Sealless cooling device having manifold and turbulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9638477-B1
Application number	US-201514881588-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 13, 2015
Priority date	Oct 13, 2015
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A cooling device configured to be connected to an object having a surface is disclosed. The cooling device may include a manifold configured to be deposited directly onto the surface of the object, wherein the manifold includes a first side configured to be deposited directly onto the surface of the object, a cavity formed in the first side, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the cavity, and an outlet channel fluidly connected to the cavity. The cooling device may further include a turbulator configured to be deposited directly onto the surface of the object, wherein the turbulator extends into the cavity of the manifold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling device configured to be connected to an object having a surface, the cooling device comprising:
a manifold configured to be deposited directly onto the surface of the object, wherein the manifold includes:
a first side configured to be deposited directly onto the surface of the object;
a cavity formed in the first side;
an inlet channel fluidly connected to the cavity; and
an outlet channel fluidly connected to the cavity; and

a turbulator configured to be deposited directly onto the surface of the object, wherein the turbulator extends into the cavity of the manifold.

2. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein:
the manifold is formed of a first material; and
the turbulator is formed of the first material or a second material, wherein the second material has a different thermal conductivity than the first material.

3. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator includes a lattice structure.

4. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator includes a cell matrix.

5. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the manifold and the turbulator are each respectively formed of one or more of a metal, a plastic, a ceramic, and a mineral.

6. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator has a parameter that varies along a dimension of the cooling device.

7. The cooling device of claim 6 , wherein the parameter is one or more of a density, a porosity, a width, a height, a length, a lattice pattern, and a cell shape.

8. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator includes a regular arrangement of interlaced filaments.

9. The cooling device of claim 8 , wherein the regular arrangement of filaments includes spaces between the filaments configured to channel fluid through the manifold.

10. A method of creating a computer-readable three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the cooling device of claim 1 , the method comprising:
inputting data representing the cooling device to a computer; and
using the data to represent the cooling device as a three-dimensional model, the three dimensional model being suitable for use in manufacturing the cooling device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inputting of data includes one or more of using a contact-type 3D scanner to contact the cooling device, using a non-contact 3D scanner to project energy onto the cooling device and receive reflected energy, and generating a virtual three-dimensional model of the cooling device using computer-aided design (CAD) software.

12. A computer-readable three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the cooling device of claim 1 .

13. A computer-readable storage medium having data stored thereon representing a three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the cooling device of claim 1 .

14. A method for manufacturing the cooling device of claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
providing a computer-readable three-dimensional model of the cooling device, the three-dimensional model being configured to be converted into a plurality of slices that each define a cross-sectional layer of the cooling device; and
successively forming each layer of the cooling device by additive manufacturing.

15. A cooling device configured to be connected to an object, comprising:
a manifold having a unitary body, wherein the unitary body includes:
a first side having an external surface and an internal surface opposite the external surface, wherein the external surface is configured to connect to the object;
an internal cavity within the body, wherein the internal cavity is disposed between the internal surface of the first side and at least one other surface of the body;
an inlet channel configured to direct fluid into the internal cavity of the body;
an outlet channel configured to direct fluid out of the internal cavity of the body; and
a turbulator deposited directly onto the internal surface of the first side, wherein the turbulator extends into the internal cavity of the manifold.

16. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein:
the manifold is formed of a first material; and
the turbulator is formed of the first material or a second material, wherein the second material has a different thermal conductivity than the first material.

17. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein the turbulator includes a lattice structure.

18. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein the turbulator includes a cell matrix.

19. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein the manifold and the turbulator are each respectively formed of one or more of a metal, a plastic, a ceramic, and a mineral.

20. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein the turbulator has a parameter that varies along a dimension of the cooling device, wherein the parameter is one or more of a density, a porosity, a width, a height, a length, a lattice pattern, and a cell shape.

21. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein the turbulator includes one or more of a regular arrangement of interlaced filaments and an irregular arrangement of interlaced films.

22. The cooling device of claim 21 , wherein the one or more of the regular arrangement of interlaced filaments and the irregular arrangement of interlaced films includes spaces between the filaments configured to channel fluid through the manifold.

23. An electronic device, comprising:
a surface;
a cooling device connected to the surface, wherein the cooling device includes:
a manifold deposited directly onto the surface of the electronic device, wherein the manifold includes:
a first side deposited directly onto the surface of the electronic device;
a cavity formed in the first side;
an inlet channel fluidly connected to the cavity; and
an outlet channel fluidly connected to the cavity; and

a turbulator deposited directly onto the surface of the electronic device, wherein:
the turbulator extends into the cavity of the manifold;
the turbulator includes one or more of a lattice structure and a cell matrix; and
the manifold and the turbulator are each respectively formed of one or more of a metal, a plastic, a ceramic, and a mineral.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc
• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Choi Edward
• Scolton Chris J
• Winkler John Walter

Classifications

• H10W40/40

  involving heat exchange by flowing fluids · CPC title

• F28F13/12

  by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation (F28F13/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23P15/26

  heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)} · CPC title

• H05K7/20218

  using a liquid coolant without phase change in electronic enclosures (in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954) · CPC title

• F28F3/12 Primary

  Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels {(F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence)} · CPC title