Patent Publication Number: US-2021180890-A1

Title: Heat dissipation configuration with water pump assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a heat dissipation device and relates particularly to the heat dissipation configuration having a water pump assembly. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, heat generation units of a computer such as CPU and chips generate heat while operating and need to cooperate with a heat dissipation device to disperse heat so that the heat generation units can operate normally. A conventional dissipation device usually uses fans to cause flowing air, thereby dissipating heat under the flow of air. However, the heat conduction of the air is not strong enough, so the effect of dissipating heat is limited. A water-cooling dissipation system has been created to replace the conventional fans. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional water-cooling dissipation system includes a heat dissipation unit  11  in which a plurality of radiating fins are disposed, a pump  12 , and a heat source  13 . The heat dissipation unit  11  is connected to the pump  12  through a first pipe  14 . The pump  12  is connected to the heat source  13  through a second pipe  15 . The heat source  13  is connected to the heat dissipation unit  11  through a third pipe  16 . The heat source  13  can be CPU or chips in a computer. Working fluid absorbs heat while passing through the heat source  13  to become endothermic fluid, and then the endothermic fluid enters the heat dissipation unit  11  through the third pipe  16  in order that the radiating fins of the heat dissipation unit  11  dissipate the heat in the fluid to decrease fluid temperature. The fluid with decreased fluid temperature is pumped into the pump  12  through the first pipe  14  under drawing force caused by operating the pump  12 , and then the pump  12  adds pressure to pump the fluid into the heat source  13  through the second pipe  15 . Accordingly, the endothermic process and the heat dissipating process of the fluid alternate for circulation whereby the heat source  13  is allowed to work normally. However, it is noted that the fluid becomes vaporized easily because of the heat during the circulation, so gas exits in the fluid. In this case, the fluid with gas or only the gas may be pumped into the heat source  13  when the pump  12  executes the drawing operation and adds pressure. In other words, the pump  12  cannot pump the fluid in a complete liquid state into the heat source  13 , with the result that the amount of pumping fluid into the heat source  13  is decreased. This situation renders the fluid unable to absorb heat generated by operating the heat source  13  efficiently, which causes the heat source  13  to become overheated easily and fail to work normally. Thus, the conventional system still needs to be improved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of this invention is to provide a heat dissipation configuration with a water pump assembly which increases the pressure of liquid, provides increasing power for facilitating the continuous flow of the liquid, and increases the efficiency of heat dissipation. 
     The heat dissipation configuration with water pump assembly of this invention includes a heat dissipation assembly having opposite upper and lower ends, a first tank connected to the upper end of the heat dissipation assembly, a second tank connected to the lower end of the heat dissipation assembly, a water pump device mounted on the second tank, and a joint assembly. The heat dissipation assembly includes two fixing boards located opposite to each other, a plurality of radiating water tubes disposed between the fixing boards, and a plurality of radiating fins disposed between the radiating water tubes. An interior of the first tank communicates with an interior of the second tank through the radiating water tubes. The opposite first and second tanks are adapted to receive the flow of liquid. The second tank further has a through hole formed through a first side of the second tank. The water pump device includes a seat disposed on the first side of the second tank, a driving unit mounted in the seat, and an impeller unit connected to one end of the driving unit and located in a place relative to the through hole. The driving unit activates the rotation of the impeller unit. The impeller unit is immersed in the liquid for adding pressure to the liquid. The joint assembly includes an outlet joint and an inlet joint. The outlet joint is connected to the seat of the water pump device and communicates with an interior of the second tank. The inlet joint is connected to a second side of the second tank and communicates with the interior of the second tank. Between the outlet joint and a heat generation unit is disposed a first pipe connected to the outlet joint and extending to the heat generation unit. Between the inlet joint and the heat generation unit is disposed a second pipe connected to the inlet joint and extending to the heat generation unit. Accordingly, when the water pump device on which the outlet joint is disposed is directly situated at a lower position, liquid flows from the first tank into the second tank in a downstream direction for pumping the liquid into the heat generation unit continuously and quickly and also preventing the entry of gas into the liquid. Therefore, the heat absorbing effect of the liquid on the heat generation unit can be increased to prevent the heat generation unit from being overheated. Concurrently, the impeller unit rotates directly in the liquid so that the water pump device adds increasing pressure to the liquid to thereby attain continuous circulation of liquid and dissipate heat quickly. 
     Preferably, a filling port communicates with the interior of the second tank for supplementing additional liquid. 
     Preferably a sealing unit is disposed between the second tank and the seat for enhancing the sealing combination between the second tank and the water pump device. 
     Preferably, an auxiliary pump is connected to the inlet joint to provide the auxiliary drawing force beneficial to the pumping operation and the increasing pressure of the liquid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a conventional water-cooling dissipation system; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a first preferred embodiment of this invention viewed from one visual angle; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the first preferred embodiment of this invention viewed from another visual angle; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing the use of the first preferred embodiment of this invention as a whole; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing the water pump device of the first preferred embodiment of this invention in use; 
         FIG. 6A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the encircled portion A of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 6B  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the encircled portion B of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 6C  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the encircled portion C of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing a second preferred embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a first preferred embodiment of a heat dissipation configuration  2  having a water pump assembly includes a heat dissipation assembly  21 , opposite first and second tanks  22 ,  23 , a water pump device  24  mounted on the second tank  23 , and a joint assembly  25  in combination with the second tank  23  and the water pump device  24 . The heat dissipation assembly  21  includes two fixing boards  211  and a plurality of radiating water tubes  212  and radiating fins  213 . The two fixing boards  211  are located opposite to each other, and opposite upper and lower ends  211   a ,  211   b  are provided for the fixing boards  211  and thus are respectively defined as an upper location and a lower location of the heat dissipation assembly  21 . The radiating water tubes  212  are disposed between the two fixing boards  212  and spaced from each other. The radiating fins  213  are disposed between the radiating water tubes  212 . As for example shown in the figures, the radiating fins  213  can be evenly distributed along a longitudinal direction Y, and preferably, the radiating fins  213  can be formed into a bent plate to increase the area for dissipating heat among the space between the radiating water tubes  212 . 
     Also referring to  FIGS. 6A to 6C , the first tank  22  is connected to the upper end  211   a  of the heat dissipation assembly  21 , and an interior of the first tank  22  forms a first chamber  22   a  communicating with the radiating water tubes  212 . The second tank  23  is connected to the lower end  211   b  of the heat dissipation assembly  21 , and an interior of the second tank  23  forms an inlet chamber  23   a  and an outlet chamber  23   b  which communicate with the radiating water tubes  212  respectively. A through hole  231 , shown in  FIG. 4 , is formed through a first side  81  of the second tank  23 . The radiating water tubes  212  each extend from the first tank  22  to the second tank  23 . Preferably, one end of each radiating water tube  212  is inserted into the interior of the first tank  22 , and the other end thereof is inserted into the interior of the second tank  23 . Accordingly, the radiating water tubes  212  extend between the first tank  22  and the second tank  23  so that the interior of the first tank  22  communicates with the interior of the second tank  23 , including the inlet chamber  23   a  and the outlet chamber  23   b , via the radiating water tubes  212 , thereby allowing the liquid to flow in the heat dissipation assembly  2 . 
     The water pump device  24  is mounted on the second tank  23 . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the water pump device  24  includes a seat  241  disposed on the first side  81  of the second tank  23 , a driving unit  242  mounted in the seat  241 , and an impeller unit  243  connected to one end of the driving unit  242 . The impeller unit  243 , preferably equipped with a plurality of vanes as shown, is driven by the driving unit  242  to become rotatable. When the seat  241 , the driving unit  242 , and the impeller unit  243  are assembled, the location of the impeller unit  243  is related to the place where the through hole  23  of the second tank  23  is formed to allow the impeller unit  243  to be partially or fully immersed in the liquid. For example, vanes of the impeller unit  243  may protrude from the through hole  243  and enter the interior of the second tank  23 , such as the outlet chamber  23   b . By the rotation of the impeller unit  243 , the strength of pressure added to the liquid is increased to thereby promote the efficiency of pumping the liquid outwards. It is also preferable that a sealing unit  29  is disposed between the second tank  23  and the seat  241 . The sealing unit  29  can be made of rubber or other elastic materials for attaining a good sealing combination between the second tank  23  and the water pump device  24 . 
     The joint assembly  25  is disposed on the second tank  23  and the water pump device  24 . More specifically, the joint assembly  25  includes an outlet joint  251  and an inlet joint  252 . The outlet joint  251  is connected to the water pump device  24 , i.e. the outlet joint  251  is disposed through the seat  241  of the water pump device  24  for communicating with the outlet chamber  23   b  of the second tank  23 . The inlet joint  252  is connected to a second side S 2  of the second tank  23 , different from the first side  81 , i.e. the inlet joint  252  is disposed through the second tank  23  for communicating with the inlet chamber  23   a  of the second tank  23 . Accordingly, the outlet joint  251  disposed on the water pump device  24  and the inlet joint  252  disposed on the second tank  23  communicate with the interior of the second tank  23  at different locations. It is also noted that both of the inlet joint  252  and the outlet joint  251  are located at the lower position of the heat dissipation assembly  21 , and the through hole  231  is formed between the outlet joint  251  and the outlet chamber  23   b  of the second tank  23  for outputting the liquid. The water pump device  24  is located at the lower end  211   b , namely the lower position of the heat dissipation assembly  21 , so the liquid flows in a downstream direction  82  and is forced to flow out of the outlet chamber  23   b , as shown in  FIG. 6C . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  through  FIG. 5 , a first pipe  26  is disposed between the outlet joint  251  and a heat generation unit  3 . A second pipe  27  is disposed between the heat generation unit  3  and the inlet joint  252 . Specifically, the first pipe  26  is connected to the outlet joint  251  and extends to the heat generation unit  3 , and the second pipe  26  is connected to the inlet joint  252  and also extends to the heat generation unit  3 . Further, it is possible that a filling port  232  is formed on the second tank  23  and communicating with the interior of the second tank  23 . Preferably, the filling port  232  is disposed through the second side  82  of the second tank  23  and communicating with the inlet chamber  23   a . This port  232  can be connected to an external pipe  4  so that additional liquid can be added from the port  232  into the heat dissipation configuration  2  for promoting the heat dissipation in case of overconsumption of original liquid within the heat dissipation configuration  2 . 
     The operation of this invention is described with the aid of  FIGS. 2 to 6 . When liquid travelling through the heat generation unit  3  such as CPU of a computer and absorbing heat to become endothermic liquid enters from the inlet joint  252  into the inlet chamber  23   a  of the second tank  23  and thence into the radiating water tubes  212 , heat in the liquid is distributed over the radiating fins  213  between the radiating water tubes  212 . Because the radiating fins  213  formed in a bent shape has a larger area for being in contact with external flowing air, heat in the liquid is quickly dissipated because of the flowing air to attain the quick heat dissipation which helps decrease the liquid temperature. Further, as shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6C , while flowing within the radiating water tubes  212 , the liquid flows from the inlet chamber  23   a  towards the first chamber  22   a  of the first tank  22  in an upstream direction x 1  and then flows from the first chamber  22   a  towards the outlet chamber  23   b  of the second tank  23  in a downstream direction X 2 . Then, the downstream-flowing liquid is outputted from the outlet joint  251  into the first pipe  26 . Because the outlet chamber  23   b  of the second tank  23  is situated at the lower position of the heat dissipation assembly  21 , liquid all crowds downwards because of the force of gravity. Further, when the liquid flows, gas caused by the vaporization of some liquid stays above the liquid because the specific gravity of the gas is less than that of the liquid. In other words, the gas does not go into the liquid. Meanwhile, because at least a portion of the impeller unit  243  such as its vanes can be immersed in the liquid, the rotation of the impeller unit  243  increases the contact area between the impeller unit  243  and the liquid and also adds pressure force to the liquid to increase the pressure of the liquid under the rotational force. This situation causes larger pumping force whereby the liquid subjected to the pressure force can be accelerated outwards away from the impeller unit  243  and be quickly forced out of the second tank  23 . Thus, the water pump assembly  24  is disposed to increase the strength of pressurizing, thereby pumping the liquid into the heat generation unit  3  via the first pipe  26  quickly and continuously. It is noted that the crowded liquid is in a complete liquid state because of no entry of gas into the liquid, so the amount of pumping the liquid is increased to absorb a large amount of heat generated by the heat generation unit  3  quickly and prevent the heat generation unit  3  from overheating. Therefore, the heat generation unit  3  can work normally. After absorbing the heat, the endothermic liquid is then forced to travel in sequence through the second pipe  27 , the inlet joint  252 , the inlet chamber  23   a  of the second tank  23 , and then back into the radiating water tubes  212  to execute the process of dissipating heat, as previously indicated. Thus, the water pump  24  operates to provide continuous power for the circulation of the liquid and to increase the efficiency of heat dissipation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a second preferred embodiment of a heat dissipation configuration  2  has the same elements and operations as the first preferred embodiment. The second preferred embodiment is characterized in that an auxiliary pump  28  is connected to the inlet joint  252 , as briefly shown in the figure. By the auxiliary drawing force caused by the auxiliary pump  28 , the pressure that water pump device  24  added to the liquid is largely increased when the endothermic liquid goes back into the heat dissipation configuration  2  via the second pipe  27 . Thus, the quick heat dissipation is attained, and the liquid is continuously pumped into the heat generation unit  3  to prevent the heat generation unit  3  from overheating and operating abnormally. 
     To sum up, this invention takes advantage of the water pump device directly mounted on the second tank at the lower position of the heat dissipation assembly and the joint assembly connected to the water pump device and the second tank to force liquid to move from the first tank into the second tank in a downstream direction and to prevent the entry of gas into the liquid. Therefore, the heat in the liquid is dissipated quickly when the liquid is in the heat dissipation assembly, and concurrently the amount of pumping the liquid into the heat generation unit is increased so that the liquid absorbs a large amount of heat generated by the heat generation unit quickly. This invention also takes advantage of the rotation of the impeller unit of the water pump device immersed in the liquid to increase the pressure of the liquid, thereby attaining the continuous circulation of liquid and dissipating heat quickly. 
     While the embodiments are shown and described above, it is understood that further variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.