Isolation valve and coolant connect/disconnect assemblies and methods of fabrication for interfacing a liquid cooled electronics subsystem and an electronics housing

A coolant connect/disconnect assembly for a liquid cooled electronics subsystem insertable in an operational position within an electronics housing, the coolant connect/disconnect assembly comprising:

• a compression valve coupling comprising a first fitting and a second fitting, the first fitting being associated with the liquid cooled electronics subsystem and the second fitting being associated with the electronics housing, wherein the first fitting and the second fitting automatically engage to allow coolant flow therethrough when the liquid cooled electronics subsystem is inserted in the operational position within the electronics housing, and wherein the first fitting and the second fitting automatically disengage and prevent coolant flow when the liquid cooled electronics subsystem is withdrawn from the operational position within the electronics housing;
• and
• an isolation valve assembly within the electronics housing disposed serially and in fluid communication with the second fitting of the compression valve coupling, the isolation valve assembly comprising:
• an isolation valve disposed in at least one of a coolant supply line and a coolant return line within the electronics housing, and
• an actuation mechanism coupled to the isolation valve, the actuation mechanism automatically translating a linear motion, resulting from insertion of the liquid cooled electronics subsystem in the operational position within the electronics housing, into a motion to open the isolation valve and allow coolant flow therethrough, wherein the actuation mechanism operates to automatically close the isolation valve when the liquid cooled electronics subsystem is withdrawn from the operational position within the housing.

A liquid cooled electronics system assembly comprising:

• a plurality of electronics subsystems;
• an electronics housing, the plurality of electronics subsystems being insertable into the electronics housing in an operational position;
• and
• a liquid coolant subsystem for providing liquid coolant to at least one electronics subsystem of the plurality of electronics subsystems, the liquid coolant subsystem comprising at least one isolation valve assembly, the at least one isolation valve assembly comprising:
• an isolation valve coupled to at least one of a coolant supply line and a coolant return line providing liquid coolant to the at least one electronics subsystem when operational within the electronics housing;
• and
• an actuation mechanism coupled to the isolation valve, the actuation mechanism automatically translating a linear motion, resulting from insertion of the at least one electronics subsystem in the operational position within the electronics housing, into a rotational motion to open the isolation valve and allow coolant flow therethrough, wherein the actuation mechanism operates to automatically close the isolation valve when the at least one electronics subsystem is withdrawn from the operational position within the electronics housing.