Modular heat sink and method for fabricating same

Abstract

There is described a method for fabricating a modular heat sink, the method comprising: extruding N individual integral heat sink segments using an extrusion process, each one of the N segments corresponding to 1/N of the modular heat sink, N being an integer greater than one; and assembling the N individual integral heat sink segments together in order to obtain the modular heat sink.

1 . A method for fabricating a modular heat sink, said method comprising:
 extruding N individual integral heat sink segments using an extrusion process, each one of said N segments corresponding to 1/N of said modular heat sink. N being an integer greater than one; and   assembling said N individual integral heat sink segments together in order to obtain said modular heat sink.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said extruding comprises extruding N identical individual integral heat sink segments. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said extruding comprises extruding at least two different individual integral heat sink segments. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said extruding comprises extruding said at least two different individual integral heat sink segments having a different shape. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said extruding comprises extruding said at least two different individual integral heat sink segments from different materials. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said assembling comprises releasably connecting said N individual integral heat sink segments together. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said assembling comprises permanently securing said N individual integral heat sink segments together. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said extruding comprises extruding N connectable individual integral heat sink segments, each having a male connector and a female connector thereon, said female connector of each one of said N connectable individual integral heat sink segments being adapted to receive said male connector of another one of said N connectable individual integral heat sink segments 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said extruding comprises extruding four quadrants of a cylindrically shaped modular heat sink. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said extruding comprises extruding said N individual integral heat sink segments from one of aluminum and copper. 
     
     
         11 . A modular heat sink comprising N extruded individual integral heat sink segments connected together to form said modular heat sink, each one of said N segments corresponding to 1/N of said modular heat sink. N being an integer greater than one. 
     
     
         12 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments are identical. 
     
     
         13 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein at least two of said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments are different. 
     
     
         14 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said at least two of said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments have a different shape. 
     
     
         15 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments is made from a different material. 
     
     
         16 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments are releasably connected together. 
     
     
         17 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments are permanently secured together. 
     
     
         18 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each one of said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments comprises a male connector and a female connector thereon, said male connector of each of said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments being received in said female connector of another one of said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments. 
     
     
         19 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments are made of one of aluminum and copper. 
     
     
         20 . The modular heat sink as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said N extruded individual integral heat sink segments are four quadrants of a cylindrically shaped modular heat sink.