US4628992A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Induced flow heat exchanger
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1984-01-23
•
Granted: 1986-12-16
•
Expires: 2004-01-23
Abstract
Abstract In order to cool heat generating components on an electronic assembly without contamination by particles carried in a cooling gas stream, a cold plate is disposed adjacent the assembly, defining a gap region therebetween. The cooling gas is directed in proximity to the cold plate, dissipating heat transferred from the components to the plate. To enhance overall heat dissipation of the apparatus, an aperture is defined between the gap region and the gas stream, so that a negative pressure is induced in the gap by virtue of the Bernoulli principle. This pressure difference induces convection within the gap, increasing heat flow between the components and the plate, and resulting in overall improvement in heat dissipation. Embodiments in which the gas stream flow is parallel and transverse to the cold plate are described.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin J. Kennedy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:29
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/20009; H05K7/20136; H05K7/20145; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/228; Y10S165/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
Apparatus including an electronic assembly which includes heat generating elements, a heat conductive cooling plate disposed in a generally parallel direction relative to said electronic assembly, said cooling plate having first and second sides, said first side disposed adjacent to said electronic assembly and defining a gap between said plate and said assembly, and means for generating a moving stream of cooling gas adjacent to said second side of said cooling plate, wherein said cooling plate defines an aperture which permits communication between said gas stream and said gap, whereby a convection current within said gap and gas flow out of said aperture is induced by passage of said gas stream over said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus including an electronic assembly which includes heat generating elements, a heat conductive cooling plate disposed in a generally parallel direction relative to said electronic assembly, said cooling plate having first and second sides, said first side disposed adjacent to said electronic assembly and defining a gap between said plate and said assembly, and means for generating a moving stream of cooling gas adjacent to said second side of said cooling plate, wherein said cooling plate defines an aperture which permits communication between said gas stream and said gap, whereby a convection current within said gap and gas flow out of said aperture is induced by passage of said gas stream over said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said gas stream flows in a direction generally parallel to said cooling plate, and said aperture is defined by an opening in the surface of said cooling plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said gas stream flows in a direction generally transverse to said electronic assembly, and said aperture is defined by corresponding edges of said cooling plate and said electronic assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention defined in claim 1 further including means for introducing a cooling gas in said gap from a source other than said gas stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for cooling heat generating elements, including means for maintaining said heat generating elements in a generally planar array, a heat conductive cooling plate having first and second surfaces, means for disposing said first surface adjacent and generally parallel to said maintaining means to define a generally closed air gap between said plate and said assembly, and means for generating an air stream adjacent to said second surface of said cooling plate which communicates with said air gap via an aperture defined by said cooling plate, whereby a convection air current within said gap and out of said aperture is induced by passage of said air stream over said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for cooling heat generating elements, including means for maintaining said heat generating elements in a generally planar array, a heat conductive cooling plate having first and second surfaces, means for disposing said first surface adjacent and generally parallel to said maintaining means to define a generally closed air gap between said plate and said assembly, and means for generating an air stream adjacent to said second surface of said cooling plate which communicates with said air gap via an aperture defined by said cooling plate, whereby a convection air current within said gap and out of said aperture is induced by passage of said air stream over said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said disposing means includes a housing arranged to maintain said cooling plate and said electronic assembly in generally parallel alignment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said aperture is defined by an opening in the surface of said cooling plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said aperture is defined by at least one edge of said cooling plate and said assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus comprising an electronic assembly including heat generating elements, a heat conductive cold plate, housing means for disposing a first side of said cold plate in spaced parallel relation to a surface of said electronic assembly, said housing and said plate together defining a generally closed gap region, and means for generating a gas stream adjacent to a second side of said cooling plate, wherein said cold plate defines an aperture permitting communication between said gas stream and said gap region, whereby a convection current within said gap and exiting from said aperture is induced by passage of said gas stream over said aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus comprising an electronic assembly including heat generating elements, a heat conductive cold plate, housing means for disposing a first side of said cold plate in spaced parallel relation to a surface of said electronic assembly, said housing and said plate together defining a generally closed gap region, and means for generating a gas stream adjacent to a second side of said cooling plate, wherein said cold plate defines an aperture permitting communication between said gas stream and said gap region, whereby a convection current within said gap and exiting from said aperture is induced by passage of said gas stream over said aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus comprising a circuit board containing heat generating elements, a cold plate constructed of a heat conductive material, means for positioning a first side of said cold plate in parallel relation to a major surface of said circuit board, said housing and said plate together defining a gap region therebetween, and means for generating an air stream in parallel relation to a second side of said cooling plate, wherein said cold plate defines an aperture communicating between said air stream and said air gap region, so that a convection air current within said gap and out of said aperture is induced by passage of said air stream over said aperture, whereby heat transfer between said heat generating elements and said cold plate is enhanced.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus comprising a circuit board containing heat generating elements, a cold plate constructed of a heat conductive material, means for positioning a first side of said cold plate in parallel relation to a major surface of said circuit board, said housing and said plate together defining a gap region therebetween, and means for generating an air stream in parallel relation to a second side of said cooling plate, wherein said cold plate defines an aperture communicating between said air stream and said air gap region, so that a convection air current within said gap and out of said aperture is induced by passage of said air stream over said aperture, whereby heat transfer between said heat generating elements and said cold plate is enhanced.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for cooling an electronic assembly which includes heat generating elements, comprising a heat conductive cooling plate having first and second sides, said first side disposed adjacent to said electronic assembly and defining a gap between said plate and said assembly, said cooling plate defining an aperture which permits communication between a generated stream of cooling gas and said gap, and means for generating said gas stream, said means arranged to induce a convection current within said gap and gas flow out of said aperture by passage of said cooling gas stream adjacent to said second side of said cooling plate and over said aperture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for cooling an electronic assembly which includes heat generating elements, comprising a heat conductive cooling plate having first and second sides, said first side disposed adjacent to said electronic assembly and defining a gap between said plate and said assembly, said cooling plate defining an aperture which permits communication between a generated stream of cooling gas and said gap, and means for generating said gas stream, said means arranged to induce a convection current within said gap and gas flow out of said aperture by passage of said cooling gas stream adjacent to said second side of said cooling plate and over said aperture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for cooling an electronic assembly which includes heat generating elements, comprising a heat conductive cooling plate having first and second sides, said first side disposed adjacent to said electronic assembly and defining a gap between said plate and said assembly, means for generating a stream of cooling gas adjacent to said second side of said cooling plate, and means for inducing a convection current within said gap, said inducing means including an aperture defined by said cooling plate permitting communication between said gas stream and gas in said gap so that passage of said cooling gas stream adjacent to said second side of said cooling plate and over said aperture creates a negative pressure differential in said aperture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for cooling an electronic assembly which includes heat generating elements, comprising a heat conductive cooling plate having first and second sides, said first side disposed adjacent to said electronic assembly and defining a gap between said plate and said assembly, means for generating a stream of cooling gas adjacent to said second side of said cooling plate, and means for inducing a convection current within said gap, said inducing means including an aperture defined by said cooling plate permitting communication between said gas stream and gas in said gap so that passage of said cooling gas stream adjacent to said second side of said cooling plate and over said aperture creates a negative pressure differential in said aperture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU285938A1
Cited
US2552837A
Cited
US3196940A
Cited
FR2308075A1
Cited
US4093021A
Cited
US4103737A
Cited
US4417295A
Cited
US4393437A
Cited
US4277816A
Cited
US4296455A
Cited
US4291364A
Cited
US4399485A
Cited
US4415023A
Cited
US4379446A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-15 | 1990-06-16 | 1990-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-15 | 1994-06-16 | 1994-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-15 | 1998-06-16 | 1998-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |