Cold plate assembly clamping fixture

Abstract

A cold plate assembly clamping fixture includes a frame body and a plurality of quick-release clamps. The quick-release clamp includes a fixed support component and a quick-release clamping component. The fixed support component includes a connecting fixed rod and a supporting base. The connecting fixed rod is secured to the frame body, while the supporting base is fixed to the connecting fixed rod. The quick-release clamping component includes a connecting seat, a movable pressing rod, and an operating linkage assembly. The connecting seat is fixed to the frame body. The movable pressing rod is movably inserted through the connecting seat and forms a clamping gap with the supporting base. The operating linkage assembly is pivotally connected to both the connecting seat and the movable pressing rod, allowing control over the movement of the pressing rod to reduce or enlarge the clamping gap, thereby securing or releasing a lifting bracket assembled onto the cold plate component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a clamping fixture, and more particularly to a clamping fixture for clamping cold plates. Prior Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence applications, the demand for servers to incorporate multiple GPUs is increasing. However, since GPU operation often generates a large amount of waste heat, most existing servers use heat sinks for cooling to ensure stable GPU operation. However, due to the limited space inside a server, and the need to coordinate the placement of heat sinks with the piping system, installing multiple heat sinks inside a server is not practically easy.

[0003] As mentioned above, to install multiple cold plates simultaneously, researchers have developed an installation fixture. This fixture connects multiple support bases to a base frame, and then connects multiple abutment posts to an operating frame. Multiple springs are installed between the operating frame and the base frame to bring them closer together, thus forming clamps for holding the cold plates. While this fixture allows for simultaneous movement of multiple abutment posts via the operating frame, enabling the simultaneous clamping of multiple cold plates, it also limits the release of all cold plates at once. It cannot selectively release individual cold plates, requiring operators to install all cold plates before releasing them all at once, making the entire installation process extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In the prior art, when installing multiple cold plates on existing servers, because these cold plates are connected by pipes, it is necessary to use an installation fixture to place all the cold plates into the server at the same time for installation. However, the existing installation fixture mainly uses a frame to drive multiple abutment columns and multiple support seats to simultaneously clamp multiple cold plates. Therefore, when installing cold plates, all cold plates must be installed before they can be released from the installation fixture at the same time, which is very inconvenient and lacks flexibility in assembly. Therefore, the main objective of this invention is to provide a cold plate assembly clamping fixture that can simultaneously place multiple cold plate assemblies into the server and can release any one of them individually.

[0005] To solve the problems of the prior art, the necessary technical means adopted by the present invention is to provide a cold plate assembly clamping fixture for clamping a plurality of cold plate assemblies that are connected and fixed to each other, so as to install the cold plate assemblies in a server. At least some of the cold plate assemblies are assembled with a lifting frame. The cold plate assembly clamping fixture includes a frame body and a plurality of quick-release clamps.

[0006] Each quick-release clamp includes a fixed support assembly and a quick-release clamping assembly. The fixed support assembly includes a connecting rod and a support base. The connecting rod is fixed to the frame body. The support base is fixed to the connecting rod and serves to support the lifting frame.

[0007] The quick-release clamping assembly includes a connecting seat, a movable stop rod, and an operating linkage assembly. The connecting seat is fixed to the frame body. The movable stop rod is movably inserted through the connecting seat and forms a clamping gap with the support base. The operating linkage assembly is pivotally connected to the connecting seat and the movable stop rod, respectively, so that when the lifting frame is in the clamping gap, it can be operated to move the movable stop rod to reduce the clamping gap to clamp the lifting frame, or to increase the clamping gap to release the lifting frame.

[0008] In one of the auxiliary technical means derived from the aforementioned necessary technical means, the fixed support assembly further includes a connecting portion, which is fixed to both ends of the connecting fixing rod opposite to the support base, and the connecting portion is used to fix it to the frame body. Preferably, the connecting seat is fixed to the connecting portion, thereby fixing it to the frame body through the connecting portion.

[0009] In one of the auxiliary technical means derived from the aforementioned necessary technical means, the connecting seat further includes a connecting bottom, a side extension, and a fulcrum. The connecting bottom is fixed to the frame body, the side extension extends from the bent part of the connecting bottom, and the fulcrum protrudes integrally from the side extension.

[0010] In one of the auxiliary technical means derived from the aforementioned necessary technical means, the operating linkage assembly includes an operating member and a connecting rod. The operating member is pivotally connected to the connecting seat, and the connecting rod is pivotally connected to the movable abutment, so that the movable abutment is driven by the operating member to enlarge or reduce the clamping gap.

[0011] As described above, the present invention mainly fixes multiple fixed support components to the frame body and correspondingly fixes multiple quick-release clamping components to the frame body, thereby enabling multiple quick-release clamping components to selectively clamp or release the cold plate components, effectively improving the convenience of use.

[0012] The specific embodiments adopted in this invention will be further explained through the following embodiments and drawings. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0013] The first figure is a perspective view of the cold plate assembly clamping fixture provided by a preferred embodiment of the present invention; The second figure is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the structure of the cold plate assembly clamping fixture provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention; The third figure shows a perspective view of a cold plate assembly being held using the cold plate assembly clamping fixture of the present invention; The fourth figure shows a perspective view of aligning multiple cold plate assemblies simultaneously with internal electronic components of a server using the cold plate assembly clamping fixture of the present invention; The fifth figure shows a perspective view of simultaneously inserting multiple cold plate assemblies into the server using the cold plate assembly clamping fixture of the present invention; and The sixth figure is a perspective view showing that after multiple cold plate assemblies are simultaneously placed into the server using the cold plate assembly clamping fixture of the present invention, the clamping gap is enlarged by moving the operating component to release the lifting frame. Implementation

[0014] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cold plate assembly clamping fixture provided by a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the structure of the cold plate assembly clamping fixture provided by a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a cold plate assembly clamping fixture 100 includes a frame body 1 and six quick-release clamps 2 (only one is shown in the figure).

[0015] The frame body 1 includes two first frames 11 and 12, two second frames 13 and 14, and a third frame 15. The two first frames 11 and 12 extend along a first direction D1, and the two second frames 13 and 14 extend along a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1. The two ends of the two second frames 13 and 14 are respectively connected to the two ends of the two first frames 11 and 12, thereby forming a square frame structure. The third frame 15 connects the two second frames 13 and 14 to the two first frames 11 and 12.

[0016] In this embodiment, six quick-release clamps 2 are assembled in pairs on two second frames 13 and 14 and a third frame 15 respectively; wherein each quick-release clamp 2 includes a fixed support component 21 and a quick-release clamping component 22.

[0017] The fixed support assembly 21 includes a connecting rod 211, a connecting portion 212, and a support base 213. The connecting rod 211 extends along a third direction D3 perpendicular to either the first direction D1 or the second direction D2. The connecting portion 212 is fixed to one end of the connecting rod 211 and has two locking holes 2121 (only one is shown in the figure). The locking holes 2121 are used to lock and fix the connecting rod 211 to the frame body 1, thereby fixing the connecting rod 211 to the frame body 1. The support base 213 is fixed to the other end of the connecting rod 211 relative to the frame body 1.

[0018] The quick-release clamping assembly 22 includes a connecting seat 221, a movable stop 222, and an operating linkage group 223.

[0019] The connector 221 includes a connecting bottom 2211, a side extension 2212, and a fulcrum 2213. The connecting bottom 2211 is fixed to the assembly part 212, thereby fixing it to the frame body 1 through the assembly part 212; wherein, the connecting bottom 2211 also has a sleeve structure 22111, the sleeve structure 22111 protruding integrally from the bottom surface of the connecting bottom 2211 along the opposite direction of the third direction D3.

[0020] In addition, in this embodiment, the connecting bottom 2211 is fixed to the assembly part 212 by welding, and then fixed to the frame body 1 by the assembly part 212. However, it is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the connecting bottom 2211 can also be directly locked to the frame body 1.

[0021] The side extension 2212 is integrally bent and extended from one side of the connecting bottom 2211 along a third direction D3, while the fulcrum 2213 is integrally protruded from the side extension 2212 along a first direction D1.

[0022] The movable stop bar 222 is movably inserted into the sleeve structure 22111 along the third direction D3; wherein, the movable stop bar 222 has a connecting end 2221 and an abutting end 2222 disposed opposite to each other, the connecting end 2221 is adjacent to the fulcrum portion 2213, and the abutting end 2222 is adjacent to the support base 213, and forms a clamping gap CG with the support base 213.

[0023] The operating linkage assembly 223 includes an operating member 2231 and a connecting rod 2232. The operating member 2231 is pivotally connected to the fulcrum portion 2213, and the connecting rod 2232 is pivotally connected to the assembly end 2221. In this way, the user can operate the operating member 2231 to move the movable stop rod 222 closer to or further away from the support base 213 in the third direction D3, thereby controlling the size of the clamping gap CG.

[0024] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a perspective view showing the cold plate assembly clamping fixture of the present invention. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, in this embodiment, the cold plate assembly clamping fixture 100 is used to clamp four cold plate assemblies 200a (only one is shown in the figure) and eight cold plate assemblies 200b (only one is shown in the figure) that are connected and fixed to each other. The four cold plate assemblies 200a are connected by two crossbars 202a (only one is shown in the figure), and the two crossbars 202a are connected to each other by a connector (not shown in the figure), so that the four cold plate assemblies 200a are arranged along the second direction D2. In addition, the eight cold plate assemblies 200b are divided into two rows along the first direction D1, with four cold plate assemblies 200b in each row arranged along the second direction D2.

[0025] As described above, two of the four cold plate assemblies 200a at the ends are each equipped with a lifting frame 203a (only one is shown in the figure). The aforementioned support base 213 is used to support the lifting frame 203a. Thus, when the user uses the operating component 2231 to move the movable abutment 222 away from the support base 213 to enlarge the clamping gap CG, the user can place the two lifting frames 203a into the clamping gap CG of the two quick-release clamps 2 set in the second frame 14. Then, by operating the operating component 2231, the clamping gap CG is reduced, so that the movable abutment 222 and the support base 213 clamp the lifting frame 203a.

[0026] On the other hand, each of the eight cold plate assemblies 200b is provided with a lifting bracket 202b (only one is shown in the figure), and then the lifting brackets 202b of the four cold plate assemblies 200b in the same row are connected by two crossbars 203b (only one is shown in the figure). The four quick-release clamps 2 provided on the second frame 13 and the third frame 15 clamp the crossbars 203b in the same way as the quick-release clamps 2 clamp the lifting brackets 203a.

[0027] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a perspective view showing how multiple cold plate assemblies are simultaneously aligned with internal electronic components of a server using the cold plate assembly clamping fixture of the present invention. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, after the user clamps and fixes multiple cold plate assemblies 200a and 200b using the cold plate assembly clamping fixture 100, the multiple cold plate assemblies 200a and 200b can be moved simultaneously above the server 300 by moving the cold plate assembly clamping fixture 100, and the multiple cold plate assemblies 200a and 200b are aligned with multiple electronic components 301 and 302 (only one is shown in the figure) inside the server 300.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a perspective view showing the simultaneous placement of multiple cold plate assemblies into the server using the cold plate assembly clamping fixture of the present invention. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, after aligning the multiple cold plate assemblies 200a and 200b with the multiple electronic components 301 and 302 inside the server 300 using the cold plate assembly clamping fixture 100, the user can place the cold plate assembly clamping fixture 100 together with the cold plate assemblies 200a and 200b into the server 300, so that the cold plate assemblies 200a and 200b are respectively installed in the server 300 corresponding to the electronic components 301 and 302.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing that after multiple cold plate components are simultaneously placed into the server using the cold plate component clamping fixture of the present invention, the clamping gap is enlarged by operating the lever to release the lifting frame. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, after the user installs multiple cold plate components 200a and 200b onto the server 300, the clamping gap CG can be enlarged by operating the lever 2231, so that the lifting frames 203a and 202b are released from the corresponding movable abutment 222 and the support base 213, thereby completing the installation of cold plate components 200a and 202b.

[0030] In summary, compared to the previous technology's installation fixture, which could only pick up and put in multiple cold plates at the same time, making the installation of cold plates very inconvenient, the cold plate assembly clamping fixture of the present invention is formed by multiple quick-release clamping components cooperating with multiple fixed support components to form a clamp. Because it can be selectively controlled individually, it effectively improves the convenience of use.

[0031] The [cold plate assembly clamping fixture] provided in the preferred embodiment of the present invention can be installed in, for example, a server host, which can be used for artificial intelligence (AI) computing, edge computing, etc., and can also be used as a 5G server, cloud server or vehicle networking server, etc.

[0032] The detailed description of the preferred embodiments above is intended to more clearly illustrate the features and spirit of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the preferred embodiments disclosed above. Rather, the aim is to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the scope of the patent claims made by the present invention.

[0033] 100: Cold plate assembly clamping fixture 1: Framework Body 11,12: First Frame 13,14: Second Frame 15: The Third Framework 2: Quick-release clamps 21: Fixed support assembly 211: Connecting fixing rod 212: Assembly Section 213: Support base 22: Quick-release clamping assembly 221: Connector 2211: Connect the bottom 22111: Sleeve structure 2212: Side extension 2213: Fulcrum Department 222: Active stop bar 223: Operating linkage assembly 2231: Operating component 2232: Connecting rod 200a, 200b: Cold-rolled steel plate assembly 202a, 203b: Jumper strips 203a, 202b: Support frame 300: Server 301, 302: Electronic components D1: First Direction D2: Second Direction D3: Third direction CG: Clamping gap

Claims

1. A cold plate assembly clamping fixture for clamping a plurality of cold plate assemblies that are connected and fixed to each other, thereby installing the cold plate assemblies in a server, wherein at least a portion of the cold plate assemblies are assembled with a lifting frame, the cold plate assembly clamping fixture comprising: a frame body; and a plurality of quick-release clamps, each of the quick-release clamps comprising: a fixed support assembly comprising: a connecting fixing rod fixed to the frame body; and a support base fixed to the connecting fixing rod and used to support the lifting frame; and a quick-release clamping assembly comprising: a connecting seat fixed to the frame body; A movable abutment is movably inserted through the connecting seat and forms a clamping gap with the support base; and an operating linkage assembly is pivotally connected to the connecting seat and the movable abutment respectively, so that when the lifting frame is in the clamping gap, the movable abutment can be operated to move to reduce the clamping gap to clamp the lifting frame, or to increase the clamping gap to release the lifting frame.

2. The cold plate assembly clamping fixture as described in claim 1, wherein, The fixed support assembly further includes a joint portion which is fixed to both ends of the connecting and fixing rod opposite to the support base, and the joint portion is used to fix to the frame body.

3. The cold plate assembly clamping fixture as described in claim 2, wherein, The connector is fixed to the assembly part, thereby securing it to the frame body through the assembly part.

4. The cold plate assembly clamping fixture as described in claim 1, wherein, The connector further includes a connecting bottom, a side extension, and a fulcrum. The connecting bottom is fixed to the frame body, the side extension extends from the bent part of the connecting bottom, and the fulcrum protrudes integrally from the side extension.

5. The cold plate assembly clamping fixture as described in claim 1, wherein, The operating linkage assembly includes an operating member and a connecting rod. The operating member is pivotally connected to the connecting seat, and the connecting rod is pivotally connected to the movable abutment, so that the movable abutment is driven by the operating member to enlarge or reduce the clamping gap.

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