(19)
(11) EP 2 518 401 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
31.10.2012 Bulletin 2012/44

(21) Application number: 11179403.8

(22) Date of filing: 30.08.2011
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F21V 29/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME

(30) Priority: 27.04.2011 CN 201110110519

(71) Applicant: Tyntek Corporation
Hsinchu (TW)

(72) Inventors:
  • Tseng, Shih-Che
    Hsinchu (TW)
  • Hsu, Mao-Sung
    Hsinchu (TW)

(74) Representative: Zimmermann, Tankred Klaus 
Schoppe, Zimmermann, Stöckeler Zinkler & Partner P.O. Box 246
82043 Pullach
82043 Pullach (DE)

   


(54) Heat dissipating device


(57) A heat dissipating device includes a tubular body (2) having a first open end (211), and a plurality of heat dissipating fins (3), each having a fin body (31) and a first engaging portion (32) formed on the fin body (31) for engaging the first open end (211) of the tubular body (2) in a manner that the heat dissipating fins (3) are disposed to radiate from and to surround the tubular body (2). The first engaging portion (32) includes a first extension section (321) bent from the fin body (31), and a first hook (322) extending from the first extension section (321) for hooking onto the tubular body (2) at the first open end (211).




Description


[0001] The invention relates to a heat dissipating device, more particularly to a heat dissipating device that is easy to assemble.

[0002] A light-emitting diode (LED) has many advantages including low power consumption, high efficiency, excellent energy conservation, long life span and very low pollution generation, and thus has been utilized widely. It is common to dispose a plurality of LEDs in one lamp for lighting. Due to the temperature rise during the operation of the LED, assembling multiple LEDs in a lamp may easily produce and accumulate a large amount of heat, which, if not dissipated in time, will arise in problems such as color rendering problem, diminished brightness, shortened life span and malfunction. Therefore, heat dissipation has always been a crucial issue.

[0003] A heat dissipating module disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Model no. M395787 includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins. Each of the heat dissipating fins includes an engaging portion formed with a protrusion and a groove. The heat dissipating module is assembled by engaging the protrusion of each of the heat dissipating fins to the groove of the engaging portion of a corresponding adjacent one of the heat dissipating fins.

[0004] While the heat dissipating module mentioned above is able to achieve a desired heat dissipating effect, the manufacture of such heat dissipating fins requires complicated processing and additional costs. Moreover, assembly using the protrusions and grooves of the heat dissipating fins may raise questions regarding stability of the heat dissipating module, since each of the heat dissipating fins is a thin plate itself, let along the protrusions and grooves disposed on the thin heat dissipating fins. Lack of caution during the assembly procedure may impair the engaging function of the protrusions and grooves, rendering the heat dissipating base unworkable.

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a heat dissipating device that is easy to assemble.

[0006] Accordingly, a heat dissipating device of the present invention comprises a tubular body and a plurality of heat dissipating fins. The tubular body has a first open end, and each of the heat dissipating fins has a fin body and a first engaging portion. For each of the heat dissipating fins, the first engaging portion is formed on the fin body for engaging the first open end of the tubular body in a manner that the heat dissipating fins are disposed to radiate from and to surround the tubular body. The first engaging portion includes a first extension section and a first hook. The first extension section is bent from the fin body, and the first hook extends from the first extension section for hooking onto the tubular body at the first open end.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a heat dissipating device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating a plurality of heat dissipating fins and a tubular body of the heat dissipating device shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a magnified view of an upper encircled region shown in Fig. 3, which illustrates a first engaging portion and a first positioning portion of the heat dissipating device; and

Fig. 5 is a magnified view of a lower encircled region shown in Fig. 3, which illustrates a second engaging portion and a second positioning portion of the heat dissipating device.



[0008] Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of a heat dissipating device according to the present invention comprises a tubular body 2, a plurality of heat dissipating fins 3 and first and second mounting plates 4,4'.

[0009] The tubular body 2 has a first open end 211, a second open end 212, an inner tube surface 213, a first positioning portion 22 disposed at the first open end 211, and a second positioning portion 23 disposed at the second open end 212.

[0010] Each of the heat dissipating fins 3 has a fin body 31, a first engaging portion 32, and a second engaging portion 33. The first engaging portion 32 and the second engaging portion 33 are formed on the fin body 31 for respectively engaging the first and second open ends 211 and 212 of the tubular body 2 in a manner that the heat dissipating fins 3 are disposed to radiate from and to surround the tubular body 2. To be specific, the first engaging portion 32 and the second engaging portion 33 are disposed to respectively engage the first positioning portion 22 and the second positioning portion 23 and prevent rotation of the heat dissipating fins 3 relative to the tubular body 2.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment, the first positioning portion 22 includes a plurality of notches that are spaced apart respectively and that surround an edge of the first open end 211. The second positioning portion 23 also has the structure of notches surrounding an edge of the second open end 212.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 4 , each of the first engaging portions 32 of the heat dissipating fins 3 includes a first extension section 321 bent from the fin body 31 and a first hook 322 extending from the first extension section 321. Upon assembling, the first hook 322 of the first engaging portion 32 extends through one of the respective notches of the first positioning portion 22 for hooking onto the first positioning portion 22 of the tubular body 2 at the first open end 211 and abuts tightly against the inner tube surface 213. Correspondingly, as shown in Fig. 5, each of the second engaging portions 33 of the heat dissipating fins 3 includes a second extension section 331 bent from the fin body 31 and a second hook 332 extending from the second extension section 331. The connection between the second hook 332 of each of the second engaging portions 33 and one of the respective notches of the second positioning portion 23 for hooking onto the second positioning portion 23 is the same as that of the first hook 322 and the respective notch of the first positioning portion 22. The second hook 332 likewise abuts against the inner tube surface 213.

[0013] The heat dissipating fins 3 can be made from metal materials with high thermal conductivity such as aluminum and copper, and the shapes and sizes of the heat dissipating fins 3 can be specifically made by methods such as stamping.

[0014] In this embodiment, numbers of the notches disposed on the first and second open ends 211 and 212 are identical (both 44) , with the positions correspondent to each other. It is then intuitive that the number of the heat dissipating fins 3 should match the number of the notches and is also 44 in the preferred embodiment. However, this number is not limited to the disclosure in the preferred embodiment, and may be adjusted accordingly to fulfill various demands.

[0015] To ensure stability of the connection between the heat dissipating fins 3 and the tubular body 2, the first and second mounting plates 4 and 4', disposed respectively at the first open end 211 and the second open end 212 of the tubular body 2, are introduced. Particularly, the first mounting plate 4, when disposed, will seal the first open end 211, and has a first plate body 41 and a first peripheral portion 42 that surrounds the first plate body 41 and that presses the first hooks 322 of the first engaging portions 32 of the heat dissipating fins 3 against the inner tube surface 213 of the tubular body 2.

[0016] Correspondingly, the second mounting plate 4' , when disposed, will seal the second open end 212, and has a second plate body 41' and a second peripheral portion 42' that surrounds the second plate body 41' and that presses the second hooks 332 of the second engaging portions 33 of the heat dissipating fins 3 against the inner tube surface 213 of the tubular body 2.

[0017] Particularly, in the preferred embodiment, each of the first extension sections 321 has an outer surface 329 (see Fig. 4), and when the first peripheral portion 42 of the first mounting plate 4 disposed at the first open end 211 presses the first hooks 322 of the heat dissipating fins 3 tightly against the tubular body 2, an outer surface of the first plate body 41 of the first mounting plate 4 is flush with the outer surfaces 329 of the first extension sections 321 of each of the heat dissipating fins 3, on which an object requiring heat dissipation may be disposed.

[0018] Referring to Fig. 3 to 5, to assemble the heat dissipating fins 3 onto the tubular body 2, according to the present invention, the first hooks 322 of the first engaging portions 32 of the heat dissipating fins 3 are first disposed to engage the respective notches of the first positioning portion 22(as shown in Fig. 4), and the second hooks 332 of the second engaging portions 33 of the heat dissipating fins 3 are then disposed to engage the corresponding notches of the second positioning portion 23 (as shown in Fig. 5). After all of the heat dissipating fins 3 are disposed onto the corresponding position of the tubular body 2, a stamping procedure is applied, bending the hooks 322 and 332, thereby hooking the heat dissipating fins 3 onto the tubular body 2 to complete the assembly of the heat dissipating device. If necessary, the first and second mounting plates 4 and 4' are then respectively mounted to cover the first open end 211 and the second open end 212.

[0019] To sum up, by utilizing the first and second hooks 322 and 332 of the heat dissipating fins 3 and the notches of the first positioning portion 22 and the second positioning portion 23 of the tubular body 2, the heat dissipating device is more simple and stable compared to the prior assembly done by simply engaging adjacent heat dissipating fins 3. The mounting plates 4 and 4' which can be optionally included, can further obtain tighter association and securing effect.


Claims

1. A heat dissipating device characterized by:

a tubular body (2) having a first open end (211) ; and

a plurality of heat dissipating fins (3), each having a fin body (31) and a first engaging port ion (32) formed on said fin body (31) for engaging said first open end (211) of said tubular body (2) in a manner that said heat dissipating fins (3) are disposed to radiate from and to surround said tubular body (2), said first engaging portion (32) including a first extension section (321) bent from said fin body (31) and a first hook (322) extending from said first extension section (321) for hooking onto said tubular body (2) at said first open end (211).


 
2. The heat dissipating device as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that said tubular body (2) is formed with a first positioning portion (22) that is disposed at said first open end (211) and that is disposed to engage said first engaging portions (32) of said heat dissipating fins (3) and prevent rotation of said heat dissipating fins (3) relative to said tubular body (2).
 
3. The heat dissipating device as claimed in claim 2, further characterized in that said first positioning portion (22) includes a plurality of notches through which said first hooks (322) of said first engaging portions (32) extend, respectively.
 
4. The heat dissipating device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that said tubular body (2) has an inner tube surface (213), and said first hooks (322) of said first engaging portions (32) of said heat dissipating fins (3) abut tightly against said inner tube surface (213).
 
5. The heat dissipating device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that:

said tubular body (2) further has a second open end (212); and

each of said heat dissipating fins (3) further has a second engaging portion (33) formed on said fin body (31) for engaging said second open end (212) of said tubular body (2).


 
6. The heat dissipating device as claimed in claim 5, further characterized in that said second engaging portion (32) of each of said heat dissipating fins (3) includes a second extension section (331) bent from said fin body (31) and a second hook (332) extending from said second extension section (331) for hooking onto said tubular body (2) at said second open end (212).
 
7. The heat dissipating device as claimed in any one of claims 5 and 6, further characterized in that said tubular body (2) is formed with a first positioning portion (22) that is disposed at said first open end (211) and that is disposed to engage said first engaging portions (32) of said heat dissipating fins (3), and a second positioning portion (23) that is disposed at said second open end (212) and that is disposed to engage said second engaging portions (33) of said heat dissipating fins (3), said first and second positioning portions (22, 23) preventing rotation of said heat dissipating fins (3) relative to said tubular body (2).
 
8. The heat dissipating device as claimed in claim 7, further characterized in that each of said first and second positioning portions (22, 23) includes a plurality of notches through which said first hooks (322) of said first engaging portions (32) and said second hooks (332) of said second engaging portions (33) extend, respectively.
 
9. The heat dissipating device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, further characterized in that said tubular body (2) has an inner tube surface (213), and said first hooks (322) of said first engaging portions (32) and said second hooks (332) of said second engaging portions (33) of said heat dissipating fins (3) abut tightly against said inner tube surface (213).
 
10. The heat dissipating device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further characterized by a mounting plate (4) having a peripheral portion (42) that presses said first engaging portions (32) of said heat dissipating fins (3) against said tubular body (2).
 
11. The heat dissipating device as claimed in claim 10, further characterized in that said tubular body (2) has an inner tube surface (213), and said peripheral portion (42) of said mounting plate (4) presses said first hooks (322) of said first engaging portions (32) against said inner tube surface (213) of said tubular body (2).
 
12. The heat dissipating device as claimed in any one of claims 10 and 11, further characterized in that said first extension sections (321) have outer surfaces, and said mounting plate (4) has an outer surface flush with said outer surfaces of said first extension sections (321).
 
13. The heat dissipating device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9, further characterized by a first mounting plate (4) having a first peripheral portion (42) that presses said first engaging portions (32) of said heat dissipating fins (3) against said tubular body (2), and a second mounting plate (4') having a second peripheral portion (42') that presses said second engaging portions (33) of said heat dissipating fins (3) against said tubular body (2).
 
14. The heat dissipating device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, further characterized in that said tubular body (2) has an inner tube surface (213), said heat dissipating device further being characterized by a first mounting plate (4) having a first peripheral portion (42) that presses said first hooks (322) of said heat dissipating fins (3) against said inner tube surface (213) of said tubular body (2), and a second mounting plate (4' ) having a second peripheral portion (42' ) that presses said second hooks (332) of said heat dissipating fins (3) against said inner tube surface (213) of said tubular body (2).
 




Drawing

















Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description