No Drip Hot Swap Connector And Method of Use

Abstract

A connector for use in a negative pressure coolant system is disclosed. The connector connects coolant system circulating to an electrical component thereby allowing the coolant to circulate through the electrical component. The connector is made up of two components, a component side connector and a pump side connector, and can be in three positions: disengaged, semi-engaged and fully-engaged. An electrical component can be drained of its coolant while the connector is shifted from the fully-engaged position, to the semi-engaged position and to the disengaged position. This can be accomplished without shutting down the negative pressure coolant system, thus allowing a particular electrical component to be disconnected without affecting the cooling efficiency of other electrical components connected to the system. Because the coolant is drained, it will not spill on the electrical component and cause damage.

1 . A dry-disconnect system for liquid-cooled electronic components, comprising a connector releasably connecting a liquid coolant-containing heat exchanger to a liquid coolant-containing reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, where the liquid coolant is below-atmospheric-pressure, the connector adapted to release the liquid coolant-containing heat exchanger from the reservoir only when substantially all of the liquid coolant has been drained out of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         2 . A method of draining coolant from an electrical component connected to a negative pressure coolant system, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a connector that connects the negative pressure coolant system to the electrical component, the connector comprising pump side connector adapted to mate with a component side connector that contains a return conduit pin and a supply conduit pin in hydraulic connection with an electrical component, the pump side connector comprising a return valve and a supply valve constructed such that: when the pump side connector is in a semi-engaged position with the component side connector (1) the return valve forms a hydraulic seal with the return conduit pin, (2) the supply conduit pin is hydraulically exposed to positive pressure, and (3) the supply valve is closed and sealed against positive pressure;   (b) placing the pump side connector in the semi-engaged position, thereby allowing positive pressure to push the coolant out of the electrical component into the negative pressure coolant system through the return valve; and   (c) maintaining the pump side connector in the semi-engaged position a sufficient amount of time to drain the coolant from the electrical component.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein when the pump side connector is in a disengaged position both the return and supply valves are closed and sealed against the positive pressure, the method further comprising placing the pump side connector in the disengaged position, thereby disconnecting the electrical component from the negative pressure coolant system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , the connector further comprising a delay structure, wherein the sufficient amount of time of step (c) is caused at least in part by the delay structure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the delay structure is a latch, wherein the wherein the sufficient amount of time of step (c) is caused at least in part by actuating the latch. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , the connector further comprising an audible indicator that makes noise dependent on the amount of coolant in the electrical component, wherein the sufficient amount of time of step (c) is based on the audible characteristics of the audible indicator.