Variable dimension heat pipe

Abstract

A heat pipe, including: a variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton formed of a heat-conductive material by blow molding or additive manufacturing, wherein the variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton including: a first heat pipe exoskeleton portion with a dimension having a first value; and a second heat pipe exoskeleton portion with the dimension having a second value different from the first value. Further, a method of manufacturing a heat pipe, including: providing a heat-conductive material; and performing blow molding or additive manufacturing to form a variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton of the heat-conductive material, wherein the heat pipe exoskeleton has a first heat pipe exoskeleton portion with a dimension having a first value, and a second heat pipe exoskeleton portion with the dimension having a second value different from the first value.

1 . A heat pipe, comprising:
 a variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton formed of a heat-conductive material by blow molding or additive manufacturing, wherein the variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton comprises:
 a first heat pipe exoskeleton portion with a dimension having a first value; and 
 a second heat pipe exoskeleton portion with the dimension having a second value different from the first value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the dimension is length, width, or thickness, and the length, the width, and the thickness are defined in directions that are orthogonal. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat pipe exoskeleton portions includes a curved heat pipe exoskeleton portion having a radius of less than about 5 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe exoskeleton is formed by blow molding. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe exoskeleton is formed by additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second heat pipe exoskeleton portions extend in different directions. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second heat pipe exoskeleton portions extend in directions that are orthogonal. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second heat pipe exoskeleton portions extend in a same direction and are contiguous end-to-end. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wick formed within the heat pipe exoskeleton.   
     
     
         10 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-conductive material comprises copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, titanium, or a titanium alloy. 
     
     
         11 . A heat transfer system, comprising:
 a single heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1  operable to dissipate heat from a heat source.   
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a heat pipe, comprising:
 providing a heat-conductive material; and   performing blow molding or additive manufacturing to form a variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton of the heat-conductive material, wherein the heat pipe exoskeleton has a first heat pipe exoskeleton portion with a dimension having a first value, and a second heat pipe exoskeleton portion with the dimension having a second value different from the first value.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the dimension is length, width, or thickness, and the length, the width, and the thickness are defined in directions that are orthogonal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat pipe exoskeleton portions includes a curved heat pipe exoskeleton portion having a radius of less than about 5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 performing blow molding to form the variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 performing additive manufacturing to form the variable dimension heat pipe exoskeleton.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 sealing an end of the heat pipe exoskeleton and leaving any other ends of the heat pipe exoskeleton unsealed; and   inserting a wick into each of the unsealed ends of the heat pipe exoskeleton in a respective axial direction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the inserting the wick into the heat pipe exoskeleton comprises:
 filling each of the unsealed ends of the heat pipe exoskeleton with a powder of the heat-conductive material; and   sintering the powder to form a porous structure forming the wick.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 sealing any gravity-side unsealed ends of the heat pipe exoskeleton;   adding a working fluid into an interior cavity of the heat pipe exoskeleton; and   hermetically sealing the heat pipe exoskeleton having the working fluid therein.   
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a heat transfer system, comprising:
 performing a method of manufacturing a single heat pipe as claimed in  claim 12 ; and   place the single heat pipe in proximity to a heat source of an electronic device,   wherein the single heat pipe is operable to dissipate heat from the heat source.