Patent Description:
For an existing sealed heat dissipation device, after it is produced, the amount of a phase change working medium inside it is fixed and cannot be changed. Therefore, the existing sealed heat dissipation device can only be applied to some applications of specific heat fluxes. <CIT> discloses a device which has a heat pipe utilized as an evaporator or part of the evaporator of a cooling circuit. The heat pipe is connected with the cooling circuit and/or separable from the cooling circuit. Pressure of working medium of the heat pipe is adjustable by a compressor. Heat energy of a battery cell is received by a part of a heat absorbing surface of the heat pipe and transferred to a cooling agent and/or a cooling section by a part of a heat emission surface of the heat pipe, where the heat emission surface is arranged outside a motor vehicle. An independent claim is also included for a method for cooling a heat pipe.

In view of this, the disclosure provides a heat dissipation device, according to claim <NUM>, in which the amount of a phase change working medium can be adjusted.

A heat dissipation device, including a heat absorbing member configured to absorb heat from a heat source, the heat absorbing member being provided with a first accommodating chamber for accommodating a phase change working medium and a mounting hole in communication with the first accommodating chamber; and a valve installed in the mounting hole of the heat absorbing member, the valve being adjustable between a first state and a second state to cause the first accommodating chamber to change between a closed state and an open state. When the first accommodating chamber is in the open state, the first accommodating chamber is in fluid communication with outside the first accommodating chamber so that the phase change working medium can be injected into or discharged from the first accommodating chamber. When the first accommodating chamber is in the closed state, the first accommodating chamber is sealed and isolated from outside the first accommodating chamber. The heat dissipation device further comprises a heat dissipating member made of a heat conductive material and connected to the heat absorbing member. The heat dissipation device further comprises heat dissipating fins connected to the heat dissipating member. A cover plate is arranged at an end of the heat dissipating member away from the heat absorbing member, and the heat dissipating fins are stacked between the heat absorbing member and the cover plate. A side of the cover plate facing the heat dissipating members is provided with positioning protrusions, and the heat dissipating member is correspondingly provided with positioning grooves for receiving the positioning protrusions respectively. A passage in fluid communication with the first accommodating chamber is provided inside the heat dissipating member.

In some embodiments, an end of the heat dissipating member close to the first accommodating chamber is provided with a guide channel which is in fluid communication with the first accommodating chamber and the passage.

In some embodiments, the guide channel is wider than the passage.

In some embodiments, a second accommodating chamber in fluid communication with the passage is formed inside the cover plate.

In some embodiments, the end of the heat dissipating member close to the first accommodating chamber has a reduced thickness such that the guide channel is wider than the passage.

In some embodiments, two side plates are arranged on opposite sides of the heat absorbing member respectively, the heat dissipating member comprises multiple spaced heat dissipating elements arranged between and spaced from the two side plates, and the heat dissipating fins are respectively arranged between the heat dissipating elements or between one of the heat dissipating elements and a corresponding one of the side plates.

In some embodiments, each of the fins comprises a base plate and a pair of fixing plates extending from opposite side edges of the base plate, the fixing plates being secured to the heat dissipating elements or the side plates.

In some embodiments, the heat dissipating element has a plate-shaped configuration, the fixing plates are parallel to the heat dissipating elements, and the base plate is perpendicular to the fixing plates and the heat dissipating elements.

In some embodiments, not part of the claimed invention the heat dissipating member is configured as a solid metal plate.

In some embodiments, when the first accommodating chamber is in the closed state, the first accommodating chamber is sealed and isolated from outside the first accommodating chamber.

In some embodiments, the valve is a plug which is detachably mounted in the mounting hole.

According to the invention, the first accommodating chamber can be opened by the valve to allow the phase change working medium to be injected into or discharged from the first accommodating chamber, so as to adjust the amount of the phase change working medium in the first accommodating chamber. Therefore, the heat dissipation device is applicable to various applications with different heat fluxes and different heat dissipating requirements, and can achieve a good heat dissipation effect in various applications with different heat dissipating requirements.

In the <FIG>. heat dissipation device; <NUM>. heat absorbing member; <NUM>. heat dissipating member; <NUM>. valve; <NUM>. cover plate; <NUM>. side plate; <NUM>. first accommodating chamber; <NUM>. mounting hole; <NUM>. heat dissipating fin; <NUM>. base plate; <NUM>. fixed plate; <NUM>. gas-liquid flow passage; <NUM>. positioning protrusion; <NUM>. guide channel; <NUM>. positioning groove; <NUM>. phase change working medium; <NUM>. heat source.

The disclosure will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and specific implementations. It should be noted that, provided that there is no conflict, the following embodiments or technical features can be arbitrarily combined to form a new embodiment.

It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, outside, top, bottom. ) in the embodiments of the disclosure are only used to explain a relative position relationship between components in a certain specific attitude (as shown in the figures). If the specific attitude changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

It should also be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed on" or "arranged on" another element, the element may be directly fixed/arranged on the other element or there may be an intermediate element located therebetween. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element located therebetween.

Referring to <FIG>, a heat dissipation device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a heat absorbing member <NUM> and a heat dissipating member <NUM> connected to the heat absorbing member <NUM>. The heat absorbing member <NUM> and the heat dissipating member <NUM> are made of a material with good thermal conductivity. The heat absorbing member <NUM> is configured to be connected with a heat source <NUM> to absorb heat therefrom, thereby cooling the heat source <NUM>. The heat dissipating member <NUM> is configured to absorb the heat of the heat absorbing member <NUM>, and then exchange the heat with air around the heat dissipating member <NUM> to dissipate the heat to the surrounding air, so that the heat absorbing member <NUM> can absorb heat from the heat source <NUM> effectively.

In some embodiments, the heat dissipation device <NUM> further includes a fan arranged opposite to the heat dissipating member <NUM>. The fan can be used to accelerate flowing of the air, thereby enhancing the heat exchange effect between the heat dissipating member <NUM> and the air and improving the heat dissipation capability of the heat dissipation device <NUM>.

The heat absorbing member <NUM> is provided with a first accommodating chamber <NUM> and a mounting hole <NUM> in communication with the first accommodating chamber <NUM>. The first accommodating chamber <NUM> is configured to accommodate a phase change working medium <NUM> such as water, ethanol, and more, and a valve <NUM> is mounted in the mounting hole <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is adjustable between a first state and a second state. When the valve <NUM> is in the first state, the first accommodating chamber <NUM> is in a closed state. When the valve <NUM> is in the second state, the first accommodating chamber <NUM> is in an open state and the phase change working medium <NUM> can be injected into the first accommodating chamber <NUM>, or the phase change working medium <NUM> in the first accommodating chamber <NUM> can be discharged. In other words, the valve <NUM> can be adjusted to communicate the first accommodating chamber <NUM> with the outside or turn off the communication of the first accommodating chamber <NUM> with the outside. Optionally, the heat absorbing member <NUM> has a plate-shaped configuration. The heat absorbing member <NUM> comprises a bottom wall configured for contacting with the heat source <NUM>, a top wall spaced apart from and opposite to the bottom wall, and a side wall connected between the bottom wall and the top wall. The mounting hole <NUM> is defined in the side wall of the heat absorbing member <NUM>.

When the heat dissipation device <NUM> is used, the first accommodating chamber <NUM> can be opened by adjusting the state of the valve <NUM>, and the phase change working medium <NUM> can be injected into the first accommodating chamber <NUM> or discharge part of the phase change working medium <NUM> from the first accommodating chamber according to the actual heat dissipating requirement of the specific application. After the amount adjustment of the working medium is completed, the first accommodating chamber <NUM> can be closed by the valve <NUM>. Since the heat dissipation device <NUM> can adjust the amount of the phase change working medium <NUM> according to different heat dissipating requirements, the heat dissipation device <NUM> is applicable to various applications with different heat flux densities and different heat dissipating requirements, and can achieve a good heat dissipation effect by using different amount of working medium in various applications.

Understandably, the type of the valve <NUM> is not limited. For example, the valve <NUM> may be a valve core, a rubber plug or the like that is detachably mounted in the mounting hole <NUM>. When the valve <NUM> is located in the mounting hole <NUM> to make the first accommodating chamber <NUM> become a sealed space, the valve <NUM> is in the first state. When the valve <NUM> is removed from the mounting hole <NUM> to allow the first accommodating chamber <NUM> to communicate with the outside through the mounting hole <NUM>, the valve <NUM> is in the second state. Alternatively, the valve <NUM> can be a liquid injection valve for example a quick connector which can be mounted in the mounting hole <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the liquid injection valve comprises a valve body <NUM> slidably mounted in the mounting hole <NUM> and a sealing ring <NUM>. One end of the valve body <NUM> is inserted into the first accommodating chamber <NUM> and the sealing ring <NUM> is secured around the end of the valve stem <NUM> inserted into the first accommodating chamber <NUM>. When the liquid injection valve is in the first state, the liquid injection valve makes the first accommodating chamber <NUM> become a sealed space by the sealing ring <NUM> which is sealedly in contact with the inner surface of the mounting hole <NUM>. When the liquid injection valve is in the second state, the sealing ring <NUM> is moved away from the inner surface of the mounting hole <NUM> and not sealedly in contact with the inner surface of the mounting hole <NUM>, thereby allowing the first accommodating chamber <NUM> to communicate with the outside. Thus, a liquid supply device (not shown) can be attached to the mounting hole <NUM> to communicate with the first accommodating chamber <NUM> such that the liquid supply device is capable of feeding phase change working medium <NUM> into the first accommodating chamber <NUM>. Optionally, the liquid injection valve further comprises a rod <NUM> connected to the valve body <NUM>. When the liquid supply device is attached to the mounting hole <NUM>, the liquid supply device pushes the rod <NUM> to drive the valve body <NUM> with the sealing ring <NUM> to move, which results in the sealing ring <NUM> moving away from the mounting hole <NUM> and not sealedly in contact with the inner surface of the mounting hole <NUM>. A return spring may be applied to return the valve body <NUM> and the sealing ring <NUM> back to the first state from the second state.

The heat dissipation device <NUM> further includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins <NUM>, mounted on the heat dissipating member <NUM>. After absorbing heat, the phase change working medium <NUM> in the heat absorbing member <NUM> is heated and evaporated to form a high-temperature gas. After the high-temperature gas rises, it comes into contact with the heat dissipating member <NUM> and transfers the heat to the heat dissipating member <NUM>, and thus the temperature of the high-temperature gas itself decreases and the gas is condensed into a liquid again and returns to the first accommodating chamber <NUM> under the action of gravity so that the heat absorbing member <NUM> can absorb heat from the heat source continuously. The heat of the heat dissipating member <NUM> is conducted to the heat dissipating fins <NUM>, and the heat dissipating fins <NUM> are configured to exchange heat with the air around the fins <NUM> so that the heat is finally dissipated to the surrounding air. The arrangement of the heat dissipating fins <NUM> increases the contact area between the heat dissipation device <NUM> and the air, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation effect of the heat dissipation device <NUM>.

The heat dissipating member <NUM> comprises one or multiple heat dissipating elements. The number of the heat dissipating elements is not limited. In this embodiment, three heat dissipating elements are provided. Optionally, the top wall of the heat absorbing member <NUM> defines one or multiple mounting slots, and the ends of the heat dissipating elements close to the first accommodating chamber <NUM> are secured in the mounting slots. The three heat dissipating elements are arranged in parallel and spaced from each other, and multiple heat dissipating fins <NUM> stacked in a direction away from the heat absorbing member <NUM> are connected between any two adjacent heat dissipating elements or connected between adjacent heat dissipating element and side plate <NUM>. By providing multiple heat dissipating elements and multiple heat dissipating fins <NUM>, the heat dissipation effect of the heat dissipation device <NUM> is enhanced.

The type of the heat dissipating fins <NUM> is not limited. For example, the heat dissipating fins <NUM> may be folded fins which are folded from a continuous thin plate or snap-fit fins which are formed by independent/separate fins connected together via snap-fit means, or a combination of folded fins or snap-fit fins.

Referring to <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, each heat dissipating fin <NUM> includes a base plate <NUM> and two fixing plates <NUM> extending from opposite side edges of the base plate <NUM>. The two fixing plates <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> are preferably but not limited to being integrally formed. The heat dissipating fins <NUM> are connected to the heat dissipating members <NUM> by the fixing plates <NUM>, and the base plates <NUM> of every two adjacent heat dissipating fins <NUM> one above the other are spaced apart from each other. By providing the fixing plates <NUM>, the contact area between the heat dissipating fins <NUM> and the heat dissipating members <NUM> can be increased, thereby enhancing the heat conduction efficiency between the heat dissipating fins <NUM> and the heat dissipating members <NUM>. Every two adjacent base plates <NUM> being spaced apart from each other can increase the contact area between the heat dissipating fins <NUM> and the air, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation effect. Furthermore, slots are formed between adjacent fins <NUM>, which allows airflow generated by the fan to pass through the slots to thereby enhance the heat dissipation effect of the heat dissipating fins <NUM>. Optionally, the fixing plates <NUM> of every fin <NUM> has the same width and the distance between two adjacent base plates <NUM> is equal to the width of the fixing plates <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the heat dissipation device <NUM> further includes a cover plate <NUM> opposite to and spaced from the heat absorbing member <NUM> and two side plates <NUM> opposite to and spaced from each other. The cover plate <NUM> is fixed on a side of the heat dissipating member <NUM> away from the heat absorbing member <NUM>. The two side plates <NUM> are connected between the cover plate <NUM> and the heat absorbing member <NUM>. The heat dissipating members <NUM> are arranged between the two side plates <NUM>, and the heat dissipating fins <NUM> are arranged between the side plates <NUM> and the adjacent heat dissipating members <NUM>. The arrangement of the side plates <NUM> and the cover plate <NUM> can protect the heat dissipating fins <NUM> and the heat dissipating members <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the cover plate <NUM> and the side plates <NUM> are also made of a material with good thermal conductivity, so the heat of the high-temperature gas generated by the phase change working medium <NUM> can also be dissipated into the surrounding air through the cover plate <NUM> and the side plates <NUM>, thus further enhancing the heat dissipation effect of the heat dissipation device <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, a gas-liquid flow passage <NUM> is formed inside the heat dissipating member <NUM>, and the gas-liquid flow passage <NUM> extends from the heat absorbing member <NUM> toward the cover plate <NUM>. One end of the heat dissipating member <NUM> extends into the first accommodating chamber <NUM> and is provided with a guide channel <NUM> which communicates the first accommodating chamber <NUM> with the gas-liquid flow passage <NUM>. The guide channel <NUM> is wider than the gas-liquid flow passage <NUM>. After the working medium in the first accommodating chamber <NUM> absorbs the heat of the heat absorbing member <NUM> to form vaporized working medium with high temperature, the vaporized working medium can enter the gas-liquid flow passage <NUM> through the guide channel <NUM> and come into full contact with the heat dissipating member <NUM> to achieve a good heat exchange effect between the heat dissipating member <NUM> and the vaporized working medium. The heat of the heat dissipating member <NUM> is dissipated to air via the heat dissipating fins <NUM>. During the process of heat exchange between the vaporized working medium and the heat dissipating member <NUM>, the temperature of the vaporized working medium decreases and the vaporized working medium is condensed into liquid which returns into the first accommodating chamber <NUM> along an inner wall of the gas-liquid flow passage <NUM>. Optionally, the inner wall of the gas-liquid flow passage <NUM> is provided with a capillary structure to form a liquid path so that the liquid can return back to the first accommodating chamber <NUM> through the liquid path under capillary action.

It can be understood that the number of gas-liquid flow passages <NUM> is not limited, and may be one or multiple.

In other embodiments, not part of the claimed invention, the heat dissipating member <NUM> may also be configured as a solid metal plate; in other words, no gas-liquid flow passage <NUM> is provided within the heat dissipating member <NUM>, and the heat is exchanged directly between the end of the heat dissipating member <NUM> extended into the first accommodating cavity and the vaporized working medium.

In some embodiments, a second accommodating chamber in fluid communication with the gas-liquid flow passage <NUM> may further be arranged in the cover plate <NUM>, so that the vaporized working medium can not only exchange heat with the heat dissipating members <NUM>, but also exchange heat with the cover plate <NUM>, thus further enhancing the heat dissipation effect of the heat dissipation device <NUM>.

A side of the cover plate <NUM> facing the heat dissipating members <NUM> is provided with positioning protrusions <NUM>, and the heat dissipating members <NUM> are correspondingly provided with positioning grooves <NUM> for receiving the positioning protrusions <NUM>, so as to facilitate the assembly of the heat dissipation device <NUM>. It can be understood that the number of the positioning grooves <NUM> is not limited, and one positioning groove <NUM> may be provided on every heat dissipating member <NUM>, or the positioning grooves <NUM> may be provided on one or more of the heat dissipating members <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A heat dissipation device (<NUM>) comprising a heat absorbing member (<NUM>) configured to absorb heat from a heat source (<NUM>), the heat absorbing member (<NUM>) being provided with a first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) for accommodating a phase change working medium, wherein
the heat absorbing member (<NUM>) is further provided with a mounting hole (<NUM>) in communication with the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>), and the heat dissipation device (<NUM>) further comprises a valve (<NUM>) installed in the mounting hole (<NUM>) of the heat absorbing member (<NUM>), the valve (<NUM>) being adjustable between a first state and a second state to cause the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) to change between a closed state and an open state;
wherein when the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) is in the open state, the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) is in fluid communication with outside the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) so that the phase change working medium (<NUM>) can be injected into the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) via the mounting hole (<NUM>) or discharged from the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) via the mounting hole (<NUM>);
when the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) is in the closed state, the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) is sealed and isolated from outside the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>);
the heat dissipation device (<NUM>) further comprises a heat dissipating member (<NUM>) made of a heat conductive material and connected to the heat absorbing member (<NUM>); characterized in that
the heat dissipation device (<NUM>) further comprises heat dissipating fins (<NUM>) connected to the heat dissipating member (<NUM>); and
a cover plate (<NUM>) is arranged at an end of the heat dissipating member (<NUM>) away from the heat absorbing member (<NUM>), and the heat dissipating fins (<NUM>) are stacked between the heat absorbing member (<NUM>) and the cover plate (<NUM>);
a side of the cover plate (<NUM>) facing the heat dissipating members (<NUM>) is provided with positioning protrusions (<NUM>), and the heat dissipating member (<NUM>) is correspondingly provided with positioning grooves (<NUM>) for receiving the positioning protrusions (<NUM>) respectively;
a passage (<NUM>) in fluid communication with the first accommodating chamber (<NUM>) is provided inside the heat dissipating member (<NUM>).