Patent Application
20240369315
The present disclosure relates to a leak-liquid guiding structure, and more particularly to a leak-liquid guiding structure and a water-cooling and heat-dissipation system using the same wherein the leak-liquid guiding system is disposed correspondingly at a high-risk leakage location in the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system, so as to guide the leakage liquid to a designated area for collecting the leakage liquid or/and detecting the leakage through a detection device.
As the power of electronic device is constantly improved, the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system has become a widely used technology for high computing power device such as the personal computers and the data center. Although the heat dissipation efficiency of the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system is better than that of the air cooling system, there is also a risk of equipment damage due to the leakage of cooling liquid.
Usually, a water-cooling and heat-dissipation system includes a main circulation system and pipelines of various electronic devices, which can be connected to each other through male-and-female connectors or connecting hoses. In case of that the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system needs to be repaired or replaced, the leakage of cooling liquid may occur at the joints of male-and-female connectors or connecting hoses due to aging or improper operation, so that the electronic devices nearby the leakage is damaged and the risk of system failure is increased.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a leak-liquid guiding structure, which is disposed correspondingly at a high-risk leakage location in the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system, so as to guide the leakage liquid to a designated area for collecting the leakage liquid or/and detecting the leakage through a detection device. The drawbacks encountered by the prior arts are obviated.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a leak-liquid guiding structure and a water-cooling and heat-dissipation system using the same. The leak-liquid guiding system is disposed correspondingly at a high-risk leakage location in the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system, so as to guide the leakage liquid to a designated area for collecting the leakage liquid or/and detecting the leakage through a detection device.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a leak-liquid guiding structure and a water-cooling and heat-dissipation system using the same. When a heat exchange device of the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system is utilized to dissipate the heat generated from electronic device, the heat exchange device and the electronic device need to be connected through a plurality of male-and-female connectors, so that the coolant flows between the heat exchange device and the electronic device through the plurality of male-and-female connectors. An inclined surface of the leak-liquid guiding structure is disposed correspondingly below each connection port of male-and-female connectors in the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system where coolant leakage may occur. When the coolant is leaked from the connection port of any one of the plurality of male-and-female connectors, a leakage liquid is formed and flows along the corresponding inclined surface to a lateral wall of the heat exchange device or a lateral wall of the electronic device, so that the leakage liquid is collected to a water collection device or/and flows through a leak-liquid detection for detecting the leakage. Thus, the leakage liquid of the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system is efficiently integrated and concentrated, and the configuration of the leak-liquid detection device is simplified.
A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a leak-liquid guiding structure and a water-cooling and heat-dissipation system using the same. For a connector component derived laterally from an installation surface in the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system, it allows connecting an inclined surface of the leak-liquid guiding to the installation surface to correspond to the joint component, so that the inclined surface is located below the corresponding connector component and configured to guide the leakage liquid overflowing from the connection port toward the installation surface or away from the installation surface by gravity. The leak-liquid guiding structure is fixed to the installation surface through a fastening element or a snap-in element. The inclined surface has for example a central section and two lateral sections, the central section is spatially corresponding to a lower edge of the connector component and laterally connected between the two lateral sections, and the central section is lower than the two lateral sections. Moreover, an end of the inclined surface away from the installation surface is higher than an end of the inclined surface adjacent to the installation surface, and a liquid collection opening is formed between the inclined surface of the leak-liquid guiding structure and the installation surface. With the arrangement, the leakage liquid is guided to the liquid collection opening through the inclined surface by gravity, and flows through the liquid collection opening. A leak-liquid detection device is further disposed correspondingly below the liquid collection opening. When the leakage liquid flows through the liquid collection opening, it allows to determine that the leakage liquid overflows from the connection port through the leak-liquid detection device. In addition, a water collection device is disposed correspondingly below the liquid collection opening, and the leakage liquid flowing through the liquid collection opening further flows along the installation surface by gravity, so as to be collected into the water collection device. In case of that a plurality of inclined surfaces spatially corresponding to a plurality of male-and-female connectors are arranged from top to bottom along the installation surface, it allows to set a water collection device at the bottom of the leak-liquid guiding structure or set a communication pipe for guiding from the liquid collection opening. In that, the leakage liquid is collected. On the other hand, it allows to combine the leak-liquid guiding structure with a plurality of inclined surfaces on a connection plate for being installed on the installation surface, so that the plurality of inclined surfaces are spatially corresponding to the connection ports of the plurality of male-and-female connectors arranged from top to bottom. The leak-liquid guiding structure is assembled to the connector component through the installation base and the guiding component, so as to be connected to the installation surface. The matching and the installation arrangement of the inclined surfaces of the leak-liquid guiding structure and the connection ports of connector components are adjustable according to the practical requirements.
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a water-cooling and heat-dissipation system is provided and includes a heat exchange device, an electronic device, a plurality of male-and-female connectors and a plurality of leak-liquid guiding structures. The heat exchange device is configured for cooling a coolant. The electronic device is configured for warming up the coolant. The plurality of male-and-female connectors are disposed between the heat exchange device and the electronic device, so that the coolant is allowed to flow between the heat exchange device and the electronic device through the plurality of male-and-female connectors. Each of the plurality of leak-liquid guiding structures is disposed below a corresponding one of the plurality of male-and-female connectors, and each of the plurality of leak-liquid guiding structures includes an inclined surface, wherein the inclined surface is introduced from a lateral wall of the heat exchange device or a lateral wall of the electronic device, and extended below a corresponding one of connection ports of the plurality of male-and-female connectors, wherein when the coolant is leaked from one of the connection ports of the plurality of male-and-female connectors, a leakage liquid is formed and flows along a corresponding one of the inclined surfaces to the lateral wall of the heat exchange device or the lateral wall of the electronic device.
In an embodiment, when the coolant flows to the electronic device through the plurality of male-and-female connectors, the coolant is heated up by the electronic device, wherein when the coolant flows to the heat exchange device through the plurality of male-and-female connectors, the coolant is cooled by the heat exchange device.
In an embodiment, after the leakage liquid flows along the corresponding one of the inclined surfaces to the lateral wall of the heat exchange device or the lateral wall of the electronic device, the leakage liquid is collected in a water-collection device, or/and flows through a leak-liquid detection device for detecting.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a leak-liquid guiding structure is provided and configured to guide a leakage liquid leaked from a connection port. The connection port is formed by a connector component, the connector component is derived laterally from an installation surface, and the leak-liquid guiding structure includes an inclined. The inclined surface is connected to the installation surface, wherein the inclined surface is spatially corresponding to the connection port, located below the connection port, and configured to guide the leakage liquid overflowing from the connection port toward the installation surface or away from the installation surface by gravity.
In an embodiment, the connector component is connected between a heat exchange device and an electronic device, and includes a plurality of male-and-female connectors, and the installation surface is on a lateral wall of the heat exchange device or a lateral wall of the electronic device. The plurality of male-and-female connectors are arranged from top to bottom along the installation surface, the leak-liquid guiding structure includes a plurality of inclined surfaces, and each of the plurality of inclined surfaces is correspondingly disposed below each of the plurality of male-and-female connectors, wherein the plurality of inclined surfaces are disposed on a connection plate, and connected to the installation surface through the connection plate.
In an embodiment, the connection plate is fixed to the installation surface through a fastening element or a snap-in element.
In an embodiment, an end of the inclined surface away from the installation surface is higher than an end of the inclined surface adjacent to the installation surface.
In an embodiment, the inclined surface comprises a central section and two lateral sections, the central section is spatially corresponding to a lower edge of the connector component and laterally connected between the two lateral sections, and the central section is lower than the two lateral sections.
In an embodiment, the leak-liquid guiding structure further includes a liquid collection opening, wherein the liquid collection opening is disposed adjacent to the installation surface, and located below a joining position of the connector component and the installation surface, wherein the leakage liquid overflowing from the connection port is guided to the liquid collection opening through the inclined surface by gravity, and flows through the liquid collection opening.
In an embodiment, the leak-liquid guiding structure further includes a leak-liquid detection device disposed between the inclined surface and the installation surface and crossing below the liquid collection opening for detecting the leakage liquid when the leakage liquid flows through the liquid collection opening.
In an embodiment, the leak-liquid guiding structure further includes a water collection device disposed below the inclined surface, spatially corresponding to the liquid collection opening, and configured to collect the leakage liquid flowing through the liquid collection opening.
In an embodiment, the leak-liquid guiding structure further includes a water collection device located below the inclined surface; and a communication pipe connected between the liquid collection opening and the water collection device, and configured to guide the leakage liquid flowing through the liquid collection opening to the water collection device.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a leak-liquid guiding structure is provided and configured to guide a leakage liquid leaked from a connection port. The connection port is formed by a connector component, the connector component is derived laterally from an installation surface, and the leak-liquid guiding structure includes an installation base and a guiding component. The installation base is disposed on the installation surface and connected to the connector component. The guiding component is connected to the installation base, wherein guiding component includes an upper liquid collection opening and an inclined surface, the upper liquid collection opening is disposed between installation base and the guiding component, and located below the connector component, and the inclined surface is spatially corresponding to the connection port, located below the connection port, and configured to guide the leakage liquid overflowing from the connection port to flow through the upper liquid collection opening, wherein the installation base includes a lower liquid collection opening in fluid communication with the upper liquid collection opening, and configured to guide the leakage liquid flowing through the upper liquid collection opening to flow through the lower liquid collection opening by gravity.
In an embodiment, the installation base further includes a flow guide channel in fluid communication between the upper liquid collection opening and the lower liquid collection opening, and configured to guide the leakage liquid flowing through the upper liquid collection opening to flow through the lower liquid collection opening by gravity.
In an embodiment, the leak-liquid guiding structure further includes a leak-liquid detection device disposed between the inclined surface and the installation surface and crossing below the lower liquid collection opening for detecting the leakage liquid when the leakage liquid flows through the lower liquid collection opening.
In an embodiment, an end of the inclined surface away from the installation surface is higher than an end of the inclined surface adjacent to the installation surface.
In an embodiment, the inclined surface includes a central section and two lateral sections, the central section is spatially corresponding to a lower edge of the connector component and laterally connected between the two lateral sections, and the central section is lower than the two lateral sections.
In an embodiment, the connector component includes two connector components arranged up and down on the installation surface, and the installation base includes an upper mounting notch and a lower mounting notch connected to the two connector components, respectively.
In an embodiment, each of the two connector components includes a fixed connector and a jointing connector connected to each other through mating, so as to clamp a corresponding one of the upper mounting notch or the lower mounting notch and fix the installation base to the installation surface, wherein the upper mounting notch and the lower mounting notch face in opposite directions.
In an embodiment, the installation base and the guiding component include a first engaging element and a second engaging element, respectively, and the first engaging element and the second engaging element are paired and engaged with each other for fixing the guiding component to the installation base.
In an embodiment, the connector component is connected to a pipeline to form the connection port.
In an embodiment, the installation surface is perpendicular to a ground.
In an embodiment, the inclined surface shields the connection port in a viewing direction from bottom to top.
The above contents of the present disclosure will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this disclosure are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. Further, spatially relative terms, such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “below” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly. When an element is referred to as being “connected,” or “coupled,” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. Although the wide numerical ranges and parameters of the present disclosure are approximations, numerical values are set forth in the specific examples as precisely as possible. In addition, although the “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like terms in the claims be used to describe the various elements can be appreciated, these elements should not be limited by these terms, and these elements are described in the respective embodiments are used to express the different reference numerals, these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments.
Notably, in the above embodiments, the inclined direction of the inclined surface 50 relative to the heat exchange device 2 and the electronic device 3 is adjustable according to the practical requirements. Preferably but not exclusively, the inclined surface 50 is introduced from a lateral wall of the heat exchange device 2 or a lateral wall 30 of the electronic device 3, and extended below a corresponding one of connection ports 40 of the connector components 4. When the coolant 10 is leaked from anyone of the connection ports 40 of the male connectors 41 and the female connectors 42, the leakage liquid 11 flows along a corresponding one of the inclined surfaces 50 to the lateral wall of the heat exchange device 2 or the lateral wall 30 of the electronic device 3 by gravity for further collection or detection. The detailed operations are described later.
In the embodiment, the leak-liquid guiding structure 5b further includes a liquid collection opening 53. The liquid collection opening 53 is disposed adjacent to the installation surface 20, and located below a joining position of the connector component 4 and the installation surface 20. In the embodiment, the leakage liquid 11 overflowing from the connection port 40 is guided to the liquid collection opening 53 through the inclined surface 50a by gravity, and flows through the liquid collection opening 53 for further collection and detection.
In the embodiment, the leak-liquid guiding structure 5d further includes a leak-liquid detection device 7. Preferably but not exclusively, the leak-liquid detection device 7 is arranged meanderingly in a linear shape between the installation base 50c and the guiding component 50c, and crosses below each lower liquid collection opening 53b, 53d. When the leakage liquid 11 is guided to flow through the lower liquid collection opening 53b, 53d, the leakage liquid 11 is detected by the leak-liquid detection device 7. Certainly, the configuration of the leak-liquid detection device 7 corresponding to the lower liquid collection opening 53b, 53d is adjustable according to the practical requirements. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and not redundantly described hereafter.
From the above, in the foregoing embodiments, by disposing the inclined surface 50, 50a, 50b corresponding to the connection port 40 formed in each connector component 4, 4a, when the leakage liquid 11 overflows from anyone of the connection ports 40, the leakage liquid 11 is guided to flow along the inclined surface 50, 50a, 50b to a designated area for collecting the water or detecting the leakage through a detection device. Preferably but not exclusively, the leakage liquid 11 is guided to the designated area for simultaneously collecting the water and detecting the leakage through the detection device. Certainly, the arrangement of the plurality of connector components 4, 4a mating the inclined surfaces 50, 50a, 50b are adjustable in many of the aforementioned technical features according to the actual application requirements. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and not redundantly described hereafter.
In summary, the present disclosure provides a leak-liquid guiding structure and a water-cooling and heat-dissipation system using the same. The leak-liquid guiding system is disposed correspondingly at a high-risk leakage location in the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system, so as to guide the leakage liquid to a designated area for collecting the leakage liquid or/and detecting the leakage through a detection device. When a heat exchange device of the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system is utilized to dissipate the heat generated from electronic device, the heat exchange device and the electronic device need to be connected through a plurality of male-and-female connectors, so that the coolant flows between the heat exchange device and the electronic device through the plurality of male-and-female connectors. An inclined surface of the leak-liquid guiding structure is disposed correspondingly below each connection port of male-and-female connectors in the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system where coolant leakage may occur. When the coolant is leaked from the connection port of any one of the plurality of male-and-female connectors, a leakage liquid is formed and flows along the corresponding inclined surface to a lateral wall of the heat exchange device or a lateral wall of the electronic device, so that the leakage liquid is collected to a water collection device or/and flows through a leak-liquid detection for detecting the leakage. Thus, the leakage liquid of the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system is efficiently integrated and concentrated, and the configuration of the leak-liquid detection device is simplified. For a connector component derived laterally from an installation surface in the water-cooling and heat-dissipation system, it allows connecting an inclined surface of the leak-liquid guiding to the installation surface to correspond to the joint component, so that the inclined surface is located below the corresponding connector component and configured to guide the leakage liquid overflowing from the connection port toward the installation surface or away from the installation surface by gravity. The leak-liquid guiding structure is fixed to the installation surface through a fastening element or a snap-in element. The inclined surface has for example a central section and two lateral sections, the central section is spatially corresponding to a lower edge of the connector component and laterally connected between the two lateral sections, and the central section is lower than the two lateral sections. Moreover, an end of the inclined surface away from the installation surface is higher than an end of the inclined surface adjacent to the installation surface, and a liquid collection opening is formed between the inclined surface of the leak-liquid guiding structure and the installation surface. With the arrangement, the leakage liquid is guided to the liquid collection opening through the inclined surface by gravity, and flows through the liquid collection opening. A leak-liquid detection device is further disposed correspondingly below the liquid collection opening. When the leakage liquid flows through the liquid collection opening, it allows to determine that the leakage liquid overflows from the connection port through the leak-liquid detection device. In addition, a water collection device is disposed correspondingly below the liquid collection opening, and the leakage liquid flowing through the liquid collection opening further flows along the installation surface by gravity, so as to be collected into the water collection device. In case of that a plurality of inclined surfaces spatially corresponding to a plurality of male-and-female connectors are arranged from top to bottom along the installation surface, it allows to set a water collection device at the bottom of the leak-liquid guiding structure or set a communication pipe for guiding from the liquid collection opening. In that, the leakage liquid is collected. On the other hand, it allows to combine the leak-liquid guiding structure with a plurality of inclined surfaces on a connection plate for being installed on the installation surface, so that the plurality of inclined surfaces are spatially corresponding to the connection ports of the plurality of male-and-female connectors arranged from top to bottom. The leak-liquid guiding structure is assembled to the connector component through the installation base and the guiding component, so as to be connected to the installation surface. The matching and the installation arrangement of the inclined surfaces of the leak-liquid guiding structure and the connection ports of connector components are adjustable according to the practical requirements.
While the disclosure has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202311234655.0 | Sep 2023 | CN | national |
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/463,960 filed on May 4, 2023, and entitled “LEAKAGE LIQUID GUIDE STRUCTURE”. This application also claims priority to China Patent Application No. 202311234655.0 filed on Sep. 22, 2023. The entireties of the above-mentioned patent application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63463960 | May 2023 | US |
