Patents by Inventor Randy Zoodsma

Randy Zoodsma has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9743561
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from one or more electronic components to a liquid coolant in an operational mode, and drainage of coolant therefrom in a transport mode. The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to horizontally couple along a main heat transfer surface to the electronic component(s). The heat sink includes a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment through which coolant flows, and a coolant inlet tube and a coolant outlet tube affixed to the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment to facilitate coolant flow through the compartment. The coolant-carrying compartment has a base surface, and the coolant outlet tube extends into the coolant-carrying compartment towards the base surface to facilitate withdrawal of the liquid coolant from the compartment in the transport mode of the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank M. Desiano, David L. Edwards, Robert K. Mullady, Donald W. Porter, Randy Zoodsma
  • Patent number: 9743562
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from one or more electronic components to a liquid coolant in an operational mode, and drainage of coolant therefrom in a transport mode. The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to horizontally couple along a main heat transfer surface to the electronic component(s). The heat sink includes a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment through which coolant flows, and a coolant inlet tube and a coolant outlet tube affixed to the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment to facilitate coolant flow through the compartment. The coolant-carrying compartment has a base surface, and the coolant outlet tube extends into the coolant-carrying compartment towards the base surface to facilitate withdrawal of the liquid coolant from the compartment in the transport mode of the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank M. Desiano, David L. Edwards, Robert K. Mullady, Donald W. Porter, Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20160295747
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from one or more electronic components to a liquid coolant in an operational mode, and drainage of coolant therefrom in a transport mode. The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to horizontally couple along a main heat transfer surface to the electronic component(s). The heat sink includes a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment through which coolant flows, and a coolant inlet tube and a coolant outlet tube affixed to the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment to facilitate coolant flow through the compartment. The coolant-carrying compartment has a base surface, and the coolant outlet tube extends into the coolant-carrying compartment towards the base surface to facilitate withdrawal of the liquid coolant from the compartment in the transport mode of the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Frank M. DESIANO, David L. EDWARDS, Robert K. MULLADY, Donald W. PORTER, Randy ZOODSMA
  • Publication number: 20160295748
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from one or more electronic components to a liquid coolant in an operational mode, and drainage of coolant therefrom in a transport mode. The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to horizontally couple along a main heat transfer surface to the electronic component(s). The heat sink includes a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment through which coolant flows, and a coolant inlet tube and a coolant outlet tube affixed to the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment to facilitate coolant flow through the compartment. The coolant-carrying compartment has a base surface, and the coolant outlet tube extends into the coolant-carrying compartment towards the base surface to facilitate withdrawal of the liquid coolant from the compartment in the transport mode of the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Frank M. DESIANO, David L. EDWARDS, Robert K. MULLADY, Donald W. PORTER, Randy ZOODSMA
  • Patent number: 9420728
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from one or more electronic components to a liquid coolant in an operational mode, and drainage of coolant therefrom in a transport mode. The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to horizontally couple along a main heat transfer surface to the electronic component(s). The heat sink includes a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment through which coolant flows, and a coolant inlet tube and a coolant outlet tube affixed to the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment to facilitate coolant flow through the compartment. The coolant-carrying compartment has a base surface, and the coolant outlet tube extends into the coolant-carrying compartment towards the base surface to facilitate withdrawal of the liquid coolant from the compartment in the transport mode of the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank M. Desiano, David L. Edwards, Robert K. Mullady, Donald W. Porter, Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20150296659
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from one or more electronic components to a liquid coolant in an operational mode, and drainage of coolant therefrom in a transport mode. The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to horizontally couple along a main heat transfer surface to the electronic component(s). The heat sink includes a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment through which coolant flows, and a coolant inlet tube and a coolant outlet tube affixed to the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment to facilitate coolant flow through the compartment. The coolant-carrying compartment has a base surface, and the coolant outlet tube extends into the coolant-carrying compartment towards the base surface to facilitate withdrawal of the liquid coolant from the compartment in the transport mode of the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank M. DESIANO, David L. EDWARDS, Robert K. MULLADY, Donald W. PORTER, Randy ZOODSMA
  • Publication number: 20070125524
    Abstract: A method and incorporated hybrid air and liquid cooled heat sink that is provided for cooling electronic components. The heat sink comprises a finned structure having fins positioned for air to pass easily through them. The finned structure is flanked by a heat source plate on one side (closer to direction of heat flowing from electronic components) and a second plate on its opposing side such that both of the plates are in thermal communication with fin tips and fin base of the finned structure. The heat source plate itself is composed of two complementary halves with fins on each half. When brought together, the two halves form a unitary, fluid sealed plate while allowing passage of fluids through it by allowing the fins on each half to create and interleaving structure. A fluid re-circulator is also disposed at least partially in the plates for circulating fluids though the plates and the finned structure such that both fin tips and fin base are cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20070125519
    Abstract: A method and incorporated heat sink that is cooled both thorough air flow and liquid circulation is provided. The heat sink is disposed close to electronic components and used for their cooling. It comprises a finned structure positioned such that air can easily pass though it; a heat source plate disposed thermally in direction of heat flow to one side of the finned structure such that the heat source plate is in thermal communication with the finned structure fin base and fin tips, and a second plate also disposed at an opposing end of the finned structure in thermal communication both with finned structure fin base and fin tips. The heat sink also includes fluid re-circulator disposed at least partially in the plates for circulating fluids though the plates and around said finned structure such that both fin tips and fin base is cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20060133448
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor comprising a thermistor probe and a power source connected to the thermistor probe to heat the thermistor probe. A cover encases the thermistor probe and includes openings allowing liquid to enter and exit an interior of the cover and contact the thermistor probe. A detector detects a liquid level in response to a voltage at the thermistor probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Kearney, Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20050126747
    Abstract: Method, system and program product are provided for facilitating operation of a cooling system designed to provide system coolant to one or more electronics subsystems of a computing environment. The technique includes automatically checking at least one coolant loop of the cooling system for a leak. The automatically checking includes isolating the at least one coolant loop from coolant flow through the cooling system and checking for drop in coolant pressure within the at least one coolant loop. Upon detection of a drop in coolant pressure, isolation of the coolant loop is retained thereby allowing operation of the cooling system to continue notwithstanding detection of a leak in the at least one coolant loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons, Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20050126276
    Abstract: Method, system and program product are provided for monitoring coolant within a cooling system designed to provide system coolant to one or more electronics subsystems. The monitoring technique includes employing at least one pressure transducer to obtain multiple pressure measurements related to an amount of coolant within an expansion tank of the cooling system, and determining a rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank employing the multiple pressure measurements. Successive pressure measurements can be taken at a known time interval to determine the rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank. An automatic determination can also be made on the immediacy of action to be taken for service of the cooling system based on the rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons, Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20050122685
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided employing multiple coolant conditioning units (CCUs). Each CCU, which is coupled to a different, associated electronics rack of multiple electronics racks to be cooled, includes a heat exchanger, a first cooling loop with a control valve, and a second cooling loop. The first cooling loop receives chilled facility coolant from a source and passes at least a portion thereof via the control valve through the heat exchanger. The second cooling loop provides cooled system coolant to the associated electronics rack, and expels heat in the heat exchanger from the electronics rack to the chilled facility coolant in the first cooling loop. The control valve allows regulation of the facility coolant flow through the heat exchanger, thereby allowing independent control of temperature of the system coolant in the second cooling loop. Various CCU and associated component redundancies of the cooling system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons, Randy Zoodsma