Partable Thermal Heat Pipe

Abstract

A heat pipe for conducting heat away from an electronic device attached to a removable electronic module includes two self-aligning sections. A source section is attached to the removable electronic module and a target section passes through and is retained by a fixed member. One end of the source section is in thermal contact with a heat source and the other end includes a self aligning female thermal interface. One end of the target section includes a self aligning male thermal interface and the other end includes a heat sink. The female end of the source section and the male end of the target section are moved into contact with each other to form a thermal connection that permits heat from the heat source to be transferred to the heat sink.

1 . A self-aligning partable heat pipe comprising:
 a source section attached to a removable electronic module, the distal end of the source section in thermal contact with a heat source and the proximal end of the source section forming a female interface element;   a target section passes through and is retained by both of an aperture in a fixed member and an aperture in a carrier member and is able to translate towards and away from an insertion direction of the removable electronic module, and the target section includes a thermal target and a proximal end of the target section forms a male interface element; and   the female interface element of the source section and the male interface element of the target section together comprise a partable, self-aligning thermally conductive interface through which heat from the heat source is transferred to the thermal target.   
   
   
       2 . The thermally conductive interface of  claim 1 , wherein the female interface element is comprised of a hollow wedge shaped receptacle and the male interface element is comprised of a solid wedge that fits inside the hollow wedge shaped receptacle of the female interface element. 
   
   
       3 . The female interface element of  claim 2 , wherein the hollow wedge shaped receptacle is comprised of an inner cavity surface and the sides are wedge shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The male interface element of  claim 2 , wherein the wedge is a two-sided wedge and the width of the wedge is smaller than the opening in the female interface element. 
   
   
       5 . The wedge shaped form of  claim 4 , wherein the sides of the wedge are wedge-shaped. 
   
   
       6 . The female interface element of  claim 2 , wherein the wedge is conical. 
   
   
       7 . The male interface element of  claim 2 , wherein the wedge is conical. 
   
   
       8 . The partable heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the removable electronic module is a printer circuit board. 
   
   
       9 . The partable heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source is an electronic device. 
   
   
       10 . The partable heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed member is any one of a bulkhead, other chassis member, electrical backplane, circuit board and second module. 
   
   
       11 . The partable heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier member is fastened to the fixed member. 
   
   
       12 . The partable heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal target is a thermal radiator. 
   
   
       13 . The partable heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the target section is spring loaded. 
   
   
       14 . The hollow wedge shaped receptacle of  claim 3 , wherein the inner cavity surface is coated with thermal grease.