Tapering couplers for connecting fluid flow components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016363243-A1
Application number	US-201414482147-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 10, 2014
Priority date	Sep 10, 2014
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Tapering couplers and coupling methods for connecting fluid flow components are provided. In one embodiment, the tapering coupler includes a housing with a first opening and a second opening in fluid communication through the housing. The first opening is sized for a first fluid flow component to couple to the housing, and the second opening for a second fluid flow component. The first and second fluid flow components include first and second fluid-carrying channels of different diameter, with the first fluid-carrying channel having a first channel diameter that is larger than the second channel diameter of the second fluid-carrying channel. A tapering element is associated with the housing and extends into the first fluid-carrying channel. The tapering element includes a tapering fluid-carrying channel which tapers in a direction back towards the housing, for instance, from about the first channel diameter to about the second channel diameter.

First claim

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a tapering coupler, the tapering coupler comprising
a housing with a first opening and a second opening in fluid communication through the housing, the first opening being sized for a first fluid flow component to couple to the housing, and the second opening being sized for a second fluid flow component to couple to the housing, the first fluid flow component and the second fluid flow component comprising a first fluid-carrying channel and a second fluid-carrying channel, respectively, the first fluid-carrying channel having a first channel diameter and the second fluid-carrying Channel having a second channel diameter, wherein the first channel diameter is larger than the second channel diameter; and
a tapering element associated with the housing and configured to extend into the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component when the first fluid flow component is coupled to the housing, with the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component and the first opening of the housing in fluid communication, the tapering element comprising a tapering fluid-carrying channel which tapers in a direction back towards the housing from about the first channel diameter to about the second channel diameter.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tapering fluid-carrying channel of the tapering element uniformly tapers from about the first channel diameter to the second channel diameter at a taper angle θ.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the taper angle θ is in a range of a 1-10 degrees.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the taper angle θ is about 5 degrees.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tapering fluid-carrying channel of the tapering element tapers, at least in part, within the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component when the first fluid flow component is operatively coupled to the housing, with the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component and the first opening of the housing in fluid communication.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tapering element is formed integral with the housing, such that the tapering element is part of the housing, and wherein the first opening is within the tapering element.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises a recess surrounding the tapering element, the recess being configured to receive an end of the first fluid flow component, to facilitate coupling the first fluid flow component to the housing with the tapering element residing, at least in part, within the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the tapering element extends from a first side of the housing, and wherein the second opening is disposed at a second side of the housing, the first side and the second side of the housing being opposite sides of the housing.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tapering element is a tapering insert element distinct from, and secured to, the housing.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second opening is configured to receive an end of the second fluid flow component therein, the end of the second fluid flow component contacting the tapering insert element within the housing and facilitating securing the tapering insert element in place within the housing.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid flow component comprises a fluid conduit, and the second fluid flow component comprises a fitting configured to couple the fluid conduit to a fluid manifold.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tapering fluid-carrying channel of the tapering element tapers, at least in part, within the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component when the first fluid flow component is operatively coupled to the housing, with the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component and the first opening of the housing in fluid communication.

13 . A fluid-carrying assembly comprising:
a fluid conduit; a fluid flow component to connect to the fluid conduit; and a tapering coupler, the tapering coupler comprising:
a housing with a first opening and a second opening in fluid communication through the housing, the first opening being sized for the fluid conduit to couple to the housing, and the second opening being sized for the fluid flow component to couple to the housing, the fluid conduit and the fluid flow component comprising a first fluid-carrying channel and a second fluid-carrying channel, respectively, the first fluid-carrying channel having a first channel diameter, and the second fluid-carrying channel having a second channel diameter, wherein the first channel diameter is larger than the second channel diameter; and
a tapering element associated with the housing and configured to extend into the first fluid-carrying channel of the fluid conduit when the fluid conduit is coupled to the housing, with the first fluid-carrying channel of the fluid conduit and the first opening of the housing in fluid communication, the tapering element comprising a tapering fluid-carrying channel which tapers in a direction back towards the housing from about the first channel diameter to about the second channel diameter.

14 . The fluid-carrying assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a cooling apparatus including at least one fluid manifold facilitating distribution of coolant to cool at least one electronic component, the at least one fluid manifold comprising at least one port, and the fluid flow component being a fitting configured to connect to a port of the at least one port of the at least one fluid manifold.

15 . The fluid-carrying assembly of claim 13 , wherein the tapering fluid-carrying channel of the tapering element uniformly tapers from about the first channel diameter to the second channel diameter at a taper angle θ, where taper angle θ is in a range of a 1-10°.

16 . The fluid-carrying assembly of claim 13 , wherein the tapering fluid-carrying channel of the tapering element tapers, at least in part, within the first fluid-carrying channel of the fluid conduit when the fluid conduit is coupled to the housing, with the first fluid-carrying channel of the fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first opening of the housing.

17 . The fluid-carrying assembly of claim 13 , wherein the tapering element is formed integral with the housing, such that the tapering element is part of the housing, the first opening being within the tapering element, and the housing includes a recess surrounding the tapering element, the recess being configured to receive an end of the fluid conduit, to facilitate coupling the fluid conduit to the housing, with the tapering element extending into the first fluid-carrying channel of the fluid conduit.

18 . The fluid-carrying assembly of claim 13 , wherein the tapering element is a tapering insert element distinct from, but secured to, the housing, and inserted into the housing through the second opening therein, and wherein the second opening is configured to receive an end of the fluid flow component, the end of the fluid flow component contacting the tapering insert element and thereby facilitating securing the tapering insert element in place within the housing.

19 - 20 . (canceled)

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Arvelo Amilcar R
• Ellsworth Jr Michael J
• Mckeever Eric J

Classifications

• H05K7/20772

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• F16L55/027

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• F15D1/00

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• H05K7/20272

  Accessories for moving fluid, for expanding fluid, for connecting fluid conduits, for distributing fluid, for removing gas or for preventing leakage, e.g. pumps, tanks or manifolds · CPC title

• F16L21/002 Primary

  Sleeves or nipples for pipes of the same diameter; Reduction pieces (F16L27/00, F16L37/00 take precedence; with elastic sealing rings F16L21/022) · CPC title