Local cooling system

p0001The invention relates to a device for local cooling or heating an object by means of a liquid, comprising a circulating pump for the liquid, wherein a thermal contact element for the thermal contacting of the object is integrated into the circulation pump and fluid is guided past the thermal contact member.

p0002Devices for local cooling or heating an object by means of a liquid, comprising a circulation pump for the fluid, for example, be used for liquid cooling microprocessors.

p0003In the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6327145B1"><text>US 6,327,145 B1</text></patcit> there is described a heat-dissipating device comprising a base portion having a chamber defined therein. A plurality of projections extending away from this base portion. Furthermore, a pump in the chamber is arranged and at least one circulation tube is in operable communication with the pump and extends away from the chamber to contact at least one of the plurality of projections.

p0004The invention has for its object to provide a generic device which is simple in construction.

p0005This object is achieved in the case of the aforementioned apparatus according to the invention that the thermal contact element is part of a housing of the circulating pump and that the thermal contact element is designed flexibly and / or movably mounted on the housing of the circulating pump.

p0006According to the solution according to the invention is thus the heat sink or radiator, which is brought into contact with the object, part of the circulation pump. Thus, a compact structure of a liquid cooling device or liquid heating apparatus can be achieved with more effective cooling or heating of the contacted object.

p0007Furthermore, a high efficiency with respect to the cooling or heating can be achieved, since the liquid is accelerated prior to passing of the thermal contact member and a good thermal contact to the thermal contact member can reach on the emerging flow. It can then dissipate heat perfectly and optimally conduct heat. It can also be about the optimum circulation pump for the heat dissipation or heat flow form adjust.

p0008About appropriate design of the thermal contact element especially adapted to a contact surface of the object can be with minimized dimensions good cooling function and heating function reach.

p0009The thermal contact element is part of a housing of the circulating pump. Thus, the device can be produced in a simple manner. Furthermore, it is thus possible with appropriate positioning of the circulation pump, a cooling function or heating function relative to the article to obtain: The circulation pump is applied with the thermal contact member to the subject and fixed with respect thereto, for example by means of clamps or form-fitting connections.

p0010The thermal contact member is flexibly designed and / or is movably supported on a housing of the circulating pump. For example, the thermal contact element is then designed as a flexible disk, but still has enough rigidity. This creates a volume expansion of the liquid, after heating can be provided and it can exert a positive pressure on the system.

p0011It may also be provided that the thermal contact element is a thin membrane which rests against the article or comprises of a bellows.

p0012In particular, it is provided that the thermal contact element forms a housing cover of the circulating pump, so that the thermal contact element is not an additional component and the circulating pump and thus the device can be manufactured in a simple manner.

p0013In particular, limits the thermal contact element a swirl chamber of the circulating pump. In the swirl chamber, a swirl is generated and reacted at the output in a spiral pump casing in pressure for circulating the liquid in the liquid. If the thermal contact element limits the swirl space, then can be an optimal thermal coupling between fluid and thermal contact element reach and in turn optimum heat dissipation or heat to the article.

p0014Particularly, in the swirl chamber, an impeller (vane wheel) is rotatable, which is driven, for example as part of an electric motor, and which can be generate a swirl in the liquid.

p0015It can also be provided, that the circulating pump comprises a cover plate, in particular in the form of a cover disc for the pump rotor. A cover plate usually increases the pumping power, while without a cover plate, the flow rate is higher. By using a cover plate or omission of such can be adjusted for the particular application, the optimal conditions.

p0016it when a throughput flow, which is generated by means of the paddle wheel, is moved past the thermal contact element is particularly advantageous. An optimal thermal coupling between the circulation pump and the object can be achieved, so that this optimum cooling or heating, in turn, can be achieved.

p0017If the impeller is disposed the thermal contact element facing an optimized flow pattern can form in order to dissipate heat from the thermal contact element or heat supply this.

p0018In a variant of an embodiment of the thermal contact member of a metallic material is prepared as copper, so as to achieve a high thermal conductivity so as to again be able to dissipate heat from an object or optimally to be able to perform this.

p0019If the thermal contact element is designed as a plate which in particular has a constant height, then heat peaks can be avoided in the thermal contact element.

p0020In principle, it is possible that the circulation pump comprises an electric motor as a cylinder motor, a wheel motor, an external rotor motor or it may be driven by a permanent magnetic coupling.

p0021It is particularly advantageous, however, when the pump is designed as a centrifugal pump with a spherical motor. It can then be a play-free mounting of a rotor can be achieved so for a long life and thus high reliability of the circulating pump is reached.

p0022Secondly, the noise is minimized at a spherical bearing, so that the very low operating noise are present. Furthermore, the overall height can (parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor) in a centrifugal pump minimize.

p0023In particular, a spherical bearing is provided for a rotor of the circulation pump, so as to obtain a play-free support with minimizing the overall height.

p0024It is also favorable when the pump includes an electric motor, with a stator and a rotor (rotor), between which a spherical air gap is formed. A centrifugal pump with such an electric motor is in the<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE3538504C2"><text>DE 35 38 504 C2</text></patcit> disclosed, which are incorporated herein by reference.

p0025It is also favorable when the pump is at least passed through the region between an inflow and an outflow coaxial, so as to obtain an optimum distribution of the cooling or heating fluid to the thermal contact element.

p0026To minimize the dimensions of the device according to the invention, a feed line for the liquid medium is advantageously cross-coupled to a rotational axis of a rotor of the circulating pump to a housing of the circulating pump and / or a discharge line transverse to a rotational axis of a rotor of the circulating pump to a housing for liquid medium of the coupled circulation pump. In particular, the supply line or discharge line of the axis of rotation is perpendicular with respect to coupled to the housing. This liquid medium can be performed or dissipate laterally, so that the overall height of the apparatus is not increased.

p0027Are a discharge line for the liquid medium by the circulation pump and a feed line for the liquid medium is coupled to the circulation pump on the same side of a housing of the circulation pump then can also the lateral dimensions of the device and, in particular, the space required for forming a circuit for the liquid medium minimize.

p0028Advantageously, the thermal contact element is arranged on the pressure side of the circulating pump (and not to the suction side), so as to obtain an optimum flow pattern and, in particular, the thermal contact member having a flow with a high degree of turbulence to pressurize so as to, in turn, to achieve an optimal thermal coupling.

p0029In order to increase the thermal contact area of ​​the liquid in the thermal contact element, it can be provided that the thermal contact element has on its inside a ribbing. It may be circular or spiral walls, for example,.

p0030In a variant of one embodiment, the ribbing is designed so as to be turbulence-promoting, so as to improve the thermal coupling further.

p0031In a variant of one embodiment, it is provided that is in an air gap between a stator and a rotor on the rotor blades arranged to additionally generate a swirl in particular in the liquid. The vanes are arranged such that the spherical geometry is substantially retained.

p0032It may be arranged that a swirl chamber of the circulating pump comprises a variable volume and a limiting element of the swirl chamber is in particular movable relative to the rest of the housing. This creates a volume expansion of the liquid can be provided, must be provided without separate expansion devices. (The liquid expands when heated.) Furthermore, it is thus possible to exercise a form, in particular to prevent the entry of air into the system.

p0033In particular, it is contemplated that the circulating pump comprises a housing part which is formed in such a flexible and / or movable, and is particularly in this case arranged movably on the housing, in that an admission pressure can be exerted on the system. Thus, the introduction of air into the system can be prevented. For example, it may be in the housing part to a flexible disk, a flexible membrane or a bellows.

p0034In particular, it is provided that an admission pressure to the system by means of a fixing device for the circulation pump to the object can be exerted. About such a fixing device can be on the circulation pump to the contact element or fixed with respect to the to be cooled or subject to be heated. This can take place in that a corresponding holding force is exerted. This holding force can be precisely use to exert the form in which the force can act directly on the flexible and / or movable housing or this force is mediated by the holding force.

p0035In particular, it is provided that the circulation pump is held by means of one or more brackets with respect to the object. Thereby, a simple fixation of the circulating pump and thus the apparatus for local cooling or heating with respect to the object can be achieved.

p0036The following description of preferred embodiments serves in conjunction with the drawings to explain the invention. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>a side (partial) sectional view of one embodiment of a device for locally cooling or heating an object;</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>a plan view in the direction A according to the apparatus <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>;</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>a schematic representation of an embodiment of a thermal contact member;</dd><dt>figure 4</dt><dd>a further embodiment of a thermal contact member; </dd><dt>figure 5</dt><dd>a further embodiment of a thermal contact member;</dd><dt>figure 6</dt><dd>a schematic view of a fixing device for fixing a circulation pump to the object, and</dd><dt>figure 7</dt><dd>a variant of the embodiment of <figref idrefs="f0003">figure 5</figref>,</dd></dl>

p0037An embodiment of a device for locally cooling or heating an object, which in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is indicated as a whole with 10, comprises a circulating pump 12, by means of which a liquid such as water as a heat transfer medium in a circuit (<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref>) Is feasible. The heat transfer medium may serve as a cooling medium in order to cool an object 14 such as an electronic component such as a processor, which sits on a printed circuit board 16. The heat transfer medium may also serve as a heating fluid to heat an object.

p0038The circulation pump 12 includes a housing 18. In this housing 18 there opens a feed line 20 for the liquid having a mouth opening 22 into a suction side of the circulation pump 12. From the housing 18 is a discharge line is connected via an aperture 24 26 led from a pressure side of the circulating pump 12th

p0039The housing 18 is pressed, for example, about Anpreßklammern to the article 14th

p0040When used as a cooling device 20 the cooling liquid via the supply line as supplied to the water and via the discharge line 26, heated cooling liquid is discharged, which has heated through the cooling of the object 14 itself.

p0041In the use as a heater 20 heating fluid is supplied via the feed line, then the object 14 heats up and cools down there. The cooled heating fluid is discharged through the discharge pipe 26th

p0042The discharge conduit 26 and the supply conduit 20 are connected outside the housing 18 of the circulation pump 12 with each other to form a circuit 28 for the liquid. This circuit 28 in this case has an arranged outside the housing 18 cooling section or heating line 30, to the warmed coolant is allowed to cool, for example the air-cooling, or can heat cooled heating medium. The cooling zone or heating zone 30 has for this purpose a corresponding surface, to enable an effective cooling or heating.

p0043The thermal contact between the liquid and the object 14 is imparted by a thermal contact member 32, which is integrated into the circulation pump 12th Preferably, the thermal contact element 32 forms from a housing cover for the housing 18 and is, for example, plate-shaped and made of a metallic material.

p0044The thermal contact member 32 contacts to establish the thermal contact, the object 14 in the largest possible surface area. Preferably, the object 14 facing surface of the thermal contact member 32 is at least as large as a contact surface of the article fourteenth

p0045In the housing 18 of the circulating pump 12, an inner space 36 is formed, in which a whole with 38 designated electric motor is accommodated. This comprises a about a rotation axis 40 rotatable rotor 42nd

p0046The mouth opening 22 for the feed pipe 20 and the feed line 20 at least in the region of the mouth opening and the opening 24 and the discharge pipe 26 at least in the region of this opening 24 are cross it and in particular oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation 40 to the amount of the circulation pump 12 and so that the device 10 to be able to maintain 40 small in the direction of the axis of rotation.

p0047Preferably, the orifice 22 and the orifice 24 at a same (transverse) side 43 of the housing 18 of the circulating pump 12 are arranged.

p0048In the inner space 36 of the housing 18, a swirl chamber 44 is formed, in which via the supply line 20 supplied liquid over a paddle wheel 46 which is rotationally fixedly connected to the rotor 42, a swirl is generated and liquid flows with swirling. It takes place in a spiral housing of the circulating pump 12 is a pressure conversion, so as to pump the fluid through the circuit 28th The liquid is also passed to the thermal contact member 32 for heat transfer.

p0049The swirl chamber 44 is formed in the inner space 36 between walls 48, which on these walls in turn the object 14 facing the thermal contact element sits 32nd Between the end surfaces 50 of these walls 48 and the thermal contact member 32 is one or more fluid seals 52 are for example arranged in the form of O-rings.

p0050The electric motor 38 of the circulation pump 12 can for example be designed as a cylinder motor, a disc motor or external rotor motor or the circulation pump may be driven by a permanent magnetic coupling.

p0051In the in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> illustrated embodiment, the circulating pump 12 is designed as a centrifugal pump with a corresponding electric motor 38, which comprise a non-rotatably connected to the casing 18 stator 54 and a rotatably mounted rotor (rotor) 42nd

p0052The rotor 42 is mounted on a convex sliding 60 via a bearing bushing 58th

p0053The convex sliding partner 60, which is in particular designed as a ball seated on a bearing support 62 which extends in the direction of the rotation axis 40 and is formed in particular concentrically thereto.

p0054The bearing bushing 58 is rotatably connected with the impeller 46th

p0055By cupping 58 at the sliding 60 a spherical bearing is formed. Characterized the dimensions of the circulation pump 12 for the mounting of the rotor 42 in the direction of the rotation axis 40 can be minimized.

p0056The rotor 42 of the electric motor 38 has a housing 18 the walls 48 of the facing spherical contour, that is to say a corresponding a portion of a spherical surface contour. A sleeve 64, which is made for example of stainless steel, thereby surrounding the rotor 42. The rotor 42 forms with the impeller 46 a unit.

p0057About the support column 62 is fixed to the rotor 42 a flow space 66 is formed, which is in particular arranged concentrically to the rotational axis 40 and, for example, in cross-section approximately annularly (with spaced ribs in the annular space) is. This flow area 66 connects an inflow region 68 of the circulation pump 12, which is in turn connected to the feed line 20, with the swirl chamber 44. The impeller 46 is arranged in the swirl space 44 so that here the pressure side of the circulation pump 12 is formed, while the inflow 68 represents the suction side. Liquid is conducted by the circulating pump 12 via the flow-through chamber 66 then through the impeller 46 of the fluid is carried out issued a swirl; the pressure required to pump the fluid through it is then generated by the circuit 28th

p0058Via radial ribs 67, the storage column 62 is held to the housing 18, wherein a Vorbeiströmbarkeit of the liquid is ensured. About radial ribs 69, the bearing cup 58 is rotationally fixed to the rotor 42 is maintained, wherein the formation of the flow-through space 66, in turn a Vorbeiströmbarkeit is guaranteed.

p0059In the housing 18 is seated in a variant of an embodiment of a PCB 70th

p0060The stator 54, and return elements 71 formed (not shown in the drawing) by means of coil windings.

p0061Between the rotor 42 and the stator 54 has a spherical wall 72 is arranged, which is for example made of a plastic material. Between the rotor 42 and the spherical stator 54 is an air gap 74 is formed which is spherical, that is to the wall 72 by a part of a spherical surface is limited and is limited to the rotor 42 out also by part of a spherical surface, whereby the two spherical surfaces concentric with each other virtually. The ball centers lie on the axis of rotation 40 in the center of the sliding partner 60 via the turn by means of the bearing bushing 58 the rotor is rotatably supported in the housing 18 of the circulation pump 12 42nd Only with respect to the direction along the rotation axis 40, the spherical surfaces may be slightly unkonzentrisch.

p0062The paddle 46 sits 44 facing the thermal contact element 32 in the swirl chamber. It can be provided that the impeller 46 is the thermal contact element 32 facing with a cover plate 76 is provided.

p0063The inventive device 10 for cooling or heating of the article 14 functions as follows:

p0064The housing 18 of the circulating pump 12 is so positioned with respect to the object 14 that the thermal contact member 32 is seated on the contact surface 34 of the object fourteenth

p0065For example, the object 14 is a microprocessor which is to be cooled via water.

p0066Cooling water by the circulation pump 12 is then in the circuit 14 on an inner side 78 of the thermal contact member 32, which is the contact surface 34 of the article 14 away, past.

p0067It can be provided that these inner side ribbing for area increase, which is in particular provided with a turbulence-promoting structure. For example, projecting circular or spiral-shaped walls in the direction of the impeller 46. Therefore, the flow and in particular the passing flow of cooling water to the thermal contact element can be improved 32 and improve the thermal contact, so that optimum heat can be dissipated and thus the object 14 is optimally cooled.

p0068Via the feed line 20 cool cooling water is guided into the inflow 68th This then flows through the flow-through chamber 66 coaxial with the axis of rotation 40. By the impeller 46 is given a twist this cooling water; it is then in the volute casing a pressure conversion to pump the cooling water through the cycle 28th

p0069To the impeller 46 while the cooling water flows in relation to the axis of rotation 40 spirally outward against the inside 78 of the thermal contact member 32 over. This allows heat from the thermal contact member 32 and thus in turn from the object 14 to be dissipated by the cooling water which has absorbed heat in accordance with this.

p0070The cooling section 30 includes, for example, a 3-fold to 30-fold greater heat transfer surface than corresponds to the area of ​​the inside 78 of the thermal contact member 32, over which heat to the cooling water can be discharged.

p0071It may be provided that, alternatively or in addition to the paddle wheel 46 in the air gap 74 42 blades are arranged on the rotor, wherein the spherical symmetry of the arrangement is substantially maintained.

p0072According to a centrifugal pump is provided as a circulating pump 12 with a spherical bearing of the rotor 42. This spherical bearing on the bearing bushing 58 and sliding 60 results in a high backlash and thus a long service life of the circulation pump 12 in combination with low noise during operation.

p0073Furthermore, can be low overall height in the direction of the rotation axis 14 realize, so that can be a compact device, for example, realized for cooling a microprocessor 14th By integrating the thermal contact element 32 in the circulation pump 12 and in particular by the construction as the housing cover, a simple and space-saving construction of the device 10 can be realized. In particular, no external thermal contact element is necessary. The high flow velocities within the housing 18 of the circulation pump 12 can be directly used to to remove heat from the article 14th The impeller 46 is the thermal contact element 32 and thus directly facing the article 14th

p0074The thermal contact element is designed to be elastic. In one embodiment, in which<figref idrefs="f0003">figure 3</figref> As shown, a flexible plate 80 is provided as a thermal contact element 32, which has a sufficient inherent rigidity. In particular, the flexible plate 80 comprises a thermal contact portion 82 and a flexible portion 84, so as to provide an optimal contact between the plate 80 and the article 14th

p0075The flexibility of the thermal contact member 80, the volume of the swirl chamber 44 is made variable. This allows an expansion of the liquid without loading of the housing are collected 18th In addition, a form of the system can thus exercise.

p0076It may also be provided that the thermal contact element comprises a membrane, which bears against the object 14, and comprises a flexible membrane.

p0077In an in <figref idrefs="f0003">figure 4</figref> the illustrated embodiment includes the thermal contact element a bellows 86 with a contact plate 88 to be applied to the subject 14 via the formation of a bellows 86 is the contact plate 88 relative also paddle wheel 46 slidably, thereby turn the volume of the swirl chamber 44 is variable.

p0078It may also be envisaged that a thermal contact element 90 as shown in <figref idrefs="f0003">figure 5</figref> shown is in a conical arrangement, which may be a rigid arrangement or a flexible arrangement.

p0079The device 10 of the invention can also be used for local heating of the article 14 on the thermal contact element 32 and the contact surface 34 of the article 14, when particularly hot water is passed as a heating fluid to the inside 78 of the thermal contact element 32 accordingly.

p0080The circulation pump 12, as shown in <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 6 and Figure 7</figref> shown by means of a fixing device 92, fixed to the object 14 which is to be cooled or to be heated. For example, the fixation device 92 comprises one or more retaining clips 94. When a plurality of holding clips 94, these are spaced apart.

p0081A retaining clip 94 is bow-shaped and can be applied to a thermal contact element 32 remote from the housing 18th About ends 96a, 96b a retaining clip is fixed 94 on the article 14, the corresponding thereto holding receptacles 98a, 98b has. These holding receivers may also be arranged on the board 16 or to a base which receives the circuit board sixteenth

p0082The retainer clip 94 is provided as a clamping bracket is formed with a release lever 100. When this tension lever 100 is opened, then can the circulation pump 12 put on the article 14 and the circulation pump 12 can be pushed into the gap between the retainer clip 94 and the article 14th Then, when the release lever folded, in<figref idrefs="f0004">figure 6</figref> The lowered position is shown, then a force is exerted in the direction of the object 14 via a bracket portion 102 which, in turn, the housing 18 of the circulation pump 12 is pressed to the article 14 and hence the circulation pump 12 is fixed to the contact element 32 on the object 14 is fixed or regarding the subject 14th

p0083Such retaining clips 94 is a rapid fixation of the circulation pump 12 can be achieved to the article 14 and the circulation pump 12 can be replaced quickly.

p0084Thus, the thermal contact member 32 is formed as a flexible contact element or relative to the housing 18 the movable contact element, can be via the fixing device 92 and the retaining clips 94 exert a positive pressure on the system to prevent the ingress of air. In this case, the thermal contact element forms a housing part of which is flexible or movable mounted on the housing 18, and by means of which can be a form of the system exercise.

p0085In the in <figref idrefs="f0004">figure 6</figref> embodiment shown the pre-pressure on the retaining clips 94 is indirectly applied via pressing of the housing 18 of the circulating pump 12 to the object 14, since the thermal contact element is designed flexible and / or movable.