RADIATOR WITH INTEGRATED PUMP FOR ACTIVELY COOLING ELECTRONIC DEVICES
An integrated cooling apparatus for actively cooling one or more electronic components in an electronic device such as a computer is provided. The cooling apparatus includes a radiator and a pump integrally attached to the radiator. The pump can include a pump housing having an first pump housing member attached to the radiator and a second pump housing member detachably securable to the upper pump housing member. The cooling system includes a flow inlet and a flow outlet for attaching hoses or conduits to the radiator for actively moving a liquid coolant to and from an external cooling block or cooling plate. The external cooling block or cooling plate can be attached to the electronic component to be cooled, such as a computer graphics card, microprocessor, or other circuit component.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/969,284 filed Dec. 15, 2010 entitled “RADIATOR WITH INTEGRATED PUMP FOR ACTIVELY COOLING ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/286,571 filed Dec. 15, 2009 entitled “A Radiator with Integrated Pump for Water Cooled Computer Systems,” which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates generally to active cooling systems and more particularly to liquid heat exchanger systems for removing heat from electronic components and devices.
Consumer electronic devices such as personal computers commonly utilize microprocessors and other circuit components that generate heat. Such circuit components can include for example central processing units, video graphics processing units, chip sets, and memory modules. During use, heat generated within these circuit components must be removed to avoid both damage to the electronic device and reduction in device performance.
Conventional active cooling systems have been developed to extract heat from circuit components in electronic device applications such as personal computers. Such conventional active cooling systems can include the use of fans mounted on or near a circuit component to force air across the circuit component or across a heat exchanger mounted to the circuit component. Forced convection can transfer heat away from the circuit component in these conventional systems. Another conventional active cooling system includes the use of a closed-loop fluid circuit including a cooling fluid, a fluid reservoir, a pump, a heat exchanger or radiator and a contact block. The contact block generally includes the region where the cooling fluid engages in thermal contact with the heat generating circuit component, i.e. a central processing unit, microprocessor, graphics card, etc. Also, in such conventional systems, movement of the cooling fluid through the closed-loop system is provided by an external pump.
In many applications, the space surrounding the circuit component to be cooled inside the electronic device does not provide adequate room for a closed-loop active liquid cooling system. Thus, it may be necessary to position one or more cooling system components outside the electronic device housing where there is sufficient space. This type of system can be referred to as remote cooling.
One problem associated with conventional active remote cooling systems of this nature involves the use of numerous individual components. For example, some conventional systems include a pump coupled to a reservoir, a heat exchanger, and a contact block engaging the circuit feature to be cooled, wherein each system component is connected by one or more conduits or hoses. This type of system requires at least three connection hoses—an outlet hose extending from the heat exchanger to the pump, a delivery hose extending from the pump to the contact block, and an inlet hose extending from the contact block back to the heat exchanger. Each hose end must be securely connected to a system component, leading to at least six hose connection locations. Such conventional designs requiring three hoses and a standalone pump undesirably add complexity and potential leakage locations to the active cooling system.
Another problem associated with some conventional active liquid cooling systems for electronic devices includes the placement of the inlet and outlet orifices in the heat exchanger. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,240 to Cheon teaches a fanless cooling system for a computer having a reservoir with an inlet opening generally positioned at a higher elevation than the exit opening. By positioning an opening in the reservoir at a relatively high elevation on the electronic device, such conventional devices create an enhanced possibility of damage to circuit components if a leak should develop at the elevated opening position during use.
Another problem associated with conventional active liquid cooling systems for electronic devices is placement of all cooling system components inside the electronic device. Such internal system component placement can require disassembly of the electronic device if replacement, repair, or alteration of any individual component is necessary. Disassembly of the electronic device in such instances can be time consuming and costly and can increase the likelihood of damage to other system components or the electronic device itself during disassembly.
Another problem associated with some conventional active liquid cooling devices includes the space requirements inside the electronic device. The electronic device may have limited room allocated to the placement of a liquid cooling device and the various components of the liquid cooling device and how they are assembled for liquid coolant flow. The liquid cooling device may require additional space, which is not available in the electronic device.
Another problem associated with some conventional active liquid cooling devices includes the orientation of the devices and specifically the flow orientation. Some conventional liquid cooling devices may be less efficient and effective at circulating coolant through the device because of inefficiencies in the fluid dynamics.
What is needed then are additional improvements in the devices and associated methods of actively cooling circuit components in electronic devices using closed loop liquid circulation systems.
BRIEF SUMMARYOne embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cooling apparatus. The cooling apparatus includes a radiator defining a radiator plane and having a first longitudinal tube with a first flow direction and a second longitudinal tube with a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction. The apparatus also includes a flow inlet port in fluid communication with the first longitudinal tube and a pump having a first pump housing member detachably coupled to a second pump housing member. The apparatus further includes a pump rotor defining a rotor axis of rotation and disposed in the pump between the first pump housing member and the second pump housing member. The rotor axis of rotation is perpendicular to the radiator plane.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cooling apparatus a radiator having a first longitudinal tube with a first flow direction and a second longitudinal tube with a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction. The apparatus further includes a pump having a first pump housing member detachably coupled to a second pump housing member, a flow inlet port positioned on the pump and in fluid communication with the first longitudinal tube, and a pump rotor disposed in the pump between a first pump housing member and a second pump housing member. When the pump is activated, the liquid coolant enters through the flow inlet port into the pump and the pump pushes the liquid coolant into the first longitudinal tube in the first flow direction.
Yet another embodiment includes a cooling apparatus having a radiator defining a radiator depth and having a first longitudinal tube with a first flow direction and a second longitudinal tube with a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction. The apparatus further includes a flow inlet port in fluid communication with the first longitudinal tube, a pump defining a pump depth and having a first pump housing member detachably coupled to a second pump housing member, and a pump rotor disposed in the pump between the upper and lower pump housing members and defining a rotor axis of rotation, wherein the pump depth is at most 30 percent greater than the radiator depth.
Numerous other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.
In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity. In addition, positional terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “side,” “top,” “bottom,” etc. refer to the apparatus when in the orientation shown in the drawing, or as otherwise described. A person of skill in the art will recognize that the apparatus can assume different orientations when in use.
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A tube gap 16 is defined between at least one first longitudinal tube 6a and at least one second longitudinal tube 6b. One or more heat exchanger fins 10 are transversely disposed across tube gap 16 between the adjacent longitudinal tubes. Each heat exchanger fin 10, as seen in
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In some embodiments, radiator housing 20 includes a first, or upper end 22, and a second, or lower end 24. In some embodiments, the flow inlet 30 and the flow outlet 48 are both positioned on the same end of heat exchanger body 20. As seen in
Liquid coolant is forced through integrated cooling system 100 by a mechanical pump 18 attached to radiator 1. Pump 18 includes a pump housing. The pump housing in some embodiments includes a first pump housing member 12 and a second pump housing member 42. The second pump housing member 42 can be detachably securable to first pump housing member 12.
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A further embodiment of the present invention provides a method of cooling an electronic device, including the steps of: (a) providing an active cooling system having a radiator and an integrated pump attached to the radiator; (b) passing heated liquid into the radiator through a flow inlet; (c) forcing the liquid through a first longitudinal tube in a first flow direction away from the flow inlet using a mechanical pump; (d) passing the liquid through a plenum disposed on the end of the radiator opposite the flow inlet; (e) forcing the liquid through a second longitudinal tube in a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction; (f) collecting the liquid in an outlet reservoir interior to the radiator; (g) passing the liquid from the outlet reservoir through the flow outlet.
Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful RADIATOR WITH INTEGRATED PUMP FOR ACTIVELY COOLING ELECTRONIC DEVICES, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of the invention except as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A cooling apparatus, comprising:
- a radiator defining a radiator plane and having a first longitudinal tube with a first flow direction and a second longitudinal tube with a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction;
- a flow inlet port in fluid communication with the first longitudinal tube;
- a pump having a first pump housing member detachably coupled to a second pump housing member; and
- a pump rotor defining a rotor axis of rotation and disposed in the pump between the first pump housing member and the second pump housing member,
- wherein the rotor axis of rotation is perpendicular to the radiator plane.
2. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow inlet port is disposed about a flow inlet axis and the flow inlet axis is substantially parallel to the rotor axis of rotation.
3. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flow outlet port, wherein the flow outlet port and the flow inlet port are both positioned proximate a first end of the radiator.
4. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pump housing member further comprises:
- a reservoir wall defining an internal exit port; and
- a second exit port defined in the first pump housing member, wherein the second exit port and the internal exit port are in fluid communication across the reservoir wall.
5. The cooling apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:
- a pump reservoir in fluid communication with the first longitudinal tube; and
- an inlet chamber positioned proximate the reservoir wall, wherein the inlet chamber and the pump reservoir are in fluid communication via the internal exit port and the second exit port.
6. The cooling apparatus of claim 5, wherein the inlet chamber is substantially circular and shaped to receive at least a portion of the pump rotor.
7. The cooling apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second exit port is aligned substantially tangential to the inlet chamber.
8. The cooling apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first pump housing member further comprises a lateral plate extending from the reservoir wall and operable to receive the second pump housing member.
9. The cooling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second pump housing member defines a recess configured to receive at least a second portion of the pump rotor such that the pump rotor is disposed between the second pump housing member and the first pump housing member when the second pump housing member is coupled to the first pump housing member.
10. A cooling apparatus using liquid coolant, comprising:
- a radiator having a first longitudinal tube with a first flow direction and a second longitudinal tube with a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction;
- a pump having a first pump housing member detachably coupled to a second pump housing member;
- a flow inlet port positioned on the pump and in fluid communication with the first longitudinal tube; and
- a pump rotor disposed in the pump between the first pump housing member and the second pump housing member,
- wherein, when the pump is activated, the liquid coolant enters through the flow inlet port into the pump and the pump pushes the liquid coolant into the first longitudinal tube in the first flow direction.
11. The cooling apparatus of claim 10, wherein the radiator defines a radiator plane and the pump rotor defines a rotor axis of rotation perpendicular to the radiator plane.
12. The cooling apparatus of claim 10, wherein the flow inlet port is disposed about a flow inlet axis and the flow inlet axis is substantially along to the rotor axis of rotation such that, when the pump is activated, the liquid coolant enters the flow inlet port along the flow inlet axis and substantially parallel to the rotor axis of rotation.
13. The cooling apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a flow outlet port, wherein the flow outlet port and the flow inlet port are both positioned proximate a first end of the radiator.
14. The cooling apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first pump housing member further comprises:
- a reservoir wall defining an internal exit port; and
- a second exit port defined in the first pump housing member, wherein the second exit port and the internal exit port are in fluid communication across the reservoir wall, wherein the liquid coolant, when the pump is activated, is pushed through the second exit port and out the internal exit port.
15. The cooling apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
- a pump reservoir in fluid communication with the first longitudinal tube; and
- an inlet chamber positioned proximate the reservoir wall, wherein the inlet chamber and the pump reservoir are in fluid communication via the internal exit port and the second exit port such that, when the pump is activated, the liquid coolant exits the internal exit port into the pump reservoir and through the first longitudinal tube.
16. The cooling apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inlet chamber is substantially circular.
17. A cooling apparatus comprising:
- a radiator defining a radiator depth and having a first longitudinal tube with a first flow direction and a second longitudinal tube with a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction;
- a flow inlet port in fluid communication with the first longitudinal tube;
- a pump defining a pump depth and having a first pump housing member detachably coupled to a second pump housing member; and
- a pump rotor defining a rotor axis of rotation and disposed in the pump between the first pump housing member and the second pump housing member,
- wherein the pump depth is at most 30 percent greater than the radiator depth.
18. The cooling apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radiator defines a radiator plane and the rotor axis of rotation is perpendicular to the radiator plane.
19. The cooling apparatus of claim 18, wherein, when the pump is activated, liquid coolant enters through the flow inlet port into the pump and the pump pushes the liquid coolant into the first longitudinal tube in the first flow direction.
20. The cooling apparatus of claim 19, wherein the flow inlet port is disposed about a flow inlet axis and the flow inlet axis is substantially along the rotor axis of rotation such that, when the pump is activated, the liquid coolant enters the flow inlet port along the flow inlet axis and substantially parallel to the rotor axis of rotation.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 2, 2018
Publication Date: Nov 29, 2018
Inventor: Stephen Mounioloux (Long Beach, CA)
Application Number: 16/052,886