Heat exchanger assembly

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly for use in an electronic assembly having a heat source comprises a heat transfer section and heat dissipation fins. The heat transfer section includes a first portion attachable to the heat source and a second portion extending away from the first portion. The heat dissipation fins have a longitudinal dimension and are attached to at least part of the second portion of the heat transfer section along the longitudinal dimension.

1 . A heat exchanger assembly for use in an electronic assembly having a heat source comprising: 
 a heat transfer section including a first portion attachable to the heat source and a second portion extending away from the first portion; and    a set of heat dissipation fins, each heat dissipation fin having a longitudinal dimension and attached to at least part of the second portion of the heat transfer section along the longitudinal dimension.    
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the electronic assembly is a computer system.    
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the heat transfer section comprises an evaporative-type heat transfer device.    
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 3  wherein: 
 the second portion of the heat transfer section has a cylindrical shape; and    the heat dissipation fins extend radially away from the second portion.    
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the heat dissipation fins to duct airflow passed the heat dissipation fins within the cylindrical sleeve.    
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 3  further comprising: 
 a fan positioned adjacent the heat dissipation fins to flow air passed the heat dissipation fins.    
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the electronic assembly has a plurality of the heat sources, further comprising: 
 a plurality of the heat transfer sections attached together, each including the first portion attachable to one of the heat sources and the second portion extending away from the first portion; and    a plurality of the sets of heat dissipation fins, each set of heat dissipation fins attached to at least part of the second portion of one of the heat transfer sections along the longitudinal dimension of the heat dissipation fins.    
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 3  wherein: 
 the first portion of the heat transfer section has a horizontal rectangular shape;    the second portion of the heat transfer section has a vertical rectangular shape; and    the heat dissipation fins extend horizontally from the second portion.    
   
   
       9 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 8  wherein: 
 the first and second portions of the heat transfer section form an inverted T shape.    
   
   
       10 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a vapor chamber within the heat transfer section.    
   
   
       11 . A heat exchanger assembly as defined in  claim 8  further comprising: 
 at least one heat pipe embedded within the heat transfer section.    
   
   
       12 . A heat exchanger assembly for use in a computer system having a heat source comprising: 
 a means for attaching to and receiving heat from the heat source;    a means for transferring the received heat to a location within the computer system remote from the heat source; and    a plurality of means for dissipating the transferred heat from the transferring means, the dissipating means each having a longitudinal dimension and being attached to the transferring means along the longitudinal dimension.    
   
   
       13 . A computer system comprising: 
 a heat source; and    a heat exchanger assembly comprising:    a heat transfer section including a first portion attached to the heat source and a second portion extending away from the first portion and the heat source; and    heat dissipation fins having a longitudinal dimension and attached to at least part of the second portion of the heat transfer section along the longitudinal dimension.    
   
   
       14 . A computer system as defined in  claim 13  wherein: 
 the heat transfer section of the heat exchanger assembly comprises an evaporative-type heat transfer device.    
   
   
       15 . A computer system as defined in  claim 14  wherein: 
 the second portion of the heat transfer section comprises a cylindrical heat pipe; and    the heat dissipation fins extend radially out from the heat pipe.    
   
   
       16 . A computer system as defined in  claim 15  wherein: 
 the heat exchanger assembly further comprises:    a plurality of the heat transfer sections attached together.    
   
   
       17 . A computer system as defined in  claim 15  wherein: 
 the heat exchanger assembly further comprises:    a sleeve surrounding the heat dissipation fins to duct airflow passed the heat dissipation fins.    
   
   
       18 . A computer system as defined in  claim 15  wherein: 
 the heat exchanger assembly further comprises:    a fan adjacent the heat dissipation fins to flow air passed the heat dissipation fins.    
   
   
       19 . A computer system as defined in  claim 14  wherein: 
 the first portion of the heat transfer section has a horizontal rectangular shape;    the second portion of the heat transfer section has a vertical rectangular shape; and    the heat dissipation fins extend horizontally from the second portion.    
   
   
       20 . A computer system as defined in  claim 19  wherein: 
 the second portion of the heat transfer section comprises a vapor chamber.    
   
   
       21 . A computer system as defined in  claim 19  wherein: 
 the heat transfer section comprises at least one embedded heat pipe.