JOINT MODULE, SERVER, AND COMPUTING SYSTEM

A joint module for cutting coolant circuit in server comprises a shell, a plug connector, folding mechanism, and a switch. The plug connector is placed on the shell and movable in a first direction between a first position and a second position for connecting a plug. The folding mechanism is connected to the shell and the plug connector and is used for moving the plug connector. The switch is placed on the shell with a first condition and a second condition. When the switch is in the first condition, the folding mechanism is unfolded, the plug connector is on the first position and is connected to the plug, when the switch is in the second condition, the folding mechanism is folded, the plug connector is on the second position and is disconnected to 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.

For computing systems, 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.8, a computing system200in an embodiment includes a rack201and a plurality of servers102. The plurality of servers102can be installed into the rack201in layers. The rack201includes a plurality of plugs, and there is at least one plug in each layer. Each server102has a plug connector2in the back. When one of the plurality of servers102is installed into the rack201, the plug connector2needs to be connected to the plug in the same layer, so that the rack201can provide coolant to the server102to cool the server102. Usually, there are two plugs in each layer in the rack201, and there are two plug connectors2in the back of each server102, when the server102is installed into the rack201, the two plug connectors2are connected to the two plugs one-to-one, so that the coolant can be circulated between the server102and the rack201.

However, there is a risk of coolant leakage, and when the coolant leak in the server102, if the coolant circuit103in the server102is not cut in time, the coolant will enter the server102, causing damage to the server102.

In some embodiments, to solve the problem mentioned above, the server102in an embodiment includes a chassis101, a sensor104, and a joint module100. The joint module100and the sensor104is located on the chassis101. The sensor104is configured for sensing the coolant leakage in the server102, if there is any coolant leakage, the joint module100disconnects the plug connectors2with the plug, to cut the coolant circuit103for protecting the server102.

As shown inFIG.1toFIG.6, in some embodiments, the joint module100in an embodiment includes a shell3, a plug connector2, a folding mechanism5and a switch4. The plug connector2is placed on the shell3and is movable in a first direction X between a first position and a second position. The plug connector2is used for connecting a plug of the rack201. The folding mechanism5is connected to the shell3and the plug connector2, and the folding mechanism5is used for moving the plug connector2in the first direction X. The switch4is placed on the shell3with a first condition and a second condition. When the switch4is in the first condition, the folding mechanism5is unfolded, the plug connector2is kept on the first position and able to connect to the plug. When the switch4is in the second condition, the folding mechanism5is folded, the plug connector2is kept on the second position and is disconnected to the plug, to cut off the connection of the circuit103and the rack201.

In some embodiments, the folding mechanism5includes a first folding piece51, a second folding piece52, and a spring53. The first folding piece51has a first end5101and a second end5102. The second folding piece52has a third end5201and a fourth end5202. The first end5101is rotatably connected to the plug connector2. The second end5102is rotatably connected to the third end5201. The fourth end5202is rotatably connected to the shell3. When the first folding piece51and the second folding piece52rotate away from each other, the folding mechanism5is unfolded, to move the plug connector2to the first position. When the first folding piece51and the second folding piece52rotate close to each other, the folding mechanism5is folded, to move the plug connector2to the second position.

The spring53is located between the second folding piece52and the shell3. When the switch4is in the first condition, the folding mechanism5is kept unfolded, and the spring53is compressed. When the switch4is in the second condition, the folding mechanism5is released, so the spring53releases elastic potential energy to rotate the second folding piece52, letting the first folding piece51and the second folding piece52rotate close to each other, to fold the folding mechanism5.

In some embodiments, the switch4includes a first magnet41, a second magnet42, and a demagnetization part43. The second magnet42is located on the second folding piece52. The first magnet41and the demagnetization part43is located on the shell3. When the switch4is in the first condition, the demagnetization part43is powered off, the first magnet41attracts the second folding piece52, so the first folding piece51and the second folding piece52rotate away from each other, until the folding mechanism is unfolded, the plug connector2is on the first position to connect the plug1. When the switch4is in the second condition, the demagnetization part43is powered on, the demagnetization part demagnetizes the first magnet51, the spring53releases elastic potential energy to rotate the second folding piece52, letting the first folding piece51and the second folding piece52rotate close to each other, to fold the folding mechanism5, until the plug connector2is on the second position to disconnect the plug1.

Furthermore, the first magnet41and the second magnet42is a permanent magnet, and the demagnetization part43is a coil. The coil is wrapped around the first magnet41. When the coil is powered on, the coil generates magnetic poles, and the magnetic poles of the coil are opposite to the magnetic poles of the first magnet41, so the magnetism of the first magnet41is weakened by the coil, to demagnetizing the first magnet41and release the second folding piece52.

For another example, the demagnetization part43is a heater to heat the first magnet41. When the first magnet41is heated to a certain temperature, the magnetism of the first magnet41will disappear, so to demagnetizing the first magnet41and release the second folding piece52.

In some embodiments, the shell3includes two side walls31. Each of the two side walls31defines a sliding groove61. The plug connector2has two protrusions21. Each of the two protrusions21is slidably placed in each of the two sliding grooves61, for guiding the plug connector2moving in the first direction X.

Furthermore, the shape of the protrusion21is not round, so the protrusion21cannot rotate in the sliding groove61, to limit the rotation of the plug connector2.

In some embodiments, the first folding piece51includes a first board512and two first ears511. The two first ears511are connected to opposite sides of the first board512in direction Y. The second folding piece52includes a second board522and two second ears521. The two second ears521are connected to opposite sides of the second board522in direction Y. The two first ears521are rotatably connected to the plug connector2by a first shaft54. The two first ears511are rotatably connected to the two second ears521by a second shaft55. The two second ears521are rotatably connected to the shell3by a third shaft56.