No drip hot swap connector and method of use

A hot-swap connector for use in a negative pressure coolant system having a pump that circulates coolant through the system, the system circulating coolant to an electrical component, the connector comprising:

• a component side connector comprising a return conduit pin and a supply conduit pin that are both adapted to be in hydraulic connection with the electrical component;
• a hot-swap pump side connector adapted to mate with the component side connector, the pump side connector comprising:
• a return valve and a supply valve constructed such that, during the operation of the pump:
• when the pump side connector is in a disengaged position both the return and supply valves are closed and sealed against ambient positive pressure;
• 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 ambient positive pressure such that the pump draws ambient gas through the supply conduit pin, and (3) the supply valve is closed such that coolant does not pass the supply valve and sealed against ambient positive pressure;
• and
• when the pump side connector is in a fully-engaged position with the component side connector (1) the return valve forms a hydraulic seal with the return conduit pin, and (2) the supply valve forms a hydraulic seal with the supply conduit pin, thereby allowing the coolant to circulate to the electrical component;
• wherein the return conduit pin and the supply conduit pin are fixed relative to each other and staggered such that the return valve engages the return conduit pin before the supply valve engages the supply conduit pin when the pump side connector is mated with the component side connector.

A method of draining coolant from an electrical component connected to a negative pressure coolant system having a pump that circulates coolant through the system, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a connector that connects the negative pressure coolant system to the electrical component, the connector comprising a 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 the 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) during the operation of the pump, placing the pump side connector in the semi-engaged position, thereby allowing the pump to draw ambient gas through the supply conduit pin and draw 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.

A hot-swap pump side connector in combination with a negative pressure coolant system having a pump that circulates coolant through the system, the pump side connector adapted to mate with a component side connector that contains a return conduit pin and a supply conduit pin that are both in hydraulic connection with an electrical component, the pump side connector comprising:

• a return valve and a supply valve constructed such that, during the operation of the pump:
• when the pump side connector is in a disengaged position both the return and supply valves are closed and sealed against ambient positive pressure;
• 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 ambient positive pressure such that the pump draws ambient gas through the supply conduit pin, and (3) the supply valve is closed such that coolant does not pass the supply valve and sealed against ambient positive pressure;
• and
• when the pump side connector is in a fully-engaged position with the component side connector (1) the return valve forms a hydraulic seal with the return conduit pin, and (2) the supply valve forms a hydraulic seal with the supply conduit pin.