Threaded cooling apparatus with integrated cooling channels and heat exchanger

Abstract

A threaded cooling apparatus includes a head having a heat exchanger and a shaft having a threaded section configured to mechanically fasten the head to a structure. The heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat with a coolant flowing through the head. The shaft also includes first and second cooling channels. The first cooling channel is configured to deliver the coolant to the heat exchanger, and the second cooling channel is configured to exhaust the coolant from the heat exchanger. The apparatus may also include a first seal between the head and the structure that is configured to reduce or prevent coolant loss. The apparatus may further include a second seal that is configured to reduce or prevent coolant flow between the first and second cooling channels that bypasses the heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A threaded cooling apparatus comprising:
 a head comprising a heat exchanger; and   a shaft comprising a threaded section configured to mechanically fasten the head to a structure;   wherein the heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat with a coolant flowing through the head; and   wherein the shaft further comprises first and second cooling channels, the first cooling channel configured to deliver the coolant to the heat exchanger, the second cooling channel configured to exhaust the coolant from the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to translate perpendicular to a surface of the structure based on rotation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first seal between the head and the structure, the first seal configured to reduce or prevent coolant loss.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second seal configured to reduce or prevent coolant flow between the first and second cooling channels that bypasses the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head and the shaft form a bolt. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling channel extends along an entire length of the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling channel extends along part but not all of a length of the shaft and is angled so that an entry to the first cooling channel is located along a side of the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second cooling channel comprises a groove through at least part of the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a threaded cooling apparatus comprising:
 a head comprising a heat exchanger; and 
 a shaft comprising a threaded section; 
 wherein the heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat with a coolant flowing through the head; and 
 wherein the shaft further comprises first and second cooling channels, the first cooling channel configured to deliver the coolant to the heat exchanger, the second cooling channel configured to exhaust the coolant from the heat exchanger; 
   a manifold comprising first and second coolant channels, the first coolant channel configured to provide the coolant to the first cooling channel of the threaded cooling apparatus, the second coolant channel configured to return the coolant from the second cooling channel of the threaded cooling apparatus;   wherein the threaded section is configured to mechanically fasten the head to the manifold.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to translate perpendicular to a surface of the manifold based on rotation of the threaded cooling apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the threaded cooling apparatus further comprises a first seal between the head and the manifold, the first seal configured to reduce or prevent coolant loss. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the threaded cooling apparatus further comprises a second seal configured to reduce or prevent coolant flow between the first and second cooling channels that bypasses the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the threaded cooling apparatus comprises a bolt. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first cooling channel extends along an entire length of the shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first cooling channel extends along part but not all of a length of the shaft and is angled so that an entry to the first cooling channel is located along a side of the shaft 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second cooling channel comprises a groove through at least part of the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 inserting a threaded cooling apparatus into a structure, the threaded cooling apparatus comprising a head and a shaft, the head comprising a heat exchanger, the shaft comprising a threaded section configured to mechanically fasten the head to the structure;   providing coolant to the heat exchanger through a first cooling channel in the shaft, the heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with the coolant flowing through the head; and   exhausting the coolant from the heat exchanger through a second cooling channel in the shaft.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein during insertion the heat exchanger translates perpendicular to a surface of the structure based on rotation of the threaded cooling apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the threaded cooling apparatus further comprises a first seal between the head and the manifold, the first seal configured to reduce or prevent coolant loss. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the threaded cooling apparatus further comprises a second seal configured to reduce or prevent coolant flow between the first and second cooling channels that bypasses the heat exchanger.