TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to heat dissipating devices, and particularly to a heat dissipating device which can efficiently dissipate heat from an electronic component.

BACKGROUND

As computer technology continues to advance, electronic components such as central processing units (CPUs), are made to provide faster operational speeds and greater functional capabilities. When a CPU operates at a high speed in a computerenclosure, its temperature frequently increases greatly. It is desirable to dissipate the generated heat of the CPU quickly, for example, by using a heat sink attached to the CPU in the enclosure. This allows the CPU in the enclosure to function withintheir normal operating temperature ranges, thereby assuring the quality of data management, storage and transfer.

A conventional heat sink comprises a base and a plurality of spaced fins integrally formed with the base by extrusion. The base is used for contacting with an electronic component. Heat generated by the electronic component is transferred tothe base and then to the fins where heat is dissipated. However, the ratio of the height of the fins to the width of the space is limited by extrusion technology. That is, heat dissipation surface area unit volume is limited. Thus, when heatdissipation surface area is increased for meeting the increasing requirement of heat dissipation of the electronic component the volume of the heat sink is inevitably increased, which is converse to the trend toward miniaturization in computer industry.

Thus, a type of heat sink incorporating a plurality of fins stacked along a heat pipe has been developed. The fins are seperatedly formed and the heat pipe extends through the central area of the fins. The heat pipe absorbs heat from anelectronic component and then transfers it to the fins for dissipation. A fan is attached to one side of the fins for producing forced airflow blowing from the border of the fins toward the central area of the fins. However, heat accumulated at thecentral area of the fins which has generally temperature higher than that of border area of the fins cannot be transferred efficiently. The heat dissipating efficiency of the heat sink is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat dissipating device which can efficiently dissipate heat from a heat generating component.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a heat dissipating device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a heat receiver, a fin member arranged on the heat receiver and including a plurality of spaced fins, aplurality of heat pipes connecting the heat receiver with the fin member, and a fan located at one side of the fin member for producing airflow to the fin member. One half-bowl-shaped guiding structure is formed at each of the fins for guiding theairflow produced by the fan to blow to portions of the fin member adjacent the heat pipe.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled view of a heat dissipating device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded veiw of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one fin of the dissipating device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of a heat dissipating device in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a heat dissipating device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-2 show a heat dissipating device 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The heat dissipating device 10 comprises a heat receiver 2 for absorbing heat from a heat generating component (not shown), a finmember 4 arranged on the heat receiver 2, a plurality of linear-shaped pipes 6 extending through the fin member 4 and a fan 8 attached on one side of the fin member 4.

Each heat pipe 6 comprises a vaporized section 60 and a condensed section 62. The heat receiver 2 is made of heat conductive material, such as copper. The heat receiver 2 is board-shaped and defines a plurality of holes 22 in the top surfacethereof for receiving the vaporized sections 60 of the heat pipes 6 therein.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the fin member 4 comprises a plurality of parallel fins 40. Each fin 40 comprises a board-shaped body 401 which comprises a first section located at the central area thereof and a second section located at the borderarea thereof surrounding the first section. A plurality of holes 402 is defined in the first section of the body 401 for extension of the heat pipes 6. An annular flange (not labeled) is formed at the body 401 surrounding each hole 402 for contactingone corresponding heat pipe 6. A guiding structure 404 is formed at the central portion of one side edge of the body 401. The guiding structure 404 is half-bowl-shaped. A pair of flanges 408 extends from another opposite side edges of the body 401 forspacing adjacent two fins 40.

In the present invention, the heat receiver 2 contacts with the heat generating component for absorbing heat therefrom. The heat pipes 6 transfer the absorbed heat from the heat receiver 2 to the fin member 4 where the absorbed heat isdissipated via the fins 40. The fan 8 produces forced airflow from the one side of the fin member 4 to the central area which the heat pipes 6 extends. The guiding structures 404 of the fins 40 are half-bowl-shaped which can guide portion of airflow tothe central area of the fins 40. Thus, much more amount of airflow produced by the fan 8 is blowed to the central area of the fins 40 which has a temperature higher than that of the border area of the fins 40 since the heat pipes 6 transfer heat to thecentral area of the fins 40 firstly and then to the border area. Furthermore, when the airflow is blowed to the guiding structure 404 the direction of the airflow is changed to blow to the bodies 401 of the fins 40, which can increase heat exchangeeffect between the airflow and the fins 401. Therefore, the efficiency of the heat dissipation device 10 is improved.

FIG. 4 shows a fin member in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In the alternative embodiment, the bottommost one of the fins 40 is arranged with the guiding structure 404 located below the body of the bottommostfin. Each of the other fins 40 is arranged with the guiding structure located above the body thereof. That is, the bottommost fin and the second bottommost fin are symmetric to each other about a plane located therebetween and parallel to the bodies ofthe fins 40. Thus, an enlarged guiding opening is formed between the two bottom fins which facilitates cooled airflow to blow to the two fins and bottom portions of the heat pipe to thereby improve heat dissipating efficiency of the heat dissipatingdevice. Alternatively, the enlarged guiding opening may be formed between any two adjacent fins according to desirement and the number of the enlarged guiding opening is also not limited.

FIG. 5 shows a fin member in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the pitch of the guiding structures 404a-n of the fins 40a-40n relative to the bodies of the fins increase gradually along adirection in which the heat pipe extends. Thus, the distance D formed between the guiding structures of every two adjacent fins is larger than the distance D' formed between the bodies of the two fins which facilitates cooled airflow to blow to thebodies of the fins and the heat pipes. The distance formed between the guiding structures of any two adjacent fins are the same. Alternatively, the distance formed between the guiding structures of any two adjacent fins may be different.

It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present example and embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention isnot to be limited to the details given herein.

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