Abstract:
The invention provides a compact and inexpensive cooling device with high heat transfer efficiency and with easy maintenance. The cooling device includes a condenser ( 10 ), an evaporator ( 20 ), and a pair of refrigerant flow passages between them. In each of the condenser ( 10 ) and the evaporator ( 20 ), through holes ( 11   a   , 21   a ) are formed in parallel with each other. The condenser ( 10 ) is formed in a cylindrical shape and installed around the cooling head of the refrigerator by a clamp ( 14 ). The evaporator ( 20 ) is installed the outside. The refrigerant is liquefied in the condenser ( 10 ) by releasing its heat, flows down into the evaporator ( 20 ) through the flow passage and is vaporized in the evaporator ( 20 ) by absorbing heat from the outside. The vaporized refrigerator flows up and returns into the condenser ( 10 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a cooling device, more particularly to a condenser that rejects heat of a refrigerant to the heat absorption portion of an exterior refrigerator and liquefies it, an evaporator that absorbs heat from an object to be cooled and vaporizes the refrigerant, and a cooling device including the condenser and the evaporator.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
         [0002]    Various types of cooling devices have been proposed to cool spaces or objects. In some applications, however, it may be difficult to install the heat absorption portion of the cooling devices in proximity to those spaces or objects. An icebox used in a car has a difficulty to directly attach the heat absorption portion thereon due to the limitation of available spaces interior of the car. Warming of the car interior by the heat radiation of the cooling device has to be avoided as well. In cooling the CPU of the computer where many associated parts are arranged in narrow spaces, installation of cooling devices near the CPU is further difficult.  
           [0003]    In order to resolve such difficulties in installation of cooling devices, a cooling means, having the following configuration and shown in FIG. 10, has been proposed. An exterior refrigerator is spaced apart from an object  92  to be cooled, and a refrigerant are circulated between the heat absorption portion  91  of the exterior refrigerator and the object  92  to be cooled. That is, the refrigerant is cooled at a heat reject portion  51  attached to the heat absorption portion  91  of the exterior refrigerator, then being introduced through a passage  55  to a heat absorption portion  52  provided in contact with the object  92  to be cooled, thereby the object  92  is cooled. The refrigerant warmed at the heat absorption portion  52  is circulated back to the heat reject portion  51  through a passage  56 .  
           [0004]    In the above cooling means, the heat reject portion  51  is thermally coupled with the heat absorption portion  91  of the exterior refrigerator in such a configuration that a refrigerant pipe is wound around or laid along the heat absorption portion  91  of the exterior refrigerator. The heat absorption portion  52  is thermally coupled with the object  92  in the same configuration as well.  
           [0005]    The above cooling means, by its nature, needs enhancing either the heat transfer performance between the heat absorption portion  91  of the exterior refrigerator and the heat reject portion  51  or that between the object  92  to be cooled and the heat absorption portion  52  in order to improve its cooling efficiency.  
           [0006]    Further, size reduction of the cooling means is required as well. In the application of the cooling means to the computer CPU or the like, in which as the object  92  to be cooled is extremely small with only a small amount of heat generated, the exterior refrigerator is small, the heat reject portion  51  fixed to the heat absorption portion  91  thereof has to be small, and so does the heat absorption portion  52  fixed to the object  92 . In summary, both the size reduction of either the heat reject portion  51  or the heat absorption portion  52  and the increases of their heat transfer performance are important.  
           [0007]    The cooling means also requires simple and easy means for attaching the heat reject portion  51  to the heat absorption portion  91  of the exterior refrigerator or detaching it therefrom and that for attaching the heat absorption portion  52  to the object  92  to be cooled or detaching it therefrom without sacrificing its heat transfer performance.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact condenser and evaporator with an efficient heat transfer performance and with easy maintenance and to provide a cooling device having including the compact condenser and evaporator.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a condenser that condenses a refrigerant gas by rejecting heat of the gas to a predetermined column-like shaped heat absorption portion of an exterior cooling device includes a condensing portion, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion. The condensing portion is formed of a flat plate shaped so as to surround the entire periphery of the column-like shaped heat absorption portion. The condensing portion further has a plurality of through holes formed along the circumferential direction thereof and arranged in parallel with each other. The inlet and outlet portions being hollow tubes have a closed end and an open end respectively. The inlet portion is connected to one end face of the condensing portion that is perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the condensing portion. The inlet portion communicates with all of the through holes. The outlet portion is connected to the other end face of the condensing portion that is perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the condensing portion. The outlet portion communicates with all of the through holes. The open end of the inlet portion is connected to an inflow passage of the refrigerant. The open end of the outlet portion is connected to an outflow passage of the refrigerant which section area is smaller than that of the inflow passage. The condensing portion is inserted into and fixed to the column-like shaped heat absorption portion.  
           [0010]    The end faces of the condensing portion that are perpendicular to the circumference thereof not only means those formed by dividing the entire circumference thereof into two semicircles, but also means those formed by cutting the condensing portion at one portion on its circumference.  
           [0011]    By employing the above-described configuration, the present invention provides the following functions and effects. Namely, if temperature of a refrigerant is merely lowered at a heat-rejecting portion, no more than the amount of heat is rejected which corresponds to the multiplier of the heat capacity of the refrigerant by the temperature differentials of the refrigerant. On the other hand, the present invention enables to reject a larger amount of heat by condensing a refrigerant vapor at a condensing portion, to achieve a highly effective heat transfer. Moreover, the condensing portion is configured so that the entire periphery of the column-like shaped heat absorption portion is surrounded with a flat plate having a number of narrow through holes arranged. Accordingly, while the heat transfer area can be larger, the heat absorption portion and the heat condensing portion attached thereto can be smaller.  
           [0012]    Further, as the condensing portion is attached only by inserting it to the column-like shaped heat absorption portion, attachment and detachment can be easier, and assembling and maintenance workability is improved without impairing its heat transfer performance.  
           [0013]    The section area of the outflow passage of the refrigerant is smaller than that of the inflow passage, because as the volume of the vaporized refrigerant drastically decreases by condensing, smaller section area is enough for the outflow passage.  
           [0014]    In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the condenser in the first aspect thereof is further provided with a clamp formed so as to surround the condensing portion, inserted into the column-like shaped heat absorption portion, and attached to it by fastening the clamp.  
           [0015]    With employing the above-described configuration, the present invention provides the following functions and effects. When the condensing portion is inserted into the column-like shaped heat absorption portion, if either the outer periphery of the heat absorbing portion or the inner circumference of the condensing portion is not precisely finished, they has to loosely contact with each other, causing poorer heat transfer performances. In the present invention, however, in which the outer circumference of the condensing portion is fastened to the heat absorption portion by means of a clamp, they closely contacts with each other, enabling easy attachment and detachment without reducing its heat transfer performance. Consequently, the invention improves workability of assembly, maintenance or inspection without impairing heat transfer performance.  
           [0016]    In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the condensing portion either in the first or second aspect thereof is comprised of a plurality of hollow tubes that are arranged in parallel with each other.  
           [0017]    In this configuration, nearly equal functions and effects as mentioned above can be achieved at a lower cost.  
           [0018]    In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, an evaporator that vaporizes a liquid refrigerant by absorbing heat from an exterior heat source includes a vaporizing portion, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion. The vaporizing portion is formed of a flat plate provided with a plurality of through holes arranged in parallel with each other. The inlet and outlet portions being hollow tubes have a closed end and an open end respectively. The inlet portion is connected to one end portion of the vaporizing portion at its outer circumferential surface. The inlet portion further communicates with all of the through holes. The outlet portion is connected to the other end portion of the vaporizing portion at its outer circumferential surface. The outlet portion further communicates with all of the through holes. The open end of the inlet portion is connected to an inflow passage of the refrigerant. The open end of the outlet portion is connected to an outflow passage of the refrigerant which section area is larger than that of the inflow passage. The vaporizing portion is attached to the exterior heat source.  
           [0019]    The above-mentioned configuration of the present invention provides following effects. Generally, in raising the temperature of a cold liquid refrigerant at a cooling portion, no less than the amount of heat is absorbed which corresponds to the multiplier of the heat capacity of the liquid refrigerant by the temperature difference thereof. On the other hand, in the present invention, if the liquid refrigerant is vaporized at an evaporator, an amount of heat equivalent to the vaporization heat thereof may be absorbed, thereby higher heat transfer performance is achieved. Further, as the heat transfer area of the evaporator is enlarged by employing a flat plate with a number of through holes disposed therein in parallel with each other, the evaporator attached to the exterior heat source can be reduced in size. This configuration of the present invention is especially effective for highly integrated small objects such as the CPUs for computer.  
           [0020]    Further, the evaporator can be easily attached to or detached from objects to be cooled by means of nuts or clamps, assembly, maintenance and inspection thereof can be improved without impairing its heat transfer performance.  
           [0021]    Furthermore, in the evaporator of the present invention, the section area of the outflow passage of the refrigerant is larger than that of the inflow passage, as volume of the refrigerant increases greatly by the vaporization.  
           [0022]    In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, an evaporator that vaporizes a liquid refrigerant by absorbing heat from air passing through includes a vaporizing portion, an inlet portion, an outlet portion and a fin. The vaporizing portion is formed of a flat plate provided with a plurality of through holes arranged in parallel with each other. The vaporizing portion is bended to insert a space having predetermined height and length between it.  
           [0023]    The fin is inserted into the space crossing with the through hole direction. The inlet and outlet portions being hollow tubes have a closed end and an open end respectively. The inlet portion is connected to one lower end portion of the vaporizing portion at its outer circumferential surface. The inlet portion further communicates with all of the through holes. The outlet portion is connected to the other higher end portion of the vaporizing portion at its outer circumferential surface. The outlet portion further communicates with all of the through holes. The open end of the inlet portion is connected to an inflow passage of the refrigerant. The open end of the outlet portion is connected to an outflow passage of the refrigerant which section area is larger than that of the inflow passage.  
           [0024]    The above-mentioned configuration of the present invention provides following effects. The heat transfer area of the evaporator can be enlarged by employing a flat plate with a number of through holes. Further, the evaporator with long length can be small sized by bending it. And further more, the heat transfer area with hot air passing through can be increased by installing the fin between the bended vaporizing portion. Consequently, the evaporator can be small sized, while the heat transfer aria with the refrigerant and the hot air passing through can be increased.  
           [0025]    In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, the vaporizing portion either in the fourth or fifth aspect thereof is formed of a plurality of hollow tubes arranged in parallel with each other.  
           [0026]    By employing above-mentioned configuration of the present invention, same effects as previously mentioned can be achieved at a lower cost.  
           [0027]    In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling device comprising the condenser either in the first, second, or third aspect thereof and the evaporator either in the fourth, fifth or sixth aspect thereof, wherein the outflow passage of the condenser is connected to the inflow passage of the evaporator, and the inflow passage of the condenser is connected to the outflow passage of the evaporator.  
           [0028]    The above-mentioned configuration of the present invention can reduce the size of the device, enhance cooling efficiency, and improve workability of assembly, maintenance or inspection.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the condenser according to the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the condenser according to the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged view of the cooling device according to the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of inlet portions and outlet portions of the cooling device according to the present invention.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the evaporator according to the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the evaporator according to the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the evaporator with the thin fin between the bended vaporization portion.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 is a schematic arrangement view of hollow tubes used for the condenser or the evaporator according to the present invention.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a driving pump of refrigerant according to the present invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a conventional cooling means. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a condenser  10 , which condenses a vaporized refrigerant by rejecting heat to a cylindrical heat absorption portion  19  that comprises an exterior cooling device. The condenser  10  is comprised of a condensing portion  11 , an inlet portion  12 , an outlet portion  13 , and a clamp  14 . As the refrigerant, suitable material of which phase changes from a gas to a liquid state, is chosen, for example like carbon dioxide. Depending on the temperature of the heat absorption portion  19  and the like, appropriate refrigerant and appropriate filling pressures are selected. The condensing portion  11  is comprised of a flat plate of aluminum formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the cylindrical heat absorption portion  19 .  
         [0040]    As shown in FIG. 3, the flat plate  11  is provided so that a number of through holes  11   a  are disposed in parallel with each other in the direction of the circumference of the condensing portion  11 . The flat plate  11  is divided into two semicircles at two positions of the circumference thereof; end faces  11   b  and  11   c,  which are perpendicular to the circumference of the flat plate  11 . While the inlet portion  12  is connected to the end face  11   b  of the flat plate  11  so as to communicate with all of the through holes  11   a,  the outlet portion  13  is connected to the end face  11   c  of the flat plate  11  so as to communicate with all of the through holes  11   a.    
         [0041]    As shown in FIG. 4, the inlet portion  12  and outlet portion  13  are made from aluminum hollow tubes having closed ends  12   a,    13   a  and open ends  12   b,    13   b,  respectively. The slits  12   c,    13   c  are formed on the circumferential surface of the inlet portion  12  and outlet portion  13 , respectively, and connected to the end faces  11   b,    11   c  of the flat plate  11  by brazing. While the open end  12   b  of the inlet portion  12  is connected by brazing to an inflow passage  15  of the refrigerant formed an aluminum tubes, the open end  13   b  of the outlet portion  13  is connected by brazing to an outflow passage  16  of the refrigerant. The section area of the outflow passage  16  is smaller than that of the inflow passage  15 .  
         [0042]    The clamp  14  is comprised of an insulator  14   c  and a band  14   a.  The insulator  14   c  is formed of polycarbonate thermoplastic resin in a semicircle shape so as to surround the outer periphery of the condensing portion  11 . The band  14   a  is formed of stainless steel in a cylindrical shape so as to surround the outer surface of the insulator  14   c.  The condensing portion  11  is inserted into the cylindrical heat absorption portion  19  and fixed thereto in such a manner that the band  14   a  is fastened by inserting a bolt  17  into through holes formed in the both end portions  14   b  of the band  14   a  and screwing it by a nut  18 .  
         [0043]    The insulator  14   c  of synthetics resin is used as it enable to prevent heat of the outside air from being transmitted to the condensing portion  11  and also enables to utilize elasticity of the synthetics resin in applying uniform radial pressures for fastening the band  14   a.    
         [0044]    In other embodiment, the condensing portion  11  may be formed in a circumferential shape and cut at one portion thereon to form two end faces, and then either of those two end faces is connected with either the inlet portion  12  or the outlet portion  13 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 5 and 6 shows an evaporator  20 , which is comprised of a vaporizing portion  21 , an inlet portion  22  and an outlet portion  23 , and vaporizes the refrigerant by absorbing heat from an exterior heat source  29 . The vaporizing portion  21  is comprised of a flat aluminum plate with a number of through holes  21   a  provided in parallel with each other. The inlet portion  22  and the outlet portion  23  are formed of hollow aluminum tubes, and have closed ends  22   a,    23   a  and open ends  22   b,    23   b,  respectively. One end portion  21   b  of the vaporizing portion  21  is connected to the outer surface of the inlet portion  22  by brazing so that all of the through holes  21  communicate therewith. The other end portion  21   c  of the vaporizing portion  21  is connected to the outer surface of the outlet portion  23  by brazing so that all of the through holes  21   a  communicate therewith.  
         [0046]    The open end  22   b  of the inlet portion  22  is connected to the inflow passage  25  of the refrigerant by brazing, and the open end  23   b  of the outlet portion  23  is connected to the outflow passage  26  of the refrigerant by brazing. The section area of the outflow passage  26  is larger than that of the inflow passage  25 . The vaporizing portion  21  is inserted into a head block  24  formed of aluminum, and is screwed on the top face of the exterior heat source  29  at its through holes  24   a.    
         [0047]    The vaporizing portion  21  and the head block  24  may be integrally formed into a single-piece member, directly attached on the top face of the exterior heat source  29  by means of a cover for example, instead of the head block  24 .  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 7 shows an evaporator  30  that vaporizes a liquid refrigerant by absorbing heat from air passing through. The evaporator  30  includes a vaporizing portion  31 , an inlet portion  32 , an outlet portion  33  and fins  34 . The vaporizing portion  31  is formed of a aluminum flat plate with a plurality of through holes  31   a  arranged in parallel with each other. And the vaporizing portion  31  is bended at three positions and forms three spaces having rectangular cross section between the flat portions of it. The fins  34  are formed to have wave shapes with thin aluminum plate, and inserted into the spaces contacting with the flat surfaces of the vaporizing portion  31  at top position of the wave shapes.  
         [0049]    The inlet portion  32  and the outlet portion  33  are aluminum hollow tubes having a closed end  32   a,    33   a  and an open end  32   b,    33   b  respectively.  
         [0050]    The inlet portion  32  is connected to one lower end portion of the vaporizing portion  31  at its outer circumferential surface. And the inlet portion  32  communicates with all of the through holes  31   a.    
         [0051]    The outlet portion  33  is connected to the other higher end portion of the vaporizing portion  31  at its outer circumferential surface. And the outlet portion  33  communicates with all of the through holes  31   a.    
         [0052]    Then the open end  32   b  of the inlet portion  32  is connected to an inflow passage  35  of the refrigerant made from aluminum tube. And the open end  33   b  of the outlet portion  33  is connected to an outflow passage  36  of the refrigerant made from aluminum tube of which section area is larger than that of the inflow passage  35 .  
         [0053]    By employing the above-described configuration, the liquefied refrigerant flows into the lower position of the vaporizing portion  31  through the inflow passage  35 , then gradually vaporizes within the through holes  31   a,  and finally flow out from the higher position of the vaporizing portion  31  through the outflow passage  36  with larger section area.  
         [0054]    In the above invention, the bending positions of the vaporizing portion  31  are not limited to three positions, but one, tow and more four bending position are available. And the wave shape of the fin  34  is not limited U shape, but V shape and other shapes are available.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 8 shows a plurality of hollow tubes  41  arranged and fixed in parallel with each other by brazing. Each of the hollow tubes  41  is made of aluminum and has 1 mm in diameter. By employing those hollow tubes  41 , either the condensing portion  11  or the vaporizing portion  21 ,  31  may be manufactured in a simpler manner and at a lower cost.  
         [0056]    By applying the condenser  10  and evaporator  20  of the present invention to the heat reject portion  51  and heat absorption portion  52  in FIG. l 0  respectively, a compact cooling device which has higher cooling efficiency and easy maintenance is achieved.  
         [0057]    If the condenser  10  is located in an upper position of the evaporator  20  as shown in FIG. l 0 , the refrigerant can be continuously circulated without an external power by the gravity difference between the liquid refrigerant and the vaporized refrigerant. However, if the condenser  10  is located at an almost same position as the evaporator  20  or at a lower position than the evaporator  20 , the refrigerant cannot be circulated without a driving pump.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 9 shows a driving pump  60  so called “fish tail pump,” which is known for its compact and simple structure. The driving pump  60  is installed in a refrigerant passage  65 , and has a sheet spring  61  supported at the supporting point  63 . As a small piece of metal such as iron is attached on the sheet spring  61 , it is vibrated by an electromagnet  64 . Vibration of the sheet spring  61  sends out the refrigerant in such a way that fish moves its tail fin. A small amount of power is enough to send out the refrigerant if the sheet spring  61  is vibrated at its resonance speed.