Server-Rack Liquid Connector Adaptor for Blind-Mating Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid cooling systems for servers and racks face interoperability issues due to fixed fluid manifold configurations, leading to increased costs, reduced flexibility, and potential leaks, especially in high heat density environments.
Innovation Solution
A connector adaptor system with adjustable plates and an elastic layer that allows for flexible alignment of fluid connectors between servers and racks, accommodating various manifold configurations through horizontal and vertical adjustments, ensuring secure and reliable blind-mating connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed fluid manifold configurations are used in racks, then manufacturing and installation are simplified, but interoperability between servers and racks with different fluid distribution architectures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rack side fluid manifold incorporates adjustable plates that can be positioned at multiple locations to accommodate different server connector positions. This dynamic adjustability allows the same rack design to work with various server fluid distribution architectures, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and interoperability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing the position parameter of fluid connectors on the rack side manifold through adjustable plates. By modifying the connector position parameter to match different server configurations, the system maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving broad interoperability across diverse server designs.
2Reliability
If customized connection designs are created for fixed server types, then connection reliability is improved, but cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack side fluid manifold is designed as a universal interface that can connect to multiple server types with different fluid distribution architectures. The adjustable plates enable a single manifold design to serve multiple functions and accommodate various server configurations, reducing design complexity while maintaining connection reliability through proper alignment.
3Ease of operation
If blind-mating connectors are used for fluid connections, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential leaks at the mating juncture
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable plates are pre-positioned and spring structures are pre-loaded to apply inward force on connectors before the actual blind-mating connection occurs. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and secure engagement of the blind-mating connectors, maintaining ease of operation while preventing leaks through pre-established proper connection geometry.
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
Enhances interoperability, reduces costs, and improves reliability by allowing flexible integration of servers with different fluid distribution architectures, while maintaining efficient cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
Each end of the connector channel is designed with a spring structure that applies an inward force on the fluid connectors
Implementation Method 2
The second plate has an elastic layer that can expand or contract to adjust the width of the second plate
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are designs to facilitate blind-mating of fluid connectors on servers and on racks that house the servers. The design includes two plates. A first plate has a connector channel to guide the connectors of the server through the first plate and spring structures to apply a force to push the connectors of the server toward the center of the connector channel. A second plate has positioning holes around its perimeter for mounting the connectors of the server using the force of the spring structures. The first plate is rotatable around a rotation axis to align the connectors of the server with the connectors of the rack. The second plate may have an elastic layer that is compressed to change a width of the second plate by inserting the second plate to the rack to automatically align the connectors of the server and of the rack in the horizontal direction.