Facilitating fluid level sensing

• US 9,655,286 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Krug, Jr., Francis R., Zoodsma, Randy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkisson, Jianying
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alvare, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/648,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20140096930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 73290 R, 73304 R, 738665, 165 111, 200 83 R, 200190, 324204
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/24 by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/242 Mounting arrangements for electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/248 Constructional details; Mounting of probes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/12 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20781 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

Apparatuses are provided to facilitate sensing fluid within a fluid system, such as a coolant-based cooling apparatus for removing heat generated by one or more electronic components. The apparatus includes a plug configured to couple to a wall of the fluid system at an opening in the wall and to form a fluid-tight seal about the opening. The plug includes a fluid a fluid-sensor-receiving space configured to receive a fluid sensor, and when the plug is coupled to the wall at the opening, to position the fluid sensor at the opening in a manner to facilitate sensing of fluid within the system. The fluid sensor is removable from the plug without requiring uncoupling of the plug from the wall. In one implementation, the fluid sensor is a proximity sensor, and the plug is fabricated of a non-conductive material, and the wall a conductive material.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a proximity sensor;

a plug configured to couple to a wall of a fluid system within an opening in the wall to seal the opening, without contacting an inner surface of the wall of the fluid system, the plug being hollow and including a fluid sense window which projects through the wall into the fluid system substantially transverse to the opening in the wall when the plug is coupled to the wall within the opening; and

wherein the plug comprises a fluid-sensor-receiving space continuously extending within the plug from one side of the wall, through the opening in the wall and into the fluid sense window within the fluid system on another side of the wall, the fluid-sensor-receiving opening being open at the one side of the wall, and the fluid-sensor-receiving space being configured to at least partially receive therein the proximity sensor and, when the plug is coupled to the wall and seals the opening, with the proximity sensor within the fluid-sensor-receiving space of the fluid sense window, the proximity sensor extends within the plug from the one side of the wall, through the wall into the fluid sense window within the fluid system on the another side of the wall to sense across the fluid sense window presence of fluid within the fluid system by emitting an electric field through the fluid sense window into the fluid system, and sensing a disruption in the electric field due to the presence of the fluid within the fluid system, the fluid sense window comprising a non-conductive material which allows the electric field to pass therethrough, and wherein the proximity sensor is removable from the fluid-sensor-receiving space of the fluid sense window without requiring uncoupling of the plug from the wall or unsealing of the opening in the wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug threadably seals to the wall within the opening therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a threaded insert affixed to the wall at the opening, wherein the plug threadably seals to the wall by threadably engaging the threaded insert, and wherein the threaded insert comprises a conductive material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is a planar-shaped proximity sensor, the planar-shaped proximity sensor comprising a planar electrode which resides within the fluid-sensor-receiving space of the fluid sense window when the proximity sensor is operatively disposed within the plug.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the proximity sensor further comprises a coil electrode, the coil electrode encircling, at least in part, the planar electrode.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid sense window of the plug comprises a tongue-shaped fluid sense window which extends into the fluid system when the plug is coupled to the wall and seals the opening.

4. A system comprising:

a coolant-based cooling apparatus to facilitate removal of heat generated by one or more electronic components, the coolant-based cooling apparatus comprising a coolant loop containing coolant of the coolant-based cooling apparatus; and

a fluid sense apparatus facilitating sensing of coolant within the coolant loop, the fluid sense apparatus comprising;

a proximity sensor;

a plug coupled to a wall of the coolant loop within an opening in the wall and sealing the opening, without contacting an inner surface of the wall of the coolant loop, the plug being hollow and including a fluid sense window which projects through the wall into the coolant loop substantially transverse to the opening in the wall; and

wherein the plug comprises a fluid-sensor-receiving space continuously extending within the plug from one side of the wall, through the opening in the wall and into the fluid sense window within the coolant loop on another side of the wall, the fluid-sensor-receiving space being open at the one side of the wall, and the fluid-sensor-receiving space being configured to at least partially receive therein the proximity sensor and to position the proximity sensor within the coolant loop to sense presence of coolant within the coolant loop by emitting an electric field through the fluid sense window into the coolant loop, and sensing disruption in the electric field due to the presence of the coolant within the coolant loop, the fluid sense window comprising a non-conductive material which allows the electric field to pass therethrough, and wherein the proximity sensor extends within the plug from the one side of the wall, through the wall, and into the fluid sense window on the another side of the wall, and is removable from the fluid-sensor-receiving space of the fluid sense window without requiring uncoupling of the plug from the wall of the coolant loop or unsealing of the opening in the wall.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the coolant loop comprises a coolant reservoir and the wall with the opening is a wall of the coolant reservoir of the coolant loop, and wherein the proximity sensor disposed within the fluid sense window senses for presence of coolant at the level of the opening in the wall of the coolant reservoir.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid sense window is a rectangular-shaped fluid sense window that extends into the coolant reservoir.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the plug threadably seals to the wall at the opening therein, and wherein the coolant reservoir comprises a conductive material.

8. A method comprising:

obtaining a coolant-based cooling apparatus to facilitate removal of heat generated by one or more electronic components, the coolant-based cooling apparatus comprising a coolant loop containing coolant of the coolant-based cooling apparatus; and

providing a fluid sense apparatus facilitating sensing for coolant within the coolant loop, the fluid sense apparatus comprising;

a proximity sensor;

a plug coupled to a wall of the coolant loop within an opening in the wall and sealing the opening, without contacting an inner surface of the wall of the coolant loop, the plug being hollow and including a fluid sense window which projects through the wall into the coolant loop substantially transverse to the opening in the wall; and

wherein the plug comprises a fluid-sensor-receiving space continuously extending within the plug from one side of the wall, through the opening in the wall and into the fluid sense window within the coolant loop on another side of the wall, the fluid-sensor-receiving opening being open at the one side of the wall, and the fluid-sensor-receiving space being configured to at least partially receive therein the proximity sensor and to position the proximity sensor within the coolant loop to sense presence of coolant within the coolant loop by emitting an electric field through the fluid sense window into the coolant loop, and sensing disruption in the electric field due to the presence of the coolant within the coolant loop, the fluid sense window comprising a non-conductive material which allows the electric field to pass therethrough, and wherein the proximity sensor extends within the plug from the one side of the wall, through the wall, and into the fluid sense window on the another side of the wall, and is removable from the fluid-sensor-receiving space of the fluid sense window without requiring uncoupling of the plug from the wall of the coolant loop or unsealing of the opening in the wall.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining the coolant loop with a coolant reservoir, the opening being in a wall of the coolant reservoir of the coolant loop, and wherein the proximity sensor is disposed within the fluid sense window to sense for presence of coolant at the level of the opening in the wall of the coolant reservoir.