Wolverine Tube, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150202724 | Double-Sided Micro Fin Plate for Plate Heat Exchanger - A method for producing a plate heat exchanger uses micro deformation technology to form fins on both sides of a sheet of metal. In the method, a substantially flat, substantially thin sheet of metal is restrained in a tooling fixture. The sheet has a first flat side and a second flat side. Fins are formed in the first and second flat sides of the sheet by slicing the sheet with a tool to create monolithic fins extending from the sheet. A base plate is formed by cutting the finned portions from the sheet. The base plate is used to form a plate heat exchanger. | 07-23-2015 |
20150121701 | Cold Plate with Pins - A cold plate includes an enclosure with an inlet, an outlet, a base and a lid. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication, so fluid can flow from the inlet though the enclosure to the outlet. The base is formed from a base plate, and the base plate includes an island facing into the enclosure. A plurality of pins extends from the island toward the lid. The pins can have a spiral shape, where the cross sectional profile of the pins change along the length of the pin. | 05-07-2015 |
20140290042 | Electronics Substrate with Enhanced Direct Bonded Metal - A substrate for electronic components is formed by bonding a cooling metal layer to one side of a ceramic tile and bonding an electronic metal layer to the other side of the electronic tile. The substrate is secured to a machining base and the cooling metal layer surface is enhanced through an MDT process. In the process, fins are sliced into the cooling metal layer with a tool to a depth of less than the cooling metal layer thickness. The slicing forces material upward without removing material from the cooling metal layer, forming fins that extend beyond the original thickness of the cooling metal layer. The fins can be cross-sliced at an angle to form pins. | 10-02-2014 |
20130264701 | INTEGRATED COLD PLATE FOR ELECTRONICS - A cold plate has a base plate connected to a cover to form an enclosure, with an inlet and outlet nozzle penetrating the enclosure for coolant flow. The base plate includes a top surface opposite a bottom surface, Where the top surface includes enhancements positioned within the enclosure under the cover. The base plate has an inlet trough and an outlet trough that serve as headers, so the inlet nozzle connects to the inlet trough, and coolant from the inlet trough can flow through the enhanced surface, collect in the outlet trough, and then exit the cold plate through the outlet nozzle. The enhanced surface includes enhancements that begin at a point in between the bottom surface and the top surface, and the enhancements extend to a point above the top surface. | 10-10-2013 |
20120320529 | ENHANCED CLAD METAL BASE PLATE - The current invention comprises a base plate made of at least a first metal and a second metal clad together with a metallurgical bond, where the first and second metals are different metals. The base plate includes an enhanced surface that is entirely contained within the second meta where the enhanced surface comprises fins, pins, or other structures. The tip of the enhanced surface extends above the outer surface of the second metal, and the enhancements are monolithic with the second metal. The base plate can form one component of a cold plate for cooling electronics. | 12-20-2012 |
20120111551 | FINNED TUBE FOR EVAPORATION AND CONDENSATION - A finned tube includes channels defined between adjacent fins on the tube body outer surface. Wings extend from side walls of the adjacent fins between the fin top and the fin base such that the wings form a barrier which splits the channel into an upper channel and a lower channel. A plurality of holes penetrate the barrier where the wings meet, so liquids and gases can pass into and out of the enclosed area defined by the lower channel. The wings can include alternating upper wings and lower wings, and there can be depressions formed in the fin top. | 05-10-2012 |
20120026692 | ELECTRONICS SUBSTRATE WITH ENHANCED DIRECT BONDED METAL - A substrate for electronic components includes a ceramic tile and a cooling metal layer. The cooling metal layer can include copper, aluminum, nickel, gold, or other metals. The cooling metal layer has an enhanced surface facing away from the ceramic tile, where the enhanced surface includes either fins or pins. Electronic components can be connected to the substrate on a surface opposite the cooling metal layer. | 02-02-2012 |
20110139411 | Heat Transfer Surface for Electronic Cooling - A cooling surface for cooling an electronic component, the surface having two sets of fins, each set of fins defining a set of channels, and a number of passageways connecting the sets of channels. The cooling surface can be attached to an electronic component, such as a chip, and refrigerant supplied to at least one of the sets of channels. When the temperature of the electronic component rises, the heat is transferred to the refrigerant in the cooling surface, at least some of which vaporizes to carry heat away from, and facilitate cooling of, the component. | 06-16-2011 |
20110079376 | COLD PLATE WITH PINS - A cold plate includes an enclosure with an inlet, an outlet, a base and a lid. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication, so fluid can flow from the inlet though the enclosure to the outlet. The base is formed from a base plate, and the base plate includes an island facing into the enclosure. A plurality of pins extends from the island toward the lid. The pins can have a spiral shape, where the cross sectional profile of the pins change along the length of the pin. | 04-07-2011 |
20100088893 | METHOD OF FORMING PROTRUSIONS ON THE INNER SURFACE OF A TUBE - A method of forming a plurality of protrusions on the inner surface of a tube to reduce tube side resistance and improve overall heat transfer performance. The method includes cutting through ridges on the inner surface of the tube to create ridge layers and lifting the ridge layers to form the protrusions. In this way, the protrusions are formed without removal of metal from the inner surface of the tube, thereby eliminating debris which can damage the equipment in which the tubes are used. | 04-15-2010 |
20090260792 | TUBE WITH FINS HAVING WINGS - Fins are formed monolithically from the material of a tube body. The fins extend from the tube body outer surface, and include a fin base and a fin top. Wings extending from a fin side surface between the fin base and fin top can produce upper and lower channels between adjacent fins. Depressions can be formed in the fin top with platforms below the depressions. The tube can also include helical ridges on an inner surface of the tube. The tubes are used for heat transfer, and can be included in shell and tube heat exchangers. | 10-22-2009 |
20090049861 | Heat Exchanger with Sloped Baffles - A condenser is made from a heat exchanger including a tube bundle within a shell. The tube bundle has an interior section within a periphery, and at least two sloped baffles are positioned in the tube bundle. Each sloped baffle has an inner edge which is within the tube bundle interior, and a gap is defined between the inner edges. | 02-26-2009 |
20090008069 | FINNED TUBE WITH STEPPED PEAKS - The current invention includes a tube with a helical fin extending from the tube's outer surface. The fins and tube are monolithic, or formed of one part, with a channel defined between adjacent fins. The fin has a crest with peaks and depressions formed in the crest. The fin peak includes an indent formed in a side surface, and the indent includes a flank and a base surface. The indent flank intersects the fin peak top, and the indent base surface intersects the fin side wall. | 01-08-2009 |
20080236803 | FINNED TUBE WITH INDENTATIONS - A tube used for heat transfer has adjacent fins extending from an outer surface of the tube with a channel between the fins. The fins include a roof formed over the channel, and holes penetrate the roof into the channel. The fin, including the roof, is monolithic with the tube body. Helical ridges are formed on a tube inner surface, and the tube body includes an indentation in the outer surface which extends the tube body inner surface towards a tube axis. | 10-02-2008 |
20080235950 | CONDENSING TUBE WITH CORRUGATED FINS - The current invention includes a tube with a helical fin extending from the tube's outer surface. The fins and tube are monolithic, or formed of one part. The fin is continuous and the fin base is essentially straight as it winds around the tube. The fin has a tip opposite the fin base with an essentially straight fin body as viewed between the tip and the base. The fin is bent into concave and convex shapes about the tube wall so the fin tip makes a wavy pattern as it winds around the tube. | 10-02-2008 |
20080196876 | FINNED TUBE FOR CONDENSATION AND EVAPORATION - A finned tube includes channels defined between adjacent fins on the tube body outer surface. Wings extend from side walls of the adjacent fins between the fin top and the fin base such that the wings form a barrier which splits the channel into an upper channel and a lower channel. A plurality of holes penetrate the barrier where the wings meet, so liquids and gases can pass into and out of the enclosed area defined by the lower channel. The wings can include alternating upper wings and lower wings, and there can be depressions formed in the fin top. | 08-21-2008 |