Swivel Hydraulic Hinge Assembly for Rack Cooling Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cooling systems for data centers face challenges in efficiently cooling equipment due to increasing power densities, leading to hot spots and reduced system performance, and existing mounting methods for rack-mounted cooling systems obstruct access to equipment, resulting in high costs and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A swivel hinge assembly that allows for rotatable mounting of a door with a cooling assembly on a hardware rack, enabling continuous fluid flow and communication between the cooling assembly and equipment, while allowing 360° rotation and maintaining fluid communication between refrigerant supply and return lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fixed mounting methods are used for rack-mounted cooling systems, then the cooling system can be installed on the backside of hardware racks, but access to equipment is obstructed resulting in high costs and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is mounted on a rotatable assembly that can rotate 360 degrees, transforming from a fixed mounting to a dynamic, movable mounting. This allows the cooling system to be repositioned from an obstructive fixed position on the backside of the rack to a non-obstructive position that provides clear access to equipment while maintaining cooling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: a rotatable assembly with bearing mechanisms, a cooling system module, and a rack structure. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and enables the cooling system to be detached or repositioned without affecting the entire rack structure.
2Power
If cooling systems are moved into ceiling or floor with enclosed spaces, then cooling capacity can be increased, but space consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of expanding cooling capacity horizontally by creating enclosed ceiling or floor plenums that consume data center space, the solution utilizes the vertical rotation dimension. The rotatable assembly allows the cooling system to access equipment from multiple angular positions without requiring additional floor area, effectively using dimensional freedom to resolve the space constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural mounting for the cooling system, enables 360-degree rotational movement for equipment access, and maintains fluid communication between supply and return lines throughout rotation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate enclosed space structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If rack-mounted cooling systems are fixed in position, then installation is simple, but equipment access is blocked and downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static fixed mounting to a dynamic rotatable mounting with bearing mechanisms. While the installation process becomes slightly more complex due to the rotational mechanism, the ability to rotate the cooling system away from equipment provides immediate access without requiring system disassembly or prolonged downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cooling system and the rack structure. It provides a controlled interface that allows the cooling system to be mounted securely while enabling rotational movement for equipment access, mediating between the conflicting requirements of secure mounting and equipment accessibility.
4Stability of the object's composition
If traditional mounting methods are used, then the cooling system remains stationary, but fluid flow paths become obstructed and communication between supply and return lines is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly serves as a fluid-tight intermediary that maintains continuous fluid flow paths between the supply and return lines while allowing rotational movement. The bearing mechanism includes sealed fluid communication channels that prevent leakage during rotation, enabling both equipment accessibility and fluid flow stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable assembly maintains continuous fluid flow communication between supply and return lines throughout the entire 360-degree rotation range. The fluid paths remain open and unobstructed during rotation, ensuring uninterrupted cooling operation while the cooling system is being repositioned for equipment access.
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 provides efficient cooling for data center equipment by allowing flexible access and continuous fluid flow, reducing downtime and costs associated with traditional mounting methods, while maintaining effective heat rejection from the equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a ball bearing assembly housed within the body and in fluid communication with both the supply line and the return line so as to provide hydraulic flow between the supply line and the return line during swiveling motion of the door assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes swivel hinge assemblies for use in rotatably mounting two structures together, such that the structures are in fluid communication by way of fluid flow, as well as systems including such hinge assemblies. The swivel hinge assemblies generally comprise a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, shafts surrounding the inlet and outlet ports and allowing for rotation about one or more axes, and attachment means which may be integrally formed with the shafts of the hinge assembly. In use, these assemblies eliminate the use for secondary hinges or secondary mounting hardware in attaching a door and a structure together in order to maintain fluid communication between an electronics rack and a heat exchanger mounted on the door of an electronics rack.