Heat transfer plate with retainer assembly

Abstract

A heat transfer plate adapted for direct contact with heat-generating electronic devices on a circuit board and including a pair of retainer assemblies adapted to releasably retain the plate within an electronic enclosure structure in a relationship wherein the edges of the plate are positioned in a direct, compressive, surface-to-surface relationship with the cold wall of the electronic enclosure structure to allow the direct transfer, via conduction, of the heat generated by the electronic devices on the circuit board from the edges of the plate into the cold wall. The retainer assembly comprises, among other elements, a rotatable rod with a head defining an interior cavity adapted to receive the head of a standard tool for rotating the rod.

1 . A heat transfer plate defining peripheral edges and incorporating a retainer assembly adapted to retain the plate within the interior of an electronic enclosure structure in a relationship wherein said peripheral edges of said plate are positioned in direct, compressive, surface-to-surface contact with the cold wall of the electronic enclosure for transferring heat between said edges and the cold wall. 
   
   
       2 . The heat transfer plate of  claim 1  wherein said plate defines at least first and second peripheral edges including first and second retainer assemblies respectively associated therewith. 
   
   
       3 . The heat transfer plate of  claim 2  wherein each of said first and second retainer assemblies defines a bracket unitary with said first and second peripheral edges respectively. 
   
   
       4 . The heat transfer plate of  claim 3  wherein each of said first and second retainer assemblies further comprises an elongate spring member adapted to be releasably secured to said bracket and an elongate rod adapted to be seated between said bracket and said spring member, said rod being rotatable relative to said bracket for deflecting said spring member into contact with the cold wall and clamping said plate against the cold wall in said relationship wherein said at least first and second peripheral edges of said plate are positioned in said direct, surface-to-surface, compressive contact against the cold wall. 
   
   
       5 . The heat transfer plate of  claim 4  wherein said spring member includes a plate defining at least one aperture, each of said edges of said heat transfer plate defining a surface including at least one finger adapted to be received in said at least one aperture in said spring member for locating and securing said rods to said respective edges of said heat transfer plate. 
   
   
       6 . The heat transfer plate of  claim 5  wherein the plate of said spring member defines a plurality of apertures extending along the length thereof in spaced-apart and co-linear relationship, each of said edges of said heat transfer plate defining a generally horizontal surface including a plurality of said fingers extending along the length thereof in spaced-apart, co-linear relationship and adapted to be received in said plurality of apertures respectively. 
   
   
       7 . A plate adapted to cover one or more heat-generating devices mounted on a circuit board and further adapted to be slid into contact with the cold wall of an electronic enclosure structure, the plate comprising:
 a) a body defining at least one surface in direct contact with the one or more heat-generating devices on the circuit board;   b) at least first and second peripheral edges adapted to be slid into contact with the cold wall of the electronic enclosure structure;   c) at least a first retainer assembly extending along one of said first and second peripheral edges of said plate, said first assembly being adapted to clamp said plate against the cold wall of the electronic enclosure in a relationship wherein at least one of said first and second peripheral edges thereof is positioned in direct, compressive, surface-to-surface contact with the cold wall for transferring heat from said edges of said plate into the cold wall of the electronic enclosure structure.   
   
   
       8 . The plate of  claim 7  further comprising a second retainer assembly extending along the other of said first and second opposed peripheral edges. 
   
   
       9 . The plate of  claim 8  wherein each of said first and second retainer assemblies includes an elongate shoulder unitary with said respective first and second peripheral edges of said plate, said shoulder defining a cradle, an elongate slot extending the length of said shoulder, at least a first groove in said cradle extending in an orientation generally normal to said slot and at least one finger extending outwardly from said shoulder, each of said first and second retainer assemblies further including an elongate spring member having a first elongate arm defining at least one aperture and adapted to be slid into said slot in said shoulder in a relationship wherein said at least one finger in said shoulder is received in said at least one aperture in said first arm of said spring member, each of said first and second retainer assemblies further including an elongate rod having a non-circular cross-section and being adapted to be seated in said cradle between said shoulder and a second elongate arm of said spring member, said rod being rotatable to force said second arm of said spring member to clamp against the cold wall of the electronic enclosure structure for releasably retaining said plate in the electronic enclosure structure in said relationship wherein said first and second peripheral edges of said plate are positioned in said direct, compressive, surface-to-surface contact with the cold wall. 
   
   
       10 . The plate of  claim 9  wherein said first arm of said spring member includes at least a first slot defined therein, each of said first and second retainer assemblies further comprising a pin extending through said rod and protruding through said slot in said spring member and into said groove in said cradle of said shoulder for limiting the rotation of said rod relative to said shoulder. 
   
   
       11 . The plate of  claim 7  wherein said first retainer assembly includes a rod having a distal head including an interior surface defining a cavity adapted to receive the head of a tool adapted to allow the rod to be rotated. 
   
   
       12 . The plate of  claim 7  wherein said first retainer assembly includes a rod having a distal head including an end face defining a slot. 
   
   
       13 . An assembly adapted to retain a circuit board structure within an enclosure, said assembly comprising at least a bracket, a spring member releasably secured to said bracket, and a rod adapted to rotate relative to said bracket and deflect said spring member into engagement against the cold wall of the enclosure for releasably retaining said circuit board structure in the enclosure, said rod being characterized in that it includes a head defining an interior cavity adapted to receive the head of a standard tool. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said interior cavity of said head of said rod is defined by a hexagonally-shaped interior surface adapted to receive the head of a hexagonally-shaped socket tool. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said head of said rod includes an outer end surface defining a slot therein adapted to receive the head of a slotted driver tool. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said head of said rod includes an outer end surface defining a visual rod position indicator.