IP Library Granted Patent US 12,099,385
Granted Patent B2
US 12,099,385 · App. 17/728,639 · Granted Sep 24, 2024

Cooling apparatus

Inventors: Shui Fa Tsai (Taipei, TW); Tsung Wei Lin (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.
G06F1/20H01L23/473G06F2200/201
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,099,385
App. No.
17/728,639
Granted
Sep 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cooling apparatus includes a base plate configured to dissipate heat, a top plate coupled to the base plate, the top plate includes a second opening positioned above the heat exchange chamber, a cover coupled to the base plate, the cover and the base plate defining a heat exchange chamber, the cover is over the second opening, the cover includes a first opening and a third opening defined adjacent to the first opening, the first opening and the third opening positioned above the heat exchange chamber, the first opening in fluid communication with the heat exchange chamber through the second opening, and a pumping unit disposed on the base plate, the pumping unit is over the first opening and the third opening, the pumping unit configured to circulate fluid into and out of the heat exchange chamber.

Claims (71)

1. A cooling apparatus, comprising:

a base plate configured to dissipate heat;

a top plate coupled to the base plate, the top plate includes a second opening positioned above a heat exchange chamber;

a cover coupled to the base plate, the cover and the base plate defining the heat exchange chamber, the cover is over the second opening, the cover includes a first opening and a third opening defined adjacent to the first opening, the first opening and the third opening positioned above the heat exchange chamber, the first opening in fluid communication with the heat exchange chamber through the second opening;

a pumping unit disposed on the base plate, the pumping unit is over the first opening and the third opening, the pumping unit configured to circulate fluid into and out of the heat exchange chamber, wherein

the pumping unit includes a housing and a motor control circuit, the motor control circuit is disposed on the housing, the motor control circuit controlling the cooling apparatus, the housing includes a bottom surface, the housing at least partially defining an inlet cavity and an outlet cavity separated from the inlet cavity,

the bottom surface is substantially flat and the bottom surface includes a first passage and a third passage defined adjacent to the first passage, the first passage in fluid communication with the inlet cavity and the third passage in fluid communication with the outlet cavity, and

the pumping unit is coupled to the heat exchange chamber such that the first passage is in fluid communication with the heat exchange chamber through the first opening and the second opening; and

a casing positioned on the pumping unit, the casing at least partially enclosing the pumping unit.

2. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the pumping unit further includes a body and a rotor cover plate,

the body includes a stator portion and a rotor portion, the rotor portion includes a plurality of blades disposed on a flat circular surface of the rotor portion,

the rotor cover plate is substantially flat and is disposed on the body facing the rotor portion, the rotor cover plate includes a cover plate opening and a transition flow path, the cover plate opening in fluid communication with the inlet cavity and the transition flow path in fluid communication with the cover plate opening,

the pumping unit is coupled to the heat exchange chamber such that the transition flow path is in fluid communication with the heat exchange chamber through the first passage, the first opening and the second opening.

3. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the heat exchange chamber includes a plurality of fins,

the second opening includes a second elongated slot,

the first opening includes a first elongated slot and the third opening includes a third elongated notch parallel to the first elongated slot, the first elongated slot and the third elongated notch having different lengths, the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot having same lengths,

the top plate is coupled to the base plate such that the first elongated slot is perpendicular to the plurality of fins, and

the cover is coupled to the base plate such that the first elongated slot and the third elongated notch is perpendicular to the plurality of fins.

4. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the motor control circuit is substantially flat and includes one or more light sources, the motor control circuit controlling the one or more light sources to turn on and off, and

light from the one or more light sources is emitted from the cooling apparatus through the cover.

5. The cooling apparatus of claim 4 , wherein

the heat exchange chamber includes a plurality of fins,

the second opening includes a second elongated slot,

the first opening includes a first elongated slot and the third opening includes a third elongated slot perpendicular to the first elongated slot, the first elongated slot and the third elongated slot having different lengths, the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot having same lengths,

the top plate is coupled to the base plate such that the first elongated slot is perpendicular to the plurality of fins, and

the cover is coupled to the base plate such that the first elongated slot is perpendicular to the plurality of fins and the third elongated slot is parallel to the plurality of fins.

6. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cooling apparatus further comprises an enlarged base plate, the base plate and enlarged base plate have different dimensions and are interchangeable.

7. The cooling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the body and the housing are coupled together by fasteners.

8. The cooling apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a sealing element disposed between the body and the housing.

9. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pumping unit and the base plate are coupled together by fasteners.

10. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing element disposed between the pumping unit and the base plate, the sealing element surrounds the first passage, the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the third passage.

11. A method of operating a cooling apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving fluid into a pumping unit via a corresponding inlet of the pumping unit, the pumping unit being disposed on a cover coupled to a base plate, a top plate coupled to the base plate, and the base plate, and a casing being positioned on the pumping unit, the casing at least partially enclosing the pumping unit, wherein

the base plate,

the top plate is coupled to the base plate, and the top plate includes a second opening positioned above a heat exchange chamber,

the cover is coupled to the base plate, the cover and the base plate define the heat exchange chamber, the cover includes a first opening and a third opening defined adjacent to the first opening, the first opening and the third opening positioned above the heat exchange chamber,

the pumping unit is disposed on the base plate, the pumping unit is over the first opening and the third opening,

the pumping unit includes a housing and a motor control circuit, the motor control circuit is disposed on the housing, the motor control circuit controlling the cooling apparatus, the housing includes a bottom surface, the housing and the bottom surface at least partially defining an inlet cavity and an outlet cavity separated from the inlet cavity,

the bottom surface is substantially flat and includes a first passage and a third passage defined adjacent to the first passage, the first passage in fluid communication with the inlet cavity and the third passage in fluid communication with the outlet cavity, and

the pumping unit is coupled to the heat exchange chamber such that the first passage is in fluid communication with the first opening;

transferring the fluid into the heat exchange chamber via the first passage, the first opening and the second opening;

transferring the fluid into the pumping unit; and

outputting the fluid from the pumping unit via a corresponding outlet of the pumping unit.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein

the pumping unit further includes a rotor cover plate and a body,

the body includes a stator portion and a rotor portion, the rotor portion includes a plurality of blades disposed on a flat circular surface of the rotor portion,

the rotor cover plate is substantially flat and is disposed on the body facing the rotor portion, the rotor cover plate includes a cover plate opening and a transition flow path, the cover plate opening in fluid communication with the inlet cavity and the transition flow path in fluid communication with the cover plate opening,

the pumping unit is coupled to the heat exchange chamber such that the transition flow path is in fluid communication with the heat exchange chamber through the first passage, the first opening and the second opening.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein

the heat exchange chamber includes a plurality of fins,

the second opening includes a second elongated slot,

the first opening includes a first elongated slot and the third opening includes an elongated notch parallel to the first elongated slot, the first elongated slot and the elongated notch having different lengths, the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot having same lengths,

the top plate is coupled to the base plate such that the first elongated slot is perpendicular to the plurality of fins, and

the cover is coupled to the base plate such that the first elongated slot and the elongated notch is perpendicular to the plurality of fins.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein

the motor control circuit is substantially flat and includes one or more light sources, the motor control circuit controls the one or more light sources to turn on and off, and

light from the one or more light sources is emitted from the cooling apparatus through the cover.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein

the heat exchange chamber includes a plurality of fins,

the second opening includes a second elongated slot,

the first opening includes a first elongated slot and the third opening includes a third elongated slot perpendicular to the first elongated slot, the first elongated slot and the third elongated slot having different lengths, the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot having same lengths,

the top plate is coupled to the base plate such that the first elongated slot is perpendicular to the plurality of fins, and

the cover is coupled to the base plate such that the first elongated slot is perpendicular to the plurality of fins and the third elongated slot is parallel to the plurality of fins.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cooling apparatus further comprises an enlarged base plate, the base plate and enlarged base plate have different dimensions and are interchangeable.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the body and the housing are coupled together by fasteners.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a sealing element disposed between the body and the housing.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pumping unit and the base plate are coupled together by fasteners.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a sealing element disposed between the pumping unit and the base plate, the sealing element surrounds the first passage, the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the third passage.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2022
From: TSAI, SHUI FA; LIN, TSUNG WEI
To: COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059701/0487 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 16530665 · Aug 2, 2019
Continuation 15433073 · Feb 15, 2017
Provisional Application 62295149 · Feb 15, 2016
Related Publication 20220291727A1 · Sep 15, 2022
Cited By (6)
US 12,279,398 US 12,422,199 US 12,460,878 US 12,495,515 US 12,644,657 US 12,707,596