Enhanced heat transfer for housings

Abstract

An apparatus that has housing for containing objects. The housing has two heat-conducting partial-boundaries having an interface between them. The apparatus also has a medium for enhancing heat transfer across the interface.

1 . A method for manufacturing an apparatus for containing objects, the method comprising: 
 forming first and second heat-conducting partial-shells having first and second faces, respectively;    forming at least one continuous first groove in the first and second faces around the perimeter of the first and second partial-shells;    forming at least one continuous second groove in the first and second faces exterior to the respective first grooves around the perimeter of the first and second partial-shells;    attaching at least one object to either the first or second partial-shell for thermal contact therebetween;    forming a housing by butting the first and second faces together, whereby aligning the respective first grooves to form at least one continuous first channel in the abutment and aligning the respective second grooves to form at least one continuous second channel in the abutment exteriorly of the first;    sealing the housing against electromagnetic interference;    enhancing the heat transfer between the first and second heat-conducting shells; and    sealing the housing against the weather.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing for selectively securing the first and second heat conducting partial-shells together.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising connecting the first and second partial-shells so that the first and second partial-shells pivot about a common axis.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming each of the first grooves is carried out using a single tool setup.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming each of the second grooves is carried out using a single tool setup.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein sealing against electromagnetic interference is accomplished by disposing an electromagnetic-interference-seal in the first channel.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein sealing against the weather is accomplished by disposing a weather-seal in the second channel.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein enhancing the heat transfer is carried out by disposing a conformable thermally conducting material exteriorly of the first channel and interiorly of the second channel to increase the thermal contact between the respective faces.  
   
   
       9 . A method for manufacturing an apparatus for containing objects, the method comprising: 
 forming first and second heat-conducting partial-shells having first and second faces, respectively;    forming first and second flanges about the perimeters of the first and second heat-conducting shells, respectively, the first and second flanges having first and second faces, respectively, wherein the first and second flange-faces are co-planer with and extend the first and second partial-shell-faces, respectively, exteriorly of the first and second partial-shells;    forming at least one continuous first groove in the first and second flange-faces around the perimeter of the first and second partial-shells;    attaching at least one object to either the first or second partial-shell for thermal contact therebetween; forming a housing by butting the first and second partial-shells together, whereby aligning the respective grooves to form at least one continuous first channel in the flange-face abutment;    sealing the housing against electromagnetic interference;    enhancing the heat transfer between the first and second heat-conducting shells; and    sealing the housing against the weather.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing for selectively securing the first and second heat conducting partial-shells together.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising connecting the first and second partial-shells so that the first and second partial-shells pivot about a common axis.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein forming each of the grooves is carried out using a single tool setup.