Patent Publication Number: US-2019174653-A1

Title: Liquid-cooling heat dissipating module

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a heat dissipating device, and more particularly to a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With increasing development of computers and various electronic products, people of the modern societies often spend lot of time in using computers and various electronic products. In case that the computer or the electronic product has been operated for a long time, the heat generated by the computer or the electronic product cannot be dissipated away quickly. 
     Generally, for most of the electronic products, thermal greases or heat sinks are attached on the heat generation components of the electronic products to absorb the heat from the heat generation components and dissipate the heat away. As known, the heat dissipating efficiency of using the thermal grease or the heat sink is usually unsatisfied. For solving this drawback, a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module has been disclosed. 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates the architecture of a conventional liquid-cooling heat dissipating module. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  1  comprises a water-cooling radiator  11 , a water-cooling head  12  and a water pump  13 . Every two of the water-cooling radiator  11 , the water-cooling head  12  and the water pump  13  are connected with each other through a pipe  14 . Consequently, the water-cooling radiator  11 , the water-cooling head  12  and the water pump  13  are in fluid communication with each other. The water-cooling head  12  is in thermal contact with a heat source (not shown) of an electronic product (not shown). Consequently, the heat is transferred from the heat source to the water-cooling head  12 . A fluid medium (not shown) within the water-cooling head  12  is heated by the heat. The fluid medium flows to the low-temperature site of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  1  to perform the heat exchange. The water pump  13  drives the fluid medium to flow within a loop of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  1 . 
     However, the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  1  still has some drawbacks. For example, the operation of the water pump  13  may generate unpleasant noise. When the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  1  is used to remove the heat from the electronic product, the user usually feels uncomfortable because of the noise. In other words, the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module needs to be further improved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For solving the drawbacks of the conventional technologies, the present invention provides a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module. At least a part of a liquid pump is sheltered by a shielding cover. Consequently, at least a portion of the sound generated by the liquid pump is obstructed from outputting to surroundings. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module. The liquid-cooling heat dissipating module includes a liquid-cooling radiator, a liquid-cooling head, a first pipe, a liquid pump, a second pipe and a shielding cover. The liquid-cooling radiator includes a radiator main body, a radiator outlet and a radiator inlet. The liquid-cooling head is in thermal contact with a heat source. The liquid-cooling head includes a head main body, a head outlet and a head inlet. Two ends of the first pipe are connected with the head outlet of the liquid-cooling head and the radiator inlet of the liquid-cooling radiator, respectively. The liquid pump includes a pump main body, a pump outlet, a pump inlet and an external pump tube. Two ends of the external pump tube are connected with the pump outlet of the liquid pump and the head inlet of the liquid-cooling head, respectively. Two ends of the second pipe are connected with the pump inlet of the liquid pump and the radiator outlet of the liquid-cooling radiator, respectively. At least a part of the liquid pump is sheltered by the shielding cover, so that at least a portion of a sound generated by the liquid pump is obstructed from outputting to surroundings. 
     In an embodiment, the shielding cover includes a cover body and a buffering structure. The buffering structure is filled in a space between the cover body and the liquid pump. 
     In an embodiment, the buffering structure is a sound-absorbing foam structure or a sound-insulating foam structure. 
     In an embodiment, the liquid pump is fixed on the liquid-cooling head. 
     In an embodiment, the shielding cover is fixed on the liquid-cooling head. 
     In an embodiment, an outer periphery of the head main body of the liquid-cooling head includes at least one locking hole. When the at least a part of the liquid pump is sheltered by the shielding cover, at least one screwing element is penetrated through the at least one locking hole and tightened into the shielding cover, so that the shielding cover is fixed on the liquid-cooling head. 
     In an embodiment, the shielding cover is fixed on an object that is located outside the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module. 
     In an embodiment, the object is an electronic component with the heat source. 
     In an embodiment, an outer periphery of the shielding cover comprises at least one locking hole. When the at least a part of the liquid pump is sheltered by the shielding cover, at least one screwing element is penetrated through the at least one locking hole and tightened into the object, so that the shielding cover is fixed on the object. 
     In an embodiment, the shielding cover includes a first opening and a second opening. The external pump tube is penetrated through the first opening. The second pipe is penetrated through the second opening. 
     In an embodiment, the shielding cover further includes a third opening. The first pipe is penetrated through the third opening. 
     In an embodiment, the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module further includes a fan module. The fan module is located beside the liquid-cooling radiator. 
     From the above descriptions, the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module of the present invention is equipped with the shielding cover. At least a part of a liquid pump is sheltered by a shielding cover. Consequently, at least a portion of the sound generated by the liquid pump is obstructed from outputting to surroundings. Moreover, a buffering structure is arranged between the cover body of the shielding cover and the liquid pump to alleviate the noise to be outputted to the surrounding. The shielding cover is not restrictedly fixed on the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module. Alternatively, the shielding cover is fixed on an object that is located outside the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module. Consequently, the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module is more user-friendly. 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates the architecture of a conventional liquid-cooling heat dissipating module; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the architecture of a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a water-cooling head, a liquid pump and a shielding cover of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic exploded view illustrating the relationship between the water-cooling head, the liquid pump and the shielding cover of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module as shown in  FIG. 3  and taken along a viewpoint; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic exploded view illustrating the relationship between the water-cooling head, the liquid pump and the shielding cover of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module as shown in  FIG. 3  and taken along another viewpoint; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the architecture of a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates the architecture of a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 .  FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the architecture of a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a liquid-cooling head, a liquid pump and a shielding cover of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a schematic exploded view illustrating the relationship between the liquid-cooling head, the liquid pump and the shielding cover of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module as shown in  FIG. 3  and taken along a viewpoint.  FIG. 5  is a schematic exploded view illustrating the relationship between the liquid-cooling head, the liquid pump and the shielding cover of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module as shown in  FIG. 3  and taken along another viewpoint. 
     In an embodiment, the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  2  comprises a liquid-cooling radiator  21 , a liquid-cooling head  22 , a liquid pump  23 , a shielding cover  24 , a first pipe  25  and a second pipe  26 . The liquid-cooling radiator  21  comprises a radiator main body  211 , a radiator outlet  212  and a radiator inlet  213 . The liquid-cooling head  22  comprises a head main body  221 , a head outlet  222  and a head inlet  223 . The liquid pump  23  comprises a pump main body  231 , a pump outlet  232 , a pump inlet  233  and an external pump tube  234 . The two ends of the first pipe  25  are connected with the head outlet  222  of the liquid-cooling head  22  and the radiator inlet  213  of the liquid-cooling radiator  21 , respectively. The two ends of the second pipe  26  are connected with the pump inlet  233  of the liquid pump  23  and the radiator outlet  212  of the liquid-cooling radiator  21 , respectively. The two ends of the external pump tube  234  are connected with the pump outlet  232  of the liquid pump  23  and the head inlet  223  of the liquid-cooling head  22 , respectively. Consequently, a chamber  2211  of the head main body  221 , the first pipe  25 , a chamber  2111  of the radiator main body  211 , the second pipe  26 , a chamber  2311  of the pump main body  231  and the external pump tube  234  are in fluid communication with each other to define a closed loop. 
     Moreover, a liquid medium (not shown) is filled within the closed loop. The liquid pump  23  drives the fluid medium to circularly flow within the closed loop. When the liquid-cooling head  22  is in thermal contact with a heat source  31 , the liquid medium within the chamber  2211  of the head main body  221  is heated and its temperature is increased. The heated liquid medium is introduced into the chamber  2111  of the radiator main body  211  through the first pipe  25 . Due to the heat exchange, the temperature of the liquid medium is decreased. The liquid medium with the decreased temperature is driven by the liquid pump  23  and introduced into the chamber  2211  of the head main body  221  through the external pump tube  234 . The liquid medium within the closed loop is circularly driven to flow along the loop. Consequently, the heat is transferred from the high-temperature site to the low-temperature site, and cooling efficacy is enhanced. 
     In this context, the thermal contact is the contact via thermal conduction. In accordance with the present invention, the liquid-cooling head  22  and the heat source  31  are in direct contact with each other or in indirect contact with each other. In some embodiments, the liquid-cooling head and the heat source are close to each other but not contacted with each other. In case that the liquid-cooling head  22  and the heat source  31  are in direct contact with each other, the surface of the liquid-cooling head  22  is directly attached on the surface of the heat source  31 . In case that the case and the heat source  31  are in indirect contact with each other, a thermal conductive medium  4  such as thermal grease (not shown) is arranged between the liquid-cooling head  22  and the heat source  31 . The indirect contact between the liquid-cooling head  22  and the heat source  31  through the thermal conductive medium  4  is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     In an embodiment, the heat source  31  is an electronic unit on an electronic component  3 . For example, the electronic component  3  is a circuit board, and the electronic unit is a chip on the circuit board. The liquid pump  23  is an external pump that is standalone and can be operated individually. The liquid pump  23  is fixed on the liquid-cooling head  22 . It is noted that the type of the heat source  31 , the type of the electronic component  3 , the type of the liquid pump  23  and the way of fixing the liquid pump  23  are not restricted. Preferably but not exclusively, the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  2  further comprises a fan module  27 . The fan module  27  is located beside the liquid-cooling radiator  21 . By using the fan module  27 , the heat from the liquid medium to the liquid-cooling radiator  21  is dissipated away quickly. Consequently, the heat dissipating efficacy is enhanced. 
     As mentioned above, the operation of the liquid pump  23  may generate noise. In this embodiment, the shielding cover  24  is employed to shelter a part of the liquid pump  23 . During the operation of the liquid pump  23 , a portion of the sound is obstructed from outputting to the surroundings. Moreover, the shielding cover  24  comprises a cover body  241  and a buffering structure  242 . The liquid-cooling head  22  and the liquid pump  23  fixed on the liquid-cooling head  22  are sheltered by the cover body  241 . Preferably but not exclusively, the buffering structure  242  is a sound-absorbing foam structure or a sound-insulating foam structure. The buffering structure  242  is filled in the space between the cover body  241 , the liquid-cooling head  22  and the liquid pump  23 . An outer periphery of the head main body  221  of the liquid-cooling head  22  comprises plural locking holes  2212 . When the liquid-cooling head  22  and the liquid pump  23  are sheltered by the cover body  241 , plural screwing elements  5  are penetrated through the corresponding locking holes  2212  and tightened into the shielding cover  24 . Consequently, the shielding cover  24  is fixed on the liquid-cooling head  22 . It is noted that the fixed position and the fixing method of the shielding cover  24  and the filled range of the buffering structure  242  are not restricted. Those skilled in the art may realize that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, in another embodiment, the structure of the shielding cover  24  is modified. After the screwing elements  5  are penetrated through the shielding cover  24 , the screwing elements  5  are penetrated through the corresponding locking holes  2212  of the head main body  221 . 
     In this embodiment, the cover body  241  of the shielding cover  24  further comprises a first opening  2411 , a second opening  2412  and a third opening  2413 . When the liquid-cooling head  22  and the liquid pump  23  are sheltered by the cover body  241 , the external pump tube  234  of the liquid pump  23  are penetrated through the first opening  2411 , the second pipe  26  is penetrated through the second opening  2412 , and the first pipe  25  is penetrated through the third opening  2413 . The first opening  2411 , the second opening  2412  and the third opening  2413  are close-type openings or open-type openings. Moreover, these structures are helpful to assist in positioning the liquid-cooling head  22 , the liquid pump  23 , the first pipe  25  and the second pipe  26 . 
       FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the architecture of a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The components of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  2 ′ of this embodiment that are similar to those of the first embodiment are not redundantly described herein. In comparison with the first embodiment, the shielding cover  24 ′ is fixed on an object that is located outside of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  2 ′. 
     In an embodiment, the object is an electronic component  3  with the heat source  31 . For example, the electronic component  3  is a circuit board, and the heat source  31  is a chip on the circuit board. An outer periphery of the cover body  241 ′ of the shielding cover  24 ′ comprises plural locking holes  2414 . When the liquid-cooling head  22  and the liquid pump  23  are sheltered by the cover body  241 ′, plural screwing elements  5  are penetrated through the corresponding locking holes  2414  and tightened into the electronic component  3 . Consequently, the shielding cover  24 ′ is fixed on the electronic component  3 . It is noted that the type of the object, the fixed position and the fixing method of the shielding cover  24 ′ and the filled range of the buffering structure  242  are not restricted. Those skilled in the art may realize that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. 
       FIG. 7  schematically illustrates the architecture of a liquid-cooling heat dissipating module according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The components of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  2 ′ of this embodiment that are similar to those of the first embodiment are not redundantly described herein. In comparison with the first embodiment and the second embodiment, both of the liquid pump  23 ″ and the shielding cover  24 ″ are fixed on the an object  6  that is located outside of the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  2 ″. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the liquid pump  23 ″ and the shielding cover  24 ″ are fixed on the same object outside the liquid-cooling heat dissipating module  2 ″. However, the liquid pump  23 ″ and the shielding cover  24 ″ are not restrictedly fixed on the same object. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications and similar structures.