US5388635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compliant fluidic coolant hat
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1992-05-08
•
Granted: 1995-02-14
•
Expires: 2012-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A cooling hat for transferring heat from a surface or plurality of heat generating components to a flowing fluid includes a coldsheet, a plurality of manifold layers and springs. The coldsheet is typically a medium-thin metal sheet usually with fine fins or grooves to readily transfer heat to a coolant. Each manifold layer is typically molded rubber with conduits for coolant supply and return. The conduits form a branched hierarchy. The fluid flow is highly parallel and streamlined which achieves ample flow with small hydraulic differential pressure. Springs gently urge the cooling hat against the thermal joints hence against the components. The hat can bend slightly to conform to a curved surface. Typically some compliance is provided by the hat, and other compliance is provided by a thermal joint between each component and the coldsheet. The system is highly self-aligned for counteracting variations.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A. Gruber
- 👤 Arthur R. Zingher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:20
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F9/00; F28F9/02; F28F9/026; F28F9/0278; F28F3/00; F28F3/12; H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/40; H10W40/47; H10W40/70; H10W40/77; F28D; F28D21/00; F28D2021/0019; F28D2021/0028; F28D2021/0029; F28F2210/00; F28F2210/02; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/072; H10W72/07251; H10W72/20; H10W72/851; H10W72/874; H10W72/877
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
31 words
A system for transferring heat from a surface to a flowing fluid comprising: a non-soft material flexible manifold containing conduit means for guiding the fluid in a topologically parallel branched hierarchy.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
31 words
A system for transferring heat from a surface to a flowing fluid comprising: a non-soft material flexible manifold containing conduit means for guiding the fluid in a topologically parallel branched hierarchy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet in thermal conduction relation with said surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flexible sheet is metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flexible sheet contains grooves and fins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flexible sheet is smooth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flexible sheet is textured.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flexible sheet includes grooves and fins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a thermal joint disposed between said manifold and said surface and means for urging said surface into intimate contact with said thermal joint.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said thermal joint includes means for facilitating sliding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said thermal joint includes means for filling gaps between said surface and said manifold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a thermal joint disposed between said flexible sheet and said surface and means for urging said flexible sheet into intimate contact with said thermal joint.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said thermal joint includes means for facilitating sliding.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said thermal joint includes means for filling gaps between said flexible sheet and said surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said manifold is a polymer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said manifold is fabricated with a master pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cooling hat as set forth in claim 2, wherein the thickness of said flexible sheet is in the range between substantially 50 and 750 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said manifold further comprises a supply conduit and a return conduit disposed so that the distance from the center of said supply conduit to the center of said return conduit is less than approximately 4 mm.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
52 words
A system for transferring heat between a plurality of power dissipating components and a flowing fluid comprising; a flexible coldsheet in thermal conduction relation with said plurality of components; and a non-brittle soft material flexible manifold coupled to said coldsheet including means for guiding the fluid in a topologically parallel branched hierarchy.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
52 words
A system for transferring heat between a plurality of power dissipating components and a flowing fluid comprising; a flexible coldsheet in thermal conduction relation with said plurality of components; and a non-brittle soft material flexible manifold coupled to said coldsheet including means for guiding the fluid in a topologically parallel branched hierarchy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said flexible coldsheet is metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein said flexible coldsheet contains grooves and fins.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said flexible coldsheet is smooth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said flexible coldsheet is textured.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said flexible coldsheet includes grooves and fins.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a thermal joint disposed between said components and said coldsheet and means for urging said coldsheet into intimate contact with said thermal joint.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cooling hat as set forth in claim 24, wherein said thermal joint includes means for facilitating sliding.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said thermal joint includes means for filling gaps between said components and said coldsheet.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said manifold is a polymer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as set forth in claim 27 wherein said manifold is fabricated with a master pattern.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the thickness of said flexible coldsheet is in the range between substantially 50 and 750 microns.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said manifold further comprises a supply conduit and a return conduit disposed so that the distance from the center of said supply conduit to the center of said return conduit is less than approximately 4 mm.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
65 words
A system for transferring heat from a plurality of power dissipating components to a flowing fluid comprising: a non-brittle soft material flexible manifold including conduit means for guiding the fluid in a topologically parallel branched hierarchy, said conduit means being arranged in tiers, and connector means coupling successive tiers including means for maintaining constant fluid flow speed across at least one of said connector means.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
65 words
A system for transferring heat from a plurality of power dissipating components to a flowing fluid comprising: a non-brittle soft material flexible manifold including conduit means for guiding the fluid in a topologically parallel branched hierarchy, said conduit means being arranged in tiers, and connector means coupling successive tiers including means for maintaining constant fluid flow speed across at least one of said connector means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a system for transferring heat from a plurality of components to a coldsheet and then to a flowing fluid comprising: means disposed for causing said coldsheet to compensate for the vertical positions of said plurality of components, and a non-brittle soft material flexible including conduit means for guiding the fluid in a parallel branched hierarchy.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a system for transferring heat from a plurality of components to a coldsheet and then to a flowing fluid comprising: means disposed for causing said coldsheet to compensate for the vertical positions of said plurality of components, and a non-brittle soft material flexible including conduit means for guiding the fluid in a parallel branched hierarchy.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32, wherein said plurality of components are disposed on a substrate and the heat is transferred from a component surface opposite said substrate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32, wherein said coldsheet is flexible.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 34, wherein said flexible coldsheet is unitary.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32, further comprising a thermal joint disposed between said plurality of components and said coldsheet wherein said thermal joint further includes means for facilitating sliding.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32, further comprising a thermal joint disposed between said plurality of components and said coldsheet wherein said thermal joint further includes means for filling gaps between said plurality of components and said coldsheet.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32, further comprising a thermal joint disposed between said plurality of components and said coldsheet wherein said thermal joint further includes means for facilitating sliding and means for filling gaps between said plurality of components and said coldsheet.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32 wherein said manifold is a polymer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32, wherein said manifold is fabricated from a master pattern.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32, wherein said conduit means is arranged in tiers.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 41, further comprising connector means for coupling successive tiers including means for maintaining constant fluid flow speed across at least one of said connector means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 41, wherein at least one of said conduit means has a tapered cross-section.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32 further comprising means for personalizing the fluid flow over said coldsheet.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32, further comprising a second oppositely disposed coldsheet for forming a two-sided coldhat.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 32 wherein said coldsheet includes a pattern of fins and grooves.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system for transferring heat as set forth in claim 46, wherein said pattern of fins and grooves is personalized for matching the individual power of each of said plurality of components.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as set forth in claim 32 wherein said manifold further comprises a supply conduit and a return conduit disposed so that the distance from the center of said supply conduit to the center of said return conduit is less than approximately 4 mm.
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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) | 1998-02-13 | 1998-08-15 | 1999-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-13 | 2002-08-15 | 2003-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-13 | 2006-08-15 | 2007-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |