Vapor chamber with improved wicking structure

Abstract

The present invention is a vapor chamber including a housing that forms a recess within; at least one wicking structure manufactured from a bundle of wires having capillary voids therebetween that is disposed within the recess; and an amount of working fluid disposed within the recess and in fluid contact with the wicking structure such that fluid may move within the capillary voids in the wicking structures through capillary action.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A vapor chamber comprising:
 a housing;   a recess within said housing;   at least one wicking structure disposed within said recess, wherein:
 said at least one wicking structure comprises a plurality of individual wires; 
 capillary voids are formed between said plurality of wires within said at least one wicking structure; and 
 v-shaped vacancies are formed between said plurality of wires on a surface of said at least one wicking structure; and 
   an amount of working fluid disposed within said recess and in fluid contact with said at least one wicking structure such that said working fluid is capable of moving through said capillary voids and said v-shaped vacancies of said at least one wicking structure through capillary action.   
     
     
         2 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said capillary voids are shaped as one of a group consisting of three cornered and four cornered. 
     
     
         3 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of individual wires are twisted. 
     
     
         4 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a base, a cover and a seal disposed between said base and said cover and, wherein said base and said cover are removable attached. 
     
     
         5 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an interior of said housing and each of said wires is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, and wherein said working fluid is water. 
     
     
         6 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said working fluid is water. 
     
     
         7 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing is vacuum sealed and said vapor chamber further comprises at least one separator disposed within said recess between said cover and said base so as to maintain a separation between said cover and said base while said housing is under vacuum. 
     
     
         8 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one location on said housing, said cover and said base are affixed together so as to prevent expansion of said cover and said base away from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid input disposed on said housing, wherein said fluid input allows for deposit of said working fluid into said recess. 
     
     
         10 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one wicking structure is disposed within said recess in a star-like pattern, expanding outward from a middle of said recess. 
     
     
         11 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one wicking structure is disposed within said recess in a swirled pattern 
     
     
         12 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of individual wires comprises wires all of the same size. 
     
     
         13 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of individual wires comprises one larger wire surrounded by a plurality of smaller wires. 
     
     
         14 . A vapor chamber comprising:
 a housing comprising a base, a cover, and a recess formed between said base and said cover; and   at least one wicking structure disposed within said recess, wherein:
 said at least one wicking structure comprises at least three individual wires; and 
 capillary voids are formed between said wires within said at least one wicking structures; and 
   an amount of working fluid disposed within said recess and in fluid contact with said at least one wicking structure such that said working fluid is capable of moving through said capillary voids through capillary action.   
     
     
         15 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein an interior of said housing and each of said at least three wires are coated with polytetrafluoroethylene and wherein said working fluid is water. 
     
     
         16 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said housing is vacuum sealed and said vapor chamber further comprises at least one separator disposed within said recess between said cover and said base so as to maintain a separation between said cover and said base while said housing is under vacuum. 
     
     
         17 . The vapor chamber as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein at least one location on said housing, said cover and said base are affixed together so as to prevent expansion of said cover and said base away from one another. 
     
     
         18 . A vapor chamber system comprising:
 a vapor chamber comprising:
 a housing comprising a base and a cover; 
 a recess formed between said base and said cover when said base and said cover are united; 
 at least one wicking structure disposed within said recess, wherein:
 said at least one wicking structure comprises a plurality of individual wires; 
 capillary voids are formed between said wires within said at least one wicking structures; and 
 v-shaped vacancies are formed between said wires on a surface of said at least one wicking structure; and 
 
 an amount of working fluid disposed within said recess and in fluid contact with said at least one wicking structure such that said working fluid is capable of moving through said capillary voids and said v-shaped vacancies through capillary action; and 
   at least one heat source disposed proximate to one of said base and said cover of said housing of said vapor structure such that heat from said at least one heat source is transferred through said housing into said working fluid disposed within said housing.   
     
     
         19 . The vapor chamber system as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising at least one cold source disposed at a different position proximate to one of said base and said cover of said housing of said vapor structure than said at least one heat source, such that heat from said working fluid disposed within said housing is transferred from said heat source through said housing into said at least one cold source. 
     
     
         20 . The vapor chamber system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said at least one wicking structure is disposed within said recess of said housing of said vapor chamber such that:
 a portion of said at least one wicking structure is proximate to said at least one heat source such that said working fluid in fluid contact with said at least one wicking structure evaporates and moves away from said at least one heat source through said capillary voids and v-shaped vacancies in said at least one wicking structure; and   a portion of said at least one wicking structure is far enough away from said at least one heat source and any other heat source such that said working fluid that evaporated near said at least one heat source and moved away from said at least one heat source through said capillary voids and v-shaped vacancies condenses.