Cooling member, manufacturing method and apparatus thereof

Abstract

A cooling member includes a heat-transfer member having a groove and a refrigerant introducing pipe pressed into the groove. The refrigerant introducing pipe has a pressed region positioned inwardly of the edge of the heat-transfer member, and at least one curbed surface portion. A method for manufacturing a cooling member includes preparing a punch having at least one curved corner and a pressing surface, positioning the corner, and moving the punch closer to the groove to press the refrigerant introducing pipe into the groove with the pressing surface. A device for manufacturing a cooling member includes the punch and a support configured to support the heat-transfer member so the groove is positioned opposite the punch.

1 . A method for manufacturing a cooling member including a heat-transfer member having a groove and at least one edge which is a longitudinal limit of the groove and a refrigerant introducing pipe disposed in the groove, the method comprising:
 preparing a punch having
 at least one corner formed in a curved surface shape at one end or more thereof, and 
 a pressing surface adjacent to the corner to arrange the pressing surface of the punch at a position opposite to the groove; 
   positioning the corner of the punch longitudinally inwardly of the edge of the heat-transfer member; and   moving the punch closer to the groove to press the refrigerant introducing pipe into the groove with the pressing surface.   
     
     
         2 . A cooling member comprising:
 a heat-transfer member having a groove and at least one edge which is a longitudinal limit of the groove; and   a refrigerant introducing pipe pressed into the groove with a press machine, the refrigerant introducing pipe having
 a pressed region, which shrinks by being pressed with the press machine, positioned inwardly of the edge of the heat-transfer member, and 
 at least one curbed surface portion in a gradually shrinking shape in a direction from where the refrigerant introducing pipe is pressed by the press machine with a move from the edge of the heat-transfer member to the pressed region. 
   
     
     
         3 . A device for manufacturing a cooling member including a heat-transfer member having a groove and at least one edge which is a longitudinal limit of the groove and a refrigerant introducing pipe pressed into the groove, the device comprising:
 a punch having
 at least one corner formed in a curved surface shape at one end or more thereof, and 
 a pressing surface adjacent to the at least one corner; and 
   a support arranged and configured to support the heat-transfer member such that the groove is arranged at a position opposite to the pressing surface,   the corner being arranged and configured to contact the refrigerant introducing pipe longitudinally inwardly of the edge when the punch presses the refrigerant introducing pipe into the groove with the pressing surface.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the punch has at least one back-up portion extending outwardly of the edge of the heat-transfer member, and   the back-up portion hits against the refrigerant introducing pipe when the corner of the punch comes in contact with the refrigerant introducing pipe.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling member according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the heat-transfer member has an opened surface where the groove is located and surfaces of the heat-transfer member and the refrigerant introducing pipe are coated with a covering material.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling member according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the covering material includes a coating material applied to the heat-transfer member and the refrigerant introducing pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling member according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the covering material includes a cover that covers for covering the heat-transfer member.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling member according to  claim 5 , wherein
 electric parts are mounted on one surface of a heat-conducting member, which is arranged and configured to make the heat-transfer member and the refrigerant introducing pipe closely fitted with each other on another surface of the heat conducting member.   
     
     
         9 . The cooling member according to  claim 5 , wherein
 a sealing member is arranged and configured to intervene between the groove of the heat-transfer member and the refrigerant introducing pipe, and the sealing member is provided longitudinally outwardly of at least one end of the pressed region.   
     
     
         10 . The cooling member according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the groove has an inner circumferential surface in an oval shape to determine a center inwardly of an opening opened to a surface of the heat-transfer member and conforming a direction of a major axis to a width direction of the opening, and   the refrigerant introducing pipe includes a curved portion closely fitted with the inner circumferential surface, and a plane portion blocking the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The cooling member according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the oval is an ellipse.   
     
     
         12 . A method for manufacturing a cooling member comprising the steps of:
 preparing a punch having
 at least one corner formed in a curved surface shape at one end or more thereof, and 
 a pressing surface adjacent to the at least one corner; 
   preparing a heat-transfer member having a groove with an oval shaped inner circumferential surface to determine a center inwardly of an opening of the groove and conforming a direction of a major axis to a width direction of the opening;   inserting a refrigerant introducing pipe into the groove;   arranging a pressing surface of the punch at a position opposite to the groove;   positioning the corner of the punch inwardly of at least one longitudinal edge of the heat-transfer member;   moving the punch closer to the groove to press the refrigerant introducing pipe into the groove with the pressing surface; and   plastically deforming the refrigerant introducing pipe so as to be closely fitted with the inner circumferential surface of the groove.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the oval is an ellipse.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling member according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a center of curvature of an inner circumferential surface in the groove is disposed inwardly of an opening of the groove, a length obtained by adding the circumference of the inner circumferential surface to the width of the opening is shorter than an outer circumference of the refrigerant introducing pipe, and further wherein   the refrigerant introducing pipe includes a curved portion closely fitted with the inner circumferential surface, and a plane portion blocking the opening and projecting from a surface of the heat-transfer member.   
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a cooling member comprising the steps of:
 preparing a punch having
 at least one corner formed in a curved surface shape at one end or more thereof, and 
 a pressing surface adjacent to the at least one corner; 
   preparing a heat-transfer member having a groove with a center of curvature of an inner circumferential surface thereof being disposed inwardly of an opening of the groove and a length obtained by adding the circumference of the inner circumferential surface to the width of the opening is shorter than an outer circumference of a refrigerant introducing pipe;   inserting the refrigerant introducing pipe into the groove;   arranging a pressing surface of the punch at a position opposite to the groove;   positioning the corner of the punch inwardly of at least one longitudinal edge of the heat-transfer member;   moving the punch closer to the groove to press the refrigerant introducing pipe into the groove with the pressing surface; and   plastically deforming the refrigerant introducing pipe so as to be closely fitted with the inner circumferential surface of the groove.   
     
     
         16 . The cooling member according to  claim 6 , wherein
 a sealing member is arranged and configured to intervene between the groove of the heat-transfer member and the refrigerant introducing pipe, and the sealing member is provided longitudinally outwardly of at least one end of the pressed region.   
     
     
         17 . The cooling member according to  claim 7 , wherein
 a sealing member is arranged and configured to intervene between the groove of the heat-transfer member and the refrigerant introducing pipe, and the sealing member is provided longitudinally outwardly of at least one end of the pressed region.   
     
     
         18 . The cooling member according to  claim 8 , wherein
 a sealing member is arranged and configured to intervene between the groove of the heat-transfer member and the refrigerant introducing pipe, and the sealing member is provided longitudinally outwardly of at least one end of the pressed region.