US 12,007,180 B2
Varying topology heat sinks
Ram Ranjan, West Hartford, CT (US); Kimberly R. Saviers, Glastonbury, CT (US); Kathryn L. Kirsch, Manchester, CT (US); and Ross K. Wilcoxon, Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Assigned to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Apr. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/657,728.
Prior Publication US 2023/0314091 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. F28F 3/12 (2006.01); F28F 1/40 (2006.01); F28F 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC F28F 1/40 (2013.01) [F28F 3/022 (2013.01); F28F 3/12 (2013.01); F28F 2215/04 (2013.01); F28F 2250/102 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat sink comprising:
a primary flow volume having a primary flow volume cross-section, and length;
a flow inlet having an inlet cross-section, the inlet cross-section defining the primary flow volume cross-section, wherein the length of the primary flow volume extends into the heat sink at a right angle to the inlet cross-section;
a flow outlet;
a bottom plate;
a top plate;
a plurality of pillars, each of the plurality of pillars being defined by a pillar center, wherein the pillar centers are distributed substantially uniformly across at least one of the bottom plate or the top plate;
a flow distribution section proximate to the flow inlet comprising a first subset of the plurality of pillars defined as distribution pillars extending from at least one of the bottom plate or the top plate in a pillar length direction, each distribution pillar having a distribution cross-section taken perpendicular to the pillar length direction;
a heat transfer section proximate to the flow distribution section comprising a second subset of the plurality of pillars defined as heat transfer pillars extending from at least one of the bottom plate or the top plate in the pillar length direction, each heat transfer pillar having a heat transfer cross-section taken perpendicular to the pillar length direction, the heat transfer pillars comprising:
first pillars disposed downstream of the flow inlet, the first pillars having a first pillar diameter; and
second pillars disposed downstream of the first pillars, the second pillars having a second pillar diameter greater than the first pillar diameter; and
third pillars disposed downstream of the second pillars, the third pillars having a third diameter less than the second pillar diameter;
a flow collector section proximate to the heat transfer section comprising a third subset of the plurality of pillars defined as collector pillars extending from at least one of the bottom plate or the top plate in the pillar length direction, each collector pillar having a collector cross-section taken perpendicular to the pillar length direction; and
flow paths between the distribution pillars, heat transfer pillars, and collector pillars;
wherein the distribution cross-section is greater than the heat transfer cross-section and the collector cross-section is greater than the heat transfer cross-section; and
wherein the flow paths extend outside of the primary flow volume.