Tube structure for a liquid cooling system

Abstract

The present invention provides a pipe structure for a liquid cooling system, comprising at least one hollow tubular unit, wherein a thick portion is provided on at least a partial region of the circumference of the tubular unit, the wall thickness of the thick portion is greater than the wall thickness of the remaining region of the tubular unit, and the thick portion is configured to form at least one hole, so that the at least one hole can be directly formed on the tubular unit for the connection of at least one quick connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a tube structure for a liquid cooling system, and more particularly to a tube structure for a liquid cooling system applied to a server rack. Background Technology

[0002] With the significant increase in computing power demands of data centers, the heat dissipation power density of server racks has also increased, making liquid cooling systems an increasingly popular solution for addressing high heat generation issues. In liquid cooling systems, the manifold, as a key component responsible for distributing and converging coolant to each server node, faces extremely high requirements in terms of structural strength, sealing, and manufacturing precision.

[0003] Existing manifold structures used in such cooling systems typically employ uniformly thick stainless steel tubing as the main body. Consequently, to connect with external pipe fittings, existing technologies employ a cumbersome welding assembly process, involving the welding of dozens of internally threaded nuts (bolts) or other fittings and end caps via vacuum brazing or laser welding, which are then assembled and locked together with externally threaded fittings.

[0004] However, the existing structure described above has shortcomings in actual production and application. Since a single manifold often requires several interfaces, the overall manufacturing process is extremely cumbersome, significantly lengthening the production cycle and increasing overall manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the large number of welded joints directly increases the potential risk of leakage; any weld flaw or crack could lead to coolant leakage and damage to delicate server equipment. Moreover, the nut (bolt) welding process involves localized high-temperature heating, which easily causes significant thermal deformation in thin-walled square tubes, resulting in poor straightness of the tube structure. This often requires multiple shaping processes after welding for correction. Additionally, after a large number of nuts are welded in place, their position is difficult to control precisely, frequently causing hole deviations, which further increases the difficulty of alignment during subsequent assembly with the cabinet or connectors.

[0005] In view of this, how to develop a manifold design that can eliminate complicated welding processes, reduce the risk of liquid leakage, and improve structural accuracy is a problem that those skilled in the art urgently need to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a tube structure for a liquid cooling system, which allows it to be locked and fixed with a quick-connect fitting without the need for welding.

[0007] In accordance with the above objectives, the present invention provides a tube structure for a liquid cooling system, comprising at least one hollow tubular unit, wherein the tubular unit has a thick portion in at least a local region in its circumferential (radial) direction, the wall thickness of the thick portion being greater than the wall thickness of the remaining region of the tubular unit, and the thick portion being configured to form at least one hole, such that the at least one hole can be directly machined onto the tubular unit for connection of at least one quick-connect fitting.

[0008] The thick portion is formed on one side of the tubular unit, and this side is thickened either as a whole or in part, while the other sides of the tubular unit have a uniform wall thickness.

[0009] It further includes at least one inner wall, which is connected between the thick portion and the wall surface relative to the thick portion, thereby dividing the internal space of the tubular unit into a plurality of independent channels.

[0010] It further includes at least one quick connector, and the at least one quick connector has a connecting end.

[0011] The inner wall of the at least one hole is provided with an internal thread, and the connecting end of the at least one quick-connect is also provided with a thread, so that the at least one quick-connect is fixed in the at least one hole by thread locking.

[0012] The inner wall of the at least one hole is a smooth surface, and the at least one hole is configured to allow the at least one quick-connect to be engaged by a plugging and tight-fitting manner.

[0013] It further includes a plurality of end caps, which are respectively fixed to the two opposite ends of the tubular unit to seal the internal space of the tubular unit.

[0014] The tubular structure can be composed of multiple tubular units arranged side by side, so that the internal space of the tubular structure has a plurality of independent channels.

[0015] The aforementioned pipe structure eliminates numerous complex welding processes, reduces the risk of liquid leakage, and enhances structural strength and precision. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figures 1A-1C The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view, a cross-sectional view and a top view of the tube structure used in the liquid cooling system.

[0017] Figures 2A-2C The following are respectively shown: a perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and a top view of the tube structure for a liquid cooling system according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figures 3A-3C The perspective view, cross-sectional view and top view of the tube structure for the liquid cooling system according to the third embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively.

[0019] Figures 4A-4C The perspective view, cross-sectional view and top view of the tube structure for the liquid cooling system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively.

[0020] Figure 5A This invention illustrates the tube structure and quick-connect assembly for a liquid cooling system; and

[0021] Figures 5B-5C The figures show a perspective view and a side view of the tube structure and end cap assembly of the present invention for a liquid cooling system.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10, 20, 30, 40 - tube structure; 101, 201, 301, 401 - tubular unit; 102, 202, 302, 402 - thick part; 103, 203, 303, 403 - hole; 104, 204, 304, 404 - channel; A - thickness; a - thickness; 205, 405 - inner wall; 50 - quick connector; 51 - connection end; 60 - end cap; 61 - fluid interface. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The above-mentioned objectives of the present invention and its structural and functional characteristics will be described with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figures 1A-1C The diagrams show a perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and a top view of the tube structure used in the liquid cooling system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 1A-1C As shown, the present invention provides a tubular structure 10 for a liquid cooling system, mainly comprising a hollow tubular unit 101. The tubular unit 101 can be made of metal or a heat-resistant material; the present invention uses metal for illustration. The tubular unit 101 is integrally formed from metal. In the first embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the tubular unit 101 can be rectangular or square, but in different embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the tubular unit 101 can also be different, such as circular, etc., and is not limited thereto. The tubular unit 101 has a thick portion 102 in at least a local area in its circumferential (radial) direction. The wall thickness of the thick portion 102 is greater than the wall thickness of the remaining areas of the tubular unit, and the thick portion 102 is configured to form at least one hole 103, so that the hole 103 can be directly machined onto the tubular unit 101 for locking with at least one quick-connect fitting.

[0025] Please refer to Figures 1A-1CAs shown, this embodiment uses a square tube for illustration. Specifically, the thick portion 102 is formed on one side of the tubular unit 101, and this side is either thickened as a whole or has its thickness increased by stacking layers, while the other sides of the tubular unit 101 have a uniform wall thickness. At least one hole 103 is spaced apart on the thick portion 102 of the tubular unit 101, and the hole 103 communicates with the channel 104 formed inside the tubular unit 101. Figure 1B It is evident that because the wall thickness A of the thick portion 102 is greater than the wall thickness a of the other surfaces of the tubular unit, the thick portion 102 provides sufficient structural thickness and strength for machining internal threads. Therefore, the hole 103 can be directly tapped into the thick portion 102, and the effective thread depth of the hole 103 is defined by the thickness of the thick portion 102. With this configuration, the tubular structure 10 can be directly locked into the hole 103 of the thick portion 102 by at least one external connector or locking member (not shown), without requiring welding to the existing tubular unit 101 with a threaded nut (bolt) or other connector on the wall surface, achieving integrated structural strength and significantly reducing the risk of leakage.

[0026] Figures 2A-2C The diagrams show a perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and a top view of the tube structure used in the liquid cooling system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2A-2C As shown, in the second embodiment, the tubular unit 201 of the tubular structure 20 also has a thick portion 202 on at least one side or a partial area in its circumferential (radial) direction, and at least one hole 203 is formed on the thick portion 202. In the second embodiment, the tubular unit 201 may be composed of at least two tubular units arranged side by side, or the channel 204 inside the tubular unit may have at least one inner wall 205. The at least one inner wall 205 connects the thick portion 202 and the wall surface of the tubular unit 201 opposite to the thick portion 202, thereby dividing the internal space of the tubular unit 201 into two or more independent channels 204. In addition, the tubular structure 20 of the present invention is not limited to two channels 204, and may also be extended to a multi-channel 204 structure. In this variant, the tubular unit 201 may have a plurality of inner walls 205, each inner wall 205 connecting the thick portion 202 and the wall surface of the tubular unit 201 opposite to the thick portion 202, thereby dividing the internal space into three, four or more parallel channels 204. Thus, regardless of the number of channels 204, the thick portion 202 always serves as a component for processing the holes 203.

[0027] Figures 3A-3C The diagrams show a perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and a top view of the tube structure used in the liquid cooling system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3A-3CAs shown, in the third embodiment, the tubular unit 301 of the tubular structure 30 has a thick portion 302 on at least one side or a local area in its circumferential (radial) direction. The wall thickness of the thick portion 302 is greater than the wall thickness of the remaining areas of the tubular unit 301. Compared to the first embodiment, the thick portion 302 forms a protrusion in a local area (the central position in this embodiment) on one side of the tubular unit 301, such as... Figure 3B As shown, the wall thickness A of the local area with the protrusion is greater than the wall thickness a of the other areas of the same surface and other surfaces, so that at least one hole 303 can also be machined in the thick part 302 of the protrusion to obtain sufficient locking tooth depth and connect with the channel 304.

[0028] Figures 4A-4C The diagrams show a perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and a top view of the tube structure used in the liquid cooling system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Figures 4A-4C As shown, the tubular structure 40 of the fourth embodiment combines the multi-channel structure of the second embodiment with the local thickening feature of the third embodiment. The tubular unit 401 has a convex thick portion 402 and a hole 403, and also has at least one inner wall 405 to divide the internal space into a plurality of channels 404. The rest of the structure is the same as that of the second and third embodiments, so it will not be described again here.

[0029] Figure 5A This diagram shows the assembly of the tube body structure and quick-connect fittings according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5B This shows a perspective view of the tube body structure and end cap assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5C This shows a side view of the assembled tube structure and quick-connect fittings according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 5A-5C As shown in the figure, the tube structure 10 of the present invention can be assembled with at least one quick-connect fitting 50. Further, the quick-connect fitting 50 has a connecting end 51, with an internal thread on the inner wall of the hole 103 in the thick portion 102, and a corresponding external thread on the connecting end 51 of the quick-connect fitting 50. The two are fixed by a threaded engagement. In this configuration, the thick portion 102 provides sufficient tube wall thickness to form an effective thread depth, achieving a high degree of locking without the need for welding an additional nut. However, in different embodiments, the connecting end 51 of the quick-connect fitting 50 and the hole 103 may not have a threaded structure, but rather a smooth surface, and are instead joined by a plug-in method. Specifically, the connecting end 51 of the quick-connect fitting 50 is directly inserted into the hole 103 in the thick portion 102, achieving fixation and sealing through a tight fit or by using a sealing element (not shown). In this configuration, since the thickness of the thick portion 102 is greater than that of the rest of the tube structure 10, the thick portion 102 provides a larger contact area and structural support to ensure the stability of the quick-connect fitting 50 after it is inserted.

[0030] Additionally, in different embodiments, such as Figure 5A As shown, each of the two opposite ends of the tubular structure 10 is provided with an end cap 60. The end cap 60 is a plate-shaped member (square or rectangular in this embodiment) corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the tubular unit 101. The end cap 60 is fixed to the openings at both ends of the tubular unit 101 to seal the internal space of the tubular unit 101, thereby forming a sealed chamber capable of containing coolant. Furthermore, as... Figure 5A or Figure 5B As shown, the end cap 60 may be provided with a fluid interface 61 (i.e., the hole in the center of the end cap in the figure). The fluid interface 61 is connected to the channel 104 inside the tubular unit 101 and is configured as the inlet or outlet of the liquid cooling manifold module so that the tube structure 10 can be connected to the external coolant circulation loop.

[0031] In summary, this invention provides a tube structure for a liquid cooling system, which employs an asymmetrical wall thickness configuration, i.e., includes a thicker section. By utilizing this structural feature, the thicker section provides sufficient machining depth, allowing holes (whether threaded or recessed) to be directly and integrally machined onto the tube body. This completely replaces the drilling, nut (bolt) positioning, welding, and X-ray leak detection processes of existing technologies, thereby significantly simplifying the production process.

[0032] The present invention has been described in detail above, but the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. All equivalent variations and modifications made in accordance with the claims of the present invention should still fall within the patent coverage of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tubular structure for a liquid cooling system, comprising at least one hollow tubular unit, characterized in that: The tubular unit has a thick portion in at least one local area in the circumferential direction. The wall thickness of the thick portion is greater than the wall thickness of the rest of the tubular unit. The thick portion is configured to form at least one hole, so that the at least one hole can be directly machined into the tubular unit for connection of at least one quick-connect fitting.

2. The tube structure for a liquid cooling system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The thick portion is formed on one side of the tubular unit, and this side is thickened either entirely or partially, while the other sides of the tubular unit have a uniform wall thickness.

3. The tube structure for a liquid cooling system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes at least one inner wall connected between the thick portion and the wall surface relative to the thick portion, thereby dividing the internal space of the tubular unit into a plurality of independent channels.

4. The tube structure for a liquid cooling system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least one quick-connect has a connecting end.

5. The tube structure for a liquid cooling system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the at least one hole is provided with an internal thread, and the connecting end of the at least one quick-connect is threaded, so that the at least one quick-connect is locked and fixed in the at least one hole by the thread.

6. The tube structure for a liquid cooling system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the at least one hole is a smooth surface, and the at least one hole is engaged with the at least one quick-connect in a plugging and tight-fitting manner.

7. The tube structure for a liquid cooling system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a plurality of end caps, which are respectively fixed to two opposite ends of the tubular unit to close the internal space of the tubular unit.

8. The tube structure for a liquid cooling system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The tubular structure is composed of multiple tubular units arranged side by side, giving the internal space of the tubular structure a plurality of independent channels.

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