Electronic assembly having retainer with liquid coupling body engaging an electronic module and associated methods

1. An electronic assembly comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of electronic module mounting positions;

a respective electronic module received in each electronic module mounting position and having a module liquid inlet and a module liquid outlet; and

a respective retainer coupled between the chassis and each electronic module comprising

a retainer body coupled to the chassis, and

a liquid coupling body carried by the retainer body and movable between retracted and extended positions permitting insertion and removal of the electronic module, the liquid coupling body having a retainer liquid outlet and a retainer liquid inlet configured to engage the module liquid inlet and module liquid outlet, respectively, when moved from the retracted position to the extended position.

2. The electronic assembly of claim 1 wherein the module liquid outlet and module liquid inlet comprise a module female liquid outlet and a module female liquid inlet, respectively; and wherein the retainer liquid inlet and retainer liquid outlet comprise a retainer male liquid inlet and a retainer male liquid outlet, respectively.

3. The electronic assembly of claim 2 wherein the module female liquid outlet and corresponding retainer male liquid inlet define a first quick disconnect coupling; and wherein the module female liquid inlet and corresponding retainer male liquid outlet define a second quick disconnect coupling.

4. The electronic assembly of claim 1 comprising a drive member coupled to move the liquid coupling body between the retracted and extended positions.

5. The electronic assembly of claim 4 wherein the drive member comprises a threaded shaft and at least one wedge carried thereby.

6. The electronic assembly of claim 1 comprising at least one guide pin coupled between the retainer body and the liquid coupling body.

7. The electronic assembly of claim 1 wherein each electronic module comprises a circuit board having a liquid cooling path associated therewith.

8. The electronic assembly of claim 7 wherein the electronic module comprises a backplane connector carried by the circuit board along a back edge thereof; and wherein the retainer is adjacent a side of the circuit board.

9. The electronic assembly of claim 1 wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of electronic module mounting rails to slidably receive each electronic module.

10. A retainer to be coupled between a chassis and an electronic module, the chassis having a plurality of electronic module mounting positions, a respective electronic module to be mounted in each mounting position and having a module liquid inlet and a module liquid outlet, the retainer comprising:

a retainer body to be coupled to the chassis; and

a liquid coupling body carried by the retainer body and movable between retracted and extended positions permitting insertion and removal of the electronic module, the liquid coupling body having a retainer liquid outlet and a retainer liquid inlet configured to engage the module liquid inlet and module liquid outlet, respectively, when moved from the retracted position to the extended position.

11. The retainer of claim 10 wherein the module liquid outlet and module liquid inlet comprise a module female liquid outlet and a module female liquid inlet, respectively; and wherein the retainer liquid inlet and retainer liquid outlet comprise a retainer male liquid inlet and a retainer male liquid outlet, respectively.

12. The retainer of claim 11 wherein the module female liquid outlet and corresponding retainer male liquid inlet define a first quick disconnect coupling; and wherein the module female liquid inlet and corresponding retainer male liquid outlet define a second quick disconnect coupling.

13. The retainer of claim 10 comprising a drive member coupled to move the liquid coupling body between the retracted and extended positions.

14. The retainer of claim 13 wherein the drive member comprises a threaded shaft and at least one wedge carried thereby.

15. The retainer of claim 10 comprising at least one guide pin coupled between the retainer body and the liquid coupling body.

16. A method of mounting an electronic module in a chassis using a retainer, the electronic module having a module liquid inlet and a module liquid outlet, the method comprising:

coupling a retainer body to the chassis; and

moving a liquid coupling body carried by the retainer body from a retracted position to an extended position, the liquid coupling body having a retainer liquid outlet and a retainer liquid inlet engaging the module liquid inlet and module liquid outlet, respectively, when moved from the retracted position to the extended position.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the module liquid outlet and module liquid inlet comprise a module female liquid outlet and a module female liquid inlet, respectively; and wherein the retainer liquid inlet and retainer liquid outlet comprise a retainer male liquid inlet and a retainer male liquid outlet, respectively.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the module female liquid outlet and corresponding retainer male liquid inlet define a first quick disconnect coupling; and wherein the module female liquid inlet and corresponding retainer male liquid outlet define a second quick disconnect coupling.

19. The method of claim 16 comprising operating a drive member to move the liquid coupling body from the retracted position to the extended position.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the drive member comprises a threaded shaft and at least one wedge carried thereby.