Patent Publication Number: US-2006007658-A1

Title: Heat dissipation apparatus

Description:
This Non-provisional application claims priority under U.S.C.§ 119 (a) on Patent Application No(s). 093120593 filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on Jul. 9, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference  
     BACKGROUND  
      The invention relates to a heat dissipation apparatus and more particularly, to a heat dissipation apparatus with an improved support member.  
      Precision electrical components can generate excess heat. To accelerated dissipate heat from the electrical components, a fan and a heat sink are typically disposed on a heat source. Further, a heat pipe can transfer heat away without using power. Heat pipes are widely used for heat dissipation without requiring power or excess space.  
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a conventional heat dissipation apparatus  10 , applicable to a fan, disposition on a heat source such as CPU, transistor, or other environments. In  FIG. 1A , the heat dissipation apparatus  10  comprises a heat sink  11 , a support  13 , and a base  15 . The base  15  has a flange  151  at the bottom. The support  13  has an opening  131  and encircles the base  15  via the opening  131 , supported by the flange  151 . The heat sink  11  has a passage  111  corresponding to the base  15  allowing fixing therebetween.  FIG. 1B  shows the assembled heat dissipation apparatus, in which the flange  151  supports the support  13 , and the support  13  is sandwiched between the heat sink  11  and the flange  151 .  
      After assembly, the heat dissipation apparatus is disposed on a heat source, for example a CPU. The bottom of the base  15  contacts the surface of the CPU, whereby heat from the CPU passes through the base  15  to the heat sink  11  for dissipation.  
       FIG. 1C  is a cross section of the assembled heat dissipation apparatus. The base  15  with the flange  151  supports the support  13  to prevent separation therefrom. The base may be a copper heat pipe or a solid copper bar, formed on a lathe to create the flange, using extra material, generating waste, and increasing costs. Further, the flange increases overall volume of the heat dissipation apparatus.  
     SUMMARY  
      Accordingly, a heat dissipation apparatus is disclosed, comprising a base and a support member. The support member has an opening and at least one protruding part surrounded the opening. The support member is connected with the base in a predetermined site by the protruding parts. When the base passes through the opening and the protruding parts are disposed in the predetermined site, the protruding parts become deformed to be engaged with the base by a force. The protruding parts and the support member may be integrally formed. Alternately, the base may comprise a groove in a predetermined site for allowing the protruding parts be inserted into the groove. The protruding parts substantially protrude inwardly into the opening so that the support member is engaged with the base when the protruding parts are inserted into the groove. The heat dissipation apparatus may further comprise a heat sink for allowing the base be mounted therein.  
      Another heat dissipation apparatus is disclosed, comprising a base, a heat sink and a support member. The heat sink is disposed around the base, and the support member contacts and supports the heat sink. The support member has an opening and at least one protruding part surrounding the opening. The support member is connected with the base in a predetermined site by the protruding parts. When the base passes through the opening and the protruding parts are disposed in the predetermined site, the protruding parts become deformed to be engaged with the base by a force. The base may further comprise a groove in a predetermined site for allowing the protruding parts be inserted into the groove, securing the support member on the base.  
      Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of a conventional heat dissipation apparatus;  
       FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of the assembled heat dissipation apparatus according to  FIG. 1A ;  
       FIG. 1C  is a cross section of the assembled heat dissipation apparatus according to  FIG. 1A ;  
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of a heat dissipation apparatus of embodiments of the invention;  
       FIG. 2B  is a cross section of the connected heat dissipation apparatus according to  FIG. 2A ;  
       FIG. 2C  is a cross section of the assembled heat dissipation apparatus according to  FIG. 2A ;  
       FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram of another heat dissipation apparatus of embodiments of the invention;  
       FIG. 3B  is a cross section of the connected heat dissipation apparatus according to  FIG. 3A ; and  
       FIG. 3C  is a cross section of the assembled heat dissipation apparatus according to  FIG. 3A . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     First Example  
       FIGS. 2A, 2B , and  2 C show a heat dissipation apparatus of the invention.  FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of the heat dissipation apparatus and  FIGS. 2B and 2C  are cross sections thereof. The heat dissipation apparatus  20  of the first embodiment of the invention comprises a base  25 , a heat sink (not shown), and a support member  23 .  
      The support member  23  has an opening  231  and at least one protruding part  233 . In this embodiment, the support member  23  has four protruding parts evenly disposed and surrounding the circumference of the opening  231 . The protruding parts  233  are curved, and the tops thereof are higher than the surface of the support member  23 . Length of the protruding parts  233  is not limited, such that the protruding parts  233  may abut the base  25 , protrude from the opening  231 , or reduce from the opening  231 . Here, the protruding parts  233  abut the base  25 , as shown in  FIG. 2B .  
      The support member  23  is connected with the base  25  after passing through the opening  231 . When the base  25  passes through the opening  231  and the protruding parts  233  reach a predetermined site S 1 , the protruding parts  233  become deformed to be engaged with the base  25  by a force, enabling insertion thereof into the base  25  to connect therewith, and allowing the support member  23  to tight fit with the base  25 , as shown in  FIG. 2C .  
      The heat sink (not shown) preferably has a passage corresponding to the base  25 . After the support member  23  is assembled with the base  25 , the heat sink is disposed around the base  25  via the passage. The heat sink may be connected with the base  25  by thermal expansion and contraction, by spreading adhesives between the base  25  and the heat sink, or by soldering, increasing stability of connection between the base  25  and the heat sink. Furthermore, the bottom of the heat sink contacts the support member  23 , such that the support member  23  supports the heat sink. Preferably, a fan is further applied in order to improve heat dissipation.  
     Second Example  
       FIGS. 3A, 3B , and  3 C show another heat dissipation apparatus.  FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram of the heat dissipation apparatus and  FIGS. 3B and 3C  are cross section of the heat dissipation apparatus. The heat dissipation apparatus  30  comprises a base  35 , a heat sink (not shown), and a support member  33 .  
      The base  35  comprises a circular groove  37  located in a predetermined site S 2 . The support member  33  has an opening  331  and at least one protruding part  333 . In this embodiment, the support member  33  has four protruding parts evenly disposed and surrounding the circumference of the opening  331 .  
      In  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the protruding parts  333  are curved and the tops thereof are higher than the surface of the support member  33 . Also, the protruding parts  333  substantially protrude inwardly into the opening  331  so that the curved protruding parts  333  can be contracted by force to allow the base  35  passing through the opening  331  easily. When the support member  33  reaches the predetermined site S 2  of the base  35 , tension on the protruding parts  333  are released and the protruding parts  333  are inserted into the groove  37 , so that the support member  33  is engaged with the base  35 .  
      In  FIG. 3C , force on the protruding parts  333  may further increase connection stability between the support member  33  and the base  35  by, for example, deforming the protruding parts  333 , enabling insertion into the base  35 , engaging with the groove  37 , and allowing the support member  33  to tight fit with the base  35 .  
      The heat sink (not shown) preferably has a passage corresponding to the base  35 . After the support member  33  is assembled with the base  35 , the heat sink is disposed around the base  35  via the passage. The heat sink may be connected with the base  35  by thermal expansion and contraction, by spreading adhesives between the base  35  and the heat sink, or by soldering, increasing stability of connection between the base  35  and the heat sink. Furthermore, the bottom of the heat sink contacts the support member  33 , such that the support member  33  supports the heat sink. Preferably, a fan is further applied in order to improve heat dissipation.  
      The base of above-mentioned examples may be heat pipe or copper column. Or the material of the base may be plastic, metal, alloy, or nonmetallic materials. The assembled heat dissipation apparatus may be applied to a dissipation module for an electrical device which operates with generating heat, such as for a CPU, a transistor, or other components. The heat apparatus is variably shaped related to a shape of the electrical device.  
      The heat dissipation apparatus of the present invention having an improved supporting member reduces the procedure of using lathe to create the flange on the base so that there is no extra material waste and the production cost is saved. Also, forsaking the conventional design of the flange on the base, the overall volume of the heat dissipation apparatus can be more compact. However, the improved supporting member of the preferred embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, number, profile, and material of the protruding part are not limited, as long as the support member can be connected with the base by the protruding parts. Also, the protruding parts are preferably integrally formed with the support member for simplify assembly procedure. Further, the heat dissipation apparatus can operate and be associated with various heat sinks and fans.  
      While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.