Heat sink

Abstract

A heat sink includes a base having a structure side and an opposite environmental side. The structure side of the base is configured to thermally communicate with a structure for absorbing heat from the structure. A cooling fin extends a height outwardly from the environmental side of the base. The cooling fin extends a cord length along the base from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the cooling fin. The cooling fin includes the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil along at least a portion of the height of the cooling fin to increase the velocity of a flow of air along the cord length of the cooling fin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat sink comprising:
 a base having a structure side and an opposite environmental side, the structure side of the base being configured to thermally communicate with a structure for absorbing heat from the structure; and   a cooling fin extending a height outwardly from the environmental side of the base, the cooling fin extending a cord length along the base from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the cooling fin, the cooling fin comprising the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil along at least a portion of the height of the cooling fin to increase the velocity of a flow of air along the cord length of the cooling fin.   
     
     
         2 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the base extends from a front end to a rear end, the flow of air flows along the base from the front end to the rear end, and the airfoil shape of the cooling fin is configured to reduce a pressure at the rear end of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fin is configured to increase the velocity of the flow of air through a channel defined between the cooling fin and another cooling fin of the heat sink. 
     
     
         4 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fin is a first cooling fin, the heat sink comprising a second cooling fin that extends a height outwardly from the environmental side of the base, the first and second cooling fins being spaced apart along the environmental side of the base to define a fluid channel therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fin is a first cooling fin, the heat sink comprising a second cooling fin that extends a height outwardly from the environmental side of the base, the first and second cooling fins being spaced apart along the environmental side of the base to define a fluid channel therebetween, the second cooling fm comprising the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil along at least a portion of the height of the second cooling fin. 
     
     
         6 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the airfoil shape of the cooling fin extends along a camber line, the airfoil shape of the cooling fin being asymmetrical about the camber line. 
     
     
         7 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the base extends along a central axis that extends approximately parallel to a length or a width of the base, the cooling fin comprising opposite sidewalls that extend along the height of the cooling fin, at least one of sidewalls extending non-parallel relative to the central axis of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fin comprising opposite sidewalls that extend along the height of the cooling fin, the sidewalls comprising curvatures that are different than each other. 
     
     
         9 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the base extends along a central axis that extends approximately parallel to a length or a width of the base, the cooling fin comprising opposite sidewalls that extend along the height of the cooling fin, the sidewalls comprising approximately planar shapes that have different angles relative to the central axis of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a cooling port that extends through the base, the cooling port being defined by a divider wall that comprises the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil. 
     
     
         11 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fin is a first cooling fin, the heat sink comprising a second cooling fin, the first and second cooling fins defining a fluid channel therebetween, the environmental side of the base defining a boundary of the fluid channel, the heat sink further comprising a cap that defines a boundary of the fluid channel that is opposite the boundary defined by the environmental side of the base, wherein the cap comprises the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil. 
     
     
         12 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the base extends along a central axis that extends approximately parallel to a length or a width of the base, the cord length of the cooling fin extending non-parallel to the central axis of the base. 
     
     
         13 . The heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cord length of the cooling fin is varied along the height of the cooling fin. 
     
     
         14 . A receptacle assembly for a pluggable module, said receptacle assembly comprising:
 a receptacle configured to receive the pluggable module therein; and   a heat sink mounted to the receptacle, the heat sink comprising:
 a base having a structure side and an opposite environmental side, the structure side of the base being configured to thermally communicate with a structure for absorbing heat from the structure; and 
 a cooling fin extending a height outwardly from the environmental side of the base, the cooling fin extending a cord length along the base from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the cooling fin, the cooling fin comprising the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil along at least a portion of the height of the cooling fin to increase the velocity of a flow of air along the cord length of the cooling fin. 
   
     
     
         15 . The receptacle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the base of the heat sink extends from a front end to a rear end, the flow of air flows along the base from the front end to the rear end, and the airfoil shape of the cooling fin is configured to reduce a pressure at the rear end of the base. 
     
     
         16 . The receptacle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the airfoil shape of the cooling fin extends along a camber line, the airfoil shape of the cooling fin being asymmetrical about the camber line. 
     
     
         17 . The receptacle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the base of the heat sink extends along a central axis that extends approximately parallel to a length or a width of the base, the cooling fin comprising opposite sidewalls that extend along the height of the cooling fin, at least one of sidewalls extending non-parallel relative to the central axis of the base. 
     
     
         18 . The receptacle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling fin of the heat sink has an angle of attack that extends non-parallel to a direction of air flow along the environmental side of the base. 
     
     
         19 . The receptacle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the cord length of the cooling fin is varied along the height of the cooling fin. 
     
     
         20 . A heat sink comprising:
 a base having a structure side and an opposite environmental side, the structure side of the base being configured to thermally communicate with a structure for absorbing heat from the structure;   a first cooling fin extending a height outwardly from the environmental side of the base, the first cooling fin comprising the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil along at least a portion of the height of the first cooling fin;   a second cooling fin extending a height outwardly from the environmental side of the base;   a fluid channel defined between the first and second cooling fins, the environmental side of the base defining a lower boundary of the fluid channel; and   a cap defining an upper boundary of the fluid channel, wherein the cap comprises the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil.