Communication-type thermal conduction device

A communication-type thermal conduction device includes a vapor chamber, at least one heat pipe, and at least one third capillary structure. The vapor chamber has a bottom board. A first capillary structure is disposed on an inner surface of the bottom board. A second capillary structure is disposed in the heat pipe. One end portion of the heat pipe is connected to the bottom board, and the end portion has an open portion in communication with the heat pipe and the vapor chamber. The second capillary structure has a connected portion exposed by means of the open portion. The third capillary structure is connected to the first capillary structure and the connected portion, so that the first and second capillary structures are in communication with each other. Accordingly, holistic thermal conduction can be achieved, and the vapor chamber incorporating the heat pipe can provide the desired heat dissipation effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a thermal conduction device and, more particularly, to a communication-type thermal conduction device allowing capillary structures of a vapor chamber and a heat pipe to be connected and in communication with each other.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Regarding thermal conduction, to dissipate heat from a heat generating component, a conventional thermal conduction device uses a thermal plate and a heat pipe to conduct heat and uses a radiator (e.g. fins and fan) to dissipate heat.

In general, the thermal plate contacts the heat generating component and the heat pipe is connected between the thermal plate and the radiator, so that heat generated by the heat generating component is conducted to the thermal plate first and then the thermal plate conducts heat to the radiator through the heat pipe, so as to dissipate heat.

However, the thermal plate and the heat pipe in the conventional thermal conduction device work individually and a capillary structure of the thermal plate is not connected to a capillary structure of the heat pipe. Accordingly, the thermal plate and the heat pipe conduct heat individually rather than as a whole. In other words, the heat dissipation effect cannot be performed completely.

Therefore, how to design a thermal conduction device to improve the aforesaid problems has become a significant issue nowadays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a communication-type thermal conduction device allowing capillary structures of a heat pipe and a vapor chamber to be in communication with each other, so as to achieve holistic thermal conduction. Accordingly, the vapor chamber incorporating the heat pipe can fully provide the desired heat dissipation effect.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the invention provides a communication-type thermal conduction device comprising a vapor chamber, a heat pipe and a third capillary structure. The vapor chamber has a bottom board and a first capillary structure is disposed on an inner surface of the bottom board. A second capillary structure is disposed in the heat pipe. One end portion of the heat pipe is connected to the bottom board, wherein the end portion has an open portion in communication with the heat pipe and the vapor chamber. The second capillary structure has a connected portion exposed by means of the open portion. The third capillary structure is connected to the first capillary structure and the connected portion, so that the first and second capillary structures are in communication with each other.

Compared to the prior art, the invention has the following advantage. The invention allows the second capillary structure of the heat pipe to be connected and in communication with the first capillary structure of the vapor chamber, so as to achieve holistic thermal conduction. Accordingly, the vapor chamber incorporating the heat pipe can fully provide the desired heat dissipation effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description and features of the invention are depicted along with drawings in the following. However, the drawings are used for illustration purpose only, so the invention is not limited to the drawings.

The invention provides a communication-type thermal conduction device.FIGS. 1 to 7illustrate a first embodiment of the invention andFIGS. 8 to 10illustrate a second embodiment of the invention.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 7, the communication-type thermal conduction device of the first embodiment of the invention comprises a vapor chamber1and at least one heat pipe2. Needless to say, the communication-type thermal conduction device further comprises a working fluid (not shown) flowing between the vapor chamber1and the heat pipe2.

The vapor chamber1has a bottom board11and a cover board12, wherein the bottom board11and the cover board12are opposite to each other. After assembling the bottom board11and the cover board12, a chamber10(as shown inFIG. 6) is formed between the bottom board11and the cover board12. The vapor chamber1may be a structure formed integrally or an assembled structure. In this embodiment, an assembled structure is used for illustrating the invention. That is to say, the cover board12can be assembled with the bottom board11, so as to form the vapor chamber1with the chamber10therein.

A first capillary structure13is disposed on an inner surface of the bottom board11and a fourth capillary structure14(as shown inFIG. 6) is disposed on an inner surface of the cover board12, wherein the first and fourth capillary structures13,14are opposite to each other. The first and fourth capillary structures13,14may be powder sintered structures, ceramic sintered structures, metal mesh structures, fiber bundle structures, metal grooves and so on. The invention does not limit the first and fourth capillary structures13,14to any specific structures. The fiber bundle structure is a structure consisting of a plurality of fiber bundles adjacent to each other. However, in some embodiments, the inner surface of the cover board12does not has the fourth capillary structure14disposed thereon. In other words, only the inner surface of the bottom board11has the first capillary structure13disposed thereon.

The heat pipe2is a hollow tube and a second capillary structure21is disposed in the heat pipe2. One end portion20of the heat pipe2is connected to the bottom board11. The end portion20has an open portion22in communication with the hollow inside of the heat pipe2and the chamber10of the vapor chamber1and for vapor to flow. The second capillary structure21has a connected portion211exposed by means of the open portion22.

The third capillary structure3(as shown inFIG. 3) is connected between the first capillary structure13and the connected portion211of the second capillary structure21, so that the first and second capillary structures13,21are in communication with each other. Therefore, the first capillary structure13disposed in the vapor chamber1and the second capillary structure21disposed in the heat pipe2can be connected and in communication with each other, so as to achieve holistic thermal conduction. Accordingly, the vapor chamber1incorporating the heat pipe2can fully provide the desired heat dissipation effect.

In this embodiment, a surrounding board15surrounds a periphery of the bottom board11, and the end portion20of the heat pipe2may be inserted into and in communication with the surrounding board15(not shown), so that the heat pipe2is arranged with the vapor chamber1side by side. Alternatively, the surrounding board15may have a hole151formed thereon, and the end portion20of the heat pipe2may be connected to an inner bottom surface of the bottom board11through the hole151(as shown inFIG. 2), so that the heat pipe2is arranged with the vapor chamber1side by side. In detail, for illustration purpose, the so-called “arranged side by side” means that the heat pipe2is substantially parallel to the vapor chamber1. Accordingly, the connected portion211of the second capillary structure21is also arranged with the first capillary structure13side by side, so as to enhance the connection. After the third capillary structure3is connected to the first capillary structure13and the connected portion211of the second capillary structure21, the first, second and third capillary structures13,21,3are arranged side by side, so as to be applied to the thin vapor chamber1and the flat heat pipe2.

Furthermore, the open portion22of the heat pipe2may comprise an opening221formed on an end of the heat pipe2(i.e. one of both ends of the heat pipe2) and the connected portion211is exposed by means of the opening221. In detail, for illustration purpose, the so-called “exposed” means that the connected portion211does not protrude out of the opening221. The opening221of the heat pipe2is in communication with the chamber10of the vapor chamber1, wherein vapor can flow through the opening221and the opening221is contributive to connect the third capillary structure3.

Moreover, the third capillary structure3may be formed by a powder sintered manner or a ceramic sintered manner and connected between the first capillary structure13and the connected portion211(as shown inFIGS. 3 to 6). Alternatively, the third capillary structure3may be a metal mesh structure or a fiber bundle structure (not shown). In other words, the invention does not limit the third capillary structure3to any specific structures.

Still further, as shown inFIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the cover board12is sealed on an open edge of the surrounding board15, so as to seal the vapor chamber1and form the chamber10. A gap G is formed between a side of the end portion20and the surrounding board15corresponding to the hole151. A filler1211is formed on the cover board12and corresponds to the gap G and the filler1211is filled in the gap G correspondingly. In this embodiment, the filler1211is formed by sinking the cover board12correspondingly. In detail, the cover board12has an inner surface121and an outer surface122corresponding to each other, and a position of the outer surface122of the cover board12is sunk to form a recess portion1221, so that the filler1211extends from the inner surface121of the cover board12integrally. The filler1211is filled in the gap G correspondingly, so that the heat pipe2can be more suitable for the hole151of the vapor chamber1and the heat pipe2can be welded to the vapor chamber more easily. Needless to say, the filler1211may also be an individual object filled in the gap G. In other words, the invention does not limit the filler1211to the structure corresponding to the recess portion1221and the filler1211may be an individual object.

FIGS. 8 to 10illustrate a communication-type thermal conduction device of the second embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment. The difference is that the end portion20aof the heat pipe2of the second embodiment is different from the end portion20of the first embodiment and the vapor chamber1of the second embodiment is also different from the vapor chamber1of the first embodiment. The details are depicted in the following.

In the second embodiment, the end portion20afurther comprises a breach222. The breach222is formed on a periphery of the end portion20a(i.e. the body of the heat pipe2), and the breach222is connected to and in communication with the aforesaid opening221, so that the third capillary structure3can be connected more conveniently and easily. Accordingly, the end portion20amay form a mandible portion23by means of the open portion22, the connected portion211is located at an inner surface of the mandible portion23, and the connected portion211is exposed through the open portion22including the opening221and the breach222.

A surrounding board15surrounds a periphery of the bottom board11ato form a recess space111and a communication neck17extends from the bottom board11aand the surrounding board15outwardly, so that the communication neck17is in communication with the recess space111and an outside of the vapor chamber1. The heat pipe2and the mandible portion23of the end portion20athereof are connected to an inner bottom surface171of the communication neck17, so as to enhance the connection of the heat pipe2.

Furthermore, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, a first support structure16is disposed in the vapor chamber1. In the first and second embodiments, a plurality of support pillars161is used for illustration purpose, wherein the support pillars161support the bottom board11(11a) and the cover board12(12a), so as to prevent the vapor chamber1from deforming when the vapor chamber1is vacuumized.

Moreover, a second support structure (not shown) may be disposed in the heat pipe2, so that the second support structure can support the flat heat pipe2therein, so as to prevent the heat pipe2from breaking when the heat pipe2is flatted. Still further, the third capillary structure3may be formed with the first capillary structure13or the second capillary structure21integrally. For example, the third capillary structure3and the first capillary structure13(or the third capillary structure3and the second capillary structure21) both may be formed by a powder sintered manner or a ceramic sintered manner integrally.

As mentioned in the above, compared to the prior art, the invention has the following advantage. The invention allows the second capillary structure21of the heat pipe2to be connected and in communication with the first capillary structure13of the vapor chamber1, so as to achieve holistic thermal conduction. Accordingly, the vapor chamber1incorporating the heat pipe2can fully provide the desired heat dissipation effect.

Furthermore, the invention further has other advantages in the following. By means of arranging the first, second and third capillary structures13,21,3side by side, the invention can be applied to the thin vapor chamber1and the flat heat pipe2. The open portion is contributive to connect the third capillary structure3. Especially, when the open portion22comprises the opening221and the breach222, the mandible portion23can be formed, so that the third capillary structure3can be connected more conveniently and easily. By means of sinking the cover board12,12ato form the recess portion1221, the filler1211extending from the inner surface of the cover board can be filled in the gap G between the heat pipe2and the vapor chamber1, so that the heat pipe2is more suitable for the hole151of the vapor chamber1. Accordingly, the heat pipe2can be welded to the vapor chamber1more easily. Since the communication neck17extends from the vapor chamber1integrally, the heat pipe2can be connected to the vapor chamber1well. By means of the first support structure16and the second support structure, the invention can prevent the vapor chamber1from deforming when the vapor chamber1is vacuumized and prevent the heat pipe2from breaking when the heat pipe2is flatted.