JOINT MODULE, SERVER, AND COMPUTING SYSTEM

A joint module for cutting coolant circuit in server comprises a shell, a moving piece, a rotating piece, a driving piece, and a plug connector. The moving piece is movable in the shell between a first position and a second position. The rotating piece is rotatable in the shell between a first angle and a second angle. The driving piece is located on the shell and is used for rotating the rotating piece. The plug connector is located on the moving piece and is used for connecting a plug. When the driving piece rotates the rotating piece from the first angle to the second angle, the moving piece moves from the first position to the second position, the plug connector moves towards the shell and disconnects the plug. A server and a computing system with the joint module is also disclosed.

FIELD

The disclosure herein generally relates to information computing systems, and more particularly relates to a joint module, a server, and a computing system.

BACKGROUND

A server is installed in a rack, a plug connector is locked on a backside of the server and is connected to a plug on the rack. Coolant can flow through the plug of the server and the plug of the rack to cool the server. The coolant may be leaked from the connection between the plug of the server and the plug of the rack, and a risk of damaging the server for the leakage of the coolant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one”.

Without a given definition otherwise, all terms used have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The terms used herein in the description of the present disclosure are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

When a server is installed in a rack, a plug connector behind the server is connected to a plug on the rack, so that the rack can provide coolant to the server to cool the server. However, there is a risk of coolant leakage, and when the coolant leak in the server, if the coolant circuit is not cut in time, a large amount of coolant will enter the server, causing damage to the server.

As shown inFIG.1toFIG.5, a computing system500in an embodiment includes a rack400and a plurality of servers100. The plurality of servers100can be installed into the rack400in layers. The rack400includes a plurality of plugs410, and there is at least one plug410in each layer. Each server100has a plug connector310in the back. When one of the plurality of servers100is installed into the rack400, the plug connector310needs to be connected to the plug410in the same layer, so that the rack400can provide coolant to the server100to cool the server100. Usually, there are two plugs410in each layer in the rack400, and there are two plug connectors310in the back of each server100, when the server100is installed into the rack400, the two plug connectors310are connected to the two plugs410one-to-one, so that the coolant can be circulated between the server100and the rack400.

However, there is a risk of coolant leakage, and when the coolant leak in the server100, if the coolant circuit is not cut in time, the coolant will enter the server100, causing damage to the server100.

As shown inFIG.1, in some embodiments, to solve the problem mentioned above, the server100in an embodiment includes a chassis200, a sensor324, and a joint module300. The joint module300and the sensor324is located on the chassis200. The sensor324is configured for sensing the coolant leakage in the server100, if there is any coolant leakage, the sensor324send signal so that the joint module300disconnects the plug connectors310with the plug410, to cut the coolant circuit for protecting the server100.

As shown inFIG.1toFIG.5, in some embodiments, the joint module300in an embodiment includes a shell321, a moving piece322, a rotating piece3231, a driving piece3232, and a plug connector310. The plug connector310is installed on the moving piece322. The shell321has a cavity3211. The moving piece322is partially located in the cavity3211. The moving piece322has an axis O, and the moving piece322is movable along the axis O between a first position and a second position. The rotating piece3231is placed in the cavity3211. The rotating piece3231has an axis O, and the rotating piece3231is rotatable around the axis O between a first angle and a second angle. The driving piece3232is located on the shell321and is connected to the rotating piece3231. The driving piece3232can rotate the rotating piece3231from the first angle to the second angle. When the rotating piece3231stays at the first angle, the moving piece322is on the first position, and the plug connector310is connected to the plug410, as shown inFIG.4. When the rotating piece3231is rotated to the second angle, the moving piece322is allowed to move to the second position, and after the moving piece322moves to the second position, the plug connector310is disconnected with the plug410, as shown inFIG.5.

In some embodiments, when the rotating piece3231is rotated to the second angle, the moving piece322moves to the second position by the pressure of the coolant, or the moving piece322moves to the second position by a spring (not shown in FIGS.).

In some embodiments, the shell321includes a base3212and a cover3213. The cavity3211is formed between the cover3213and the base3212. Since the base3212is the main stress-bearing part, the base3212is made of a whole piece of metal through milling processing, thereby improving the structural strength of the base3212. The cover3213is sheet metal, reducing the processing cost of the cover3213.

In some embodiments, the base3212has two grooves3212aon both sides in the direction perpendicular to the axis O. The two grooves3212aextend in a direction parallel to the axis O. The moving piece322includes two pins3221on both sides in the direction perpendicular to the axis O. Each of the two pins3221is slidably located in each of the two grooves3212a. The grooves3212alimit the pins3221, so that the moving piece322slide along the axis O.

In some embodiments, a length of the pin3221is less than a width of the groove3212a, so the pin3221is located within the groove3212a, thereby reducing the risk of the pin3221interfering with other components during the sliding of the moving piece322.

In some embodiments, the base3212further has an opening3212bon one side, and the opening3212bis perpendicular to the groove3212aand is connected to the groove3212a. The pins3221enter the grooves3212aby the opening3212b, facilitating the assembly of moving piece322and the base3212.

In some embodiments, the moving piece322further includes a plurality of first teeth3224, and the rotating piece3231includes a plurality of second teeth3231b. The space between each two adjacent second teeth3231bcan accommodate one first tooth3224, and the space between each two adjacent first teeth3224can accommodate one second tooth3231b. When the moving piece322is on the first position and the rotating piece3231is at the first angle, each of the plurality of first teeth3224is against each of the plurality of second teeth3231b, the second teeth3231bstop the first teeth3224, so the rotating piece3231stop the moving piece322from moving to the second position, to keep the plug connector310connected with the plug410, as shown inFIG.4. When the rotating piece3231is at the second angle, the second teeth3231bare not against the first teeth3224, so the moving piece322is allowed to move towards the rotating piece3231, until the second teeth3231band the first teeth3224are engaged, and at this time, the moving piece322is on the second position and the plug connector310is disconnected with the plug410, as shown inFIG.5.

In some embodiments, there are three second teeth3231band three first teeth3224.

In some embodiments, the end of the second teeth3231bfacing the first teeth3224is provided with a buffer pad (not shown in FIGS.), to buffer the impact force between the second teeth3231and the first teeth3224.

In some embodiments, the moving piece322further includes a shaft3222and a head3223. The rotating piece3231further includes a ring3231a. The pins3221are located on the head3223. The plug connector310is installed on the head3223. The head3223is located on an end of the shaft3222in the cavity3211, and another end of the shaft3222away from the head3223passes through the ring3231a, so the ring3231arotates around the shaft3222between the first angle and the second angle. The inner surface of the cavity3211matches the outer surface of the head3223, to support the head3223. The first teeth3224are located on the head3223toward the ring3231a, and the second teeth3231bare located on the ring3231atowards the head3223.

In some embodiments, the shell321further includes a plurality of balls3214. The outer peripheral surface of the rotating piece3231and the inner surface of the cavity3211are provided with ball grooves3215, the balls3214are placed in the ball grooves3215, and the balls3214are used to reduce the friction between the ring3231aand the shell321.

In some embodiments, the rotating piece3231further includes a trigger lever3231c. The cover3213has an avoiding hole3213a, the trigger lever3231cis located on the ring3231aand extends along a radial direction of the ring3231aout of the cavity3211through the avoiding hole3213a. The driving piece3232includes an electromagnetic valve3232aand a pushing part3232b. The electromagnetic valve3232ais placed on the outer surface of the cover3213. The electromagnetic valve3232ais used for moving the pushing part3232balong a direction parallel to axis O. The pushing part3232bis used for pushing the trigger lever3231cto rotate the ring3231afrom the first angle to the second angle.

Furthermore, the driving piece3232further includes a spring3232c, the spring3232cis located out of the cavity3211, and the spring3232cconnects the trigger lever3231cand the shell321. The pushing part3232bcan only push the trigger lever3231cto a critical angle between the first angle and the second angle, after the trigger lever3231cis pushed at the critical angle, the spring3232cpulls the trigger lever3231cto rotate the ring3231afrom the critical angle to the second angle. When the ring3231ais at the first angle, the spring3232ccannot pull the trigger lever3231cto rotate the ring3231ato the second angle, because the spring3232ccan only pull the trigger lever3231cwhen the ring3231ais at the critical angle.

The pushing part3232bhas a bevel T, the bevel T is used for pushing the trigger lever3231cduring the movement of the pushing part3232b, to push the trigger lever3231cfrom the first angle to the critical angle.

In some embodiments, each first teeth3224has a first arc surface M, each second teeth3231bhas a second arc surface N. When the rotating piece3231is at the second angle, the first arc surfaces M and the second arc surfaces N can guide the first teeth3224and the second teeth3231bto engage, until the moving piece322moves to the second position, avoid the first teeth3224and the second teeth3231bgetting stuck due to angle error of rotation of the rotating piece3231.

When the sensor324detects that there is coolant leakage in the server100, the sensor324sends a leakage signal to the electromagnetic valve3232a, and the electromagnetic valve3232amoves the pushing part3232bto push the trigger lever3231c, until the ring3231arotates to the second angle, the second teeth3231band the first teeth3224engage to each other (under the pressure of coolant for example), so the plug connector310is disconnected with the plug410, cutting the circuit of coolant for the server100.

When resetting the joint module300, manually pulling the moving piece322to separate the first teeth3224and the second teeth3231b, then manually rotating the trigger lever3231cto rotate the ring3231aback to the first angle, to let the first teeth3224and the second teeth3231bare against to each other, so the plug connector310can connect to the plug410.