Thermal module

Abstract

A thermal module adapted for dissipating heat of an electronic component includes a heat pipe; and two mounting flakes mounted on the heat pipe. The mounting flakes are configured for mounting the thermal module on a circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted. Each of the mounting flakes is formed integrally as a single piece. The mounting flake includes a fixing body and two mounting arms formed at two opposite ends of the fixing body. The fixing body is directly bonded on the heat pipe. The mounting arms extend beyond the heat pipe and define through holes therein for extension of fasteners.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal module for dissipating heat of an electronic component, the thermal module comprising:
 a heat pipe; and   two mounting flakes mounted to the heat pipe, the mounting flake being configured for mounting the thermal module on a circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted, each of the mounting flakes being formed integrally as a single piece and comprising a fixing body and two mounting arms formed at two opposite ends of the fixing body, the fixing body being directly bonded to the heat pipe, the mounting arms extending beyond the heat pipe and defining through holes therein for extension of fasteners.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal module of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing body is mounted to the heat pipe by solder or adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal module of  claim 2 , wherein the two mounting flakes are spaced from each other, the fixing body of each of the mounting flake spans the heat pipe, and the two mounting arms of each of the mounting flakes are located at two opposite sides of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal module of  claim 3 , wherein a receiving recess is defined beneath the fixing body of each of the mounting flakes, and the heat pipe is received in the receiving recess. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal module of  claim 4 , further comprising a heat conductive plate thermally mounted on the heat pipe, and the heat pipe absorbing heat from the electronic component through the heat conductive plate. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal module of  claim 5 , wherein the heat pipe comprises a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface opposite to each other, the fixing body of the mounting flake is mounted on the top surface of the heat pipe, and the heat conductive plate is mounted on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal module of  claim 6 , wherein a middle portion of the fixing body humps upwardly to form a saddle portion, and the receiving recess is defined beneath the saddle portion. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal module of  claim 5 , wherein the heat pipe is cylindrical, the fixing body is arch-shaped, the receiving recess is also arch-shaped and matches a profile of a top side of the heat pipe to achieve an intimate contact between the fixing body and the heat pipe, a contacting recess is defined in the heat conductive plate, and the contacting recess matches a profile of a bottom side of the heat pipe to achieve an intimate contact between the heat conductive plate and the heat pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal module of  claim 3 , wherein the fixing body and the mounting arms of each of the mounting flakes are level with each other, the heat pipe comprises a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface opposite to each other, and the fixing body of the mounting flake is mounted on the bottom surface of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal module of  claim 3 , wherein the mounting flake is U-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal module of  claim 2 , wherein the two mounting flakes are respectively positioned at two opposite sides of the heat pipe, the fixing body is flat strip-shaped, each of the mounting flakes further comprises two connecting tabs extending downwardly perpendicularly from two opposite ends of a lateral side of the fixing body, the two mounting arms of each of the mounting fakes extend perpendicularly from bottom ends of the two connecting tabs respectively away from the fixing body, the fixing bodies and the connecting tabs of the two mounting flakes cooperatively define a receiving recess for receiving the heat pipe, and the mounting arms of each of the mounting flakes are positioned at a same side of the heat pipe.