# US 9,049,803 B2 · Thermal management infrastructure for IT equipment in a cabinet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,049,803 B2 - Document ID: US9049803B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/623,644 - Filed: 2012-09-20 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Granted: 2015-06-02 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-22 - Assignees: Panduit Corp. - Applicants: Ronald A. Nordin; Surendra Chitti Babu; Masud Bolouri-Saransar - Inventors: Ronald A. Nordin; Surendra Chitti Babu; Masud Bolouri-Saransar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9049803B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/20809: {within server blades for removing heat from heat source} - H05K 7/20818: {within cabinets for removing heat from server blades} - F28F 2013/008: {Variable conductance materials; Thermal switches} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) ## Abstract The present invention attempts to reduce the thermal resistance with the use of heat-transfer devices (e.g., vapor chambers) placed directly on the heat-generating components in IT equipment and the integration of a cold plate within the cabinet. In some embodiments, the present invention is a thermal management system comprising a cabinet-side thermal management system and a server-side thermal management system using moveable thermal components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal management system comprising: a cabinet including a cabinet thermal management system, said cabinet thermal management system including a cooling element; and an equipment chassis slidable into said cabinet, said equipment chassis including a server thermal management system, said server thermal management system including a heat removal system and a server thermal connector, wherein said server thermal connector includes a heat removal system interface connected to said heat removal system, a cabinet interface for interfacing to said cooling element, and a slidable thermal wedge disposed between said heat removal system interface and said cabinet interface, said slidable thermal wedge being slidable between a first position relative to said equipment chassis and a second position relative to said equipment chassis, said first position preventing thermal contact between said cabinet interface and said cooling element, and said second position providing thermal contact between said cabinet interface and said cooling element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein said heat removal system includes at least one of a vapor chamber, a cold plate, or a heat sink. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein said heat removal system is in contact with at least one heat-generating component installed in said equipment chassis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermal management system of claim 3, wherein a thermal interface material is disposed between said heat removal system and said at least one heat-generating component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein a movement of said slidable thermal wedge into said first position causes said cabinet interface to disengage from said cooling element, and wherein a movement of said slidable thermal wedge into said second position causes said cabinet interface to engage said cooling element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein said equipment chassis has a thermal interface window, and wherein said thermal contact between said server thermal connector and said cooling element occurs through said thermal interface window. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein said cabinet interface is moveable in response to movement of said slidable thermal wedge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein said slidable thermal wedge is activated by at least one of manual control, automated control, or mechanical actuation in response to installation of said equipment chassis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, where said cooling element includes at least one of a cold plate, a water block, a heat sink, or a vapor chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein said server thermal management system includes a thermal jacket, said thermal jacket covering at least a portion of said equipment chassis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thermal management system of claim 10, wherein at least one of a heat sink or a water block is disposed between said cooling element and said thermal jacket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The thermal management system of claim 10, wherein said cooling element includes a first cooling element and a second cooling element, said first cooling element and said second cooling element being positioned on opposite sides of said equipment chassis. ### Claim 13 A thermal management system comprising: a cabinet including a cabinet thermal management system, said cabinet thermal management system including a cooling element and a cooling element vapor chamber, said cooling element vapor chamber comprising a flexible wall; and an equipment chassis slidable into said cabinet, said equipment chassis including a server thermal management system, said server thermal management system including a heat removal system and a server thermal connector, said equipment chassis having a thermal interface window, wherein at least a part of said flexible wall of said cooling element vapor chamber is capable of sliding into said thermal interface window of said equipment chassis to make thermal contact with said server thermal connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermal management system of claim 13, wherein said heat removal system includes at least one of a heat removal system vapor chamber, a cold plate, or a heat sink. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The thermal management system of claim 13, wherein said server thermal connector includes a slidable thermal wedge, said slidable thermal wedge being slidable between a first position and a second position, said first position preventing thermal contact between said server thermal connector and said cooling element vapor chamber, and said second position providing thermal contact between said server thermal connector and said cooling element vapor chamber through said thermal interface window. ### Claim 16 A thermal management system comprising: a cabinet including a cabinet thermal management system, said cabinet thermal management system including a cooling element, said cooling element being at least one of a cold plate, a heat pipe, or a plurality of waterlines; and an equipment chassis slidable into said cabinet, said equipment chassis including a server thermal management system, said server thermal management system including a heat removal system and a server thermal connector, wherein said equipment chassis includes a thermal interface window, wherein said heat removal system includes at least one of a vapor chamber, a cold plate, or a heat sink, said heat removal system being in contact with at least one heat-generating component installed in said equipment chassis, and wherein said server thermal connector includes a heat removal system interface connected to said heat removal system and a slidable thermal wedge, said slidable thermal wedge being slidable against said heat removal system interface between a first position relative to said equipment chassis and a second position relative to said equipment chassis, a movement of said slidable thermal wedge into said first position retracting said server thermal connector inside of the equipment chassis and preventing thermal contact between said server thermal connector and said cooling element, and a movement of said slidable thermal wedge into said second position extending said server thermal connector out of said thermal interface window of said equipment chassis and providing thermal contact between said server thermal connector and said cooling element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The thermal management system of claim 16, wherein a thermal interface material is disposed between said heat removal system and said at least one heat-generating component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The thermal management system of claim 16, wherein said server thermal connector further includes a cabinet interface, said slidable thermal wedge being disposed between said heat removal system interface and said cabinet interface, said cabinet interface being moveable in response to movement of said slidable thermal wedge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The thermal management system of claim 16, wherein said cooling element includes a cooling element vapor chamber, said cooling element vapor chamber comprising a flexible wall.