Blind-Mate Liquid Cooling Coupling for Misalignment Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid connectors in electronic applications are sensitive to misalignments, leading to mechanical stress, wear, and difficulty in detachment and reconnection due to fixed connections, especially in densely packed systems requiring frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A coupling assembly with a sliding base and inlet valve that allows for axial, radial, and angular movements, featuring a housing with a movable sliding base and an inlet valve that is pivotable, utilizing springs for compression and return mechanisms to facilitate easy connection and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed connection between the barb and the port is used, then the connection is secure and fluid-tight, but the assembly is highly sensitive to misalignments and cannot support movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the connection assembly movable rather than fixed. The sliding base can move radially within the housing, and the inlet valve can move axially and pivot angularly, allowing the system to adapt to misalignments while maintaining secure fluid-tight connections through controlled movement
2Reliability
If a tight connection is made between the tube and the barb, then the connection is secure, but detaching and reconnecting tubes during maintenance is difficult and requires significant force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection system into distinct movable components (sliding base, inlet valve, outlet valve) that can move independently. This segmentation allows the connection to be secured tightly during operation while enabling easy detachment through controlled movement of the sliding base and valves, reducing the force needed for maintenance operations
3Device complexity
If the connector or tube cannot support axial or angular movement, then the structure is simple, but it undergoes mechanical stress, wear, and ultimately fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic movement capabilities within a relatively simple structural framework. The sliding base moves radially, the inlet valve moves axially and pivots angularly, and the outlet valve moves axially - these controlled movements absorb mechanical stress and prevent failure without requiring complex additional structures
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces mechanical stress and simplifies assembly and disassembly by allowing flexible movement, preventing damage and leaks, and improving maintenance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring disposed in the second portion of the internal passage, the first spring is compressible by the inlet valve in the axial direction
Implementation Method 2
a second spring disposed in the housing; and a sliding sleeve disposed in the housing that includes a supporting structure with a first side adjacent to the second spring and a second side adjacent to the wedge structure, wherein the second spring is configured to be compressed by the sliding sleeve in response to the sliding base moving in the radial direction, and the second spring is configured to return the sliding base to a center position when no compression force is applied
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A coupling assembly (100) for a blind mate fluid coupling includes a housing, a sliding base (126) disposed within the housing, the sliding base having an internal passage (134) with a first portion and a second portion connected at a middle opening, the internal passage extend in an axial direction, the second portion has a larger diameter than the first portion, the sliding base being movable in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction and relative to the housing, and an inlet valve (128) that is at least partially disposed in the internal passage, the inlet valve being movable in the axial direction within the internal passage and angularly pivotable at the first portion.