US 8,507,062 B2Granted

Flexible-to-rigid tubing

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsDylan J. Boday, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert E. Meyer, III

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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.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A flexible-to-rigid tube for interconnecting an outlet port of a first component and an inlet port of a second component, comprising:

a first end configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the outlet port of the first component;
a second end configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the inlet port of the second component;
a layer having a composition comprising at least one of a silicone and triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC), wherein the layer changes from a flexible state to a rigid state via formation of a cross-linked network upon exposure of the layer to actinic radiation or heat to increase the flexural modulus and burst strength of the flexible-to-rigid tube, wherein while the layer is in the flexible state the flexible-to-rigid tube is sufficiently flexible to be routed between the outlet port of the first component and the inlet port of the second component so that the first end of the flexible-to-rigid tube can be slid over and clamped to the tubular fitting of the first component and the second end of the flexible-to-rigid tube can be slid over and clamped to the tubular fitting of the second component, and 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 more elements

A multi-layer flexible-to-rigid tube for interconnecting an outlet port of a first component and an inlet port of a second component, comprising:

a first end configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the outlet port of the first component;
a second end configured to be slid over and clamped to a tubular fitting that defines the inlet port of the second component;
an inner liner having a composition comprising polyvinyl chloride;
a crosslinkable jacket extruded over the inner liner and having a composition comprising polyvinyl chloride and triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC), wherein the jacket changes from a flexible state to a rigid state via formation of a cross-linked network upon exposure of the jacket to actinic radiation or heat to increase the flexural modulus and burst strength of the multi-layer flexible-to-rigid tube, and wherein while the jacket is in the flexible state the multi-layer flexible-to-rigid tube is sufficiently flexible to be routed between the outlet port of the first component and the inlet port of the second component so that the first end of the multi-layer flexible-to-rigid tube can be slid over and clamped to the tubular fitting of the first component and the second end of the multi-layer flexible-to-rigid tube can be slid over and clamped to the tubular fitting of the second component.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/869,937Filed 27 Aug 2010
Published: US 2012/0050994 A11 Mar 2012
Granted: 13 Aug 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification44 codes

H05K 1/0272
Details: adaptations for fluid transport, e.g. channels, holes
B29C 71/04
After-treatment of articles without altering their shape; Apparatus therefor: by wave energy or particle radiation , e.g. for curing or…
C08F 126/06
Homopolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one…:…
C08G 18/02
Polymeric products of isocyanates or isothiocyanates: of isocyanates or isothiocyanates only