Retainer for a manifold

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retainer for securing a manifold that can include an aperture that can be positioned adjacent a retaining portion of a lockhole slot in a mounting structure. The retainer can flex away from the mounting structure when a mounting protrusion on the manifold extends through an acceptance portion of the lockhole slot. The retainer can resiliently move toward the mounting structure when the mounting protrusion moves into the retaining portion of the lockhole slot to confine the mounting protrusion within the retaining portion of the lockhole slot.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference of related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 124,216, entitled “Retainer for a Manifold,” filed December 11, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a retainer for a manifold. Background Technology

[0004] In some cooling system applications, manifolds deliver cooling fluid flows to and from electronic equipment mounted on racks within cabinets or stacks. Manifolds may be attached to mounting structures, which may include racks. A secure connection between the manifold and the mounting structure can be important during transport, installation, or use. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Some embodiments of the present invention provide a retainer for securing a manifold having a mounting feature to a mounting structure having a keyhole slot. The retainer may include a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The body may be configured to be secured to the mounting structure at the second end and may define a deflection axis in a fixed position. An aperture may be provided at the first end of the body. The aperture may be configured to be positioned adjacent to a retaining portion of the keyhole slot. As the mounting feature extends through a receiving portion of the keyhole slot, the body may be configured to deflect away from the mounting structure about the deflection axis upon contact with the mounting feature, and to spring back as the mounting feature is further received within the retaining portion of the keyhole slot so that the mounting feature is restrained within the aperture.

[0006] Some embodiments of the present invention provide a retainer assembly for securing a manifold to a mounting structure. The retainer assembly may include a retainer having a body. The body may have a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a hole in the first end. The body may be configured to be secured to the mounting structure at the second end such that the hole is positioned near a retaining portion of a keyhole slot in the mounting structure. The retainer assembly may also include a bushing having a groove and a bore. The bore may extend along the bushing axis and may be configured to receive a stud extending from the manifold. As the bushing extends through the receiving portion of the keyhole slot, the body may be configured to deflect away from the mounting structure upon contact with the bushing, and to spring back when the retaining portion of the keyhole slot is received within the groove of the bushing so that the sleeve is restrained within the hole.

[0007] Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method for securing a connection between a manifold and a mounting structure, the manifold being fitted with a reel bushing and the mounting structure having a keyhole slot. The method may include inserting the reel bushing into the keyhole slot. The reel bushing may contact and flex with a retainer secured to the mounting structure. The method may further include sliding the reel bushing along the keyhole slot to engage the reel bushing with the mounting structure and to retain the reel bushing within a hole in the retainer.

[0008] Some embodiments of the present invention can provide a manifold system for a cooling system. The manifold may have a mounting protrusion. The mounting structure may have a keyhole slot, the receiving portion of which is sized to receive the mounting protrusion, and the retaining portion of the keyhole slot communicating with the receiving portion is sized to retain the mounting protrusion. A retaining plate may have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The retaining plate may be fixed to the mounting structure at the second end to define a deflection axis, and may flex at the deflection axis to flex between a retaining configuration and a releasing configuration, the second end of the retaining plate being further from the mounting structure in the retaining-releasing configuration than in the retaining configuration. The retaining plate may have a hole at the first end positioned to align with the retaining portion of the keyhole slot. The retaining plate can be configured to: flex away from the mounting structure to a release configuration when the mounting protrusion is received by the receiving portion of the keyhole slot; and spring back toward the mounting structure to a retaining configuration when the mounting protrusion is received within the retaining portion of the keyhole slot, so as to confine the mounting protrusion in the retaining portion and secure the manifold to the mounting structure.

[0009] Some embodiments of the present invention provide a manifold system for securing a cooling system manifold to a mounting structure. The mounting structure may have a keyhole slot having a first portion and a second portion narrower than the first portion. A retainer may have a retainer body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a hole in the first end. The second end of the retainer body may be secured to the mounting structure such that the hole is positioned adjacent to the second portion of the keyhole slot. A bushing may have a large diameter and a small diameter groove, extending along a bushing axis and configured to be secured to the manifold to extend away from the manifold and receive through the keyhole slot. The large diameter dimension may be designed to be received in the first portion of the keyhole slot but not in the second portion, while the small diameter dimension may be designed to be received in both the first and second portions of the keyhole slot. The retainer body can be configured to deflect away from the mounting structure when in contact with the bushing as the bushing extends through the first portion of the keyhole slot, and to spring back when the bushing's groove slides into the second portion of the keyhole slot to receive the bushing in the hole and thereby confine the bushing within the keyhole slot.

[0010] Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method for a manifold. A manifold assembly can be aligned with a mounting structure. The manifold assembly is movable toward the mounting structure to insert a mounting protrusion of the manifold assembly into a receiving portion of a keyhole slot in an axial insertion direction. Thus, the mounting protrusion extends through the keyhole slot to contact a retaining plate fixed to the mounting structure at a first end of a retaining plate, causing the retaining plate to flex so that a second end of the retaining plate deflects away from the mounting structure. The manifold assembly can be moved along the mounting structure in a seating direction to move the mounting protrusion from the receiving portion of the keyhole slot into the retaining portion of the keyhole slot, preventing the mounting protrusion from moving out of the keyhole slot in a direction opposite to the axial insertion direction. The retaining plate can then elastically unflex to move its second end toward the mounting structure such that the mounting protrusion is received in a hole in the first end of the retaining plate, which aligns with the retaining portion of the keyhole slot. Thus, the mounting protrusion can be retained in the retaining portion of the keyhole slot to prevent movement in a direction opposite to the seating direction. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are included in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of these embodiments:

[0012] Figure 1 This is a front partial view of a manifold assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to the mounting bracket and is in a flexed state by contacting the mounting protrusion of the manifold;

[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A side view of the component;

[0014] Figure 3 , 4 5 and 5 are respectively Figure 1 The components are shown in front, side, and rear isometric views, with the retainer in a flexed state, the mounting protrusion restrained by the retainer, and the mounting bracket in... Figure 5 It is shown as transparent in the middle;

[0015] Figure 6 It is used for Figure 5 A side view of an exemplary mounting protrusion of a manifold, configured as a reel bushing;

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the reel bushing, which consists of Figure 1 The retainer restraint; and

[0017] Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the operations for removing a manifold from the mounting structure (or conversely, for attaching a manifold to the mounting structure). Detailed Implementation

[0018] Before explaining any embodiments of the invention in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the application of the details of its construction and component arrangement set forth in the following description or shown in the following drawings. The invention can have other embodiments and can be practiced or performed in various ways. Furthermore, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes only and should not be considered limiting. The terms “comprising,” “including,” or “having,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are intended to cover the items listed thereafter and their equivalents, as well as additional items. Unless otherwise stated or limited, the terms “installation,” “connection,” “support,” and “linkage,” and variations thereof, are used extensively to include direct and indirect installation, connection, support, and linking. Furthermore, “connection” and “linkage” are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or links.

[0019] As used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “or” indicates a non-exclusive list of components or operations that can exist in any number of combinations, rather than simply being interchangeable. For example, a list of “A, B, or C” indicates the following options: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; and A, B, and C. Accordingly, the term “or” as used herein is intended to indicate an exclusive alternative only when preceded by an exclusive term such as “any,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” For example, a list of “one of A, B, or C” indicates the following options: A, but not B and C; B, but not A and C; and C, but not A and B. A list preceded by “one or more” (and variations thereof) and including “or” to separate the listed elements indicates one or more of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases "one or more of A, B, or C" and "at least one of A, B, or C" indicate the following options: one or more A's; one or more B's; one or more C's; one or more A's and one or more B's; one or more B's and one or more C's; one or more A's and one or more C's; and one or more of A's, one or more of B's, and one or more of C's. Similarly, a list preceded by "multiple" (and its variations) and including "or" to separate the listed elements indicates multiple instances of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases "multiple of A, B, or C" and "two or more of A, B, or C" indicate the options: A and B; B and C; A and C; and A, B, and C.

[0020] As used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, the terms “approximately” and “approximately” refer to a range of values ​​within ±5% of the preceding numerical value. By default, the terms “approximately” and “approximately” include the endpoints of the relevant range, but are also intended to explicitly exclude the range of endpoints.

[0021] As used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, "monolithic" and its derivatives (e.g., "monolithically") describe an element manufactured as a single piece, without fasteners, adhesives, etc., to hold the individual parts together. For example, an element stamped from a single sheet of metal into a single part, without rivets, screws, or adhesives to hold the individually formed parts together, is a monolithic (and integrally formed) element. Conversely, an element formed from multiple parts that are initially formed individually and then subsequently joined together is not a monolithic (or integrally formed) element.

[0022] The following discussion is presented to enable those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiments, but are accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description will be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar elements in different figures have similar reference numerals. The drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the invention.

[0023] The following discussion describes a retainer that can be used to help secure manifolds of a fluid distribution system (e.g., a liquid cooling system for servers or other electronic equipment) to a mounting structure. For example, as detailed below, some embodiments of the retainer according to the invention can be used to secure manifolds of high-density liquid cooling systems to a support member within or near a housing to position the manifolds to provide or receive coolant flow to an adjacent server rack. However, the context and details of this discussion are presented by way of example only, and some embodiments can be similarly used in other systems.

[0024] In some embodiments, the retainer according to the invention can increase the stability and security of the attachment during transport of the manifold and mounting structure (e.g., when the manifold is attached to the mounting structure at a remote location and then transported to the operating facility). In some embodiments, the retainer according to the invention can also provide increased stability and security during the installation of the manifold in a server rack assembly and also during the operation of the associated liquid cooling (or other) system.

[0025] For example, when manifolds are shipped with associated mounting structures that will be used in server rack assemblies, they are typically transported connected. Ensuring this connection is maintained during transport is useful, including minimizing installation time at the operating facility. Furthermore, if a manifold is disconnected from the mounting structure during transport, the relative movement of the components can cause not only cosmetic damage but also functional impairment.

[0026] Conventional arrangements for securing the connection between the manifold and the mounting structure include attaching cable ties or wires. While this method is useful, it requires additional labor and materials to prepare the shipping components, and incurs additional labor and waste to remove the ties before installation. These auxiliary ties may also allow some movement during transport or installation, potentially causing cosmetic damage to the associated manifold or mounting joint.

[0027] In other cases, ensuring a secure connection between the manifold and the mounting structure may also be beneficial. For example, whether the manifold and mounting structure are shipped separately or assembled together, ensuring a safe connection between them during the installation and operation of the relevant system may be useful.

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention can address these or other problems by helping to ensure a secure connection between the manifold and the mounting structure. Specifically, in some embodiments, the retainer may include a flexible member that can be secured to a larger support structure such that an opening in the flexible member aligns with an opening in the support structure that provides an attachment point for the manifold. With the retainer thus aligned, manifold installation may include moving a mounting protrusion of the manifold (e.g., a separately manufactured bushing) into an opening on the support structure and thereby flexing the flexible member (including the opening therein) into a release configuration. Subsequently, moving the manifold to the mounting position allows the flexible member to elastically return from the release configuration to the retaining configuration, such that the mounting protrusion is restrained by the opening in the flexible member, thereby preventing removal from the opening in the mounting structure. Thus, through the elastic movement of the flexible member during manifold installation, the manifold can be automatically secured by the flexible member to prevent removal from the mounting structure.

[0029] In some embodiments, a resilient retainer (e.g., metal or composite plate) can be attached to a mounting structure, wherein the retainer's bore is aligned with the narrower retaining portion of the keyhole slot of the mounting structure (e.g., fully overlapping along the insertion direction). Furthermore, the bore may be misaligned with the wider receiving portion of the keyhole slot (e.g., not at least partially overlapping along the insertion direction). When a mounting feature (e.g., a fastener) on the manifold is initially inserted along the insertion direction through the receiving portion of the keyhole slot, the mounting feature may therefore be misaligned with the retainer's bore, and the retainer may move accordingly away from the mounting structure. Subsequently, moving the mounting feature into the retaining portion of the keyhole slot allows alignment of the mounting feature for reception through the bore on the retainer. This allows the retainer to resiliently move back toward the mounting structure such that the mounting feature extends into and is confined within the bore on the retainer, and the retainer thereby prevents the mounting structure from moving back into the receiving portion of the keyhole slot.

[0030] In some embodiments, the retainer can engage during manifold connection to the mounting structure without requiring additional effort to secure the connection between the manifold and the mounting structure. In some cases, mounting features on the manifold may include protrusions extending from the wall of the manifold. For example, a reel bushing or other fastener or boss may be attached to the manifold and may be sized to be received and engaged within a keyhole slot in the mounting structure. The retainer can then confine the reel bushing within a hole sized to receive the reel bushing, which aligns with a portion of the keyhole slot in which the reel bushing can be located when the manifold is fully installed (i.e., when a final operational connection is provided between the manifold and the mounting structure).

[0031] In some embodiments, the retainer may be formed of an elastic material (e.g., spring steel) such that during the installation of the manifold onto the mounting structure, the reel bushing can contact the retainer as it is inserted into the keyhole slot and can elastically deflect the retainer away from the mounting structure. This allows the reel bushing to move relatively freely within the keyhole slot until, once the reel bushing is in place and aligned with the hole, the retainer springs back to restrain the reel bushing within the hole and prevent further movement of the reel bushing within the keyhole slot.

[0032] In some cases, the retainer may include a release tab that engages to deflect the retainer away from the mounting structure to release (or “disengage”) the reel bushing (or other mounting feature), thereby allowing the manifold to detach from the mounting structure. In some embodiments, the release feature may include a hole in the mounting structure that allows a tool to be inserted through it, against the retainer, and, under applied force, deflect the retainer away from the mounting structure to disengage from the reel bushing (or other mounting feature).

[0033] Figure 1-5An exemplary retainer 100 is illustrated in an exemplary retainer assembly 150 according to an embodiment of the invention, for supplying liquid to or from a server rack assembly (not shown) in the environment of a manifold 10 to remove heat from various known configured electrical devices (not shown). Specifically, the retainer 100 is arranged to secure an attachment portion of the manifold 10 to a mounting structure 20, thereby providing a particularly robust attachment connection for the server assembly for transport, installation in a larger cooling system, and operation of the cooling system. Typically, the mounting structure 20 may be a structure mountable to or from a server rack assembly or a structural member of the server rack assembly, as the manifold structure 20 can be supported relative to a larger facility.

[0034] Typically, retainers can be formed as flexible bodies with an elastic response within a desired range of motion. Furthermore, retainers are typically fixed to a mounting structure so that they can be flexed away from the mounting structure by an external force and then elastically moved back toward the mounting structure when the external force is removed. In the illustrated example, retainer 100 has a body 102 formed as an integral plate having a first end 104 and a second end 106 opposite to the first end 104. Although only a single instance of retainer 100 is shown, in some embodiments multiple retainers (e.g., multiple instances of retainer 100) can be fixed to the mounting structure to secure additional attachments of manifold 10 to the mounting structure 20 at multiple locations.

[0035] Continue to refer to Figures 1 to 4 The retainer 100 is configured to be securely (e.g., non-removably) attached to the mounting structure 20, with its ends remaining freely flexed away from the mounting structure 20. Specifically, the second end 106 of the retainer 100 can be mounted to the mounting structure 20 at a fixed position 114 by means of a set of rivets 30 (or other fasteners), see reference... Figure 1 Other fasteners for securing the retainer 100 to the mounting structure 20 have also been considered. For example, the retainer 100 can be secured using bolts or screws. Furthermore, while the two fixing positions 114 for the retainer 100 provide optimal secure connection, other configurations are also possible.

[0036] As also described above, the retainer according to the invention is generally configured to be sufficiently resilient to repeatedly flex away from (and then elastically return to) the mounting structure. In the illustrated embodiment, at a fixed position 114, the set of rivets 30 secures the retainer 100 to the mounting structure 20, the fixed position defining a flexural axis 116 extending laterally through a second end 106 of the body 102. Thus, a first end 104 of the body 102 is configured to flex or bend relative to the second end 106—and the mounting structure 20—about the flexural axis 116, with additional bending along the length of the body 102 according to known principles of mechanics and materials.

[0037] Accordingly, the body 102 can be made of an elastic but flexible material, such as spring steel of suitable specifications or other suitable materials, to achieve an elastic response over the entire range and frequency of necessary bending. For example, the retainer 100 is formed as a sufficiently thin stamped spring steel sheet so that it can be easily removed from the manifold 10 by force applied manually during installation (or removal). Figure 3 and 4 The resting state shown in the retaining configuration is moved to, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 The flexural state is shown in the installation configuration.

[0038] Typically, a retainer according to the invention may include one or more holes arranged to flex as the retainer body moves away from the mounting structure. Furthermore, the retainer may be mounted on a corresponding mounting structure such that the one or more holes on the retainer are aligned with retaining portions of holes in the mounting structure to secure a manifold (e.g., aligned with at least a portion of the holes in the mounting structure along a common insertion axis). For example, two holes 108 are formed as completely closed (e.g., circular) holes in a first end 104 of the body 102. When attached to the mounting structure 20, each of the two holes 108 may be aligned with the narrower retaining portion 26 of a corresponding keyhole slot 22 in the mounting structure 20, particularly as... Figure 1 and 5 As shown (e.g., alignment such that the center, centroid, or other through axis of the retaining portion 26 of the keyhole slot 22 is coaxial with the center, centroid, or other through axis of the hole 108). Furthermore, each of the two holes 108 may be partially misaligned with the wider receiving portion 24 at opposite ends of the keyhole slot 22 (e.g., alignment such that at least a portion of the solid form of the body 102 adjacent to the hole 108 overlaps with the receiving portion 24).

[0039] When the retainer 100 is in the retaining configuration (e.g., as Figure 3 As shown), the dimensions of the hole 108 can be designed to receive and thereby confine mounting features (e.g., reel bushing 118 or other protrusions or fasteners) extending from the manifold 10, as further discussed below and in Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in the diagram. Therefore, for example, due to the misalignment of the hole 108 and the receiving portion 24, when the reel bushing 118 is inserted into the receiving portion 24 of the lock hole slot 22, as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the bushing 118 contacts the body 102 of the retainer 100 to cause the first end 104 of the retainer to flex away from the mounting structure 20. Therefore, the bushing 118 can be fully received in the keyhole slot 22 in the axial insertion direction, allowing the bushing 118 to slide into the retaining portion 26 of the keyhole slot 22, while the manifold 10 moves accordingly into the mounting configuration. Since the hole 108 is aligned with the retaining portion 26 of the keyhole slot 22, the body 102 can then elastically return to the retaining configuration, as... Figure 3 and 4 As shown, the bushing 118 is thus received into the corresponding hole 108 and is thereby prevented from moving back into the receiving portion 24 of the keyhole slot 22 and removed from the keyhole slot 22 (and the manifold 10 is removed from the mounting structure 20).

[0040] In some cases, including multiple holes in the retainer allows multiple manifolds to be secured by a single retainer or allows manifolds to be secured by a single retainer in multiple locations. However, in some embodiments, a different number of holes may be provided in the body of the retainer. For example, in some cases only a single hole may be provided, or one or more additional holes may provide one or more additional locations for securing the manifold.

[0041] In some embodiments, the retainer may include features to provide desired bending characteristics. (See again...) Figure 1For example, retainer 100 includes a notch 110 in a second end 106 of body 102. The notch 110 extends from the lower edge of the second end 106 toward the first end 104 into body 102, and a notch width 120 is defined along a deflection axis 116. Furthermore, the notch 110 typically terminates (e.g., extends through) at or near the deflection axis 116. The notch 110 has a notch width 120 defined along the deflection axis 116. The dimensional relationship between the notch width 120 and the second end width 122 of body 102 along the deflection axis 116 can at least partially define the flexibility of retainer 100. For example, the more the notch width 120 increases relative to the second end width 122, the more flexible retainer 100 will tend to be (other properties remain unchanged). In some embodiments, the notch width 120 is in the range of approximately 25% to approximately 75% of the second end width 122, which allows sufficient restraint strength and flexibility for proper operation of the retainer 100 while still allowing manual flexing of the retainer 100 by an ordinary worker. However, in some embodiments, it is contemplated that the retainer may not have a notch or may have a notch configured differently from the notch 110 (e.g., different size, shape, or location).

[0042] In some embodiments, the retainer may include a release feature that can be used to bend the retainer to release the restrained mounting features of the manifold. For example, retainer 100 includes a release tab 112, particularly as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown. Typically, the release tab can be configured to extend from the retainer body and through or around the wall of the mounting structure on which the retainer body is mounted. This configuration provides an interface for actuating the release tab from one side of the mounting structure opposite to the side where the body of the mounting structure is located (e.g., from the same side where the manifold is located). In the illustrated embodiment, the release tab 112 extends from a first end 104 perpendicular to the plane defined by the body 102 and extends through a hole 28 in the mounting structure 20 in the direction of the manifold 10 (see [reference]). Figure 3 and Figure 5 The release tab 112 is thus arranged to be pushed in the direction of the mounting structure 20 by a force applied from the same side of the mounting structure 20 as the manifold 10, so that the first end 104 of the body 102 flexes away from the mounting structure 20, thereby disengaging the retainer 100 from the reel bushing 118.

[0043] In some cases, the retainer may include a stop that prevents the retainer from excessively deflecting away from the retaining position. In the illustrated embodiment, the release tab 112 has a shaped stop 124 configured to limit the travel of the release tab 112. The shaped stop 124 may abut against the mounting structure 20 when the first end 104 of the body 102 is deflected to a point where the hole 108 no longer restrains the reel bushing 118, thereby providing tactile feedback to indicate that the reel bushing 118 may be removed from the lock slot 22. The shaped stop 124 may also prevent the release tab 112 from moving completely through the hole 28 in the mounting structure, which could cause the retainer 100 to become trapped in a deformed configuration. The shaped stop 124 may also reduce the likelihood that the body 102 may undergo plastic deformation due to excessive deflection while being pushed away from the mounting structure 20. In some embodiments, the release tab 112 may be replaced or supplemented by other forms of versions (not shown), including versions that require activation using special or general-purpose tools. For example, other forms of release devices may include specially shaped holes (not shown) that can only receive special tools, so that only those who have access to the specific tools can easily push the first end 104 further away from the mounting structure 20 to remove the reel bushing 118 and remove the manifold 10.

[0044] In some embodiments, specialized mounting features (e.g., protrusions with a specific profile) can provide further benefits. For example, particularly referring to... Figure 6 and 7 The reel bushing has a bore 140, the length of which is 128, extending along the bushing axis 130. The bore 140 is configured to receive a stud 12 extending from the manifold 10. Thus, the reel bushing 118 can be secured to the manifold 10 by a threaded engagement between the stud 12 and the threaded portion 126 of the bore 140.

[0045] In some embodiments, the reel bushing 118 may be made of a polymer. For example, the thermal properties of the reel bushing 118 formed of a suitable polymer can provide an insulating barrier between the manifold 10 and the mounting structure 20, which can help improve the thermal efficiency of a larger cooling system. In some cases, the use of polymeric materials or other softer materials can also help secure the reel bushing to the stud 12. For example, in some embodiments, the bore 140 may be threaded along a length less than the entire bore length 128 (e.g., only within the threaded portion 126) prior to installation. The unthreaded portion of the bore 140 can serve as a thread lock because threads are formed within the unthreaded portion of the bore 140 when the bore 140 is screwed onto the stud 12. Threading along at least a portion of the bore 140 during installation can help better engage with the stud 12 and reduce the likelihood of the threads coming loose. In some embodiments, the threaded portion 126 of the bore 140 may be threaded only along approximately 70% of the bore length 128.

[0046] In some embodiments, the mounting protrusion may include a first portion having a large width (e.g., a large diameter) and a second portion having a smaller width (e.g., a smaller diameter) than the large width. Furthermore, the large width may be smaller than the characteristic dimensions (e.g., lateral width or diameter) of the receiving portion of the hole in the mounting structure (e.g., a keyhole slot) and larger than the characteristic dimensions (e.g., lateral width or diameter) of the retaining portion of the hole, and the small width may be smaller than the characteristic dimensions of both the receiving and retaining portions of the hole.

[0047] Accordingly, in some cases, the first portion (and wider portion) of the mounting protrusion can be received by the receiving portion of the keyhole slot on the mounting structure, so that the second portion (and narrower portion) of the mounting protrusion is aligned with the sidewall of the retaining portion of the hole. The mounting protrusion can then slide along the hole on the mounting structure such that the narrower second portion of the mounting protrusion is received in the retaining portion of the keyhole slot, and the wider first portion is aligned with the retaining portion of the hole to prevent the protrusion from retracting axially from the keyhole slot. Since the protrusion is subsequently restrained by the hole in the retainer to prevent back movement toward the receiving portion of the keyhole slot, the mounting protrusion can be more securely held within the keyhole slot and thus more securely attached to the associated manifold to the mounting structure.

[0048] In this respect, for example, the reel bushing 118 has a groove 132 extending around the periphery of the reel bushing 118. The groove 132 has a proximal sidewall 134 and a distal sidewall 136. As shown, the distal sidewall 136 can be arranged at an angle 138 away from the proximal sidewall 134 (see figure). Figure 7 During the process of securing the manifold to the mounting structure 20, the angle 138 of the distal sidewall 136s can help accommodate the mounting structure 20 by facilitating engagement and movement of the reel bushing 118 within the keyhole slot 22. For example, due to the inclined construction of the distal sidewall 136, the initial contact between the wall of the keyhole slot and the distal sidewall 136 when the reel bushing 118 moves to engage with the keyhole slot 22 can result in a tighter engagement between the reel bushing 118 and the manifold 10 and the mounting structure 20.

[0049] Typically, other types of protrusions with circumferential (or other) grooves can be provided as mounting features to operate similarly to reel bushing 118 or other protruding mounting features disclosed herein. Furthermore, in some cases, the reel or other structure may have a large width (e.g., diameter) and a small width (e.g., diameter) generally similar to the construction shown for reel bushing 118, but with grooved sidewalls of different construction.

[0050] In some embodiments, a locking feature (not shown) may be included on the retainer to securely engage with a mounting (or other) structure, thereby securing the retainer in a particular (e.g., restrained) orientation. For example, an engagement tab (not shown) extending from the body 102 of the retainer 100 may engage a reciprocal portion of an engagement tab assembly on the mounting structure 20. This locking feature can maintain the position of the retainer 100 relative to the mounting structure 20 when the reel bushing 118 is restrained within the hole 108. In some cases, this arrangement or other similar arrangements can reduce the likelihood of the retainer accidentally or unintentionally deflecting away from the mounting structure. Following the restraint-related mounting features, the locking feature may also provide further tactile feedback for securing the manifold to the mounting structure.

[0051] In some embodiments, methods embodying aspects of the invention may be used to utilize or install the devices or systems disclosed herein. Accordingly, the description of specific features or capabilities of devices or systems herein is generally intended to inherently include disclosures of methods for using such features and achieving such capabilities for the intended purpose. Similarly, unless otherwise stated or limited, an explicit discussion of any methods for using a particular device or system is intended to inherently include disclosures of the utilization features and implementation capabilities of such devices or systems as embodiments of the invention.

[0052] For example, refer to Figure 1-4Some embodiments may include a method by which a user secures a connection between the manifold 10 and the mounting structure 20 using a retainer (e.g., retainer 100) and a protrusion from the manifold 10 (e.g., reel bushing 118). To secure the connection, the user first aligns the manifold 10 with the mounting structure 20. The user then inserts the reel bushing 118 into the receiving portion 24 of the keyhole slot 22 in an axial insertion direction (e.g., aligned with the central axis of the reel bushing 118), facilitated by the larger size of the receiving portion 24 of the keyhole slot 22 compared to the large diameter of the reel bushing 118. When received by the receiving portion 24, the reel bushing 118 may contact the retainer 100 located on the opposite side of the mounting structure 20, causing the retainer 100 to flex away from the mounting structure 20 about a flexural axis 116. The user can then move the manifold 10 (e.g., actively, or by allowing gravity to move the manifold 10) so that the reel bushing 118 translates in the seating direction within the keyhole slot 22 from the receiving portion 24 to the retaining portion 26, and the sidewall of the retaining portion 26 of the keyhole slot 22 is received within the recess 132. As a result of this translational movement, the reel bushing 118 also moves relative to the retainer 100, and when the reel bushing 118 is properly positioned within the retaining portion 26 (e.g., seated at its bottom end), the reel bushing 118 aligns with the hole 108 and can be received therein when the retainer elastically springs back toward the mounting structure. The hole 108 can correspondingly restrain the reel bushing 118, thereby substantially preventing movement of the manifold 10 relative to the mounting structure 20.

[0053] To release the manifold 10 from the mounting structure 20, the user can flex the retainer 100 away from the mounting structure 20 about the flexural axis 116 to place the retainer 100 in a release configuration (e.g., as shown in the image). Figure 1 and 2 As shown above, some embodiments include a release tab (e.g., tab 112) that the user can manually engage (e.g., push without using tools) to flex the retainer and thereby release the manifold, but other methods are also possible.

[0054] Once the retainer 100 has fully flexed, the hole 108 no longer confines the reel bushing 118, and the reel bushing 118 can be moved by the user from the retaining portion 26 to the receiving portion 24 of the lock hole slot 22 (i.e., it can be translated in the direction opposite to the seating direction). The user can then remove the reel bushing 118 from the mounting structure 20 (i.e., opposite to the axial insertion direction), thereby releasing the manifold from the mounting structure 20.

[0055] In some embodiments, other structures may be provided to allow a user to flex the retainer away from the mounting structure and thereby detach it from the mounting feature. For example, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, a method similar to that described above can be used to install or remove the manifold 10 relative to the mounting structure 20. Referring particularly to Figure 8A, a hand tool 300 (e.g., a screwdriver) can be inserted through a release hole 250 in the mounting structure 20 to flex the free end of the body 202 of the retainer 200 away from the mounting structure 20, such that the bushing 118 (or other protrusion) can be disengaged from the retainer 200 and thereby released to slide upward and then away from the mounting structure 20. Furthermore, in the example shown, there is no release tab similar to the release tab 112 (see, for example, Figure 1-4 The retainer 200 is provided and is fully arranged on one side of the mounting structure 20, which may be beneficial for safety and aesthetics in some installations.

[0056] Therefore, embodiments of the present invention can provide improved securing of the connection between the manifold and the mounting structure for transport, installation, or use. In some embodiments, for example, a retainer can be secured to the mounting structure and can engage during the connection of the manifold and the mounting structure without additional steps (e.g., the retainer is not directly engaged by the user). The retainer can be configured to flex and spring back during connection to restrain the mounting features connecting the manifold and the mounting structure.

[0057] The prior description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A manifold system for a cooling system, the manifold system comprising: Manifold with mounting protrusions; A mounting structure with a keyhole slot, wherein the receiving portion of the keyhole slot is sized to receive a mounting protrusion, and the retaining portion of the keyhole slot is connected to the receiving portion and is sized to retain the mounting protrusion; and A retaining plate having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the retaining plate being fixed to a mounting structure at the second end to define a flexural axis, the retaining plate being flexible at the flexural axis to flex between a retaining configuration and a releasing configuration, wherein the first end of the retaining plate is farther from the mounting structure in the releasing configuration than in the retaining configuration; The retaining plate has a hole at its first end, the hole being positioned to overlap with the retaining portion of the lock hole slot; and The retaining plate is configured as follows: When the mounting protrusion is received by the receiving portion of the keyhole slot, it deflects away from the mounting structure and into the release configuration upon contact with the mounting protrusion. and When the mounting protrusion is received within the retaining portion of the keyhole slot, it springs back toward the mounting structure into the retaining configuration to confine the mounting protrusion within the hole of the retaining plate and secure the manifold to the mounting structure.

2. The manifold system according to claim 1, wherein, When the retaining plate is in the retaining configuration to confine the mounting protrusion within the lock hole slot, on the side of the mounting structure opposite the manifold, the retaining plate is flush with and parallel to the mounting structure.

3. The manifold system according to claim 1, further comprising: A release tab extends from the retaining plate through the mounting structure toward the manifold, and the release tab is configured to be pushed toward the mounting structure to cause the retaining plate to flex into a release configuration.

4. The manifold system according to claim 3, wherein, The release tab has a shaped stop configured to contact the mounting structure when the retaining plate deflects to or beyond the release configuration.

5. The manifold system according to claim 1, wherein, The second end of the retaining plate has a second end width measured along the direction of the flexural axis; The second end of the retaining plate further includes a notch having a width measured along the direction of the flexural axis; and The width of the notch is in the range of 25% to 75% of the width of the second end.

6. The manifold system according to claim 1, wherein, When the retaining plate is in the retaining configuration, the first portion of the retaining plate excluding the hole is aligned with the receiving portion of the lock slot.

7. The manifold system according to claim 6, wherein, The mounting structure includes a release hole; and The second portion of the retaining plate, excluding the hole, is aligned with the release hole, such that the retaining plate is arranged to flex into a release configuration by contact with a tool inserted through the release hole.

8. A manifold system for securing a cooling system manifold to a mounting structure, the manifold system comprising: A mounting structure with a slot, the slot having a first portion and a second portion narrower than the first portion; A retainer having a retainer body having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a hole in the first end, the second end of the retainer body being fixed to a mounting structure such that the hole is positioned adjacent to a second portion of the slot; and A bushing having a large diameter and a groove having a small diameter extends along the bushing axis and is configured to be fixed to the manifold to extend away from the manifold to be received through a slot, the large diameter being designed to be received in a first portion of the slot but not in a second portion of the slot, and the small diameter being designed to be received in both the first and second portions of the slot. The retainer body is configured to deflect away from the mounting structure when the bushing extends through the first portion of the slot and contacts the bushing, and to spring back to receive the bushing in the hole and thereby confine the bushing within the slot when the groove of the bushing slides into the second portion of the slot.

9. The manifold system according to claim 8, wherein, The groove has a proximal sidewall and a distal sidewall, the distal sidewall being arranged at an inclined angle relative to the proximal sidewall.

10. The manifold system according to claim 8, wherein, The bushing is a polymer bushing and includes a bore configured to receive a stud of the manifold.

11. The manifold system according to claim 10, wherein, The bushing has a bore length and is threaded along a first portion of the bore length but not along a second portion of the bore length.

12. The manifold system according to claim 11, wherein, The first portion extends to approximately 70% of the bore length.

13. The manifold system according to claim 8, further comprising: A release tab extends from the edge of the retainer body at the first end of the retainer body and through a hole in the mounting structure to protrude from the mounting structure on the same side of the mounting structure as the manifold. The release tab is positioned to be pushed toward the mounting structure to flex the first end of the retainer body away from the mounting structure.

14. The manifold system according to claim 13, wherein, The release tab extends as a bending member, the bending member having a free end configured to contact the mounting structure when the retainer body flexes a predetermined distance.

15. The manifold system according to claim 14, wherein, The release tab is integral with the holder body.

16. The manifold system according to claim 8, wherein, The retainer also includes a notch extending into the retainer body at the second end between a second position and a first position where the retainer body is fixed to the mounting structure.

17. The manifold system according to claim 16, wherein, The notch extends through the first position and the second position in a direction extending from the second end of the retainer body toward the first end of the retainer body.

18. The manifold system according to claim 8, wherein, The mounting structure includes a release hole; and The solid portion of the first end of the retainer body at least partially overlaps with the release hole, thereby adapting the retainer body to be engaged via the release hole to deflect away from the mounting structure.

19. A method for installing or removing a manifold, the method comprising: Align the manifold assembly with the mounting structure; The manifold assembly is moved toward the mounting structure to insert the mounting protrusion of the manifold assembly into the receiving portion of the keyhole slot on the mounting structure in the axial insertion direction, whereby the mounting protrusion extends through the keyhole slot to contact the retaining plate, and the retaining plate is flexed to deflect a first end of the retaining plate away from the mounting structure, the retaining plate being secured to the mounting structure at a second end of the retaining plate. and The manifold assembly is moved along the mounting structure in the seating direction to move the mounting protrusion from the receiving portion of the keyhole slot to the retaining portion of the keyhole slot. This prevents the mounting protrusion from moving out of the keyhole slot in a direction opposite to the axial insertion direction. As a result, the retaining plate elastically flexes back to move the first end of the retaining plate toward the mounting structure, such that the mounting protrusion is received in a hole in the first end of the retaining plate, which aligns with the retaining portion of the keyhole slot, and thus the mounting protrusion is confined in the retaining portion of the keyhole slot to prevent movement in a direction opposite to the seating direction.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: With the mounting protrusion held in the retaining portion of the keyhole slot, manually engage the retaining plate to deflect the first end of the retaining plate away from the mounting structure, thereby removing the mounting protrusion from the hole; With the first end of the plate deflected away from the mounting structure, the manifold assembly is moved along the mounting structure in a direction opposite to the seating direction to move the mounting protrusion to the receiving portion of the keyhole slot. and Move the manifold assembly away from the mounting structure in the opposite direction to the axial insertion direction to remove the mounting protrusion from the keyhole slot.

Images