Miniature pump for liquid cooling system

Abstract

A miniature pump includes a pump casing ( 1 ) defining therein an inner space with an inlet ( 104 ) and an outlet ( 110 ) both being in flow communication with the inner space, a liquid circulating unit ( 2 ) having an impeller ( 26 ) received in the inner space, a motor driving unit ( 3 ) received in the inner space to drive the impeller to rotate, and a partition wall ( 14 ) arranged in the pump casing to space the liquid circulating unit and the motor driving unit. The impeller carries a first permanent magnet ( 260 ). The motor driving unit includes a motor having a rotor ( 34 ) and a second permanent magnet ( 340 ) attached to the rotor. The second permanent magnet corresponds to the first permanent magnet with a flux gap formed therebetween. Each of the first and second permanent magnets has a plurality of alternating N and S poles.

1 . A miniature pump for use with a liquid cooling system comprising: 
 a pump casing defining therein an inner space with an inlet and an outlet both being in flow communication with the inner space;    a liquid circulating unit received in the inner space, the liquid circulating unit comprising an impeller being rotatable to drive the liquid to enter the inner space via the inlet and to exit the inner space via the outlet, a first permanent magnet being carried by the impeller;    a motor driving unit received in the inner space to drive the impeller to rotate, the motor driving unit comprising a rotor and a second permanent magnet attached to the rotor, the second permanent corresponding to the first permanent magnet with a flux gap formed therebetween, each of the first and second permanent magnets having a plurality of alternating N and S poles; and    a partition wall arranged in the pump casing to space the liquid circulating unit and the motor driving unit.    
   
   
       2 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second permanent magnets comprises a ring flat body, and an axial flux gap is created between the first and second permanent magnets.  
   
   
       3 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second permanent magnets comprises a cylindrical body, and a radial flux gap is created between the first and second permanent magnets.  
   
   
       4 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 1 , wherein the pump casing comprises a hollow main body and top and bottom covers attached to top and bottom ends of the main body respectively, and the partition wall is transversely formed in the pump casing to divide the inner space into a top space for receiving the liquid circulating unit and a bottom space for receiving the motor driving unit.  
   
   
       5 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 4 , wherein a sealing ring is arranged between the top cover and the main body to prevent leakage of the liquid.  
   
   
       6 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 4 , wherein the rotor is covered with a layer of magnetically conductive material, and the second permanent magnet is attached to the rotor by an attracting force.  
   
   
       7 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 4 , wherein the pump casing further comprises a spacing plate to divide the top space into a first chamber communicating with the inlet and a second chamber communicating with the outlet, and the first chamber is in communication with the second chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 7 , wherein the spacing plate defines a through opening corresponding to a center portion of the liquid circulating unit.  
   
   
       9 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 7 , wherein the liquid circulating unit comprises a shaft positioned by the spacing plate and the partition wall, and the impeller is rotatably attached to the shaft.  
   
   
       10 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 9 , wherein the partition wall forms a shaft support defining a blind hole receiving an end of the shaft, and the spacing plate defines a positioning hole at the center portion thereof receiving an opposite end of the shaft therein.  
   
   
       11 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 10 , wherein the liquid circulating unit comprises a pair of locking rings attached to the shaft near the opposite ends thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 9 , wherein the partition wall forms a shaft support defining a blind hole receiving an end of the shaft, and the spacing plate forms a protrusion corresponding to an opposite end of the shaft.  
   
   
       13 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first permanent magnet is embedded in the impeller.  
   
   
       14 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is a rotor of an electrical motor.  
   
   
       15 . A miniature pump for use with a liquid cooling system, comprising: 
 a pump casing comprising a partition wall transversely formed therein to define an inner space of the pump casing with isolated first and second spaces;    an inlet and an outlet provided on the pump casing to communicate with the first space;    a liquid circulating unit positioned in the first space, the liquid circulating unit comprising an impeller with a first permanent magnet carried thereon;    a motor driving unit positioned in the second space, the motor driving unit comprising a motor and a second permanent magnet being drivable to rotate by the motor; wherein    when being rotated by the motor, the second permanent magnet drives the first permanent magnet to rotate by magnetic force generated therebetween, whereby the impeller rotates to circulate liquid in the liquid cooling system.    
   
   
       16 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 15 , wherein the pump casing comprises a hollow main body, a top cover hermetically attached to one end of the main body to form the first space between the top cover and the partition wall, and a bottom cover attached to an opposite end of the main body to form the second space between the partition wall and the bottom cover.  
   
   
       17 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 15 , wherein the motor comprises a rotor covered with a layer of magnetically conductive material, and the second permanent magnet is attached to the rotor by an attracting force.  
   
   
       18 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second permanent magnets comprises a ring flat body, and an axial flux gap is created between the first and second permanent magnets.  
   
   
       19 . The miniature pump as described in  claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second permanent magnets comprises a cylindrical body, and a radial flux gap is created between the first and second permanent magnets.  
   
   
       20 . A liquid pump, comprising: 
 a first space defined in said liquid pump, and a second space defined in said liquid pump and liquid-isolated from said first space by a partition wall;    a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet defined in said liquid pump to communicate said first space with outside of said liquid pump;    a magnetic impeller received in said first space and used to impel liquid in said first space; and    a driving unit received in said second space, comprising a motor and a motor-drivable magnetic member used to transfer magnetically a drivable force of said motor on said magnetic impeller.    
   
   
       21 . The liquid pump as described in  claim 20 , wherein said motor is electrifiable, and said magnetic impeller and said magnetic member are not electrifiable.  
   
   
       22 . The liquid pump as described in  claim 20 , wherein said magnetic member is a permanent magnet and said magnetic impeller has a permanent magnet installed therein.  
   
   
       23 . The liquid pump as described in  claim 20 , wherein said magnetic member is in one of the situations consisting of being juxtaposed with said magnetic impeller and surrounding said magnetic impeller.