Abstract:
The water cooling system for computer components is a system for removing heat from the heat-producing components of a computer, or other electronic, system. The water cooling system for computer components employs one or more water-block type heat exchangers to remove heat from electronic circuit components, transferring heat to a fluid coolant. A heat dissipating device, in the form of a tubing coil, dissipates heat from the coolant. A coolant pump circulates a fluid coolant from a coolant reservoir, through fluid conduits interconnecting the water-block heat exchangers and the heat dissipating device. The water-block type heat exchangers are formed from a single, solid block of material, and have an internal water passage directing the fluid coolant through the center of the block to apply maximum cooling to the center of an electronic circuit components where the maximum heat is produced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a cooling system for electronic components, and more particularly, to a water cooling system for computer components components.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     It is well known that electronic components generate heat during operation. Integrated circuit components tend to generate an increasing amount of heat as additional circuits or gates are included in ever-smaller packages. In computer systems, including well-known personal computer systems, generated heat must be removed from the electronic components to maintain the system within operating limits. Over-temperature operations can lead to decreased performance and to component damage.  
         [0005]     In computer systems, including personal computers, fans are commonly used to circulate air over the electronic components for cooling. One or more fans typically draws air into the computer&#39;s housing, providing a general cooling air circulation throughout. While such a technique can be effective, such a generalized cooling may be insufficient for a circuit where one or a few individual components produce the greatest amount of heat. In a personal computer, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) chip is typically the greatest single heat producer, often with a display graphics driver such as a Video Graphics Array (VGA) chip a close second. With such single-point sources of heat, generalized airflow within the computer housing does not provide optimal cooling.  
         [0006]     A solution to such single-point heat sources is the placement of a heat sink on the heat source, as by placing a heat sink directly on the CPU. A heat sink generally conducts heat away from the component to a large surface area, the large surface area often being a plurality of cooling fins through which increased air contact removes a greater amount of heat. Size considerations, as well as practical limitations on the amount of air that can be circulated within the housing, limit the effectiveness of air-cooled heat sinks.  
         [0007]     Water cooling systems place a water-cooled block, generally of metal such as copper or aluminum, on a heat-generating component. Water is circulated through the block, and the water is cooled in a heat-dissipating device such as a radiator. A water channel passing through the water block is subject to manufacturing limitations, and thus may not be optimally routed to direct the cooling water to the center of the circuit component, where heat production is greatest. Water blocks may be manufactured from a solid block of metal, with holes drilled into the water block to form the water channels, with the end of the drilled holes plugged as needed to create water-tight water channels. In this case, placement of a water channel is limited by the reach of a drill press. Alternatively, a water block car be formed by milling the water channel into the top of a metal block, and then securing a cover over the block. While this method allows an arbitrary water channel path, the need to seal the cover presents an increased risk of leakage.  
         [0008]     A typical radiator employs a metal tubing having a number of cooling fins disposed along the tubing. One or more fans pass air through the cooling fins, transferring heat away. Increasing the number, and thereby the density, of the cooling fins tends to require additional, or stronger, fans to force ail through the decreased spaces between fins, and thus increase the noise and vibration produced by the cooling system, as well as the power required to operate the cooling system. Additionally, suitable radiators tend to be relatively costly.  
         [0009]     Thus a water cooling system for computer components solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The water cooling system for computer components employs a heat-dissipating device along with one or more water blocks to cool electronic components of a computer system. The water cooling system for computer components employs, as a heat dissipating device, a length of copper tubing formed into a coil. The copper coil provides sufficient heat transfer for the cooling system with no fans employed. A single fan may be used to pass air over the coiled tubing for enhanced heat dissipation, the fan being oriented to move air along an axis passing lengthwise through the coil.  
         [0011]     One or more solid metal water blocks are used to cool various components within the computer system. Each of the water blocks is formed from a solid metal block by drilling a plurality of holes through the block to form a water channel. The ends of the holes are plugged as necessary to create water-tight water channels. The holes are disposed in the block to from a water channel that passes through the center of the block, so that the block, when mounted on a circuit component, directs maximum cooling to the center of the circuit component.  
         [0012]     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a water cooling system for computer components according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a heat dissipating device for the water cooling system for computer components according to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the mounting of a water block to an electronic circuit component in a water cooling system for computer components according to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a water block for cooling a CPU chip for the water cooling system for computer components according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the water block for cooling a CPU chip shown in  FIG. 4 , showing the water block&#39;s internal water channels.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a mounting bracket for the water block for cooling a CPU chip shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a water block for cooling a VGA chip for the water cooling system for computer components according to the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the water block for cooling a VGA chip shown in  FIG. 7 , showing the water block&#39;s internal water channels.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a mounting bracket for the water block for cooling a VGA chip shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
       [0022]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     The present invention is a water cooling system for computer components. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the water cooling system for computer components comprises at least one water-block heat exchanger  20 , disposed on an electrical circuit component within a computer system, in connection by a network of coolant circulation lines or conduits  30  with a coolant reservoir  40  and a heat-dissipating device  10 . A coolant pump  42  circulates a fluid coolant through the water-block heat exchangers  20 , and through the heat-dissipating device  10 . As the coolant passes through a water-block heat exchanger  20 , heat from an electrical circuit component is transferred through the water-block heat exchanger to the coolant, thereby removing heat from the electrical circuit component. As the coolant passes through the heat-dissipating device  10 , heat is transferred from the coolant and is dissipated into air surrounding the heat-dissipating device  10 .  
         [0024]     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the heat-dissipating device  10  comprises primarily a coil  11  of tubing  13 . The coil  11  is formed from a length of tubing  13  that is coiled about a central axis. Copper tubing is used for the coil  12  of the illustrated embodiment, although any type of tubing having a sufficient heat-transferring characteristic may be used. Support posts  17  hold the coil  11  in position. In the illustrated embodiment, four support posts  17  are used, each post extending vertically from a corner of the square housing of a fan  19 . The fan  19  may be provided to increase airflow across the coil  11 , generally along the axis of the coil  11 . While the heat-dissipating device  10  provides sufficient heat dissipation without the fan  19  for some applications, such as a configuration wherein water cooling is only applied to a single component such as a computer&#39;s CPU, the addition of the fan  19  increases the effectiveness of the heat-dissipating device  10  for applications where additional heat must be dissipated, such as a configuration wherein water cooling is applied to several system components.  
         [0025]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a mounting technique is illustrated for fastening a water-block heat exchanger  20  to an electrical circuit component  52  on a circuit board  50 , such as a computer system&#39;s motherboard. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical circuit component  52  is a computer system&#39;s CPU, an integrated circuit package that is surface-mounted to the circuit board  50  in a conventional manner. The mounting technique is applicable to other circuit components as well.  
         [0026]     The water-block heat exchanger  20  is placed on top of the electrical circuit component  52 , with the bottom surface of the water-block heat exchanger  20  flush against the top surface of the electrical circuit component  52 . A mounting bracket  25 , which is generally a flat plate having an opening centrally defined therein to accommodate a water inlet  21  and outlet  23  that extend from the top of the water-block heat exchanger  20 , is placed on top of the water-block heat exchanger  20  and bolted to the circuit board  50  to secure the water-block heat exchanger in place.  
         [0027]     Adequate contact is desired between the bottom surface of the water-block heat exchanger  20  and the top surface of the electrical circuit component  52  to allow optimum heat transfer from the electrical circuit component  52  to the water-block heat exchanger  20 . Thus, springs  27  are disposed on each bolt atop the mounting bracket  25 , so that the effects of any temperature deformation of the circuit board  50 , the electrical circuit component  52 , the water-block heat exchanger  20 , the mounting bracket  25 , or the mounting hardware are minimized.  
         [0028]     Turning now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an embodiment  100  of a water-block heat exchanger  20  for a computer system&#39;s CPU is shown. The CPU water-block  100  is formed from a single piece, solid block  110  of a metal such as aluminum or copper, or another material having a suitable heat-conducting property, the block  110  being generally square and having dimensions compatible with a computer CPU such as the Pentium© processor made by Intel©. A water channel  120  is formed within the block  110  by drilling a several interconnecting holes into the block  110 . The block  110  is a square block having four sides  111 ,  111 B,  111 C and  111 D, a top surface  113  and a bottom surface  115 . Corners  117  of the block are beveled to assist in aligning the mounting bracket  25  with the block  110 .  
         [0029]     The water channel  120  comprises a first hole  121  drilled into a side  111 A of the block  110 , and extending substantially, but not completely, through the block  110 . The first hole  121  lies adjacent and parallel to the bottom of the block  110 , and follows a centerline  119  of the block  110 . A second hole  122  is drilled into the side  111 A of the block  110  beside and parallel to the first hole  121 . A third hole  123  is drilled into the side  111 B opposite the side  111 A, the third hole  123  lying beside the first hole  121  and extending substantially, but not completely, through the block  110 . A fourth hole  124  is drilled into a side  111 C of the block  110 , the fourth hole  124  lying near the side  111 B of the block  110  and extending through the third hole  123  and joining the first hole  121 . A fifth hole  125  is drilled into a side  111 D of the block  110 , the fifth hole  125  lying near the side  111 A of the block  110  and extending through the second hole  122  and joining the first hole  121 . The open ends of each of the holes  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  and  125  are plugged to form a watertight passageway within the block  110 . The result is an S shaped water channel  120  that can carry a fluid coolant through a significant portion of the CPU water-block  100  and, in particular, directs the fluid coolant through the center of the CPU water-block  100 .  
         [0030]     A water inlet  21  and a water outlet  23  are barbed fittings for receiving a flexible tubing to provide a fluid flow through the CPU water-block  100 . The water inlet  21  and water outlet  23  are inserted into holes  127  and  129 , respectively, drilled into the top surface  113  of the block  110  to join holes  122  and  123  within the block  110 . Thus, water entering water inlet  21  flows through the water channel  110  and out through water outlet  23 . The mounting bracket  25 , shown in  FIG. 6 , is a flat rectangular plate having an opening  27  centrally defined therein to accommodate a water inlet  21  and outlet  23  that extend from the top of the CPU water-block  100 .  
         [0031]     Turning now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an embodiment  200  of a water-block heat exchanger  20  for a computer system&#39;s VGA chip is shown. The VGA water-block  200  is formed from a solid block  210  of a metal such as aluminum or copper, or another material having a suitable heat-conducting property, the block  210  being generally square and having dimensions compatible with a typical computer system VGA chip. A water channel  220  is formed within the VGA water-block  200  by drilling a several interconnecting holes into the block  210 . The block  210  is a generally square block having four sides  211 A,  211 B,  211 C and  211 D, a top surface  213  and a bottom surface  215 . Opposing corners of the block  210  are beveled to form opposing corner faces  217 .  
         [0032]     The water channel  220  comprises a first hole  221  drilled into one of the corner faces  217 , and extending diagonally through the block  210 , passing through the center of the block  210 . The first hole  221  may extend entirely through the block, exiting the opposite corner face  217 , or may end short of the opposite corner face  217 . A second hole  222  is drilled into a side  111 C of the block  210  alongside, and parallel to, side  111 B of the block  210  to intersect with the first hole  221  near the corner face  217 . A third hole  223  is drilled into side  111 D of the block  210  alongside, and parallel to, side  111 A of the block  210 , to intersect with the first hole  221  near the corner face  217 . The open ends of each of the holes  221 ,  222 , and  223  are plugged to form a watertight Z shaped water channel  220  within the block  210 .  
         [0033]     A water inlet  21  and a water outlet  23  are barbed fittings for receiving a flexible tubing to provide a fluid flow through the VGA water-block  200 . The water inlet  21  and water outlet  23  are inserted into holes  227  and  229 , respectively, drilled into the top surface  213  of the block  210  to join holes  222  and  223  within the block  210 . Thus, water entering water inlet  21  flows through the water channel  220  and out through water outlet  23 . A mounting bracket  25 , shown in  FIG. 9 , is a flat rectangular plate having an opening  27  centrally defined therein to accommodate a water inlet  21  and outlet  23  that extend from the top of the VGA water-block  200 .  
         [0034]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.