U.S. patent application number 11/047867 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-09 for miniature pump for liquid cooling system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Foxconn Technology Co.,Ltd. Invention is credited to Cheng-Tien Lai, Hsieh-Kun Lee, Zhi-Yong Zhou.
Application Number | 20060051222 11/047867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35460724 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060051222 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Hsieh-Kun ; et
al. |
March 9, 2006 |
Miniature pump for liquid cooling system
Abstract
A miniature pump in accordance with the present invention
comprises a pump casing (1) and a liquid circulating unit (2)
received in the pump casing. The pump casing defines an enclosed
space (15) for storing liquid therein. A spacing plate (12) is
arranged in the pump casing to divide the enclosed space into a
first chamber (16) and a second chamber. The spacing plate defines
a through opening (122) at a center portion thereof to make the
first and second chambers communicate with each other. An inlet
(104) and an outlet (110) are formed on the pump casing
respectively communicating with the first and second chambers. The
liquid circulating unit is mounted in the second chamber for
circulating the liquid in a liquid cooling system.
Inventors: |
Lee; Hsieh-Kun; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) ; Lai; Cheng-Tien; (Tu-Cheng, TW) ; Zhou;
Zhi-Yong; (Shenzhen, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORRIS MANNING & MARTIN LLP
1600 ATLANTA FINANCIAL CENTER
3343 PEACHTREE ROAD, NE
ATLANTA
GA
30326-1044
US
|
Assignee: |
Foxconn Technology Co.,Ltd
Tu-Cheng City
TW
|
Family ID: |
35460724 |
Appl. No.: |
11/047867 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/423.14 ;
417/423.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 13/064 20130101;
F04D 13/0666 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/423.14 ;
417/423.1 |
International
Class: |
F04B 17/00 20060101
F04B017/00; F04B 35/04 20060101 F04B035/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 6, 2004 |
CN |
200410051452.9 |
Claims
1. A miniature pump for use with a liquid cooling system,
comprising: a pump casing defining an enclosed space therein; a
spacing plate arranged in the pump casing and dividing said
enclosed space into a first chamber and a second chamber, the
spacing plate defining a through opening at a center portion
thereof to make the first and second chambers communicate with each
other; an inlet formed on the pump casing communicating with the
first chamber; an outlet formed on the pump casing communicating
with the second chamber; and a liquid circulating unit received in
said second chamber for circulating the liquid in the liquid
cooling system.
2. The miniature pump as described in claim 1, wherein the pump
casing comprises a hollow main body transversely forming a
partition wall therein and a top cover hermetically attached to a
top end of the main body, and said enclosed space is formed between
the partition wall and the top cover.
3. The miniature pump as described in claim 2, wherein the liquid
circulating unit comprises a shaft mounted between the partition
wall and the spacing plate, and an impeller rotatably attached to
the shaft.
4. The miniature pump as described in claim 3, wherein the
partition wall forms a shaft support defining a blind hole
receiving an end of the shaft, and the spacing plate defines a
positioning hole at a center thereof receiving an opposite end of
the shaft therein.
5. The miniature pump as described in claim 4, wherein the liquid
circulating unit comprises a pair of locking rings attached to the
shaft near the opposite ends thereof to limit axial movement of the
shaft.
6. The miniature pump as described in claim 3, wherein the
partition wall forms a shaft support defining a blind hole
receiving an end of the shaft, and the spacing plate forms a
protrusion for engaging with an opposite end of the shaft to limit
axial movement of the shaft.
7. The miniature pump as described in claim 3, further comprising a
motor driving unit located outside said enclosed space to drive the
impeller to rotate.
8. The miniature pump as described in claim 7, wherein the impeller
carries a first permanent magnet, the motor driving unit comprises
a motor having a rotor, and a second permanent magnet is attached
to the rotor corresponding to the first permanent magnet.
9. The miniature pump as described in claim 8, wherein the first
permanent magnet is embedded in the impeller.
10. The miniature pump as described in claim 8, wherein each of the
first and second permanent magnets comprises a ring flat body, and
an axial flux gap is created between the first and second permanent
magnets.
11. The miniature pump as described in claim 8, wherein each of the
first and second permanent magnets comprises a cylindrical body,
and a radial flux gap is created between the first and second
permanent magnets.
12. The miniature pump as described in claim 7, wherein the pump
casing further comprises a bottom cover attached to a bottom end of
the main body, and the motor driving unit is positioned between the
partition plate and the bottom cover.
13. A miniature pump for use with a liquid cooling system,
comprising: a pump casing defining therein an enclosed space with
an inlet and an outlet in communication with the enclosed space; a
spacing plate arranged in the pump casing to divide the enclosed
space into first and second chambers respectively communicating
with the inlet and outlet; a liquid circulating unit received in
the second chamber and comprising an impeller for circulating
liquid in the liquid cooling system; and the spacing plate defining
therein a through opening aligned with a center portion of the
impeller for allowing the liquid in the first chamber to enter the
second chamber.
14. The miniature pump as described in claim 13, wherein the
impeller comprises a plurality of blades extending from the center
portion to an outer edge thereof.
15. The miniature pump as described in claim 13, wherein the pump
casing is generally cylindrical and the enclosed space is formed at
one end of the pump casing.
16. The miniature pump as described in claim 15, further comprising
a motor driving unit received in an opposite end of the pump casing
for driving the impeller of the liquid circulating unit to
rotate.
17. The miniature pump as described in claim 16, wherein the
impeller carries a first permanent magnet, the motor driving unit
comprises a rotor and a second permanent magnet attached to the
rotor for rotating therewith, and the second permanent magnet
corresponds to the first permanent magnet with a flux gap formed
therebetween.
18. The miniature pump as described in claim 16, wherein the pump
casing comprises a hollow main body transversely forming a
partition wall, a top cover hermetically attached to said one end
of the main body to form the enclosed space between the top cover
and the partition wall, and a bottom cover attached to said
opposite end of the main body to form a receiving space between the
partition wall and the bottom cover to receive the motor driving
unit.
19. A method for operating a liquid cooling system, comprising:
providing a casing having an enclosed space for receiving cooling
liquid of said liquid cooling system therein; providing an inlet
and an outlet to said casing in communication with said enclosed
space for said liquid to move into/out said casing; driving said
liquid in said enclosed space to circulate through said inlet and
outlet via an impeller; and guiding liquid flow moving into said
casing from said inlet so as to have said liquid flow movable
toward a predetermined portion of said impeller in order for
lessening disturbance of said liquid flow on driving of said
impeller.
20. The method as described in claim 19, wherein a spacing plate is
used to guide said liquid flow moving slowly toward a central
portion of said impeller in said guiding step.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to a co-pending U.S. patent
application entitled "MINIATURE PUMP FOR LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM",
filed Dec. 17, 2004, and assigned Ser. No. 11/015,488, with the
same assignee as the instant application. The disclosure of the
above-identified application is incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to pumps, and more
particularly to a miniature pump for a liquid cooling system for
cooling an electronic package.
BACKGROUND
[0003] With continuing development of the computer technology,
electronic packages such as the CPUs are generating more and more
heat that is required to be dissipated immediately. The
conventional heat dissipating devices such as combined heat sinks
and fans are not competent for dissipating so much heat any more.
Liquid cooling systems have thus been increasingly used in computer
technology to cool these electronic packages.
[0004] A typical liquid cooling system comprises a heat absorbing
unit for absorbing heat from a heat source, and a heat dissipating
unit which is filled with liquid. The liquid conducts heat exchange
with the heat absorbing unit, thereby taking away the heat of the
heat absorbing unit as the liquid is circulated. Typically, a
miniature pump is used to circulate the liquid.
[0005] The pump comprises an inlet for inputting liquid and an
outlet for outputting liquid. The inlet and the outlet are in
communication with an inner space of the pump where an impeller
having blades is installed. The liquid is circulated in the liquid
cooling system by spinning of the impeller. A problem existing in
the conventional liquid cooling system is that in operation the
liquid entering the inner space via the inlet directly strikes the
blades, which causes a flow turbulence in the inner space of the
pump. This flow turbulence slows down the circulation of the liquid
and therefore lowers the cooling efficiency of the whole
system.
[0006] For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for eliminating
such a flow turbulence in the pump.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to a miniature pump which
can eliminate the flow turbulence therein.
[0008] A miniature pump in accordance with the present invention
comprises a pump casing and a liquid circulating unit received in
the pump casing. The pump casing defines an enclosed space for
storing liquid therein. A spacing plate is arranged in the pump
casing to divide the enclosed space into a first chamber and a
second chamber. The spacing plate defines a through opening at a
center portion thereof to make the first and second chambers
intercommunicate. An inlet and an outlet are formed on the pump
casing respectively communicating with the first and second
chambers. The liquid circulating unit is mounted in the second
chamber for circulating the liquid in a liquid cooling system.
[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments of the present invention with attached
drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a miniature pump
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the miniature pump of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the miniature pump of
FIG. 2, but viewed from another aspect; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a miniature pump
according to an alternative embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a miniature pump in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a
pump casing 1 having an inner space, and a liquid circulating unit
2 and a motor driving unit 3 received in the inner space of the
pump casing 1.
[0015] The pump casing 1 comprises a hollow main body 11, a top
cover 10 hermetically attached to a top end 101 of the main body
11, and a bottom cover 19 attached to a bottom end 102 of the main
body 11. A sealing ring 108 is disposed between the main body 11
and the top cover 10 to prevent liquid leakage. The top cover 10
forms an annular groove 106 at a bottom edge thereof for receiving
a sealing ring 108 therein. An inlet 104 is formed on the top cover
10 for allowing liquid to enter the pump casing 1. An outlet 110 is
formed on the main body 11 for allowing the liquid to exit the pump
casing 1.
[0016] The main body 11 transversely forms an inner partition wall
14. This partition wall 14 effectively divides the inner space of
the main body 11 into a top space 15 and a bottom space 18.
[0017] Referring also to FIG. 3, a spacing plate 12 is transversely
arranged in the main body 11 as a guide means. The spacing plate 12
further divides the top space 15 of the main body 11 into a first
chamber 16 between the spacing plate 12 and the top cover 10, and a
second chamber 17 between the partition wall 14 and the spacing
plate 12. A positioning hole 120 is defined in the spacing plate 12
at a center thereof. A plurality of through openings 122 is defined
in the spacing plate 12 adjacent the positioning hole 120 to make
the first and second chambers 16, 17 intercommunicate.
[0018] The liquid circulating unit 2 is mounted in the second
chamber 17 of the pump casing 1. The liquid circulating unit 2
comprises a shaft 20 mounted between the partition wall 14 and the
spacing plate 12, a bearing 22 pivotably attached to the shaft 20
and an impeller 26 attached to the bearing 22. Alternatively, the
bearing 22 may be integrated with the impeller 26. The impeller 26
comprises a plurality of blades extending from a center portion to
an outer edge portion of the impeller 26. A first permanent magnet
260 is embedded in the impeller 26. The first permanent magnet 260
has a ring flat body magnetized as having a plurality of
alternating N and S poles along the ring body. For positioning the
shaft 20, the partition wall 14 forms a shaft support 140 having a
blind hole (not labeled) receiving a bottom end of the shaft 20
therein, and a top end of the shaft 20 engages in the positioning
hole 120 of the spacing plate 12. A pair of locking rings 24 is
attached to the shaft 20 near opposite ends thereof respectively
for limiting axial movement of the shaft 20.
[0019] The motor driving unit 3 is received in the bottom space of
the pump casing 1. The motor driving unit 3 is positioned on the
bottom cover 19 and comprises a motor having a rotor 34 and a
printed circuit board 31 for controlling spinning of the rotor 34.
A second permanent magnet 340 is attached to the rotor 34 for
spinning therewith, corresponding to the first permanent magnet 260
with a flux gap formed therebetween. Like the first permanent
magnet 260, the second permanent magnet 340 also has a ring flat
body magnetized as having a plurality of alternating N and S poles
along the ring body. An axial flux gap is cooperatively created
between the first and second permanent magnets 260, 340. The rotor
34 is covered with a layer of magnetically conductive material;
therefore the second permanent magnet 340 is attached to the rotor
34 by magnetic attractive force. Alternative means such as adhesive
may be used to attach the second permanent magnet 340 to the rotor
34.
[0020] In operation, the rotor 34 of the motor of the motor driving
unit 3 rotates to drive the second permanent magnet 340 to rotate
therewith. The first permanent magnet 260 is driven to rotate with
second permanent magnet 340 by the attractive force therebetween.
The impeller 26 thus rotates with the first permanent magnet 260 to
circulate the liquid in the liquid cooling system.
[0021] In the present invention, the liquid enters the first
chamber 16 via the inlet 104, and then enters the second chamber 17
via the nearly centrally defined through openings 122. The liquid
flowing into the second chamber 17 thus strikes the center portion
of the impeller 26 and is then evenly distributed to an outer edge
of the impeller 26. The liquid is finally discharged out of the
second chamber 17 via the outlet 110 by a centrifugal force caused
by rotation of the impeller 26. Since the liquid does not directly
strike the blades of the impeller 26 that are near the outer edge
thereof, the flow turbulence is eliminated accordingly. The liquid
circulating efficiency of the liquid cooling system is thus
enhanced.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, a miniature pump according to an
alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. Most
parts of the miniature pump of the alternative embodiment are the
same as the preferred embodiment. Main differences are that in the
alternative embodiment the first and second permanent magnets 260',
340 are both cylindrical while in the preferred embodiment they are
flat; a radial flux gap is thus formed between the first and second
permanent magnets 260', 340'. Another difference is that the
spacing plate 12' downwardly forms a protrusion 120' for engaging
with the top end of the shaft 20', thereby limiting axial movement
of the shaft 20'.
[0023] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other
forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The
above-described examples and embodiments are to be considered in
all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention
is not to be limited to the details given above.
* * * * *