Self-Aligning Liquid Cooling Connector for Blind-Mate Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-cooling connectors face assembly issues due to manufacturing and tolerance misalignments, particularly when connectors from different manufacturers are used, leading to ineffective connection and sealing with liquid-cooled servers and cooling rack manifolds.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning connector design featuring a fluid pipe with a tilt area and adjustable holders, allowing rotational and linear adjustments within a floating space, coupled with a spring mechanism to ensure proper alignment and secure coupling with liquid-cooling connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If blind mate connection method is used, then installation time is reduced, but assembly reliability deteriorates due to manufacturing and tolerance misalignments
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid pipe is designed with a floating space that allows it to move dynamically relative to the case, enabling automatic alignment compensation during installation while maintaining secure connection
Solution Approach 2:
The tilt area acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fluid pipe and case, providing a spherical interface that facilitates rotational adjustment and alignment while ensuring reliable sealing
2Adaptability or versatility
If connectors from different manufacturers are used, then system versatility is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates due to tolerance misalignments
Solution Approach 1:
The self-aligning connector design with floating space and tilt area provides universal compatibility with connectors from different manufacturers while maintaining reliable sealing through automatic alignment compensation
Solution Approach 2:
The connector allows for parameter changes in position and orientation through the floating space mechanism, enabling adaptation to different manufacturer tolerances while maintaining connection reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A self-aligning connector for a computing system includes a case and a fluid pipe. The case has a pipe channel that extends internally, along a radial axis, between a case entry side and a case exit side. The fluid pipe is movably mounted within the pipe channel, separated from an internal surface of the pipe channel by a floating space. The fluid pipe is rotatably and linearly movable within the floating space, and includes a pipe entry side, a pipe exit side, and an internal channel for receiving a liquid coolant. The internal channel extends along the radial axis between a pipe entry end and a pipe exit end. The fluid pipe further has a tilt area that is located between the pipe entry side and the pipe exit side, and that is configured to rotatably adjust the fluid pipe relative to the case.