Fitting for flexible manifold system

• US 8,854,808 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mullady, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFBERG, ROBERT JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/534,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.53, 361/699, 28513311-1336
• US Class Current: 361/679.53
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/02 Branch units, e.g. made in one piece, welded, riveted
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/021 T- or cross-pieces F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/00 Protection or supervision of installations arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20781 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/598 With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means

Abstract

A fitting includes a body, a first connection member provided on the body, a second connection member provided on the body opposite to the first connection member, a third connection member provided on the body generally perpendicular to the first and second connection members, and a flange extending from the body substantially perpendicular to the first, second, and third connection members. The flange includes a captive mounting fastener configured and disposed to secure the fitting to a substrate.

Claims

1. A fitting comprising:

a body;

a first connection member provided on the body;

a second connection member provided on the body opposite to the first connection member;

a third connection member provided on the body generally perpendicular to the first and second connection members;

a flange extending from the body substantially perpendicular to the first, second, and third connection members, the flange including a captive mounting fastener configured and disposed to secure the fitting to a substrate; and

a key member extending from the body substantially opposite to the third connection member, the captive mounting fastener and the key member being configured to extend into respective openings of the substrate and disposed to establish a desired orientation of the fitting relative to the substrate.

2. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the captive mounting fastener comprises a threaded fastener.

3. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the key member comprises an elongated tab.

4. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second connection members comprises a barb fitting.

5. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second connection members comprises a barb fitting.

6. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the third connection member comprises a quick connect fitting.

7. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second connection members comprises a barb fitting and the third connection member comprises a quick connect fitting.

8. A cooling fluid manifold system comprising:

at least one fitting including a body,

a first connection member provided on the body, a second connection member provided on the body opposite to the first connection member, a third connection member provided on the body generally perpendicular to the first and second connection members, a flange extending from the body substantially perpendicular to the first, second, and third connection members, the flange including a captive mounting fastener configured and disposed to secure the fitting to a substrate, and a key member extending from the body substantially opposite to the third connection member, the captive mounting fastener and the key member being configured to extend into respective openings of the substrate and disposed to establish a desired orientation of the fitting relative to the substrate;

a first conduit operatively connected to the first connection member; and

a second conduit operatively connected to the second connection member.

9. The cooling fluid manifold system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a fluid sensor operatively connected to the third connection member.

10. The cooling fluid manifold system according to claim 9, wherein the fluid sensor comprises one of a level sensor, a flow sensor, and a temperature sensor.

11. The cooling fluid manifold system according to claim 8, wherein the first conduit comprises flexible tubing and the second conduit comprises rigid tubing.

12. The cooling fluid manifold system according to claim 8, wherein each of the first and second conduits comprises flexible tubing.

13. A computer rack system comprising:

a plurality of rail members supporting at least one tier;

at least one computer system supported by the at least one tier; and

a cooling fluid manifold system coupled to one of the plurality of rails, the cooling fluid manifold system comprising;

at least one fitting including a body, a first connection member provided on the body, a second connection member provided on the body opposite to the first connection member, a third connection member provided on the body generally perpendicular to the first and second connection members, a flange extending from the body substantially perpendicular to the first, second, and third connection members, the flange including a captive mounting fastener operatively connected to the one of the plurality of rails, and a key member extending from the body substantially opposite to the third connection member, the captive mounting fastener and the key member being configured to extend into respective openings of the one of the plurality of rails establishing a desired orientation of the fitting relative to the one of the plurality of rails;

a first conduit operatively connected to the first connection member; and

a second conduit operatively connected to the second connection member.

14. The computer rack system according to claim 13, wherein the cooling fluid manifold system further comprises:

a fluid sensor operatively connected to the third connection member.

15. The computer rack system according to claim 14, wherein the fluid sensor comprises one of a level sensor, a flow sensor, and a temperature sensor.

16. The computer rack system according to claim 13, wherein the first conduit comprises flexible tubing and the second conduit comprises rigid tubing.