JP2010196865A - Liquid leakage preventing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid leakage preventing structure reliable over a long time in comparison with a conventional one. <P>SOLUTION: A hygroscopic swelling material sheet 13 including a resin to be swelled by absorbing moisture such as an polyacrylic acid group resin is wrapped around a connection part of a tube connecting opening (a pipe connecting opening) 11 and a tube (a pipe) 12, and the outside thereof is fastened by a clamp 14 for fixation. When a gap is formed between the tube connecting opening 11 and the tube 12 by any cause, water spreads inside the moisture hygroscopic swelling material sheet 13. Meanwhile, the hygroscopic swelling material sheet 13 is going to absorb water and swell, but since the periphery thereof is fastened by the clamp 14, swelling force is changed to the stress in a direction for fastening the tube 12. With this structure, the gap between the tube connecting opening 11 and the tube 12 is narrowed to stop the liquid leakage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid leakage prevention structure for preventing liquid leakage from a connection portion between a pipe and a pipe connection port (joint).

  The performance of electronic computers (computers) has been increasing year by year, and along with this, the power consumed by the electronic computers tends to increase. Since most of the electric power consumed by the electronic computer is heat, the temperature of components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a chip set, a memory, and a hard disk increases with the operation of the electronic computer. However, if the temperature of these parts rises excessively, it may cause malfunction or failure. Therefore, a means for cooling the electronic computer is required.

  Generally, a cooling mechanism of a forced air cooling method in which air is allowed to flow through a casing using a cooling fan is employed for cooling an electronic computer. However, in recent years, the amount of heat generated by individual components in an electronic computer has increased, and there is a tendency for the components to be arranged at a high density within the enclosure, and the forced air cooling type cooling mechanism may not provide sufficient cooling. . Therefore, a water cooling (liquid cooling) type cooling mechanism has been proposed and has already been put into practical use in some electronic computers.

  In the water-cooling type cooling mechanism used in electronic computers, a cold water jacket is attached to a part that generates a large amount of heat, and a flexible resin tube (pipe) is provided between the cold water jacket and the radiator (heat exchanger). Connecting. The cold water jacket and radiator have a tube connection port (joint) for connecting the tube. After connecting the tube so that it covers the end of the tube, it is molded into a ring shape. The outer peripheral surface of the tube is tightened and fixed with a clamp made of a leaf spring.

  A pipe joint in which a rubber O-ring is arranged on the inner peripheral surface has been proposed. In this pipe joint, the gap between the pipe joint and the pipe can be blocked by the O-ring simply by inserting the pipe, thereby preventing liquid leakage.

  In addition, a hygroscopic swellable sealing material is arranged between the pipe and the joint, and the hygroscopic swellable sealing material is swollen with moisture to eliminate a gap between the sealing material and the pipe and the joint, thereby preventing water leakage. Proposed.

JP-A-5-296379 JP-A-9-112777 JP 2004-363600 A JP 2006-336834 A

  In the above-described water-cooling type cooling mechanism, a gap may be generated between the tube and the connection port due to aging deterioration of the tube, aging deterioration of the clamping force, or the like, and water leakage may occur.

  Further, when the above-described pipe joint having an O-ring is applied to the connection of the tube, the O-ring may deteriorate and water leakage may occur. Furthermore, a flexible resin tube tends to be wrinkled, and if there is a wrinkle straddling the O-ring on the outer peripheral surface of the tube, it may cause water leakage.

  In the above-described method of arranging a hygroscopic swelling seal material between the pipe and the joint, since the seal material is always in contact with water, there is a risk that water will gradually ooze out from the seal material, and long-term reliability is expected. Sex is not enough.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid leakage prevention structure that is more reliable over a longer period than in the past.

  According to one aspect, a moisture absorption formed by a pipe connection port, a pipe connected to the pipe connection port, and a material that expands when moisture is absorbed, and is disposed around a connection portion between the pipe connection port and the pipe. There is provided a liquid leakage prevention structure having an expansion member and a fastening tool for tightening the outer periphery of the hygroscopic expansion member.

  According to the one aspect described above, the hygroscopic expansion member is disposed around the connection portion between the pipe and the pipe connection port, and the outside thereof is tightened with the tightening tool. If there is a gap between the pipe and the pipe connection port for some reason, water leaks from the gap and spreads in the hygroscopic expansion member. On the other hand, the hygroscopic expansion member tends to expand when it absorbs water. However, since the periphery is tightened by the tightening tool, the expansion force generated by the hygroscopic expansion member becomes a stress in the direction of reducing the diameter of the pipe. Thereby, the clearance gap between piping and a piping connection port narrows, and a liquid leak is prevented. In addition, the expansion of the hygroscopic expansion member itself closes the gap in the hygroscopic expansion member, making it difficult for water to enter the hygroscopic expansion member. Therefore, liquid leakage is more reliably prevented.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing a liquid leakage preventing structure according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the outer shape of the clamp. FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing the water leakage preventing action in the first embodiment. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a liquid leakage preventing structure according to the second embodiment, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is FIG. It is sectional drawing by the III-III line of (a). FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views showing the water leakage preventing action in the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an experiment for examining the effect of the water leakage preventing structure. FIG. 7A is a schematic view showing a liquid leakage prevention structure according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic views showing the water leakage preventing action in the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing a liquid leakage preventing structure according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the outer shape of the clamp.

  In the liquid leakage prevention structure according to the present embodiment, the metal tube connection port (joint) 11 is connected so as to cover the end portion of the resin tube (pipe) 12, and the hygroscopic expansion material sheet is provided around the periphery. (Hygroscopic expansion member) 13 is wound. Then, the outer side of the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 is fastened and fixed by a clamp (fastening tool) 14. Water (cooling water) for cooling the electronic computer (or other electronic equipment) flows through the tube 12 and the tube connection port 11. In the electronic computer, a cold water jacket is attached to a heat generating portion such as a CPU, and the cold water jacket and the tube connection port 11 are also connected by a resin tube.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the clamp 14 is a plate spring formed in a ring shape, and knobs 14a are provided at both ends of the spring. If these knobs 14a are strongly picked against the elasticity of the spring, the diameter of the ring-shaped part (the part in contact with the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13) increases, and when released, the diameter of the ring-shaped part decreases due to the elasticity of the spring. To do. As shown in FIG. 2B, a clamp that enlarges or reduces the diameter of the ring-shaped portion with a screw 15 may be used as the clamp 14.

  The hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 is formed of a resin that expands when it absorbs moisture. Resins that expand when they absorb moisture include, for example, polyacrylic acid resins, poval resins, polyoxyethylene resins, and cellulose resins. The hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 is a woven or non-woven fabric formed by making these resins into fibers, or these resins are mixed with chemical fibers such as polyester to make a woven or non-woven fabric. These resins may be impregnated into a woven fabric or non-woven fabric made of chemical fibers to form the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13.

  The polyacrylic acid resin is suitable as a material for the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 because it does not lose its properties as a fiber even if it is made fibrous to absorb water. In the present embodiment, a polyacrylic acid nonwoven fabric (KH0230NF) manufactured by Teijin Fibers Ltd. is used as the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing the water leakage preventing action in the water leakage preventing structure of the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the end of the resin tube 12 is connected to the outside of the metal tube connection port 11, the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 is wound around the periphery, and the outside is further wound around It is fastened and fixed by a clamp 14. When a gap is generated between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 due to aging deterioration of the tube 12 or the like and water leaks, the water penetrates the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 as schematically shown in FIG. And spread.

  On the other hand, the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 tends to expand the portion that has absorbed water. However, since the outer side is clamped by the clamp 14, the expansion force generated in the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 becomes a stress in the direction of reducing the diameter of the tube 12 as schematically shown in FIG. Thereby, the clearance gap between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 becomes narrow, and a water leak stops. Further, the expansion of the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 itself closes the gap in the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13, and water hardly enters the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, even if a gap is generated between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 for some reason and water leaks, the water is absorbed by the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 and further absorbs moisture. The expansion material sheet 13 expands to close the gap. Therefore, the liquid leakage prevention structure according to the present embodiment can prevent the occurrence of water leakage over a long period of time and has extremely high reliability.

(Second Embodiment)
4A is a schematic diagram showing a liquid leakage preventing structure according to the second embodiment, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is FIG. It is sectional drawing by the III-III line of (a). 4A to 4C, the same components as those in FIGS. 1A and 1B are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the first embodiment described above, the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13 is wound around the connection portion between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12, but in this embodiment, the hygroscopic expansion member 23 is molded into a predetermined shape in advance. Is used.

  The hygroscopic expansion member 23 is made of a resin such as polyacrylic acid that expands when it absorbs moisture, or a mixture of these resins and chemical fibers, as in the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 13, and is formed into a truncated cone shape. The hygroscopic expansion member 23 is provided with a hole having a shape corresponding to the shape of the connection portion between the connection port 11 and the tube 12, that is, a hole having a small diameter on the tube connection port 11 side and a large diameter on the tube 12 side.

  The clamp 24 disposed outside the hygroscopic expansion member 23 is formed by forming a leaf spring having a tapered cross section having an inclination corresponding to the inclination of the outer peripheral surface of the hygroscopic expansion member 23 into a ring shape. As in the first embodiment, knobs 24 a are provided at both ends of the spring forming the clamp 24. The diameter of the ring-shaped portion is enlarged by strongly picking these knob portions 24a, and the diameter of the ring-shaped portion is reduced when released.

  In the present embodiment, the hygroscopic expansion member 23 is previously passed through the tube connection port 12 with the small diameter side as a tip. Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, after connecting the tube connection port 11 so that the end of the tube 12 covers the outside, the hygroscopic expansion member 23 is shifted to connect the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12. Cover the part.

  Thereafter, the outer side of the hygroscopic expansion member 23 is fastened and fixed by the clamp 24. In this case, the clamp 24 is attached so that the thick portion is on the tube connection port 11 side and the thin portion is on the tube 12 side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the outer peripheral surface of the clamp 24 is substantially parallel to the connection portion between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views showing the water leakage preventing action in the water leakage preventing structure of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when a gap is generated between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 for some reason and water leaks, the water penetrates and spreads in the hygroscopic expansion member 23. On the other hand, the hygroscopic expansion member 23 tends to expand the portion that has absorbed water. However, since the outer side is clamped by the clamp 24, the expansion force generated in the hygroscopic expansion member 23 becomes the stress in the direction of reducing the diameter of the tube 12 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the clearance gap between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 becomes narrow, and a water leak stops.

  In the present embodiment, since the inside of the clamp 24 is an inclined surface, the stress generated in the hygroscopic expansion member 23 is substantially perpendicular to the inclined surface, and a gap between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 is obtained. Compress strongly. Thereby, the water which tries to leak out from the clearance gap between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 is pushed back. Further, due to the expansion of the hygroscopic expansion member 23 itself, there is no gap in the hygroscopic expansion member 23, and water hardly enters the hygroscopic expansion member 23.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, since the inner surface of the clamp 24 is an inclined surface, the expansion force generated in the hygroscopic expansion member 23 compared to the first embodiment is the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12. Concentrates on the gap between the two, and has a great effect of preventing water leakage. For this reason, the liquid leakage prevention structure of this embodiment is much more reliable than the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the results of examining the effects of the above-described liquid leakage prevention structure will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an aluminum tube having an outer diameter of 5 mm and an inner diameter of 3 mm was used as the tube connection port 11, and a butyl rubber tube having an outer diameter of 6 mm and an inner diameter of 4 mm was used as the tube 12. Then, the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 are connected across a wire 29 having a diameter of 0.5 mm, and a hygroscopic expansion member 23 formed in a predetermined shape with a polyacrylic acid resin is disposed at the connection portion. Further, the outside was fixed with a clamp 24.

  Thereafter, water was continuously flowed into the tube 12 and the tube connection port 11 by an electromagnetic piston pump. The pump flow rate is 400 ml / min. As a result, water leakage from the connecting portion could not be confirmed even after 500 hours had passed. On the other hand, when the tube outer side of the connection part was simply clamped without using the hygroscopic expansion member, water leakage from the connection part was confirmed in a short time. From these results, the usefulness of this embodiment was confirmed.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 7A is a schematic view showing a liquid leakage prevention structure according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 7A and 7B, the same components as those in FIGS. 1A and 1B are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the present embodiment, the first hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33a, the second hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33b, and the third hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33c are sequentially wound around the connection portion between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12, Further, the outside is fastened and fixed by a clamp 14.

  Each of the hygroscopic expansion material sheets 33a, 33b, and 33c is made of a resin such as polyacrylic resin acid that expands when moisture is absorbed, or a mixture of these resins and chemical fibers. Further, the first hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33 a is formed of a resin having higher water absorption than the second hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33 b, and the second hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33 b has higher water absorption than the third hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33. It is made of a highly resinous material. That is, the outer hygroscopic expansion material sheet has lower water absorption.

  When water leaks from the gap between the connection portions of the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12, most of the water is absorbed by the hygroscopic expansion material sheets 33a and 33b as shown in FIG. It hardly reaches the outer periphery of the material sheet 33c. Moreover, since the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33b has lower water absorption than the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33a, water leaking from the gap between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 preferentially spreads in the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33a, and then absorbs moisture. It penetrates into the expansion material sheet 33b.

  The hygroscopic expansion material sheets 33a and 33b try to expand by absorbing water, but the outer side is suppressed by the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33c and the clamp 14, so that the hygroscopic expansion sheet is shown in FIG. 8B. The expansion force generated in the material sheets 33a and 33b becomes the stress in the direction of reducing the diameter of the tube 12. Thereby, similarly to 1st Embodiment, the clearance gap between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12 becomes narrow, and a water leak stops. Further, the expansion of the hygroscopic expansion material sheets 33a, 33b, and 33c itself closes the gaps in the hygroscopic expansion material sheets 33a, 33b, and 33c, and water hardly enters the hygroscopic expansion material sheets 33a and 33b.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, since water spreads throughout the hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33a, the tube 12 generated as the hygroscopic expansion material sheet expands is contracted. The stress in the radial direction works more strongly than in the first embodiment. For this reason, the effect which prevents a water leak is large compared with 1st Embodiment. Further, in the present embodiment, the outer moisture-absorbing and expanding material sheet has a lower water absorption, so that there is also an effect that leakage of water is more reliably prevented from leaching out of the moisture-absorbing and expanding material sheet 33c. Instead of sequentially winding the hygroscopic expansion material sheets 33a, 33b, 33c around the connection portion between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12, the hygroscopic expansion material sheets 33a, 33b, 33c are formed in advance in the same manner as in the second embodiment. A body may be prepared, and the molded body may be disposed at a connection portion between the tube connection port 11 and the tube 12.

  Hereinafter, the results of examining the effects of the above-described liquid leakage prevention structure will be described.

  Similarly to the second embodiment, a tube connection port (aluminum tube having an outer diameter of 5 mm and an inner diameter of 3 mm) 11 and a tube (a butyl rubber tube having an outer diameter of 6 mm and an inner diameter of 4 mm) 12 are sandwiched with a wire having a diameter of 0.5 mm. Connected. Then, around these connection portions, KH0230NF as the first hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33a, KK0120R as the second hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33b, and KB0107F as the third hygroscopic expansion material sheet 33c (both manufactured by Teijin Fibers Limited) Was wound and the outside was tightened by the clamp 14. The amount of water absorption of each hygroscopic expansion material sheet is shown in Table 1 below.

そして、チューブ１２内に、電磁ピストンポンプにより水を連続的に流した。ポンプ流量は４００ミリリットル／分である。その結果、５００時間を経過しても、接続部からの水漏れを確認することはできなかった。一方、吸湿膨張部材を使用しないで接続部のチューブ外周を単にクランプで締め付けただけの場合は、短時間で接続部からの水漏れが確認された。これらの結果から、本実施形態の有用性が確認された。

And water was continuously flowed in the tube 12 by the electromagnetic piston pump. The pump flow rate is 400 ml / min. As a result, water leakage from the connecting portion could not be confirmed even after 500 hours had passed. On the other hand, when the tube outer periphery of the connection portion was simply clamped without using the hygroscopic expansion member, water leakage from the connection portion was confirmed in a short time. From these results, the usefulness of this embodiment was confirmed.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the leakage of a cooling pipe of an electronic computer is applied has been described. However, the above-described technique is used to prevent leakage of a connection portion of a resin pipe or a metal pipe that transfers water or chemicals. Of course, it may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Tube connection port, 12 ... Tube, 13, 33a, 33b, 33c ... Hygroscopic expansion material sheet, 14, 24 ... Clamp, 14a, 24a ... Knob part, 15 ... Screw, 23 ... Hygroscopic expansion member, 29 ... Wire.

Claims (6)

Piping connection port,
A pipe connected to the pipe connection port;
Formed of a material that expands when it absorbs moisture, and a hygroscopic expansion member disposed around a connection portion between the pipe connection port and the pipe;
A liquid leakage prevention structure comprising: a fastening tool for fastening the outer periphery of the hygroscopic expansion member. The fastening tool is formed by bending a leaf spring having a tapered cross section into a ring shape,
The liquid leakage prevention structure according to claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the hygroscopic expansion member has an inclined surface corresponding to a shape of the fastening tool.   The liquid leakage preventing structure according to claim 1, wherein the hygroscopic expansion member is formed of a plurality of hygroscopic expansion layers having different water absorption, and the inner hygroscopic expansion layer has higher water absorption.   The said moisture absorption expansion member has as a main component any one of a polyacrylic acid type resin, a poval type resin, a polyoxyethylene type resin, and a cellulose resin. Liquid leakage prevention structure.   The liquid leakage prevention structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hygroscopic expansion member is formed by winding a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric formed of a material that expands when moisture is absorbed. . An electronic device provided with a cooling mechanism for cooling with a coolant, wherein the cooling mechanism is
Piping connection port,
A pipe connected to the pipe connection port;
Formed by a material that expands when absorbing moisture, and a hygroscopic expansion member disposed around a connection portion between the pipe connection port and the pipe;
An electronic device comprising: a fastening tool for fastening the outer periphery of the hygroscopic expansion member.

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