IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,507,377
Granted Patent B2
US 12,507,377 · App. 17/841,372 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Breaker valve for liquid flow shutoff

Inventor: Robert B. Curtis (Georgetown, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H05K7/20272F16K17/36F16K31/0682
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,507,377
App. No.
17/841,372
Filed
Jun 15, 2022
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3763
USPC
62/528
Abstract

An information handling system may include an information handling resource, a liquid cooling system for providing cooling of the information handling resource, a leak detection system for detecting a leak of fluid from the liquid cooling system, and a breaker valve fluidically coupled to the liquid cooling system and communicatively coupled to the leak detection system and configured to, in response to a stimulus from the leak detection system indicating presence of a leak of fluid from the liquid cooling system, automatically transition from an open state in which the breaker valve permits flow of fluid through the breaker valve to a closed state in which the breaker valve impedes flow of fluid through the breaker valve.

Claims (21)

1 . An information handling system comprising: an information handling resource; a liquid cooling system for providing cooling of the information handling resource; a leak detection system for detecting a leak of fluid from the liquid cooling system; and a breaker valve fluidically coupled to the liquid cooling system and communicatively coupled to the leak detection system and configured to, in response to a stimulus from the leak detection system indicating presence of a leak of fluid from the liquid cooling system, automatically transition from an open state in which the breaker valve permits flow of fluid through the breaker valve to a closed state in which the breaker valve impedes flow of fluid through the breaker valve, wherein the breaker valve comprises: a valve having a body and two ports mechanically and fluidically coupled to the body; and a throw mechanically coupled to the body and configured to be translated between an open position in which the throw causes the valve to be in the open state and a closed position in which the throw causes the valve to be in the closed state; wherein the throw is mechanically biased in the closed position.

2 . The information handling system of claim 1 , the breaker valve further comprising a spring mechanically coupled to the body and the throw and arranged such that the throw is mechanically biased in the closed position.

3 . The information handling system of claim 2 , the breaker valve further comprising a solenoid having a movable core configured to mechanically engage with a mechanical feature of the throw in order to overcome the spring force of the spring and maintain the throw in the open position in an absence of the stimulus.

4 . The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein the solenoid is configured to mechanically disengage the movable core from the mechanical feature in the presence of the stimulus in order to allow the spring force to cause the throw to translate to the closed position.

5 . The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical feature comprises a receptacle formed in the throw.

6 . The information handling system of claim 1 , the breaker valve further comprising a second valve having a second body and two second ports mechanically and fluidically coupled to the second body, the second body mechanically coupled to the throw such that the throw causes the second valve to be in the open state when the throw is in the open position and in the closed state when the throw is in the closed position.

7 . A breaker valve comprising:

a valve having a body and two ports mechanically and fluidically coupled to the body; and

a throw mechanically coupled to the body and configured to be translated between an open position in which the throw causes the valve to be in the open state and a closed position in which the throw causes the valve to be in the closed state;

wherein the throw is mechanically biased in the closed position.

8 . The breaker valve of claim 7 , further comprising a spring mechanically coupled to the body and the throw and arranged such that the throw is mechanically biased in the closed position.

9 . The breaker valve of claim 8 , further comprising a solenoid having a movable core configured to mechanically engage with a mechanical feature of the throw in order to overcome the spring force of the spring and maintain the throw in the open position in an absence of the stimulus.

10 . The breaker valve of claim 9 , wherein the solenoid is configured to mechanically disengage the movable core from the mechanical feature in the presence of the stimulus in order to allow the spring force to cause the throw to translate to the closed position.

11 . The breaker valve of claim 9 , wherein the mechanical feature comprises a receptacle formed in the throw.

12 . The breaker valve of claim 7 , further comprising a second valve having a second body and two second ports mechanically and fluidically coupled to the second body, the second body mechanically coupled to the throw such that the throw causes the second valve to be in the open state when the throw is in the open position and in the closed state when the throw is in the closed position.

13 . A method comprising mechanically biasing a throw in a closed position, wherein the throw is mechanically coupled to a body having of a valve comprising the body and two ports mechanically and fluidically coupled to the body and wherein the throw is mechanically coupled to the body and configured to be translated between an open position in which the throw causes the valve to be in the open state and a closed position in which the throw causes the valve to be in the closed state.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further arranging a spring mechanically coupled to the body and the throw such that the throw is mechanically biased in the closed position.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising maintaining the throw in the open position in an absence of the stimulus with a solenoid having a movable core configured to mechanically engage with a mechanical feature of the throw in order to overcome the spring force of the spring and maintain the throw in the open position in the absence of the stimulus.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising mechanically disengaging, with the solenoid, the movable core from the mechanical feature in the presence of the stimulus in order to allow the spring force to cause the throw to translate to the closed position.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the mechanical feature comprises a receptacle formed in the throw.

18 . The method of claim 13 , the breaker valve further comprising a second valve having a second body and two second ports mechanically and fluidically coupled to the second body, the second body mechanically coupled to the throw such that the throw causes the second valve to be in the open state when the throw is in the open position and in the closed state when the throw is in the closed position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2022
From: CURTIS, ROBERT B.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 060215/0163 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230413475A1 · Dec 21, 2023
References Cited (4)
US 20140251583A1 · Eriksen · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20200378858A1 · Curtis · 2020 [cited by examiner]
DE 10104276A1 · 2001 [cited by examiner]
KR 101042476B1 · 2011 [cited by examiner]