High-conductance thermal connector

Abstract

A high conductance thermal link (1) includes a thermal conductive strap (2) having pyrolytic graphite layers arranged in stacks (5) and polyimide film (6) at least partially covering each stack (5). Adhesive material is between the pyrolytic graphite layers. The thermal conductive strap (2) has two opposite ends (4) and two end fittings (3, 3′) that house the corresponding ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2). An adhesive material is in the ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2) between the pyrolytic graphite layers and between the stacks (5) of pyrolytic graphite layers. At least one of the ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2) has a geometry including protrusions (7) separated by intermediate gaps (8).

Claims

1. A high conductance thermal link comprising: a thermal conductive strap comprising pyrolytic graphite layers arranged in stacks and polyimide film at least partially covering each stack, with adhesive material between the pyrolytic graphite layers, the thermal conductive strap having two opposite ends, and two end fittings that house the corresponding ends of the thermal conductive strap, at least one of the two opposite ends of the thermal conductive strap having a geometry comprising a plurality of protrusions separated by intermediate gaps, an adhesive material in the two opposite ends of the thermal conductive strap between the pyrolytic graphite layers and between the stacks of pyrolytic graphite layers, the stacks of pyrolytic graphite layers being covered by polyimide film, and the two end fittings comprise two symmetrical halves attached by connector elements.

2. The high conductance thermal link according to claim 1, wherein the layers of pyrolytic graphite are arranged as sheets.

3. The high conductance thermal link according to claim 1, wherein the two end fittings are made of metal or made of organic material.

4. The high conductance thermal link according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive material is only in the two opposite ends of the thermal conductive strap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the high conductance thermal link of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the high conductance thermal link of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a front view of one of the end fittings of the high conductance thermal link of

(4) FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a front view of the other end fitting of the high conductance thermal link of FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 5 shows the cross-section A-A of FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 6 shows cross-section C-C of FIG. 4.

(8) FIG. 7 shows the cross-section D-D of FIG. 4.

(9) FIGS. 8 and 9 show the cross-section B-B of FIG. 2, corresponding to the end fittings.

(10) FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of another complex embodiment of the high conductance thermal link of the invention.

(11) FIG. 11 is a view of the high conductance thermal link of FIG. 10, showing the configuration of one of the ends of the thermal conductive strap.

(12) FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the other end of the thermal conductive strap.

(13) FIG. 13 is another view of the high conductance thermal link of FIG. 10.

(14) FIG. 14 shows a cross-section of a stack of pyrolytic graphite layers covered by polyimide film.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(15) FIG. 1 shows a high conductance thermal link 1 that comprises two end fittings 3, 3′ and a thermal conductive strap 2.

(16) The thermal conductive strap 2 comprises pyrolytic graphite layers arranged in stacks 5, and polyimide film 6 at least partially covering each stack 5 of pyrolytic graphite layers, with adhesive material between the pyrolytic graphite layers. The thermal conductive strap 2 has two opposite ends 4, each one of them arranged inside the corresponding end fitting 3, 3′ (see FIGS. 5-9), that houses the corresponding end 4 of the thermal conductive strap 2.

(17) In FIGS. 8 and 9 it can be seen that the ends 4 of the thermal conductive strap 2 have a geometry with two protrusions 7 separated by an intermediate gap 8.

(18) In the ends 4 of the thermal conductive strap 2 there is an adhesive material between the pyrolytic graphite layers and between the stacks 5 of pyrolytic graphite layers.

(19) This configuration of the high conductance thermal link 1 allows a better heat transfer between the pyrolytic graphite layers and end fittings 3, 3′.

(20) The layers of pyrolytic graphite can be arranged as sheets (i.e., with planar or flat shape).

(21) In one embodiment the stacks 5 of pyrolytic graphite in the ends 4 of the thermal conductive strap 4 lodged inside the end fittings 3, 3′ are not covered by polyimide film 6 (i.e., they are only covered by polyimide film 6 in the intermediate section of the thermal conductive strap 2 between both ends 4).

(22) The end fittings 3, 3′ can be composed of two symmetrical halves 9, that can be attached by joining means 10 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), housing the corresponding ends 4 of the thermal conductive strap 2.

(23) The end fittings 3, 3′ can be made of metal (for example, aluminium) or organic materials.

(24) FIGS. 10 to 13 show another complex embodiment of a high conductance thermal link 1 of the invention. As it can be seen, the thermal link 1 of the invention has enough flexibility to be able to adapt to different needs and geometries.

(25) FIGS. 11 and 12 show the configuration of the ends 4 of the thermal conductive strap 2. It can be seen that the ends 4 of the thermal conductive strap 2 have a geometry with several protrusions 7 (in this case, more than two ones) separated by intermediate gaps 8.

(26) In order to be able to obtain the enhanced performance, the thermal link 1 has an optimized design at its ends, where pyrolytic graphite layers are placed in high conductivity adhesive to assure a good thermal conductivity between the thermal conductive straps 2 and the corresponding end fittings 3, 3′.

(27) The internal design of the ends of the thermal link 1 is a key factor to generate the conductivity in the normal direction of the thermal conductive strap 2, as the pyrolytic graphite has good conductive properties only in plane.

(28) According to one embodiment, the stacks 5 of pyrolytic graphite in the ends 4 of the thermal conductive strap 2 lodged inside the end fittings 3, 3′ are not covered by polyimide film 6.

(29) FIG. 14 shows a cross-section of a stack 5 of pyrolytic graphite layers covered by polyimide film 6.

(30) The symmetrical configuration of the end fittings 3, 3′, together with the arrangement of the stacks 5 of pyrolytic graphite in the ends 4 of the thermal conductive strap 2 lodged inside the end fittings 3, 3′, allow that the heat can flow through the faces of the end fittings 3, 3′ (i.e., it allows several thermal paths).

(31) The thermal strap 2 has no limits in length or width, so it can adopt different geometries according to different needs (i.e., it can be rectangular, square, or in any desired shape with the desired dimensions).

(32) Another advantage is that the thermal link 1 of the invention does not transmit mechanical loads between the end fittings 3, 3′ because of its high flexibility which decouples mechanically one end of the thermal strap 2 from the other.

(33) Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with preferred embodiments, it is evident that modifications may be introduced within the scope thereof, not considering this as limited by these embodiments, but by the contents of the following claims.