Logic module assembly for confining and directing the flow of cooling fluid

An electronic computer comprising at least two electronic circuit modules, each module comprising a plurality of printed circuit boards arranged in at least two adjacent layers with an elongated interior channel between the layers and a plurality of relatively closely spaced apart heat generating integrated circuits (ICs) connected to at least one printed circuit board within the interior channel, the channel extending within each module from one open end at one edge of the module to another opposite open end at another edge of the module, said electronic computer further comprising means for flowing a cooling fluid through each channel to cool the ICs of each module;

• and an improvement in combination therewith comprising:
• means defining first and second substantially continuous fluid directing boundary walls of the channel within each module, the boundary wall defining means being attached to each module adjacent to oppositely disposed edge portions of the printed circuit boards of each module and defining substantially continuous fluid directing boundary walls which extend the entire length of each channel in each module from the one open end to the other open end, the boundary wall defining means and the adjacent layers of printed circuit boards of each module further establishing a substantially closed and continuous fluid directing path of the channel between the one open end and the opposite open end of each module to confine the flow of cooling fluid within each module through the channel;
• a supporting frame holding the modules in a generally parallel relationship;
• and
• a module sealing plate positioned between each module and each adjacent module to create a substantial impediment to the flow of cooling fluid between adjacent modules and to confine the flow of cooling fluid to the channels within the modules.

An electronic computer as defined in claim 26 wherein the supporting frame further comprises:

• two elongated L-shaped rear struts, having two legs, each rear strut rotatably connected at each end to a corresponding one of the end caps, wherein one leg of each strut engages and supports a rear edge of each module and the other leg of each rear strut engages and supports one of a top or a bottom edge of each module;
• two elongated rectangular front struts, each strut slidably connected at each end to a corresponding one of the end caps, the connection being slidable in a direction parallel to the length of the front struts, wherein one strut engages and supports the top edge of each module and the other strut engages and supports the bottom edge of each module, the supporting frame being at the open position when the end caps are moved to a relatively further apart location along the slidable connection and at the closed position when the end caps are moved to a relatively closer together position along the slidable connection;
• and
• a frame locking means operative to hold the supporting frame at the closed position.

An electronic computer comprising at least one electronic circuit module comprising at least one power plate to which at least one printed circuit board having integrated circuits is attached, an improvement in combination therewith comprising:

• a power blade comprising an elongated rectangular body portion defining a first substantially continuous fluid directing boundary wall, the body portion electrically and mechanically attached in the module adjacent a front edge of the power plate, and a connector portion extending in a forward direction from the rectangular body portion, the connector portion having a trapezoidal configuration defined by two connector sides which converge toward one another in the forward direction, and a centering spring at each connector side;
• an elongated electrically conductive buss bar having a rear surface and an opposite front surface, the buss bar having an elongated receptacle extending along the rear surface thereof, the receptacle having two receptacle surfaces which converge toward one another in the forward direction;
• and
• securing means to draw the connector portion of the power blade into the receptacle of the buss bar and to mechanically secure the power blade to the power buss, the centering spring at each connector side centering the connector portion relative to the receptacle as the connector portion moves into the receptacle.

An electronic apparatus comprising:

• at least one electronic circuit module, each module including two generally parallel and spaced apart substrates having a plurality of circuit elements electrically disposed therebetween, said substrates defining a first pair of opposing channel walls for directing a cooling fluid therebetween;
• means providing electrical contact to said circuit elements which is affixed to the module adjacent to one edge portion of at least one of said substrates, said electrical contact providing means including a body portion thereof defining a first substantially continuous fluid directing boundary wall between said substrates;
• and
• means for blocking fluid flow which is affixed to the module adjacent another oppositely disposed edge portion of at least one of said substrates, said fluid flow blocking means defining a second substantially continuous fluid directing boundary wall between said substrates,
• said channel walls in conjunction with said boundary walls establishing a substantially closed and continuous fluid directing path for the channel between one open end and an opposite open end of the channel through said module for conduction of a cooling fluid to said circuit elements, the body portion of the electrical contact providing means and the fluid flow blocking means extending substantially continuously along the entire length of the first and second boundary walls, respectively.

An electronic computer comprising:

• a plurality of modules, each of said modules including two generally parallel and spaced apart substrates having a plurality of circuit elements electrically disposed therebetween, said substrates defining a first pair of opposing channel walls for directing a cooling fluid therebetween;
• means providing electrical contact to said circuit elements which is affixed to each module adjacent to one edge portion of at least one of said substrates, said electrical contact providing means including a body portion thereof defining a first substantially continuous fluid directing boundary wall between said substrates;
• means for blocking fluid flow which is affixed to each module adjacent to another oppositely disposed edge portion of at least one of said substrates, said fluid flow blocking means defining a second substantially continuous fluid directing boundary wall between said substrates, said channel walls in conjunction with said boundary walls establishing in each module a substantially closed and continuous fluid directing path of the channel between one open end and an opposite open end of the channel for conduction of a cooling fluid to said circuit elements, the body portion of the electrical contact providing means and the fluid flow blocking means extending substantially continuously along the entire length of the first and second boundary walls, respectively;
• a supporting frame holding said modules in a generally parallel relationship therebetween;
• and
• a module sealing plate positioned between each module and each adjacent logic module to create substantial impediment to flow of said cooling fluid and operative to substantially confine said cooling fluid flow to said fluid directing channel within said modules.