Patent Publication Number: US-2023158317-A1

Title: Airtight device and feedthrough module

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application No. 17/109,071, filed on December 1st, 2020. The content of the application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an airtight device and a feedthrough module, and more particularly, to an airtight device of preventing gaseous matter from leakage and a related feedthrough module. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional airtight apparatus puts an object inside an accommodating space of the housing, and a cover is assembled with the housing to seal the accommodating space, so that a liquid cooling device in the airtight apparatus can cool the object; however, liquid matter of the liquid cooling device is transformed into gaseous matter by heat, and therefore the airtight apparatus applies stable pressure for the cover to assemble the cover with the housing, so as to prevent the gaseous matter from leakage. A transmission module may be arranged through the housing via holes or openings formed on the housing, thereby allowing signal/power transmission. However, the opening or the holes may cause liquid/gas leakage from the housing; besides, the holes on the housing may be designed for a specific type of the transmission module, which results in inconvenience when replacing the module of the specific type with a module of another type. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an airtight device of preventing gaseous matter from leakage and a related feedthrough module for solving above drawbacks. 
     According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an airtight device includes a tank and a feedthrough module. The tank includes a tank body that defines an accommodating space, wherein the tank body includes a lateral wall, wherein an opening is formed on the lateral wall. The feedthrough module is disposed on the opening. The feedthrough module includes a base, a sealing component, a covering component, and at least one transmission component. The base is disposed on the lateral wall, a groove is formed on a surface of the base. A part of the sealing component is disposed inside the groove. The covering component is assembled with the base and adapted to press the sealing component and cover the opening. The at least one transmission component is assembled with the covering component. 
     According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a feedthrough module includes a base, a sealing component, a covering component, and at least one transmission component, and at least one transmission component. The base is formed with a groove and a plurality of engaging holes. The sealing component is partially disposed in the groove. The covering component assembled with the base and adapted to press the sealing component, wherein a plurality of fixing holes are formed on the covering component. The at least one transmission component is assembled with the covering component. The plurality of fixing components are adapted to insert into the plurality of fixing holes and engage with the base for uniformly pressing the sealing component. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram of an airtight device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of a reciprocating engaging mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram of a part of the airtight device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded diagram of a feedthrough module according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is an assembly diagram of the feedthrough module according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded diagram of the transmission component in another type according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is an assembly diagram of the transmission component according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a sectional view of a part of a covering component and a fixing component in one operation mode according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is a sectional view of the part of the covering component and the fixing component in another operation mode according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    is an exploded diagram of the feedthrough module according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  11    is an assembly diagram of the feedthrough module according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  12    is a sectional view of the feedthrough module according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  13    is an exploded diagram of the feedthrough module according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  14    is an assembly diagram of the feedthrough module according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  1    is a diagram of an airtight device  10  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The airtight device  10  can include a tank  12 . The tank  12  comprises a tank body  121 , a tank lid  122 , a liftable hinge mechanism  16  and a reciprocating engaging mechanism  18 . An accommodating space  123  is defined inside the tank body  121 . The tank lid  122  is used to cover the tank body  121 . The liftable hinge mechanism  16  and the reciprocating engaging mechanism  18  can be respectively disposed between the tank body  121  and the tank lid  122 . The tank lid  122  can be connected to the tank body  121  in a rotatable and shiftable manner via the liftable hinge mechanism  16 , which means the tank lid  122  can be liftable relative to the tank body  121 . With the help of the reciprocating engaging mechanism  18 , the tank lid  122  can prevent gaseous matter inside the tank body  121  from leakage. The reciprocating engaging mechanism  18  can simultaneously press and release all sides of the tank lid  122 . One or more electronic apparatus (which is not shown in  FIG.  1   ) such as IT gear can be disposed inside the tank body  121  for cooling. The tank lid  122  can be rotated and lifted relative to the tank body  121  for exposing or sealing the electronic apparatus disposed inside the accommodating space  123 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  2    is a diagram of the reciprocating engaging mechanism  18  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The reciprocating engaging mechanism  18  can include a shaft  24 , a rotary plate  26 , a first engaging component  28 , a second engaging component  30  and a linkage module  32 . The shaft  24  can be disposed on the tank lid  122 . The rotary plate  26  can be rotatably connected to the shaft  24 . The first engaging component  28  can be connected to the rotary plate  26  via the linkage module  32 . The second engaging component  30  can be disposed on the tank body  121  or the tank  12 . The linkage module  32  can include several structural elements connected between the rotary plate  26  and the first engaging component  28 . Rotation of the rotary plate  26  can drive the linkage module  32  to move and switch the first engaging component  28  between a locking mode and an unlocking mode, so as to tightly shelter the accommodating space  123  by the tank lid  122  for preventing the gaseous matter inside the accommodating space  123  from leakage. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  3    is a diagram of a part of the airtight device  10  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The tank body  121  is configured to accommodate liquid coolant (which is not marked in the figures), and one or more heat generating device  34  (e.g., the electronic apparatus mentioned as above) disposed inside the tank body  121 . During operation, the heat generating device  34  is being immersed by the coolant. The airtight device  10  can further include a power providing module  36 , a condenser  38  and at least one feedthrough module  40  (e.g., the feedthrough modules  40 H and  40 L). The power providing module  36  can be disposed under the heat generating device  34 , and connected between the heat generating device  34  and the feedthrough module  40 L therefore being connected with external power supply (which is not shown in the figures). The condenser  38  can be disposed above the heat generating device  34  and is not immersed inside the coolant. The tank body  121  can include at least one opening  42  formed on a lateral wall  141  (e.g., a backside wall of the sink) of the tank body  121 . A number of the opening  42  can correspond to a number of the feedthrough modules  40 H and  40 L. The feedthrough modules  40 H and  40 L can be disposed on the opening  42 , and have an airtight and waterproof function to avoid the gaseous matter and the coolant from leakage through the opening  42 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the feedthrough modules  40 H are arranged above the condenser  38 . During operation, the liquid coolant would absorb the heat generated from the heat generating device  34  and then vaporize (i.e., the “vapor” in  FIG.  3   ). The upward-moving vapor would mostly contact and being condensed by the condenser  38  before reaching the feedthrough module  40 H, therefore reducing the amount of escaping vapor through the opening  42  when the feedthrough module  40 H is removed (e.g., during maintenance). Likewise, the illustrated tank lid  122  is also located above the condenser  38 , therefore reducing the amount of escaping vapor when the tank lid  122  is opened (e.g., through operating the reciprocating engaging mechanism as shown in  FIG.  2   ). In the illustrated embodiment, the feedthrough modules  40 H are arranged between the tank lid  122  and the condenser  38  along a vertical direction. In some embodiments, the heat generating devices  34  are arranged between the feedthrough module  40  (e.g., the feedthrough modules  40 H) for transmitting signal or power and the feedthrough module  40  (e.g., the feedthrough module  40 L) for transmitting power along the vertical direction. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   .  FIG.  4    is an exploded diagram of the feedthrough module  40  according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  5    is an assembly diagram of the feedthrough module  40  according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The feedthrough module  40  can include a base  44 , a sealing component  46 , a covering component  48 , at least one transmission component  50  and a plurality of fixing components  52 . The base  44  can be disposed on the lateral wall (e.g., the lateral wall  141  in  FIG.  3   ) of the tank body  121 , and a groove  54  can be formed on a surface  56  of the base  44  opposite to the tank body  121 . The sealing component  46  can be partially disposed inside the groove  54  and be further pressed by the covering component  48 . The covering component  48  can be attached to the base  44  and covers the opening (e.g., opening  42 ) of the tank via the plurality of fixing components  52 . The covering component  48  can have a plurality of fixing holes  58  and at least one installing hole  60 . 
     A number of the transmission component  50  can correspond to a number of the installing hole  60 . The transmission component  50  can be arranged through the installing hole  60  in an airtight and waterproofing manner, and be electrically connected to the heat generating device  34  or the power providing module  36 , which depend on a type of the feedthrough module  40 . A number of the fixing components  52  can correspond to a number of the fixing holes  58 . One of the plurality of fixing components  52  can be inserted into one of the plurality of fixing holes  58 , and be engaged with one of a plurality of engaging holes  64  formed on the surface  56  of the base  44 . Therefore, when the plurality of fixing components  52  is uniformly inserted into the plurality of fixing holes  58  and engaged with the plurality of engaging holes  64 , the sealing component  46  can be uniformly pressed by the base  44  and the covering component  48  for filling the groove  54 , so as to provide the preferred airtight and waterproof function. 
     In some embodiments, the base  44  is configured to be attached a surface of the lateral wall (e.g., lateral wall  141 ) opposite to the accommodating space  123  defined by the tank body  121 , and the covering component  48  is configured to be attached to the base  44  from outside of the tank body  121 . During maintenance, the covering component  48  could be easily removed from outside of the tank body  121  without opening the lid  122  of the tank  12 , therefore reducing the amount of escaping vapor. During maintenance, a dummy cover could be further attached to the base  44 , easily from outside of the tank  12 , such that the opening (e.g., opening  42 ) is still being covered while the covering component  48  is removed, therefore reducing the amount of escaping vapor. Besides, the groove  54  on the base  44  is shown to be annular and the engaging holes  64  are located outside of an area of the base  44  surrounded by the groove  54 . Under such arrangement, even though the pressure of the vapor (e.g., “vapor” in  FIG.  3   ) in the accommodating space  123  is high, the vapor could be blocked by the sealing component  46  before reaching the fixing holes  58  of the covering component  44 , thereby significantly reduce the amount of vapor escaping via the fixing holes  58 . In fact, the illustrated sealing component  46  disposed in the groove  54  is uniformly surrounded by the engaging holes  64  and being uniformly pressed. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , a window  62  can be further formed on the base  44 . The transmission component  50  which arranged through the installing hole  60  can pass through the window  62  to reach into the accommodating space  123  for electrically connecting with the heat generating device  34  or the power providing module  36 . The window  62  can be surrounded by the groove  54 , and the groove  54  can be surrounded by the plurality of engaging holes  64 , so that the feedthrough module  40  can uniformly press the sealing component  46  by moving the covering component  48  toward the base  44  for shortening a distance between the base  44  and the covering component  48 . In the first embodiment, the feedthrough module  40  is disposed on the opening  42  located above the electronic device (e.g., the heat generating device  34  in  FIG.  3   ) and the condenser (e.g., the condenser  38  in  FIG.  3   ), so that the transmission component  50  of the feedthrough module  40  can be electrically connected to the heat generating device  34 . In addition, the covering component  48  can be made of metal material, and be optionally coated by an isolation layer in accordance with the design demand. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7   .  FIG.  6    is an exploded diagram of the transmission component  50  in another type according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  7    is an assembly diagram of the transmission component  50  according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The transmission component  50  can include a cable  66 , a nut  68  and a sealing element  70 . The cable  66  can have a thread structure  72  and an annular portion  74 . The annular portion  74  can be distant from or adjacent to the thread structure  72 . One end of the cable  66  can insert into the installing hole  60 , and the other end of the cable  66  can extend into the accommodating space  123  for connecting the heat generating device  34  or the power providing module  36 . The nut  68  can be engaged with the thread structure  72  and press one surface  76  (e.g., opposite to the accommodating space  123 ) of the covering component  48 . The cable  66  can be locked with the nut  68  and therefore the annular portion  74  can abut toward another surface  78  (e.g., facing the accommodating space  123 ) of the covering component  48  opposite to the nut  68 . A sealing element  70  can be disposed between the annular portion  74  of the cable  66  and the surface  78  of the covering component  48  by pressure of the covering component  48  and the annular portion  74  for the preferred airtight and waterproof function, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG.  6   . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  6   , the sealing element  70  is clipped by the covering component  48  and the annular portion  74 . Since the surface  78  of the covering component  48  provides a sufficient contact area for abutting against the sealing element  70 , the sealing element  70  can be made with a sufficiently large size even though a size of the nut  68  is being reduced. By reducing the size of the nut  68 , a number of the installing holes  60  formed on the covering component  48  can be increased, thereby increasing the number of transmission module. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  8    and  FIG.  9   .  FIG.  8    and  FIG.  9    are sectional views of a part of the covering component  48  and the fixing component  52  in different operation modes according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The fixing component  52  can include a resilient element  85  (e.g., a spring), a bushing  86  and a screwing body  88 . Two opposite ends of the resilient element  85  can be respectively connected to the bushing  86  and a top of the screwing body  88 . The bushing  86  can be inserted into the fixing hole  58  formed on the covering component  48 , and a protrusion  90  of the bushing  86  can be protruded from the fixing hole  58 . Then, the protrusion  90  can be pressed and deformed by an external force to engage with a depression  92  formed on an inner surface  94  of the fixing hole  58  for a riveting function. In response to engagement of the bushing  86  and the depression  92 , the screwing body  88  can be engaged with the engaging hole  64  of the base  44  and the covering component  48  can be tightly assembled with each other via the fixing component  52  to provide the preferred airtight and waterproof function. 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , when the resilient element  85  is not compressed, a front end  881  of the screwing body  88  does not protrude from the fixing hole  58  on the covering component  48 , so as to avoid the fixing component  52  and the base (e.g., the base  44  in  FIG.  9   ) from structural interference. The screwing body  88  cannot be separated from the bushing  86  via connection of the resilient element  85 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  9   , the fixing component  52  is pushed to the left and the resilient element  85  is being compressed. The front end of the screwing body  88  can be engaged with a thread structure  641  of the engaging hole  64  formed on the base  44 . An inner surface of the bushing  86  may not have the thread structure to provide rapid and convenient advantages of engaging the fixing component  52  with the base  44 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  10    to  FIG.  12   .  FIG.  10    is an exploded diagram of the feedthrough module  40 A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  11    is an assembly diagram of the feedthrough module  40 A according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  12    is a sectional view of the feedthrough module  40 A according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. In the second embodiment, elements having the same numerals as ones of the first embodiment have the same structures and functions, and a detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity. The feedthrough module  40 A can include the base  44 , the sealing component  46 , a covering component  48 A, a transmission component  50 A and a plurality of fixing components  52 A. The transmission component  50 A can be inserted into and engaged with the installing hole  60  of the covering component  48 A in the airtight and waterproofing manner. 
     In the second embodiment, the transmission component  50 A can include an array of several cables  80 , a case  82  and a sealing element  84 . An adapter of the cable  80  can be supported by the case  82  connected with the covering component 48A. The sealing element  84  can be disposed around the cable  80  and filled within a sunken portion  49  of the covering component  48 A for the preferred airtight and waterproof function. The sunken portion  49  can be located on an area of the covering component  48  where the installing hole  60  and the cable  80  is arranged. The sealing element  84  can be epoxy. The feedthrough module  40 A can be disposed on the opening  42  located above the condenser  38 , and the transmission component  50 A of the feedthrough module  40 A can be electrically connected with the heat generating device  34 . 
     A thickness of the covering component  48 A can be sufficiently large (e.g., greater than a thickness of the covering component  48  in the first embodiment), so that the fixing hole  58  on the covering component  48 A can include an inner thread portion  96  and a non-thread portion  98  adjacent to each other. A length of the non-thread portion  98  of the fixing hole  58  can be greater than a length of an outer thread portion  100  of the fixing component  52 A. A length of the thread structure  641  of the engaging hole  64  is configured greater than the length of the outer thread portion  100  of the fixing component  52 A. The inner thread portion  96  can be used to block the outer thread portion  100  to prevent the fixing component  52 A from being separated from the fixing hole  58 . The outer thread portion  100  can be stayed inside the fixing hole  58  when the fixing component  52 A is disengaged from the engaging hole  64 . A washer  102  can be pressed by the fixing component  52 A to abut against the covering component  48 A for the preferred airtight and waterproof function. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  13    and  FIG.  14   .  FIG.  13    is an exploded diagram of the feedthrough module  40 B according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  14    is an assembly diagram of the feedthrough module  40 B according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. In the third embodiment, elements having the same numerals as ones of the foresaid embodiment have the same structures and functions, and the detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity. The feedthrough module  40 B can include the base  44 , the sealing component  46 , a covering component  48 B, a transmission component  50 B and a plurality of fixing components  52 B. The feedthrough module  40 B can be disposed on the opening  42  located under the heat generating device  34 , and can be electrically connected to the external power supply. 
     In the third embodiment, the covering component  48 B and the transmission component  50 B can be made of the same conductive material. For example, the transmission component  50 B can be integrated with the covering component  48 B monolithically. The covering component  48 B can be further coated by the isolation layer. The fixing component  52 B can be inserted into the fixing hole  58  on the covering component  48 B and engaged with the engaging hole  64  on the base  44 . The sealing component  46  can be disposed between the base  44  and the covering component  48 B, and can be pressed to fill with the groove  54  on the base  44  when the fixing component  52 B is tightly engaged with the engaging hole  64 . 
     In conclusion, the feedthrough module of the airtight device in the present disclosure can utilize the plurality of fixing components to lock the base and the covering component, and the sealing component can be located between the base and the covering component and partly inside the groove on the base. The plurality of fixing components can be separately engaged with the engaging holes on the base in the symmetrical and staggered manner, so that the sealing component can be uniformly pressed and deformed to avoid the gaseous matter in the sink from leakage through unexpected space between the base and the covering component. The fixing component can be designed in accordance with the thickness of the covering component. The transmission component can be designed as a connector, a cable array or a busbar, which depends on an actual demand. The feedthrough module which provides the airtight function can be disposed on the opening above the heating device and not immersed inside the coolant, and the feedthrough module which provides the waterproofing function can be disposed on the opening under the heating device and immersed inside the coolant. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.