Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6038129?dq=6317900
Timestamp: 2018-01-18 12:44:56
Document Index: 444557467

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 98303321', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'arts 8', 'art 8', 'art 8']

Patent US6038129 - Cooling electronic apparatus - Google Patents
An electronic apparatus having a heat dissipative external enclosure is disclosed. The external enclosure having a containment wall from which depend extended surfaces or fins having a length extending vertically and defining channels therebetween. The thickness of the enclosure between external surfaces...http://www.google.com/patents/US6038129?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6038129 - Cooling electronic apparatus
Publication number US6038129 A
Application number US 09/300,341
Also published as CA2266274A1, CN1237083A, EP0954210A1
Publication number 09300341, 300341, US 6038129 A, US 6038129A, US-A-6038129, US6038129 A, US6038129A
Inventors Hamid Reza Falaki, William George Gates, Patrick Francis Hanlon, Martin Michael Mark Keegan, Daniel Peter Kelly
Patent Citations (6), Non-Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (75), Classifications (20), Legal Events (10)
Cooling electronic apparatus
US 6038129 A
An electronic apparatus having a heat dissipative external enclosure is disclosed. The external enclosure having a containment wall from which depend extended surfaces or fins having a length extending vertically and defining channels therebetween. The thickness of the enclosure between external surfaces of opposed containment walls varying between a relatively thin portion and a relatively thick portion to provide an interior space having a relatively narrow portion and a relatively wide portion to accommodate components or units of corresponding different extent. The fins having outer edges, spaced from the containment wall, and having plain first opposed surfaces adjacent their outer edges, the first surfaces including a first angle therebetween. The fins or parts of fins adjacent the relatively thin portion of the enclosure also having plain second opposed surfaces inwards of the first surfaces, the second surfaces including therebetween a second angle greater than the first angle. Making the thickness of the enclosure between external surfaces of opposed containment walls vary between a relatively thin portion and a relatively thick portion so that the interior space fits components or units of corresponding different extent, allows the fins to have a greater depth than would be the case if the thickness were constant. Making the deeper fins with roots having a greater draft angle, e.g. 3° allows the deeper fins or parts of fins to come out of the mould more readily than using a constant draft angle, e.g. 2°, especially when the casting material is LM20.
1. Electronic apparatus having a heat dissipative external enclosure, the external enclosure comprising:
a plurality of containment walls, from at least one of which depend fins having a length extending vertically defining channels therebetween;
a thickness of the external enclosure between external surfaces of opposed containment walls, the thickness varying between a relatively thin portion and a relatively thick portion to provide an interior space having a relatively narrow portion and a relatively wide portion to accommodate components or units of corresponding different extent;
the fins having outer edges, spaced from one of the containment wall, and having plain first opposed surfaces adjacent their outer edges, said first surfaces including a first angle therebetween, and the fins or parts of the fins adjacent the relatively thin portion of the enclosure also having plain second opposed surfaces, said second surfaces including therebetween a second angle greater than the first angle.
2. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relatively thick portion of the enclosure and the relatively thin portion of the enclosure are located one above another and wherein the first opposed surfaces extend the full length of the fins which extend over both portions.
3. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first angle is approximately 2° and the second angle is approximately 3°.
7. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the case has:
vents at the top and the bottom of the air passages;
louvers in one or more of its side walls;
louvers lower in the one or more of its side walls slanting upwards and inwards; and
louvers higher in the one or more of its side walls slanting upwards and outwards.
8. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein components or units dissipating higher power are located below components or units dissipating lower power.
This application claims priority of European Patent Application No. 98303321.8, which was filed on Apr. 28, 1998.
This invention relates to cooling electronic apparatus.
The background to the invention will be described with reference to a particular application. Other applications may occur readily to the reader.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided electronic apparatus having a heat dissipative external enclosure, the external enclosure having a containment wall from which depend extended surfaces or fins having a length extending vertically and defining channels therebetween. The thickness of the enclosure between external surfaces of opposed containment walls varying between a relatively thin portion and a relatively thick portion to provide an interior space having a relatively narrow portion and a relatively wide portion to accommodate components or units of corresponding different extent. The fins having outer edges, spaced from the containment wall, and having plain first opposed surfaces adjacent their outer edges, the first surfaces including a first angle therebetween. The fins or parts of fins adjacent the relatively thin portion of the enclosure also having plain second opposed surfaces inwards of the first surfaces, the second surfaces including therebetween a second angle greater than the first angle. In a case where the relatively thick portion of the enclosure and the relatively thin portion of the enclosure are located one above another, the first opposed surfaces preferably extend the full length of the fins which extend over both portions. The fins are preferably evenly spaced and the outer edges preferably lie in a common plane.
Making the thickness of the enclosure between external surfaces of opposed containment walls vary between a relatively thin portion and a relatively thick portion so that the interior space fits components or units of corresponding different extent, allows the fins to have a greater depth than would be the case if the thickness were constant. Making the deeper fins with roots having a greater draft angle, e.g. 3° the fins allows the deeper fins or parts of fins to come out of the mould more readily than using a constant draft angle, e.g. 2°, especially when the casting material is LM20.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 concurrently, a base station for a cellular mobile telecommunications network comprises electronic equipment contained by external enclosure 2. Electronic units such as RF screened transmitter receivers 3, RF screened power amplifiers 4, processor board 5 (mounting components not shown) and duplexers 6 are environmentally sealed within the enclosure 2, which is shown open in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7 concurrently, processor board 5 is mounted on protuberances 7a from wall 7 of the external enclosure. Transmitter/receivers 3 are mounted over processor board 5 on protuberances 9 from wall 7. The power amplifier and other units dissipate a significant amount of power and require cooling. Because the enclosure is sealed, cooling is effected by conduction. For example there is conduction from power amplifiers 4 to the wall 7 of the enclosure on which the power amplifiers are mounted. The enclosure is cooled by convection. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 concurrently, to improve the cooling of the enclosure, it is provided with extended surfaces or fins 8. In order to maximize the size of the fins within a given overall dimension, interior space 10 of the enclosure has a width w that varies sufficiently to accommodate the electronic units 4, 6 etc. without a significant waste of space. This allows the extended surfaces or fins 8 to vary in depth between a deep part 8a where the interior space required to accommodate the power amplifier 4 is narrow, to a shallower part 8b where the interior space required to accommodate the duplexer 6 is wider. The outer ends of the fins are contained in a common plain. Thus the maximum depth of the fins is obtained within the overall dimensions. Referring to FIG. 3, the fins are evenly spaced at a sufficient distance within the length of channels 12 to ensure that a boundary layer does not establish itself across the channels between the fins.
Conventionally, the enclosure 2 would be cast in light metal LM6. Enclosures for electronic apparatus are conventionally cast in light metal specification LM6, which is easy to cast. Light metal specification LM20 is more difficult to cast and is more expensive. Light metal LM6 has a thermal conductivity of 124 W/m. °K. Light metal LM20 has marginally greater a thermal conductivity of 155 Watts/m/°K. The small increase in thermal conductivity combined with the greater difficulty in casting, and the greater cost has previously prejudiced those skilled in the art against trying it. However, the inventors found that by using light metal specification LM20 a 3° K improvement in the temperature of critical components in the enclosure can be achieved. Therefore, there is a significant improvement in cooling by casting the enclosure in light metal LM20. For the enclosure illustrated, a 3° C. reduction in the temperature of the enclosure is obtained.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the deeper parts 8a of fins 8 are difficult to cast, being difficult or impossible to release from the mould. The problem is exacerbated by use of LM20. The problem occur with a two degree draft angle when the depth of the fins exceeded approximately 25 mm. The inventors found that easier release from the mould can be obtained by casting the fins with a two stage draft angle. Part 8a of the fin has a draft angle of 2° contained by plain opposed surfaces 14. These surfaces extend throughout the length of the fin. In part 8a, the fin has further opposed plain surfaces 16 between which there is a draft angle of 3°.
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U.S. Classification 361/699, 174/16.1, 361/690, 361/700, 361/698, 174/15.2, 361/720, 165/80.3, 165/80.4, 361/688, 361/689
International Classification H05K7/20, B22C9/06, H04B1/036
Cooperative Classification B22C9/065, H04B1/036, H05K7/209
European Classification H04B1/036, B22C9/06D, H05K7/20W5
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BRITO, JOAO CARLOS FELICO;TRAFTON, FREDRICK W.;ROTE, JOHN K.;REEL/FRAME:009937/0613
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FALAKI, HAMID REZA;REEL/FRAME:010836/0164
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HANLON, PATRICK FRANCIS;REEL/FRAME:010617/0166
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FALAKI, HAMID REZA;GATES, WILLIAM GEORGE;KEEGAN, MARTIN MICHAEL MARK;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:010617/0195