This disclosure generally relates to a cooling structure for cooling electronic components. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a cooling structure including a two sided cold plate support assembly.
Electronic components onboard aircraft or other vehicles that operate in extreme temperatures are typically protected from overheating by a cooling device. In some environments, air flow is either not available or insufficient to handle the thermal loads generated by the electronic components. In such applications, a cold plate is utilized through which a cooling fluid flows to remove heat from the electronic component. The cold plate is mounted adjacent the electronic component and supplied with fluid flow through appropriate conduits that lead to a fluid delivery system.
A disclosed structural cold plate assembly includes cold plates mounted to opposing sides of a panel and in fluid communication through fluid passages through the panel. The disclosed structural cold plate assembly includes floating tubes that define a passage for fluid from one cold plate on one side of the panel to another cold plate on an opposing side of the panel. The disclosed tubes accommodate vibratory movement along with defining the passages that provide for fluid communication of a cooling medium between the cold plates and through the structural panel.
These and other features disclosed herein can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
Referring to
The example structural cold plate assembly 14 includes a panel 16 that includes a first side 18 and a second side 20. Mounted to the first side 18 is a first cold plate 22 and mounted to the second side 20 is a second cold plate 24. Each of the first and second cold plates 22, 24 define passages through which a cooling medium flows to remove and control heat produced by the devices 26. The panel 16 and thereby the first and second cold plates 22, 24 are supported by at least one mount 28 to the fixed structure 12. The fixed structure 12 could be a cabinet, wall, bulkhead or other fixed structure that provides a desired location for the devices 26. Moreover, although cold plates 22, 24 are disclosed by way of example, any heat exchanging device could also be utilized and would benefit from the example disclosures.
The first and second cold plates 22, 24 include passages or circuits (Shown in
The cooling medium is supplied by the first and second inlets 30, 32 that are mounted to the first cooling plate 22. The cooling medium can include a cooling fluid, air, or gas along with a combination of fluid, air and gas that facilitate the removal of heat generated by the devices 26. In this example the cooling plates 22, 24 each include two separate cooling circuits and therefore two inlets 30, 32 are provided. The cooling medium is then directed through passages (
As appreciated, the cooling system may include a heat exchanger to dissipate heat absorbed by the cooling medium and a pump to power circulation of the cooling medium. Moreover, the example structural cold plate assembly 14 provides for the use of different cooling mediums such as different types of fluid in each of the separate circuits to provide desired thermal control capabilities. Further, although the example structural cooling plate assembly 14 includes two separate cooling circuits, one or more than two cooling circuits are also within the contemplation for use with the disclosed device.
Referring to
The example bore 46 includes a portion 48 defined within the first cold plate 22 and a portion 50 defined within the second cold plate 24. The bore 46 defines a passage between the first cold plate 22 and the second cold plate 24 through the panel 16. As appreciated, in some applications that cold plate assembly 14 encounters and experiences a great deal of vibration. Vibrations can disrupt fixed members attached between separate structures. Accordingly, passages between the example first and second cold plates 22, 24 include conduits that accommodate vibrational effects.
Disposed within each of the bores 46 is a transfer tube 52. The transfer tube 52 is movable within the bore 46 to accommodate vibrational movement between the cold plates 22, 24 and the panel 16. The transfer tubes 52 are movable but are not moved between specific positions. Instead the transfer tubes 52 are suspended within the bore 46 in a desired position between biasing members 62. In this example, the biasing members 62 comprise pliable seals that maintain a position of the transfer tube 52 within the bore 46. The biasing members 62 suspend the transfer tube 52 within the bores 46 to define a conduit or fluid passage between cold plates 22, 24.
Referring to
Referring to
The example biasing members 62 exert a biasing force that is designed to maintain a position of the transfer tube 52 while allowing for relative movement between the cold plates 22 and 24 caused by vibration or other effects that might be encountered during operation.
Additional seals 64 are provided at the interface between the panel 16 and each of the cold plates 22, 24. The seals 64 provide a secondary seal that provides a backup to the seals 60, 62 disposed between the bore 46 and the transfer tube 52.
In this example, the first cold plate 22 is held to the second cold plate 24 by way of fasteners 72. The example fasteners 72 include a bolt extending through each cold plate 22, 24 and the panel 16 secured to a nut member. An alignment pin 74 is provided to align the panel 16 and the first cold plate 22 to the second cold plate 24. The alignment pin 74 further acts as a shear pin to minimize relative lateral movement between the cold plates 22, 24 and the panel 16. The alignment pin 74 accommodates loads that are perpendicular to the bore 54. The example alignment pin 74 can also be provided in different locations to provide the desired alignment between the first and second cold plates 22, 24. Alignment between the first and second cold plates 22, 24 also aligns the bore portions 48 and 50 that comprise the bore 46.
The example transfer tube 52 includes the first flange 56 and second flange 58. Each of the first flange 56 and second flange 58 includes an annular channel 66 that receives a sealing member 60. The annular channel 66 is disposed between a first diameter 70 disposed at ends of the transfer tube 52 and a second diameter 68 spaced apart from the ends of the transfer tube.
The second diameter 68 is greater than the first diameter 70. The difference between the first diameter 70 and the second diameter 68 accommodate tilting movement of the transfer tube 52. That is, the transfer tube 52 is disposed within the bore 46 such that it may compensate vibrational movement along the axis A. However, vibratory movement may also occur in a direction transverse to the axis A. The differences between the first diameter 70 and the second diameter 68 provide for a limited amount of tilting movement within the bore 46. Accordingly, the transfer tube 52 is capable of tilting relative to the axis A without becoming lodged within the bore 46 to maintain its ability to move along the axis A and accommodate vibratory movement between the relative parts.
Accordingly, the example transfer tube 52 of the cold plate assembly provides the desired fluid conduit between first and second cold plates 22 and 24 that is capable of accommodating high vibrational effects while maintaining the desired seal through a desired life cycle of the assembly.
Although an example embodiment has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of this invention.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/748,552 filed on Mar. 29, 2010.
This subject of this disclosure was made with government support under Contract No.: NNJ06TA25C awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Government has certain rights in this invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12748552 | Mar 2010 | US |
Child | 13490564 | US |