US5014117A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High conduction flexible fin cooling module
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1990-03-30
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Granted: 1991-05-07
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Expires: 2010-03-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for removing heat from a heat generating device. The apparatus includes at least one heat conductive finned thermal device insert including a base having at least one first fin, and preferably haing a plurality of first fins, on a first surface and a second surface which is flat and a heat conductive second thermal device, preferably a cooling hat, having a plurality of second fins. The first fins are interspersed with the second fins. At least one of the first and second fins is of a thermally conductive, flexible material so that a gap otherwise existing between the interspersed fins is substantially eliminated. Finally, at least a portion of the first and second fins are biased against one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph L. Horvath
- 👤 Robert G. Biskeborn
- 👤 Carl Yakubowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:06
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/70; H10W40/77; H10W40/774
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for removing heat from a heat generating device comprising: at least one heat conductive thermal device insert comprising a base having at least one first fin on a first surface and a second surface which is flat; a second heat conductive thermal device having a plurality of second fins; said at least one first fin being interspersed and overlapped with said second fins; wherein at least one of said first and second fins is of a thermally conductive, flexible material so that a gap otherwise existing between said overlapped and interspersed fins is eliminated over at least a portion of said overlap and wherein at least a portion of said first and second fins are biased against one another.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for removing heat from a heat generating device comprising: at least one heat conductive thermal device insert comprising a base having at least one first fin on a first surface and a second surface which is flat; a second heat conductive thermal device having a plurality of second fins; said at least one first fin being interspersed and overlapped with said second fins; wherein at least one of said first and second fins is of a thermally conductive, flexible material so that a gap otherwise existing between said overlapped and interspersed fins is eliminated over at least a portion of said overlap and wherein at least a portion of said first and second fins are biased against one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said first fins and wherein there are a plurality of flexible fins.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second fins are flexible fins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said flexible fins are generally U-shaped with the base attached to the second thermal device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the legs of each of said flexible fins are interspersed between each of the first fins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a biasing means between the legs of each of said flexible fins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said U-shaped flexible fins receives a mating fin from said first fins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising grooves or slots in said second thermal device between each of said flexible fins and the first fins being received in said grooves or slots.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said flexible fins are seated in grooves or slots in said second thermal device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first fins are substantially rigid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first fins are the flexible fins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said flexible fins are generally U-shaped with the base attached to the first surface of said thermal device insert.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the legs of each of said flexible fins are interspersed between each of the second fins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a biasing means between the legs of each of said flexible fins.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said U-shaped flexible fins receives a mating fin from said second fins.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising grooves or slots in said thermal device insert between each of said flexible fins and the second fins being received in said grooves or slots.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said flexible fins are seated in grooves or slots in said thermal device insert.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second fins are substantially rigid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein both of said first and second fins are flexible.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a biasing means between the legs of each of said flexible fins.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first flexible fins are seated in grooves or slots in said thermal device insert.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said second flexible fins are seated in grooves or slots in said second thermal device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second thermal device is a cooling hat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein one of said fins is flexible and the other of said first and second fins is substantially rigid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein one of said fins is tapered.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said flexible fins are axially split.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said axially split fins are notched at the bottom of the split.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each of said rigid fins has an enlarged, tapered base portion which engages each of said flexible fins.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a biasing means located between the fins of said thermal device insert or said second thermal device, said biasing means exerting a biasing force between said thermal device insert and said second thermal device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein there are a plurality of said thermal device insert.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said biasing means is located between the fins in said second thermal device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said biasing means further comprises means for maintaining said thermal device inserts in their respective predetermined locations.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a compliant thermally conductive medium.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said compliant thermally conductive medium is poly(alphaolefin) oil.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the thickness of each of said rigid fins is greater than the spacing between each of said rigid fins.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-06 | 1994-11-05 | 1995-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-06 | 1998-11-05 | 1999-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-06 | 2002-11-05 | 2003-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |