Patents by Inventor Ian Spearing
Ian Spearing 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).
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Patent number: 8833097Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for regulating and distributing cooling fluid through a plurality of heat sinks, such as cold plates, using a flow regulator, which sets the total flow rate, in combination with one or more individual orifices that allow further flow distribution as required by individual cold plates, despite flow variations upstream of the orifices. An orifice can be coupled to an orifice holder, which includes a body to support the orifice, and which may be coupled (directly or indirectly) to an inlet of the cold plate. Alternative manners of coupling orifices in the fluid flow besides an orifice holder can be employed. Generally, the flow regulator(s) is coupled with a plurality of orifices and conduits through which the cooling fluid flows. Related system components can be assembled as a module for installation into a cooling system that includes other system components such as a pump, compressor or other pressure sources for the cooling fluid.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventor: Ian Spearing
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Patent number: 8484984Abstract: A cooling system is provided that comprises: a refrigerant loop having a pump; an evaporator heat exchanger thermally coupled to a heat source, the evaporator plumbed in the loop; a condensing heat exchanger and a receiver plumbed in the loop; and an equalizing conduit plumbed between an inlet to the condenser and the receiver and comprising a flow regulating valve.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventor: Ian Spearing
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Patent number: 8067917Abstract: A system and control method mitigates hysteresis of an adjustable component in the system. A control module can allow small control changes to be effected to the component within limits of the component's and/or the system's normal hysteresis band. The control method can allow finer, more accurate and more aggressive control to be obtained from the component. The system and method can utilize two separate control regimes to control adjustments to the component. The first control regime can control changes larger than a hysteresis band and/or changes in a same direction as the last adjustment that was performed with the first control regime. The first control regime can be a feedback-based adjustment to the component. The second control regime can be utilized to control changes within the hysteresis band. The second control regime can use open-loop based adjustments to the component.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventor: Ian Spearing
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Publication number: 20110272125Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for regulating and distributing cooling fluid through a plurality of heat sinks, such as cold plates, using a flow regulator, which sets the total flow rate, in combination with one or more individual orifices that allow further flow distribution as required by individual cold plates, despite flow variations upstream of the orifices. An orifice can be coupled to an orifice holder, which includes a body to support the orifice, and which may be coupled (directly or indirectly) to an inlet of the cold plate. Alternative manners of coupling orifices in the fluid flow besides an orifice holder can be employed. Generally, the flow regulator(s) is coupled with a plurality of orifices and conduits through which the cooling fluid flows. Related system components can be assembled as a module for installation into a cooling system that includes other system components such as a pump, compressor or other pressure sources for the cooling fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATIONInventor: Ian Spearing
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Patent number: 8011200Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for regulating and distributing cooling fluid through a plurality of heat sinks, such as cold plates, using a flow regulator, which sets the total flow rate, in combination with one or more individual orifices that allow further flow distribution as required by individual cold plates, despite flow variations upstream of the orifices. An orifice can be coupled to an orifice holder, which includes a body to support the orifice, and which may be coupled (directly or indirectly) to an inlet of the cold plate. Alternative manners of coupling orifices in the fluid flow besides an orifice holder can be employed. Generally, the flow regulator(s) is coupled with a plurality of orifices and conduits through which the cooling fluid flows. Related system components can be assembled as a module for installation into a cooling system that includes other system components such as a pump, compressor or other pressure sources for the cooling fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventor: Ian Spearing
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Publication number: 20110120164Abstract: A cooling system is provided that comprises: a refrigerant loop having a pump; an evaporator heat exchanger thermally coupled to a heat source, the evaporator plumbed in the loop; a condensing heat exchanger and a receiver plumbed in the loop; and an equalizing conduit plumbed between an inlet to the condenser and the receiver and comprising a flow regulating valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2011Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATIONInventor: Ian Spearing
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Patent number: 7900468Abstract: A cooling system is provided that comprises: a refrigerant loop having a pump; an evaporator heat exchanger thermally coupled to a heat source, the evaporator plumbed in the loop; a condensing heat exchanger and a receiver plumbed in the loop; and an equalizing conduit plumbed between an inlet to the condenser and the receiver and comprising a flow regulating valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventor: Ian Spearing
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Patent number: 7679909Abstract: The present disclosure describes swivel hinge assemblies for use in rotatably mounting two structures together, such that the structures are in fluid communication by way of fluid flow, as well as systems including such hinge assemblies. The swivel hinge assemblies generally comprise a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, shafts surrounding the inlet and outlet ports and allowing for rotation about one or more axes, and attachment means which may be integrally formed with the shafts of the hinge assembly. In use, these assemblies eliminate the use for secondary hinges or secondary mounting hardware in attaching a door and a structure together in order to maintain fluid communication between an electronics rack and a heat exchanger mounted on the door of an electronics rack.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventors: Ian Spearing, Tim Schrader
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Patent number: 7602609Abstract: A system of cooling and method of use that includes a connector having a data reader capable of reading a wireless identifier and/or a breaker box capable of routing liquid cooling to at least one server. In a preferred embodiment, both the quick connector and the breaker box are used in conjunction with a liquid coolant such as refrigerant or water.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventors: Ian Spearing, Timothy J. Schrader
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Publication number: 20090251094Abstract: A system and control method mitigates hysteresis of an adjustable component in the system. A control module can allow small control changes to be effected to the component within limits of the component's and/or the system's normal hysteresis band. The control method can allow finer, more accurate and more aggressive control to be obtained from the component. The system and method can utilize two separate control regimes to control adjustments to the component. The first control regime can control changes larger than a hysteresis band and/or changes in a same direction as the last adjustment that was performed with the first control regime. The first control regime can be a feedback-based adjustment to the component. The second control regime can be utilized to control changes within the hysteresis band. The second control regime can use open-loop based adjustments to the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2009Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: Liebert CorporationInventor: Ian Spearing
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Patent number: 7599184Abstract: Liquid-based cooling solutions used to transfer heat produced by one or more heat generating devices from one or more electronics servers to the ambient. Each electronics server includes one or more heat generating devices. Integrated onto each electronics server is a liquid based cooling system. Each liquid based cooling system includes a server pump and one or more microchannel cold plates (MCP) coupled together via fluid lines. The liquid based cooling system for each electronics server includes a rejector plate configured with micro-channels. The MCPs, the server pump and the rejector plate form a first closed loop. The rejector plate is coupled to a chassis cold plate via a thermal interface material. In a multiple electronics server configuration, the rejector plates for each of the electronics servers are coupled to the chassis cold plate configured with fluid channels which are coupled via fluid lines to a liquid-to-air heat exchanging system to form a second closed loop.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Cooligy Inc.Inventors: Girish Upadhya, Mark Munch, Norman Chow, Paul Tsao, Douglas E. Werner, Mark McMaster, Frederic Landry, Ian Spearing, Tim Schrader
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Patent number: 7539020Abstract: A mounting system provides mechanisms and form factors for bringing a heat exchanger from a server rack into thermal contact with a heat exchanger from a electronics server. To ensure good thermal contact, pressure is applied between the two heat exchangers, the rejector plate and the chassis cold plate. The mounting mechanism used to engage and disengage the heat exchangers is configured to isolate the force applied to the two heat exchangers. The mounting mechanism includes an interlocking mechanism that prevents transfer of the applied force to the rest of the electronics server. Without isolating this force, the force is applied to the electronics server and/or the rack chassis, possibly disconnecting the electrical connections between the electronics server and the rack, as well as providing mechanical stress to the electronics server and the rack chassis.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Cooligy Inc.Inventors: Norman Chow, Paul Tsao, Douglas E. Werner, Mark McMaster, Girish Upadhya, Frederic Landry, Ian Spearing, Tim Schrader
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Publication number: 20090013716Abstract: A cooling system is provided that comprises: a refrigerant loop having a pump; an evaporator heat exchanger thermally coupled to a heat source, the evaporator plumbed in the loop; a condensing heat exchanger and a receiver plumbed in the loop; and an equalizing conduit plumbed between an inlet to the condenser and the receiver and comprising a flow regulating valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATIONInventor: Ian SPEARING
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Publication number: 20080298019Abstract: A system of cooling and method of use that includes a connector having a data reader capable of reading a wireless identifier and/or a breaker box capable of routing liquid cooling to at least one server. In a preferred embodiment, both the quick connector and the breaker box are used in conjunction with a liquid coolant such as refrigerant or water.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATIONInventors: Ian SPEARING, Timothy J. SCHARDER
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Publication number: 20080196867Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for regulating and distributing cooling fluid through a plurality of heat sinks, such as cold plates, using a flow regulator, which sets the total flow rate, in combination with one or more individual orifices that allow further flow distribution as required by individual cold plates, despite flow variations upstream of the orifices. An orifice can be coupled to an orifice holder, which includes a body to support the orifice, and which may be coupled (directly or indirectly) to an inlet of the cold plate. Alternative manners of coupling orifices in the fluid flow besides an orifice holder can be employed. Generally, the flow regulator(s) is coupled with a plurality of orifices and conduits through which the cooling fluid flows. Related system components can be assembled as a module for installation into a cooling system that includes other system components such as a pump, compressor or other pressure sources for the cooling fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATIONInventor: Ian Spearing
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Publication number: 20080018212Abstract: The present disclosure describes swivel hinge assemblies for use in rotatably mounting two structures together, such that the structures are in fluid communication by way of fluid flow, as well as systems including such hinge assemblies. The swivel hinge assemblies generally comprise a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, shafts surrounding the inlet and outlet ports and allowing for rotation about one or more axes, and attachment means which may be integrally formed with the shafts of the hinge assembly. In use, these assemblies eliminate the use for secondary hinges or secondary mounting hardware in attaching a door and a structure together in order to maintain fluid communication between an electronics rack and a heat exchanger mounted on the door of an electronics rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: LIEBERT CORPORATIONInventors: Ian Spearing, Tim Schrader
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Publication number: 20070201204Abstract: Liquid-based cooling solutions used to transfer heat produced by one or more heat generating devices from one or more electronics servers to the ambient. Each electronics server includes one or more heat generating devices. Integrated onto each electronics server is a liquid based cooling system. Each liquid based cooling system includes a server pump and one or more microchannel cold plates (MCP) coupled together via fluid lines. The liquid based cooling system for each electronics server includes a rejector plate configured with micro-channels. The MCPs, the server pump and the rejector plate form a first closed loop. The rejector plate is coupled to a chassis cold plate via a thermal interface material. In a multiple electronics server configuration, the rejector plates for each of the electronics servers are coupled to the chassis cold plate configured with fluid channels which are coupled via fluid lines to a liquid-to-air heat exchanging system to form a second closed loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2007Publication date: August 30, 2007Inventors: Girish Upadhya, Mark Munch, Norman Chow, Paul Tsao, Douglas Werner, Mark McMaster, Frederic Landry, Ian Spearing, Tim Schrader
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Publication number: 20070201210Abstract: A mounting system provides mechanisms and form factors for bringing a heat exchanger from a server rack into thermal contact with a heat exchanger from a electronics server. To ensure good thermal contact, pressure is applied between the two heat exchangers, the rejector plate and the chassis cold plate. The mounting mechanism used to engage and disengage the heat exchangers is configured to isolate the force applied to the two heat exchangers. The mounting mechanism includes an interlocking mechanism that prevents transfer of the applied force to the rest of the electronics server. Without isolating this force, the force is applied to the electronics server and/or the rack chassis, possibly disconnecting the electrical connections between the electronics server and the rack, as well as providing mechanical stress to the electronics server and the rack chassis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2007Publication date: August 30, 2007Inventors: Norman Chow, Paul Tsao, Douglas Werner, Mark McMaster, Girish Upadhya, Frederic Landry, Ian Spearing, Tim Schrader
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Publication number: 20050280144Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the temperature of an electronic device utilizes a thermal head attached to a base structure including an integral isolation arrangement. For example, the isolation arrangement can be formed as a planar spring defined by slots in the base structure. The base structure has a manifold configured to route refrigerant fluid between the thermal head and components of a refrigeration system. The isolation arrangement is normally planar but is movable to facilitate engagement of the thermal head with the electronic device. The isolation arrangement also compensates for variations in the planar orientation of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2003Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Lewis Wayburn, CHARLES MAHAFFEY, IAN SPEARING, DEREK GAGE, C.TODD SHARPLEY, CYNTHIA BARNES
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Publication number: 20050241328Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the temperature of an electronic device. The apparatus comprises a refrigeration system including a compressor and a multi-pass heat exchanger. The refrigeration system is operative to circulate a refrigerant fluid through a fluid flow loop such that the refrigerant fluid will change between gaseous and liquid states to alternately absorb and release thermal energy. The refrigerant fluid is pre-cooled in the heat exchanger by a pre-cooling refrigerant stream. A thermal head is connected into the fluid flow loop and has a temperature controlled surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2004Publication date: November 3, 2005Inventors: Terry Craps, Ian Spearing, Matthew Brown, John Voshell, John Ruth