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EP-4742843-A1 - A NOVEL CONNECTOR FOR LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM

EP4742843A1EP 4742843 A1EP4742843 A1EP 4742843A1EP-4742843-A1

Abstract

A liquid cooling system includes a first cold plate with a first port and a third port, and a second cold plate with a second port and a fourth port. An inner wall in a housing of each port surrounds a cavity. A first tube is in fluid communication with both the first port and the second port. Each of a first connector and a second connector has diameter portion and a narrow diameter portion, wherein the narrow diameter portions are coupled to opposite ends of the first tube and placed in the first port and the second port, the wide diameter portion is placed in the first port and the second port and includes grooves with O-rings, and each end of the first tube has a portion placed in the housing and spaced apart from the inner wall of the housing by a gap.

Inventors

  • TSENG, HSIANG-CHIEH
  • CHAN, WEI-LUNG

Assignees

  • Cooler Master Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241213

Claims (20)

  1. A liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) for an electronic device (380) comprising: a first cold plate (102, 302) and a second cold plate (104, 304) that are each thermally coupled to a heat source and spaced apart from one another; a first port (106, 206, 306, 406) on the first cold plate (102, 302) and a second port (108, 208, 308) on the second cold plate (104, 304), the first (106, 206, 306, 406) and second ports (108, 208, 308) being configured to circulate working fluids between the first cold plate (102, 302) and second cold plate (104, 304); a third port (110) on the first cold plate (102, 302) and a fourth port (112, 312) on the second cold plate (104, 304), the third (110, 310) and fourth ports (112, 312) being configured to circulate working fluids between the cold plates and an external heat exchanger; an inner wall (116) in a housing (114, 414) of each port surrounding a cavity (118); a first tube (120) that is in fluid communication with both the first port (106, 206, 306, 406) and the second port (108, 208, 308); and a first connector (122, 322, 422) and a second connector (124, 224) that each have a wide diameter portion (132) and a narrow diameter portion (130), wherein: the narrow diameter portions (130) are coupled to opposite ends of the first tube (120) and are placed in the first port (106, 206, 306, 406) and the second port (108, 208, 308), respectively, each of the wide diameter portions (132) are placed in the first port (106, 206, 306, 406) and the second port (108, 208, 308) and include grooves (126) with O-rings that are in close contact with the inner wall (116) of the housing (114, 414), and each end of the first tube (120) has a portion (144) placed in the housing (114, 414) and spaced apart from the inner wall (116) of the housing (114, 414) by a gap (134).
  2. The liquid cooling system (100, 100B) of claim 1, wherein the first tube (120) is a metal hollow tube.
  3. The liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) of claim 1 or 2, wherein a first slot (140) and a second slot (142) are formed on opposite sidewalls of the housing (114, 414), each of the first slot (140) and the second slot (142) have a portion (144) extending to a top surface (146) of the housing (114, 414), the first slot (140) and the second slot being configured to receive a clip (148, 448).
  4. The liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) of claim 3, wherein the first slot (140), the second slot (142) and the cavity (118) define a neck portion (156, 456) positioned above the cavity (118).
  5. The liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) of claim 4, wherein the clip (148, 448) has a first leg (150, 450) and a second leg (152, 452) placed into the first slot (140) and the second slot (142) respectively, and the first leg (150, 450) and the second leg (152, 452) are connected by a bridging section (154, 454) that is positioned above the neck portion (156, 456).
  6. The liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) of claim 4 or 5, further comprising: a third slot that is formed above the neck portion (156, 456); and a tool slot (160) that intersects the third slot (158), wherein the third slot connects to the first slot (140) and the second slot (142) to form a unified slot, and the tool slot is configured to remove the clip (148, 448).
  7. The liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) of claim 6, wherein the bridging section (154, 454) of the clip (148, 448) is hidden by the third slot (158) and is in contact with the neck portion (156, 456).
  8. The liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) of claim 6 or 7, wherein the first port (106, 206, 306, 406), the second port (108, 208, 308), and the unified slot are rectangular in shape.
  9. The liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) of claim 6 or 7, wherein the first port (106, 206, 306, 406), the second port (108, 208, 308), and the unified slot are circular in shape.
  10. The liquid cooling system (100, 100A, 100B) of one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first tubes (120) are configured to move and shift angularly and axially along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a z-axis, with the X-axis extending longitudinally along the length of the first tube, the Y-axis extending horizontally and being perpendicular to the X-axis, and the Z-axis extending vertically and perpendicular to both the X-axis and the Y-axis.
  11. A liquid cooling system (100B) in an electronic device (380), comprising: at least two first cold plates (302) and at least two second cold plates (304) that are alternatively arranged on a motherboard (300) and thermally coupled to a heat source; a first port (306) on each of the first cold plates (302) and a second port (308) on each of the second cold plates (304), the first and second ports (308) being configure for circulating working fluid between the cold plates; a third port (310) on each of the first cold plates (302) and a fourth port (312) on each of the second cold plates (304), the third (310) and fourth ports (312) being configured for circulating working fluid between the first cold plates (302) and a second inner manifold (320), and between the second cold plates (304) and a first inner manifold (318), respectively; an inner wall (116) in a housing (114, 414) of each port surrounding a cavity (118); at least two first tubes that are in fluid communication with the first ports (306) and the second ports (308) respectively; and at least two first connectors and at least two second connectors that each have a wide diameter portion (132) and a narrow diameter portion (130), wherein: the narrow diameter portions (130) are coupled to opposite ends of the first tubes and are placed in the first ports (306) and the second ports (308), respectively, each of the wide diameter portions are placed in each of the first ports (306) and the second ports (308) and includes grooves (126) with O-rings that are in close contact with the inner wall (116) of the housing (114, 414), and each end of the first tubes has a portion (144) placed in the housing (114, 414) and spaced apart from the inner wall (116) of the housing (114, 414) by a gap (134).
  12. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 11, wherein each of the first tubes is a metal hollow tube.
  13. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 11 or12, wherein a first slot (140) and a second slot (142) are formed on opposite sidewalls of the housing (114, 414) of at least one of the first ports (306) and the second ports (308), each of the first slot (140) and the second slot (142) have a portion (144) extending to a top surface (146) of the housing (114, 414), the first slot (140) and the second slot (142) being configured to receive a clip (148, 448).
  14. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 13, wherein the first slot (140), the second slot (142) and the cavity (118) define a neck portion (156, 456) positioned above the cavity (118).
  15. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 14, wherein the clip (148, 448) has a first leg (150, 450) and a second leg (152, 452) placed in the first slot (140) and the second slot (142), respectively, and the first leg (150, 450) and the second leg (152, 452) are connected by a bridging section (154, 454) positioned above the neck portion (156, 456).
  16. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 14 or 15, further comprising: a third slot that is formed above the neck portion (156, 456); and a tool slot (160) that intersects the third slot (158), wherein the third slot connects to the first slot (140) and the second slot (142) to form a unified slot, and the tool slot is configured to remove the clip (148, 448).
  17. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 16, wherein the bridging section (154, 454) of the clip (148, 448) is hidden by the third slot (158) and is in contact with the neck portion (156, 456).
  18. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 16 or 17, wherein at least one of the first ports (306) and the second ports (308) and the unified slot are in rectangular shape.
  19. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 16 or 17, wherein at least one of the first ports (306) and the second ports (308) and the unified slot are in circular ship.
  20. The liquid cooling system (100B) of claim 11, wherein the first soft tubes are configured to move and shift angularly and axially along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a z-axis, with the X-axis extending longitudinally along the length of the first tubes (120), the Y-axis extending horizontally and perpendicular to the X-axis, and the Z-axis extending vertically and perpendicular to both the X-axis and the Y-axis.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to the fluid connectors, and more particularly to the connectors that provide float tolerance for fluid connections between cold plates that are connected by tubes or pipes. BACKGROUND In liquid cooling systems, the fluid connectors are used to connect tubes or pipes to cold plates that require fluid flow for cooling or other similar purposes. Typically, barbed fittings are applied to connect tubes to ports on the cold plates. Specifically, the barb is fixed to the port, and the tube is pushed over the barb to create a secure and fluid-tight connection. However, this design contain certain drawbacks. The fixed connection between the barb and the port does not allow for any movement of the tube. As a result, the assembly is highly sensitive to misalignments during installation. Any minor deviations in positioning can cause stress on the tube and the connection, leading to potential damage or leaks over time. The rigid connection makes disconnecting and reconnecting tubes during maintenance or component replacements cumbersome. Significant force is often required to remove the tube from the barb, which can damage the tubing or surrounding components, especially in densely packed systems. The limitations mentioned above are particularly noticeable in applications where it is tough to achieve precise alignment or where frequent maintenance is necessary. The connector or tubing may experience mechanical stress, wear, and eventual failure due to the inability to accommodate axial or angular movement. SUMMARY The present invention provides a solution to these problems by introducing a novel connector design that allows for float tolerance in the axial and angular directions. This design provides flexibility during installation, compensates for misalignments, and makes it easier to swap components without compromising the integrity of the connection. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a liquid cooling system for an electronic device includes a first cold plate and a second cold plate that are each thermally coupled to a heat source and spaced apart from one another, a first port on the first cold plate and a second port on the second cold plate, the first and second ports being configured to circulate working fluids between the first cold plate and second cold plate, a third port on the first cold plate and a fourth port on the second cold plate, the third and fourth ports being configured to circulate working fluids between the cold plates and an external heat exchanger, an inner wall in a housing of each port surrounding a cavity, a first tube that is in fluid communication with both the first port and the second port, and a first connector and a second connector that each have a wide diameter portion and a narrow diameter portion, wherein: the narrow diameter portions are coupled to opposite ends of the first tube and are placed in the first port and the second port, respectively, each of the wide diameter portions are placed in the first port and the second port and include grooves with O-rings that are in close contact with the inner wall of the housing, and each end of the first tube has a portion placed in the housing and spaced apart from the inner wall of the housing by a gap. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first tube is a metal hollow tube. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a first slot and a second slot are formed on opposite sidewalls of the housing, each of the first slot and the second slot has a portion extending to a top surface of the housing, the first slot and the second slot being configured to receive a clip. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first slot, the second slot and the cavity define a neck portion positioned above the cavity. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the clip has a first leg and a second leg placed into the first slot and the second slot respectively, and the first leg and the second leg are connected by a bridging section that is positioned above the neck portion. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a third slot is formed above the neck portion, and a tool slot that intersects the third slot, wherein the third slot connects to the first slot and the second slot to form a unified slot, and the tool slot is configured to remove the clip. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the bridging section of the clip is hidden by the third slot and is in contact with the neck portion. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first port, the second port, and the unified slot are rectangular in shape. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first port, the second port, and the unified slot are circular in shape. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first tubes are configured to move and shift angularly and axially along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a z-axis, with the X-axis extending longitudinally along the length of the first tube,