FLUID CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A connector assembly includes: (i) a first connector having a first housing and first tubes for fluid flow, (ii) a second connector having a second housing and second tubes for fluid flow, and (iii) a blocker having openings and disposed between the first tubes and the second tubes, and: (a) in a first position, the first tubes each face the second tubes, but the blocker is configured to block fluid flow between the first tubes and the second tubes, and (b) in a second position, in response to rotation of at least a first portion of the first connector assembly from the first position relative to a second portion of the connector assembly about a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly, the blocker is configured to allow flow by aligning the openings with the first tubes and the second tubes, respectively.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a fluid connector assembly and more particularly to a connector assembly for fluid-based cooling of electronic systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various techniques for dissipating heat generated in switching systems are known in the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention is defined by the claims. To illustrate the invention, aspects and embodiments that may not fall within the scope of the claims may be described herein.

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention described herein provides a connector assembly comprising: (i) a first connector including a first housing and one or more first tubes for fluid flow, (ii) a second connector including a second housing and one or more second tubes for fluid flow, and (iii) a blocker disposed between the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes, the blocker having one or more openings, (a) in a first position, the one or more first tubes each face the one or more second tubes, but the blocker is intended to block the flow of fluid between the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes, and (b) in a second position,in response to rotation of at least a first portion of the connector assembly from the first position relative to a second portion of the connector assembly about a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly, the blocker is to enable flow by aligning the one or more openings with the one or more first tubes and with the one or more second tubes.

[0005] In some embodiments, the first portion of the connector assembly includes one or both of the first and second housings, and the second portion of the connector assembly includes the one or more first and second tubes.

[0006] In other embodiments, the first and second housings include first and second pipe connectors and first and second shells, respectively, and the first and second pipe connectors are intended to connect between (i) the first and second shells and (ii) the one or more first and second pipes, respectively, and the first and second shells are intended to fit over the first and second pipe connectors, respectively.

[0007] In still other embodiments, the first and second shells are intended to rotate about the longitudinal axis relative to the first and second pipe connectors, respectively, to switch a position of the connector assembly between the first position and the second position.

[0008] In some embodiments, (i) the first and second tube connectors and (ii) the one or more first and second tubes are static, while the first and second shells are intended to rotate about the longitudinal axis. In other embodiments, the first and second shells are static, while (i) the first and second tube connectors and (ii) the one or more first and second tubes are intended to rotate about the longitudinal axis. In yet other embodiments, the blocker includes a plate that is part of the first housing.

[0009] In some embodiments, the blocker further includes an additional plate that is part of the second housing. In other embodiments, the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes do not overlap the longitudinal axis of the connector assembly.

[0010] In some embodiments, the one or more second tubes include a plurality of second tubes that merge into a single barb within the second connector. In other embodiments, the single barb overlaps the longitudinal axis of the connector assembly.

[0011] Additionally, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided including a connector assembly including: (i) a first connector including a first housing and one or more first tubes for fluid flow, (ii) a second connector including a second housing and one or more second tubes for fluid flow, and (iii) a blocker disposed between the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes and having one or more openings mate with the first and second housings in a first position in which (a) the one or more first tubes face the one or more second tubes, but (b) the flow of fluid between the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes is blocked by the blocker.The first position is switched to a second position by rotating about a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly at least a first portion of the connector assembly relative to a second portion of the connector assembly, thereby aligning the one or more openings with the one or more first tubes and with the one or more second tubes to allow fluid flow.

[0012] In some embodiments, rotating the first portion of the connector assembly includes rotating one or both of the first and second housings, and wherein the second portion of the connector assembly comprises the one or more first and second tubes.

[0013] In other embodiments, the blocker comprises a plate that is part of the first housing, and wherein rotating the first and second housings about the longitudinal axis comprises rotating the plate together with the first housing.

[0014] In still other embodiments, the blocker further comprises an additional plate that is part of the second housing, and wherein rotating the first and second housings about the longitudinal axis comprises rotating the additional plate together with the second housing.

[0015] In some embodiments, switching from the first position to the second position comprises rotating the first and second housings in a first direction, and switching from the second position to the first position comprises rotating the first and second housings in a second direction opposite the first direction.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first and second housings comprise first and second pipe connectors and first and second shells, respectively, and wherein mating the first and second housings comprises connecting between (i) the first and second shells, respectively, and (ii) the one or more first and second pipes, respectively, using the first and second pipe connectors, and fitting the first and second shells over the first and second pipe connectors.

[0017] In some embodiments, rotating the first and second housings comprises rotating the first and second shells about the longitudinal axis relative to the first and second pipe connectors, respectively.

[0018] In some embodiments, rotating the first and second housings comprises maintaining the first and second tube connectors and the one or more first and second tubes in a static position, and rotating the first and second shells about the longitudinal axis.

[0019] Any feature of one aspect or embodiment may be applied to other aspects or embodiments in any suitable combination. In particular, any feature of a method aspect or embodiment may be applied to a device aspect or device embodiment, and vice versa.

[0020] The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of its embodiments together with the drawings in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a pictorial schematic illustration of a connector assembly of a fluid-based cooling device of an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the connector arrangement of the Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 a pictorial schematic illustration of a pipe connector of the connector assembly of Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 a pictorial schematic illustration of shells of the connector arrangement of the Fig. 1 in an open position according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 a pictorial schematic illustration of shells of the connector arrangement of the Fig. 1 in a closed position according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating a method for controlling the flow of fluid through the connector assembly of the Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a connector assembly of a fluid-based cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OVERVIEW

[0021] Electronic systems typically include active and passive electronic devices that generate heat during operation. Various techniques have been developed to dissipate this heat. Some of these techniques include fluid-based cooling, where fluid flows through the electronic system and dissipates the heat generated by the electronic devices. Some fluid-based cooling systems incorporate flow separators, such as the FD83 family from Danfoss Hansen.® of quick-disconnect couplings provided by Danfoss (Nordborg, 81 Nordborgvej, Denmark) and the TDU-24 product family provided by Stäubli (Pfäffikon, Switzerland).

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention described below provide a fluid-based quick disconnect (QD), also referred to herein as a connector assembly, configured to seal and open a fluid flow path using rotational movement of the connector assembly housing. Note that the connector assembly has no components in the fluid flow path, thereby allowing for reduced fluid pressure drop.

[0023] In some embodiments, the connector assembly comprises (i) a first connector having a first housing and one or more (e.g., two) first tubes configured for fluid flow, and (ii) a second connector having a second housing and one or more (e.g., two) second tubes configured for fluid flow.

[0024] In some embodiments, the connector assembly includes a blocker disposed between the first and second tubes (e.g., between the first and second housings). In an exemplary implementation, the blocker includes a plate having one or more openings. In the present example, the blocker has two openings, and the diameter of the openings is approximately similar to the diameters of the first and second tubes, as detailed in the Fig. 2-5 as described below.

[0025] In some embodiments, in a first position, the first and second tubes face each other (e.g., the openings of the one or more first tubes and the openings of the one or more second tubes are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly), and the openings of the blocker are not aligned with the openings of the tubes along the longitudinal axis. In such embodiments, in the first position, the plate of the blocker is configured to block the flow of fluid between the first and second tubes. The first position is described in more detail in Fig. 5 shown below.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first and second tubes face each other in a second position, and the openings of the blocker are aligned with the openings of the tubes along the longitudinal axis of the connector assembly. In such embodiments, in the second position, the connector assembly is configured to allow fluid to flow through the connector assembly, i.e., between the first and second tubes. The second position is described in more detail in Fig. 4 shown below.

[0027] In some embodiments, the first and second housings each include a first and second tube connector or a first and second shell. The first and second tube connectors are configured to fit into the first and second shells and to connect between the first and second tubes and the first and second shells, respectively. This configuration is described below in Fig. 2 presented and described in detail.

[0028] In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second shells, and typically both, comprise the blocker. For example, the blocker(s) are implemented as one or more plates in the first and / or second shells, as detailed in the Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 described below.

[0029] In some embodiments, the connector assembly is fully assembled after fitting the first and second shells over the first and second pipe connectors, respectively, and mating the first and second shells together.

[0030] In some embodiments, after the connector assembly is assembled, the first and second shells are configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis for switching between a first and second position. It should be noted that the tubes and tube connectors are approximately static to reduce twisting of at least one of the tubes about the longitudinal axis.

[0031] In some embodiments, the connector assembly includes first and second retainers fitted over the first and second tubes, respectively, and configured to prevent the twisting described above.

[0032] In one implementation, the connector assembly is switched to the first position in response to rotating the first and second shells, for example, clockwise about the longitudinal axis. Similarly, in response to rotating the first and second shells counterclockwise, the connector assembly is switched to the second position. In another implementation, switching between the first and second positions may occur using any other technique and / or sequence, as described in the detailed description below. DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM

[0033] Fig. 1 is a pictorial schematic illustration of a connector assembly 11 of a fluid-based cooling device of an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] In some embodiments, the connector assembly 11 includes connectors 12 and 14 coupled together and having housings 22 and 33 (described in detail in the Fig. 2-6 below), and tubes 20 and 21, respectively. In some embodiments, the connectors 12 and 14 include at least a portion of tubes 20 and 21, respectively. In the present example, the connector assembly 11 includes brackets 9 and 10 configured to secure tubes 20 and 21, respectively, as described in more detail below. It should be noted that in the present configuration, the tubes 20 and 21 are similar to one another (e.g., made of the same material and have the same inner and outer diameters) and are given different reference numerals solely for the presentation of embodiments in the present disclosure. In other configurations, the tubes 20 and 21 may differ from one another in at least one feature.

[0035] In some embodiments, each of the tubes 20 and 21 comprises two similar tubes, neither of the tubes overlaps a longitudinal axis 16 of the connector assembly 11, but in alternative embodiments (e.g., in Fig. 7 below), at least one of the tubes overlaps the longitudinal axis 16. In the present example, the longitudinal axis 16 is approximately parallel to an X-axis of an XYZ coordinate system, which is also the longitudinal axis of the connector assembly 11.

[0036] In other embodiments, at least one of the connectors 12 and 14 may have another suitable reference number for (one or more) tubes 20 and 21, respectively.

[0037] In some embodiments, the housings 22 and 33 are mated (e.g., coupled) while the connectors 12 and 14 are mated, but after mating, the connector assembly 11 remains in a closed position, blocking the flow of fluid between the tubes 20 and 21.

[0038] In some embodiments, after mating, at least a first portion of the connector assembly 11 is rotated from the closed position relative to a second portion of the connector assembly 11. In the present example, at least a portion of the housings 22 and 33 is rotated, e.g., relative to the tubes 20 and 21, to position the components of the connector assembly 11 in an open position. It should be noted that the connector assembly 11 is configured in the open position to allow fluid to flow between the tubes 20 and 21, as described in detail in the Fig. 2-4 described below.

[0039] In alternative embodiments, the housings 22 and 33 may be rotated separately after mating, e.g., at different time intervals, to switch the position of the connector assembly 11 from the closed position to the open position, as described in detail, for example, in Fig. 5 is described below.

[0040] Additionally or alternatively, the housings 22 and 33 may rotate differently to switch the position of the connector assembly 11 from the closed position to the open position. For example, to switch from the closed position to the open position, the housing 22 may be rotated clockwise, and the housing 33 may be rotated counterclockwise, as described in detail in Fig. 4 is described below.

[0041] Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the connector assembly 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] In some embodiments, the housing 22 includes a shell 44 and a pipe connector 64 configured to fit into the shell 44. Similarly, the housing 33 includes a shell 55 and a pipe connector 65 configured to fit into the shell 55. In the present configuration, the construction of the pipe connectors 64 and 65 is similar, but in other embodiments, the construction of the pipe connectors 64 and 65 may differ, as described in detail, for example, in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 described below.

[0043] In some embodiments, the tubes 20 have openings 57, the tubes 21 have openings 59, and both tube connectors 64 and 65 have adapters 68 and openings 77. In the example of Fig. 2, the adapters 68 are configured to fit into the tubes 20 and 21 and to couple between (i) the tubes 20 and 21 and (ii) tube connectors 64 and 65, respectively.

[0044] In some embodiments, the shell 44 includes a blocker 66 disposed between the pairs of tubes 20 and 21. In the present example, the shell 44 includes the blocker 66 formed (in one piece) as part of the shell 44. In other words, the blocker 66 comprises a plate that is part of the shell 44 of the housing 22.

[0045] In some embodiments, the shell 55 also includes a blocker, which may be inserted, for example, into the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 below. The blocker of the shell 55 may have a similar structure to that of the blocker 66 described herein.

[0046] In some embodiments, the blocker 66 includes two openings 88 having a suitable diameter to mate with openings 77 of the tube connectors 64 and 65 (e.g., openings 77 and 88 may have a roughly similar diameter). The number of openings 77 and 88 is typically (but not necessarily) similar to the number of tubes (two in the present example).

[0047] In other embodiments, instead of blocker 66, the blocker of connector assembly 11 may comprise a plate (e.g., shaped as a disc) that is not part of shells 44 and 55, and may be disposed between shells 44 and 55. In such embodiments, shell 44 may be open along the X-axis, and the disc-shaped blocker has openings 77, e.g., similar to those of blocker 66 described above.

[0048] In alternative embodiments, only one of the shells 44 and 55 may include a blocker. The functionality of the blocker 66 is described in detail below.

[0049] In some embodiments, the connector assembly 11 can be configured in at least one open position and one closed position. In the example of Fig. 2, the components of the connector assembly 11 are arranged in an open position such that the openings 57 and 59 are aligned with each other along the longitudinal axis 16, and cooling fluid could flow between the tubes 20 and 21 and through the connectors 12 and 14. In the present configuration, when the connectors 12 and 14 are mated, the connector assembly 11 is set up in a closed position, and only after rotating the shells 44 and 55 relative to the tubes 20 and 21 is the connector assembly 11 switched to the open position.

[0050] In some embodiments, the pipe connectors 64 and 65 and pipes 20 and 21 are generally static, and the shells 44 and 55 are configured to rotate relative to the pipe connectors 64 and 65 and to the pipes 20 and 21 to actuate the connector assembly 11 into the open position. In the present configuration, the pipe connectors 64 and 65 are static to prevent (or at least reduce) the twisting of at least one of the pipes 20 and 21 about the longitudinal axis 16. In addition, the brackets 9 and 10 (in Fig. 1 shown above) fitted over the tubes 20 and 21 respectively, configured to fix the tubes and thereby prevent any twisting or unwanted movement of the tubes 20 and 21.

[0051] In such embodiments, the connector assembly 11 is configured to enable: (i) rapid mating of the housings 22 and 33 of the connectors 12 and 14, respectively, (ii) rapid switching between the open and closed positions (by rotating the shells 44 and 55, e.g., clockwise and counterclockwise about the longitudinal axis 16, relative to the tube connectors 64 and 65), and (iii) rapid detachment (QD) (i.e., separation) between the housings 22 and 33 of the connectors 12 and 14, respectively.

[0052] In alternative embodiments, the shells 44 and 55 are typically static, and the tube connectors 64 and 65 and tubes 20 and 21 are configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis 16 relative to the shells 44 and 55 to actuate the connector assembly 11 into the open and closed positions.

[0053] The arrangement of the connector assembly 11 in the open position and in the closed position is described in detail in the Fig. 4 and 5 respectively as described below.

[0054] Fig. 3 is a pictorial schematic illustration of the pipe connector 64 of the connector assembly 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] In some embodiments, the tube connector 64 includes openings 77 configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow, and sealing rings (e.g., O-rings, not shown) configured to retain the fluid sealed within the connector assembly 11. In the present example, the sealing rings are fitted into grooves 26 surrounding the openings 77.

[0056] In some embodiments, the tube connector 64 includes a recess 28, which is an O-ring groove configured to receive an O-ring to prevent leakage during rotation of the shell 44 relative to the tube connector 64. As described above, the connector assembly 11 is typically in a closed position when the housings 22 and 33 of the connectors 12 and 14 are mated, and fluid does not flow between the tubes 20 and 21, and the open position is obtained after rotating the shells 44 and 55 relative to the tube connectors 64 and 65, respectively.

[0057] As above in Fig. 2, furthermore, (i) the adapters 68 of the pipe connector 64 are configured to fit into pipes 20 for flowing the fluid, and (ii) the construction of the pipe connectors 64 and 65 is generally (but not necessarily) similar.

[0058] In some embodiments, the openings 77 do not overlap the longitudinal axis 16 of the connector assembly 11, as also for the tubes 20 and 21 in Fig. 1 described above.

[0059] Fig. Figure 4 is a pictorial schematic illustration of the shells 44 and 55 configured in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the present example, the open position is achieved by rotating the shells 44 and 55 relative to the pipe connectors 64 and 65 and the pipes 20 and 21, respectively. As described in detail below, in the open position, in response to rotation of at least a first portion of the connector assembly 11 (e.g., one or both of the shells 44 and 55) from the closed position relative to a second portion of the connector assembly 11 (e.g., the tubes 16 and 20, and / or tube connectors 64 and 65) about the longitudinal axis 16 of the connector assembly 11, one or both of the blockers 66 and 70 are configured to permit fluid flow by aligning the openings 77, 88, and 99 with the tubes 20, 21, respectively.

[0060] Reference is now made to the shell 55. In some embodiments, the shell 55 includes a blocker 70, which in the present example has a similar construction to that of the blocker 66 of the shell 44. The blocker 70 has two openings 99, and the shell 55 has a recess 72 configured to receive a retaining ring to confine the tube connector 65 within the shell 55. The recess 72 and the retaining ring enable rotation of the shell 55 relative to the tube connector 65 to switch between the closed position and the open position using the same mechanism as that shown in Fig. 3 described above for the shell 44 and the pipe connector 64.

[0061] Reference is now made to the shell 44. In some embodiments, the positions of the openings 77 (of the tube connector 64) and the openings 99 (of the shell 55) are illustrated in dashed circles above the blocker 66. Furthermore, the direction of fluid flow is represented by arrows 90 (also shown in the shell 55). In some embodiments, in the open position, the openings 77, 88, and 99 are all aligned along the X-axis, which is also approximately parallel to the aforementioned longitudinal axis 16 of the connector assembly 11.

[0062] In some embodiments, the pipe connectors 64 and 65 and pipes 20 and 21 are approximately static and serve as an arbitrary reference frame, and the shells 44 and 55 are configured to rotate relative to the pipe connectors 64 and 65 to maintain the alignment of the openings 77, 88, and 99 along the X-axis. As described above, the shells 44 and 55 are configured to rotate relative to the pipe connectors 64 and 65 together and using the same rotation pattern, or alternatively, at different time intervals and / or using a different rotation pattern. In one implementation of the different rotation pattern, the shell 44 is configured to be rotated clockwise, and the shell 55 is configured to be rotated counterclockwise. In an alternative implementation, the shells 44 and 55 may rotate in the same direction (e.g.,clockwise) using different rotation angles.

[0063] In such embodiments, in response to the shells 44 and 55 being rotated about the longitudinal axis 16 of the connector assembly 11 (e.g., relative to the tubes 20 and 21), the blockers 66 and 77 are configured to permit fluid flow by aligning the openings 77, 88, and 99 with the tubes 20 and 21.

[0064] Fig. Figure 5 is a pictorial schematic illustration of shells 44 and 55 in a closed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the closed position may be achieved, for example, in response to mating of the shells 44 and 55, such as in Fig. 2 described above.

[0065] Reference is now made to the shell 55. In some embodiments, the shell 55 includes a sealing ring 74 (e.g., an O-ring) fitted into a circular groove (not shown) surrounding the blocker 70. The sealing ring 74 is configured to prevent fluid from flowing out between the shells 44 and 55 and thereby prevent fluid from flowing through the openings formed in the top of the Fig. 2-4, and through the tubes 20 and 21 of the connector assembly 11. In the present configuration of the connector assembly 11, the openings of the connector assembly 11 include the openings 77, 88, 99 and the corresponding openings (not shown) of the tube connectors 64 and 65.

[0066] Reference is now made to the shell 44. In some embodiments, the positions of the openings 77 of the tube connector 64 (and the corresponding openings of the tube connector 65) are illustrated by dashed circles 77 positioned over the blocker 66.

[0067] In such embodiments, the pipe connector 64 and the pipes 20 face the pipe connector 65 and the pipes 21, respectively, but one or both of the blockers 66 and 70 are configured to block the flow of fluid through the connector assembly 11, ie, between the pipes 20 and 21.

[0068] In the embodiments described in the Fig. 2-4 above, the pipe connectors 64 and 65 are typically static, and the shells 44 and 55 are rotated (e.g., relative to the pipes 20 and 21) about the longitudinal axis 16 (together and at the same time interval or at separate time intervals) relative to the pipe connectors 64 and 65. In response to the rotation, the position of the connector assembly 11 can be changed between the closed position and the open position, as in the Fig. 2-4 described in detail above.

[0069] In some embodiments, the shell 44 includes a recess 78 configured to receive a retaining ring for confining the tube connector 64 (in Fig. 3 above) into the shell 44. The shapes of the recesses 28 and 78 are adapted to prevent leakage during rotation of the shell 44 relative to the tube connector 64 along the X-axis.

[0070] In other embodiments, instead of the recesses and retaining rings provided at the top of the Fig. 3-5, the connector assembly 11 may include any other suitable mechanism that prevents fluid from flowing out and allows rotation of the shells 44 and 55 relative to the pipe connectors 64 and 65.

[0071] This particular configuration of the connector assembly 11 is shown by way of example to illustrate certain problems solved by embodiments of the present invention and to demonstrate the application of these embodiments in improving the performance of a cooling device in an electrical system.

[0072] However, embodiments of the present invention are by no means limited to this specific type of exemplary connector assembly and cooling device, and the concepts described herein may be similarly applied to other suitable types of cooling devices and subsystems.

[0073] Fig. 6 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating a method for controlling the flow of fluid through the connector assembly 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] The method begins at a connector assembly receiving step 100, with the receiving of the connector assembly 11, which includes connectors 12 and 14 having (i) housings 22 and 33, and (ii) tubes 20 and 21, respectively, for allowing fluid to flow, and (iii) blockers 66 and 70 having openings 88 and 99, respectively. The blockers 66 and 70 are arranged between tubes 20 and 21. The construction of the connector assembly is described in detail in the Fig. 1-5 described above.

[0075] In a mating step 102, the housings 22 and 33 are mated, and the tubes 20 and 21 are arranged to face each other such that the openings 57 of the tubes 20 are aligned with openings 59 of the tubes 21 along the longitudinal axis 16, but the flow of fluid between the tubes 20 and 21 is blocked. The operation of step 102 is described in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 described in detail above.

[0076] In a first decision step 104, an operator (or a controller configured to control) the connector assembly 11 decides whether or not the fluid should flow between the tubes 20 and 21.

[0077] If a decision is made in step 104 to allow fluid flow, the method proceeds to step 106. In step 106, the housings 22 and 33 are rotated relative to the tubes 20 and 21 about the longitudinal axis 16. In response to the rotation, the openings 77, 88, and 99 are aligned along the longitudinal axis 16 (i) with each other and (ii) with the openings 57 and 59 of the tubes 20 and 21. In the present example, the rotation of both shells 44 and 55 occurs in the same direction, e.g., counterclockwise.

[0078] If it is decided in step 104 that the fluid should not flow, the method proceeds to a second decision step 112. In step 112, the operator or controller of the connector assembly 11 decides whether or not the operation of the connector assembly 11 should continue.

[0079] If it is decided in step 112 to continue operation of the connector assembly 11, the method loops back to step 104. Alternatively, the method proceeds to a separation step 114 for separating between the housings 22 and 33 and thereby disassembling at least a portion of the connector assembly 11.

[0080] After completing the above step 106, the method proceeds to a third decision step 108. In step 108, the operator and / or the controller of the connector assembly 11 decides whether or not the flow of fluid between the tubes 20 and 21 should be stopped.

[0081] If it is decided in step 108 to stop the flow of the fluid between the tubes 20 and 21, the method proceeds to a flow blocking step 110. In step 110, the shells 44 and 55 of the housings 22 and 33, respectively, are rotated relative to the tubes 20 and 21 about the longitudinal axis 16 in order to stop the flow of the fluid between the tubes 20 and 21, as for example in Fig. 5 described above. In the present example, the rotation of the two shells 44 and 55 occurs in the same direction, clockwise, which is opposite to the counterclockwise rotation in step 106 above.

[0082] If in step 108 it is decided to continue the flow of the fluid between the pipes 20 and 21, the method is maintained in step 108, e.g. it loops back to the decision of step 108 until it is decided to stop the flow of the fluid between the pipes 20 and 21, and then the method proceeds to the flow blocking step 110 as described above.

[0083] In some embodiments, after completing step 110, the method proceeds to step 112, described above.

[0084] The flow chart of the Fig. 6 is simplified and provided by way of example, and therefore operation of the connector assembly may include additional steps in place of or in addition to the steps described above.

[0085] Fig. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a connector assembly 150 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The connector assembly 150 may, for example, be the connector assembly 11 shown in Fig. 2 shown above.

[0086] In some embodiments, the connector assembly 150 (i) includes a tube connector 164 and two adapters 168 having respective structures and functionalities similar to those of the tube connector 64 and the adapter 68 shown in Fig. 3 above, and (ii) a shell 144 having a structure and functionality similar to that of the shell 44 described in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 above, and (iii) a blocker 166 having a structure and functionality similar to that of the blocker 66 described above in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is described.

[0087] In some embodiments, the connector assembly 150 includes a tube connector 165 having two openings 154 aligned with the two respective X-axis adapters 168. In the present configuration, the openings 154 are configured to merge into a single barb 169 over two respective tubes 156 within the tube connector 165. In the present example, the barb 169 is located along and / or overlaps the longitudinal axis 16. Furthermore, the barb 169 is fitted into a single tube (not shown) extending along the longitudinal axis 16 such that the barb 169 and the single tube are configured to allow fluid to flow as described below. It should be noted that at the junction with the openings 154, the tubes 156 face the adapters 168. In this configuration, the Fig. 7, the combination of (i) pipe connector 165, (ii) openings 154, (iii) pipes 156, (iv) barb 169 and (v) the above-mentioned single pipe may be the combination of (i) pipe connector 65 and adapters 68 of the housing 33 and (ii) the pipes 21, all in Fig. 2 shown above.

[0088] In some embodiments, the shells 166 and 170 include recesses 128 and 172, respectively, similar to the recesses 72 and 78, which are configured to receive a retaining ring to confine the tube connectors 164 and 165 within the shells 166 and 170, respectively.

[0089] In some embodiments, the connector assembly 150 includes a rotatable handle 152 configured to rotate one or both of the shells 144 and 155 about the longitudinal axis 16 to switch the position of the connector assembly 150 between open and closed positions. It should be noted that both blockers 166 and 170 include openings (not shown), typically similar to the openings 88 and 99 of the blockers 66 and 70, respectively, shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. In the open position, the fluid flows through the connector assembly 150, as described above in the example of Fig. 4 for the corresponding connector assembly 11. Note that in the open position of the connector assembly 150, the barb 169 is configured to allow fluid to flow to and / or from the adapters 168 via openings 154 and tubes 156.

[0090] In the example of Fig. 7, the connector assembly 150 is in a closed position and the openings of the blockers 166 and 170 are therefore not shown in the sectional view of Fig. 7. In the closed position, at least one of the blockers, and typically both blockers 166 and 170, are configured to block the flow of fluid between the adapters 168 and the openings 154, as shown above in the example of Fig. 5 for the corresponding connector arrangement 11.

[0091] In some embodiments, the connector assembly 150 includes a plurality of O-rings 160 fitted into respective grooves of components of the connector assembly 150. The O-rings 160 are configured to prevent leakage (i) while one or both of the shells 144 and 155 are rotated relative to the tube connectors 164 and 165, respectively, and (ii) while the connector assembly 150 is in the open position.

[0092] In some embodiments, the method of claim 6 may be implemented mutatis mutandis using the connector assembly 150 instead of or in addition to the connector assembly 11. In this implementation, in step 106, at least one and typically both shells 144 and 155 may be rotated counterclockwise about the longitudinal axis 16 to an open position of the connector assembly 150. In the open position, the openings of the blockers 166 and 170 are aligned with the openings 154 and the adapters 168, and the fluid flows between the adapters 168 and the barb 169, as for the connector assembly 11 in the example of Fig. 4 shown above.

[0093] In the closed position, which is Fig. 7, the openings of the blockers 166 and 170 are not aligned with the openings 154 and with the adapters 168, and therefore the fluid is blocked and cannot flow between the adapters 168 and the barb 169, as for the connector assembly 11 in the example in Fig. 5 shown above.

[0094] The Fig. The concepts described in paragraphs 1-7 above can be similarly applied to other suitable types of techniques for fluid-based cooling of electronic systems, and to any suitable systems other than the electronic systems that require fluid-based cooling.

[0095] It is therefore understood that the embodiments described above are cited by way of example, and that the present invention is not limited to what is specifically shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and partial combinations of the various features described above, as well as variations and modifications thereof that will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description and that are not disclosed in the prior art.Documents incorporated by reference into the present patent application should be considered an integral part of the application, except that to the extent that terms in those incorporated documents are defined in a manner that conflicts with definitions explicitly or implicitly given in the present patent specification, only the definitions in the present patent specification should be considered.

[0096] It is to be understood that aspects and embodiments described above are purely exemplary and that modifications of details may be made within the scope of the claims.

[0097] Each device, method, and feature disclosed in the specification, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings, may be provided independently or in any suitable combination.

[0098] Reference signs appearing in the claims are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the claims.

Claims

[1] Connector assembly comprising: a first connector comprising a first housing and one or more first tubes for fluid flow; a second connector comprising a second housing and one or more second tubes for fluid flow; and a blocker disposed between the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes, the blocker having one or more openings, and wherein in a first position, the one or more first tubes face the one or more second tubes, the blocker is intended to block the flow of fluid between the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes, and in a second position, in response to rotation of at least a first portion of the connector assembly from the first position relative to a second portion of the connector assembly about a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly, the blocker is to enable flow by aligning the one or more openings with the one or more first tubes and with the one or more second tubes. [2] The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the connector assembly comprises one or both of the first and second housings, and the second portion of the connector assembly comprises the one or more first and second tubes. [3] The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the first and second housings comprise first and second tube connectors and first and second shells, respectively, and wherein the first and second tube connectors are to connect between (i) the first and second shells and (ii) the one and more first and second tubes, respectively, and wherein the first and second shells are to fit over the first and second tube connectors, respectively. [4] The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second shells are to rotate about the longitudinal axis relative to the first and second pipe connectors, respectively, to switch a position of the connector assembly between the first position and the second position. [5] A connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein (i) the first and second tube connectors and (ii) the one or more first and second tubes are static, while the first and second shells are intended to rotate about the longitudinal axis. [6] The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second shells are static while (i) the first and second tube connectors and (ii) the one or more first and second tubes are intended to rotate about the longitudinal axis. [7] A connector assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the blocker comprises a plate forming part of the first housing. [8] The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the blocker further comprises an additional plate that is part of the second housing. [9] A connector assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes do not overlap the longitudinal axis of the connector assembly. [10] A connector assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more second tubes comprise a plurality of second tubes merging into a single barb within the second connector. [11] The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the single barb overlaps the longitudinal axis of the connector assembly. [12] Method comprising: in a connector assembly comprising: (i) a first connector comprising a first housing and one or more first tubes for fluid flow, (ii) a second connector comprising a second housing and one or more second tubes for the flow of fluid, and (iii) a blocker disposed between the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes and having one or more openings, Fitting the first and second housings together in a first position in which (i) the one or more first tubes face the one or more second tubes, but (ii) the flow of fluid between the one or more first tubes and the one or more second tubes is blocked by the blocker; and Switching from the first position to a second position by rotating about a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly at least a first portion of the connector assembly relative to a second portion of the connector assembly, thereby aligning the one or more openings with the one or more first tubes and with the one or more second tubes to allow fluid to flow. [13] The method of claim 12, wherein rotating the first portion of the connector assembly comprises rotating one or both of the first and second housings, and wherein the second portion of the connector assembly comprises the one or more first and second tubes. [14] The method of claim 13, wherein the blocker comprises a plate that is part of the first housing, and wherein rotating the first and second housings about the longitudinal axis comprises rotating the plate together with the first housing. [15] The method of claim 14, wherein the blocker further comprises an additional plate that is part of the second housing, and wherein rotating the first and second housings about the longitudinal axis comprises rotating the additional plate together with the second housing. [16] The method of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein switching from the first position to the second position comprises rotating the first and second housings in a first direction, and switching from the second position to the first position comprises rotating the first and second housings in a second direction opposite the first direction. [17] A method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the first and second housings comprise first and second pipe connectors and first and second shells, respectively, and wherein mating the first and second housings comprises connecting between (i) the first and second shells and (ii) the one or more first and second pipes, respectively, using the first and second pipe connectors, and fitting the first and second shells over the first and second pipe connectors, respectively. [18] The method of claim 17, wherein rotating the first and second housings comprises rotating the first and second shells about the longitudinal axis relative to the first and second pipe connectors, respectively. [19] The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein rotating the first and second housings comprises holding the first and second pipe connectors and the one or more first and second pipes in a static position and rotating the first and second shells about the longitudinal axis.

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