Blind-Mate Fluid Coupling With Self-Centering Alignment Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Coupling assemblies for electronics liquid cooling face challenges in aligning male and female coupling members in hard-to-reach locations, leading to misalignment and increased effort in creating fluid circuits, especially in data center applications where space and accessibility are limited.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a blind-mate fluid coupling system with a male coupling configured with an alignment compensator that allows lateral, vertical, and angular movement to correct misalignment, utilizing a compensation sleeve, ring, and spring arrangement within a valve mounting housing, which includes a tapered interface to self-center and accommodate radial and angular displacements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If male and female couplings are positioned in hard-to-reach locations, then fluid circuit connectivity is achieved, but misalignment occurs and substantial effort and time are required for connection
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly incorporates a dynamic alignment compensator that allows the male coupling to move laterally, vertically, and angularly relative to the female coupling. This dynamic adjustment mechanism automatically compensates for misalignments that occur when couplings are positioned in hard-to-reach locations, enabling reliable fluid circuit connectivity without requiring substantial manual adjustment effort or time.
2Ease of operation
If alignment compensator allows movement in lateral, vertical, and angular directions, then misalignment is corrected, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment compensator is segmented into distinct functional components: a lateral adjustment mechanism for horizontal misalignment, a vertical adjustment mechanism for vertical misalignment, and an angular adjustment mechanism for rotational misalignment. Each segment handles a specific degree of freedom, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive alignment correction while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
3Reliability
If couplings are positioned at the back of computer chassis, then cooling function is provided, but accessibility for alignment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly incorporates self-aligning features that automatically correct misalignments without requiring manual intervention or precise positioning by operators. The alignment compensator mechanisms automatically detect and correct lateral, vertical, and angular deviations, enabling the couplings to self-adjust to proper alignment when positioned in the back of computer chassis, thereby maintaining cooling function while overcoming accessibility limitations.
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
This solution enables reliable and efficient alignment of fluid couplers in confined spaces, reducing the effort required for mating and ensuring proper fluid communication without leakage, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of cooling systems in data centers.
Implementation Method 1
The compensation spring can be configured to bias the compensation sleeve and the compensation ring axially apart from one another
Implementation Method 2
A tapered interface can be defined between the valve body and at least one of the compensation sleeve and the compensation ring. The tapered interface automatically positions valve body in a centered position in which the valve body axis and the central mounting housing are co-axially aligned
Implementation Method 3
The alignment compensator allows the male coupling to move in a lateral direction, a vertical direction, and at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the male coupling in order to correct any misalignment during mating
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to a coupling assembly made up of a male fluid coupler and a female fluid coupler for a fluid line. The male and female fluid couplers are closed to flow in the uncoupled state and are open to flow when coupled. The male fluid coupler can include an alignment compensation arrangement that can adjust for any initial misalignment between the male and female fluid couplers. The alignment compensation arrangement can function as a universal connection joint to allow the male fluid coupler to universally pivot and move radially.