Flexible-to-rigid tubing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9930774-B2
Application number	US-201715423669-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2017
Priority date	Aug 27, 2010
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A flexible-to-rigid tube is flexible when routed and is then rigidized to increase burst strength. According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the flexible-to-rigid tube is included in a cooling plate assembly for transferring heat from electronic components mounted on a circuit board. In one embodiment, the flexible-to-rigid tube (while in a flexible state) includes a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or other silicone containing pendant or terminal epoxy, vinyl and/or acrylate functional groups and an initiator (e.g., a sulfonium salt photoinitiator, a free radical photoinitiator, or a thermal initiator). In another embodiment, triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) and an initiator are incorporated into a conventional PVC-based tubing material. The flexible-to-rigid tube changes from the flexible state to a rigid state via formation of a cross-linked network upon exposure to actinic radiation or heat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of utilizing a flexible-to-rigid tube for interconnecting an outlet port of a first component and an inlet port of a second component, comprising the steps of:
routing the flexible-to-rigid tube in a flexible state, wherein a first end of the flexible-to-rigid tube is configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the outlet port of the first component, wherein a second end of the flexible-to-rigid tube is configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the inlet port of the second component, and wherein the routing step includes routing the flexible-to-rigid tube between the outlet port of the first component and the inlet port of the second component, sliding and clamping the first end of the flexible-to-rigid tube over and to the tubular fitting of the first component, and sliding and clamping the second end of the flexible-to-rigid tube over and to the tubular fitting of the second component;
rigidizing the flexible-to-rigid tube after the routing step to increase the flexural modulus and burst strength of the flexible-to-rigid tube, wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to actinic radiation or heat to change the flexible-to-rigid tube from the flexible state to a rigid state via formation of a cross-linked network, and wherein the cross-linked network includes at least one of a silicone or triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC).

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked network is a polymerization reaction product of:
a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) having a pendant or terminal functional group selected from a group of functional groups consisting of epoxy functional groups, vinyl functional groups, and acrylate functional groups; and
an initiator.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the PDMS has a pendant or terminal epoxy functional group, wherein the initiator is an onium photoinitiator, and wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to actinic radiation.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked network is a polymerization reaction product of:
triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC); and
an initiator selected from a group of initiators consisting of free radical photoinitiators and thermal initiators.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the initiator comprises a free radical photoinitiator including benzoin, and wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to actinic radiation.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the initiator comprises a thermal initiator including a benzoyl peroxide or azobisisobutyronitrile, and wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to heat.

7. A method of utilizing a flexible-to-rigid tube for interconnecting an outlet port of a first component and an inlet port of a second component, comprising the steps of:
routing the flexible-to-rigid tube in a flexible state, wherein a first end of the flexible-to-rigid tube is configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the outlet port of the first component, wherein a second end of the flexible-to-rigid tube is configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the inlet port of the second component, and wherein the routing step includes routing the flexible-to-rigid tube between the outlet port of the first component and the inlet port of the second component, sliding and clamping the first end of the flexible-to-rigid tube over and to the tubular fitting of the first component, and sliding and clamping the second end of the flexible-to-rigid tube over and to the tubular fitting of the second component;
rigidizing the flexible-to-rigid tube after the routing step to increase the flexural modulus and burst strength of the flexible-to-rigid tube, wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to actinic radiation or heat to change the flexible-to-rigid tube from the flexible state to a rigid state via formation of a cross-linked network, and wherein the cross-linked network includes a silicone.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the cross-linked network is a polymerization reaction product of:
a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) having a pendant or terminal functional group selected from a group of functional groups consisting of epoxy functional groups, vinyl functional groups, and acrylate functional groups; and
an initiator.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the PDMS has a pendant or terminal epoxy functional group, wherein the initiator is an onium photoinitiator, and wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to actinic radiation.

10. A method of utilizing a flexible-to-rigid tube for interconnecting an outlet port of a first component and an inlet port of a second component, comprising the steps of:
routing the flexible-to-rigid tube in a flexible state, wherein a first end of the flexible-to-rigid tube is configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the outlet port of the first component, wherein a second end of the flexible-to-rigid tube is configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the inlet port of the second component, and wherein the routing step includes routing the flexible-to-rigid tube between the outlet port of the first component and the inlet port of the second component, sliding and clamping the first end of the flexible-to-rigid tube over and to the tubular fitting of the first component, and sliding and clamping the second end of the flexible-to-rigid tube over and to the tubular fitting of the second component;
rigidizing the flexible-to-rigid tube after the routing step to increase the flexural modulus and burst strength of the flexible-to-rigid tube, wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to actinic radiation or heat to change the flexible-to-rigid tube from the flexible state to a rigid state via formation of a cross-linked network, and wherein the cross-linked network includes triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC).

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the cross-linked network is a polymerization reaction product of:
triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC); and
an initiator selected from a group of initiators consisting of free radical photoinitiators and thermal initiators.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the initiator comprises a free radical photoinitiator including benzoin, and wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to actinic radiation.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the initiator comprises a thermal initiator including a benzoyl peroxide or azobisisobutyronitrile, and wherein the rigidizing step includes the step of exposing the flexible-to-rigid tube to heat.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Boday Dylan J
• Kuczynski Joseph
• Meyer Iii Robert E

Classifications

• H10W40/251

  Organics · CPC title

• H10W40/47 Primary

  by flowing liquids, e.g. forced water cooling · CPC title

• H10W40/40

  involving heat exchange by flowing fluids · CPC title

• H10W40/25

  characterised by their materials · CPC title

• H10W40/22

  characterised by their shape, e.g. having conical or cylindrical projections · CPC title