Patent Publication Number: US-2017374762-A1

Title: Heat pipe assembly and electronic device

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to a heat pipe assembly and an electronic device using the heat pipe assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic components such as central processing units (CPUs) generate heat during operation. Thus, heat dissipation devices, such as heat pipes, are used to dissipate the heat generated. While heat pipes are useful, a heat pipe with a better structure is needed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a heat pipe assembly according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the heat pipe assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of a heat pipe assembly according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of an electronic device using the heat pipe assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to illustrate details and features of the present disclosure better. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. The term “about” when utilized, means “not only include the numerical value, but also include numbers closest to the numerical value”. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a heat pipe assembly  100  including a female heat pipe  10  and a male heat pipe  20 . An end of the male heat pipe  20  can be movably inserted into an end of the female heat pipe  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the female heat pipe  10  includes a straight dissipation section  11 , a sleeve  12  integrally formed with the dissipation section  11 , and an end surface  13  positioned between the dissipation section  11  and the sleeve  12 . The dissipation section  11  and the sleeve  12  are separated by the end surface  13 . The dissipation section  11  comprises a closed end  110  facing away from the end surface  13 . The end surface  13  may be flat or curved. 
     The sleeve  12  includes an open end  121  facing away from the end wall  13 . The open end  121  defines an opening  123 . 
     The dissipation section  11  includes a first casing  111 , a first wick structure  112  attached to an inner surface of the first casing  111 , and a working medium  113  filled in the first casing  111 . The sleeve  12  extends straight from the first casing  111 . 
     The first casing  111  defines a first sealed cavity  1111 . The working medium  113  is filled in the first sealed cavity  1111 . 
     The first casing  111  may comprise only one metal layer or at least two metal layer stacked together. The metal layer is made of metal such as copper, silver, aluminum, stainless steel, or carbon steel. 
     The first wick structure  112  may be made of metal mesh, carbon nanotube array, or any combination thereof. 
     The first working medium  113  may be selected from, for example, water, alcohol, ammonia, or any combination thereof. 
     The first sealed cavity  1111  can maintain a vacuum state. 
     The male heat pipe  20  includes an inserting end  21  and a free end  22  opposite to the inserting end  21 . The inserting end  21  can be inserted into the sleeve  12  of the female heat pipe  10  through the opening  123 . The inserting end  21  and the free end  22  are closed ends. An external diameter of the inserting end  21  is smaller than or equal to the internal diameter of the opening  123 , so that the inserting end  21  can be inserted into the sleeve  12 . 
     The male heat pipe  20  includes a second casing  211 , a second wick structure  212  attached to an inner surface of the second casing  211 , and a second working medium  213  filled in the second casing  211 . 
     The second casing  211  defines a second sealed cavity  2111 . The second working medium  213  is filled in the second sealed cavity  2111 . 
     The second casing  211  may comprise only one metal layer or at least two metal layer stacked together. The metal layer is made of metal such as copper, silver, aluminum, stainless steel, or carbon steel. 
     The second wick structure  212  may be made of metal mesh, carbon nanotube array, or any combination thereof. 
     The second working medium  213  may be selected from water, alcohol, ammonia, or any combination thereof. 
     The second sealed cavity  2111  can maintain a vacuum state. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a heat pipe assembly  100   a  including a female heat pipe  10   a  and at least two male heat pipes  20   a . An end of each of the male heat pipes  20   a  can be inserted into an end of the female heat pipe  10   a.    
     The female heat pipe  10   a  includes a U-shaped dissipation section  11   a  and at least two sleeves  12   a  integrally formed with the dissipation section  11   a . The number of the sleeves  12   a  is equal to the number of the male heat pipes  20   a.    
     The male heat pipes  20   a  and the sleeves  12   a  have the same structures as the male heat pipe  20  and the sleeve  12 , respectively, of the heat pipe assembly  100  in the first exemplary embodiment. Different from the dissipation section  11  of the heat pipe assembly  100  of the first exemplary embodiment, the dissipation section  11   a  is U-shaped and comprises two ends, and the male heat pipes  20   a  extend straight from the two end portions of the dissipation section  11   a.    
       FIG. 5  illustrates an electronic device  200  including a main device  201 , an auxiliary device  202 , and at least one heat pipe assembly. The at least one heat pipe assembly connects the main device  201  to the auxiliary device  202 . The main device  201  may be a master computer with slave or auxiliary devices connected. The auxiliary device  202  may be a display or a loudspeaker. The at least one heat pipe assembly may be the heat pipe assembly  100 , the heat pipe assembly  100   a , or any combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in at least one exemplary embodiment, the electronic device  200  comprises a heat pipe assembly  100   a , such as the heat pipe assembly  100   a  in  FIG. 4 . Two male heat pipes  20   a  are mounted in the main device  201 . A female heat pipe  10   a  is mounted in the auxiliary device  202 . The free end  22  of each male heat pipe  20   a  is mounted in the main device  201 . The inserting ends  21  protrude out of the main device  201 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the free ends  22  is in thermal contact with a heat-generating component such as a central processing unit (CPU). The female heat pipe  10   a  is mounted in the auxiliary device  202 . The openings  123  of female heat pipe  10   a  are exposed from the auxiliary device  202 . The inserting end  21  of each of the male heat pipes  20   a  is inserted into a respective one of the openings  123 . Thereby, when the main device  201  generates heat, a large portion of the heat can be transmitted to the auxiliary device  202  through the heat pipe assembly  100   a , to be dissipated by the auxiliary device  202 . When the auxiliary device  202  generates heat, a large portion of the heat can be transmitted to the main device  201  through the heat pipe assembly  100   a , to be dissipated by the main device  201 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary device  202  includes a heat dissipation component  2021 . The dissipation section  11   a  of the female heat pipe  10   a  is in thermal contact with the heat dissipation component  2021 . The heat dissipation component  2021  can dissipate the heat transmitted from the main device  201 . 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the two male heat pipes  20   a  may be mounted in the auxiliary device  202 . The female heat pipe  10   a  may be mounted in the main device  201 . 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes can be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.