Apparatus for heat dissipation and use of such apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11737649-B2
Application number	US-202017010958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2020
Priority date	Sep 5, 2019
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus configured for heat dissipation that includes a heat source, a heat sink and a heat conducting element. The heat conducting element conducts heat energy from the heat source to the heat sink along a heat conducting path, and the heat conducting element is arranged in such a way on the heat source and the heat sink and is configured to physically change in such a way with increasing temperature of the heat conducting element that: a) a first cross-sectional area between the heat source and the heat conducting element and/or a second cross-sectional area between the heat conducting element of the heat sink increases, and/or b) a length of the heat conducting path shortens. Further, a video endoscope having such an apparatus and a use of such an apparatus is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus adapted to dissipate heat comprising:
a heat source,
a heat sink,
a heat conducting element,
wherein the heat conducting element conducts heat energy from the heat source to the heat sink along a heat conducting path, and wherein the heat conducting element is arranged in such a way on the heat source and the heat sink and is configured to physically change in such a way with increasing temperature of the heat conducting element that at least one of: a) a first cross-sectional area between the heat source and the heat conducting element increases, b) a second cross-sectional area between the heat conducting element of the heat sink increases, and c) a length of the heat conducting path shortens,
a control element that receives thermal energy from the heat source and exerts increasing pressure on the heat conducting element as the temperature rises, and
a lever with a first lever arm and a second lever arm, the control element adapted to exert an increasing pressure on the first lever arm as the temperature rises, so that the second lever arm exerts a pressure on the heat conducting element via the heat sink.

2. An apparatus adapted to dissipate heat comprising:
a heat source,
a heat sink,
a heat conducting element,
wherein the heat conducting element conducts heat energy from the heat source to the heat sink along a heat conducting path, and wherein the heat conducting element is arranged in such a way on the heat source and the heat sink and is configured to physically change in such a way with increasing temperature of the heat conducting element that at least one of: a) a first cross-sectional area between the heat source and the heat conducting element increases, b) a second cross-sectional area between the heat conducting element of the heat sink increases, and c) a length of the heat conducting path shortens, and
a control element that receives thermal energy from the heat source and exerts increasing pressure on the heat conducting element as the temperature rises and is configured as a first strip and has a counter element which is fixedly arranged as a second strip on the control element, the counter element being made of a material, which has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the control element, wherein the control element is arranged with the counter element in such a way that the control element presses against the heat conducting element as the temperature rises with increasing pressure,
wherein the heat conducting element comprises a first comb-like element and a second comb-like element configured complementary to each other and meshing with each other, wherein the first comb-like element is arranged on the control element and the second comb-like element is arranged on the heat sink, wherein the first comb-like element and the second comb-like element continue to slide into each other as the pressure through the control element increases.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Heni Andreas
• Kupferschmid Markus
• Ulmschneider Daniel
• Forster Jonas

Classifications

• A61B1/0008 Primary

  characterised by distal tip features · CPC title

• A61B1/012

  characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor · CPC title

• A61B1/05

  characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion · CPC title

• A61B1/128

  provided with means for regulating temperature · CPC title

• F28F13/00

  Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing (F28F1/00 - F28F11/00 take precedence) · CPC title