U.S. patent application number 11/093017 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for pump, cooling apparatus, electrical appliance and personal computer combined with the pump.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA. Invention is credited to Hasegawa, Yukihisa, Ito, Kenichi, Nakayama, Tadahiro, Okada, Kyouichi, Seko, Katsuya.
Application Number | 20050226745 11/093017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35049626 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050226745 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seko, Katsuya ; et
al. |
October 13, 2005 |
Pump, cooling apparatus, electrical appliance and personal computer
combined with the pump
Abstract
A pump according to the present invention includes a casing
including a pump chamber through which a fluid flows, an impeller
rotatably mounted inside the pump chamber, a suction port mounted
on the casing for suctioning the fluid into the pump chamber by the
rotation of the impeller; and a discharge port mounted on the
casing for discharging the fluid out of the pump chamber by the
rotation of the impeller, and the suction port and the discharge
port are oriented so as to extend in different directions.
Inventors: |
Seko, Katsuya; (Yokohama,
JP) ; Ito, Kenichi; (Zama, JP) ; Hasegawa,
Yukihisa; (Yokohama, JP) ; Okada, Kyouichi;
(Yokohama, JP) ; Nakayama, Tadahiro; (Yokohama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
35049626 |
Appl. No.: |
11/093017 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/423.14 ;
417/423.1; 417/423.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 5/002 20130101;
F04D 29/582 20130101; G06F 1/203 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/423.14 ;
417/423.7; 417/423.1 |
International
Class: |
F04B 017/00; F04B
035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 31, 2004 |
JP |
JP 2004-107155 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A pump comprising: a casing including therein a pump chamber
through which a fluid flows; an impeller rotatably mounted inside
the pump chamber; a suction port provided on the casing for
suctioning the fluid into the pump chamber by the rotation of the
impeller; and a discharge port provided on the casing for
discharging the fluid out of the pump chamber by the rotation of
the impeller; wherein the suction port and the discharge port are
oriented so as to extend in different directions.
2. The pump according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of suction
ports and a plurality of discharge ports.
3. A cooling apparatus that circulates a fluid for cooling an
object to be cooled, comprising: a pump including a casing
including therein a pump chamber; an impeller rotatably mounted
inside the pump chamber; a suction port provided on the casing for
suctioning the fluid into the pump chamber by the rotation of the
impeller; and a discharge port provided on the casing for
discharging the fluid out of the pump chamber by the rotation of
the impeller; wherein the suction port and the discharge port are
oriented so as to extend in different directions; a heat-receiving
section placed in contact with the object to be cooled for removing
the heat from the object to be cooled by the fluid flowing therein;
and a heat-dissipating section including a fluid pipe having the
end portions connected to the suction port and the discharge port
and in which the fluid that has removed the heat from the object to
be cooled flows.
4. The cooling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
heat-receiving section is integrally provided with the pump.
5. The cooling apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a
plurality of suction ports and a plurality of discharge ports.
6. The cooling apparatus according to claim 5, comprising a
plurality of heat-dissipating sections.
7. The cooling apparatus according to claim 5, comprising a
plurality of heat-receiving sections.
8. The cooling apparatus according to claim 6, comprising a
plurality of heat-receiving sections.
9. The cooling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a connecting
portion between the pump and the heat-dissipating section includes
an obtusely bent portion.
10. The cooling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
heat-receiving section is located between the pump and the
heat-dissipating section; and a connecting portion between the pump
and the heat-receiving section includes an obtusely bent
portion.
11. An electrical appliance, comprising: a heat-generating
component; a pump for removing heat from the heat-generating
component by fluid flowing therein including a casing including
therein a pump chamber; an impeller rotatably mounted inside the
pump chamber; a suction port provided on the casing for suctioning
the fluid into the pump chamber by the rotation of the impeller;
and a discharge port provided on the casing for discharging the
fluid out of the pump chamber by the rotation of the impeller;
wherein the suction port and the discharge port are oriented so as
to extend in different directions; and a heat-dissipating section
including a fluid pipe having the end portions connected to the
suction port and the discharge port and in which the fluid that has
removed the heat from the heat-generating component flows.
12. A personal computer, comprising: a CPU; a pump for removing
heat from the heat-generating component by fluid flowing therein
including a casing including therein a pump chamber; an impeller
rotatably mounted inside the pump chamber; a suction port provided
on the casing for suctioning the fluid into the pump chamber by the
rotation of the impeller; and a discharge port provided on the
casing for discharging the fluid out of the pump chamber by the
rotation of the impeller; wherein the suction port and the
discharge port are oriented so as to extend in different
directions; and a heat-dissipating section including a fluid pipe
having the end portions connected to the suction port and the
discharge port and in which the fluid that has removed the heat
from the CPU flows.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a pump for cooling a
heat-generating component in an electrical appliance or a personal
computer, and more particularly to a pump with an improved
structure of a suction port and a discharge port.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A fluid pump as disclosed, for example, in Japanese
Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-123978 and
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-132677 is
currently available. Such a fluid pump is provided with a casing
including therein apump chamber, a suction port and a discharge
port located in the casing, and a disc-shaped impeller rotatably
mounted inside the pump chamber and having pump grooves along a
periphery thereof for carrying a liquid inside the pump chamber. In
this fluid pump, when the impeller is rotated the pump grooves act
to suction the liquid through the suction port into the pump
chamber, and also to discharge the liquid inside the pump chamber
through the discharge port.
[0005] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 depict an example of an adoption of the
fluid pump for a cooling apparatus for cooling a heat-generating
component of an electrical appliance. As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG.
12, the cooling apparatus includes a pump 1 and a heat-dissipating
section 5. The pump 1 includes a casing 2 having a suction port 3
and a discharge port 4. The suction port 3 and the discharge port 4
are located close to each other and oriented to the same direction.
The casing 2 includes therein a pump chamber (not shown), in which
an impeller (not shown) having pump grooves is rotatably mounted.
Of the outer surface of the casing 2, a face 2a opposing the pump
grooves of the impeller serves as a heat-receiving section, with
which a heat-generating component such as an electrical part is to
be placed in close contact.
[0006] The heat-dissipating section 5 includes a case 8 constituted
of a case body 6 and a case cover 7, a heat dissipator 9 placed in
an upper portion inside the case body 6, and a fan 10 placed in a
lower portion inside the case body 6.
[0007] At a region of the case body 6 and the case cover 7 opposing
the fan 10, air intakes 11 and 12 are respectively provided. Also,
the case body 6 is provided with an air outlet 13 on an upper
surface thereof.
[0008] The heat dissipator 9 includes a U-shaped pipe 14 and a
multitude of fins 15 through which the pipe 14 is penetrating. An
inlet 16 and an outlet 17 of the pipe 14 are respectively connected
to the discharge port 4 and the suction port 3 of the pump 1, via
connection pipes 18 and 19. Inside the pipe 14 and the pump
chamber, a cooling fluid, for example, a liquid, is filled. The fan
10 is rotated by a built-in motor (not shown).
[0009] Under such a structure, when the impeller is rotated by the
motor which is not shown, the liquid inside the pipe 14 is
suctioned through the connection pipe 19 into the pump chamber via
the suction port 3 as indicated by the arrow A, and the liquid
inside the pump chamber is discharged from the discharge port 4.
The liquid discharged from the discharge port 4 flows through the
connection pipe 18 and the pipe 14, and then passes through the
connection pipe 19 to be again suctioned into the pump chamber via
the suction port 3. The liquid thus circulating through the pump 1
and the pipe 14 removes the heat generated by the heat-generating
component via the face 2a when passing through the pump chamber,
and releases the heat through the fins 15 when passing through the
heat-dissipating section 5. In the heat-dissipating section 5, when
the fan 10 is rotated the air outside the case 8 flows into the
case 8 through the air intakes 11 and 12, and passes through among
the fins 15 to be discharged through the air outlet 13, as
indicated by the arrow B. As a result, the heat dissipator 9 is
cooled, by which the liquid flowing through the pipe 14 is cooled.
Accordingly, the heat-generating component is continuously cooled
by the liquid circulating through the pump 1 and the pipe 14.
[0010] However, the cooling apparatus thus constructed has the
following drawback. In order to connect the suction port 3 and the
discharge port 4 of the pump 1 to the outlet 17 and the inlet 16 of
the pipe 14 respectively, two points of the pipe 14 close to the
outlet 17 and the inlet 16 have to be bent in an acute angle. Such
a structure increases the pressure loss inside the pipe 14 and
hence reduces a flow amount and speed of the fluid, thereby
resulting in lowering the cooling performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a pump that can efficiently cool an object to be cooled.
[0012] The present invention provides a pump comprising a casing
including therein a pump chamber through which a fluid flows, an
impeller rotatably mounted inside the pump chamber, a suction port
provided on the casing for suctioning the fluid into the pump
chamber by the rotation of the impeller, and a discharge port
provided on the casing for discharging the fluid out of the pump
chamber by the rotation of the impeller, wherein the suction port
and the discharge port are oriented so as to extend in different
directions.
[0013] Upon combining with the pump a heat-receiving section placed
in contact with the object to be cooled for removing the heat from
the object to be cooled by the fluid flowing therein, and a
heat-dissipating section including a fluid pipe having the end
portions connected to the suction port and the discharge port and
in which the fluid that has removed the heat from the object to be
cooled flows, a cooling apparatus can be achieved.
[0014] With such a configuration, since the suction port and the
discharge port are extended in different directions, the end
portions of the fluid pipe no longer have to be bent in an acute
angle for connection with the suction port and the discharge port.
Consequently, a pressure loss at the connection point can be
minimized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become clear upon reviewing the following
description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a pump viewed
from a casing body side according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the pump
viewed from a casing cover side;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the pump;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a cooling
apparatus;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the cooling apparatus with the
case cover removed;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a cooling apparatus
according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a similar view to FIG. 6, according to a third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 6, according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a similar view to FIG. 6, according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a personal
computer according to a sixth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 11 is similar view to FIG. 4, showing a conventional
cooling apparatus; and
[0027] FIG. 12 is similar view to FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring to the accompanying drawings, some embodiments of
the present invention will be described hereunder. FIG. 1 through
FIG. 5 depict a first embodiment of the present invention, among
which FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a fluid pump according to this
embodiment, while FIGS. 4 and 5 show a configuration of a cooling
apparatus with which the fluid pump is employed. As shown in FIGS.
1 to 3, the fluid pump 21 includes a casing 22 constituted of a
rectangular plate-shaped casing body 23 and a casing cover 24.
[0029] The casing body 23 includes a pump chamber 25 having a
circular recessed portion, and a suction port 26 and a discharge
port 27 communicating with the pump chamber 25. Both the suction
port 26 and the discharge port 27 are projecting outward from a
same sidewall of the casing body 23, but in different directions.
More specifically, the suction port 26 is oriented in a diagonally
upward direction, while the discharge port 27 is oriented in a
diagonally downward direction in FIG. 1. The face of the casing
body 23 opposite to the face where the pump chamber 25 is provided
is a heat-receiving face 23a. Accordingly, the casing body 23 is
made of a material having a high thermal conductivity, such as a
metal.
[0030] The pump chamber 25 includes a protrusion 28 separating the
suction port 26 from the discharge port 27. The protrusion 28 is
located over a region from a central portion of the pump chamber 25
to a portion on the inner circumferential surface of the pump
chamber 25 between the suction port 26 and the discharge port 27.
The suction port 26 and the discharge port 27 are disposed as close
as possible to each other, in order to secure a sufficient
circumferential length on the inner circumferential surface of the
pump chamber 25, except the protrusion 28.
[0031] Inside the pump chamber 25, an impeller 29 is rotatably
mounted. The impeller 29 includes an axle 32 projecting on both
sides in an axial direction at the center thereof. For engagement
therewith, the casing body 23 and the casing cover 24 respectively
include bearings 33 and 39, which support the axle 32.
[0032] Of the surfaces of the impeller 29 oriented in the axial
direction, the surface opposing the casing body 23 is provided with
a multitude of radially extending ribs 31, while the surface
opposing the casing cover 24 is provided with a circular recessed
portion 34. A portion between adjacent ribs 31 serves as a pump
groove 30.
[0033] To an inner circumferential surface of the recessed portion
34, a ring-shaped permanent magnet 36 integrally including a
magnetic ring 35 is attached. The permanent magnet 36 is magnetized
such that an N pole and an S pole alternately appear.
[0034] Meanwhile, the face of the casing cover 24 reverse to the
face opposing the casing body 23 is provided with a circular
recessed portion 37, while the face thereof opposing the casing
body 23 is provided with a ring-shaped recessed portion 38. Also,
the casing cover 24 is provided with a protrusion 24a on an outer
circumferential surface of the recessed portion 38, to be fitted
with the pump chamber 25 when the casing body 23 and the casing
cover 24 are combined. The recessed portions 37 and 38 are disposed
so as to axially overlap, with the recessed portion 38 being
located at an outer position. The bearing 39 is located at the
central portion of the recessed portion 37.
[0035] The recessed portion 37 accommodates a stator 40. The stator
40 includes a stator core 41 having a plurality of teeth 41a and
stator coils 42 wound around the teeth 41a. The stator core 41 is
fixed so as to oppose an inner circumferential surface of the
recessed portion 37.
[0036] An outer circumferential surface of the teeth 41a of the
stator 40 is radially opposing an inner circumferential surface of
the permanent magnet 36 via the circumferential wall 37a of the
recessed portion 37. In this embodiment, the impeller 29, the
magnetic ring 35 and the permanent magnet 36 constitute the rotor
43, and such a rotor 43 and stator 40 constitute a motor 44.
[0037] Here, the casing body 23 and the casing cover 24 are
combined with a plurality of screws 45. Also, the recessed portion
37 of the casing cover 24 is covered with a bottom plate (not
shown) upon accommodating the stator 40.
[0038] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 depict an example of a cooling apparatus
combined with the pump 21 thus constructed. As shown in FIG. 4 and
FIG. 5, the cooling apparatus 51 includes the pump 21 and a
heat-dissipating section 52. The heat-dissipating section 52
includes a case 55 constituted of a case body 53 and a case cover
54, a heat dissipator 56 installed in an upper portion inside the
case 55, and a fan 57 installed in a lower portion inside the case
55. The fan 57 includes therein a built-in fan motor (not
shown).
[0039] The case body 53 and the case cover 54 are respectively
provided with air inlets 58 and 59 on the face opposing the fan 57.
Also, the case cover 54 is provided with an air outlet 60 on the
upper face thereof. The heat dissipator 56 includes a U-shaped pipe
61 (corresponding to the fluid pipe) penetrating through a
multitude of fins 62.
[0040] The pipe 61 has a length corresponding to an entire width of
the case body 53, with the farthest possible separation in a
vertical direction of FIG. 5, so as to achieve the highest
attainable heat-dissipating effect. Accordingly, the inlet 63 and
the outlet 64 of the pipe 61 are spaced in a vertical direction,
and bent so as to be connected to the suction port 26 and the
discharge port 27 of the pump 21.
[0041] Here, the suction port 26 of the pump 21 is upwardly
inclined, while the discharge port 27 is downwardly inclined in the
orientation of FIG. 5. Accordingly, merely bending the inlet 63 and
the outlet 64 of the pipe 61 in an obtuse angle allows aligning the
orientation of the outlet 64 and the suction port 26, as well as
the inlet 63 and the discharge port 27.
[0042] The inlet 63 and the discharge port 27, and the outlet 64
and the suction port 26 are respectively connected via connection
pipes 65 and 66. Inside the pipe 61 and the pump chamber 25, a
cooling fluid, for instance a liquid, is sealed in.
[0043] The cooling apparatus 51 thus constructed is used with the
heat-receiving face 23a of the pump 21 placed in close contact with
a heat-generating component such as an electrical part, which is
the object to be cooled. Under such a state, when a current is
supplied through the stator coil 42 of the motor 44, the impeller
29 (rotor 43) rotates. This activates the pumping function of the
pump grooves 30 on the impeller 29, to thereby suction the liquid
inside the pipe 61 through the connection pipe 66 into the pump
chamber 25 via the suction port 26, and to discharge the liquid
inside the pump chamber 25 into the pipe 61 through the discharge
port 27 and the connection pipe 65, as indicated by the arrow C. In
this way the liquid circulates between the pipe 61 and the pump
chamber 25, and during this process the heat generated by the
heat-generating component is removed by the liquid flowing through
the pump chamber 25 via the heat-receiving section 23a.
[0044] Meanwhile in the heat-dissipating section 52, when the fan
57 is rotated by the fan motor, the ambient air around the case 55
is suctioned into the case 55 through the air inlets 58 and 59, as
indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 5. The air suctioned into the case
55 passes through among the fins 62 and is discharged through the
air outlet 60. Accordingly, the liquid that has removed the heat
from the heat-generating component and hence has been warmed up
releases the heat while passing through the pipe 61 via the fins 62
thus to be cooled again, and returns to the pump chamber 25 through
the suction port 26. This is how the heat-generating component is
cooled.
[0045] It is to be noted that the pump 21 can control the rotating
speed of the motor 44, so as to adjust the flow rate. Therefore,
the cooling performance of the cooling apparatus 51 with respect to
the heat-generating component can be adjusted by controlling the
flow rate of the pump 21.
[0046] The foregoing configuration provides the following
advantages.
[0047] In the pump 21, the suction port 26 and the discharge port
27 are oriented in different directions. This allows securing a
sufficient spacing between the inlet 63 and the outlet 64 of the
pipe 61, which is the counterpart of the pump 21, by merely bending
the pipe in an obtuse angle. Accordingly, a pressure loss inside
the pipe 61 can be reduced, and hence a drop of the flow amount and
speed of the liquid flowing through the pipe 61 can be prevented.
Consequently, the cooling performance of the cooling apparatus 51
can be upgraded.
[0048] Also, the cooling apparatus 51 of the foregoing
configuration includes the pump 21, which integrally includes a
heat-receiving section. This allows reducing the dimensions of the
cooling apparatus 51.
[0049] Meanwhile, although both of the suction port 26 and the
discharge port 27 of the pump 21 are inclined with respect to the
outer face of the pump 21 according to the first embodiment, either
of the suction port 26 or the discharge port 27 may be oriented
perpendicularly to the outer face of the pump, leaving the other
inclined with respect thereto, as in the following second to the
sixth embodiments. Hereunder, the second to the sixth embodiments
will be specifically described.
[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates the second embodiment of the present
invention. In the second embodiment, the suction port 26 of the
pump 21 is projecting in a diagonally downward direction in FIG. 6
from the outer face of the pump 21, while the discharge port 27 is
perpendicularly projecting from the outer face of the pump 21.
[0051] The pump 21 of the foregoing configuration, the
heat-dissipating section 52 and a heat-receiving section 72
constitute a cooling apparatus 71. The heat-receiving section 72 is
connected to the discharge port 27 of the pump 21 and the inlet 63
of the heat-dissipating section 52, via connection pipes 73 and 74,
respectively. The cooling apparatus 71, in which a fluid discharged
by the pump 21 flows through the heat-receiving section 72, is used
with such heat-receiving section 72 placed in close contact with a
heat-generating component, so as to cool the heat-generating
component.
[0052] Since the suction port 26 is projecting diagonally downward
in FIG. 6 from the outer face of the pump 21, the connection pipe
65 connecting the suction port 26 and the outlet 64 of the
heat-dissipating section 52 has a portion that is bent in an obtuse
angle. Accordingly, in this configuration also, the connecting
portion between the pump 21 and the heat-receiving section 72, as
well as the heat-dissipating section 52, does not have to be bent
in an acute angle.
[0053] According to a third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a cooling
apparatus 81 includes the pump 21 having a pair of each of the
suction ports 26 and the discharge ports 27, and a pair of
heat-dissipating sections 52 respectively connected to the suction
ports 26 and the discharge ports 27. The pump 21 of this embodiment
integrally includes a heat-receiving section.
[0054] In this embodiment, either of the suction port 26 or the
discharge port 27 out of a pair disposed side by side from a same
outer face of the pump 21 is perpendicularly oriented with respect
to the outer face of the pump 21, while the other is inclined with
respect thereto.
[0055] According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention
shown in FIG. 8, a cooling apparatus 91 includes the pump 21 having
a pair each of the suction ports 26 and the discharge ports 27, and
a pair of heat-dissipating sections 52 respectively connected to
the suction port 26 and the discharge port 27, and a pair of
heat-receiving sections 72 connected between the respective
discharge ports 27 and the heat-dissipating sections 52. In this
embodiment too, either of the suction port 26 or the discharge port
27 out of a pair disposed side by side from a same outer face of
the pump 21 is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the outer
face of the pump 21, while the other is inclined with respect
thereto.
[0056] According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention
shown in FIG. 9, the suction port 26 and the discharge port 27 are
respectively provided on adjacent faces among the outer faces of
the pump 21. The suction port 26 and the discharge port 27 are
respectively provided perpendicularly to the outer face of the
casing 22, and resultantly the suction port 26 and the discharge
port 27 are oriented in different directions. Then, the pump 21
thus constructed and the heat-dissipating section 52 constitute a
cooling apparatus 101.
[0057] In this configuration neither does the pipe of the
heat-dissipating section 52, which is the counterpart of the pump
21, have to be bent in an acute angle.
[0058] FIG. 10 depicts a sixth embodiment, in which the present
invention is applied to a laptop personal computer, which is an
example of an electrical appliance. The personal computer 111
includes a main body 112 provided with a keyboard (not shown), and
a cover 113 provided with an LCD (not shown) and pivotally attached
to the main body 112 so as to open and close the computer. The main
body 112 includes therein a central processing unit (CPU) 114 which
is a heat-generating component, and the casing body 23
(heat-receiving section 23a) of the pump 21 is placed on and in
close contact with the CPU 114.
[0059] On the part of the cover 113, a heat-dissipating section 116
is disposed behind the LCD. The heat-dissipating section 116
includes a pipe (not shown) in which a cooling liquid is sealed in,
and is provided with an inlet 117 and an outlet 119 on the
respective end portions thereof.
[0060] The inlet 117 and the discharge port 27 of the pump 21 are
connected via a connection pipe 118, while the outlet 119 and the
suction port 26 of the pump 21 are connected via a connection pipe
120. In this embodiment, the pump 21, the heat-dissipating section
116, and the connection pipes 118 and 120 constitute a cooling
apparatus 115.
[0061] Under such a configuration, when the pump 21 is activated,
the liquid sealed in inside the pipe in the heat-dissipating
section 116 is suctioned through the connection pipe 120 into the
pump chamber 25 via the suction port 26 of the pump 21, while the
liquid inside the pump chamber 25 is discharged through the
connection pipe 118 to the heat-dissipating section 116. Thereby,
the liquid circulates between the pump chamber 25 and the
heat-dissipating section 116, during which the heat generated by
the CPU 114 is removed by the liquid via the casing body 23
(heat-receiving section 23a) of the pump 21. Also, the liquid is
cooled in the heat-dissipating section 116 when passing through the
pipe. This is how the CPU 114 (heat-generating component) is
cooled.
[0062] According to the sixth embodiment, since the suction port 26
and the discharge port 27 of the pump 21 are oriented in different
directions, there is no need to bend in an acute angle the
connection pipes 118 and 120 respectively connecting the inlet 117
and the outlet 119 of the heat-dissipating section 116 and the
suction port 26 and the discharge port 27. In addition, the
connection pipes 118 and 120 can be made as short as possible.
[0063] Although one of the faces of the casing body 23 is utilized
as the heat-receiving section in the foregoing embodiments, the
heat-receiving section may be provided separately from the casing
body 23. Also, the orientation of the suction port 26 and the
discharge port 27 of the pump 21 may be appropriately modified
according to the layout of the connection pipes 118 and 120 inside
the main body 112 of the personal computer 111.
[0064] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the foregoing embodiments shown in the accompanying
drawings, but various modifications may be made. To cite a few
examples, a temperature detecting means may be provided to detect
the temperature of the heat-generating component or the fluid, so
as to change the rotation speed of the motor 44 according to
detecting results of the temperature detecting means, thus to
adjust the flow rate of the pump 21. Such an arrangement further
improves the cooling efficiency for the heat-generating
component.
[0065] The heat-generating component may be placed in close contact
with the heat-receiving section of the pump, via an additional
material having a high thermal conductivity.
[0066] The orientation of the suction port and the discharge port
of the pump may be appropriately modified according to a
counterpart to be connected thereto.
[0067] The foregoing description and drawings are merely
illustrative of the principles of the present invention and are not
to be construed in a limiting sense. Various changes and
modifications will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art. All such changes and modifications are seen to fall within
the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *