectively corresponding to the open side and the closed side. The first fixing member is disposed on upper side of the heat pipe and upper side of the carrier body. A free end of the first fixing member is in corresponding contact with the first side of the heat pipe to press and abut against or engage with the heat pipe. The heat pipe fixing structure serves to firmly fix the heat pipe to eliminate the shortcomings existing in the conventional welding process for fixing the heat pipe.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a heat pipe fixing structure, and more particularly to a heat pipe fixing structure, which is able to fixedly connect a heat pipe with a heat dissipation component without welding process. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A heat pipe is a tubular body made of copper or aluminum material. Copper and aluminum materials are good heat conductors so that they are widely used as heat conduction components in direct contact with heat source for conducting heat. The heat pipe is generally is passed (stringed) through or engaged with other heat dissipation component to assemble therewith. However, in transfer, the heat pipe is likely to loosen or detached from the heat dissipation component due to shock or vibration. Therefore, in the conventional technique, the heat pipe is often further adhered to the heat dissipation component by means of solder paste or heat conduction paste or further combined with the heat dissipation component by means of welding. However, the heat pipe is made of copper or aluminum material. Due to the material properties of copper or aluminum, it is still hard to fixedly adhere or connect the heat pipe to the heat dissipation component by means of the solder paste or common welding. In addition, after welded, the heat pipe has the problems of thermal resistance and environmental protection. 
         [0005]    Alternatively, in the conventional technique, the heat pipe can be assembled with other heat dissipation component by means of press fit. The heat pipe and the heat dissipation component can be fixed with each other by means of press fit. However, the press fit structure will partially apply pressure to the heat pipe to cause deformation of the heat pipe. As a result, the capillary structure inside the heat pipe will be damaged to greatly deteriorate the heat conductivity of the heat pipe or even disable the heat pipe. In this case, the heat pipe will lose its heat transfer effect. It is therefore tried by the applicant to provide a heat pipe fixing structure to solve the problems existing in the conventional technique. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a heat pipe fixing structure, which is able to securely fix the heat pipe. 
         [0007]    To achieve the above and other objects, the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention includes a heat pipe, a carrier body and a first fixing member. 
         [0008]    The heat pipe has a main body. The main body has a first side and a second side. The carrier body has a channel. The channel has an open side and a closed side. The heat pipe is disposed in the channel with the first and second sides of the heat pipe respectively corresponding to the open side and the closed side. The first fixing member is disposed on upper side of the heat pipe and upper side of the carrier body. One end of the first fixing member is in corresponding contact with the first side of the heat pipe. 
         [0009]    The heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention is able to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional welding process and press fit structure and effectively and securely assemble the heat pipe with other heat dissipation component. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective assembled view of the first embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a sectional assembled view of the first embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective assembled view of the second embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view of a third embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective assembled view of the third embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective assembled view of the fourth embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  show the assembling process of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  show the assembling process of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a sectional assembled view of a fifth embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a sectional assembled view of a sixth embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Please refer to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective assembled view of the first embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a sectional assembled view of the first embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. According to the first embodiment, the heat pipe fixing structure  1  of the present invention includes a heat pipe  11 , a carrier body  12  and a first fixing member  13 . 
         [0031]    The heat pipe  11  has a main body  111 . The heat pipe  11  has a flat configuration and extends axially. The main body  111  has a first side  1111  and a second side  1112 . The first and second sides  1111 ,  1112  are oppositely formed on upper and lower sides of the main body  111  of the heat pipe  11 . 
         [0032]    The carrier body  12  has a channel  121 . The channel  121  has an open side  1211  and a closed side  1212 . The heat pipe  11  is disposed in the channel  121  with the first and second sides  1111 ,  1112  of the heat pipe  11  respectively corresponding to the open side  1211  and the closed side  1212 . That is, the first side  1111  corresponds to the open side  1211 , while the second side  1112  correspondingly attaches to the closed side  1212 . 
         [0033]    The carrier body  12  is selected from a group consisting of heat dissipation chassis, cellular phone frame, heat sink, vapor chamber and intelligent tablet frame. In this embodiment, the carrier body  12  is, but not limited to, cellular phone frame for illustration purposes only. 
         [0034]    The first fixing member  13  is disposed on upper side of the heat pipe  11  and upper side of the carrier body  12 . The first fixing member  13  has a fixed end  13   a  disposed on left side or right side of upper side of the heat pipe  11 . The first fixing member  13  further has a free end  13   b  protruding to the channel  121 . The first fixing member  13  serves to press (and abut against) the heat pipe  11  to fix the same. 
         [0035]    Please now refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a perspective assembled view of the second embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. The second embodiment is partially identical to the first embodiment in structure and technical characteristic and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the second embodiment further includes a second fixing member  14 . The first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  are oppositely arranged and respectively disposed on left side and right side of upper side of the heat pipe  11 . The second fixing member  14  has a fixed end  14   a  and a free end  14   b.    
         [0036]    Please now refer to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view of a third embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a perspective assembled view of the third embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. The third embodiment is partially identical to the first embodiment in structure and technical characteristic and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the carrier body  12  further has a first recess  122 . The first fixing member  13  is disposed in the first recess  122 . The first recess  122  is disposed on a lateral side of upper side of the channel  121  in communication with the channel  121 . That is, the first recess  122  is correspondingly formed on the carrier body  12  and disposed on the lateral side of upper side of the channel  121 . The fixed end  13   a  of the first fixing member  13  is correspondingly disposed or engaged in the first recess  122  to further fix the first fixing member  13 . 
         [0037]    Please now refer to  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  FIG. 8  is a perspective exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention.  FIG. 9  is a perspective assembled view of the fourth embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is partially identical to the second embodiment in structure and technical characteristic and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The fourth embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the carrier body  12  further has a first recess  122  and a second recess  123 . The first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  are respectively disposed in the first and second recesses  122 ,  123 . The first and second recesses  122 ,  123  are disposed on left side and right side of upper side of the channel  121  in communication with the channel  121 . That is, the first and second recesses  122 ,  123  are correspondingly formed on the carrier body  12  and disposed on the left and right sides of upper side of the channel  121 . The first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  are respectively correspondingly disposed or engaged in the first and second recesses  122 ,  123  to further fix the first and second fixing members,  13 ,  14 . 
         [0038]    Please now refer to  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention.  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. The free ends  13   b ,  14   b  of the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  are formed with multiple protrusions  131 ,  141 . The protrusions  131 ,  141  are arranged at equal intervals (as shown in  FIG. 10 ) or at unequal intervals (as shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0039]    Please now refer to  FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 .  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. 
         [0040]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention.  FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention.  FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the first and second fixing members of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. The protrusions  131 ,  141  of the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  have a semicircular form (as shown in  FIG. 10 ), square form (as shown in  FIG. 12 ), rectangular form (as shown in  FIG. 13 ), triangular form (as shown in  FIG. 14 ), trapezoidal form (as shown in  FIG. 15 ) or any other geometrical form. 
         [0041]    Please now refer to  FIG. 16 , which shows the assembling process of steps (a)-(c) of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  are previously mounted on the carrier body  12  with the fixed ends  13   a ,  14   a  positioned on the left and right sides of upper side of the channel  121 . The heat pipe  11  is placed into the channel  121  through the space between the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  in a direction normal to the channel  121  (as shown in step (a) of  FIG. 16 ). When the heat pipe  11  passes through the space between the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14 , the heat pipe  11  makes the protrusions  131 ,  141  of the free ends  13   b ,  14   b  of the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  elastically deform (as shown in step (b) of  FIG. 16 ). After the heat pipe  11  passes through the space between the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14 , the protrusions  131 ,  141  elastically rebound to press the heat pipe  11  and fix the heat pipe  11  in the channel  121  of the carrier body  12  (as shown in step (c) of  FIG. 16 ). Under such circumstance, the heat pipe  11  is pressed and fixed by the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14 . 
         [0042]    Please now refer to  FIG. 17 , which shows the assembling process of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, via the fixed end  13   a , the first fixing member  13  is mounted on the upper side of the channel  121  of the carrier body  12 . A lateral side of the heat pipe  11  is obliquely placed into the channel  121  (as shown in step (a) of  FIG. 17 ). The other lateral side of the heat pipe  11  downward presses the protrusions  131  of the first fixing member  13  and forcedly passes through the protrusions  131  of the first fixing member  13  to move into the channel  121 . When the other lateral side of the heat pipe  11  downward presses the protrusions  131  of the first fixing member  13  and passes through the free end  13   b  of the first fixing member  13 , the free end  13   b  of the first fixing member  13  elastically deforms (as shown in step (b) of  FIG. 17 ). After the heat pipe  11  passes through the free end  13   b , the free end  13   b  elastically rebound to press the heat pipe  11  and fix the heat pipe  11  in the channel  121  of the carrier body  12  (as shown in step (c) of FIG.  17 ). 
         [0043]    Please now refer to  FIG. 18 , which is a sectional assembled view of a fifth embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is partially identical to the second embodiment in structure and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The fifth embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that when the heat pipe  11  is forced into the channel  121 , the protrusions  131 ,  141  of the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  are elastically deformed and inclined from the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14 . In addition, the free ends of the protrusions  131 ,  141  of the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  abut against the first side  1111  of the heat pipe  11 . 
         [0044]    Please now refer to  FIG. 19 , which is a sectional assembled view of a sixth embodiment of the heat pipe fixing structure of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is partially identical to the first embodiment in structure and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that when the heat pipe  11  is forced into the channel  121 , the free ends  13   b ,  14   b  of the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  are elastically deformed and the protrusions  131 ,  141  of the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  are normal to the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14 . The free ends of the protrusions  131 ,  141  of the free ends  13   b ,  14   b  of the first and second fixing members  13 ,  14  abut against the edges of the first side  1111  of the heat pipe  11  to tightly engage with the heat pipe  11 . 
         [0045]    The present invention has been described with the above embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the above embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.