Patent Publication Number: US-2013228312-A1

Title: Heat dissipation base and method of manufacturing same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a heat dissipation base, and more particularly to a heat dissipation base that can be manufactured at lowered cost and has largely reduced overall weight. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the above-described heat dissipation base. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The currently available electronic devices have higher and higher computing speed. As a result, electronic elements in these high-computing-speed electronic devices produce more heat during operation thereof. The produced heat must be dissipated from the electronic devices with the aid of heat dissipation elements. Some heat dissipation elements are arranged at a central area in a protective enclosure of the electronic devices, and the heat produced by the electronic elements and absorbed by the heat dissipation elements tends to accumulate in the protective enclosure without being effectively dissipated into external environment. Therefore, heat pipes are utilized as heat transfer elements to transfer the produced heat to a distant location outside the protective enclosure for dissipation. 
     According to the currently available techniques, the heat pipe could not be directly associated with a heat-producing electronic element. That is, the heat pipe must be stably in contact with or connected to a heat source via at least a base for transferring the heat produced by the heat source to a distant location. The base according to the prior art is mainly made of a heat conducting metal material, such as an aluminum material, a copper material and the like, and is provided with a hole or a groove. The heat pipe is fixedly received in the hole or the groove on the base by way of tight fitting, scarf joining, adhesive bonding, or welding, so that the heat produced by the heat source and absorbed by the base is further absorbed and transferred to a located location by the heat pipe. 
     While the metal-made base has good heat conductivity and can be mass-produced, it requires high material cost and is heavy to cause difficulty in transport. 
     In brief, the conventional heat dissipation base has the following disadvantages: (1) high manufacturing cost; (2) heavy in weight; and (3) inconvenient for moving. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a heat dissipation base that has reduced overall weight. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a heat dissipation base at lowered cost. 
     To achieve the above and other objects, the heat dissipation base according to the present invention includes a heat conducting element and a main body. The heat conducting element has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The main body has a recess, a first side, and an opposite second side. The recess is communicable with the first and the second side, and the heat conducting element is partially embedded in the first side of the main body with the second surface being flush with the recess. The main body is made of a polymeric material; and the heat conducting element and the main body are associated with each other by way of insert molding. 
     To achieve the above and other objects, the method of manufacturing heat dissipation base according to the present invention includes the steps of providing a heat conducting element and at least one heat pipe; forming a base main body around the heat conducting element by molding; and fixedly attaching the heat pipe to one surface of the heat conducting element. 
     The heat dissipation base manufactured with the method according to the present invention has the following advantages: (1) reduced overall weight; and (2) lowered manufacturing cost. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a heat dissipation base according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a heat dissipation base according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective view of a heat dissipation base according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a heat dissipation base according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective view of a heat dissipation base according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a heat dissipation base according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a heat dissipation base according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the steps included in a method of manufacturing a heat dissipation base according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described with some preferred embodiments thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of easy to understand, elements that are the same in the preferred embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2  that are exploded and assembled perspective views, respectively, of a heat dissipation base  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, in the first embodiment, the heat dissipation base  1  includes a heat conducting element  11  and a main body  12 . The heat conducting element  11  has a first surface  111  and an opposite second surface  112 . The main body  12  has a recess  121 , a first side  122 , and an opposite second side  123 . The recess  121  is communicable with both of the first and the second side  122 ,  123 . The heat conducting element  11  is set in the first side  122  of the main body  12  with the second surface  112  of the heat conducting element  11  being flush with the recess  121 . The main body  12  is made of a polymeric material, and the heat conducting element  11  is integrally associated with the main body  12  by way of insert molding. 
     The heat conducting element  11  can be made of a copper material, an aluminum material, a stainless steel material, a graphite material, or any heat conducting alloy material. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the heat conducting element  11  is made of a copper material but not necessarily limited thereto. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are exploded and assembled perspective views, respectively, of a heat dissipation base according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the heat dissipation base in the second embodiment is generally structurally similar to the first embodiment, except that, in the second embodiment, the recess  121  further includes an open top side  1211  and a bottom side  1212 , and that at least one arm portion  13  is provided at boundaries between the second side  123  and the open top side  1211  of the recess  121  to extend over across the open top side  1211 . The arm portion  13  serves to provide a radially hold-down force against a heat pipe  2  received in the recess  121 , so that the heat pipe  2  and the heat conducting element  11  are more tightly associated with each other. 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective view of a heat dissipation base according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the heat dissipation base in the third embodiment is generally structurally similar to the first embodiment, except that, in the third embodiment, the recess  121  further includes an open top side  1211 , a bottom side  1212 , and a fixing element  14 . The fixing element  14  extends over across the open top side  1211  of the recess  121  and serves to exert a radial force against a heat pipe  2  received in the recess  121 , so that the heat pipe  2  and the heat conducting element  11  are more tightly associated with each other. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6  that is a sectional view of a heat dissipation base according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the heat dissipation base in the fourth embodiment is generally structurally similar to the first embodiment, except that, in the fourth embodiment, the recess  121  further includes a heat pipe  2 . The heat pipe  2  is received in the recess  121 , and has at least one flat side fitly bearing on the second surface  112  of the heat conducting element  11 . Further, a heat-conducting medium  3  is provided between the heat pipe  2  and the heat conducting element  11 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7  that is a perspective view of a heat dissipation base according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the heat dissipation base in the fifth embodiment is generally structurally similar to the first embodiment, except that, in the fifth embodiment, the main body  12  further has a third side  124  and an opposite fourth side  125 . The third side  124  and the fourth side  125  respectively have at least one mounting member  4  connected thereto. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a heat dissipation base according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the heat dissipation base in the sixth embodiment is generally structurally similar to the first embodiment, except that, in the sixth embodiment, the heat conducting element  11  is further provided along an outer periphery thereof with a connecting section  113 . The connecting section  113  can have a roughened surface, an uneven surface, a hooked surface, a corrugated surface or a toothed surface, so as to ensure stable and secured connection of the heat conducting element  11  to the main body  12 . 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a heat dissipation base according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the heat dissipation base in the seventh embodiment is generally structurally similar to the first embodiment, except that, in the seventh embodiment, the heat conducting element  11  is provided on the second surface  112  with at least one sunken section  1123 . A heat pipe  2  can be received in the sunken section  1123 . 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing steps S 1 , S 2  and S 3  included in a method according to the present invention for manufacturing a heat dissipation base. Please refer to  FIG. 10  along with  FIGS. 1 to 9 . 
     In the step S 1 , a heat conducting element and at least one heat pipe are provided. 
     More specifically, a heat conducting element  11  and at least one heat pipe  2  are prepared. The heat conducting element  11  is made of a material with good heat conductivity, such as a copper material and an aluminum material; and is preferably made of a copper material. 
     In the step S 2 , a base main body is formed around the heat conducting element by molding. 
     More specifically, a base main body  12  is formed around the heat conducting element  11  by way of injection molding, such that the heat conducting element  11  is partially embedded in one side of the base main body  12 . The base main body  12  is made of a plastic material. 
     In the step S 3 , the heat pipe is fixedly attached to one surface of the heat conducting element. 
     More specifically, attach one side of the heat pipe  2  to one surface of the heat conducting element  11 , and fixedly connect the heat pipe  2  to the heat conducting element  11  through mechanical processing, such as tight fitting, scarf joining, adhesive bonding or welding. 
     The present invention has been described with some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described 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.