Modularized cooler

A modularized cooler includes the at least two heat radiator modules arranged in a stack, each heat radiator module having a set of radiation fins, heat-exchange tubes arranged in parallel and surrounded by the radiation fins, two locating plates holding the heat-exchange tubes in place, and a plurality of first bends and second bends respectively connected between every two adjacent heat-exchange tubes at two sides of the radiation fins and forming with the heat-exchange tubes a continuously S-shaped piping having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one connecting tubes that connect the S-shaped pipings of the heat radiator modules in series.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cooler for cooling an electronic device and more particularly, to a modularized cooler.

2. Description of Related Art

FIG. 1is a rear side view of a fluid cooling type cooler for computer according to the prior art. According to this design, the heat-exchange tubes10of the cooler are arranged in a staggered manner that imparts a barrier to the flowing of currents of air caused by the fan11, thereby resulting in a high wind resistance between the fan11and the heat radiator1. The staggered arrangement of the heat-exchange tubes10results in a bulky size of the heat radiator1.

Referring toFIG. 2, the heat-exchange tubes10of the heat radiator1are fixedly mounted inside the radiation fins12and arranged into two rows that are spaced from the fan11at different distances, thereby defining a hot flow zone13and a sub-hot flow zone14that cause direct heat conduction at the radiation fins12to lower heat dissipation efficiency. Further, because the heat-exchange tubes10are fixedly mounted inside the radiation fins12, the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat radiator1is fixed, and the user cannot change or expand the design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the modularized cooler comprises the at least two heat radiator modules arranged together. Each heat radiator module comprises a plurality of radiation fins, a plurality of heat-exchange tubes, two locating plates, a plurality of first bends, and a plurality of second bends. The radiation fins are arranged in parallel and spaced from one another in longitudinal direction at a predetermined pitch through which said cooling airflow passing. Each radiation fin has a plurality of through holes extending in longitudinal direction. The heat-exchange tubes are respectively longitudinally mounted inside the through holes of the radiation fins and arranged in parallel. The two locating plates are respectively fastened to the radiation fins at two longitudinally opposite sides. Each locating plate has a plurality of through holes extending in longitudinal direction and respectively coupled to the ends of the heat-exchange tubes. The first bends are connected between every two adjacent heat-exchange tubes at one side of the radiation fins. The second bends are connected between every two adjacent heat-exchange tubes at the longitudinal opposite side of the radiation fins. The first bends and the second bends are arranged in a staggered manner at the two opposite sides of the radiation fins and connected in series to the heat-exchange tubes to form a continuously S-shaped piping, which has an inlet and an outlet.

The modularized cooler further comprises at least one connecting tube connected between the outlet of the continuously S-shaped piping of one of the at least two heat radiator modules and the inlet of the continuously S-shaped piping of another of the at least two heat radiator modules.

By means of the arrangement of the at least two heat radiator modules and the connection of the at least one connecting tube between the at least two heat radiator modules, the invention eliminates the formation of wind resistance as seen in the prior art design due to staggered arrangement of heat-exchange tubes, and greatly reduces the dimensions of the cooler. Further, the manufacturer can increase the number of the heat radiator modules subject to different demands. The use of the modularized heat radiator modules and their arrangement in parallel eliminate the problem of the prior art design due to direct heat conduction, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the cooler.

The modularized cooler further comprises at least one fan, for providing a cooling airflow.

Further, the at least two heat radiator modules may be arranged in a stack. The locating plates of the at least two heat radiator modules each have a mounting lug, for fastening together. Further, the mounting lugs of the locating plates of the at least two heat radiator modules each have a mounting hole, threaded with a screw for fastening together. The at least one heat insulation pad may be mounted in between the mounting lugs of the locating plates of the at least two heat radiator modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 3˜5, a modularized cooler2in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of two heat radiator modules3, a connecting tube350, and a fan36.

The two heat radiator modules3are arranged in a stack, each comprising a plurality of radiation fins30, and a plurality of heat-exchange tubes31, two locating plates32, a plurality of first bends33, and a plurality of second bends34. According to this embodiment, the radiation fins30are arranged in parallel and spaced from one another in longitudinal direction at a predetermined pitch, each having a plurality of through holes301extending in longitudinal direction. The heat-exchange tubes31are straight tubes respectively longitudinally mounted inside the through holes301of the radiation fins30and arranged in parallel.

Further, the two locating plates32are respectively fastened to the first outer side302and second outer side303of the set of radiation fins30of the respective heat radiator module3and arranged in parallel, each having a plurality of through holes320extending in longitudinal direction and respectively coupled to the ends of the heat-exchange tubes32. As shown in the drawings, the first bends33are connected between every two adjacent heat-exchange tubes31at the first outer side302of the set of radiation fins30, and the second bends34are respectively connected between every two adjacent heat-exchange tubes31at the second outer side303of the set of radiation fins30. The first bends33and the second bends34are arranged in a staggered manner at the first outer side302and second outer side303of the set of radiation fins30and connected in series with the heat-exchange tubes31to form a continuously S-shaped piping35, which has an inlet351and an outlet352.

Further, the connecting tube350is connected between the outlet352of the continuously S-shaped piping35of one of the two heat radiator modules3and the inlet351of the continuously S-shaped piping35of the other of the two heat radiator modules3, i.e., the connecting tube350connects the continuously S-shaped piping35of the two heat radiator modules3in series.

Further, the fan36is fastened to one side of the stack of the two heat radiator modules3, providing a flow field360in parallel to the radiation fins30for passing through the pitch between each two adjacent radiation fins30.

Further, the locating plates32of the two heat radiator modules3each have a plurality of mounting lugs321. Each mounting lug321has a mounting hole322. The mounting holes322of the mounting lugs321of each locating plate32of one heat radiator module3are respectively fastened to the mounting holes322of the mounting lugs321of the corresponding locating plate32of the other heat radiator module3by screws37. Each screw37may be mounted with a nut (not shown).

This embodiment further comprises a plurality of heat insulation pads38respectively connected between the mounting lugs321of the heat radiator modules3to effectively separate heat energy of the heat flow zone and sub-heat flow zone between the two heat radiator modules3.

By means of the aforesaid structure, the invention eliminates the formation of wind resistance as seen in the prior art design due to staggered arrangement of heat-exchange tubes, and greatly reduces the dimensions of the modularized cooler2. Further, the heat radiator modules3are modularized members. The manufacturer can increase the number of the heat radiator modules3subject to different demands. The use of the modularized heat radiator modules3and their arrangement in series eliminate the problem of the prior art design due to direct heat conduction, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the modularized cooler2.

FIG. 6is an exploded view of an alternate form of the modularized cooler according to the present invention. This embodiment uses four heat radiator modules60and three fans61. The heat radiator modules60can be directly arranged in a stack. Alternatively, the heat radiator modules60can be arranged in parallel and spaced from one another at a pitch. Setting the fans61in between each two heat radiator modules60accelerating the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat radiator modules60.