Rotatable water-cooling tube and electronic device with same

A rotatable water-cooling tube and an electronic device with the water-cooling tube are provided. The water-cooling tube includes a first tube body, a second tube body, a third tube body, a first connector and a second connector. The first tube body is in communication with the second tube body and the third tube body through the first connector and the second connector. The first tube body is rotatable with the first connector and the second connector. Consequently, the first tube body can be freely rotated to a proper position. The technology of the present invention is helpful to assemble and disassemble the heat generation component under the rotatable water-cooling tube.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a water-cooling tube, and more particularly to a rotatable water-cooling tube and an electronic device with the water-cooling tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, a circuit board is provided with computer chips or processors. During the operations of these computer chips or processors, a great deal of heat is generated. If the heat is not effectively removed, the computer chips or processors are possibly overheated and damaged. For protecting the computer chips or processors, a cooling device and a water-cooling tube are provided to dissipate the heat away the computer chips or processors.

However, the conventional technologies still have some drawbacks. For example, the exiting water-cooling tube is usually a hard metallic tube. In addition, the water-cooling tube is inflexible and difficult to be bent. Due to the rigidity of the water-cooling tube, it is difficult to disassemble and assemble the water-cooling tube after the water-cooling tube is installed on the circuit board. Especially, for installing the computer chip or processor under the water-cooling tube, the whole water-cooling tube needs to be removed. After the procedure of installing the computer chip or processor is completed, the whole water-cooling tube is reinstalled. Even if the installation position of the computer chip is only located at a small area of the circuit board, the whole water-cooling tube needs to be removed before the computer chip is installed. Moreover, if the position of the chip is deviated from the position of the water-cooling tube after the chip and the water-cooling tube are installed, the fine adjustment is not easy. Since the conventional water-cooling tube is not user-friendly, there is a need of providing an improved water-cooling tube in order to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional technologies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional technologies, the present invention provides a rotatable water-cooling tube and an electronic device with the rotatable water-cooling tube. A portion of the water-cooling tube can be rotated freely. Due to this design, the heat generation component under the rotatable water-cooling tube can be easily assembled, disassembled or adjusted.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotatable water-cooling tube. The rotatable water-cooling tube includes a first tube body, a second tube body, a third tube body, a first connector and a second connector. The first tube body includes a first tube channel, a first end and a second end. The first tube channel is in communication with the first end and the second end. The second tube body is arranged beside the first end of the first tube body. The third tube body is arranged beside the second end of the first tube body. The first connector is located at the first end of the first tube body. The first connector is in communication with the first tube body and the second tube body. The second connector is located at the second end of the first tube body. The second connector is in communication with the first tube body and the third tube body. The first tube body is rotatable with the first connector and the second connector.

In an embodiment, the first connector and the second connector are aligned with each other, and the first tube body is pivotally coupled to the first connector and the second connector.

In an embodiment, the first connector and the second connector are arranged along the same axial line, and the first connector and the second connector are rotatable about the axial line.

In an embodiment, an extending direction of the first tube body is perpendicular to the axial line.

In an embodiment, the first connector is arranged along a first axial line, and the second connector is arranged along a second axial line. The first axial line and the second axial line are in parallel with each other, but are not coaxial. The first connector is rotatable about first axial line. The second connector is rotatable about the second axial line.

In an embodiment, an extending direction of the first tube body is perpendicular to the first axial line and the second axial line.

In an embodiment, the second tube body includes a second coupling channel, and the first connector includes a first coupling channel. The first coupling channel is communication with the first tube channel and the second tube channel.

In an embodiment, the third tube body includes a third coupling channel, and the second connector includes a second coupling channel. The second coupling channel is communication with the first tube channel and the third tube channel.

In an embodiment, the first connector includes a first interface part and a first engaging spring, and the second connector includes a second interface part and a second engaging spring. The first engaging spring is disposed on a first inner wall of the first interface part. The second engaging spring is disposed on a second inner wall of the second interface part.

In an embodiment, the first connector and the second connector are quick connectors.

In an embodiment, the first tube body further includes a third end, and a heat dissipation element is installed on the third end of the first tube body.

In an embodiment, the heat dissipation element is in communication with the first tube channel of the first tube body, or the heat dissipation element is attached on an outer wall of the first tube body.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device. The electronic device includes a rotatable water-cooling tube and a heat generation component. The rotatable water-cooling tube includes a first tube body, a second tube body and a third tube body, a first connector, a second connector. The first tube body includes a first tube channel, a first end and a second end. The first tube channel is in communication with the first end and the second end. The second tube body is arranged beside the first end of the first tube body. The third tube body is arranged beside the second end of the first tube body. The first connector is located at the first end of the first tube body. The first connector is in communication with the first tube body and the second tube body. The second connector is located at the second end of the first tube body. The second connector is in communication with the first tube body and the third tube body. The first tube body is rotatable with the first connector and the second connector. The heat generation component is in contact with the first tube body of the rotatable water-cooling tube.

In an embodiment, the electronic device further includes a base plate, and the heat generation component is installed on the base plate. As the first tube body is rotated with the first connector and the second connector, the heat dissipation element is selectively contacted with the heat generation component or away from the heat generation component.

In an embodiment, the rotatable water-cooling tube further includes a heat dissipation element, and the heat dissipation element is installed on the first tube body.

In an embodiment, as the first tube body is rotated, the heat dissipation element is selectively contacted with the heat generation component or away from the heat generation component.

In an embodiment, the first connector and the second connector are aligned with each other, and the first tube body is pivotally coupled to the first connector and the second connector.

In an embodiment, the first connector and the second connector are arranged along the same axial line, and the first connector and the second connector are rotatable about the axial line. An extending direction of the first tube body is perpendicular to the axial line.

In an embodiment, the first connector is arranged along a first axial line, and the second connector is arranged along a second axial line. The first axial line and the second axial line are in parallel with each other, but are not coaxial. The first connector is rotatable about first axial line. The second connector is rotatable about the second axial line. An extending direction of the first tube body is perpendicular to the first axial line and the second axial line.

In an embodiment, the second tube body and the third tube body are fixed on the base plate.

In an embodiment, the second tube body includes a second coupling channel, and the first connector includes a first coupling channel. The first coupling channel is communication with the first tube channel and the second tube channel.

In an embodiment, the third tube body includes a third coupling channel, and the second connector includes a second coupling channel. The second coupling channel is communication with the first tube channel and the third tube channel.

In an embodiment, the first connector includes a first interface part and a first engaging spring, and the second connector includes a second interface part and a second engaging spring. The first engaging spring is disposed on a first inner wall of the first interface part. The second engaging spring is disposed on a second inner wall of the second interface part.

In an embodiment, the first connector and the second connector are quick connectors.

A specified part of the rotatable water-cooling tube can be rotated freely. Consequently, the process of installing a heat generation component (e.g., a chip or a processor) on a specified area under the rotatable water-cooling tube can be simplified. After the rotatable water-cooling tube is rotated and lifted, the heat generation component can be installed without hindrance. After the procedure of installing the heat generation component is completed, the rotatable water-cooling tube is rotated in the reverse direction and returned to the original position. In addition, the rotatable water-cooling tube can be finely adjusted and attached on the underlying heat generation component (e.g., a chip or a processor). Consequently, the technology of the present invention is helpful to assemble and disassemble the heat generation component under the rotatable water-cooling tube and adjust the positions of the rotatable water-cooling tube and the heat generation component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments and accompanying drawings.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.FIG. 1is a schematic perspective view illustrating a rotatable water-cooling tube according to a first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a schematic perspective view illustrating a variant example of the rotatable water-cooling tube according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the rotatable water-cooling tube1comprises a first tube body10, a second tube body20, a third tube body30, a first connector40and a second connector50. The first tube body10comprises a first tube channel11, a first end12, a second end13and a third end14. The first tube channel11is in communication with the first end12, the second end13and the third end14. The second tube body20comprises a second tube channel21. The third tube body30comprises a third tube channel31. The first connector40is located at the first end12of the first tube body10. In addition, the first connector40is in communication with the first tube body10and the second tube body20. The second connector50is located at the second end13of the first tube body10. In addition, the second connector50is in communication with the first tube body10and the third tube body30. Consequently, the first tube body10, the second tube body20and the third tube body30are in communication with each other. The first connector40and the second connector50of the first tube body10are rotatable in the direction R. Consequently, the first tube body10is rotatable relative to the second tube body20and the third tube body30in the direction R.

In this embodiment, the rotatable water-cooling tube1is further equipped with a heat dissipation element60. The heat dissipation element60is installed at the third end14of the first tube body10. Moreover, as the first tube body10is rotated in the direction R, the position of the heat dissipation element60is correspondingly changed. The installation of the heat dissipation element60on the rotatable water-cooling tube1is not restricted. In an embodiment, the inner position of the heat dissipation element60is in communication with the first tube channel11of the first tube body10. In another embodiment, the heat dissipation element60is attached on an outer wall101of the first tube body10.

The arrangements of the first connector40and the second connector50will be described as follows. Please refer toFIG. 2again. In this embodiment, the first connector40and the second connector50are aligned with each other. Moreover, the first tube body10is connected with the first connector40and the second connector50. More especially, the first connector40and the second connector50are coaxially arranged along an axial line4, and the first connector40and the second connector50are rotatable in the direction R. An extending direction5of the first tube body10is perpendicular to the axial line4. While the first connector40and the second connector50are rotated, the first tube body10is also rotated about the axial line4.

The internal structures of the first connector40and the second connector50will be described in more details as follows.FIG. 3is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the rotatable water-cooling tube according to the first embodiment of the present invention and taken along the line3′-3′.FIG. 4is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the second connector of the rotatable water-cooling tube according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the second connector of the rotatable water-cooling tube according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Please refer to the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 3. The first connector40comprises a first coupling channel41, a first interface part42, a first engaging spring43and a first insertion part44. The second connector50comprises a second coupling channel51, a second interface part52, a second engaging spring53and a second insertion part54. The first interface part42has a first inner wall421. The first engaging spring43is disposed on the first inner wall421. The second interface part52has a second inner wall521. The second engaging spring53is disposed on the second inner wall521. A first ring-shaped structure441is protruded from an outer periphery of the first insertion part44. A second ring-shaped structure541is protruded from an outer periphery of the second insertion part54. The first interface part42of the first connector40is connected with the second tube body20. The first coupling channel41is communication with the second tube channel21. The first insertion part44is connected with the first tube body10and in communication with the first tube channel11. When the first insertion part44is inserted in the first interface part42, the second tube channel21is in communication with the first tube channel11through the first coupling channel41. The second interface part52of the second connector50is connected with the third tube body30. The second coupling channel51is in communication with the third tube channel31. The second insertion part54is connected with the first tube body10and in communication with the first tube channel11. When the second insertion part54is inserted in the second interface part52, the third tube channel31is in communication with the first tube channel11through the second coupling channel51.

The process of inserting the insertion part in the corresponding interface part will be described as follows. Please refer toFIGS. 4 and 5. Since the structure of the first connector40is similar to the structure of the second connector50, only the structure of the second connector50will be described. The second engaging spring53is disposed on the second inner wall521. During the process of inserting the second insertion part54in the second interface part52, the second ring-shaped structure541of the second insertion part54is firstly moved to a position near a seam between the second engaging spring53and the second interface part52(seeFIG. 4). Then, a larger external force is applied. Consequently, the second ring-shaped structure541is moved across the seam between the second engaging spring53and the second interface part52, and the second engaging spring53is sheathed around the second ring-shaped structure541(seeFIG. 5). Under this circumstance, the second interface part52and the second insertion part54are rotatably coupled with each other.

In some embodiment, the first connector40and the second connector50are quick connectors, which can be easily installed in a swappable manner and can be rotated.

The rotatable water-cooling tube1in a non-rotated status and a rotated status will be described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.FIG. 6is a schematic perspective view illustrating the rotatable water-cooling tube according to the first embodiment of the present invention and in a non-rotated status.FIG. 7is a schematic perspective view illustrating the rotatable water-cooling tube according to the first embodiment of the present invention and in a rotated status.

Please refer toFIG. 6. In the non-rotated status of the rotatable water-cooling tube1, the second tube body20and the third tube body30of the rotatable water-cooling tube1are fixed and cannot be rotated. The first tube body10is pivotally coupled to the first connector40and the second connector50. The extending direction5of the first tube body10is perpendicular to the axial line4. The heat dissipation element60is installed on the first tube body10. Meanwhile, the first tube body10, the second tube body20, the third tube body30and the heat dissipation element60are located at the same plane.

Please refer toFIG. 7. While the first tube body10is rotated and the first connector40and the second connector50are rotated in the direction R, the first tube body10is rotated about the axial line4. As the first tube body10is rotated, the first tube body10is moved away its original position. Meanwhile, the heat dissipation element60and the first tube body10are not coplanar with the second tube body20and the third tube body30. In case that the first connector40and the second connector50are rotated in the reverse direction of the direction R, the heat dissipation element60and the first tube body10can be returned to their original positions.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.FIG. 8is a schematic perspective view illustrating a rotatable water-cooling tube according to a second embodiment of the present invention. For succinctness, the structures of the components of the rotatable water-cooling tube of this embodiment that are similar to those of the first embodiment will not be redundantly described herein. In this embodiment, the rotatable water-cooling tube1′ comprises a first tube body10′, a second tube body20′, a third tube body30′, a first connector40′ and a second connector50′. The first tube body10′ is in communication with the second tube body20′ and the third tube body30′ through the first connector40′ and the second connector50′. In comparison with the first embodiment, the first connector40′ is arranged along a first axial line6′, and the second connector50′ is arranged along a second axial line7′. The first axial line6′ and the second axial line7are in parallel with each other, but are not coaxial. That is, the first connector40and the second connector50are not coaxially arranged along the same axial line. The first connector40′ is rotatable about the first axial line6′. The second connector50′ is rotatable about the second axial line7′. Similarly, the extending direction5′ of the first tube body10′ is perpendicular to the first axial line6′ and the second axial line7′. Consequently, while the first connector40′ and the second connector50′ are rotated in the same direction, the first tube body10′ is rotated about the first axial line6′ and the second axial line7′.

The present invention also provides an electronic device with the rotatable water-cooling tube.FIG. 9is a schematic perspective view illustrating an electronic device with a rotatable water-cooling tube according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the rotatable water-cooling tube is in a non-rotated status.FIG. 10is a schematic perspective view illustrating the electronic device as shown inFIG. 9, in which the rotatable water-cooling tube is in a rotated status. In this embodiment, the electronic device2comprises a base plate80″, a rotatable water-cooling tube1″ and a heat generation component70″. The rotatable water-cooling tube1″ comprises a first tube body10″, a second tube body20″, a third tube body30″, a first connector40″, a second connector50″ and a heat dissipation element60″. The first connector40″ and the second connector50″ of the rotatable water-cooling tube1″ are disposed on the base plate80″. The first tube body10″ is in communication with the second tube body20″ and the third tube body30″ through the first connector40″ and the second connector50″. The heat dissipation element60″ is installed on the first tube body10″. The heat generation component70″ is disposed on the base plate80″ and located under the heat dissipation element60″. The first connector40″ and the second connector50″ are arranged along an axial line4″. While the first connector40″ and the second connector50″ are rotated, the first tube body10″ is correspondingly rotated. As the first tube body10″ is rotated, the heat dissipation element60″ is selectively contacted with the heat generation component70″ or away from the heat generation component70″.

Please refer toFIG. 9. In the non-rotated status of the rotatable water-cooling tube1″, the second tube body20″ and the third tube body30″ are fixed on the base plate80″. However, the first connector40″ and the second connector50″ are not fixed on the base plate80″. Consequently, the first connector40″ and the second connector50″ are rotatable in the direction R″ (seeFIG. 10). The first tube body10″ is pivotally coupled to the first connector40″ and the second connector50″. Meanwhile, the first tube body10″, the second tube body20″, the third tube body30″ and the heat dissipation element60″ are located at the same plane.

Please refer toFIG. 10. For installing the heat generation component70″ (e.g., a chip or a processor) on the base plate80″ at the position under the first tube body10″, the user may rotate the first tube body10″ to lift the first tube body10″. As the first tube body10″ is rotated, the first tube body10″ is moved away its original position. Consequently, the process of installing the heat generation component70″ on the base plate80″ will not be hindered by the first tube body10″ and the heat dissipation element60″. After the heat generation component70″ is installed on the base plate80″, the first tube body10″ and the heat dissipation element60″ are rotated in the reverse direction of the direction R″. Consequently, the first tube body10″ and the heat dissipation element60″ are returned to their original positions, and the heat dissipation element60″ is precisely and closely attached on the heat generation component70″. In an embodiment, the heat dissipation element60″ further comprises at least one bolt hole61″. After the heat dissipation element60″ is attached on the heat generation component70″, a screwing element (not shown) is penetrated through the bolt hole61″ and tightened in the base plate80″. Consequently, the heat dissipation element60″ is fixed on the base plate80″. In such way, the efficacy of transferring the heat to the heat dissipation element60″ is enhanced and structure is stabilized.

It is noted that the shape of the first tube bodies10,10′ and10″ are not restricted to the shapes of the above embodiments. For example, in some other embodiments, the first tube body is a curvy bent tube or irregular bent tube.

Moreover, a working fluid (not shown) is received within each of the rotatable water-cooling tubes1′,1′ and1″. After the heat from the heat generation component is transferred to the rotatable water-cooling tube1′,1′ or1″, the heat is absorbed by the working fluid. As the working fluid flows through the rotatable water-cooling tube, the heat is dissipated away the heat generation component. Since the heat generation component is not overheated, the heat generation component is not damaged.