Liquid cooling loops for server applications
View Patent ↗A mounting system provides mechanisms and form factors for bringing a heat exchanger from a server rack into thermal contact with a heat exchanger from a electronics server. To ensure good thermal contact, pressure is applied between the two heat exchangers, the rejector plate and the chassis cold plate. The mounting mechanism used to engage and disengage the heat exchangers is configured to isolate the force applied to the two heat exchangers. The mounting mechanism includes an interlocking mechanism that prevents transfer of the applied force to the rest of the electronics server. Without isolating this force, the force is applied to the electronics server and/or the rack chassis, possibly disconnecting the electrical connections between the electronics server and the rack, as well as providing mechanical stress to the electronics server and the rack chassis. The mounting mechanism is also coupled to the electronics server locking mechanism such that the action of locking the electronics server into the rack causes the heat exchangers to engage in thermal contact. This is a fail safe procedure since no separate process is required to engage the electronics server cooling loop.
1. A mounting system to couple two heat exchangers, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a. a server rack including a first heat exchanger;
b. one or more electronics servers each coupled to the server rack via an electrical interface, each electronics server includes a second heat exchanger;
c. a translation mechanism coupled to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the translation mechanism is configured to apply an engagement force to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, thereby forming a thermal interface between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and
d. a force containment assembly coupled to the translation mechanism, the force containment assembly includes a chassis guide coupled to the electronics server and a rack channel coupled to the rack server, wherein the chassis guide is coupled to the rack channel to form an interlocking channel, further wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the electrical interface.
2. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the translation mechanism is configured to provide a uniform engagement profile between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger such that an entire engagement surface of the second heat exchanger is simultaneously forced against an engagement surface of the first heat exchanger.
3. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the translation mechanism is configured to provide a non-uniform engagement profile between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger such that a first portion of an engagement surface of the second heat exchanger is forced against an engagement surface of the first heat exchanger prior to a second portion of the engagement surface of the second heat exchanger.
4. The mounting system of claim 1 further comprising an actuating mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to actuate the translation mechanism to apply the engagement force.
5. The mounting system of claim 4 wherein the translation mechanism and the actuating mechanism are configured such that an actuating force applied to the actuating mechanism is translated to the engagement force.
6. The mounting system of claim 5 wherein the actuating force is directed along a first vector and the engagement force is directed along a second vector different than the first vector.
7. The mounting system of claim 4 wherein the actuating mechanism is an actuating rod.
8. The mounting system of claim 4 wherein the actuating mechanism is a screw.
9. The mounting system of claim 4 wherein the actuating mechanism comprises one or more of an electro-mechanical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, and a hydraulic actuator.
10. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the force containment assembly is configured to provide a float area between the chassis guide and a chassis of the electronics server.
11. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the force containment assembly is configured to include a float area.
12. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein a first portion of the server rack includes the first heat exchanger and a first portion of the electronics server includes the second heat exchanger, further wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from a remaining portion of the electronics server and from a remaining portion of the server rack.
13. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the translation mechanism comprises a spring coupled to the first heat exchanger and one or more cams coupled to the second heat exchanger.
14. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the server rack includes one or more first heat exchangers.
15. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein each electronics server includes one or more second heat exchangers.
16. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the server rack.
17. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the electronics server.
18. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein each electronics server comprises a blade server.
19. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein each electronics server comprises a rack server.
20. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be fixed in position, and the second heat exchanger is configured to be movable relative to the electronics server.
21. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be movable relative to the server rack, and the second heat exchanger is configured to be movable relative to the electronics server.
22. A mounting system to form a thermal interface between two heat exchangers, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a. a server rack including a first heat exchanger;
b. one or more electronics servers coupled to the server rack, each electronics server includes a second heat exchanger;
c. a translation mechanism coupled to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the translation mechanism is configured to apply an engagement force to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, thereby forming a thermal interface between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and
d. a force containment assembly configured to house the translation mechanism, the force containment assembly including a chassis guide coupled to the electronics server and a rack channel coupled to the server rack, wherein the chassis guide is coupled to the rack channel to form an interlocking channel, further wherein the force containment assembly contains the engagement force.
23. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism is configured to provide a uniform engagement profile between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger such that an entire engagement surface of the first heat exchanger is simultaneously forced against an engagement surface of the second heat exchanger.
24. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism is configured to provide a non-uniform engagement profile between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger such that a first portion of an engagement surface of the first heat exchanger is forced against an engagement surface of the second heat exchanger prior to a second portion of the engagement surface of the first heat exchanger.
25. The mounting system of claim 22 further comprising an actuating mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to actuate the translation mechanism to apply the engagement force.
26. The mounting system of claim 25 wherein the translation mechanism and the actuating mechanism are configured such that an actuating force applied to the actuating mechanism is translated to the engagement force.
27. The mounting system of claim 26 wherein the actuating force is directed along a first vector and the engagement force is directed along a second vector different than the first vector.
28. The mounting system of claim 25 wherein the translation mechanism is further configured to apply a disengagement force.
29. The mounting system of claim 28 wherein the translation mechanism is configured to provide a uniform dis-engagement profile between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger such that an entire engagement surface of the first heat exchanger is simultaneously separated from an engagement surface of the second heat exchanger.
30. The mounting system of claim 28 wherein the translation mechanism is configured to provide a non-uniform dis-engagement profile between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger such that a first portion of an engagement surface of the first heat exchanger is separated from an engagement surface of the second heat exchanger prior to a second portion of the engagement surface of the first heat exchanger.
31. The mounting system of claim 28 wherein the actuating mechanism is further configured to actuate the translation mechanism to apply the disengagement force.
32. The mounting system of claim 25 wherein the actuating mechanism is an actuating rod.
33. The mounting system of claim 25 wherein the actuating mechanism is a screw.
34. The mounting system of claim 25 wherein the actuating mechanism comprises one or more of an electro-mechanical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, and a hydraulic actuator.
35. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the force containment assembly is configured to provide a float area between the chassis guide and a chassis of the electronics server.
36. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the force containment assembly is configured to include a float area.
37. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein a first portion of the server rack includes the first heat exchanger and a first portion of the electronics server includes the second heat exchanger, further wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from a remaining portion of the electronics server and from a remaining portion of the server rack.
38. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism comprises a spring coupled to the second heat exchanger, further wherein the first heat exchanger is coupled to a fixed surface within the force containment assembly.
39. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism comprises a spring coupled to the first heat exchanger and one or more cams coupled to the second heat exchanger.
40. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism comprises a first spring coupled to the first heat exchanger and an extension plate coupled to the second heat exchanger, wherein the extension plate includes one or more ramp profiles configured to define a translation motion of the second heat exchanger.
41. The mounting system of claim 40 wherein each ramp profile is the same.
42. The mounting system of claim 40 wherein one or more of the ramp profiles are different.
43. The mounting system of claim 40 further comprising an actuating mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism includes one or more ramp profiles configured to slide against the one or more ramp profiles of the extension plate, thereby translating the second heat exchanger according to the defined translation motion.
44. The mounting system of claim 40 further comprising an actuating mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism includes one or more rollers configured to roll along the one or more ramp profiles of the extension plate, thereby translating the second heat exchanger according to the defined translation motion.
45. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism comprises a spring coupled to the first heat exchanger and an extension plate coupled to the second heat exchanger, wherein the extension plate includes one or more slot profiles configured to define a translation motion of the of the second heat exchanger.
46. The mounting system of claim 45 wherein each slot profile is the same.
47. The mounting system of claim 45 wherein one or more of the slot profiles are different.
48. The mounting system of claim 45 further comprising an actuating mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism includes one or more pins, one at least one pin positioned within a slot profile of the extension plate, wherein each pin is configured to slide within the ramp profile, thereby translating the second heat exchanger according to the defined translation motion.
49. The mounting system of claim 45 wherein the translation mechanism further comprises one or more cams coupled to the cold plate extension, wherein each cam includes one or more pins, at least one pin positioned within a slot profile of the extension plate, wherein each pin is configured to slide within the ramp profile, thereby translating the second heat exchanger according to the defined translation motion.
50. The mounting system of claim 49 further comprising an actuating mechanism coupled to the one or more cams, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to actuate the one or more cams to apply the engagement force.
51. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism comprises a spring coupled to the first heat exchanger and a scissor jack coupled to the second heat exchanger.
52. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism comprises an expandable device coupled to the second heat exchanger.
53. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the translation mechanism comprises an expandable device coupled to the first heat exchanger.
54. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the server rack includes one or more first heat exchangers.
55. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein each electronics server includes one or more second heat exchangers
56. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the server rack.
57. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the electronics server.
58. The mounting mechanism of claim 22 wherein each electronics server is coupled to the server rack via an electrical interface, and the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the electrical interface.
59. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein each electronics server comprises a blade server.
60. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein each electronics server comprises a rack server.
61. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be fixed in position, and the second heat exchanger is configured to be movable relative to the electronics server.
62. The mounting system of claim 22 wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be movable relative to the server rack, and the second heat exchanger is configured to be movable relative to the electronics server.
63. A mounting system to couple two heat exchangers, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a. a server rack including a first heat exchanger;
b. one or more electronics servers each coupled to the server rack via an electrical interface, each electronics server includes a second heat exchanger;
c. a translation mechanism coupled to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the translation mechanism is configured to apply an engagement force to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, thereby forming a thermal interface between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger;
d. a force containment assembly coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the electrical interface; and an actuating mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to actuate the translation mechanism to apply the engagement force, further wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a screw.
64. A mounting system to couple two heat exchangers, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a. a server rack including a first heat exchanger;
b. one or more electronics servers each coupled to the server rack via an electrical interface, each electronics server includes a second heat exchanger;
c. a translation mechanism coupled to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the translation mechanism is configured to apply an engagement force to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, thereby Forming a thermal interface between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger;
d. a force containment assembly coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the electrical interface; and
e. an actuating mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to actuate the translation mechanism to apply the engagement force, further wherein the actuating mechanism comprises one or more of an electromechanical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator.
65. A mounting system to couple two heat exchangers, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a. a server rack including a first heat exchanger;
b. one or more electronics servers each coupled to the server rack via an electrical interface, each electronics server includes a second heat exchanger;
a translation mechanism comprising a spring coupled to the first heat exchanger and one or more cams coupled to the second heat exchanger, wherein the translation mechanism is configured to apply an engagement force to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, thereby forming a thermal interface between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and
d. a force containment assembly coupled to the translation mechanism, wherein the force containment assembly isolates the engagement force from the electrical interface.