Locking orifice retaining nut

Abstract

An inlet manifold for use with a heat exchange device such as a cold plate in which the manifold includes a main passage for transferring liquid. The main passage includes a seat sized to hold an orifice plate for restricting the transfer of liquid to a flow suitable to produce a pressure drop. An orifice plate retaining element contacts the orifice plate to maintain the orifice plate on the seat, and has a locking element to prevent unlocking during use.

1 . An inlet manifold assembly, the assembly comprising:
 an inlet;   an outlet;   a main passage for transferring liquid from the inlet to the outlet, the main passage having a seat;   an orifice plate in the main passage seat for controlling flow of liquid the main passage; and   an orifice plate retaining element contacting the orifice plate to maintain the orifice plate on the seat.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the seat is located in the main passage at a reduced diameter sized to hold the orifice plate. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the orifice plate retaining element and the main passage have mating threads for locating the retaining element. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein locking element comprises a strip of polychlorotrifluoroethylene in a strip cut in a threaded portion of the retaining element and extends out from the strip to engage the threads on the main passage. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the orifice plate and the retaining element are made from stainless steel. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the orifice plate has a centrally located orifice; and the retaining element includes a central bore that is aligned with the main passage and the orifice. 
     
     
         7 . A cold plate device for use to cool objects, the device comprising:
 a plate member having a first and second side;   a cooling tube loop mounted on the first side of the plate member;   an inlet manifold having an inlet and an outlet for transferring cooling fluid to the cooling tube from the inlet to the outlet, the at least one inlet manifold having a seat located therein;   an orifice plate positioned on the seat in the inlet manifold for controlling flow of cooling fluid into the cooling tube loop;   a retaining element mounted in the inlet manifold for holding the orifice plate in fixed position; and   an outlet manifold for transferring cooling fluid out of the cooling tube loop.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the seat is located in a main passage of the inlet manifold at a reduced diameter sized to hold the orifice plate. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the orifice plate has a centrally located orifice; and the retaining element includes a central bore that is aligned with the main passage and the orifice. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the orifice plate retaining element and the main passage have mating threads for locating the retaining element. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining element including a locking element preventing removal of the retaining element. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein locking element comprises a strip of polychlorotrifluoroethylene in a strip cut in the threaded portion of the retaining element and extending out from the strip to engage the threads on the main passage. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the orifice plate and the retaining element are made from stainless steel. 
     
     
         14 . A method for selecting the flow rate of cooling fluids in a cold plate having a plate member having a first and second side and a cooling tube loop mounted on the first side, an inlet manifold transferring cooling fluid to the cooling tube loop and having a seat, the method comprising:
 mounting an orifice plate on the seat in the inlet manifold to regulate the flow of cooling fluid into the at least one cooling tube;   holding the orifice plate with a retaining element mounted in the inlet manifold in fixed position; and   transferring cooling fluid through the cooling loop.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the seat is located in the main passage at a reduced diameter sized to hold the orifice plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the orifice plate is selected by testing a plurality of orifice plates having different bore sizes, the plurality of orifice plates being held in place for testing with a temporary retaining element. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the orifice plate retaining element and the main passage have mating threads for locating the retaining element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the retaining element includes a locking element preventing removal of the retaining element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein locking element comprises a strip of polychlorotrifluoroethylene in a strip cut in the threaded portion of the retaining element and extending out from the strip to engage the threads on the main passage. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the orifice plate and the retaining element are made from stainless steel.