Plate-type heat pipe and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A plate-type heat pipe includes a base plate having a first wick structure secured thereon and a covering plate mounted on the base plate. The base plate includes a central heat-absorbing plate and a pair of extending plates angling upwardly from opposite ends of the heat absorbing plate. The first wick structure includes a first adhering portion securely fixed to a top surface of a central portion of the heat absorbing plate, two second adhering portions angling upwardly from opposite ends of the first adhering portion and securely fixed to the top surface of lateral portions of the heat absorbing plate and top surfaces of the extending plates. The first adhering portion is thinner than the second adhering portion, and the second adhering portion thins from a central portion to opposite ends thereof.

1 . A plate-type heat pipe comprising:
 a base plate comprising a central heat absorbing plate and a pair of extending plates angling upwardly from opposite ends of the heat absorbing plate;   a covering plate mounted on a top of the base plate; and   a first wick structure fixed to a top surface of the base plate, the first wick structure comprising a first adhering portion securely fixed to a central portion of a top surface of the heat absorbing plate of the base plate, two second adhering portions angling upwardly from opposite ends of the first adhering portion and securely fixed to lateral portions of the top surface of the heat absorbing plate and top surfaces of the extending plates of the base plate;   wherein the first adhering portion is thinner than each of the second adhering portions of the first wick structure, and the each of the second adhering portions thins from a central portion to distal ends thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 1 , wherein a second wick structure is fixed to a bottom surface of the covering plate and connects with the first wick structure, the second wick structure being thicker than the first adhering portion of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         3 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 1 , wherein the first wick structure comprises a first metal powder, and the second wick structure comprises a second metal powder. 
     
     
         4 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 3 , wherein a particle size of the first metal powder of the first wick structure is smaller than a particle size of the second metal powder of the second wick structure. 
     
     
         5 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the first adhering portion of the first wick structure is rectangular and a cross section of the each of the second adhering portions of the first wick structure is pentagonal. 
     
     
         6 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 1 , wherein the base plate further comprises two engaging plates extending outwardly from ends of the two extending plates respectively, the first wick structure further comprises two third adhering portions extending from the two second adhering portions and fixed to top surfaces of the two engaging plates. 
     
     
         7 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 6 , wherein the third adhering portion comprises a first joining portion angling upwardly from an end of a corresponding second adhering portion and a second joining portion extending outwardly from an end of the first joining portion, wherein thickness of the first joining portion increases from an inner end to an outer end. 
     
     
         8 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 7 , wherein a top surface of the corresponding second adhering portion and a top surface of the first joining portion of the third adhering portion are coplanar. 
     
     
         9 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 8 , wherein the first joining portion is thinner than the second joining portion and the outmost end of the first joining portion is as thick as an inner end of the second joining portion of the third adhering portion of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         10 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 7 , wherein a step angles outwardly from a joint of the first joining portion of the third adhering portion and the corresponding second adhering portion of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         11 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 10 , wherein the first joining portion is thinner than the second joining portion and the outmost end of the first joining portion is thinner than an inner end of the second joining portion of the third adhering portion of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         12 . The plate-type heat pipe as in  claim 7 , wherein a cross section of the second joining portion is rectangular and a cross section of the first joining portion is trapezoidal. 
     
     
         13 . A method for manufacturing a plate-type heat pipe comprising:
 providing a base plate, the base plate comprising a heat absorbing plate and two extending plates angling upwardly from opposite ends of the heat absorbing plate;   providing a first mold having a structure corresponding to the base plate, the first mold engaging the base plate to cooperatively define a first cavity, the first cavity comprising a first receiving portion corresponding to a central portion of the heat absorbing plate of the base plate, and two second receiving portions angling outwardly from opposite ends of the first receiving portion and corresponding to lateral portions of the heat absorbing plate and the extending plates of the base plate, wherein the first receiving portion of the first cavity is shallower than each of the second receiving portions of the first cavity, and the each of the second receiving portions shallows from a central portion to distal ends thereof;   providing a covering plate and a second mold, the second mold engaging the covering plate to cooperatively define a second cavity;   filling a first metal powder into the first cavity and a second metal powder into the second cavity;   heating the first and second metal powders to obtain a first wick structure fixed to a top surface of the base plate and a second wick structure fixed to a bottom surface of the covering plate, the first wick structure comprising a first adhering portion securely fixed to a top surface of the central portion of the heat absorbing plate of the base plate, two second adhering portions securely fixed to the surface of the lateral portions of the heat absorbing plate and top surfaces of the extending plates of the base plate;   removing the first and second molds from the first and second wick structures respectively;   assembling the first and second wick structures and the covering and base plates together with a chamber defined between the first and second wick structures; and   injecting the chamber with a work fluid;   evacuating the chamber by vacuum; and   sealing the chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the second cavity is deeper than the first receiving portion of the first cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the base plate further comprises two engaging plates extending outwardly from ends of the extending plates respectively and facing apart, the first mold of the mold enclosing the engaging plates to define two third receiving portions between the engaging plates of the base plate and the first mold, and two third adhering portions of the first wick structure are formed in the third receiving portions and fixed to top surfaces of the engaging plates of the base plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein each of the third receiving portions comprises a first connecting portion angling outwardly from an end of a corresponding one of the second receiving portions and a second connecting portion extending outwardly from an end of the first connecting portion, the first connecting portion being shallower than the corresponding one of the second connecting portions. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the first connecting portion of the third receiving portion deepens from an end connected with the second receiving portion to an end connected with the second connecting portion of the each of the third receiving portions. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein an outmost end of the first connecting portion of the each of the third receiving portions is shallower than the second connecting portion of the each of the third receiving portions.