Heat sink assembly

Abstract

A heat sink assembly includes a heat exchanging section formed by a thermally conductive sheet folded into alternating ridges and troughs defining generally parallel spaced fins having opposite end edges. The folded sheet is formed into a generally cylindrical configuration whereby the troughs form an inner-segmented cylinder and the ridges form an outer-segmented cylinder generally concentric with the inner cylinder. The heat sink assembly may include a heat conductive rod dimensioned to engage the troughs of the thermally conductive sheet. The ridges of the thermally conductive sheet may also contain apertures to allow air to fully circulate through the fins. The heat sink assembly may also include a fan and a thermally conductive base plate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat sink assembly, comprising: 
 a heat exchanging section including a thermally conductive sheet folded into alternating ridges and troughs defining spaced fins having opposite end edges, said folded sheet being formed into a generally cylindrical configuration whereby the troughs form an inner segmented cylinder and the ridges form an outer segmented cylinder generally concentric with the inner cylinder; and    a heat conductive rod within said inner-segmented cylinder defined by said troughs, wherein said rod is solid.    
     
     
         2 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fins are generally parallel to each other.  
     
     
         3 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fins are generally parallel to said rod.  
     
     
         4 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 1 , including a fan mounted on the heat exchanging section at an end thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the troughs contains an aperture.  
     
     
         6 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 5  wherein the aperture is proximate a bottom end of the trough.  
     
     
         7 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 1 , including a thermally conductive base plate above which the heat exchanging section is mounted, with the first end edges of the fins of the cylindrically configured folded sheet being between the base plate and the second end edges of the fins.  
     
     
         8 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 7  wherein one end of said rod is in engagement with the thermally conductive base plate.  
     
     
         9 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 7  wherein the rod and the thermally conductive base plate constitute a single, integral structure.  
     
     
         10 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the troughs contains an aperture.  
     
     
         11 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 7 , including a fan mounted on the heat exchanging section at an end thereof opposite the thermally conductive base plate.  
     
     
         12 . A heat sink assembly, comprising: 
 a heat exchanging section including a thermally conductive sheet folded into alternating ridges and troughs defining spaced fins having opposite end edges, said folded sheet being formed into a generally cylindrical configuration whereby the troughs form an inner segmented cylinder and the ridges form an outer segmented cylinder generally concentric with the inner cylinder; and    a heat conductive rod within said inner segmented cylinder defined by said troughs, wherein said rod is a heat pipe containing a fluid inside.    
     
     
         13 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 12 , including a thermally conductive base plate above which the heat exchanging section is mounted, with the first end edges of the fins of the cylindrically configured folded sheet being between the base plate and the second end edges of the fins.  
     
     
         14 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 13  wherein one end of said rod is in engagement with the thermally conductive base plate.  
     
     
         15 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 13  wherein the rod and the thermally conductive base plate constitute a single, integral structure.  
     
     
         16 . The heat sink assembly of  claim 13 , including a fan mounted on the heat exchanging section at an end thereof opposite the thermally conductive base plate.