IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,431,926
Granted Patent B2
US 10,431,926 · App. 15/561,606 · Granted Oct 1, 2019

Magnetic fluid connector

Inventors: John P. Franz (Houston, TX); Tahir Cader (Liberty Lake, WA)
Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
H01R13/6205H01R13/5219H01R25/14H05K7/20809F16L29/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,431,926
App. No.
15/561,606
Granted
Oct 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example implementations relate to a magnetic fluid connector. For example, a magnetic fluid connector can include a magnet, an internal fluid path defined by a first portion and a second portion when the first portion and the second portion are coupled together, and a movable member that is movable to seal the internal fluid path, where the magnet provides at least a portion of a force sufficient to seal the internal fluid path.

Claims (15)

1. A cooling assembly, comprising:

a cooling bay;

a pair of connectors included at least partially in the cooling bay, where the connectors each include:

a magnet included in a second portion of the connector coupled to a fluid source to generate a magnetic force between a movable member of the second portion of the connector and a housing of a first portion of the connector, wherein the housing of the first portion of the connector is insertable into a housing of the second portion of the connector to move the movable member from a first position to a second position;

a magnetic region included in the first portion of the connector coupled to an electronic device, where the first portion and the second portion together define an internal fluid path when coupled together and when the movable member is moved from the first position to the second position; and

the movable member that is movable to open the internal fluid path between the first portion and the second portion of the connector when the housing of the first portion of the connector moves the movable member from the first position to the second position, where the magnet provides the magnetic force to move the movable member from the second position to the first position to close the internal fluid path between the first portion and the second portion of the connector.

2. The connector of claim 1 , where the magnetic region forms at least some of a face of the second portion, and where the magnet forms at least some of a face of the first portion so the magnet is adjacent to the magnetic region when the first portion and the second portion are coupled together.

3. The cooling assembly of claim 1 , including a fluid distribution manifold connected to the pair of connectors, where the fluid distribution manifold provides liquid cooling to the electronic device via the internal fluid path.

4. The cooling assembly of claim 1 , where the pair of connectors are located at a back of the cooling assembly or a front of the cooling assembly.

5. The cooling assembly of claim 1 , where the magnet provides a magnetic force that couples the first portion to the second portion until the movable member opens the internal fluid path.

6. A method, comprising:

providing a magnet included in a movable member included in a second portion of a connector coupled to a cooling fluid source and a magnetic region included in a first portion of the connector coupled to an electronic device to generate a magnetic force between the movable member of the second portion of the connector and a housing of the first portion of the connector, wherein the housing of the first portion of the connector is insertable into a housing of the second portion of the connector to move the movable member from a first position to a second position;

positioning the magnet adjacent to the magnetic region to couple the first portion to the second portion of the connector when the movable member is moved from the first position to the second position to form an internal fluid path; and

decoupling the magnet and the magnetic region, where decoupling includes moving the movable member to close the internal fluid path, and where the magnetic force is to move the movable member from the second position to the first position to close the internal fluid path between the first portion and the second portion of the connector.

7. The method of claim 6 , including providing, based upon a reading of an electronic sensor, an indication that the magnet and the magnetic region are coupled together.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2018
From: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
To: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
Reel/Frame 044708/0128 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2017
From: FRANZ, JOHN P.; CADER, TAHIR
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 043695/0963 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180131128A1 · May 10, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,543,295