Thermal module and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A thermal module and a method of manufacturing the thermal module are disclosed. The thermal module includes a heat pipe, at least one first linking member, at least one second linking member, and a mounting member having a plurality of stopping sections. The first and second linking member have a first and a second recess, respectively, for receiving and connecting to two opposite lateral sides of a heat-absorption end of the heat pipe; and a plurality of first and second engaging sections, respectively, for correspondingly connecting with the stopping sections, so that the first and second linking members, the mounting member, and the heat pipe are connected to one another to form an integral unit. With these arrangements, the heat pipe can be in direct contact with a heat source to absorb and transfer heat, allowing the thermal module to have effectively reduced thermal resistance and increased heat transfer efficiency.

1 . A thermal module, comprising:
 a heat pipe having a heat-absorption section and a heat-dissipation section outward extended from the heat-absorption section;   at least one first linking member being provided with a first recess for receiving and connecting with one of two opposite lateral surfaces of the heat-absorption section of the heat pipe, and a plurality of first engaging sections located close to the first recess;   at least one second linking member being provided with a second recess for receiving and connecting with the other one of the two opposite lateral surfaces of the heat-absorption section of the heat pipe, and a plurality of second engaging sections located close to the second recess; and   a mounting member being correspondingly arranged on top of the heat-absorption section of the heat pipe and the first and second linking members, and being provided with a plurality of stopping sections for connecting to corresponding first and second engaging sections on the first and second linking members, respectively, so that the first and second linking members, the mounting member, and the heat pipe are brought to connect to one another and form an integral unit.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat-absorption section of the heat pipe externally defines around its outer side four sequentially adjoining surfaces, namely, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth heat-absorption surface. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first linking member externally defines around its outer side four surfaces, namely, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth surface; the first surface being flush with the first heat-absorption surface; and the first recess being provided on and along the fourth surface for receiving and connecting with the second heat-absorption surface of the heat-absorptions section of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second linking member externally defines around its outer side four surfaces, namely, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, and an eighth surface; the fifth surface being flush with the first heat-absorption surface and the first surface; and the second recess being provided on and along the eight surface for receiving and connecting with the fourth heat-absorption surface of the heat-absorptions section of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the mounting member defines a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and the mounting member being disposed with the first side bearing on the third 
     
     
         6 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first and second engaging sections are in the form of posts axially upward projected from the second and sixth surfaces of the first and second linking members, respectively; and the stopping sections are in the form of through holes extending from the first side to the second side of the mounting member for connecting with corresponding posts of the first and second engaging sections. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first and second engaging sections are in the form of sunken holes provided on the second and sixth surfaces of the first and second linking members, respectively; and the stopping sections are in the form of posts axially downward projected from the first side of the mounting member for connecting with corresponding sunken holes of the first and second engaging sections. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the mounting member is further provided adjacent to four corners with a plurality of mounting holes, via which a plurality of fastening elements can be correspondingly extended to fix the mounting member to a predetermined position. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the mounting member is further provided adjacent to four corners with a plurality of mounting holes, via which a plurality of fastening elements can be correspondingly extended to fix the mounting member to a predetermined position. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the mounting member includes a plurality of extended arms outward projected from a pair of two opposite peripheral edges thereof, and the extended arms respectively having a free end provided with a mounting hole, such that a plurality of fastening elements can be correspondingly extended through the mounting holes to fix the mounting member to a predetermined position. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the mounting member includes a plurality of extended arms outward projected from a pair of two opposite peripheral edges thereof, and the extended arms respectively having a free end provided with a mounting hole, such that a plurality of fastening elements can be correspondingly extended through the mounting holes to fix the mounting member to a predetermined position. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stopping sections of the mounting member are connected to the engaging sections of the first and second linking members in a manner selected from the group consisting of insertion and snap fitting. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first heat-absorption surface of the heat pipe is in contact with a heat-generating element. 
     
     
         14 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a radiating fin assembly connected to and extended through by the heat-dissipation section of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second linking members and the mounting member are made of a metal material. 
     
     
         16 . A thermal module manufacturing method, comprising the following steps:
 providing a heat pipe, at least one first linking member having a first recess and a plurality of first engaging sections, at least one second linking member having a second recess and a plurality of second engaging sections, and a mounting member having a plurality of stopping sections; and   disposing the first and second linking members at two opposite lateral sides of a heat-absorption end of the heat pipe, and correspondingly disposing the mounting member on top of the heat pipe and the first and second linking members; and simultaneously pressing the first and second linking members as well as the mounting member against the heat pipe, so that the two opposite lateral sides at the heat-absorption end of the heat pipe are tightly received in the first and the second recess and the first and second engaging sections are correspondingly connected to the stopping sections, bringing the first and second linking members, the mounting member and the heat pipe to connect to one another and form an integral unit.   
     
     
         17 . The thermal module manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second engaging sections are in the form of posts axially upward projected from surfaces of the first and second linking members, respectively, facing toward the mounting member; and the stopping sections are in the form of through holes extending through the mounting member in a thickness direction thereof to correspondingly snap fit around the posts of the first and second engaging sections. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal module manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second engaging sections are in the form of sunken holes provided on surfaces of the first and second linking members, respectively, facing toward the mounting member; and the stopping sections are in the form of posts axially downward projected from one side of the mounting member facing toward the first and second linking members to correspondingly snap fit in the sunken holes of the first and second engaging sections. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal module manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the stopping sections of the mounting member are connected to the engaging 
     
     
         20 . The thermal module manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second linking members and the mounting member are made of a metal material.