Three dimensional vapor chamber

Abstract

A three dimensional vapor chamber is disclosed which has a horizontal vapor chamber portion and a vertical flat heat pipe portion. The interiors of the two portions are in fluid communication and can have a wick material saturated with a working fluid such as water. The vertical flat heat pipe portion can also have fins or other heat exchange structure connected to the exterior thereof to increase heat transfer away from the heat pipe portion. In operation, the vapor chamber portion is placed in contact with a heat source, thus causing the working fluid to evaporate and move into the vertical flat heat pipe portion, where it is condensed. The fluid is then transported back to the vapor chamber portion via capillary action through the wick. The interiors of the two portions may be constructed as a vacuum chamber, so that evaporation of the working fluid can occur at lower temperatures than would occur at atmospheric pressure.

1 . A vapor chamber comprising: 
 an evaporator portion having a length measured in a first direction, a width measured in a second direction, and a height measured in a third direction, the evaporator portion further having a cavity; and    a condenser portion having a length measured in the first direction, a width measured in the second direction, and a height measured in the third direction, the condenser portion further having a cavity;    wherein a wick structure is disposed on a surface of at least one of the cavities, the portions being connected so that the cavities are fluid communication with each other; and    wherein the condenser portion is connected to the evaporator portion so that the width of the condenser portion is substantially smaller than the width of the evaporator portion and the length of the condenser portion is substantially equal to the length of the evaporator portion.    
     
     
         2 . The vapor chamber of  claim 1  wherein the height of the condenser portion is substantially greater than the height of the evaporator portion.  
     
     
         3 . The vapor chamber of  claim 1  further comprising a heat dissipating structure in contact with an outer surface of the heat pipe portion.  
     
     
         4 . The vapor chamber of  claim 3  wherein the heat dissipating structure comprises a folded fin heat exchange structure comprising a plurality of heat exchange cavities disposed adjacent the outer surface of the condenser portion.  
     
     
         5 . The vapor chamber of  claim 4  further comprising a forced air system for providing forced air flow through at least a portion of the heat exchange cavities.  
     
     
         6 . The vapor chamber of  claim 2  wherein the inner cavities of the evaporator and condenser portions are hermetically sealed and at least a partial vacuum created within the cavities.  
     
     
         7 . The vapor chamber of  claim 6  further comprising a working fluid, wherein the working fluid is disposed within at least a portion of the wick structure of the evaporator portion.  
     
     
         8 . A three-dimensional vapor chamber comprising: 
 a evaporator portion and a condenser portion, the portions each having a respective major surface comprising a substantially rectangular shape, the portions further each having an inner cavity comprising a wick, the inner cavities being in fluid communication with each other;    wherein the condenser portion is connected to the evaporator portion such that the major surfaces are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other; and    wherein the lengths of the respective portions are substantially equal as measured in a first direction, and the heights of the respective portions are substantially different when measured in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction.    
     
     
         9 . The vapor chamber of  claim 8  wherein the evaporator portion has a width as measured in a third direction, the condenser portion has a width as measured in the third direction, the third direction being substantially orthogonal to both the first and second directions, and the width of the condenser portion being substantially smaller than the width of the evaporator portion.  
     
     
         10 . The vapor chamber of  claim 8  further comprising a heat dissipating structure in contact with an outer surface of the condenser portion.  
     
     
         11 . The vapor chamber of  claim 10  wherein the heat dissipating structure comprises a folded fin heat exchange structure comprising a plurality of heat exchange cavities disposed adjacent the outer surface of the condenser portion.  
     
     
         12 . The vapor chamber of  claim 11  further comprising a forced air system for providing forced air flow through at least a portion of the heat exchange cavities.  
     
     
         13 . The vapor chamber of  claim 9  wherein the inner cavities of the evaporator portion and the condenser portion are hermetically sealed and at least a partial vacuum is created within the cavities.  
     
     
         14 . The vapor chamber of  claim 13  further comprising a working fluid, wherein the working fluid is disposed within at least a portion of the wick structure of the evaporator portion.  
     
     
         15 . A three dimensional vapor chamber comprising: 
 first and second heat exchange chambers having inner cavities with wick structures disposed on respective inner surfaces thereof, chambers being connected together so that the inner cavities are in fluid communication with each other;    the first heat exchange chamber having a length, a width and a height as measured in first, second and third mutually orthogonal directions, respectively; and    the second heat exchange chamber having a length, a width and a height as measured in the first, second and third directions;    wherein the lengths of the first and second heat exchange chambers are substantially equal, and the widths of the first and second heat exchange chambers are substantially unequal.    
     
     
         16 . The vapor chamber of  claim 14  wherein the width of the first chamber is substantially smaller than the width of the second chamber.  
     
     
         17 . The vapor chamber of  claim 14  further comprising a heat dissipating structure in contact with an outer surface of the first chamber.  
     
     
         18 . The vapor chamber of  claim 17  wherein the heat dissipating structure comprises a folded fin heat exchange structure comprising a plurality of heat exchange cavities disposed adjacent the outer surface of the first chamber.  
     
     
         19 . The vapor chamber of  claim 18  further comprising a forced air system for providing forced air flow through at least a portion of the heat exchange cavities.  
     
     
         20 . The vapor chamber of  claim 15  further comprising a working fluid, wherein the working fluid is disposed within at least a portion of the wick structure of the second chamber.