Induction welding using a heat sink and/or cooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11458691-B2
Application number	US-201916532954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Aug 6, 2019
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and have a thermal diffusivity of greater than about 25 mm2/sec. A joint flexibly joins the tiles together.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A heat sink for use in induction welding, the heat sink comprising:
a number of tiles each having edges, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and have a thermal diffusivity of greater than about 25 mm 2 /sec;
a joint flexibly joining the tiles together at the edges, wherein the joint is comprised of a silicone; and
a fluid path defined by fluid channels disposed within the tiles and the joint for communicating a coolant through the heat sink.

2. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the tiles are comprised of Aluminum nitride.

3. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the tiles are comprised of Beryllium Oxide.

4. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the tiles are arranged in a single layer.

5. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the tiles define a gap therebetween and the joint is disposed within the gap.

6. The heat sink of claim 5 , wherein the gap is between about 0.005 inches to about 0.1 inches.

7. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the silicone has a long-term degradation temperature greater than about 400 degrees Fahrenheit in vacuum or air.

8. The heat sink of claim 7 , wherein the silicone has an elongation of between 12% and 670%.

9. The heat sink of claim 7 , wherein the silicone has a tear strength of between 31 lb/in and 190 lb/in.

10. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the tiles have a thermal conductivity of greater than about 75 W/mK.

11. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the tiles have a specific heat capacity of greater than about 500 J/K/kg.

12. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the joint is cured.

13. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the tiles and the joint have a thickness of less than 8 mm.

14. The heat sink of claim 13 , wherein the tiles and the joint have a thickness of 4 mm.

15. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the fluid channels in the tiles and the joint are connected in series.

16. The heat sink of claim 1 , further comprising multiple fluid paths, wherein the multiple fluid paths are unidirectional and parallel to one another relative to the heat sink.

17. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the fluid channels have a diameter of about 0.042 inches.

18. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the fluid channels have a diameter of about 0.082 inches.

19. The heat sink of claim 1 , further comprising a manifold connected to the fluid channels.

20. The heat sink of claim 19 , wherein the manifold includes a port that communicates with the fluid path.

21. A heat sink for use in induction welding, the heat sink comprising:
a number of tiles each having edges, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and have a thermal diffusivity of greater than about 25 mm 2 /sec;
a joint flexibly joining the tiles together at the edges, wherein the tiles define a gap therebetween and the joint is disposed within the gap and the gap is between about 0.005 inches to about 0.1 inches; and
a fluid path defined by fluid channels disposed within the tiles and the joint for communicating a coolant through the heat sink.

22. The heat sink of claim 21 , wherein the tiles are arranged in a single layer.

23. The heat sink of claim 21 , wherein the joint is cured.

24. The heat sink of claim 21 , wherein the fluid channels in the tiles and the joint are connected in series.

25. The heat sink of claim 21 , further comprising multiple fluid paths, wherein the multiple fluid paths are unidirectional and parallel to one another relative to the heat sink.

26. The heat sink of claim 21 , further comprising a manifold connected to the fluid channels, wherein the manifold includes a port that communicates with the fluid path.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Dichiara Robert A
• Blevins Creed Ernest

Classifications

• B29C66/8181

  characterised by the cooling constructional aspects · CPC title

• B29C66/81465

  one placed behind the other in a single row in the feed direction · CPC title

• F28F2245/00

  Coatings; Surface treatments · CPC title

• B29C66/71

  characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125) · CPC title

• B29C66/81831

  of the welding jaws · CPC title