High serviceability liquid cooling loop using tubing hinge

• US 20050243517A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simon, Glenn C., Malone, Christopher G., Barsun, Stephan K.
• Granted Patent: US 6,989,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/699
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/201 Cooling arrangements using cooling fluid

Abstract

A cylindrical tubing hinge extends around and couples two segments of rigid or semi-rigid tubing and enables rotational motion of one segment relative to the other.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a cylindrical tubing hinge extending around and coupling two segments of rigid or semi-rigid tubing and enabling rotational motion of one segment relative to the other about a rotational axis.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tubing hinge further comprises:

first and second tubing segments that can be arranged to share a common longitudinal axis, the first and second tubing segments terminating in respective first and second tube ends;

a raised lip on the first tube end extending radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis; and

a raised groove on the second tube end extending radially outward and returning radially inward relative to the longitudinal axis in a longitudinal second tubing segment section.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

the first tube end is inserted into the second tube end so that the first tube end raised lip is confined within the second tube end raised groove.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

a ring encircling a longitudinal segment of the first tubing segment adjacent and restrained by the raised lip and contained within the raised groove of the second tube end.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a male end connector coupled to a first tubing segment; and

a female end connector coupled to a second tubing segment, the male end connector being capable of insertion into the second tubing segment female end connector, the female end connector arresting linear motion of the male end connector from the female end connector while allowing rotational motion of the first and second tubing segments about a rotational axis.

6. A liquid loop cooling apparatus comprising:

a rigid or semi-rigid tubing enclosing an interior lumen within which a cooling fluid can circulate;

a moveable cold plate rigidly coupled to the tubing; and

a cylindrical tubing hinge extending around and coupling two segments of the tubing and enabling rotational motion of one segment relative to the other about a rotational axis, flexibly enabling movement of the moveable cold plate.

7. The cooling apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

a heat-dissipating component associated with the moveable cold plate, the cold plate being moveable to enable addition, replacement, or removal of the heat-dissipating component.

8. The cooling apparatus according to claim 7 wherein:

the cold plate can be rotated up and away from the heat-dissipating component to enable access to the heat-dissipating component.

9. The cooling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the tubing hinge further comprises:

first and second tubing segments that can be arranged to share a common longitudinal axis, the first and second tubing segments terminating in respective first and second tube ends;

a raised lip on the first tube end extending radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis; and

a raised groove on the second tube end extending radially outward and returning radially inward relative to the longitudinal axis in a longitudinal second tubing segment section.

10. The cooling apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising:

a ring encircling a longitudinal segment of the first tubing segment adjacent and restrained by the raised lip and contained within the raised groove of the second tube end, the first tube end and the ring being inserted into the second tube end so that the first tube end raised lip and the ring are confined within the second tube end raised groove.

11. The cooling apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

a male end connector coupled to a first tubing segment; and

a female end connector coupled to a second tubing segment, the male end connector being capable of insertion into the second tubing segment female end connector, the female end connector arresting linear motion of the male end connector from the female end connector while allowing rotational motion of the first and second tubing segments about a rotational axis.

12. An electronic system comprising:

a chassis;

a plurality of components mounted within the chassis including at least one heat-generating component;

a rigid or semi-rigid tubing enclosing an interior lumen within which a cooling fluid can circulate;

a moveable cold plate rigidly coupled to the tubing; and

a cylindrical tubing hinge extending around and coupling two segments of the tubing and enabling rotational motion of one segment relative to the other, flexibly enabling movement of the moveable cold plate.

13. The electronic system according to claim 12 further comprising:

a heat-dissipating component associated with the moveable cold plate, the cold plate being moveable to enable addition, replacement, or removal of the heat-dissipating component.

14. The electronic system according to claim 12 wherein:

the cold plate can be rotated up and away from the heat-dissipating component to enable access to the heat-dissipating component.

15. The electronic system according to claim 12 wherein the tubing hinge further comprises:

first and second tubing segments that can be arranged to share a common longitudinal axis, the first and second tubing segments terminating in respective first and second tube ends;

a raised lip on the first tube end extending radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis; and

a raised groove on the second tube end extending radially outward and returning radially inward relative to the longitudinal axis in a longitudinal second tubing segment section.

16. The electronic system according to claim 15 further comprising:

a ring encircling a longitudinal segment of the first tube adjacent and restrained by the raised lip and contained within the raised groove of the second tube end, the first tube end and the ring being inserted into the second tube end so that the first tube end raised lip and the ring are confined within the second tube end raised groove.

17. The electronic system according to claim 12 further comprising:

a male end connector coupled to a first tubing segment; and

a female end connector coupled to a second tubing segment, the male end connector being capable of insertion into the second tubing segment female end connector, the female end connector arresting linear motion of the male end connector from the female end connector while allowing rotational motion of the first and second tubing segments about a rotational axis.

18. A method of constructing a cylindrical tubing hinge comprising:

forming on an end of a first tubing segment a raised lip extending radially outward relative to a longitudinal axis of the first tubing segment;

forming on an end of a second tubing segment a raised groove extending radially outward and returning radially inward relative to a longitudinal axis in a in a longitudinal second tubing segment section; and

inserting the first tubing segment end into the second tubing segment end so that the first tubing segment end raised lip is confined within the second tubing segment end raised groove.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising:

encircling a longitudinal portion of the first tubing segment with a ring so that the ring is adjacent to and restrained by the raised lip and contained within the raised groove of the second tubing segment.

20. A liquid loop cooling apparatus comprising:

a cold plate component further comprising;

a heat-dissipating component; and

a cover plate convertibly enclosing the heat-dissipating component;

rigid or semi-rigid tubing coupled to the cold pate component and enclosing an interior lumen within which a cooling fluid can circulate; and

a cylindrical tubing hinge extending around and coupling two segments of the tubing and enabling rotational motion of one segment relative to the other about a rotational axis, flexibly enabling movement of the cover plate.

21. The cooling apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the tubing hinge further comprises:

first and second tubing segments that can be arranged to share a common longitudinal axis, the first and second tubing segments terminating in respective first and second tube ends;

a raised lip on the first tube end extending radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis; and

a raised groove on the second tube end extending radially outward and returning radially inward relative to the longitudinal axis in a longitudinal second tubing segment section.