JP5666892B2 - Thin sheet heat pipe - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a sheet-like heat pipe that efficiently cools a highly heat-generating electronic component such as a semiconductor, and more particularly to a thin sheet-like heat pipe that efficiently cools even a component having a small heating source.

  In recent years, electronic devices have built-in high-output and highly-integrated electronic components. For example, a CPU emits a large amount of heat because it performs processing such as calculation and control of information at high speed. In order to cool an electronic component that emits a large amount of heat in this way, various cooling means have been proposed, and one of the typical cooling means is a heat pipe.

  In general, a heat pipe heats one side of the pipe and cools the other, generating a cycle of evaporation (latent heat absorption) and condensation (latent heat release) of the working fluid to transfer heat. Is. Normally, the cooling part is placed higher than the heating part, so that the working fluid after condensation is returned to the heating part. Can be demonstrated.

  The heat pipe includes a pipe-shaped one and a flat sheet-shaped one. For cooling an electronic component such as a CPU, a sheet-like heat pipe is generally used because it can be easily attached and a wide contact surface can be obtained.

  Such a sheet-shaped heat pipe is required to be further reduced in thickness with the recent trend of downsizing and thinning of electronic devices. As shown in FIG. 13A, the conventional sheet-like heat pipe is configured by laminating a wick serving as a liquid phase channel and a container on the upper and lower sides of the gas phase channel. However, since the thickness of the gas phase flow path and the wick are integrated, there is a limit to reducing the thickness. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), a technique has been proposed that realizes an advantageous arrangement for thinning by configuring the wick that forms the liquid phase channel and the gas phase channel in the same layer between the containers. (See Patent Document 1).

  Moreover, in the sheet-like heat pipe, a technique has been disclosed in which the arrangement configuration of the gas phase flow path (working fluid path) is devised in order to increase the heat diffusion capability (see Patent Document 2). For example, as shown in FIG. 14, there is a gas phase flow path formed in a spiral shape. This is because (1) flat sheet heat pipes with wicks can be expected to dissipate heat, but the structure becomes complicated and costly. (2) When multiple working fluid passages are parallel, the heat generated by the working fluid The movement must have directivity, and has been proposed for issues such as the limitation of the scope of application.

JP 2008-82698 A JP 2001-223309 A

  By the way, in the spiral flow path in Patent Document 2, a heat source is arranged at the center, and the working fluid evaporated in the heat source moves from the center along the spiral flow path in the outer peripheral direction and then radiates heat at the outer peripheral portion. It is condensed by that. However, the distance from the heat source to the outer periphery of the spiral is long, and the amount of heat that can be transported is reduced accordingly. Further, the condensed working fluid stopped moving in the outer peripheral portion without circulating to the heat source, and smooth heat transfer could not be performed.

  In Patent Document 1, a spacer serving as a wick is inserted between foil-like sheets constituting a container, and a vertically long gas phase flow path is provided as a slit in the spacer. However, since the inside of the container is hollow at the position where the gas phase flow path is provided, the strength in the thickness direction of the heat pipe is not sufficient when the foil-like sheet is made thin. Therefore, the heat pipe may be crushed by the atmospheric pressure or the foil-like sheet may be broken. Therefore, also in Patent Document 1, the strength in the thickness direction of the heat pipe is increased by interposing the second and third spacers between the spacer forming the wick and the sheet forming the container. .

  Also, if the heating source is small enough to occupy only a part of the surface of the heat pipe, it is important to consider the heat dissipation efficiency to distribute the wicks and gas phase flow paths throughout the container. is there. However, Patent Document 1 does not assume a case where the heating source is small. Further, Patent Document 2 merely disposes the working fluid passage as a whole, and the wick disposition is denied from the problem that the structure becomes complicated. That is, none of the techniques disclosed in the prior art documents can be expected to have a sufficient heat radiation efficiency when used for a component having a small heating source.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. The object of the present invention is to provide a thin sheet-like heat that is thin and has high strength and realizes high heat radiation efficiency even with a small heat source. To provide a pipe.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a container that forms a sheet-like container, a working fluid enclosed in the container, and a flow path formed in the container together with the working fluid. And the flow path forming member has a gas phase flow path that becomes the flow path of the evaporated working fluid, and a liquid phase flow path that becomes the flow path of the condensed working fluid, The liquid phase flow path is composed of a wick that causes the working fluid to flow by its capillary force, and the gas phase flow path is composed of a plurality of main flow path patterns wound in a spiral shape. An end opposite to the center of the center is provided at a predetermined position of the heat receiving portion, and each main flow path pattern communicates with each other at the end, and the main flow path is partitioned by the wick. It is characterized by.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the gas phase flow path is provided over substantially the entire surface of the container.

In the above aspect, the wicks that form the liquid phase flow path are arranged in a spiral shape to form the partition of the gas phase flow path, so that the working fluid evaporated in the heat receiving part is condensed in the cooling part and heated by the capillary phenomenon. It can be moved smoothly to the side. In particular, the condensed working fluid can be smoothly circulated to the heating unit by continuously connecting the cooling part that forms the partition of the gas phase flow path in a spiral shape to the heat receiving part without interruption. In addition, since the gas phase flow path is divided into a plurality of patterns wound in a spiral shape, the distance from the heat receiving portion in contact with the heating source to the cooling portion where the working fluid is condensed is shortened. Thus, since the distance which carries heat is short, the quantity which heat can carry increases and can improve heat dissipation efficiency.

  Further, the wick directly supports the surface of the container and forms the partition of the gas phase flow path, so that the wick pillars can be arranged on the surface of the container with high density. Thereby, the intensity | strength with respect to the thickness direction of a heat pipe can be made high. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a spacer that has been conventionally used for increasing the strength of the heat pipe in the thickness direction, and the material itself forming the container can be made thinner and the entire heat pipe can be made thinner.

  Furthermore, the wick supports the container in the thickness direction of the container with the gap between the containers, and the wick is configured as a pillar with respect to the container, so that the heat dissipation function also works at the place where the wick and the container are in contact with each other. It will be. Therefore, the heat dissipation effect of the heat pipe can be further enhanced.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the gas phase flow path includes at least one sub flow path branched from the main flow path, and the sub flow path is connected to the main flow path. It is characterized by being partitioned by a wick.

  In the above aspect, even if the number of turns of the spiral gas-phase flow path is reduced in order to make the manufacturing easier, by providing a sub-flow path that branches from the main flow path, the entire surface of the container is provided. A wick serving as a gas phase flow path and a liquid phase flow path can be arranged. Thereby, it becomes possible to provide a thin sheet-like heat pipe with higher heat dissipation efficiency.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the gas phase flow channel has a relatively narrow width of the flow channel on the heat receiving unit side, and the flow channel on the cooling unit side. It is characterized by having a relatively wide width.

  In the above aspect, the condensing efficiency of the working fluid is increased by configuring the width of the gas phase flow path formed by the wick as a partition narrow in the region portion of the heat receiving portion and wide in the other region, Heat transfer capability can be increased.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the container has a rectangular shape, and the gas phase flow path is arranged on each side along the outer peripheral shape of the container. A spiral gas phase flow path is formed in parallel with the first and second electrodes.

  In the above aspect, for example, in a heat pipe that employs a forced heat dissipation method using a fan, the wind direction of the fan is set to the long side direction of the container so that the air flow along the gas-phase flow path is aligned with the wind direction of the fan. It is possible to reduce the temperature difference between the air and the lee and increase the heat dissipation efficiency.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the gas phase flow path is provided at a position corresponding to a preset region of the heat receiving portion. And a gas phase flow channel, and these communicate with each other to form a spiral main flow channel. The reference gas phase flow channel divides the region of the heat receiving portion into a plurality of parts, and The phase flow path is configured to pass through the heat receiving portion a plurality of times.

  In the above aspect, the region of the reference gas phase flow path is defined at a position corresponding to the area of the heat receiving portion that is the heating source of the component to be cooled, and the flow path is formed based on this, so that the spiral gas flow It is easy to form a path. Even when the heating source is small, a reference gas phase channel is defined for the region of the heating source, the reference gas phase channel is divided into a plurality of regions of the heat receiving part, and the gas phase channel receives heat a plurality of times. By passing through the section, many opportunities for thermal contact between the working fluid and the heat source can be obtained, and the amount of heat transport can be increased.

  Even when a small heating source hits any place on the surface of the container, a reference gas phase channel is first defined in the heating source, and a spiral channel is formed based on the reference gas phase channel. This facilitates the arrangement of the spiral wick and the arrangement of the gas phase flow path regardless of the arrangement of the heat source.

The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 6 , the wick exists over the entire circumference of the peripheral edge of the flow path forming member.

  In the above aspect, by disposing the wick over the entire periphery of the peripheral edge portion of the flow path forming member, the heat dissipation efficiency can be further increased.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the main flow path is formed by bending one string-like wick per main flow path. And

  In the above aspect, a gas phase flow path can be formed relatively easily on the surface of the container, and a thin sheet heat pipe can be easily produced.

  According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to provide a thin sheet-like heat pipe that is thin and has high strength and realizes high heat radiation efficiency even with a small heat source.

It is a perspective view (a) and (b) which shows the composition of the thin sheet-like heat pipe concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the formation process of the gaseous-phase flow path of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram (a)-(c) which shows other composition of a thin sheet-like heat pipe concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the formation process of the gaseous-phase flow path of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other structure of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the formation process of the gaseous-phase flow path of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other structure of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram (a) and (b) which shows the structure of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the thin sheet-like heat pipe which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the structure of the conventional sheet-like heat pipe. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the conventional sheet-like heat pipe.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted suitably about the structure similar to the past.

[1. First Embodiment]
[1-1. Constitution]
A thin sheet-like heat pipe 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as “heat pipe 10”) according to the first embodiment is enclosed in a container 11 and a container 11 as shown in FIG. The working fluid (not shown), a flow path forming member 12 accommodated in the container 11 together with the working fluid, and a liquid injection port (not shown) for injecting the working fluid. Note that the working fluid and the liquid injection port are not specific to the present invention, and are the same as those in the prior art, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The container 11 is formed in a thin sheet shape, and is made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as copper or an alloy thereof, stainless steel, aluminum and an alloy thereof as in the conventional case.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the container 11 can be formed by stacking two sheet-like materials and joining the peripheral portions. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the container 11 is formed by rolling a plate material, for example, by crushing a tubular member formed by TIG welding in the radial direction into a flat sheet shape, and joining both ends. You can also. In the latter method, compared to the former method, a thin-walled tube can be obtained by an integrally formed pipe, and as a result, a sheet-like container 11 can be formed, and at the same time, four welds are required when two sheets are joined. There is an advantage that can be reduced to three places.

  The flow path forming member 12 includes a gas phase flow path 13 that is a flow path of the evaporated working fluid, and a liquid phase flow path that is formed by a wick 14 that causes the condensed working fluid to flow by its capillary force.

  The gas phase flow path 13 is wound in a spiral shape and is partitioned by a wick 14. In the gas phase flow path 13, when the heat source position of the electronic component to be radiated is the heat receiving part, the center of the spiral is set at the position of the heat receiving part. From this center, the container 11 is wound in a spiral shape along the four sides of the container 11.

  Here, in FIG. 1A, the number of turns of the spiral is six from the center. In addition, as shown in the figure, when the position of the heat receiving part is determined in a region Z located at the center of the surface of the container 11, the gas phase flow path 13 formed in a spiral shape causes the heat receiving part to be moved a plurality of times. It is configured to pass (here 7 times).

  Further, in the region Z set as the heat receiving portion, the gas-phase channel 13 is set to have a narrower channel width so as to form a dense channel unless the channel is blocked, and is larger than the region Z other than the region Z. On the outer peripheral side, the flow path width is set wide in order to increase the heat radiation efficiency.

  The wick 14 is formed by processing a conventionally used material such as a mesh, a wire, a porous metal by sintering, and the like, and in the present embodiment, the wick 14 is arranged in the container 11. It has the characteristics. That is, the wick 14 forms a column so as to support the container 11 in the thickness direction of the container 11 in the gap between the containers 11, and forms a partition of the gas-phase flow path 13 of the working fluid. It arrange | positions so that 13 may be wound in a spiral shape. The cross-sectional shape of the wick 14 is the same as the example shown in FIG. 13B in the prior art section.

[1-2. Flow path forming member design procedure by wick]
Next, an example of a design procedure for the flow path forming member 12 of the heat pipe 10 in the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The design procedure described here is, for example, that the flow path forming member 12 in which the flow path pattern is formed in advance by mesh wick or wire wick is prepared, and the pattern configuration is the same as that in the case where the flow path forming member 12 is inserted into the container. This includes both the case of referring to a procedure for designing and the case of an actual manufacturing process in which a flow path is formed on a container by a wire wick.

  First, a heat receiving portion in the heat pipe 10, in other words, a heat source position of a component to be cooled is determined. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the heat source position is a region Z located at the center of the surface of the container 11. Specifically, the position of the area Z occupies a square area of about a quarter in the long direction of the surface of the container 11 and about a third in the short direction (FIG. 2A). reference).

  Next, eight linear wicks 14 having a length approximately equal to the length of one side of the region Z are arranged at equal intervals in accordance with the region Z which is a square heat source position, and seven gas phase flows are arranged. A reference position of the path 13 is formed. As a result, seven reference partial flow paths 13a to 13g (hereinafter collectively referred to as “reference gas phase flow paths 13X”) are formed (see FIG. 2B).

  Subsequently, of the seven reference gas phase channels 13X, a wick 14 is formed and closed at the lower end portion in the figure of the partial channel 13d, which is one in the middle, and the portion on the left side from the upper end portion in the figure A wick 14 is formed and connected to the upper end of the flow path 13c. Then, it connects from the lower end part of the partial flow path 13c to the lower end part of the partial flow path 13e adjacent to the right in the figure. In this manner, the end portions of the partial flow paths 13a to 13g of the reference gas phase flow path 13X are connected in order by the wick 14, thereby forming a spiral flow path. As shown in FIG. 2 (c), after all the reference gas phase flow paths 13X are connected, the container 11 reaching the outer peripheral position of the container 11 while increasing the width of the flow path as shown in FIG. 2 (d). The flow path is provided using the wick 14 over the entire area of the surface.

[1-3. Effect]
In the heat pipe 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the wick 14 forming the flow path forming member 12 is supported by the gap of the container 11 with respect to the thickness direction of the container 11. In other words, the wick 14 was used as a support column for the container 11. Further, with the wick 14 as a partition, the gas phase flow path 13 of the working fluid is disposed so as to be spirally wound over the entire surface of the container 11.

  Thus, by arranging the wicks 14 in a spiral shape to form the gas phase flow path 13, the working fluid evaporated in the heat receiving part is condensed in the cooling part and smoothly moved to the heating part side by capillary action. Can do. In particular, it is possible to smoothly circulate the condensed working fluid to the heating unit by continuously connecting from the cooling part that forms the partition of the gas phase flow path 13 in a spiral shape to the heat receiving part without interruption.

  Further, the wick 14 directly supports the surface of the container 11, and the wick 14 forms a partition of the gas phase flow path 13 and is arranged over the entire surface of the container 11, so that the surface of the container 11 is The pillars by the wicks 14 can be arranged on the top with high density. Thereby, the intensity | strength with respect to the thickness direction of the heat pipe 10 can be made high. Therefore, it is not necessary to use the spacer used for increasing the strength of the heat pipe in the thickness direction, and the material itself forming the container 11 can be thinned and the entire heat pipe 10 can be further thinned.

  Furthermore, since the wick 14 supports the container 11 with respect to the thickness direction of the container 11 in the gap between the containers 11, the heat dissipation function also works at a place where the wick 14 and the container 11 are in contact with each other. The heat dissipation effect of 10 can be further enhanced.

  In addition, as a procedure for arranging the wicks 14 that form the flow path forming member 12, first, the reference gas phase flow path 13X is defined, and the flow path is formed based on this, thereby forming the spiral gas phase flow path 13 Becomes easy. Even when the heating source is small, the gas phase channel 13 can be passed through the heating source a plurality of times by defining the reference gas phase channel 13X for the region of the heating source. Therefore, many opportunities for thermal contact between the working fluid and the heat source can be obtained, and the amount of heat transport can be increased.

  For example, the heating source of the electronic component to be cooled is a small one that corresponds to only a part of the area of the container 11, and the heat receiving portion of the heat pipe that receives this heating source is the center of the surface of the container 11. As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c), not only in the region, but when provided in any other location, first, a reference gas phase flow path 13X is first defined there, and then a spiral is formed based thereon. A flow path is formed. Thereby, irrespective of arrangement | positioning of a heat source, arrangement | positioning of the spiral wick 14 and arrangement | positioning of the gaseous-phase flow path 13 are attained. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the center of the spiral of the gas phase flow path 13 can be aligned with the position of the heating source, as shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and (c). In addition, it is possible to form the gas phase flow path 13 so that the heat source position comes in the middle of the spiral wound. Any gas phase channel can be designed by forming a spiral channel after defining the reference gas phase channel 13X.

  The width of the gas-phase flow path 13 formed with the wick 14 as a partition is configured to be narrow in the region of the reference gas-phase flow channel 13X and wide in the other outer peripheral region, thereby improving the working fluid condensation efficiency and Heat capacity can be increased.

  Further, for example, when the heat pipe 10 adopts a forced heat radiation method using a fan, the spiral gas phase flow path 23 is formed so as to proceed in parallel with the side forming the outer periphery of the container 11. In this way, by setting the wind direction of the fan in the long side direction of the container 11, the gas phase flow path 13 extends along the wind direction of the fan, and the heat radiation efficiency can be increased.

[2. Second Embodiment]
A thin sheet-like heat pipe 20 (hereinafter simply referred to as “heat pipe 20”) according to the second embodiment of the present invention is a spiral gas phase flow path of the heat pipe 10 according to the first embodiment. The arrangement is improved. In FIG. 4, 21 represents a container, 22 represents a wick, 23 represents a gas phase flow path, and 24 represents a flow path forming member. In addition, with respect to these components, the description in the first embodiment is incorporated unless otherwise described in the present embodiment.

[2-1. Constitution]
In the heat pipe 20 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the spiral gas phase flow path 23 has a center of the surface of the container 21 as a symmetric point and is symmetrical with respect to the left and right two patterns, the gas phase flow path 23 </ b> A. And the gas phase flow path 23B are provided to constitute the flow path forming member 24. The gas phase channel 23A forms a clockwise spiral, and the gas phase channel 23B forms a counterclockwise spiral.

  Here, in the gas phase flow path 13 in the first embodiment, the heat receiving portion is formed at the end on the center side of the spiral, but in the gas phase flow path 23 in the second embodiment, the heat receiving portion is formed. Is formed at the end opposite to the center of the spiral, and the cooling portion is formed toward the end serving as the center of the spiral.

[2-2. Flow path forming member design procedure by wick]
Next, an example of the design procedure of the flow path forming member 24 of the heat pipe 20 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The design procedure described here is the same as in the first embodiment. For example, a flow path forming member 24 in which a flow path pattern is formed in advance using a mesh wick or wire wick is manufactured, and this is inserted into a container. Both when referring to the procedure for designing a pattern configuration such as a mesh, as in the case of, and when referring to the actual manufacturing process of forming a flow path on the container by wire wicking. Including.

  First, the heat receiving part with which the heat source position of the component to be cooled in the heat pipe 20 abuts is determined. Here, the heat receiving portion in the present embodiment is a region Z located at the center of the surface of the container 21 as in the first embodiment. Specifically, it is a square area of about a quarter in the long direction of the surface of the container 21 and about a third in the short direction (see FIG. 5A).

  In accordance with the square heat source position, eight linear wicks 22 having the same length as one side of the square heat source are arranged at equal intervals to form the reference position of the gas phase flow path 23. (See FIG. 5 (b)). Thus, seven reference partial flow paths 23a to 23g (the seven are collectively referred to as “reference gas phase flow path 23X”) are formed. The procedure so far is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  Next, among the seven reference gas phase channels 23X, the partial channel 23d, which is one in the middle, is used as a central channel, and the gas phase channel 23A is moved upward from the center channel in the figure, and the lower side in the figure. In addition, the gas phase flow path 23B is constituted by the arrangement of wicks.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5C, the gas phase flow path 23 </ b> A extends from the partial flow path 23 d to the upper side of the container 21 upward in the figure, and then the surface of the container 21. It winds clockwise along the outermost periphery of and connects with the lower end part in the figure of the partial flow path 23e. On the other hand, the gas phase flow path 23B extends downward from the partial flow path 23d to reach the lower side of the container 21, and then is wound counterclockwise along the outermost periphery of the surface of the container 21. 23c is connected to the upper end of the figure.

  Similarly, in this case, in the gas phase flow channel 23A, the partial flow channel 23e is directed upward from the partial flow channel 23d formed on the outermost periphery of the gas phase flow channel 23A that has already been formed. Extend to the inside. Then, it winds clockwise along the inner side of the flow path formed from the partial flow path 23d, and connects to the lower end part in the figure of the partial flow path 23f. On the other hand, in the gas phase channel 23B, the channel extends from the partial channel 23c to the inside of the channel from the partial channel 23d formed on the outermost periphery of the partial channel 23b already formed downward. Then, it winds counterclockwise along the inner side of the flow path formed from the partial flow path 23d, and connects to the upper end part in the figure of the partial flow path 23b.

  Thus, by connecting the end portions of the partial flow paths 23a to 23g of the reference gas phase flow path 23X in order, a spiral flow path is formed, and finally, as shown in FIG. Thus, the flow path forming member 24 including the spiral gas phase flow paths 23A and 23B is formed over the entire surface of the container 21.

  As described in the first embodiment, also in the heat pipe 20 of the present embodiment, the heat-receiving portion, that is, the gas-phase flow channel width in the region of the reference gas-phase flow channel 23X is narrow, and the cooling portion The gas phase channel width of the portion other than the region of the reference gas phase channel 23X is formed wide. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 (d), the gas phase channel portion extending vertically from the reference gas phase channel 23X is maintained narrow, From there, the flow path is widened from the point where it starts to vortex to the right or left (to be precise, it is bent at a right angle to form a vortex).

[2-3. Effect]
According to the heat pipe 20 of the present embodiment as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained in addition to those shown in the first embodiment. That is, since the flow path forming member 24 is divided into two patterns of the gas phase flow path 23A and the gas phase flow path 23B, the distance from the heat receiving portion in contact with the heating source to the cooling portion where the working fluid is condensed is Shorter.

  Thus, since the distance which carries heat is short, the quantity which can carry heat increases and heat dissipation efficiency can be improved. On the other hand, similarly to the first embodiment, the gas phase flow path 23 in which the wick 22 serves as a partition can be spirally wound over the entire surface of the container 21. Thereby, the pillars by the wicks 22 can be arranged on the surface of the container 21 with high density, and the strength of the heat pipe 20 in the thickness direction can be increased.

[2-4. Other Embodiments]
The heat pipe 20 of the present embodiment can be implemented in the mode shown in FIG. 6 in addition to the one shown in FIG. 4 or FIG.

  That is, in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the reference gas phase flow path 23X is formed of seven as the partial flow paths 23a to 23g. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to form three partial flow paths in the gas phase flow path 23X and to configure the spiral gas phase flow paths 23A and 23B by two windings. Even in such a configuration, the above-described effects of the present embodiment can be achieved.

[3. Third Embodiment]
A thin sheet-like heat pipe 30 (hereinafter simply referred to as “heat pipe 30”) according to the third embodiment of the present invention is formed in a spiral shape of the heat pipe in the first and second embodiments. The gas phase flow path is improved. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, four patterns of spiral gas phase flow paths are provided on the top, bottom, left, and right. In FIG. 7, 31 represents a container, 32 represents a wick, 33 represents a gas phase flow path, and 34 represents a flow path forming member. In addition, with respect to these components, the description in the first or second embodiment is incorporated unless otherwise described in the present embodiment.

[3-1. Constitution]
As described above, the heat pipe 30 according to the present embodiment includes a spiral gas phase flow path 33, as shown in FIG. 7, provided with four patterns, upper and lower, left and right patterns, and gas phase flow paths 33A to 33D. 34 is configured. The gas phase channels 33A and 33C form a clockwise spiral, and the gas phase channels 33B and 33D form a counterclockwise spiral. Further, the gas phase flow paths 33A and 33C and the gas phase flow paths 33B and 33D are formed symmetrically with respect to the center of the container 31, respectively.

  In this case, as in the second embodiment, the gas phase flow path 33 of the present embodiment sets the heat receiving portion at the end opposite to the center of the spiral, and the end serving as the center of the spiral is the cooling portion. Is formed.

[3-2. Flow path forming member design procedure by wick]
Next, an example of a procedure for forming the flow path forming member 34 of the heat pipe 30 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The design procedure described here is the same as in the first embodiment. For example, a flow path pattern is formed in advance using a mesh wick or wire wick to create a flow path forming member, and this is inserted into a container. Both when referring to the procedure for designing a pattern configuration such as a mesh, as in the case of, and when referring to the actual manufacturing process of forming a flow path on the container by wire wicking. Including.

  First, the heat source position of the heat pipe 30 is determined. The heat source position in the present embodiment is a region Z located at the center of the surface of the container 31 as in the first and second embodiments. Specifically, this position is a square area of about a quarter in the long direction of the surface of the container 31 and about a third in the short direction (see FIG. 8A).

  Subsequently, as described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the reference gas phase flow path 33X is set in accordance with the square heat source position. The specific configuration of the reference gas phase channel 33X is different from that of the first or second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8B. That is, first, the central partial flow path 33a is formed by the cross-shaped wick 32 in which the gas phase flow paths 33A to 33D communicate with each other at the center position. Next, L-shaped partial flow paths 33b to L-shaped partial flow paths 33i are formed on the outside by a plurality (two for each section) of L-shaped wicks 32, respectively. As a result, a reference gas phase channel 33 </ b> X composed of a total of ten wicks 32 is formed from the cross-shaped partial channel 33 a provided at the center to the L-shaped partial channel 33 b to the L-shaped partial channel 33 i. .

  Subsequently, among the ten reference gas phase flow paths 33X, spiral flow paths are respectively formed from the central cross-shaped partial flow path 33a to the upper, lower, left and right four sections in the figure. Specifically, a spiral is formed from the upper channel of the partial channel 33a toward the upper right partial channel 33b, and from the right channel of the central partial channel 33a toward the lower right partial channel 33c. To form a spiral. Further, a spiral is formed from the lower channel of the central partial channel 33a toward the lower left partial channel 33d, and further from the left channel of the central partial channel 33a toward the upper left partial channel 33e. To form a spiral.

  In each section, first, it extends from the central partial flow path 33a to the outer periphery of the container 31, and then it is bent at a right angle and further extended to a position where it hits another section to form spirals in order.

  Thus, after the reference gas phase flow path 33X is determined, the flow path is formed in a spiral shape in each section, so that the entire area on the surface of the container 31 is spread as shown in FIG. Thus, the spiral flow path is formed, and the flow path forming member 34 is manufactured.

  As in the first or second embodiment, in the heat pipe 30 of the present embodiment, the heat receiving portion, that is, the gas phase flow channel width in the region of the reference gas flow channel 33X is narrow, and the cooling portion The gas phase channel width in a portion other than the region of a certain reference gas phase channel 33X is formed wide. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8 (d), the gas phase channel portion extending vertically from the reference gas phase channel 33X in the drawing is maintained narrow, but from there, the right side Alternatively, the flow path widths of the flow paths after the place where the vortex starts to be wound to the left (precisely, the vortex is formed by bending at a right angle) are relatively wide.

[3-3. Effect]
According to the heat pipe 30 of the present embodiment as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained in addition to those shown in the first or second embodiment. That is, since the flow path forming member 34 is divided into four patterns of the gas phase flow paths 33A to 33D, the distance from the heat receiving portion in contact with the heating source to the cooling portion where the working fluid is condensed is the second implementation. It becomes shorter than the form.

  As a result, the amount of heat that can be transported increases as the distance for transporting heat further decreases, and the heat dissipation efficiency can be increased. On the other hand, as in the first embodiment, the gas phase flow path 33 having the wick 32 as a partition can be spirally wound over the entire surface of the container 31. Thereby, the pillars by the wicks 32 can be arranged on the surface of the container 31 with high density, and the strength of the heat pipe 30 in the thickness direction can be increased.

  As described above, the spacer used for increasing the strength in the thickness direction of the heat pipe is not necessary, and the material itself forming the container 31 can be thinned and the entire heat pipe 30 can be further thinned.

[3-4. Other Embodiments]
In addition to the one shown in FIG. 7 or 8, the heat pipe 30 of the present embodiment can be implemented in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

  That is, in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, the reference gas phase flow path 33X is formed of nine parts as the partial flow paths 33a to 33i, but the configuration shown in FIG. Good. As shown in FIG. 9, the partial flow path in the reference gas phase flow path 23 </ b> X is formed by one cross-shaped flow path and four partial flow paths provided at four corners in the region Z, and a spiral gas phase is formed. In this aspect, each of the flow paths 33A to 33D is configured by two turns. Even in such a configuration, the above-described effects of the present embodiment can be achieved.

[4. Other Embodiments]
(About overall shape)
The present invention is not limited to the aspect shown in the above embodiment, and includes the following aspects, for example. In the said embodiment, although the rectangular thing is shown as a shape of the whole heat pipe, this shows only an optimal embodiment and this invention is not limited to such an aspect. For example, the entire heat pipe may be configured in a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygonal shape, and includes an L-shaped configuration.

(Formation of secondary flow path)
In FIG. 3A and other examples in the first embodiment, in the region Z that becomes the heat receiving part, the gas phase flow path is narrowed and the gas phase in the part that is away from the heat source that becomes the cooling part. Although the invention has been devised to increase the cooling efficiency by widely configuring the flow path, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, for example, the heat pipe 40 of FIG. 10A or the heat pipe 40 of FIG. The embodiment shown in the heat pipe 50 is included. That is, in the heat pipe 40 or the heat pipe 50, the gas phase flow path 43 or 53 is spirally wound into a main flow path 43a or 53a and a sub flow path 43b or 53b provided by branching from the main flow path. Separately configured. The main flow path 43a or 53a does not particularly change the flow path width from the winding center to the winding end. On the other hand, in the cooling part away from the heat source position, the main flow path 43a or 53a branches from the main flow path 43a or 53a into an excess area. A sub-channel 43b or 53b is provided.

  In FIG. 10A, 42 indicates a wick, 43, 43A or 43B indicates a gas phase channel, and 43X indicates a reference gas phase channel. In FIG. 10B, 52 indicates a wick, 53, 53A or 53B indicates a gas phase channel, and 53X indicates a reference gas phase channel.

  In such an embodiment, the flow path width is gradually changed from the winding center to the winding end (or vice versa), and the heat receiving portion is narrow and the cooling portion is wide. However, if a surplus portion exists in a portion other than the main flow path on the flow path forming member, it is possible to form the sub flow path.

  According to the above-described aspect, the reference gas-phase flow is the same as the improved type of the heat pipe 10 shown in FIG. 3C or the improved type of the heat pipe 20 shown in FIG. Even when the path is formed by a relatively wide flow path and the number of turns of the spiral gas phase flow path is reduced, a sub-flow path that branches from the main flow path is provided to cover the entire surface of the container. Thus, a gas phase channel and a wick that becomes a liquid phase channel can be arranged. Therefore, it becomes possible to provide a thin sheet-like heat pipe with very high heat dissipation efficiency.

  Such a configuration is a case where the position of the heat source as shown in FIG. 10A is not the central region of the container surface but is shifted left and right or up and down, and there is an extra space at a position other than the heat source position. In this case, the arrangement of the sub-channels is easier, and the cooling efficiency can be expected to be drastically improved in the arrangement of the sub-channels.

(Movement of heat source position and asymmetrical arrangement)
In the second or third embodiment, the example in which the plurality of spiral wicks are arranged symmetrically in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the arrangement of the spiral wicks or the configuration of the gas phase flow path has been shown. The present invention is not limited to this and includes a mode in which a plurality of flow path patterns are formed asymmetrically.

  In particular, the present invention is used for a small heating source, and one of the purposes is to increase the heat radiation efficiency even for the small heating source. However, the small heating source is not only an area on the container surface. It is assumed that they are arranged at other positions such as corner portions.

  In such a case, in the present invention, as shown in the thin sheet heat pipe 60 of FIG. 11, a reference gas phase flow path 63X is first defined at a position corresponding to the area of the heating source, and then the flow path pattern is formed. Corresponding to the case of one, two, or more, the spiral wick 62 is arranged, and the gas phase flow path 63 is formed in accordance with the outer peripheral shape of the container 61. Thereby, even when forming a gas phase channel by a plurality of channel patterns, it is easy to form a gas phase channel arranged over the entire surface of the container by first setting a reference channel corresponding to the heat source position. Become.

(Example of configuration with string-like wick)
The examples shown in the first to third embodiments are all premised on the case where the wick is configured by a flow path forming member, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. That is, like the heat pipe 70 shown in FIG. 12, the wick 72 serving as the liquid phase flow path is configured by a string-like member, and the gas-phase flow path 73 is formed by winding the string-like wick 72 in a spiral shape. It is also possible.
Such a string-like wick 72 can be made of a copper wire, a finely cut copper mesh, or the like.

  In the case of such an aspect, each of the gas-phase flow paths 73A or 73B is constituted by one string-like wick 72A or 72B, and the region Z is used as a reference for the end 74A or 74B of each string-like wick 72A or 72B. Positioning is performed to form a spiral flow path.

  According to the configuration using such a string-like wick, a thin sheet-like heat pipe can be manufactured relatively easily.

(Example of circular arrangement of gas phase channels)
In the examples shown in the first to third embodiments, the flow path is configured by a straight line and bent at a right angle so that the wick follows the outer periphery of the container. Is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, it is of course possible to form a spiral shape that draws an arc like the flow path shown as a conventional example in FIG. However, the present invention has the purpose of ensuring the strength in the thickness direction of the thin sheet-like heat pipe by increasing the density while arranging the wick over the entire surface of the container in the gap between the containers. The aspect shown in the embodiment is more preferable.

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 ... thin sheet-shaped heat pipes 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71 ... containers 12, 24, 34 ... flow path forming members 13, 23, 23A, 23B, 33, 33A to 33D, 43, 53, 53A, 53B, 63, 73, 73A, 73B ... Gas phase flow paths 13a to 13g, 23a to 23g, 33a to 33i ... Partial flow paths 13X, 23X, 33X, 43X , 53X, 63X, 73X ... reference gas phase flow path 14, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 72A, 72B ... wick (liquid phase flow path)
43a, 53a ... main flow paths 43b, 53b ... sub-flow paths 74A, 74B ... end Z ... area

Claims (8)

A container forming a sheet-like container, a working fluid sealed in the container, and a flow path forming member accommodated in the container together with the working fluid,
The flow path forming member is:
A gas phase flow path serving as a flow path for the evaporated working fluid;
A liquid phase flow path that becomes a flow path of the condensed working fluid,
The liquid phase flow path comprises a wick that causes the working fluid to flow by its capillary force,
The gas phase flow path is composed of a plurality of main flow path patterns wound in a spiral shape ,
Each main flow path pattern is provided with an end opposite to the center of the spiral at a predetermined position of the heat receiving part, and each main flow path pattern communicates with each other at the end,
A thin sheet-shaped heat pipe, wherein the main flow path is partitioned by the wick.   2. The thin sheet heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein the gas phase flow path is provided over substantially the entire surface of the container. The gas phase flow path includes at least one sub flow path branched from the main flow path,
The thin sheet heat pipe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sub-flow path is partitioned from the main flow path by a wick.   The gas phase flow path is configured such that the width of the flow path on the heat receiving part side is relatively narrow and the width of the flow path on the cooling part side is relatively wide. The thin sheet-like heat pipe according to item. The container is rectangular;
The thin gas phase channel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gas phase channel forms a spiral gas phase channel in parallel with each side along an outer peripheral shape of the container. Sheet heat pipe. The gas-phase flow path is composed of a reference gas-phase flow path provided at a position corresponding to a preset region of the heat receiving part and other gas-phase flow paths, and these are communicated to form a spiral main flow path. That form
The reference gas phase flow path is divided into a plurality of regions of the heat receiving part, and the gas phase flow path passes through the heat receiving part a plurality of times. 2. A thin sheet-like heat pipe according to item 1.   The thin sheet heat pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wick exists over the entire periphery of the peripheral edge of the flow path forming member.   The thin sheet heat pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the main channel is formed by bending one string-like wick per main channel.

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