Cold plate assembly incorporating thermal heat spreader

Abstract

An example cold plate assembly includes a heat spreader assembly that defines a mounting surface for heat generating devices and provides an improved thermal conduction of heat away from the heat generating devices. The example heat spreader assembly provides a more uniform thermal gradient across the mounting surface of the cold plate assembly and improves thermal conductivity and cooling provided by the cold plate assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cold plate assembly comprising:
 a heat spreader defining a surface for mounting heat generating devices;   a plurality of heat dissipating members comprising ruffled fins in thermal communication with the heat spreader; and   an end sheet defining a surface opposite the heat spreader.   
     
     
         2 . The cold plate assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the heat spreader comprises a graphite material. 
     
     
         3 . The cold plate assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the heat spreader comprises an annealed pyrolytic graphite. 
     
     
         4 . The cold plate assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the heat spreader comprises an upper skin, a bottom skin and a layer of annealed pyrolytic graphite between the upper and lower skin. 
     
     
         5 . The cold plate assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipating members comprise first and second layers of ruffled fins separated by a parting sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The cold plate assembly as recited in  claim 5 , including a first closure bar disposed about the first layer of ruffled fins and a second closure bar disposed about the second layer of ruffled fins. 
     
     
         7 . The cold plate assembly as recited in  claim 6 , including additional parting sheets disposed on corresponding sides of the first and second layers of ruffled fins opposite the first parting sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The cold plate assembly as recited in  claim 7 , including an inlet and outlet for communicating a cooling medium through the first and second layers of ruffled fins. 
     
     
         9 . The cold plate assembly as recited in  claim 7 , including a brazed joint attaching the heat spreader to a parting sheet. 
     
     
         10 . A method of assembling a cold plate comprising:
 defining a mounting surface with a heat spreader;   attaching the heat spreader to a fin assembly including a plurality of ruffled fins; and   attaching an end sheet to a side of the fin assembly opposite the heat spreader.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the fin assembly includes a first parting sheet defining a first surface of the fin assembly, a closure bar surrounding the plurality of ruffled fins and a second sheet defining a second surface opposite the first surface to which the heat spreader is attached. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , including assembling the heat spreader by attaching a top skin and a bottom skin to a middle layer of heat spreading material. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the heat spreading material comprises annealed pyrolytic graphite. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , including attaching an inlet fitting to the first parting sheet to define a fluid inlet and attaching an outlet fitting to the first parting sheet to define a fluid outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , including attaching the heat spreader to the fin assembly with a brazed joint. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , including defining a fluid passage through the heat dissipating layer through the ruffled fins.