IP Library Granted Patent US 7,177,151
Granted Patent B2
US 7,177,151 · App. 10/941,575 · Granted Feb 13, 2007

Cooling devices and systems

Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,177,151
App. No.
10/941,575
Granted
Feb 13, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are provided for cooling a heat source. One apparatus embodiment includes a housing, a fluid conduit, a pump within the housing and in communication with the fluid conduit for conveying fluid through the fluid conduit, and a turbine in communication with the fluid conduit to be driven by the fluid as it passes through the fluid conduit.

Claims (35)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid conduit;

a pump within the housing and in communication with the fluid conduit for conveying fluid through the fluid conduit; and

a turbine in communication with the fluid conduit to be driven by the fluid as it passes through the fluid conduit and attached to a shaft that provides rotation to a fan blade to move air away from the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a heat source and wherein heat from the heat source can be absorbed by the fluid in the fluid conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the heat source includes a number of computer processors.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the heat source includes a number of circuit boards.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the turbine is positioned outside the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the turbine impeller is connected to a drive shaft that is driven by communication of the turbine impeller with the fluid passing through the fluid conduit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the drive shaft drives a fan to dissipate heat from the fluid in the fluid conduit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is nuclear, biological, and chemical restrictive.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further includes a heat exchanger for removing heat from the fluid within the fluid conduit.

10. A fluid handling system, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid conduit;

a pump within the housing and in communication with the fluid conduit for conveying fluid through the fluid conduit;

a heat exchanger for removing heat from the fluid within the fluid conduit; and

a turbine in communication with the fluid conduit to be driven by the fluid as it passes through the fluid conduit and attached to a shaft that provides rotation to a fan blade to move air away from the housing.

11. The system of claim 10 , the heat exchanger is positioned outside the housing.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a number of fins for dissipating heat.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the turbine is positioned outside the housing.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the fan blade is positioned to move air across the heat exchanger.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system further includes an electrical heat source positioned within the housings, wherein the pump is an electrical pump, and wherein the housing is impervious to a fluid.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein components of the system positioned outside the housing can be cleaned with a fluid.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein components of the system positioned outside the housing are non-electrical.

18. A method for cooling a heat source, comprising:

pumping a fluid through an interior periphery of a housing;

absorbing heat from a heat source into the fluid flowing through the housing;

removing the heat from the fluid to an exterior of the housing with a heat exchanger; and

directing the fluid through a turbine connected to a shaft of a fan to turn the shaft of the fan positioned outside the housing to direct heat away from the housing.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein turning a shaft of a fan includes moving a turbine impeller by directing the fluid through the turbine impeller connected to the shaft of the fan.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein removing the heat includes directing the fluid into a heat exchanger.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein absorbing heat from a heat source into a fluid flowing through a housing includes absorbing heat from a heat source within a housing.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein absorbing heat from a heat source includes absorbing heat from an electrical component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2004
From: VAN LEAR, BRIAN T.; WHITAKER, JERAD D.
To: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015967/0525 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060056994A1 · Mar 16, 2006