Pivotable Support Bracket for Liquid Cooling Cold Plate Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid cooling systems for computing components, such as processors, often require the removal of cold plates to access the components for replacement, making field maintenance difficult due to the complexity of disassembly and reassembly.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable support bracket system that allows the cold plate to be lifted out of contact with the electronic component, enabling easier access by rotating between a first configuration where the cold plate is in contact and a second configuration where it is removed, facilitating the installation and removal of components without disassembling the entire cooling system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cold plate is fixed to the chassis to ensure stable cooling contact, then the cooling reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for component replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket is designed to be pivotable between a first configuration (cooling contact position) and a second configuration (removed position), transforming the static fixed mounting into a dynamic adjustable system. This allows the cold plate to be easily moved for component replacement while maintaining stable contact during operation, resolving the contradiction between cooling reliability and ease of operation
2Temperature
If the cold plate is securely mounted to ensure proper thermal contact, then the heat management effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity for access and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into a mounting bracket (secured to chassis) and a support bracket (pivotably coupled to mounting bracket). This segmentation allows the cold plate to be mounted securely for thermal contact while enabling simple rotational movement for access, reducing the complexity of disassembly and reassembly compared to fully integrated fixed mounting
3Reliability
If the cold plate remains in contact with the electronic component during maintenance, then the cooling function is maintained, but the access to the component deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable support bracket enables dynamic repositioning of the cold plate between cooling contact and removed positions, allowing maintenance personnel to easily access components for replacement while maintaining the cooling function when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling continuity and component accessibility
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system includes a chassis, a circuit board including at least one electronic component, a mounting bracket secured to the chassis, a support bracket pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket, and a cold plate coupled to the support bracket. The support bracket is pivotable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The cold plate is in contact with the at least one electronic component in the first configuration, and the cold plate is removed from contact with the at least one electronic component in the second configuration.