Flexible coolant manifold—heat sink assembly

US9913403B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Francis R. Krug, Jr. · Highland, US
• Eric J. McKeever · Poughkeepsie, US
• Robert K. Mullady · Highland, US
• Donald W. Porter · Highland, US
• Richard P. Snider · New Paltz, US
• John G. Torok · Poughkeepsie, US
• Allan C. VanDeventer · Poughkeepsie, US
• Xiaojin Wei · Poughkeepsie, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 2016
• Grant date: Mar 6, 2018
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H05K7/20781
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A cooling assembly is provided which includes: one or more coolant-cooled heat sinks configured to couple to one or more electronic components to be cooled; one or more flexible coolant conduits; and one or more pivotable coolant manifolds. The flexible coolant conduit(s) couples in fluid communication the pivotable coolant manifold(s) and the coolant-cooled heat sink(s), and accommodates pivoting of the pivotable coolant manifold(s), while maintaining the coolant-cooled heat sink(s) in fluid communication with the pivotable coolant manifold(s). In one or more embodiments, the pivotable coolant manifold(s) pivots between a first position laterally offset from one or more of the coolant-cooled heat sink(s), and a second position above the one or more coolant-cooled heat sinks. First and second pivot arms may be provided at opposite ends of the pivotable coolant manifold(s) to facilitate pivotable movement of the manifold(s) between the first position and the second position.