Patent ID: 12241698

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The making and using of the embodiments of the connecting device of the liquid cooling module are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the embodiments, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that each term, which is defined in a commonly used dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning conforming to the relative skills and the background or the context of the present disclosure, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal manner unless defined otherwise.

Referring toFIG.1, a connecting device C of a liquid cooling module can be disposed on a housing H of an electronic apparatus (such as a rack of a server or a housing of a computer). The connecting device C can be connected to a fluid supply (such as a fluid supply10shown inFIG.5) and a heating member in the electronic apparatus (such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hard disk, and/or etc.), so that the fluid supply can provide a fluid for cooling to the heating member through the connecting device C. Therefore, the fluid for cooling can absorb the heat from the heating member, so as to reduce the temperature of the heating member.

FIG.2is an exploded-view diagram of the connecting device C shown inFIG.1. As shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, the connecting device C of the liquid cooling module primarily includes a floating connector100, a case200, and a plurality of elastic sheets300. The floating connector100has a channel110, and the opposite ends111and112of the channel100can be respectively connected to the liquid cooling module and the heating member via a tube. The case200can be affixed to the housing H of the electronic apparatus, and can surround the floating connector100to protect the floating connector100from being struck by an external member. In some embodiments, the case200is a part of the housing H of the electronic apparatus.

Referring toFIG.1toFIG.3, in this embodiment, the case200includes a first case210. The floating connector100can be extended along the X-axis and passing through the first case210. The first case210substantially has a rectangular cross section, and an assembly portion212and a hole213can be formed on each of its four sides. The elastic sheet300can be affixed to the outer surface of the assembly portion212and pass through the hole213. In particular, the elastic sheet300includes a first extending structure310, a second extending structure320, and a curved structure330. The first extending structure310is affixed to the outer surface of the assembly portion212. The second extending structure320is disposed between the assembly portion212and the floating connector100. The curved structure330passes through the hole213and connects the first extending structure310to the second extending structure320. The elastic sheet300can provide a support force that a spring cannot provide, so that the floating connector100can be floated with a sufficient support force.

Each of the first extending structure310and the second extending structure320is substantially a plate (i.e. a plate-shaped structure), and they are parallel to each other. The curved structure330extends substantially along a circular arc curve line. The head end331of the curved structure330is connected to the first extending structure310, and the tail end332of the curved structure330is connected to the second extending structure320. Therefore, the first extending structure310, the second extending structure320, and the curved structure330can substantially form a U-shaped cross section. When the floating connector100passes through the first case210, the second extending structure320of the elastic sheet330can be in contact with the floating connector100in a separable manner. Owing to the elastic force of the elastic sheet300, when the tube of the fluid supply is not connected to the floating connector100, the floating connector100can be positioned in a predetermined position. Moreover, since the elastic sheet300is flexible, the floating connector100can move relative to the case200in a limited range. Thus, when the position of the tube of the fluid supply is deviated from the position of the floating connector100, the floating connector100can move to correspond to the position of the tube, and the user can still connect the tube to the floating connector100.

In this embodiment, all of the elastic sheets300in the connecting device C have the same shape and dimensions, and they are disposed in a rotational symmetric manner relative to the central axis AX of the floating connector100.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.4, in this embodiment, the case200further includes a second case220. The first case210and the second case220can be connected to each other or can be integrally formed as one piece. The second case220has a through hole221, and the floating connector100extends along the X-axis and passes through the through hole221. Specifically, the floating connector100has an anti-rotation structure120accommodated in the through hole221.

The anti-rotation structure120has four lateral sides121,122,123, and124, and all of the lateral sides121,122,123and124are concave. The walls of the through hole221facing the lateral sides121,122,123, and124are respectively the walls221A,221B,221C, and221D. These walls221A,221B,221C, and221D are formed to be convex to correspond to the appearance of the lateral sides121,122,123, and124. Since the farthest distance between the central axis AX of the floating connector100and the lateral sides121,122,123,124(such as distance D1) is greater than the shortest distance between the central axis AX of the floating connector100and walls221A,221B,221C,221D (such as distance D2), the rotation angle of the floating connector100can be restricted. For example, owing to the through hole221and the anti-rotation structure120, the floating connector100can only rotate 5-10 degrees relative to the case200.

Since there are gaps formed between the lateral sides121,122,123,124of the anti-rotation structure120and the walls221A,221B,221C,221D of the through hole221, the floating connector100can still move relative to the case200along the Y-axis and/or the Z-axis to achieve the purpose of floating even though the floating connector100has an anti-rotation structure120.

Referring toFIG.1,FIG.2, andFIG.5, in this embodiment, the floating connector100further includes a guiding hole130. The guiding hole130is disposed adjacent to the channel110of the floating connector100, and a guiding pillar12corresponding to the guiding hole130is disposed adjacent to the tube11of the fluid supply10. Therefore, when the user wants to connect the tube11of the fluid supply10to the floating connector100, the guiding pillar12can enter the guiding hole130of the floating connector100in advance to adjust the position of the tube11of the fluid supply10to correspond to the position of the channel110of the floating connector100.

In this embodiment, the connecting device C further includes a spring400connected to the case200and the floating connector100. For example, the spring400can be a compression spring. When the tube of the fluid supply and the floating connector100are connected, the elastic force of the spring400can provide a buffer, and can make the tube and the floating connector100to connect securely.

Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7, in another embodiment of the invention, a connecting device C of the liquid cooling module primarily includes a floating connector100, a case200, and a plurality of elastic sheets300. The floating connector100has a channel110, and the opposite ends111and112of the channel100can be respectively connected to the liquid cooling module and the heating member via a tube. In this embodiment, the floating connector100further includes a rectangular portion140and a plurality of connecting pillars150. The rectangular portion140has a rectangular cross section. The connecting pillars150are disposed on the rectangular portion140, and situated at the corners of the rectangular portion140.

The case200can be affixed to the housing H of the electronic apparatus, and can surround the floating connector100to protect the floating connector100from being struck by an external member. As shown inFIG.6toFIG.8, in this embodiment, the case200includes a first case210. The floating connector100can be extended along the X-axis and passing through the first case210. The first case210substantially has a rectangular cross section, and an assembly portion212and a hole213can be formed on each of its four sides. The elastic sheet300can be affixed to the outer surface of the assembly portion212and pass through the hole213. In particular, the elastic sheet300includes a first extending structure310, a second extending structure320, and a curved structure330. The first extending structure310is affixed to the outer surface of the assembly portion212. The second extending structure320is disposed between the assembly portion212and the floating connector100. The curved structure330passes through the hole213and connects the first extending structure310to the second extending structure320.

The first extending structure310is substantially a plate, and the curved structure330extends substantially along a circular arc curve line. The head end331of the curved structure330is connected to the first extending structure310, and the tail end332of the curved structure330is connected to the second extending structure320. The second extending structure320includes an annular portion321. The annular portions321of the second extending structures320of the connecting device C are connected to the connecting pillars150on the floating connector100in a detachable and one-to-one manner. Specifically, in one elastic sheet300and one connecting pillar150that are connected to each other, the connecting pillar150is disposed between the opening322of the annular portion321and the first extending structure310.

Owing to the elastic force of the elastic sheet300, when the tube of the fluid supply is not connected to the floating connector100, the floating connector100can be positioned in a predetermined position. Moreover, since the elastic sheet300is flexible, the floating connector100can move relative to the case200in a limited range. Thus, when the position of the tube of the fluid supply is deviated from the position of the floating connector100, the floating connector100can move to correspond to the position of the tube, and the user can still connect the tube to the floating connector100.

In this embodiment, the connecting portions of the elastic sheets300and the floating connector100(i.e. the engaging positions of the annular portion321and the connecting pillars150) are rotational symmetric relative to the central axis AX of the floating connector100.

Referring toFIG.7andFIG.9, in this embodiment, the case200further includes a second case220. The first case210and the second case220can be connected to each other or can be integrally formed as one piece. The second case220has a through hole221, and the floating connector100extends along the X-axis and passes through the through hole221. The floating connector100has an anti-rotation structure120accommodated in the through hole221.

The anti-rotation structure120has four lateral sides121,122,123, and124, and all of the lateral sides121,122,123and124are concave. The walls of the through hole221facing the lateral sides121,122,123, and124are respectively the walls221A,221B,221C, and221D. These walls221A,221B,221C, and221D are formed to be convex to correspond to the appearance of the lateral sides121,122,123, and124. Since the farthest distance between the central axis AX of the floating connector100and the lateral sides121,122,123,124(such as distance D1) is greater than the shortest distance between the central axis AX of the floating connector100and walls221A,221B,221C,221D (such as distance D2), the rotation angle of the floating connector100can be restricted. For example, owing to the through hole221and the anti-rotation structure120, the floating connector100can only rotate 5-10 degrees relative to the case200.

Since there are gaps formed between the lateral sides121,122,123,124of the anti-rotation structure120and the walls221A,221B,221C,221D of the through hole221, the floating connector100can still move relative to the case200along the Y-axis and/or the Z-axis to achieve the purpose of floating even though the floating connector100has an anti-rotation structure120.

Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7, in this embodiment, the floating connector100further includes a guiding hole130. The guiding hole130is disposed adjacent to the channel110of the floating connector100, and a guiding pillar corresponding to the guiding hole130is disposed adjacent to the tube of the fluid supply. Therefore, when the user wants to connect the tube of the fluid supply to the floating connector100, the guiding pillar can enter the guiding hole130of the floating connector100in advance to adjust the position of the tube of the fluid supply to correspond to the position of the channel110of the floating connector100.

In this embodiment, the connecting device C further includes a spring400connected to the case200and the floating connector100. For example, the spring400can be a compression spring. When the tube of the fluid supply and the floating connector100are connected, the elastic force of the spring400can provide a buffer, and can make the tube and the floating connector100to connect securely.

In summary, an embodiment of the invention provides a connecting device of a liquid cooling module, including a floating connector, a case, and an elastic sheet. The floating connector has a channel configured to let a fluid pass through it. The elastic sheet includes a first extending structure, a second extending structure, and a curved structure. The first extending structure is affixed to the case. The second extending structure is connected to the floating connector. The head end and the tail end of the curved structure are respectively connected to the first extending structure and the second extending structure.

An embodiment of the invention further provides a connecting device of a liquid cooling module, including a floating connector, a case, and a plurality of elastic sheets. The floating connector has a channel configured to let a fluid pass through it. Each of the elastic sheets includes a first extending structure, a second extending structure, and a curved structure. The first extending structure is affixed to the case. The second extending structure is connected to the floating connector. The head end and the tail end of the curved structure are respectively connected to the first extending structure and the second extending structure. The connecting portions of the elastic sheets and the floating connector are rotational symmetric relative to the central axis of the floating connector.

Although some embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many of the features, functions, processes, and materials described herein may be varied while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. Moreover, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.