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US5164541A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cooling system

Assignee: Alcatel Lucent NV
•
Filing: 1989-12-28
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Granted: 1992-11-17
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Expires: 2009-12-28
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Abstract

Abstract A cooling system for a plurality of circuit boards carrying heat dissipating electric components includes a network of metal rails intercoupling metal drain plates of the boards and a heat exchanger, each of the metal rails including a heat pipe.

Inventors

  • 👤 Franciso J. C. Leyssens
  • 👤 Etienne K. A. Decolvenaer
  • 👤 Paul J. E. Van Weereld

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 23:06
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/20536; H05K7/20663; H05K7/20672

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
A cooling system comprising: a plurality of circuit boards equipped with a plurality of components dissipating heat and having a thermal drain for evacuating said heat; a heat exchanger delivering heat to a cooling medium; and means for transferring heat from said thermal drain to said heat exchanger, said means for transferring heat comprising a network of mechanically and thermally inter-coupled individually sealed heat conductors; wherein said network includes at least one first heat conductor per circuit board in thermal contact with said thermal drain and at least one second heat conductor inter-connecting said first heat conductors and linking them to said heat exchanger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 104 words
A cooling system comprising: a plurality of circuit boards equipped with a plurality of components dissipating heat and having a thermal drain for evacuating said heat; a heat exchanger delivering heat to a cooling medium; and means for transferring heat from said thermal drain to said heat exchanger, said means for transferring heat comprising a network of mechanically and thermally inter-coupled individually sealed heat conductors; wherein said network includes at least one first heat conductor per circuit board in thermal contact with said thermal drain and at least one second heat conductor inter-connecting said first heat conductors and linking them to said heat exchanger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one heat conductor includes at least one heat pipe, which is a sealed pipe having high thermal conductivity due to a continuous process of evaporation and condensation of a fluid taking place therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
The cooling system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one heat conductor including said at least one heat pipe consists of a metal rail provided with a channel wherein said at least one heat pipe is mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The cooling system according to claim 3, wherein contact surfaces of said metal rails and of said heat pipes are formed by a thermally conductive paste or glue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said network also constitutes a framework for mechanically supporting said circuit boards.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said thermal drain is constituted by at least one metal plate or printed metal layer in thermal contact with said components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said thermal drain includes a plurality of heat pipes embedded in said circuit boards and in thermal contact with said components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit boards are parallel to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit boards are so mounted that they form a cylindrical configuration in the center of which at least one of said second heat conductors is located.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 169 words
A cooling system comprising: a plurality of circuit boards equipped with a plurality of components dissipating heat and having a thermal drain for evacuating said heat; a heat exchanger delivering heat to a cooling medium; and means for transferring heat from said thermal drain to said heat exchanger, said means for transferring heat comprising a network of mechanically and thermally inter-coupled individually sealed heat conductors; wherein said at least one heat conductor includes at least one heat pipe, which is a sealed pipe having high thermal conductivity due to a continuous process of evaporation and condensation of a fluid taking place therein; wherein said at least one heat conductor including said at least one heat pipe consists of a metal rail provided with a channel wherein said at least one heat pipe is mounted; and wherein said at least one metal rail is provided per circuit board and mechanically supports said board, said at least one metal rail being provided with a groove wherein said thermal drain is engaged.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 169 words
A cooling system comprising: a plurality of circuit boards equipped with a plurality of components dissipating heat and having a thermal drain for evacuating said heat; a heat exchanger delivering heat to a cooling medium; and means for transferring heat from said thermal drain to said heat exchanger, said means for transferring heat comprising a network of mechanically and thermally inter-coupled individually sealed heat conductors; wherein said at least one heat conductor includes at least one heat pipe, which is a sealed pipe having high thermal conductivity due to a continuous process of evaporation and condensation of a fluid taking place therein; wherein said at least one heat conductor including said at least one heat pipe consists of a metal rail provided with a channel wherein said at least one heat pipe is mounted; and wherein said at least one metal rail is provided per circuit board and mechanically supports said board, said at least one metal rail being provided with a groove wherein said thermal drain is engaged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
The cooling system according to claim 10, wherein contact surfaces of said metal rails and of said heat pipes are formed by a thermally conductive paste or glue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 81 words
A cooling system comprising: a plurality of circuit boards equipped with a plurality of components dissipating heat and having a thermal drain for evacuating said heat; a heat exchanger delivering heat to a cooling medium; and means for transferring heat from said thermal drain to said heat exchanger, said means for transferring heat comprising a network of mechanically and thermally intercoupled individually sealed heat conductors; wherein contact surfaces of said heat conductors are formed by a thermally conductive paste or glue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 81 words
A cooling system comprising: a plurality of circuit boards equipped with a plurality of components dissipating heat and having a thermal drain for evacuating said heat; a heat exchanger delivering heat to a cooling medium; and means for transferring heat from said thermal drain to said heat exchanger, said means for transferring heat comprising a network of mechanically and thermally intercoupled individually sealed heat conductors; wherein contact surfaces of said heat conductors are formed by a thermally conductive paste or glue.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4120021A Cited
US3700028A Cited
US4019098A Cited
US4184539A Cited
US4366526A Cited
US4675783A Cited
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US4701829A Cited
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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) 1995-11-17 1996-05-18 1996-11-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-11-17 2000-05-18 2000-11-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-11-17 2004-05-18 2004-11-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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