High efficiency pump for liquid-cooling of electronics

#1. Field of Invention

#This invention relates generally to pumps, and more specifically to magnetically driven pumps for cooling electronic equipment and in particular computer systems.

#2. Background

#The present invention is illustrated by way of example and is not limited in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements.

#FIG. 1 Illustrates a cross-sectional view of a magnetic pump assembly pumping fluid on a first stroke.

#FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a portion of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

#In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.

#A magnetically driven pump is disclosed for moving liquid in a cooling system. In one embodiment, the cooling system is directed to cooling an electronic device. The magnetically driven pump provides a high pumped volume to displaced volume efficiency by using a dual valve arrangement to pump fluid whenever the pump's piston is in motion. Non-pumping portions of a piston's stroke are eliminated by the valve arrangement and dual fluid chamber configuration. The pump piston is made of a permanent magnetic material and is moved by controlling the magnetic field polarity of an electromagnet surrounding the pump piston.

#In one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 Illustrates a cross-sectional view of a magnetic pump assembly 100 pumping fluid during a first stroke, indicated by directional arrow 110, of a magnetic piston 104. A chamber 102 (also referred to as a housing) defines a first fluid chamber 106 and a second fluid chamber 108. The magnetic piston 104 separates the fluid chambers. In one embodiment, the magnetic piston 104 moves a distance defined by stops 104a and 104b. A portion of chamber 102 is indicated by 102a, wherein the magnetic piston 104 is slidingly located within a channel 112. The elements displayed in FIG. 1 have an associated area extending into the plane of the figure such that fluid may be displaced by the movement of the magnetic piston 104. In one embodiment, the invention can be made with elements having a circular cross section as can be seen with reference to the isometric view of FIG. 2 at 200. FIG. 2 will be described in a section below.