Liquid Cooling Fast Connector with Electromagnet Guide Rail

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current liquid cooling systems for electronic boards require manual and potentially error-prone operations for connecting and disconnecting the cooling loop during board insertion and removal, leading to low equipment reliability due to misoperation.

Innovation Solution

A liquid cooling apparatus with a fast connector system and electromagnet-controlled guide rail that automatically manages the connection and disconnection of the cooling loop, allowing for safe and reliable board insertion and removal without manual sequence control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual connection and disconnection of the liquid cooling loop is performed during board insertion and removal, then the board can be hot-swapped, but misoperation occurs and equipment reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehot swap functionVSAvoidequipment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid cooling loop connection is established in advance through the fast connector before the board is inserted into the slot. The connector is pre-positioned and ready, so that when the board is inserted, the cooling loop is already connected and ready to function immediately, eliminating the need for sequential manual operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fast connector acts as an intermediary component that decouples the board insertion operation from the liquid cooling loop connection operation. The connector provides a separate, dedicated interface for cooling loop attachment, allowing these two operations to occur independently and simultaneously without interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the liquid cooling loop connection sequence is controlled manually, then the cooling system can be properly connected, but the operation becomes complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into independent functional components: the board slot interface, the fast connector interface, and the liquid cooling loop interface. Each component has its own dedicated connection path, allowing operations to be performed independently without complex sequencing requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fast connector is designed to automatically establish the liquid cooling loop connection when the board is inserted. The connector's structure enables self-alignment and self-connection, eliminating the need for manual control of the connection sequence and reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 misoperation and enhances equipment reliability by enabling automatic switching of the cooling loop connections, ensuring proper operation and preventing damage during board insertion and removal processes.

Implementation Method 1

a second connector (2042) movable on the guide rail (203), wherein the second connector (2042) is attracted to one end of the guide rail (203) by an electromagnet (205)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetism: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

The cold plate 102 is closely attached to the board 101 to absorb heat of the heat source 101

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

The pump 105 provides a driving force for liquid to flow in the enclosed loop

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP2825010B1Liquid cooling device
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2825010B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2825010B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a liquid cooling apparatus, which includes a cold plate 202, a fast connector 204, and a first interface 2011, where the fast connector 204 includes a first connector 2041 and a second connector 2042, where the first connector 2041 is fixedly connected to the cold plate 202; the first interface 2011 is configured to connect to a second interface 2012 corresponding to the first interface; and the liquid cooling apparatus further includes a guide rail 203, where the guide rail 203 is a moving rail of the second connector 2042, and when the first connector 2041 and the second connector 2042 are in a connected state and the second connector 2042 is located at an end on the guide rail 203 that is close to a board 201, a distance between the first interface 2011 and the second interface 2012 is greater than 0. The liquid cooling apparatus does not require a person to control an insertion or removal sequence, thereby reducing misoperation and improving equipment reliability.