US20090136344A1

US20090136344A1 - Cooling module, and cooling fan device having the same

Info

Publication number: US20090136344A1
Application number: US11/946,728
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsin-Te Chen; Chou-Tui Huang; Tai-Chang Teng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-28
Filing date: 2007-11-28
Publication date: 2009-05-28

Abstract

A cooling fan device includes a main housing having first and second accommodating spaces as well as first and second vent holes, a tubular heat-insulating case body receiving a core unit and a conducting unit of a cooling module and disposed in the first accommodating space, and a fan unit disposed in the second accommodating space and driven by a driving motor to rotate such that air entering into the first accommodating space via the first vent hole flows into the case body through a first opening, is cooled by the cooling module, and then flows out of the case body via a second opening and into the second accommodating space, thereby blowing cooled air in the second accommodating space out of the main housing via the second vent hole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an air conditioner, more particularly to a cooling fan device having a cooling module.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional air conditioner, a compressor is activated to carry out coolant circulation in a looped conduit system so as to maintain the temperature of a heat-absorbing surface of the looped conduit system at a lower temperature, thereby cooling air in contact with the heat-absorbing surface of the looped conduit system using heat exchange with the coolant in the looped conduit system. In this case, electrical power is required for activation of the compressor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a cooling fan device having a cooling module that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a cooling module comprises:
a core unit including a heat-conductive first container, and a heat exchanging coolant contained in the first container; and
a conducting unit including a heat-conductive second container for containing the core unit therein, and a heat-conductive medium filled between the first and second containers and having a freezing point higher than that of the heat exchanging coolant.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a cooling fan device comprises:
a main housing configured with first and second accommodating spaces, and formed with first and second vent holes that are respectively in spatial communication with the first and second accommodating spaces, the second accommodating space being disposed above the first accommodating space;
a heat-insulating casing including a tubular case body that is disposed in the first accommodating space in the main housing and that is formed with a first opening disposed adjacent to the first vent hole, and a second opening opposite to the first opening in a vertical direction and in spatial communication with the second accommodating space in the main housing;
a cooling module disposed in the case body of the heat-insulating casing;
a driving motor disposed in the main housing and having a motor shaft extending downwardly into the second accommodating space; and
a fan unit disposed in the second accommodating space in the main housing and connected fixedly to the motor shaft of the driving motor such that the fan unit is co-rotatable with the motor shaft of the driving motor.
When the fan unit is driven by the driving motor to rotate about an axis of the motor shaft, air entering into the first accommodating space in the main housing via the first vent hole flows into the case body of the heat-insulating casing through the first opening, is cooled by the cooling module, and then flows out of the case body of the heat-insulating casing via the second opening and into the second accommodating space so that cooled air in the second accommodating space is blown out of the main housing via the second vent hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of a cooling fan device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing a cooling module of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fan unit of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view illustrating flow of air in the preferred embodiment when a driving motor is activated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of a cooling fan device 4 according to the present invention is shown to include a main housing 5, a heat-insulating casing 6, an air guiding module 61, a cooling module 1, a driving motor 8, and a fan unit 7.
The main housing 5 is configured with first and second accommodating spaces 51, 52, and is formed with two first vent holes 53 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) and a second vent hole 54. The first vent holes 53 are in spatial communication with the first accommodating space 51. The second vent hole 54 is in spatial communication with the second accommodating space 52. The second accommodating space 52 is disposed above the first accommodating space 51. In this embodiment, the main housing 5 is rectangular, and has a front wall 501 formed with the second vent hole 54, a rear wall, opposite lateral walls 502 formed respectively with the first vent holes 53, and opposite top and bottom walls 503, 504. The front wall 501 is further formed with a through hole 55 disposed adjacent to the bottom wall 504. The main housing 5 further has a first partition wall 505 cooperating with the bottom wall 504, the front wall 501, the rear wall and the lateral walls 502 to define the first accommodating space 51 thereamong, and a second partition wall 506 parallel to and disposed above the first partition wall 505, and cooperating with the first partition wall 505, the front wall 501, the rear wall and the lateral walls 502 to define the second accommodating space 52 thereamong.
In this embodiment, the heat-insulating casing 6 includes a tubular case body 62, a bottom cover 63 and a top cover 64. The case body 62 is disposed in the first accommodating space 51 in the main housing 5, and is mounted on the first partition 505 so that a part of the case body 62 extends into the second accommodating space 52. The case body 62 has a lower end formed with a first opening 622 disposed adjacent to the first vent holes 53, and an upper end formed with a second opening 623 opposite to the first opening 622 in a vertical direction (A) and in spatial communication with the second accommodating space 52. The case body 62 further has an annular flange 620 extending radially and inwardly from the lower end thereof and defining the first opening 622. The case body 62 is a cylinder made of a heat-insulating material, such as Styrofoam, and coated with a plastic material by molding. The bottom cover 63 is made of a heat-insulating material, such as Styrofoam, is disposed movably in the case body 62 and adjacent to the annular flange 620, and has a diameter larger than that of the first opening 622 in the case body 62. The top cover 64 is made of a heat-insulating material, such as Styrofoam, is disposed movably on the upper end of the case body 62, and has a diameter larger than that of the second opening 623 in the case body 62. The top cover 64 further has a cross-shaped positioning member 641 extending from a bottom surface thereof into the case body 62 through the second opening 623.
The air guiding module 61 includes a cylindrical heat-conductive container 611 and a spiral fin 612. The heat-conductive container 611 is disposed in the heat-insulating casing 6. The spiral fin 612 extends from an annular outer surface 610 of the heat-conductive container 611 and is in contact with an annular inner surface 621 of the case body 62 of the heat-insulating casing 6 such that the spiral fin 612 cooperates with the annular inner surface 621 of the case body 62 of the heat-insulating casing 6 and the annular outer surface 610 of the heat-conductive container 611 so as to define a spiral air-guiding passage 613 thereamong. The spiral passage 613 has opposite ends in spatial communication with the first and second openings 622, 623 in the case body 62 of the heat-insulating casing 6, respectively.
The cooling module 1 is contained in the heat-conductive container 611 of the air guiding module 61. In this embodiment, referring further to FIG. 4, the cooling module 1 includes a core unit 2 and a conducting unit 3.
The core unit 2 includes a heat-conductive first container 21, and a heat exchanging coolant 22, such as liquid nitrogen having a freeing point of −196° C., contained in the first container 21. The first container 21 includes a cylindrical housing 211 having an open end 2111, a cover unit 212 for covering the open end 2111 of the cylindrical housing 211, and a plurality of fasteners 215 for retaining the cover unit 212 on the housing 211. The cover unit 212 includes a first cover body 213, a second cover body 214 and a biasing member 215. The first cover body 213 is disposed fixedly on the open end 2111 of the housing 211 by the fasteners 215, and is formed with a central opening 2131. The second cover body 214 is received fittingly and movably in the housing 211, and has a size larger than that of the central opening 2131 in the first cover body 213. The biasing member 215, such as a coil spring, is disposed in the housing 211 for biasing the second cover body 214 to abut against the first cover body 213, thereby closing the central opening 2131 in the first cover body 213. As a result, when filling the heat exchanging coolant 22, the second cover body 214 is pushed downwardly away from the first cover body 213 so as to form a gap (not shown) between the first and second cover bodies 213, 214 for permitting flow of the heat exchanging coolant 22 from an external source (not shown) into the housing 211 therethrough.
The conducting unit 3 includes a heat-conductive second container 31 for containing the core unit 2 therein, and a heat-conductive medium 32, such as sodium chloride solution, filled between the first and second containers 21, 31 and having a freezing point higher than that of the heat exchanging coolant 22. In this embodiment, the freezing point of the heat-conductive medium 32 is within a temperature range from −20° C. to 0° C. The second container 31 consists of a cylindrical housing 311 and a cover plate 312, and is in thermal contact with the heat-conductive container 611 of the air guiding module 61 (see FIG. 3).
The driving motor 8 is disposed in the main housing 5, is mounted on the second partition wall 506, and has a motor shaft 81 extending downwardly into the second accommodating space 52 through a through hole in the second partition wall 506, as shown in FIG. 3.
Referring further to FIG. 5, the fan unit 7 is disposed in the second accommodating space 52 in the main housing 5, and is connected fixedly to the motor shaft 81 of the driving motor 8 such that the fan unit 7 is co-rotatable with the motor shaft 81 of the driving motor 8. In this embodiment, the fan unit 7 includes top and bottom plates 71, 72, a plurality of vertical fin plates 73 interconnecting peripheries of the top and bottom plates 71, 72 and arranged spacedly in a circumferential direction of the top and bottom plates 71, 72, and an intermediate connecting ring 74 for interconnecting the vertical fin plates 73. The top plate 71 has a central connecting portion formed with a mounting hole 711 for permitting extension of the motor shaft 81 of the driving motor 8 therethrough so that the top plate 71 is sleeved fixedly on the motor shaft 81 of the driving motor 8. The bottom plate 72 is formed with a plurality of openings 721.
The cooling fan device 4 further includes a guiding member 75 mounted in the second accommodating space 52 in the main housing 5 and having a frusto-conical sleeve portion 752 and a base plate portion 751. The sleeve portion 752 is sleeved around a lower portion of the fan unit 7, and has opposite upper and lower ends, and an inner diameter that increases gradually toward the lower end, as shown in FIG. 3. The base plate portion 751 extends outwardly and horizontally from the lower end of the sleeve portion 752, and is disposed between the top cover 64 and the bottom plate 72 of the fan unit 7, as shown in FIG. 3.
Referring further to FIG. 6, when the fan unit 7 is driven by the driving motor 8 to rotate about an axis (a) of the motor shaft 81, air entering into the first accommodating space 51 in the main housing 5 via the first vent holes 53 can flow into the heat-insulating casing 6 through the first opening 622 upon passing through the air-guiding passage 613, and then flows out of the heat-insulating casing 6 through the second opening 623 in the case body 62 and into the fan unit 7 via the openings 721 in the bottom plate 72 through guiding of the guiding member 75, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 6. It is noted that, when the fan unit 7 rotates about the axis (a) of the motor shaft 81 as a result of activation of the driving motor 8, the top and bottom covers 64, 63 are pushed upwardly by the air flowing through the first and second openings 622, 623 in the case body 62 of the heat-insulating casing 6, thereby forming a looped first gap 65 between the bottom cover 63 and the annular flange 620 for permitting air to flow into the heat-insulating casing 6 therethrough, and a looped second gap 66 between the top plate 64 and an upper end 624 of the case body 62 of the heat insulating casing 6 for permitting air to flow out of the heat-insulating casing 6 therethrough.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the fan unit 7 stops to rotate as a result of deactivation of the driving motor 8, the bottom and top plates 63, 64 cover respectively the first and second openings 622, 623 by virtue of gravity.
Furthermore, a liquid-collecting member 9 is disposed in the main housing 5 and under the heat-insulating casing 6 for collecting liquid generated from condensation of water molecules in the heat-insulating casing 6. In this embodiment, the liquid-collecting member 9 can be removed from the main housing 5 via the through hole 55.
In sum, due to the presence of the spiral passage 613, the air in the heat-insulating casing 6 can be sufficiently cooled by the cooling module 1 without requirement for electrical power.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A cooling module comprising:

a core unit including a heat-conductive first container, and a heat exchanging coolant contained in said first container; and

a conducting unit including a heat-conductive second container for containing said core unit therein, and a heat-conductive medium filled between said first and second containers and having a freezing point higher than that of said heat exchanging coolant.

2. The cooling module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanging coolant includes liquid nitrogen.

3. The cooling module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the freezing point of said heat-conductive medium is within a temperature range from −20° C. to 0° C.

4. The cooling module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first container includes a cylindrical housing having an open end, a cover unit for covering said open end of said housing, and a plurality of fasteners for retaining said cover unit on said housing.

5. The cooling module as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cover unit includes:

a first cover body disposed fixedly on said open end of said housing by said fasteners and formed with a central opening;

a second cover body received fittingly and movably in said housing, and having a size larger than that of said central opening in said first cover body; and

a biasing member disposed in said housing for biasing said second cover body to abut against said first cover body, thereby closing said central opening in said first cover body.

6. A cooling fan device comprising:

a main housing configured with first and second accommodating spaces, and formed with first and second vent holes that are respectively in spatial communication with said first and second accommodating spaces, said second accommodating space being disposed above said first accommodating space;

a heat-insulating casing including a tubular case body that is disposed in said first accommodating space in said main housing and that is formed with a first opening disposed adjacent to said first vent hole, and a second opening opposite to said first opening in a vertical direction and in spatial communication with said second accommodating space in said main housing;

a cooling module disposed in said case body of said heat-insulating casing;

a driving motor disposed in said main housing and having a motor shaft extending downwardly into said second accommodating space; and

a fan unit disposed in said second accommodating space in said main housing and connected fixedly to said motor shaft of said driving motor such that said fan unit is co-rotatable with said motor shaft of said driving motor;

wherein, when said fan unit is driven by said driving motor to rotate about an axis of said motor shaft, air entering into said first accommodating space in said main housing via said first vent hole flows into said case body of said heat-insulating casing through said first opening, is cooled by said cooling module, and then flows out of said case body of said heat-insulating casing via said second opening and into said second accommodating space so that cooled air in said second accommodating space is blown out of said main housing via said second vent hole.

7. The cooling fan device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an air guiding module that includes

a cylindrical heat-conductive container disposed in said case body of said heat-insulating casing for containing said cooling module therein; and

a spiral fin extending from an annular outer surface of said heat-conductive container and in contact with an annular inner surface of said case body of said heat-insulating casing such that said spiral fin cooperates with said annular inner surface of said case body of said heat-insulating casing and said annular outer surface of said heat-conductive container so as to define a spiral air-guiding passage thereamong, said air-guiding passage having opposite ends in spatial communication with said first and second openings in said case body of said heat-insulating casing, respectively, the air flowing into said case body of said heat-insulating casing via said first opening being cooled by passing through said air-guiding passage.

8. The cooling fan device as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said case body of said heat-insulating casing further has an annular flange extending radially and inwardly from a lower end thereof and defining said first opening; and

said heat-insulating casing further includes

a bottom cover disposed in said case body and movable in the vertical direction between said annular flange and said heat-conductive container, and having a diameter larger than that of said first opening in said case body, and

a top cover disposed in said second accommodating space in said main housing and movable in the vertical direction between said second opening in said case body and said fan unit, and having a diameter greater than that of said second opening in said case body;

wherein, when said fan unit rotates about said axis of said motor shaft of said driving motor as a result of activation of said driving motor, said bottom and top covers are pushed upwardly by the air flowing through said first and second openings in said case body of said heat-insulating casing, thereby forming a looped first gap between said bottom cover and said annular flange for permitting air to flow into said heat-insulating casing therethrough, and a looped second gap between said top cover and an upper end of said case body of said heat-insulating casing for permitting air to flow out of said heat-insulating casing therethrough; and

wherein, when said fan unit stops to rotate as a result of deactivation of said driving motor, said bottom and top covers cover respectively said first and second openings in said case body by virtue of gravity.

9. The cooling fan device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a liquid-collecting member disposed in said main housing and under said heat-insulating casing for collecting liquid generated from condensation of water molecules in said heat-insulating casing.