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US5441102A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Heat exchanger for electronic equipment

Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
•
Filing: 1994-01-26
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Granted: 1995-08-15
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Expires: 2014-01-26
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Abstract

Abstract A heat transfer apparatus is disclosed. The heat transfer apparatus includes a heat pipe containing heat transfer liquid. Disposed in the heat pipe is a centrifugal rotor assembly having fixed magnets on the rotor blades. A magnetic field is generated by a magnetic coil assembly that surrounds the heat pipe. The rotor assembly rotates in response to the magnetic field, agitating the heat transfer liquid. A second embodiment is a liquid heat transfer system that includes a heat absorption chamber, a pump, and a heat exchanger where circulation and cooling of the heat transfer liquid occurs outside of the heat absorption chamber.

Inventors

  • 👤 Trevor Burward-Hoy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 00:05
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/40; H10W40/47; F; F28; F28D; F28D1/00; F28D1/02; F28D1/03; F28D1/0308; F28D1/0325; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/0266; F28F; F28F13/00; F28F13/06; F28F13/12; F28F13/125; F28F9/00; F28F9/02; F28F9/026; F28F9/0265; F28F9/0268; H10W40/70; H10W40/73; F28D2015/0291; F28D21/00; F28D2021/0019; F28D2021/0028; F28D2021/0031; F28F2250/00; F28F2250/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 68 words
A heat transfer apparatus, comprising: a heat pipe containing a heat transfer liquid; a magnetic coil surrounding the heat pipe, the magnetic coil for producing a magnetic field when an electric current is supplied to the magnetic coil, the magnetic field passing through the heat pipe; and an agitator disposed in the heat pipe, the agitator for agitating the heat transfer liquid in response to the magnetic field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 68 words
A heat transfer apparatus, comprising: a heat pipe containing a heat transfer liquid; a magnetic coil surrounding the heat pipe, the magnetic coil for producing a magnetic field when an electric current is supplied to the magnetic coil, the magnetic field passing through the heat pipe; and an agitator disposed in the heat pipe, the agitator for agitating the heat transfer liquid in response to the magnetic field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The heat transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the agitator is a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly including a plurality of rotor blades, a magnet being coupled to at least one rotor blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The heat transfer apparatus of claim 2, the heat transfer device further comprising: a circuit coupled to the magnetic coil, the circuit for providing the electric current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The heat transfer apparatus of claim 3, wherein the circuit is computer controlled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The heat transfer apparatus of claim 4 wherein there are from 12 to 14 rotor blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The heat transfer apparatus of claim 5 wherein the heat transfer liquid fills from 50% to 95% of the heat pipe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 101 words
A computer system comprising: an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit capable of generating heat during operation; a heat transfer apparatus coupled to the integrated circuit for transferring heat away from the integrated circuit, the heat transfer apparatus including: a heat pipe containing a heat transfer liquid; a magnetic coil surrounding the heat pipe, the magnetic coil for producing a magnetic field when an electric current is supplied to the magnetic coil, the magnetic field passing through the heat pipe; and an agitator disposed in the heat pipe, the agitator for agitating the heat transfer liquid in response to the magnetic field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 101 words
A computer system comprising: an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit capable of generating heat during operation; a heat transfer apparatus coupled to the integrated circuit for transferring heat away from the integrated circuit, the heat transfer apparatus including: a heat pipe containing a heat transfer liquid; a magnetic coil surrounding the heat pipe, the magnetic coil for producing a magnetic field when an electric current is supplied to the magnetic coil, the magnetic field passing through the heat pipe; and an agitator disposed in the heat pipe, the agitator for agitating the heat transfer liquid in response to the magnetic field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
The computer system of claim 7, wherein the agitator is a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly including a plurality of rotor blades, a fixed magnet being coupled to at least one rotor blade.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
The computer system of claim 8, the heat transfer device further comprising: a circuit coupled to the magnetic coil, the circuit for providing the electric current.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
The computer system of claim 7, wherein the integrated circuit is a processor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5309983A Cited
US5309983B1 Cited
US5297617A Cited
US5299632A Cited
US5287249A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-08-14 1999-02-13 1999-08-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-08-14 2003-02-13 2003-08-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-08-14 2007-02-13 2007-08-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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