Integrated water cooling unit

Abstract

This application relates to an integrated water-cooling device. The integrated water-cooling device is suitable for dissipating heat from an autonomous driving controller and includes a water pump, an expansion tank, and a radiator assembly. The water pump and the expansion tank are located on the same side of the radiator assembly. The water pump is mounted on the expansion tank and communicates with its flow channel. The expansion tank is attached to the radiator assembly and communicates with its flow channel. The integrated water-cooling device provided by this application achieves an integrated arrangement of the water pump, expansion tank, and radiator assembly. These components are directly assembled, achieving a compact structural design, saving piping, reducing space occupation, and facilitating placement within a small space in a vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heat dissipation technology, and in particular to an integrated water cooling device. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of autonomous driving technology, the Automated Driving Control Unit (ADU), as a core computing unit, generates heat during continuous high-load operation. If this heat cannot be effectively dissipated, it can lead to chip frequency reduction, decreased system stability, or even failure, directly impacting driving safety. Currently, water-cooling systems are the mainstream cooling system for ADUs. Because it is a complete water-cooling system, including components such as a radiator, expansion tank, water pump, and fan, traditional water-cooling systems are large in size and occupy a lot of space, making installation in a vehicle difficult. For small cars, for aesthetic and space-saving purposes, the water-cooling system often needs to be placed under the seats or in the engine compartment, thus placing higher demands on the miniaturization and compactness of the product.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a new technical solution to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on this, this application provides an integrated water-cooling device that achieves a compact structural design, occupies little space, and meets the requirements for vehicle installation.

[0005] Therefore, this application adopts the following technical solution: an integrated water cooling device suitable for dissipating heat from an automatic driving controller, the integrated water cooling device including a water pump, an expansion tank and a radiator assembly, wherein the water pump and the expansion tank are disposed on the same side of the radiator assembly, the water pump is mounted on the expansion tank and communicates with the flow channel of the expansion tank, and the expansion tank is attached to the radiator assembly and communicates with the flow channel of the radiator assembly.

[0006] In some embodiments, the expansion tank is attached to the radiator assembly by one or more of the following connection methods: welding, integral molding, screw connection, and clamping connection.

[0007] In some embodiments, the water pump and expansion tank are located at one end of the radiator assembly along its length.

[0008] In some embodiments, the expansion tank includes a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion connected to form an L-shape, the longitudinal portion being connected to the radiator assembly and the water pump being connected to the transverse portion.

[0009] In some embodiments, the water pump is mounted and fixed to the transverse portion in the vertical direction.

[0010] In some embodiments, the water pump is fixed to the expansion tank by means of screw connection, clamp connection or welding.

[0011] In some embodiments, the radiator assembly includes an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and a plurality of cooling pipe fluid channels connecting the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber.

[0012] In some embodiments, the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber are located at both ends along the length of the radiator assembly, the expansion tank is connected to the inlet chamber, the cooling pipes extend along the length of the radiator assembly, and a plurality of cooling pipes are arranged along the width of the radiator assembly.

[0013] In some embodiments, the heat sink assembly includes a cooling fan disposed on one side of the heat sink assembly in the thickness direction to blow air onto the cooling pipe along the thickness direction.

[0014] In some embodiments, the radiator assembly includes a mounting bracket, the inlet chamber, the outlet chamber and the cooling fan are mounted on the mounting bracket, and the expansion tank is connected to the mounting bracket.

[0015] The integrated water-cooling device provided in this application has a water pump and an expansion tank located on the same side of the radiator assembly. The water pump is mounted on the expansion tank and communicates with the expansion tank's flow channel. The expansion tank is attached to the radiator assembly and communicates with the radiator assembly's flow channel, thus achieving an integrated setup of the water pump, expansion tank, and radiator assembly. These components are directly assembled, achieving a compact structural design, saving piping, reducing space occupation, and facilitating placement in a smaller space on a vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the integrated water-cooling device of this application.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of another embodiment of the integrated water-cooling device of this application.

[0019] Figure 3This is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the integrated water-cooling device of this application.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the integrated water-cooling device of this application.

[0021] Figure 5 This is another cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the integrated water-cooling device of this application.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of some components of the radiator assembly in one embodiment of the integrated water cooling device of this application.

[0023] The component labels are as follows:

[0024] 1. Water pump; 11. Connecting bolts; 2. Expansion tank; 21. Longitudinal section; 210. Connecting hole; 22. Transverse section; 23. Tank cover; 24. Connecting block; 25. Screw; 26. Sealing joint; 3. Radiator assembly; 31. Mounting bracket; 32. Inlet chamber; 320. Connecting port; 321. Baffle; 33. Outlet chamber; 330. Outlet; 34. Cooling pipe; 340. Fluid passage; 35. Cooling fan. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0026] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0027] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0028] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0030] This application provides an integrated water-cooling device, primarily applied to the heat dissipation of Automated Driving Control Units (ADUs). It aims to solve the problems of large size, large space occupation, and high installation difficulty in existing ADU water-cooling systems, meeting the requirements of miniaturization and compactness in small cars. Of course, in some embodiments, it can also be used for heat dissipation of other products.

[0031] Please see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, an embodiment of this application provides an integrated water-cooling device including a water pump 1, an expansion tank 2, and a radiator assembly 3. The water pump 1 and the expansion tank 2 are located on the same side of the radiator assembly 3. The water pump 1 is mounted on the expansion tank 2 and communicates with the flow channel of the expansion tank 2. The expansion tank 2 is attached to the radiator assembly 3 and communicates with the flow channel of the radiator assembly 3.

[0032] The integrated water-cooling device provided in this application has a water pump 1 and an expansion tank 2 located on the same side of the radiator assembly 3. The water pump 1 is mounted on the expansion tank 2 and communicates with the flow channel of the expansion tank 2. The expansion tank 2 is attached to the radiator assembly 3 and communicates with the flow channel of the radiator assembly 3. This achieves an integrated arrangement of the water pump 1, the expansion tank 2, and the radiator assembly 3. These components are directly assembled, achieving a compact structural design, saving piping, reducing space occupation, and making it easier to place in a small space in a vehicle. This reduces the difficulty of installation on the vehicle and is especially suitable for placement under the seats or in the engine compartment of a small car.

[0033] In this embodiment, the water pump 1 is assembled onto the expansion tank 2 and communicates with the flow channel of the expansion tank 2. The expansion tank 2 includes a longitudinal portion 21 and a transverse portion 22 connected to form an L-shape. The longitudinal portion 21 is connected to the radiator assembly 3, and the water pump 1 is connected to the transverse portion 22. Specifically, the water pump 1 is assembled and fixed to the transverse portion 22 of the expansion tank 2 in a vertical direction. This assembly method makes the connection between the water pump 1 and the expansion tank 2 more compact, further saving space. The water pump 1 is fixed to the expansion tank 2 by screw connection, clamp connection, or welding. For example, in this embodiment, the water pump 1 uses four connecting bolts 11 from bottom to top, passing through the mounting holes on the water pump 1 and engaging with the threaded holes on the transverse portion 22 of the expansion tank 2 to achieve a stable connection. In other embodiments, a clamping structure, such as a buckle and a slot, can also be provided at the contact point between the water pump 1 and the expansion tank 2 to enhance the reliability of the connection. This connection method not only facilitates installation and disassembly but also ensures the stability of the flow channel communication between the water pump 1 and the expansion tank 2, guaranteeing that the coolant can circulate smoothly in the water cooling system under the action of the water pump 1. In other embodiments, the water pump 1 can also be fixed to the outer shell of the expansion tank 2 by welding its outer shell.

[0034] In this embodiment, the expansion tank 2 is attached to the radiator assembly 3 and communicates with the flow channel of the radiator assembly 3. Specifically, the expansion tank 2 is attached to the radiator assembly 3 by one or more connection methods, such as welding, screw connection, and snap-fit ​​connection. In this embodiment, taking screw connection as an example, the longitudinal portion 21 of the expansion tank 2 is provided with a connection hole 210, and the corresponding part of the radiator assembly 3 is also provided with a corresponding mounting hole. A screw 25 passes through the longitudinal portion 21 of the expansion tank 2 and is locked to the radiator assembly 3 to fix the expansion tank 2 to the radiator assembly 3, forming a reliable connection. In other embodiments, the expansion tank 2 can also be welded or integrally formed to form a non-detachable connection with some parts of the radiator assembly 3; in other embodiments, the expansion tank 2 can also be fixed by snap-fit ​​connection.

[0035] Please see Figures 3 to 5As shown, in this embodiment, the water pump 1 and the expansion tank 2 are disposed at one end of the radiator assembly 3 along its length. The expansion tank 2 includes a longitudinal portion 21 and a transverse portion 22 connected to form an L-shape. The longitudinal portion 21 is connected to the radiator assembly 3, and the water pump 1 is connected to the transverse portion 22. This L-shaped structural design allows the expansion tank 2 to better adapt to the structural layout of the radiator assembly 3, while providing a reasonable installation position for the water pump 1, making the overall structure of the device more compact and reasonable. In addition, the expansion tank 2 is also provided with a tank cover 23, which is installed at the opening of the expansion tank 2 by means of threaded connection or other methods, facilitating operations such as adding coolant and checking the liquid level in the expansion tank 2.

[0036] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the radiator assembly 3 includes an inlet chamber 32, an outlet chamber 33, and a plurality of cooling pipes 34 connecting the inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33. Each cooling pipe 34 has a fluid channel 340 communicating with the flow channels of the inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33. The inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33 are located at both ends along the length of the radiator assembly 3. The inlet chamber 32 has a connection port 320 for communicating with the expansion tank 2, allowing coolant to flow from the expansion tank 2 into the inlet chamber 32. A sealing joint 26 is provided at the connection point between the expansion tank 2 and the connection port 320 to ensure a good seal between the flow channels of the expansion tank 2 and the radiator assembly 3, preventing coolant leakage. The outlet chamber 33 has an outlet 330 for discharging the cooled coolant. The inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33 extend along the width direction, and baffles 321 are provided at both ends to form a closed chamber. The baffles 321 are inserted at both ends of the inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33 along the length direction.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cooling pipes 34 extend along the length of the radiator assembly 3, and multiple cooling pipes 34 are arranged along the width of the radiator assembly 3. Specifically, each cooling pipe 34 has a fluid channel 340 communicating with the inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33. Coolant flows from the inlet chamber 32 into the fluid channel 340, and during its flow within the cooling pipe 34, it exchanges heat with the outside air through the cooling pipe 34, dissipating the heat, and then flows into the outlet chamber 33. The arrangement of multiple cooling pipes 34 along the width of the radiator assembly 3 and extending along the length of the radiator assembly 3 increases the contact area between the cooling pipes 34 and the air, improving heat dissipation efficiency.

[0038] In this embodiment, the cooling pipe 34 is a flat pipe, and the coolant flows within it in a flat manner, resulting in a large contact area between the coolant and the cooling pipe 34 and good heat exchange effect. Further, in some embodiments, turbulence fins can be provided within the fluid channel 340 of the cooling pipe 34 to further enhance heat exchange by increasing the contact between the coolant and the cooling pipe 34. In other embodiments, heat dissipation fins can be provided outside the cooling pipe 34, for example, between adjacent cooling pipes 34, to enhance air-side heat exchange of the cooling pipe 34. Specifically, the heat dissipation fins can be assembled between adjacent cooling pipes 34, or they can be integrally formed from the outer wall surface of the cooling pipe 34.

[0039] To further improve heat dissipation, the radiator assembly 3 also includes a cooling fan 35. The cooling fan 35 is disposed on one side of the radiator assembly 3 in the thickness direction to blow air onto the cooling pipe 34 along the thickness direction. When the cooling fan 35 is working, it can accelerate airflow, enhance heat exchange between the air and the cooling pipe 34, thereby removing heat from the cooling pipe 34 more quickly and improving the heat dissipation performance of the entire water cooling device.

[0040] In this embodiment, the radiator assembly 3 includes a mounting bracket 31. The inlet chamber 32, the outlet chamber 33, and the cooling fan 35 are mounted on the mounting bracket 31, and the expansion tank 2 is connected to the mounting bracket 31. The mounting bracket 31 provides a stable support structure for the entire radiator assembly 3 and facilitates the installation of the entire integrated water-cooling device onto a vehicle. In this embodiment, the inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33 are fixed to the mounting bracket 31 by connecting blocks 24. The connecting blocks 24 can be welded to the inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33, and have screw holes for connecting screws to pass through the mounting bracket 31 and connect to the connecting blocks 24 for connection and fixation. The expansion tank 2 is connected to the mounting bracket 31 through the connecting blocks 24 and other components, making the expansion tank 2 and the radiator assembly 3 a whole, further enhancing the structural stability of the device. The cooling fan 35 is also firmly connected to the mounting bracket 31 through corresponding connectors, such as screw connectors, ensuring that the entire device will not loosen or be damaged due to vibration during vehicle operation.

[0041] During assembly, the water pump 1 is fixed to the transverse portion 22 of the expansion tank 2 by connecting bolts 11, and the inlet of the water pump 1 is connected to the internal flow channel of the expansion tank 2. The longitudinal portion 21 of the expansion tank 2 is fixed to the mounting bracket 31 of the radiator assembly 3 by screws 25, and the longitudinal portion 21 of the expansion tank 2 is connected to the connection port 320 of the inlet chamber 32 of the radiator assembly 3 by a sealing joint 26, thus achieving communication with the flow channel of the radiator assembly 3. The inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33 of the radiator assembly 3 are located at both ends of the length direction of the radiator assembly 3, and multiple cooling pipes 34 are evenly arranged along the width direction of the radiator assembly 3, and the cooling pipes 34 extend along the length direction. The fluid channel 340 inside the cooling pipes 34 is connected to the inlet chamber 32 and the outlet chamber 33. The cooling fan 35 is installed on one side of the thickness direction of the radiator assembly 3 and is fixed to the mounting bracket 31 by screws and other connecting parts. The outlet 330 of the water outlet chamber 33 is connected to other components through a pipe to form a coolant circulation loop.

[0042] When the autopilot controller operates, it generates a large amount of heat, which is dissipated by the integrated water cooling system. First, water pump 1 starts, driving coolant through the inlet chamber 32. After entering the inlet chamber 32, the coolant is distributed into the fluid channels 340 of each cooling pipe 34. During its flow within the cooling pipes 34, the coolant exchanges heat with the pipes, transferring heat to them. Simultaneously, the cooling fan 35 operates, blowing air onto the cooling pipes 34 to accelerate airflow and carry away the heat. The cooled coolant then flows from the cooling pipes 34 into the outlet chamber 33, and then out through the outlet 330. After circulating and cooling, it returns to the expansion tank 2, forming a complete coolant circulation system that continuously cools the autopilot controller.

[0043] As described above in the specific embodiments, the integrated water-cooling device provided in this application significantly reduces the overall size of the device by integrating the water pump 1 and the expansion tank 2 on the same side of the radiator assembly 3 and by adopting a reasonable component layout and connection method. Compared with traditional ADU water-cooling systems, this device has a significant advantage in terms of space occupancy, and can be more easily installed under the seats or in the engine compartment of small cars, reducing installation difficulty and cost. In addition, in the embodiments of this application, the radiator assembly 3 adopts a design in which multiple cooling pipes 34 are arranged along the width direction and extend along the length direction, increasing the contact area between the cooling pipes 34 and the air. At the same time, in conjunction with the forced convection cooling of the cooling fan 35, the heat on the cooling pipes 34 can be quickly and effectively removed, improving the heat dissipation efficiency and achieving excellent heat dissipation performance while achieving a compact structure. Even when the autonomous driving controller is operating under high load and generating a large amount of heat, it can ensure that the chip temperature remains stable within a reasonable range, avoiding problems such as chip frequency reduction, decreased system stability, or even failure, thus ensuring driving safety. In addition, the components are fixed together using a variety of reliable connection methods such as welding, screw connection, and clamping connection, while the mounting bracket 31 provides a stable support structure for the entire device. This structural design reduces the use of connecting pipes, enabling the device to withstand vibration and impact during vehicle operation, ensuring firm connections between components, stable operation of the coolant circulation system, and reducing the likelihood of leaks and other malfunctions, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the device.

[0044] In summary, the integrated water-cooling device provided in this application achieves advantages such as small size, high heat dissipation efficiency, stable and reliable structure, and convenient maintenance through its unique structural design. It provides an efficient and reliable solution for heat dissipation of autonomous driving controllers and has broad market application prospects.

[0045] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the patent protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An integrated water-cooling device suitable for dissipating heat from an automatic driving controller, characterized in that, The integrated water cooling device includes a water pump (1), an expansion tank (2), and a radiator assembly (3). The water pump (1) and the expansion tank (2) are located on the same side of the radiator assembly (3). The water pump (1) is mounted on the expansion tank (2) and communicates with the flow channel of the expansion tank (2). The expansion tank (2) is attached to the radiator assembly (3) and communicates with the flow channel of the radiator assembly (3).

2. The integrated water cooling device of claim 1, wherein, The expansion tank (2) is attached to the radiator assembly (3) by one or more of the following connection methods: welding, integral molding, screw connection, and clamping connection.

3. The integrated water-cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water pump (1) and the expansion tank (2) are located at one end of the radiator assembly (3) along its length.

4. The integrated water-cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The expansion tank (2) includes a longitudinal section (21) and a transverse section (22) connected to form an L-shape. The longitudinal section (21) is connected to the radiator assembly (3), and the water pump (1) is connected to the transverse section (22).

5. The integrated water-cooling device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The water pump (1) is mounted and fixed on the transverse part (22) in the vertical direction.

6. The integrated water-cooling device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The water pump (1) is fixed to the expansion tank (2) by means of screw connection, clamp connection or welding.

7. The integrated water-cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The radiator assembly (3) includes an inlet chamber (32), an outlet chamber (33), and a plurality of cooling pipes (34) connecting the inlet chamber (32) and the outlet chamber (33).

8. The integrated water-cooling device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inlet chamber (32) and outlet chamber (33) are located at both ends of the length direction of the radiator assembly (3), the expansion tank (2) is connected to the inlet chamber (32), the cooling pipe (34) extends along the length direction of the radiator assembly (3), and multiple cooling pipes (34) are arranged along the width direction of the radiator assembly (3).

9. The integrated water-cooling device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The radiator assembly (3) includes a cooling fan (35) disposed on one side of the radiator assembly (3) in the thickness direction to blow air onto the cooling pipe (34) along the thickness direction.

10. The integrated water-cooling device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The radiator assembly (3) includes a mounting bracket (31), the water inlet chamber (32), the water outlet chamber (33) and the cooling fan (35) are mounted on the mounting bracket (31), and the expansion tank (2) is connected to the mounting bracket (31).

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