Heat sink mounting apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9772147-B2
Application number	US-201214365887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2012
Priority date	Dec 16, 2011
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A heat sink mounting apparatus including: a heat sink; and a device housing, the housing having a slot in the wall of the housing configured to receive a heat sink, wherein the heat sink and the housing are configured such that the heat sink can be secured within the slot with an interference fit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heat sink mounting apparatus comprising:
a heat sink, the heat sink comprising an elongate protrusion; and
a device housing, the device housing having a slot in a wall of the device housing configured to receive the heat sink,
wherein the heat sink and the device housing are configured to secure the heat sink within the slot with an interference fit,
wherein the elongate protrusion is configured to be received in a corresponding groove in the slot in the wall of the device housing, and
wherein the elongate protrusion comprises a hollow channel machined therein to facilitate a temporary distortion of the elongate protrusion during insertion of the heat sink within the slot in the wall of the device housing.

2. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate protrusion comprises a curved surface.

3. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the elongate protrusion is dome-shaped in cross-section.

4. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow channel comprises generally the same shape as the elongate protrusion.

5. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate protrusion is capable of the temporary distortion under pressure.

6. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is machined from a solid block.

7. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is formed from aluminium alloy.

8. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of elongate protrusions comprise a respective hollow channel and are provided on the heat sink for engaging with a plurality of corresponding grooves in the slot in the wall of the device housing.

9. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of heat sinks for engaging with a plurality of slots in the wall of the device housing.

10. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the device housing is a housing of a subsea electronics module for a subsea control module of a control system for a subsea well.

11. A method of mounting a heat sink to a wall of a device housing, the device housing having a slot in the wall of the device housing configured to receive the heat sink, the heat sink and the device housing configured such that the heat sink can be secured within the slot with an interference fit, the method comprising the steps of:
aligning the heat sink with the slot in the wall of the device housing; and
applying a force to the heat sink in the direction of the slot such that at least a portion of the heat sink is received within the slot,
wherein the heat sink comprises an elongate protrusion, the elongate protrusion comprising a hollow channel machined therein to facilitate a temporary distortion of the elongate protrusion during insertion of the heat sink within the slot in the wall of the device housing,
wherein the elongate protrusion is configured to be received in a corresponding groove in the slot in the wall of the device housing, and
wherein the force applied is sufficient to cause the temporary distortion of the elongate protrusion.

12. The heat sink mounting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate protrusion is machined on a side edge of the heat sink.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the elongate protrusion is machined on a side edge of the heat sink.

Assignees

• Vetco Gray Controls Ltd
• Ge Oil & Gas Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Stokes Martin

Classifications

• H05K7/20

  Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating · CPC title

• F28F9/007 Primary

  Auxiliary supports for elements · CPC title

• Y10T29/49945

  by driven force fit · CPC title

• H05K7/20545 Primary

  Natural convection of gaseous coolant; Heat transfer by conduction from electronic boards · CPC title