US3342255A

US3342255A - Heat dissipator apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3342255A
Application number: US501498A
Authority: US
Inventors: Risk George; Raymond C Root
Original assignee: RICHLEU CORP
Current assignee: RICHLEU CORP
Priority date: 1965-10-22
Filing date: 1965-10-22
Publication date: 1967-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-19

Description

Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Sept. 19, 1967 isk ETAL 3,342,255

' -HBAT 'DIss I AT oR APPARATUS I 2 Sheets-Sheet l i 2* "52 ll 1a h I 'llli O HM, r O

. FIG. 1

174 LEM 15a J L I 41 42 -25 'lBa 15a FIG. 2

' ,INVENTORS GEORGE RISK F aAYMOND c. ROOT ATTORNEY Sept 19, 1967 K Eng 3,342,255

HEAT DIS S IPATOR APPARATUS Ffile'd Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN T0 R5 ROOT ATTOR NEY United States Patent O 3,342,255 HEAT DISSIPATOR APPARATUS George Risk and Raymond C. Root, Columbus, Nebr., assignors to Richleu iorporation, Columbus, Nebr., a cor oration of Nebras a p Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,498

Claims. (Cl. 165-80) This invention relates to heat dissipator apparatuses for transistors and other heat generating electronic components. In particular, this invention relates to a highly efficient heat dissipator apparatus of multi-segment tubular construction, the respective segments being especially adaptable for quick and simple assembly, disassembly, and re-assembly as required for manufacture and under actual use conditions.

Heat dissipator apparatuses of generally tubular shape are very commonly employed in electronic circuits. These tubular shaped apparatuses invariably include a plurality of heat dissipator ribs or fins that are in a heat conductive relationship with the main tubular body, said ribs or fins being disposed either at the interior or at the exterior of the tubular structure. Tubular shaped heat dissipator apparatuses may be readily employed either as a so-called natural convection unit (in which case the apparatus is vertically arranged in chimney-like fashion) or as a socalled forced air unit (in which case a powered fan is used to cool the heat dissipator ribs). In either case, the tubular heat dissipator apparatus is, of course, firmly bolted or otherwise attached Within the electronic circuit package.

Within the past several years, the segmentized tubular heat dissipator apparatus has become quite popular in the electronics industry. Each segment of the segmentized tubular structure commonly comprises a web that provides an arcuate or chordal peripheral portion of the tube. One of the web sides, usually the interior side, is provided with a plurality of heat dissipator ribs; another of the web sides, usually the exterior side, is provided with a support member or station adapted to carry a transistor or other heat-generating electronic component. Ordinarily the peripheral web, the heat dissipator ribs, and the support member are provided of a structurally-continuous uniphase material e.g. extruded aluminum, so that the necessarily continuous heat-conductive path exists among the three components of each segment. Because the several segments of the tubular heat dissipator apparatus are commonly of electrically-conductive metal, and because it is necessary to electrically isolate every electronic component mounted on the respective support members, it is accordingly appropriate that the respective segments be attached together in an electrically-insulated relationship. The multi-segment tubular heat sinks of the prior art are exceedingly complex to assemble because of the cumbersome paraphernalia necessary to electrically isolate the respective segments.

There are, of course, a multitude of kinds and sizes of heat generating electronic components, and accordingly, any one of a multitude members might be required within any given tubular heat sink. Thus, if a heat generating component of an original electronic circuit is to be later replaced with a different type of heat generating component, then it is commonly necessary to disassemble the tubular heat sink so as to replace one of the original segments with another having a more appropriate support member. With the prior art devices it is necessary to remove the entire tubular heat sink from the circuit package to replace one of segments with a difierent type segment, and this operation is not permissible, or is at least very impractical, in many situations.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a multi-segment tubular heat sink that is exceedingly simple to assemble in such form that the respect1ve segments are electrically-insulated, one from the other.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-se-grnent tubular heat sink wherein one or more of the segments may be substituted by alternate configuration segments without the necessity for removing the entire heat dissipator apparatus from the electrical circult package.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and efiicient design for the heat dissipator ribs of the tubular heat sink.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a segmentized cooling device which may be tailored to a wide range of applications.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by means of novel configurations for the respective segments of the tubular heat sink, including novel rib members, together with a unique yet simple and convenient means for assembling the respective segments together.

In the drawing, wherein like numbers refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a representative form of the tubular type heat dissipator apparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the heat dissipator apparatus of the :present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the heat dissipator apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view as in FIGURE 3 but with the forward and rearward end plates and gaskets removed to show details of construction for the several segments.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a shelf type segment member of the tubular heat sink.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a stud type segment member of the tubular heat sink.

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred type of inter-segments spacer employed.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of another form of the inter-segments spacer employed.

The tubular heat dissipator apparatus 10 comprises four

distinct web segments

20, 30, 40, and 50, that are interconnected together in a tubular relationship with intersegment electrically-insulative spacer means '60, 70, 80, and to provide a laterally closed structure having two open ends, including a forward end 11 and a rearward end 12. Integrally connected to the multi-seg-ment tubular structure are a pair of electrically-isolated end plates, including a forward plate 15 and a rearward plate 16. Each of the web segments at least partially surrounds longitudinal central axis 13 in arcuate or chordal fashion, said axis 13 being substantially parallel to the respective webs.

One of the sides (preferably the interior side) of the rnulti-segment laterally enclosed conduit or tube is provided with a plurality of heat dissipator ribs spaced at subratus.

"the several web segments is provided with an integral support member adapted to carry a heat generating electronic component. Because it is necessary that there be an uninterrupted heat-conductive path between the support member, the base web, and the heat dissipator ribs, it is desirable that these three components be integrally provided of a structurally-continuous piece of metal or other heat-conductive metal. Appropriate to this uniphase type of integral construction are metallic extrusions of the types described in the following paragraph.

Arcuate web segment 20 is integrally provided with an external rectangular shelf support member 21 and a plurality of integral ribs that extend radially toward the longitudinal central axis 13 of the segmentized conduit structure 10. Support member 21 is provided with a perforation 22 therethrough to facilitate mounting of a transistor or other heat generating electronic component thereon. Arcuate Web segment 30 is integrally provided with an external stud-type rectangular support member 31 and a plurality of integral ribs that extend toward longitudinal central axis 13. Threaded perforation 32 of support member 31 is radial with respect to axis 13 and extends into stud-type support member 31. Angular or chordal web segment 40 is integrally provided with an external rectangular shelf-type support member 41 having perforation 42 and a plurality of ribs that extend toward central axis 13. Arcuate web segment 50 is integrally provided with an external stud-type rectangular support member 51 and a plurality of ribs that extend toward central axis 13. Perforation 52 of support member 51 is radial with respect to axis 13 and extends into stud-type support member 51.

Segments

20, 30, 40 and 50 are each of the same thickness, along central axis 13, between

end gaskets

25 and 26.

The respective metallic conduit segments are removably connected together in the required electrically-insulative relationship with novel slidable spacer means located at the juncture between every respective segment. One type of electrically-insulative slidable connector employed is that illustrated in FIGURE 8 and which is employed at the 20-50 and at the 30-40 segment junctures. Spacer 60 at the 30-40 juncture comprises a metallic rigid intermediate plate 61 and a pair of

metallic terminal sockets

62 and 63, said terminal sockets being of a flared crosssectional shape and being integrally connected to plate 61. A strip of pressure-sensitive electrically insulative .tape 64 e.g. adhesively coated Teflon is adherently attached over

trapezoidal sockets

62 and 63 so as to provide electrically-insulative terminii for spacer 60. Electrically insulated socket 62 is slidably engaged within a mating trapezoidal slot 34 at that end of segment 30 adjacent to segment 40, while electrically-insulative socket 63 is similarly slidably engaged within a mating trapezoidal .slot 43 at that end of segment 40 adjacent to segment 30.

Slots

34 and 43, as well as hereinafter described

slots

23, 24, 33, 44, 53, and 54, are each parallel to longitudinal central axis 13 and are each coextensive with the frontto-rear thickness of their respective segments. As can best be seen in the FIGURE 2 side elevational view, connector 60 is coextensive with the front-to-rear thickness of

adjacent segments

30 and 40 between

end gaskets

25 and 26. Connector 70, which is employed at the 20-50 segment junctures, is identical to connector 60 except that the rigid intermediate plate 71 and the

terminal sockets

72 and 73 are moldably formed of a hard electrically-insulative resin e.g. phenol-formaldehyde copolymer, and there is accordingly no need for terminal insulator tapes. Socket 72 is slidably engaged within a mating trapezoidal slot 23 at that end of segment 20 adjacent to segment 50, while socket 73 is similarly slidably engaged within -a mating trapezoidal slot 54 at that end of segment 50 adjacent to segment 20.

The preferred type slidable. connector is that illustrated in FIGURE 7 and which is employed at the 20-30 and at the 40-50 segment junctures. Specifically, connector 80 4 comprises a rigid metallic intermediate plate 81 and a pair of metallic

terminal sockets

82 and 83, said terminal sockets being integrally connected to plate 81.

Sockets

82 and 83 are each provided with a longitudinal groove 85 that is coextensive between the front and rearward surfaces of connector 80. Plate 81 and

sockets

82 and 83, together with grooves 85, are preferably extruded from a structurally-continuous metal e.g. aluminum. A strip of pressure-sensitive electrically insulative tape 84 e.g. adhesively coated Teflon is adherently attached over

sockets

82 and 83 so as to provide electrically-insulative terminii for spacer-connector 80. Electrically-insulative socket 82 is slidably engaged within a mating slot 24 at the outward or exterior surface of segment 20 near shelf-like support member 21. Electrically-insulated socket 83 is similarly slidably engaged within .a mating slot 33 at the exterior surface of segment 30 near stud-type support member 31. As can best be seen in the FIGURE 1 top plan view, connector 80 is coextensive with the front-to-rear thickness of

adjacent segments

20 and 30, and the rigid intermediate plate 81 overlies the spatial gap between

segments

20 and 30. Connector 90, which is employed at the 40-50 segment junctures, is identical to connector 80 except that the rigid intermediate plate 91 and the

terminal sockets

92 and 93 including longitudinal grooves 95 are moldably formed of a hard electrically-insulative resin, and there is accordingly no need for terminal insulator tapes 84. Socket 92 is slidably engaged within a mating slot 53 at the outward surface of segment 50 near stud type support member 51, while socket 93 is similarly slidably engaged within a mating slot 44 at the outward surface of segment 40 near shelf-like support member 41. As with connector 80, connector is coextensive with the front-to-rear thickness of

adjacent segments

40 and 50, and the rigid intermediate plate 91 overlies the spatial gap between

segments

40 and 50. Thus,

slidable connectors

60, 70, 80, and 90 do maintain the

segments

20, 30, 40 and 50 in fixed peripheral positions with respect to longitudinal central axis 13. V

The longitudinal relationship of the several segments are fixably maintained with forward and rearward face plates 15 and 16, respectively, together with a plurality of self-tapping screws 17 threadedly engaged with grooved portions 85 and of

connectors

80 and 90. Face plates 15 and 16 are each of a rectangular plate-like nature having a central circular opening that surrounds central axis 13 and that is substantially coextensive with the interior of the multi-segment conduit. As can best be seen in the FIGURES 1 and 2 plan and elevational views, face plates 15 and 16 are of greater breadth than the multi-segment conduit shown in FIGURE 4. Face plates 15 and 16 are provided with lower perforate flanges 15a and 16a, respectively, to facilitate mounting of the tubular heat dissipator apparatus with screws or other removable fasteners into the electrical circuit package. End plates 15 and 16 are normally of metallic structural material for convenience in manufacture, and accordingly to prevent the metallic plates from destroying the intersegments electrical isolation, suitable electrically-insulative gaskets are disposed between the end plates and the multi-segment tubular structure. Specifically a thin annular rubber gasket 25 is disposed against forward end plate 15, and a similar annular gasket 26 is abuttably disposed between rearward end plate 16 and the several segments of the multisegment tubular structure. 7

End plates 15 and 16 are provided with a plurality of perforations that are in registry with

grooves

85 and 95 within each of the respective slidable spacer-

connectors

80 and 90. Self-tapping screws 17, passing through a perforation, through an

annular gasket insulator

25 or 26, and thence into a

socket groove

85 or 95 of the slidable connector, hold end plates 15 and 16 within the structure so as to prevent longitudinal slidability of the several segments of the multi-se'gment tube. As screws 17 thread into the sockets, the socket expands against its surrounding groove e.g. 82 within 24. The length of self-tapping screws 17 is less than one-half the longitudinal length of the heat dissipator apparatus (between gaskets 25 and 26) because two of such opposed screws 17 are threadably engaged within a single socket of the slidable connector, one screw entering from either end of each socket. While

grooves

85 and 95 have been employed within the sockets, central longitudinal holes would also provide a longitudinal perforation to serve the same purpose; the grooved socket is preferred because this connector embodiment may be formed as an economical extrusion.

Spacer-

connectors

60 and 70 could also be provided with grooves or holes for accommodation of fastener means e.g. screws 17, as indicated in phantom line in FIGURE 8. However, not every slidable-connector needs to be attached to an end plate, and so long as at least two diametrically opposed screws are employed, this is sufficient for attachment of the end plates.

As previously mentioned, the apparatus is typically attached within a circuit package with screws (not shown) passing through the perforate end plate flanges a and 16a. Now in order to be able to replace one of the segments -50 inclusive without removing the entire structure 10 from the circuit package, preferably only one of the flanges e.g. 15a, is attached. Then, when it is desired to remove one of the segments and replace it with an other, the opposite end plate e.g. 16, is entirely removed along with its screw fasteners 17. The fastened end plate 15 remains within the circuit package. Then, only those screws 17 holding the appropriate segment to end plate 15 are removed to free the appropriate slidable-connector. After the appropriate segment is removed and replaced with another, its slidable-connector, end plate 16 and screws 17 are re-assembled, followed by re-mounting of end plate flange 16a. Thus a heat sink segment may be readily replaced with another in situ without the necessity for dismounting the whole unit from the circuit package.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the heat dissipator apparatus will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A heat dissipator apparatus comprising a tubular member that is laterally enclosed and longitudinally open, the lateral confines of said conduit comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed heat-conductive web segments connected together about the tube longitudinal central axis with electrically-insulative rigid spacer means located at the juncture between every adjacent web segment, a plurality of said heat-conductive web segments each being provided with a plurality of heat dissipator ribs spaced along one of the sides of said web segment, said heat dissipator ribs being in heat-conductive relationship with said web segment, each web segment being provided with a pair of longitudinal grooves each being substantially parallel to the conduit longitudinal central axis, said grooves having linearly generated sidewalls, said spacer means cooperating with said grooves to removably support and space said web segments about the tube longitudinal central axis the opposite side of at least one web segment being integrally provided with at least one support member adapted to carry a heat generating electronic component, said at least one support member being in heat-conductive relationship to said web segment, said electrically-insulative spacer means comprising an intermediate portion and a pair of terminal socket members, each of said terminal socket members being securely surrounded with an elongate groove of adjacently disposed web segments, the intermediate portion of the spacer means being disposed at the juncture of the respective adjacent web segments.

2. The heat dissipator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion and the two terminal socket members of the spacer means comprise an electricallyinsulative resinous material.

3. A heat dissipator apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical conduit that is laterally enclosed and longitudinally open, the lateral boundary of said conduit compring a plurality of adjacently disposed heat-conductive arcuate web segments connected together about the con duit longitudinal central axis with spacer means located at the juncture between every web segment, each of said heat-conductive arcuate web segments being provided with a plurality of heat dissipator ribs spaced along the interior side of said arcuate web segments, within the internal confines of the conduit, said heat dissipator ribs being in heat-conductive relationship with said arcuate web segments and extending therefrom towards the longitudinal central axis of said generally cylindrical circuit, the exterior side of each web segment being provided with a pair of longitudinal grooves each being substantially parallel to the conduit longitudinal central axis, said grooves having linearly generated sidewalls, the exterior side of each arcuate web segment being integrally provided with a least one support member adapted to carry a heat generating electronic component, said at least one support member being disposed between said exterior grooves and being in heat-conductive relationship with said arcuate web segment, said spacer means comprising a rigid intermediate portion and a pair of terminal elongate socket members, said socket members being resiliently deformable normal to the elongate axis thereof, said socket members having an electrically-insulative exterior surface, each of said terminal socket members being securely surrounded by the exterior grooved portion of the arcuate web segments, the rigid intermediate portion of the spacer means being disposed at the juncture of the adjacently disposed arcuate web segments whereby said spacer means removably support and space said web segments about the conduit longitudinal central axis.

4. A heat dissipator apparatus comprising a tubular conduit member that is laterally enclosed and longitudinally open, the lateral boundary of said conduit member comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed web segments connected together about the conduit longitudinal central axis with electrically-insulative rigid spacer means located at the juncture between every adjacent web segment, a plurality of said heat-conductive web segments being each provided with a plurality of heat dissipator ribs spaced at substantially regular intervals along a side of said web segments within the internal confines of said tubular conduit member, said heat dissipator ribs being in heat-conductive uni-phase relationship with its web segment, said ribs being radially disposed with respect to the conduit longitudinal central axis, the length of any one heat dissipator rib being less than the distance between its integrally connected web and the conduit longitudinal axis, alternate shorter members of said ribs being less than about one half the length of the intervening longer rib members, each web segment being provided with a pair of longitudinal grooves each groove being substantially parallel to the conduit longitudinal central axis, said grooves having linearly generated sidewalls, that side of at least one web segment exterior of the conduit being integrally provided with at least one support member adapted to carry a heat generating electronic component, said at least one support member being in heat-conductive uni-phase relationship with said web segment, said electrically-insulative spacer means each comprising an intermediate portion and a pair of terminal socket members, each of said terminal socket members being securely surrounded with an elongate groove of adjacently disposed web segments, the intermediate portion of the spacer means being disposed at the juncture of the respective adjacent web segments whereby said spacer means removably support and space said web segments about the tubular conduit longitudinal central axis.

5. A heat dissipator apparatus comprising a tubular conduit member that is laterally enclosed and longitudinally open between its forward and rearward ends, the lateral boundary of said conduit member comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed web segments connected together about the conduit longitudinal axis, there being electrically-insulative spacer means located at the junctures of the respective adjacent web segments on the external side of the conduit member, whereby said spacer means removably support and space said web segments about the conduit longitudinal central axis a plurality of said heat-conductive web segments being each provided with a plurality of heat dissipator ribs spaced at substantially regular intervals along the internal side of said web segments within the internal confines of the tubular conduit member provided by the interconnected web segments, the length of any one respective rib being less than the distance between its web and the conduit longitudinal axis, the respective heat dissipator ribs being of alternately long and short lengths to provide a staggered configuration for the ribs, the alternating shorter ribs being less than about one-half the length of the longer ribs, a plurality of said heat-conductive web segments being each provided with at least one support member at the external side of the web segment, said externally disposed support members being in heat-conductive uni-phase relationship with respect to the web segment and being adapted to carry a heat-generating electronic component, a plurality of said heat-conductive web segments being each provided with a pair of longitudinally disposed elongate grooves on the web segment external side, each elongate groove extending between the forward and rearward ends of the tubular conduit member provided by the interconnected web segments, electrically-insulative elongate sockets slidably engaged within said elongate grooves, said elongate sockets being longitudinally perforate, and a pair of opposed face plates positioned at the rearward and forward ends of the tubular conduit member provided by the interconnected web segments so as to maintain the longitudinal relationship of the several web segments, each of said face plates having a central opening that surrounds the conduit longitudinal axis, each of said face plates having a plurality of perforations that are in registry with the longitudinal perforations of the slidably engaged elongate socket members, and said face plates being held in opposed relationship by means of opposed screws threadedly engaged with the longitudinally perforate portion of the same socket, said opposed screws entering the same socket from the respective ends thereof, the length of each opposed screw being less than onehalf the longitudinal length of the heat dissipator apparatus.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,279 2/1938 Soverhill 219365 2,815,472 12/1957 Jackson et a1 3l7-100 X 2,930,405 3/1960 Welsh -179 X 3,149,666 9/1964 Coe 165-121 3,220,471 11/1965 Coe 165-121 3,227,346 10/1966 McAdams et al. 165185 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. A. W. DAVIS ]R., Assistant Examiner.