U.S. patent application number 11/308833 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for integrated liquid cooling system.
This patent application is currently assigned to FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to CHUEN-SHU HOU, TAY-JIAN LIU, CHAO-NIEN TUNG.
Application Number | 20070110559 11/308833 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38040990 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070110559 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIU; TAY-JIAN ; et
al. |
May 17, 2007 |
INTEGRATED LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM
Abstract
An integrated liquid cooling system for removing heat from a
heat-generating component includes a base (10), a pump (20) mounted
in the base, and a heat-dissipating member (30) communicating with
the pump and coupling with the base. The pump includes a casing
(21) having a chamber (212). A rotor (22), a partition seat (23)
and a stator (24) are received in the chamber. A top cover (25) is
attached on the casing. The casing includes a bottom plate (214)
absorbing heat generated by the electronic component. A plurality
of pairs of interconnecting surfaces are formed between the
partition seat and the rotor and between the rotor and the bottom
plate, one surface of the at least one pair of interconnecting
surfaces forming a plurality of grooves (235, 237) or protrusions
(234, 2222), thereby forming a fluid film therebetween for
dynamically supporting a thrust on the rotor during a rotation of
the rotor.
Inventors: |
LIU; TAY-JIAN; (TU CHENG,
TW) ; HOU; CHUEN-SHU; (TU CHENG, TW) ; TUNG;
CHAO-NIEN; (TU CHENG, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. CHENG-JU CHIANG JEFFREY T. KNAPP
458 E. LAMBERT ROAD
FULLERTON
CA
92835
US
|
Assignee: |
FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO.,
LTD.
3-2,CHUNG SHAN ROAD
TU CHENG
TW
|
Family ID: |
38040990 |
Appl. No.: |
11/308833 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/90 ;
361/695 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/588 20130101;
F04D 13/0673 20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101; F04D 29/047
20130101; H02K 7/088 20130101; F28F 2250/08 20130101; H02K 7/14
20130101; H02K 5/128 20130101; H02K 7/085 20130101; F01D 1/36
20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101; H01L 2924/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/090 ;
361/695 |
International
Class: |
F01D 1/36 20060101
F01D001/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 16, 2005 |
CN |
200510101502.4 |
Claims
1. A liquid cooling system for a heat-generating electronic
component comprising: a base defining therein a center opening and
slots, and channels communicating the opening with the slots; a
heat-dissipating member mounted to the base, and defining therein a
plurality of fluid flow channels for passage of a coolant; a pump
having a chamber receiving the coolant therein, and being mounted
in the opening and being in fluid communication with the channels
of the base and the channels of the heat-dissipating member via the
slots, the pump comprising a bottom plate having a top surface and
a bottom surface, and a rotor received and rotating in the chamber,
a plurality of pairs of interconnecting surfaces formed between the
rotor and the chamber, one surface of the at least one pair of
interconnecting surfaces forming a plurality of grooves or
protrusions, thereby forming a fluid film therebetween for
dynamically supporting a thrust on the rotor during a rotation of
the rotor.
2. The liquid cooling system of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises
a casing having the chamber and the bottom plate, the rotor, a
partition seat, a stator and a top cover hermetically attached to a
top end of the casing, wherein the rotor, the partition seat and
the stator are received one after the other in that order in the
chamber of the casing, the partition seat is mounted between the
rotor and the stator for isolating the coolant from the stator to
prevent the coolant entering the stator.
3. The liquid cooling system of claim 2, wherein the partition seat
comprises a body having an inner space and a bottom portion, and a
plate extending outwardly from a top of the body.
4. The liquid cooling system of claim 3, wherein the rotor
comprises a wall having a plurality of vanes extending outwardly
form an outer surface of the wall.
5. The liquid cooling system of claim 4, wherein the plate of the
partition seat mates with a top surface of the wall to form a
plurality of interconnecting surfaces therebetween, and one of the
interconnecting surfaces forms a plurality of grooves or
protrusions.
6. The liquid cooling system of claim 4, wherein a magnetic ring
abuts against an inner surface of the wall and mates with an inner
surface of the body to form a plurality of interconnecting surfaces
therebetween, and one of the interconnecting surfaces forms a
plurality of grooves or protrusions.
7. The liquid cooling system of claim 6, an agitator is received in
the chamber of the casing and formed below the magnetic ring of the
rotor, for agitating the coolant in the chamber of the casing.
8. The liquid cooling system of claim 7, wherein the agitator
comprises a plurality of agitating plates extending radially and
outwardly from a center of the rotor to connect with an inner
surface of the wall.
9. The liquid cooling system of claim 4, wherein a substrate is
connected with a bottom end of the wall, the substrate having a
bottom surface mating with a top surface of the bottom plate of the
casing to form a plurality of interconnecting surfaces
therebetween, and one of the interconnecting surfaces forms a
plurality of grooves or protrusions.
10. The liquid cooling system of claim 9, wherein a magnetic ring
is embedded in the top surface of the substrate and abuts against
an inner surface of the wall of the rotor.
11. The liquid cooling system of claim 9, wherein the bottom
portion of the partition seat mates with the substrate of the rotor
to form a plurality of interconnecting surfaces therebetween, and
one of the interconnecting surfaces forms a plurality of grooves or
protrusions.
12. The liquid cooling system of claim 1, wherein the
heat-dissipating member comprises a plurality of fins, a plurality
of heat-dissipating conduits, and a pair of opposite fluid tanks
connected to ends of the heat-dissipating conduits, wherein the
heat-dissipating conduits and the fluid tanks form the plurality of
fluid flow channels.
13. The liquid cooling system of claim 12, wherein joint flanges
are formed at tops of the slots, for hermetically engaging in the
fluid tanks of the heat-dissipating member.
14. A pump for use with a liquid cooling system comprising: a
casing defining therein a chamber with a heat-absorbing plate
adapted for contacting with a heat-generating electronic component,
and an inlet and an outlet both being in flow communication with
the chamber; a rotor received in the chamber, the rotor comprising
an impeller being rotatable to drive the liquid to enter the
chamber via the inlet and to exit the chamber via the outlet, a
magnetic ring being carried by the impeller, the impeller
comprising a cylindrical wall; a stator received in the chamber to
drive the rotor to rotate; a partition seat received in the chamber
and arranged between the stator and the rotor to space the stator
and the rotor, the partition seat comprising a cylindrical body
having a bottom portion, an annular plate extending outwardly from
a top of the cylindrical body; and a top cover mounted to a top of
the casing; wherein a plurality of pairs of interconnecting
surfaces are formed between the partition seat and the rotor and
between the bottom plate and the rotor, one surface of the at least
one pair of interconnecting surfaces forming a plurality of grooves
or protrusions, thereby forming a fluid film therebetween for
dynamically supporting a thrust on the impeller during a rotation
of the rotor.
15. The pump of claim 14, wherein a substrate is connected with a
bottom end of the wall of the impeller.
16. The pump of claim 15, wherein the magnetic ring abuts against
an inner surface of the wall.
17. The pump of claim 16, wherein the plurality of pairs of
interconnecting surfaces comprises interconnecting surfaces formed
between the annular plate of the partition seat and a top of the
wall of the rotor, and interconnecting surfaces formed between an
outer surface of the body of the partition seat and an inner
surface of the magnetic ring of the rotor, and interconnecting
surfaces formed between the bottom portion of the partition seat
and the substrate of the rotor, and interconnecting surfaces formed
between the substrate of the rotor and the bottom plate of the
casing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/308,547 filed on Apr. 5, 2006 and entitled "INTEGRATED
LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM"; the co-pending U.S. patent application is
assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The
disclosure of the above-identified application is incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a liquid cooling
system for dissipation of heat from heat-generating components, and
more particularly to an integrated liquid cooling system suitable
for removing heat from electronic components of computers.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] With the continuing development of computer technology,
electronic packages such as central processing units (CPUs) are
generating more and more heat that requires immediate dissipation.
Conventional heat dissipating devices such as combined heat sinks
and fans are not effective enough to dissipate the heat generated
by modern integrated chip packages. Liquid cooling systems have
therefore been increasingly used in computer technology to cool
these electronic packages.
[0004] A typical liquid cooling system generally comprises a
heat-absorbing member, a heat-dissipating member and a pump. These
individual components are connected together in series so as to
form a heat transfer loop. In practice, the heat-absorbing member
is maintained in thermal contact with a heat-generating component
(e.g. a CPU) for absorbing heat generated by the CPU. The liquid
cooling system employs a coolant circulating through the heat
transfer loop so as to continuously transport the thermal energy
absorbed by the heat-absorbing member to the heat-dissipating
member where the heat is dissipated. The pump is used to drive the
coolant, after being cooled in the heat-dissipating member, back to
the heat-absorbing member.
[0005] In the typical liquid cooling system, the heat-absorbing
member, the heat-dissipating member and the pump are connected
together generally by a plurality of connecting tubes so as to form
the heat transfer loop. However, the typical liquid cooling system
has a big volume and occupies more room in a computer system, and
is not adapted to the small size necessary for a personal computer.
Furthermore, the liquid cooling system has many connecting tubes
with a plurality of connections, which are prone to leakage of the
coolant so giving the system low reliability and high cost.
Moreover, the heat-absorbing member, the heat-dissipating member
and the pump are to be located at different locations when mounted
to the computer system. In this situation, mounting of the liquid
cooling system to the computer system or demounting of the liquid
cooling system from the computer system is tiresome and
time-consuming work. In addition, vibration and noise produced by
the reciprocating pump adversely affect the heat-generating
component and the computer system.
[0006] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a liquid cooling
system which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An integrated liquid cooling system in accordance with an
embodiment for removing heat from a heat-generating electronic
component includes a base, a pump mounted in the base and a
heat-dissipating member communicating with the pump and coupling
with the base. The pump includes a casing having a chamber. A
rotor, a partition seat and a stator are in turn received in the
chamber. A top cover is attached on the casing. The casing includes
a bottom plate absorbing heat generated by the electronic
component. A plurality of pairs of interconnecting surfaces are
formed between the partition seat and the rotor and the bottom
plate, one surface of the at least one pair of interconnecting
surfaces forming a plurality of grooves or protrusions, thereby
forming a fluid film therebetween for dynamically supporting thrust
on the rotor during rotation of the rotor.
[0008] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Many aspects of the present apparatus and method can be
better understood with reference to the following drawings. The
components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the
emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the
principles of the present apparatus and method. Moreover, in the
drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.
[0010] FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a liquid cooling
system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1, but shown from another
aspect;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a heat-dissipating member of
the liquid cooling system of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a pump of the liquid cooling
system of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but shown from a
different aspect;
[0015] FIGS. 6-8, 11, 14 are isometric views of a rotor in
accordance with other embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a pump of the liquid cooling
system of FIG. 2 with a minor modification;
[0017] FIGS. 10,12-13 are isometric views of a partition seat in
accordance with other embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a pump of a liquid cooling
system in accordance with a second embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 16 is an exploded view of a pump of a liquid cooling
system in accordance with a third embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of a pump and a base of a liquid
cooling system in accordance with a fourth embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 18 is an exploded view of a pump and a base of a liquid
cooling system in accordance with a fifth embodiment; and
[0022] FIG. 19 is an assembled, cross-sectional view of the pump
and the base of FIG. 18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a liquid cooling system in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The liquid cooling system includes a base 10, a pump 20 mounted in
the base 10, and a heat-dissipating member 30 communicating with
the pump 20 and coupling with the base 10. The base 10, the pump 20
and the heat-dissipating member 30 are connected together in series
without any connecting tubes. A heat transfer loop is formed by the
base 10, the pump 20 and the heat dissipating member 30. A coolant
such as water is filled into the pump 20 and is circulated through
the heat transfer loop under force from the pump 20.
[0024] The base 10 is made from Polyethylene (PE) or Acrylonitrile
Butadiene Styrene (ABS), and has a rectangular configuration. The
base 10 defines an opening 100 in a central portion thereof for
receiving and securing the pump 20 therein. The base 10 forms a
pair of ears 12 extending from left and right sides thereof,
wherein a pair of mounting holes 120 is defined in each ear 12 for
receiving screws 40 with springs 42 therein. Annular rings 44 are
used to snap into recesses (not labeled) defined in lower portions
of the screws 40 thereby to attach the screws 40 and the springs 42
to the base 10 before the liquid cooling system is mounted on a
supporting member (not shown), for example, a printed circuit board
on which a heat-generating electronic component is mounted. A pair
of rectangular slots 102, 104 is symmetrically defined at two
opposite sides of the base 10 beside the opening 100. A pair of
rectangular channels 106, 108 is respectively defined between the
opening 100 and the slots 102, 104. The channels 106, 108
communicate the opening 100 with the slots 102, 104.
[0025] With reference also to FIGS. 4-5, the pump 20 comprises a
hollow casing 21, a magnetic rotor 22, a partition seat 23, a
stator 24 and a top cover 25 hermetically attached to a top end of
the casing 21.
[0026] The casing 21 is made of a metallic material with good heat
conductivity, and defines a chamber 212 for receiving the rotor 22,
the partition seat 23 and the stator 24 one on top of the other in
that order therein. The casing 21 comprises a bottom plate 214
having a blind hole 213 defined in a central portion thereof. The
bottom plate 214 serves as a heat-absorbing plate to contact with
the heat-generating electronic component and absorb heat generated
by the electronic component. An inlet 26 corresponding to the
channel 106 of the base 10 and an outlet 27 corresponding to the
channel 108 of the base 10 are formed at two opposite sides of an
outer surface of the casing 21, so that the coolant is capable of
entering into casing 21 via the inlet 26 and exiting the casing 21
via the outlet 27.
[0027] The magnetic rotor 22 has a hollow cylindrical configuration
and is mounted in the chamber 212 of the casing 21. The rotor 22
includes an impeller having a wall 220 and a substrate 227
connecting with a bottom end of the wall 220, and a magnetic ring
222 securely abutting against an inner surface of the wall 220 of
the impeller. An upper axle 226 extends upwardly from a center of
the substrate 227 of the impeller. A lower axle 228 extends
downwardly from the center of the substrate 227 of the impeller,
for engaging in the blind hole 213 of the bottom plate 214 of the
casing 21. Referring to FIGS. 6-8, an agitator 223 is formed on a
bottom surface of the substrate 227 and received in the chamber 212
of the casing 21, for agitating the coolant of the chamber 212. The
agitator 223 comprises a plurality of agitating plates 225. The
shape of the agitating plate 225 is linear (shown in FIG. 6).
Alternatively, the agitating plates 225 may have a curvilinear
configuration (shown in FIGS. 7-8), wherein the agitating plates
225 of FIG. 8 are configured circularly around the lower axle 228
without connection with the lower axle 228. The impeller forms a
plurality of plate-shaped vanes 224 extending radially and
outwardly from an outer surface of the wall 220. When the rotor 22
rotates, the plate-shaped vanes 224 agitate the coolant in the
chamber 212 of the casing 21, for providing a pressure to the
coolant and to thereby circulate the coolant in the liquid cooling
system.
[0028] The partition seat 23 is mounted between the rotor 22 and
the stator 24 for isolating the coolant from the stator 24 to
prevent the coolant from entering the stator 24 and
short-circuiting the stator 24. The partition seat 23 comprises a
cylindrical body 231 having an outer circumferential surface mating
with the magnetic ring 222. The body 231 has an inner space 230 and
an annular plate 233 extending outwardly from a top of the
cylindrical body 231. A shaft 236 extends upwardly from a center of
a bottom portion 232 of the cylindrical body 231. A mating hole 238
is defined in a center of the bottom portion 232, for receiving the
upper axle 226 of the rotor 22 therein.
[0029] The rotor 22 mates with the casing 21 and the partition seat
23 to form a plurality of interconnecting surfaces therebetween,
such as between a bottom surface of the annular plate 233 and a top
surface of the wall 220 of the rotor 22, and between the outer
surface of the body 231 of the partition seat 23 and the inner
surface of the magnetic ring 222 of the rotor 22, between a bottom
surface of the substrate 227 of the rotor 22 and a top surface of
the bottom plate 214 of the casing 21, and between an outer surface
of the lower axle 228 and an inner surface of the blind hole 213.
Among the plurality of pairs of interconnecting surfaces, one
surface of the at least one pair of interconnecting surfaces forms
a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves or protrusion
means, thereby forming a fluid film therebetween for dynamically
supporting a radial or axial thrust on the impeller and reducing
friction therebetween during rotation of the rotor 22.
[0030] Again referring to FIGS. 4-5, a plurality of dynamic
pressure generating grooves 235 is formed on the outer
circumferential surface of the body 231 mating with the smooth
inner surface of the magnetic ring 222 of the impeller. The
plurality of grooves 235 has a herringbone groove pattern. The
herringbone groove pattern of the radial dynamic pressure
generating grooves 235 are so formed as to provide a pumping action
for thrusting the coolant between the outer circumferential surface
of the body 231 and the inner surface of the magnetic ring 222 of
the rotor 22 as the rotor 22 rotates, thereby forming a fluid film
therebetween for dynamically supporting a radial thrust on the
impeller. Referring to FIG. 9, according to a minor modification of
the pump 20 of this embodiment, the thrust dynamic pressure
generating grooves 235 may be formed on the inner surface of the
magnetic ring 222 of the rotor for mating with the outer surface of
the body 231 which is smooth according to the modification.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 10, the dynamic pressure generating
grooves 235 of the partition seat 23 of FIGS. 4-5 may be replaced
by a plurality of protrusions 234 which are formed on the outer
circumferential surface of the body 231 mating with the smooth
inner surface of the magnetic ring 222 of the impeller to form a
fluid film therebetween for dynamically supporting a radial thrust
on the impeller. Referring FIG. 11, the dynamic pressure generating
grooves 235 of the magnetic ring 222 of FIG. 9 may be replaced by a
plurality of protrusions 234 formed on the inner surface of the
magnetic ring 222 of the rotor 20 mating with the smooth outer
surface of the body 231 to form a fluid film therebetween for
dynamically supporting a radial thrust on the impeller.
[0032] Referring FIG. 12, a plurality of dynamic pressure
generating grooves 237 is formed on the bottom surface of the
annular plate 233 engaging with the smooth top surface of the wall
220 of the impeller of FIG. 5. The plurality of grooves 237 has a
herringbone groove pattern. The herringbone groove pattern of the
dynamic pressure generating grooves 237 are so formed as to provide
a pumping action for thrusting the coolant toward the bottom
surface of the annular plate 233 of the partition seat 23 and the
top surface of the impeller as the rotor 22 rotates, thereby
forming a fluid film therebetween for dynamically supporting an
axial thrust on the impeller. Referring to FIG. 13, the dynamic
pressure generating grooves 237 is formed on the bottom surface of
the bottom portion 232 engaging with the smooth top surface of the
substrate 227 of the rotor 22. Referring to FIG. 14, the dynamic
pressure generating grooves 237 may be formed on a bottom surface
of the substrate 227. Referring to FIG. 5, the dynamic pressure
generating grooves (not shown) may be formed on the top surface of
the wall 220 of the impeller to engage with the smooth bottom
surface of the annular plate 233 of the partition seat 23. The
grooves formed on the top surface of the wall 220 of the impeller
may be replaced by a plurality of protrusions 2222 (shown in FIG.
9), thereby forming a fluid film between the top surface of the
wall 220 and the smooth bottom surface of the annular plate 233 of
the partition seat 23 for dynamically supporting an axial thrust on
the impeller.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 4, the stator 24 is received in the space
230 of the partition seat 23. The stator 24 comprises a cylindrical
center portion 241 having a center hole 243 defined therein, six
generally T-shaped pole members 240 extending radially and
outwardly from the center portion 241. The center hole 243 of the
center portion 241 fittingly receives the shaft 236 of the
partition seat 23. Each pole member 240 of the stator 24 is
surrounded by a coil 242. A printed circuit board (not shown) is
mounted on a top of the center portion 241 and electrically
connects with the coils of the stator 24.
[0034] The top cover 25 defines a center hole 250 therein, for
providing passage of lead wires of the printed circuit board
therethough. An edge of the top cover 25 hermetically contacts with
the top of the casing 21.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the heat-dissipating member
30 includes a plurality of metal fins 301, a plurality of
heat-dissipating conduits 304, and a pair of opposite fluid tanks
302, 303 connected to ends of the heat-dissipating conduits 304.
The fluid tanks 302, 303 have openings 3020, 3030 corresponding to
openings 1020, 1040 of the slots 102, 104 of the base 10.
[0036] In assembly, the pump 20 is mounted in the center opening
100 of the base 10, wherein the inlet 26 and the outlet 27 are
respectively received in the channels 106, 108, and a pair of
blocks 110, 112 surrounding around the inlet 26 and the outlet 27
is clamped in the channels 106, 108, for fixing the inlet 26 and
the outlet 27 to the channels 106, 108. The inlet 26 and the outlet
27 communicate with the slots 102, 104, respectively. The
heat-dissipating member 30 is mounted on the base 10, wherein the
openings 3020, 3030 of the fluid tanks 302, 303 are communicated
with the openings 1020, 1040 of the slots 102, 104, respectively,
so that the fluid tanks 302, 303 of the heat-dissipating member 30
are in fluid communication with the slots 102, 104 of the base 10.
Thus, the base 10, the pump 20 and the heat-dissipating member 30
are connected together without any connecting tubes, and the pump
20 is in fluid communication with both the base 10 and the
heat-dissipating member 30 so as to drive the coolant to circulate
through the chamber 212 of the pump 20, the slots 102, 104 of the
base 10 and the fluid tanks 302, 303 and the conduits 304 of the
heat-dissipating member 30. The combination of the base 10, the
pump 20 and the heat-dissipating member 30 is fixed to the printed
circuit board such that the bottom plate 214 of the pump 20
intimately contacts with the electronic component on the printed
circuit board.
[0037] In operation, the coils 242 of the stator 24 are powered
firstly to drive the magnetic ring 222 to rotate. The impeller is
driven to rotate with the magnetic ring 222. The impeller thus
rotates with the plate-shaped vanes 224 to circulate the coolant in
the liquid cooling system. Simultaneously, heat generated by the
electronic component is absorbed by the bottom plate 214 of the
pump 20 and then is transferred to the coolant contained in the
chamber 212 of the casing 21 of the pump 20. The rotatable impeller
quickly agitates the coolant via the plate-shaped vanes 224 thereof
and forces the coolant to circulate in the liquid cooling system.
The coolant absorbing the heat has a higher temperature and is
driven out of the casing 21 of the pump 20 via the outlet 27, and
flows to the heat-dissipating member 30 via the slot 104 of the
base 10 and the fluid tank 303 of the heat-dissipating member 30.
Thereafter, the coolant flows to the fluid tank 302 through the
conduits 304 where the heat is dissipated to ambient air via the
fins 301. After releasing the heat, the coolant having a lower
temperature is brought back to the chamber 212 of the pump 20 via
the inlet 26, thus continuously transporting the heat away from the
electronic component.
[0038] FIG. 15 shows a pump 20 in accordance with a second
embodiment. The pump 20 of the second embodiment is similar to that
of the previous preferred embodiment. However, a magnetic ring 222'
replaces the magnetic ring 222 of the rotor 22 of the previous
preferred embodiment. The magnetic ring 222' is embedded in the top
annular surface of the substrate 227 of the rotor 22 and abuts
against an inner surface of the wall 220'. The magnetic ring 222'
is so configured as to reduce weight of the rotor 22. The partition
seat 23 has a larger inner space 230' than the inner space 230 of
the previous preferred embodiment. In the second embodiment, one
surface of the at least one pair of interconnecting surfaces
between the partition seat 23 and the rotor 22 and the casing 21
may form a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves or
protrusion means 234, 2222, thereby forming a fluid film
therebetween for dynamically supporting a radial or axial thrust on
the impeller and reducing friction therebetween during rotation of
the rotor 22.
[0039] FIG. 16 shows a pump 20 in accordance with a third
embodiment. The pump 20 of the third embodiment is similar with
that of the previous preferred embodiment of FIG. 5. However, a
rotor 22' replaces the rotor 22. The rotor 22' includes an annular
impeller having a wall 220, and a magnetic ring 222 securely
abutting against the inner surface of the wall 220 of the impeller.
The impeller forms a plurality of plate-shaped vanes 224 extending
radially and outwardly from an outer surface of the wall 220. An
agitator 223 in a form like spokes is formed at a bottom of the
rotor 22' below the magnetic ring 222 and received in the chamber
212 of the casing 21, for agitating the coolant of the chamber 212.
The agitator 223 comprises a plurality of agitating plates 225
extending radially and outwardly around a center hole 221 of the
rotor 22 to connect an inner surface of the wall 220. The partition
seat 23 forms a lower shaft 238' at a center of the bottom portion
232 thereof, for passing through the hole 221 of the rotor 22' and
engaging in the blind hole 213 of the bottom plate 214 of the
casing 21. In the third embodiment, one surface of the at least one
pair of interconnecting surfaces between the partition seat 23 and
the rotor 22' and the casing 21 may form a plurality of dynamic
pressure generating grooves 235 or protrusion means 234, 2222,
thereby forming a fluid film therebetween for dynamically
supporting a radial or axial thrust on the impeller and reducing
friction therebetween during a rotation of the rotor 22'.
[0040] FIG. 17 shows a pump 20 and a base 10' in accordance with a
fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, a base 10' replaces
the base 10 of the aforementioned embodiments. The base 10' forms
joint flanges 105, 107 at a top of the slots 102, 104 thereof, for
hermetically engaging in the openings 3020, 3030 of the fluid tanks
302, 303 of the heat-dissipating member 30. In the fourth
embodiment, one surface of the at least one pair of interconnecting
surfaces between the partition seat 23 and the rotor 22 and the
casing 21 may form a plurality of dynamic pressure generating
grooves (not shown) or protrusion means 234, thereby forming a
fluid film therebetween for dynamically supporting a radial or
axial thrust on the impeller and reducing friction therebetween
during a rotation of the rotor 22.
[0041] FIGS. 18-19 show a pump 20' and a base 10' in accordance
with a fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, a pump 20'
replaces the pump 20 of the aforementioned embodiments and the base
10' is the same as the base 10' of the fourth embodiment. Most
parts of the pump 20' of the fifth embodiment are the same as the
aforementioned embodiments. A main difference is that in the fifth
embodiment the pump 20' comprises a casing 21' having a
plate-shaped configuration, while in the aforementioned embodiments
the casing 21 has a cylindrical chamber. The casing 21' comprises a
disk-like plate 214' having a top surface and a bottom surface. The
bottom surface contacts with the heat-generating electronic
component and absorbs the heat generated by the electronic
component. A protrusion portion 215' extends upwardly from the top
surface of the plate 214', for extending into the base 10' and
hermetically engaging in the opening 100 of the base 10'. The
protrusion portion 215' defines a blind hole 216' in a central
portion thereof, for receiving the lower axle 228 of the rotor 22
therein. After the casing 21' is mounted to a bottom of the base
10' with the protrusion 215' fitted in a lower part of the opening
100, a chamber 212' of the pump 20' is defined by a part of the
opening 100 above the casing 21'. In the fifth embodiment, one
surface of the at least one pair of interconnecting surfaces
between the partition seat 23 and the rotor 22 and the casing 21
may form a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves 235 or
protrusion means 2222, thereby forming a fluid film therebetween
for dynamically supporting a radial or axial thrust on the impeller
and reducing friction therebetween during a rotation of the rotor
22. In the fifth embodiment, the magnetic rotor 22, the partition
seat 23, the stator 24 are sequentially mounted in the opening 100.
Finally, the top cover 25 is secured to the base 10' and covers a
top of the opening 100.
[0042] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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