Thermal module

Abstract

A thermal module includes a blower, a fin unit and a heat pipe. The blower includes a housing and an impeller received in the housing. The housing defines an air inlet and an air outlet perpendicular to the air inlet. The fin unit is arranged at the air outlet of the blower. The heat pipe includes a tube defining a chamber, and a wick structure disposed in the chamber. The heat pipe forms an evaporation section and a condensation section attaching to the fin unit. At least one contacting member is depressed inwardly from the evaporation section of the heat pipe for accommodating an electronic component therein. A depth of the chamber at the at least one contacting member is less than that at other portion of the evaporation section of the heat pipe without the at least one contacting member.

1 . A thermal module, comprising:
 a blower comprising a housing and an impeller received in the housing, the housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet perpendicular to the air inlet;   a fin unit arranged at the air outlet of the blower; and   a heat pipe comprising a tube defining a chamber therein, and a wick structure disposed in the chamber of the tube, the heat pipe forming an evaporation section and a condensation section at opposite ends of the tube, respectively, the condensation section attaching to the fin unit, at least one contacting member depressed inwardly from the evaporation section of the heat pipe for accommodating an electronic component therein, a depth of the chamber at the at least one contacting member being less than that at other portion of the evaporation section of the heat pipe without the at least one contacting member.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one contacting member comprises a base depressed in the tube and a flange extending upwardly from a periphery of the base, and the base has one of rectangular shape and square shape and adapted for contacting the electronic component. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal module of  claim 2 , wherein the tube comprises a first plate, a second plate parallel to the first plate, and a side plate interconnecting the first plate and the second plate, the at least one contacting member being formed on the first plate, the wick structure comprising a main body and a pair of protrusions, the main body contacting the second plate and the first plate at the at least one contacting member, the protrusions extending from the main body to abut the first plate at a position spaced from the at least one contacting member. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal module of  claim 3 , wherein a width between the protrusions is larger than a width of the base, the protrusions being spaced from the flange of the at least one contacting member, a channel being formed between the pair of protrusions. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal module of  claim 4 , wherein a width of the main body of the wick structure substantially equals to that of the chamber of the tube, the protrusions extends from lateral sides of the main body and attaching to the side plate of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal module of  claim 2 , wherein the tube comprises a first plate, a second plate parallel to the first plate, and a side plate interconnecting the first plate and the second plate, the at least one contacting member being formed on the first plate, the wick structure contacting the second plate and the first plate at the at least one contacting member, the wick structure covering the base and the flange of the at least one contacting member. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal module of  claim 6 , wherein a width of the wick structure is smaller than that of the chamber, a passage is defined between the wick structure and the side plate of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal module of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is substantially Z-shaped, the condensation section of the heat pipe being linear-shaped, the evaporation section of the heat pipe being L-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal module of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of contacting members are formed on the evaporation section of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         10 . A heat pipe, comprising:
 a tube defining a chamber therein; and   a wick structure disposed in the chamber of the tube;   wherein the heat pipe respectively forms an evaporation section and a condensation section at opposite ends of the tube, at least one contacting member depressed inwardly from the evaporation section of the heat pipe for accommodating an electronic component therein, a depth of the chamber at the at least one contacting member being less than that at other portion of the evaporation section of the heat pipe without the at least one contacting member.   
     
     
         11 . The heat pipe of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one contacting member comprises a base in the tube and a flange extending outwardly from a periphery of the base to connect with an outside of the tube, and the base is one of square-shaped and rectangle-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pipe of  claim 11 , wherein the tube comprises a first plate, a second plate parallel to the first plate, and a side plate interconnecting the first plate and the second plate, the at least one contacting member being formed on the first plate, the wick structure comprising a main body and a pair of protrusions, the main body contacting the second plate and the first plate at the at least one contacting member, the protrusions extending from the main body to abut the first plate at a position spaced from the at least one contacting member. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pipe of  claim 12 , wherein a width between the protrusions is larger than a width of the base, the protrusions being spaced from the flange of the at least one contacting member, a channel being formed between the pair of protrusions. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein a width of the main body of the wick structure substantially equals to that of the chamber of the tube, the protrusions extends from lateral sides of the main body and attaching to the side plate of the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pipe of  claim 11 , wherein the tube comprises a first plate, a second plate parallel to the first plate, and a side plate interconnecting the first plate and the second plate, the at least one contacting member being formed on the first plate, the wick structure contacting the second plate and the first plate at the at least one contacting member, the wick structure covering the base and the flange of the at least one contacting member. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal module of  claim 15 , wherein a width of the wick structure is smaller than that of the chamber, a passage is defined between the wick structure and the side plate of the tube. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pipe of  claim 10 , wherein the heat pipe is substantially Z-shaped, the condensation section of the heat pipe being linear-shaped, the evaporation section of the heat pipe being L-shaped, a plurality of contacting members being formed on the evaporation section of the heat pipe.