Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
4775
105Z004
The present invention relates to electrical
connector assemblies in or for a closed fluid cooling
system for electronic apparatus.
According to the present invention, an electrical
S connector assembly in or for a closed fluid cooling
system for electronic apparatus, comprises first and
second releasably matable electrical connectors each
including a housing of insulating material, at least
one electrical contact mounted in a passageway of the
housing and adapted to electrically engage the
corresponding electrical contact of the other electrical
connector, and a conduit passage in which is mounted a
coupling for co-operating engagement with a substantially
identical coupling in the other electrical connector
when the connectors are mated to permit passage through
the mated electrical connectors of a cooling fluid.
An embodiment of the ~nvention will now be
descrlbed, by way of example, reference being made to
the flgures of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings,
in which:-
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an
electronic systeM having a closed fluid cooling system;
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are details in cross-section
of a coupling in various stages from disengagement to
engagement, the coupling forming part of the fluid cooling
system of Figure 1, Figure 4 being a cross-section on
line IV - IV of Figure 1.
: - 2
1052~4 4775
As shown in Flgure 1, an electronic apparatus,
for example a portion of a computer, includes a palr of
spaced, parallel slde walls 10, 12, a front panel 70, a
rear panel (not shown) and a base 22 extending between
the side walls. The side walls 10, 12 are formed with
grooves 14, 16 dimensioned to receive a plurality of
printed circuit boards 18. Supported on the base 22
are a plurality of edge connectors 20, each edge
connector being connected to an edge of a printed circuit
board 18. At its upper edge (as shown) each board 18
has locking means 24 which secures the board 18 in
position in its respective edge connector 20.
Each board 18 carries a plurality of integrated
circuit devices which are cooled by a closed fluid
cooling system including flu,id headers 26 as descrlbed
C,a~ a<cn~
in co-pending~ Applicat~on Seriai No. 237,974
lnterconnected by conduits 36. The first and last
headers 26 are connected respectively by conduits 60,
62 to a connector 64 mounted on the board 18 adjacent
the edge connector 20. The connector 64 is adapted to
make both electrical and fluid tight connection with
the edge connector 20.
A fluid and electrical distribution cable 66
: connects individual connectors 20 to a connector 68
mounted on the panel 70. The connector 68 is similarly
connected to a main fluid cooling system by a fluid
and electrical distribution cable 72.
.
..
.
4775
lOSZ004
At each of the interconnect posltions in the
fluid cooling system, namely, between the connectors 20
and 64 and in the mating halves of the connector 68,
each fluld line is provided with a coupling 74 shown in
detail in Figures 2 to 4 in association with the
connectors 20 and 64. Each coupling 74 comprises means
in the form of a fitting 76 one end of which engages
the appropriate associated conduit (not shown). The
other end of fitting 76 is joined to a body 78 by annular
ridges 80. The body 78 has an axial bore which
communicates with a narrow opening 82 at the opposite
end from fitting 76. A resilient sealing member 84 is
mounted in the narrow opening 82 and has an annular
flange 86 inside the body and an enlarged profiled head
88 outside the body. The sealing member 84 also has an
axial bore 90 coaxial with the bore in the body 78 which
bore 90 communicates with a shallow conical entrance
92. A valve member 94 is mounted in the body 78 with
lntegral stem 96 extending from a head 98 and passing
through the bore 90. The head 98 of the valve member
94 is blased against the flange 86 of sealing member 84
by a spring 100. A stop 102 projects from the head 98
of the valve member 94 in the opposite direction from
the stem 96. The end of the spring 100 opposite that
which engages the head 98 abuts against an end of the
fitting 76.
The coupllngs 74 assoclated w1th the connectors
4775
lOSZ004
20 and 64 are identical. The coupling 74 on the left
of Figures 2 to 4 has been mounted on the connector 64
as a plug member projecting from the connector 64, while
the coupling 74 on the right is recessed as a receptacle
ln its associated connector 20. The same conditions
would apply for the mating halves of connector 68.
The steps of engaging the couplings 74 are shown
ln Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 shows the separated or
fully disconnected position of the couplings. In this
position the heads 98 of both valve members 94 are biased
against flanges 86 of sealing members 84 by springs 100
to prevent fluid flow through the couplings. When the
couplings are initially engaged, as shown in Figure 3,
the free ends of the sealing members 84 engage and are
compressed against each other to form a leak proof
passageway through the aligned axial bores 90. As the
relative movement of the couplings towards one another
continues, the free ends of the valve stems 96 engage
and begin to open the valve members 94 against the
2Q biasing force of springs 100 to establish fluid flow
therethrough. The stops 102 on the end of each valve
member 94 eliminate the possibility of only one valve
member opening while the other valve member stays
closed. If one valve member sticks in the closed
position the stop 102 of the other valve member will abut
its related fitting 76 so that all the force bringlng
the couplings together will be applied against the stuck
, _ 5 _
1052004 4775
valve member.
Full fluid communication between the mated
couplings 74 is shown in Figure 4. Dlsengagement of
the couplings 74 produces a reverse actlon to that
described above. As the valve members 94 are closed
by springs 100 the sealing members 84 expand preventing
undue leakage of the fluid from the system. '
The connectors 20, 64 are releasably matable
together and are latched in the mating position by
latching means (not shown).
Each connector 20, 64 has a plurality of
passageways ~n each of which is mounted an electrical
contact (not shown) for electrically engaging
co-operating electrical contact of the mating connector.
-- 6 --
