JP5703199B2 - Chassis with temperature controller - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a chassis provided with a temperature regulator.

  Electronic devices such as servers generate heat as they operate. For this reason, cooling is performed so that such an electronic device does not overheat. The cooling is performed, for example, by cooling the inside air of the shelter in which the electronic device is accommodated by an air conditioner.

  On the other hand, such electronic devices are often not suitable for operation at extremely low temperatures. For this reason, when using an electronic device in a cold region, heating the electronic device is performed. For example, a heater is provided inside a chassis in which an electronic device is accommodated, and the inside air of the chassis is warmed by the heater.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-85919

  When an electronic device is cooled by an air conditioner, a shelter that accommodates the air conditioner or the electronic device tends to be large. Moreover, when heating an electronic device with a heater, the volume for arrange | positioning a heater inside a chassis is needed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a chassis having a temperature regulator Ru can be miniaturized.

A chassis including a temperature controller according to one embodiment is provided in a housing part that houses a heating element, a temperature controller attached to the housing part, and the housing part, And a partition that separates the interior of the casing from each other into a first room and a second room. The temperature controller includes a heat conversion element, a first fin unit, a first fan, a second fin unit, a second fan, and a partition . The heat conversion element has a first surface and a second surface, and absorbs heat from one of the first surface and the second surface and generates heat from the other when an electric current is passed. The first fin unit includes a first heat pipe thermally connected to the first surface, and a plurality of first fins respectively connected to the first heat pipe. The first fan blows air toward the inside of the casing and allows air to pass between the first fins. The second fin unit includes a second heat pipe thermally connected to the second surface and a plurality of second fins respectively connected to the second heat pipe. The second fan blows air toward the outside of the housing portion and passes air between the second fins. The heating element is disposed in at least one of the first room and the second room. The first fan blows air toward the first room, and the second fan blows air from the second room to the outside.

The perspective view which shows the chassis which concerns on one embodiment. Sectional drawing of the chassis shown along the F2-F2 line | wire of FIG. The perspective view which shows a temperature regulator. Sectional drawing of the chassis which expands and shows a temperature controller. Sectional drawing which shows the chassis heated by a temperature controller.

  Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the chassis 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the chassis 10 taken along line F2-F2 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the chassis 10 includes a housing unit 11, a printed circuit board (PCB) 12, and a temperature controller 13. The PCB 12 is an example of a heating element.

  The housing | casing part 11 is formed in the box shape with the material which has heat insulation. A window 16 is provided on the front wall 11 a of the housing 11. The window 16 is formed of, for example, a transparent material, and allows the inside of the housing unit 11 to be visually recognized.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a partition portion 17 is provided inside the housing portion 11. The partition portion 17 has heat insulation properties, and partitions the interior of the housing portion 11 into a first room 21 and a second room 22. The first room 21 and the second room 22 are substantially rectangular spaces having approximately the same area. An end portion of the partition portion 17 is separated from the front wall 11 a of the housing portion 11. For this reason, the first room 21 and the second room 22 are connected to each other at a position away from the temperature controller 13.

  The PCB 12 is accommodated in the first room 21 of the housing unit 11. The PCB 12 may be accommodated in the second room 22. A plurality of PCBs may be arranged in the first room 21 and the second room 22, respectively.

  Various components such as a central processing unit (CPU) are mounted on the PCB 12. In addition to the PCB 12, various components such as a storage are accommodated in the housing 11. A gap is provided between the PCB 12 and other components, and the air flow through the first chamber 21 is not hindered.

  The temperature controller 13 is attached to the rear wall 11 b of the casing 11. The temperature regulator 13 is fitted in an opening provided in the rear wall 11b. Approximately half of the temperature controller 13 is disposed inside the housing unit 11.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the temperature controller 13. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the chassis 10 showing the temperature controller 13 in an enlarged manner. As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature controller 13 includes a heat conversion element 31, a first fin unit 32, two first fans 33, a second fin unit 34, and two second fans. 35, spacers 36 and 37, and a wind direction adjuster 38.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the heat conversion element 31 has a first surface 31a and a second surface 31b. The heat conversion element 31 is electrically connected to, for example, the PCB 12 via a cable. The thermal conversion element 31 absorbs heat from the first surface 31a and generates heat from the second surface 31b when current is supplied from the PCB 12. When the current flow is reversed, the heat conversion element 31 generates heat from the first surface 31a and absorbs heat from the second surface 31b.

  The first fin unit 32 includes a first heat pipe 41 and a plurality of first fins 42. The first fin unit 32 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape by a plurality of continuous first fins 42.

  The first heat pipe 41 is formed by enclosing a working fluid such as water inside a hollow rod-shaped main body made of, for example, copper. One end of the first heat pipe 41 is thermally connected to the first surface 31 a of the heat conversion element 31.

  Each of the plurality of first fins 42 is provided with a notch. The first heat pipe 41 is fitted in the notch. Thus, the plurality of first fins 42 are thermally connected to the first heat pipe 41, respectively.

  A first attachment portion 44 is formed by each end portion of the plurality of first fins 42 connected in series. The first attachment portion 44 forms one side surface portion of the rectangular parallelepiped first fin unit 32. The first attachment portion 44 faces the first surface 31 a of the heat conversion element 31.

  The two first fans 33 are arranged adjacent to each other and are respectively attached to the first attachment portions 44 of the first fin unit 32. The first fan 33 faces the first room 21. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, the first fan 33 blows air toward the first room 21 that is inside the housing unit 11. When the first fan 33 blows air, air is passed between the plurality of first fins 42. This wind transfers heat to and from the first fins 42.

  The second fin unit 34 has a second heat pipe 46 and a plurality of second fins 47. The second fin unit 34 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape by a plurality of continuous second fins 47.

  The second heat pipe 46 is formed by enclosing a working fluid such as water inside a hollow rod-shaped main body made of, for example, copper. One end of the second heat pipe 46 is thermally connected to the second surface 31 b of the heat conversion element 31.

  Each of the plurality of second fins 47 is provided with a notch. The second heat pipe 46 is fitted in the notch. Thus, the plurality of second fins 47 are thermally connected to the second heat pipe 46, respectively.

  A second attachment portion 49 is formed by each end portion of the plurality of second fins 47 connected in series. The second attachment portion 49 forms one side surface portion of the rectangular parallelepiped second fin unit 34. The second attachment portion 49 faces the second surface 31 b of the heat conversion element 31.

  The two second fans 35 are arranged adjacent to each other and are respectively attached to the second attachment portions 49 of the second fin unit 34. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, the second fan 35 blows the air in the second chamber 22 toward the outside of the housing unit 11. When the second fan 35 blows air, air is passed between the plurality of second fins 47. This wind passes heat between the second fins 47.

  The spacers 36 and 37 have heat insulation properties. One spacer 36 is disposed between the first fan 33 and the heat conversion element 31 and the second fin unit 34. The other spacer 37 is disposed between the second fan 35 and the heat conversion element 31 and the first fin unit 32.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the air direction adjuster 38 projects from the rear wall 11 b of the housing portion 11. The air direction adjuster 38 includes a duct portion 51, an internal shutter 52, and a plurality of external shutters 53 and 54.

  The duct portion 51 is attached to the first fin unit 32 and the second fan 35. Thereby, the duct portion 51 connects the first fin unit 32 and the two second fans 35.

  The duct portion 51 has an inner wall 56 disposed in the middle of a path connecting the first fin unit 32 and the second fan 35. A first opening 57 is provided in the inner wall 56.

  An internal shutter 52 is rotatably attached to the first opening 57. The internal shutter 52 opens or closes the first opening 57 by rotating. That is, the internal shutter 52 opens or closes the path connecting the first fin unit 32 and the second fan 35.

  A second opening 58 and a third opening 59 are provided in the rear wall 51 a of the duct portion 51. The second opening 58 and the third opening 59 are disposed with the inner wall 56 interposed therebetween. The second opening 58 is provided facing the first fin unit 32. The third opening 59 is provided facing the second fan 35.

  A plurality of external shutters 53 are rotatably attached to the second opening 58. The plurality of external shutters 53 are arranged side by side and rotate in conjunction with each other. The external shutter 53 rotates to open or close the second opening 58. That is, the external shutter 53 opens or closes the space between the first fin unit 32 and the outside.

  A plurality of external shutters 54 are rotatably attached to the third opening 59. The plurality of external shutters 54 are arranged side by side and rotate in conjunction with the external shutter 53. The external shutter 54 opens or closes the third opening 59 by rotating. That is, the external shutter 54 opens or closes the space between the second fan 35 and the outside.

  The internal shutter 52 and the external shutters 53 and 54 are interlocked. When the internal shutter 52 closes the first opening 57, the external shutters 53 and 54 open the second and third openings 58 and 59. Conversely, when the internal shutter 52 opens the first opening 57, the external shutters 53 and 54 close the second and third openings 58 and 59.

  When the chassis 10 configured as described above operates, components such as a CPU mounted on the PCB 12 generate heat. In order to cool the inside of the chassis 10 whose temperature rises due to the heat generated by the parts, the temperature regulator 13 operates.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when cooling the inside of the chassis 10, the internal shutter 52 of the airflow direction adjuster 38 closes the first opening 57. Accordingly, the external shutters 53 and 54 open the second and third openings 58 and 59.

  First, the heat conversion element 31 absorbs heat from the first surface 31a. When the first fan 33 blows air toward the inside of the casing 11, outside air is taken in from the opened second opening 58. The taken-in outside air passes between the plurality of first fins 42 of the first fin unit 32.

  Since the first fin unit 32 is connected to the first surface 31a of the heat conversion element 31, the outside air passing therethrough is cooled. Thereby, the taken-in outside air becomes cool air having a lower temperature than the outside of the chassis 10.

  The cold air passes through the first room 21 in which the PCB 12 is disposed and the second room 22 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. As a result, the PCB 12 and the inside of the housing 11 heated by the heat generated by the components are cooled.

  Since the second fan 35 blows air toward the outside of the housing part 11, the air in the second room 22 flows toward the outside of the housing part 11. For this reason, the cold air that has passed through the second chamber 22 passes between the second fins 47 of the plurality of second fin units 34.

  The heat conversion element 31 generates heat from the second surface 31b. Since the second fin unit 34 is connected to the second surface 31 b, the heat generated from the second surface 31 b is released from the plurality of second fins 47. The cool air passing between the second fins 47 is warmed by the released heat. This warmed wind is discharged to the outside of the chassis 10 by the second fan 35. As described above, the inside of the chassis 10 is cooled.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the chassis 10 heated by the temperature controller 13. When the chassis 10 is used in a cold region, the temperature controller 13 heats the inside of the housing unit 11 in order to prevent the PCB 12 and components from becoming extremely cold.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when heating the inside of the housing unit 11, the internal shutter 52 of the wind direction adjuster 38 opens the first opening 57. Accordingly, the external shutters 53 and 54 close the second and third openings 58 and 59.

  As a result, the air blown by the second fan 35 is not discharged to the outside of the casing 11 and passes through the first opening 57 of the inner wall 56. The air that has passed through the first opening 57 is cooled by the first fin unit 32. This wind is blown into the first room 21 by the first fan 33. In this manner, the chassis 10 does not perform intake / exhaust with the outside, and the air inside the housing portion 11 circulates.

  In the heat conversion element 31, the amount of heat generated from the other is larger than the amount of heat absorbed from one of the first and second surfaces 31a and 31b. For this reason, the temperature inside the housing part 11 rises by circulating air inside the housing part 11.

  Further, when it is desired to further warm the PCB 12 and the components, the current flowing through the heat conversion element 31 is reversed. Thereby, the heat conversion element 31 generates heat from the first surface 31a and absorbs heat from the second surface 31b.

  In this case, the air passing between the plurality of first fins 42 is warmed by the first fin unit 32 connected to the first surface 31 a of the heat conversion element 31. The warmed air becomes warm air flowing into the first room 21 by the first fan 33.

  This hot air passes through the first room 21 in which the PCB 12 is arranged and the second room 22 as shown by the arrows in FIG. Thereby, the PCB 12 and the inside of the chassis 10 are heated. The warm air that has passed through the second chamber 22 passes between the plurality of second fins 47.

  Since the second fin unit 34 is connected to the second surface 31b of the heat conversion element 31, the plurality of second fins 47 cool the passing hot air. This cooled wind circulates through the first opening 57 of the inner wall 56. As described above, the inside of the housing 11 is heated.

  In addition, when heating the inside of the housing | casing part 11, you may take in external air as shown in FIG. In this case, the inside of the housing portion 11 is heated by warming the outside air in which the first fin unit 32 is taken.

  According to the chassis 10 having the above-described configuration, the first and second fin units 32 and 34 and the first and second fans 33 and 35 are attached to the heat conversion element 31 to cool the inside of the housing unit 11. Or you can heat. Thereby, the inside of the chassis 10 can be cooled without using large equipment such as an air conditioner or a shelter, and the chassis 10 can be downsized. In addition, a heating-dedicated part such as a heater is not necessary, and the chassis 10 can be used even in a cold region.

  A partition portion 17 is provided inside the housing portion 11. The partition part 17 divides the interior of the housing part 11 into a first room 21 and a second room 22 connected to each other. Thereby, the inside of the housing | casing part 11 becomes easy to be cooled or heated uniformly.

  The heat conversion element 31 and the first fan 33 face the first mounting portion 44 of the first fin unit 32. Further, the heat conversion element 31 and the second fan 35 face the second mounting portion 49 of the second fin unit 34. With this arrangement, the temperature controller 13 can be thinned.

  The internal shutter 52 and the external shutters 53 and 54 of the wind direction adjuster 38 are switched between intake and exhaust of outside air or circulation of inside air. Thereby, the inside air can be circulated during heating, the inside of the casing 11 can be efficiently heated, and power saving can be achieved.

  The housing | casing part 11 has heat insulation. Thereby, the influence by external temperature can be suppressed and the inside of the housing | casing part 11 can be cooled or heated efficiently.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  For example, the PCB 12 has been described as an example of the heating element in the above embodiment, but the heating element is not limited thereto. The heating element may be another element that generates heat when operated like a server.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Chassis, 11 ... Housing | casing part, 12 ... PCB, 13 ... Temperature controller, 17 ... Partition part, 21 ... 1st room, 22 ... 2nd room, 31 ... Heat conversion element, 31a ... 1st Surface, 31b ... second surface, 32 ... first fin unit, 33 ... first fan, 34 ... second fin unit, 35 ... second fan, 38 ... wind direction adjuster, 41 ... first Heat pipe, 42 ... first fin, 44 ... first mounting portion, 46 ... second heat pipe, 47 ... second fin, 49 ... second mounting portion, 51 ... duct portion, 52 ... internal shutter 53, 54 ... External shutter.

Claims (4)

A housing for housing the heating element;
A temperature controller attached to the casing;
A partition part provided inside the housing part and separating the interior of the housing part into a first room and a second room;
Comprising
The temperature controller is
A heat conversion element that has a first surface and a second surface and absorbs heat from one of the first surface and the second surface by flowing current, and generates heat from the other;
A first fin unit having a first heat pipe thermally connected to the first surface and a plurality of first fins respectively connected to the first heat pipe;
A first fan that blows air toward the inside of the housing and passes air between the first fins;
A second fin unit having a second heat pipe thermally connected to the second surface; and a plurality of second fins respectively connected to the second heat pipe;
A second fan that blows air toward the outside of the housing part and passes air between the second fins;
Equipped with a,
The heating element is disposed in at least one of the first room and the second room,
The first fan blows air toward the first room,
The chassis having a temperature controller , wherein the second fan blows air of the second room to the outside . The first fin unit has a first attachment portion facing the heat conversion element and the first fan,
2. The chassis having a temperature regulator according to claim 1 , wherein the second fin unit includes a second attachment portion facing the heat conversion element and the second fan. The temperature controller is
A duct portion connecting the first fin unit and the second fan;
An external shutter that is provided in the duct portion and opens or closes the first fin unit and the second fan and the outside,
An internal shutter that opens or closes a path connecting the first fin unit of the duct part and the second fan;
The chassis having a temperature regulator according to claim 2 , further comprising a wind direction regulator having a temperature difference . The chassis provided with the temperature controller according to claim 3 , wherein the casing has heat insulation.

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