US5183104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closed-cycle expansion-valve impingement cooling system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1991-11-01
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Granted: 1993-02-02
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Expires: 2011-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A closed-cycle expansion-valve impingement cooling system provides cooling for electronic components that have a high-density heat flux. Coolant passes from a compressor to a supply heat exchanger where its temperature is reduced and from there to an impingement plenum of a cooling chamber. Expanded cooling medium, at substantially reduced temperature, directly impinges on the electronic components to be cooled, thereby removing heat from the components. The heated coolant then returns to the compressor through a return heat exchanger. The cooling medium may be air or may undergo a phase change at the surface of the components, thereby improving the efficiency of heat removal.
Inventors
- 👤 Shlomo D. Novotny
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:03
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/2029; H05K7/20354; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/40; H10W40/43; F; F25; F25B; F25B2339/00; F25B2339/02; F25B2339/021; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A closed-cycle expansion-valve gaseous-coolant-impingement element-cooling apparatus comprising: a. a compressor for substantially compressing a gaseous-coolant, the compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the compressor arranged to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. a first cooler coupled to the outlet of the compressor for cooling gaseous-coolant received from the compressor; c. a cooling chamber that receives substantially compressed gaseous-coolant from the first heat exchanger and supplies expanded, substantially cooled gaseous-coolant by means of one or more expansion valves within the cooling chamber toward the elements to be cooled, the expansion valves serving to substantially lower the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and to lower the temperature of the gaseous-coolant to below ambient; and d. a second cooler coupled between the cooling chamber and the inlet to the compressor for cooling expanded gaseous-coolant received from the cooling chamber and returning the gaseous-coolant to the compressor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A closed-cycle expansion-valve gaseous-coolant-impingement element-cooling apparatus comprising: a. a compressor for substantially compressing a gaseous-coolant, the compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the compressor arranged to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. a first cooler coupled to the outlet of the compressor for cooling gaseous-coolant received from the compressor; c. a cooling chamber that receives substantially compressed gaseous-coolant from the first heat exchanger and supplies expanded, substantially cooled gaseous-coolant by means of one or more expansion valves within the cooling chamber toward the elements to be cooled, the expansion valves serving to substantially lower the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and to lower the temperature of the gaseous-coolant to below ambient; and d. a second cooler coupled between the cooling chamber and the inlet to the compressor for cooling expanded gaseous-coolant received from the cooling chamber and returning the gaseous-coolant to the compressor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gaseous-coolant is air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A closed-cycle expansion-valve gaseous-coolant-impingement cooling apparatus comprising: a. a compressor for substantially compressing gaseous-coolant, the compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the compressor arranged to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. a first cooler coupled to the outlet of the compressor for cooling gaseous-coolant received from the compressor; c. a cooling chamber having an expansion means, the expansion means including an expansion valve that receives compressed gaseous-coolant from the first heat exchanger and substantially lowers the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and lowers the temperature of the gaseous-coolant to below ambient, an impingement plenum coupled to the expansion valve to provide an expansion volume, and a plurality of outlets from the expansion volume; and d. a second cooler coupled between the cooling chamber and the inlet to the compressor for cooling expanded gaseous-coolant received from the cooling chamber and returning the gaseous coolant to the compressor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
150 words
A closed-cycle expansion-valve gaseous-coolant-impingement cooling apparatus comprising: a. a compressor for substantially compressing gaseous-coolant, the compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the compressor arranged to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. a first cooler coupled to the outlet of the compressor for cooling gaseous-coolant received from the compressor; c. a cooling chamber having an expansion means, the expansion means including an expansion valve that receives compressed gaseous-coolant from the first heat exchanger and substantially lowers the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and lowers the temperature of the gaseous-coolant to below ambient, an impingement plenum coupled to the expansion valve to provide an expansion volume, and a plurality of outlets from the expansion volume; and d. a second cooler coupled between the cooling chamber and the inlet to the compressor for cooling expanded gaseous-coolant received from the cooling chamber and returning the gaseous coolant to the compressor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cooling apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the outlets from the expansion volume comprise a plurality of tubes so situated as to direct the expanded, cooled coolant medium to an article to be cooled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the gaseous-coolant is air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
152 words
A closed-cycle expansion-valve gaseous-coolant-impingement cooling apparatus comprising: a. a compressor for compressing gaseous-coolant, the compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the compressor arranged to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. a first cooler coupled to the outlet of the compressor for cooling gaseous-coolant received from the compressor; c. a cooling chamber having an expansion means, the expansion means including receiving means for receiving compressed gaseous-coolant from the first heat exchanger, a flow distribution plenum pressurized by the gaseous-coolant from the receiving means, and a plurality of expansion valves connected to the flow distribution plenum, the expansion valves arranged to substantially lower the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and to lower the gaseous-coolant to below ambient; and d. a second cooler coupled between the cooling chamber and the inlet to the compressor for cooling expanded gaseous-coolant received from the cooling chamber and returning the gaseous coolant to the compressor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
152 words
A closed-cycle expansion-valve gaseous-coolant-impingement cooling apparatus comprising: a. a compressor for compressing gaseous-coolant, the compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the compressor arranged to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. a first cooler coupled to the outlet of the compressor for cooling gaseous-coolant received from the compressor; c. a cooling chamber having an expansion means, the expansion means including receiving means for receiving compressed gaseous-coolant from the first heat exchanger, a flow distribution plenum pressurized by the gaseous-coolant from the receiving means, and a plurality of expansion valves connected to the flow distribution plenum, the expansion valves arranged to substantially lower the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and to lower the gaseous-coolant to below ambient; and d. a second cooler coupled between the cooling chamber and the inlet to the compressor for cooling expanded gaseous-coolant received from the cooling chamber and returning the gaseous coolant to the compressor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cooling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of expansion valves are so arranged as to direct expanded, cooled coolant medium to an article to be cooled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gaseous-coolant is air.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of cooling a plurality of hot objects comprising the steps of: a. substantially compressing gaseous-coolant in a compressor to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. cooling the compressed gaseous-coolant in a first cooler; c. expanding the cooled and compressed gaseous-coolant with one or more expansion valves to substantially lower the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and lower the temperature of the gaseous-coolant to below ambient; d. directing the expanded gaseous-coolant onto the objects to be cooled; and e. collecting the expanded gaseous-coolant, cooling the collected gaseous-coolant in a second cooler, and returning the cooled collected gaseous-coolant to the compressor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of cooling a plurality of hot objects comprising the steps of: a. substantially compressing gaseous-coolant in a compressor to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. cooling the compressed gaseous-coolant in a first cooler; c. expanding the cooled and compressed gaseous-coolant with one or more expansion valves to substantially lower the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and lower the temperature of the gaseous-coolant to below ambient; d. directing the expanded gaseous-coolant onto the objects to be cooled; and e. collecting the expanded gaseous-coolant, cooling the collected gaseous-coolant in a second cooler, and returning the cooled collected gaseous-coolant to the compressor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the expanded cooling medium is directed uniformly across the objects to be cooled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the gaseous-coolant is air.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of cooling a plurality of hot objects comprising the steps of: a. compressing gaseous-coolant in a compressor to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. cooling the gaseous-coolant in a first cooler; c. pressurizing a distribution plenum with the cooled and compressed gaseous-coolant; d. expanding the cooled and compressed gaseous-coolant through a plurality of expansion valves directed at the hot objects to be cooled thus substantially lowering the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and lowering the temperature of the gaseous-coolant to below ambient; and e. collecting the expanded gaseous-coolant, cooling the collected gaseous-coolant in a second cooler, and returning the cooled collected gaseous-coolant to the compressor.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of cooling a plurality of hot objects comprising the steps of: a. compressing gaseous-coolant in a compressor to substantially raise the temperature and pressure of the gaseous-coolant; b. cooling the gaseous-coolant in a first cooler; c. pressurizing a distribution plenum with the cooled and compressed gaseous-coolant; d. expanding the cooled and compressed gaseous-coolant through a plurality of expansion valves directed at the hot objects to be cooled thus substantially lowering the pressure of the gaseous-coolant and lowering the temperature of the gaseous-coolant to below ambient; and e. collecting the expanded gaseous-coolant, cooling the collected gaseous-coolant in a second cooler, and returning the cooled collected gaseous-coolant to the compressor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein a plurality of said valves are directed toward each of the objects to be cooled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the gaseous-coolant is air.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-02-02 | 1996-08-03 | 1997-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-02-02 | 2000-08-03 | 2001-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-02-02 | 2004-08-03 | 2005-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |