U.S. patent application number 11/191020 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for electronic component cooling apparatus.
Invention is credited to Riichiro Hibiya, Toyohiro Kawahara, Yoshinori Tangi, Tsuneo Uwabo.
Application Number | 20060151151 11/191020 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36652097 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060151151 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hibiya; Riichiro ; et
al. |
July 13, 2006 |
Electronic component cooling apparatus
Abstract
A radiator, a heat sink and a tank are disposed on circulating
paths. The radiator includes a fan. The tank includes a pump for
forcedly circulating fluid. A pump-fan drive unit is provided
between the tank and the radiator. The fan and the pump are
directly connected to a single motor so that they can be driven by
the motor. The pump has a magnet rotor, and a rotor driver. The
magnet rotor is accommodated in the tank so as to be rotatable. The
rotor driver is fixedly provided in an end portion of an output
shaft of the motor. The magnet rotor is magnetically driven to
rotate by the rotor driver.
Inventors: |
Hibiya; Riichiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Tangi; Yoshinori; (Tokyo, JP) ; Uwabo;
Tsuneo; (Tokyo, JP) ; Kawahara; Toyohiro;
(Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WHITHAM, CURTIS & CHRISTOFFERSON, P.C.
11491 SUNSET HILLS ROAD, SUITE 340
P.O. Box 9204
RESTON
VA
20190
US
|
Family ID: |
36652097 |
Appl. No.: |
11/191020 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/80.4 ;
165/104.33; 165/121; 257/E23.098 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2924/0002 20130101;
H01L 2924/00 20130101; H01L 23/473 20130101; H01L 2924/0002
20130101; F28D 15/00 20130101; F28F 2250/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/080.4 ;
165/121; 165/104.33 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 13, 2005 |
JP |
P2005-006938 |
Claims
1. An electronic component cooling apparatus disposed on a
circulating path through which fluid circulates, the electronic
component cooling apparatus comprising: a heat sink disposed on the
circulating path and adapted to transfer heat generated from an
electronic component to the fluid; a radiator disposed on the
circulating path and provided with a fan cooling the fluid in the
radiator, and the radiator emitting the heat; a tank disposed on
the circulating path and provided with a pump circulating the fluid
through the circulating path, and the tank reserving the fluid; and
a single motor driving the fan and the pump.
2. An electronic component cooling apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the fan is directly connected to one end portion of an
output shaft of the motor, and the pump is directly connected to
the other end portion of the output shaft of the motor.
3. An electronic component cooling apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the pump comprises a magnet rotor rotatably accommodated in
the tank; and a rotor driver provided at an end portion of an
output shaft of the motor so as to magnetically rotate the magnet
rotor.
4. An electronic component cooling apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the pump comprises a fan member rotatably accommodated in
the tank and directly connected to an end portion of an output
shaft of the motor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic component
cooling apparatus and particularly relates to an electronic
component cooling apparatus preferably applied to a system for
water-cooling an electronic component of a computer or the
like.
[0002] As a cooling apparatus using a water-cooling system used for
a component of an electronic apparatus such as a CPU of a personal
computer, there has been a cooling apparatus having a pressure pump
provided in the inside or outside of a cooling fluid tank to
compressively deliver cooling fluid of the cooling fluid tank to a
radiator. FIG. 4 is an overall configuration view showing an
example of this type electronic component cooling apparatus 1.
[0003] In FIG. 4, a radiator 2 is provided with an air-cooling fan
3, and a cooling fluid tank 4 is provided with a pressure pump 5.
The cooling fluid tank 4 and the radiator 2 are connected to each
other through a fluid flow path 6. In addition, an electronic
component heat sink 7 is provided for cooling a CPU (electronic
component) that is a heat source. The heat sink 7 and the radiator
2 are connected to each other through a fluid flow path 8. The heat
sink 7 and the cooling fluid tank 4 are connected to each other
through a fluid flow path 9.
[0004] In this configuration, cooling fluid C in the cooling fluid
tank 4 is supplied to the heat sink 7 via the radiator 2 by the
pressure pump 5 and then sent back to the cooling fluid tank 4. In
this manner, the cooling fluid C circulates so as to be supplied to
the heat sink 7 again via the same flow path as described above. In
the electronic component cooling apparatus 1, the air cooling fan 3
and the pressure pump 5 are driven by separately provided drive
motors respectively (e.g. JP-A-2004-304076).
[0005] Since the cooling apparatus 1 described above is formed so
that the motor for driving the cooling fluid pressure pump 5 and
the motor for driving the air cooling fan 3 are provided
individually and separately, there is a problem that efficiency of
driving the pressure pump 5 and the air cooling fan 3 is poor
viewed from the whole of the electronic component cooling
apparatus. Moreover, since it is necessary to provide two drive
motors for the pump and for the fan, the place (space) for
installation of the two drive motors becomes so large that increase
in cost is brought as well as reduction in size of the apparatus
cannot be attained. In addition, noise generated from the drive
motors becomes large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, there arises a technical problem to be solved in
order to improve efficiency of the motor's driving the pressure
pump and the air-cooling fan and in order to suppress noise, and in
order to attain reduction in size of the electronic component
cooling apparatus. An object of the invention is to solve this
problem.
[0007] In order to accomplish the above object, an electronic
component cooling apparatus of the present invention is
characterized by having the following arrangement, [0008] (1) An
electronic component cooling apparatus disposed on a circulating
path through which fluid circulates, the electronic component
cooling apparatus comprising: [0009] a heat sink disposed on the
circulating path and adapted to transfer heat generated from an
electronic component to the fluid; [0010] a radiator disposed on
the circulating path and provided with a fan cooling the fluid in
the radiator, and the radiator emitting the heat; [0011] a tank
disposed on the circulating path and provided with a pump
circulating the fluid through the circulating path, and the tank
reserving the fluid; and [0012] a single motor driving the fan and
the pump. [0013] (2) An electronic component cooling apparatus
according to (1), wherein [0014] the fan is directly connected to
one end portion of an output shaft of the motor, and [0015] the
pump is directly connected to the other end portion of the output
shaft of the motor. [0016] (3) An electronic component cooling
apparatus according to (1), wherein the pump comprises [0017] a
magnet rotor rotatably accommodated in the tank; and [0018] a rotor
driver provided at an end portion of an output shaft of the motor
so as to magnetically rotate the magnet rotor. [0019] (4) An
electronic component cooling apparatus according to (1), wherein
the pump comprises a fan member rotatably accommodated in the tank
and directly connected to an end portion of an output shaft of the
motor.
[0020] According to the invention, the fan and the pump can be
driven by the single motor. That is, the function of the fan for
air-cooling the radiator and the function of the pump for forcedly
circulating the fluid are performed by the operation of the single
motor.
[0021] According to the invention, two motors heretofore required
for driving the fan and the pump can be replaced by one motor.
Therefore, because the space for installation of the motor can be
reduced to half while drive transmission efficiency of the motive
power of the motor can be improved greatly compared with the
related art, reduction in size of the unit for driving the fan and
the pump can be achieved. In addition, not only can the cost of one
motor be eliminated but also noise generated from the motor can be
suppressed to half.
[0022] According to the invention, both the fan and the pump can be
driven simultaneously and directly by rotation of the output shaft.
Hence, it is not necessary to provide any gear between the fan and
the output shaft and between the pump and the output shaft.
[0023] According to the invention, the fan and the pump are driven
by the output shaft so directly that intermediate gears can be
dispensed with. Accordingly, not only can smooth synchronous
operation of the fan and the pump be ensured but also the structure
is so simple that the number of parts can be reduced.
[0024] According to the invention, the magnet rotor in the tank is
magnetically driven to rotate by rotation of the rotor driver, so
that the fluid in the tank is compressively delivered to the
radiator.
[0025] According to the invention, the magnet rotor of the pump is
accommodated in the tank and the magnet rotor has no rotary bearing
member. Accordingly, further reduction in size of the apparatus can
be achieved. Moreover, there is an excellent effect that a seal
member for the bearing can be dispensed with no risk of fluid
leakage. In addition, because the magnet rotor is free from shaft
slide resistance at the time of rotation, not only smoother
rotation can be ensured but also noise generated at the time of
rotation driving can be suppressed more effectively.
[0026] According to the invention, the fan member rotates together
with the output shaft, so that the fluid in the tank is
compressively delivered to the radiator.
[0027] According to the invention, the fan member of the pump is
accommodated in the tank and the fan member is directly driven by
the output shaft of the motor. Accordingly, not only can further
reduction in size of the apparatus be achieved but also the
apparatus is so simple in structure as to be easy to produce. In
addition, the efficiency of transmission of rotation drive power
from the motor to the pump can be improved more greatly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration view of an electronic
component cooling apparatus, showing an embodiment of the
invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view for explaining an example
of configuration of a pump-fan drive unit according to the
embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view for explaining another
example of configuration of the pump-fan drive unit according to
the embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 4 is an overall configuration view of a related
electronic component cooling apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] The invention provides an electronic component cooling
apparatus comprising a pump, an air-cooling fan-including radiator,
and a heat sink. The pump, the air-cooling fan-including radiator
and the heat sink are disposed on a circulating path. In the
electronic component cooling apparatus, a source for driving the
pump and a source for driving the fan of the radiator are made of a
single motor to thereby achieve the purposes of: improving the
drive efficiency of the motor; reducing the size of the drive
device; and suppressing noise caused by the driving of the
motor.
[0033] An embodiment of the invention will be described below with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the embodiment, a forced
water-cooling type CPU cooler apparatus comprises a radiator 25, a
heat sink 12, and a tank 14. The radiator 25 includes an fan 15.
The tank 14 includes a pump 18 for forcedly circulating cooling
fluid. The radiator 25, the heat sink 12 and the tank 14 are
connected to one another through circulation paths 13 and 24 so
that the cooling fluid can be recycled. In the CPU cooler
apparatus, motive power of a motor 20 of the fan 15 is used so that
the pump 18 can be also driven to rotate in simultaneity with the
fan 15. Although the embodiment has been described on the case
where the pump 18 and the tank 14 are formed integrally in order to
achieve further reduction in size of the apparatus, it is a matter
of course that the pump 18 and the tank 14 may be formed
separately.
[0034] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration view of an electronic
component cooling apparatus 11 according to the embodiment. The
electronic component cooling apparatus 11 is provided with a CPU
water-cooling head that serves as a heat sink 12 made of metal. The
heat sink 12 is held in contact with a CPU as a heat-generating
source, so that heat generated from the CPU is transferred to fluid
(cooling water or glycol antifreeze fluid) C and released. A tank
14 is connected to an inlet of the heat sink 12 through a path 13.
The cooling fluid C is reserved in the tank 14.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, an inlet 16 and an outlet 17 are formed
in one side wall and the other side wall of the tank 14,
respectively. The cooling fluid tank 14 further includes a pump 18
for forcedly circulating the fluid C to the heat sink 12. The
pressure pump 18 includes a disc type magnet rotor 19, and a disc
type rotor driver 22. The rotor driver 22 is fixedly provided in
one end portion of an output shaft 21 of a motor 20. The magnet
rotor 19 is accommodated in the tank 14 so as to be rotatable.
[0036] A plurality of fans 23 are formed integrally on the surface
of the magnet rotor 19. Each of the fans 23 protrudes outwardly to
the inlet 16. Further, the magnet rotor 19 and the rotor driver 22
are disposed concentrically and adjacently, and face to each other
through a wall surface of the tank 14. Each of circumferential edge
portions of facing surfaces of the magnet rotor 19 and the rotor
driver 22 is magnetized with N poles and S poles, which are
arranged alternately in circumferential direction thereof.
[0037] Accordingly, the magnet rotor 19 is magnetically driven to
rotate by rotation of the rotor driver 22. At the same time that
the fluid C flows into the tank 14 through the inlet 16, the fluid
C flows out of the outlet 17. The outflowing fluid C is supplied to
the heat sink 12 through the path 13.
[0038] The outlet of the heat sink 12 is connected to an inlet 26
of the radiator 25 through the path 24. Thus, after the CPU is
cooled by the fluid C, the fluid C is supplied to the radiator 25
through the path 24. The radiator 25 removes the fluid C from the
heat and emits the heat into the air.
[0039] A pump-fan drive unit 27 is arranged between the radiator 25
and the tank 14. The pump-fan drive unit 27 has the motor 20, the
fan 15, and the rotor driver 22. The fan 15 is disposed adjacently
to one side (left side in FIG. 2) of the motor 20. The rotor driver
22 is disposed adjacently to the other side (right side in FIG. 2)
of the motor 20.
[0040] As described above, the rotor driver 22 is fixedly provided
and directly connected to one end portion of the output shaft 21 of
the motor 20, while the fan 15 is fixedly provided and directly
connected to the other end portion of the output shaft 21.
[0041] In the electronic component cooling apparatus 11 configured
as described above, When the output shaft 21 of the motor 20 is
rotated, both the fan 15 and the rotor driver 22 are driven to
rotate synchronously. The radiator 25 is air-cooled in accordance
with the rotation of the fan 15, so that the heat is taken from the
fluid C and emitted into the air.
[0042] In addition, the magnet rotor 19 of the pump 18 rotates
magnetically and integrally in accordance with the rotation of the
rotor driver 22. By the water jet function of the fans 23 rotating
together with the magnet rotor 19, the fluid C on the radiator 25
flows into the tank 14 through the inlet 16. At the same time, the
fluid C flows out of the outlet 17 of the tank 14. The outflowing
fluid C is forcedly supplied to the heat sink 12 through the path
13.
[0043] Thus, the heat sink 12 transfers the heat generated in the
CPU to the fluid C to thereby cool the CPU. After cooling, the
fluid C is sent back to the tank 14 through the path 24 and the
radiator 25. Then, cooling fluid C is forcedly circulated to the
heat sink 12 by the pump 18 in the same manner as described
above.
[0044] In this embodiment, the magnet rotor 19 of the pump 18
rotates magnetically without any bearing. Accordingly, there is no
bearing slide resistance generated at the time of rotation of the
rotor. There is no risk of fluid leakage, so that no seal member is
required.
[0045] The fan 15 and the pump 18 are directly operated by the
single motor 20. Accordingly, the fan 15 and the pump 18 can be
driven by the single motor 20, so that air-cooling of the radiator
25 and forced circulation of the fluid C can be performed
simultaneously.
[0046] Accordingly, while drive transmission efficiency of motive
power of the motor is improved, the space for installation of the
pump-fan drive unit 27 is reduced so that the size of the apparatus
can be reduced accordingly. Further, because two motors required
can be replaced by one motor, noise generated from the motor 20 is
reduced. In addition, because it is not necessary to provide any
gear between the fan 15 and the output shaft 21 and between the
pump 18 and the output shaft 21, the apparatus is so simple in
structure that number of parts can be reduced.
[0047] The pump according to this embodiment is not limited to a
magnet rotation drive type pump. Another type pump can be used
instead. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, there can be used a pump
28 which includes a fan member 29 rotatably accommodated in the
tank 14 and having a shaft portion directly connected to one end
portion of the output shaft 21 of the motor 20.
[0048] Even in this configuration, efficiency of driving the
pressure pump 28 and the fan 15 is improved, so that reduction in
size of the electronic component cooling apparatus can be achieved.
Further, not only is the apparatus simple in structure but also
silent running characteristic of the motor driving is improved.
Incidentally, in this embodiment, a seal member 30 is mounted on
the place where the output shaft 21 passes through the tank.
[0049] It is a matter of course that various modifications can be
made on the invention without departing from the spirit of the
invention, and that the invention is extended to those
modifications.
* * * * *