Miniature fluidic connector

Miniature fluidic connector that fits into an electrical connector for printed circuit boards with a built-in heat exchanger. Male and female fluidic contacts are mountable in openings in the plug or receptacle of the electrical connector and have respective tips to couple with each other. Upon coupling, the ends of the openings of the plug and the receptacle of the electrical connector are substantially in pressure contact against each other. Preferably, the male and female fluidic contacts have inner chambers adapted to receive self-plugging devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a miniature fluidic connector, and more 
particularly a miniature fluidic connector that can be accommodated within 
an electrical connector of the type consisting of a plug and a receptacle, 
each provided with openings. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The above type of connector is used in particular with printed cards with a 
built-in heat exchanger of the type comprising a heat drain equipped with 
a channel system to insure the fluidic connection of the channel network 
for heat-carrying fluid of the drain of the printed card with the fluidic 
circuit integrated in the frame of the electronic equipment. A card of 
this type is described, in particular, in co-filed patent application 
entitled "Printed Circuit Card With Heat Exchanger and Method for Making 
Such a Card", the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by 
reference. 
At the present time there are various types of miniature fluidic connectors 
on the market. But these connectors cannot be mounted in an input/output 
electrical connector of standard type such as the connectors complying 
with French standards HE 8, HE 9, and HE 11. 
It would be desirable to provide such minature fluidic connectors which can 
be mounted in such standarized connectors. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a miniature fluidic 
connector mountable in an electrical connector of the type comprising a 
plug and a receptacle, each provided with openings, characterized in that 
it comprises a male fluidic contact and a female fluidic contact, the male 
fluidic contact being constituted by a contact body permitting the passage 
of heat-carrying fluid, which is designed to be embedded in an opening of 
the plug or of the receptacle of the electrical connector, the contact 
body being prolonged on one side by a male tip and the female fluidic 
contact being constituted by a contact body permitting the passage of the 
fluid, designed to be embedded in an opening in the other element of the 
electrical connector, the contact body being prolonged on one side by a 
female tip shaped to receive the male tip, the male tip and/or female tip 
projecting in part relative to the end of its respective opening so that, 
when coupled, the ends of the openings of the plug and the receptacle of 
the electrical connector will be substantially pressed against one 
another. 
Thus, the fluidic contacts according to the present invention are adapted 
to the openings or cavities of the existing input/output connectors with 
no modification. Moreover, the fluidic contacts according to the invention 
resemble the conventional contacts such as power contacts, coaxial 
contacts or optical contacts commonly mounted in the said openings, as far 
as dimensions and outer appearance are concerned. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, the miniature fluidic 
connector is a self-plugging connector. Consequently, the contact body of 
the male fluidic contact and/or female fluidic contact comprises an inner 
chamber designed to receive a self-plugging device. 
Various types of self-plugging devices can be mounted in the inner chamber 
of the male contact or the female contact. According to a preferred 
embodiment, the self-plugging device is constituted by a valve, an elastic 
device urging the valve into closed position to prevent the passage of 
fluid, a means for bringing the valve into open position when coupling up, 
to permit the passage of fluid, and an internal sealing device preventing, 
in closed position, the passage of fluid outside the contact body toward 
the tip. 
The valve can be made in various ways. Thus, according to a preferred 
embodiment, the valve is constituted by a skirt sliding in the inner 
chamber of the contact body and receiving the elastic device, the said 
skirt being prolonged by a part of smaller diameter equipped with at least 
one orifice on its perimeter to permit the passage of the fluid between 
the inner recess of the skirt and the inner chamber of the contact body, 
the said part terminating in a closure cone. According to another 
embodiment, the valve is constituted by a solid piece mounted at the end 
of a guide shaft on which the elastic device is positioned, this guide 
shaft sliding in a journal mounted in the contact body and equipped with 
at least one orifice for the passage of heat-carrying fluid. 
According to still another embodiment, the valve can be constituted by a 
ball mounted at the end of the elastic device which in this case is 
constituted, preferably, by a conical coil spring, the elastic device 
being held in position in the contact body by shoulders. 
According to still another embodiment, the valve can be constituted by a 
slide valve. 
Furthermore, the means for bringing the valve into the open position, on 
coupling, to permit the passage of the fluid, is preferably constituted by 
a control rod projecting from the end of the valve into the male and/or 
female tip. 
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the end of 
the contact body opposite that of the tip is mounted in a coupling which 
permits the connection to a printed card with a built-in heat exchanger 
constituted by a drain having a network of channels for the circulation of 
the heat-carrying fluid. 
The fluidic connector described above has numerous advantages. In 
particular, its size is very small and the fluidic contacts which 
constitute it are compatible with the standardized openings of the plug or 
of the receptacle of existing electrical connectors. 
Furthermore, the projection of one or both of the fluidic contacts relative 
to the front end of the plug or of the receptacle of the connector is 
compatible with the proper operation of the guides and alignment 
mechanisms of the said connector. Furthermore, each fluidic contact has a 
small number of parts, and it is thereby very simple in design and hence 
trouble-free, reliable and sturdy. 
Furthermore, in the case of self-plugging miniature fluidic connectors it 
is possible to operate the insertion and extraction of a card without loss 
of fluid and without stopping the circulation of the fluid in the frame 
and in the other cards. Furthermore, the fluidic contact works with 
minimal losses of pressure in the passage of the fluid despite the very 
samll dimensions imposed by the openings of the electrical connectors. It 
withstands the pressure of the heat-carrying fluid both in coupled and 
uncoupled position. There is no loss of fluid either on the receptacle 
side of the connector or on the plug side when coupling or uncoupling the 
card. The number of coupling and uncoupling maneuvers can be high and 
compatible with the exigencies of conventional connectors. And at the 
moment of coupling, it will accept an angular disalignment similar to 
those generally allowed for conventional contacts. It can be made of 
materials chemically compatible with the nature of the heat-carrying fluid 
.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In the figures, for simplicity of the description, the same elements bear 
the same references. 
The various figures represent a fluidic connector according to the present 
invention mounted in the openings of an input/output electrical connector 
for a printed card, the printed card being cooled by circulation of a 
heat-carrying fluid. Nevertheless it will be clear to those skilled in the 
art that the fluidic connector of the present invention can be mounted in 
other types of electrical connectors such as rectangular connectors, 
cylindrical connectors or the like. 
FIG. 1 represents a fluidic connector according to the present invention 
comprising a female fluidic contact 3 mounted in the plug 2 of the 
electrical connector and joined to the circulation channels of a printed 
circuit card 1 cooled by circulation of fluid and a male fluidic contact 5 
mounted in the receptacle 4 of the said connector. It will be understood 
by those skilled in the art that the male fluidic contact and the female 
fluidic contact can be mounted in the reverse manner by adopting the 
proper connections. 
Reference is first made to the female fluidic contact 3 shown in the 
left-hand side of FIG. 1 and 2. This fluidic contact is constituted by a 
contact body 68 whose external part insures the embedment of the fluidic 
contact in the opening 135 of plug 2 of the electrical connector and whose 
internal part is equipped with a self-plugging device described below, 
contact body 68 being prolonged by a female tip 69 ensuring the 
semipermanent connection with the contact of the opposite sex mounted in 
the receptacle of the connector. The female tip 69 and the contact body 68 
appear in the form of two coaxial cylindrical tubes linked to one another, 
but different in diameter. The outer diameter of the female tip 69 is 
larger than the outer diameter of contact body 68 so as to form a shoulder 
77 for holding in place a clip 143 designed to ensure the attachment of 
fluidic contact 3 in the opening of plug 2 of the electrical connector. 
Furthermore, contact body 68 and female tip 69 are separated by an 
internal partition equipped with an orifice of communication 76. 
The inner cavity 72 of female tip 69 of female contact 3 is designed to 
receive the male tip 101 of contact 5 when the two contacts are coupled. 
Thus, in order to facilitate this coupling, the inner edge of the entry of 
cavity 72 has a rounded portion 74 which assists the engagement of male 
tip 101, by correcting any misalignment of the latter relative to the axis 
53 of the female contact and prevents injury to the sealing washer 
provided on the male tip of the male contact as the latter engages in 
cavity 72. Furthermore, the outer edge of the entry of cavity 72 has a 
bevel 73 that assists in the engagement of the outer contour of the female 
tip in the opening 135' of the receptacle 4 of the connector of the mother 
card or of the chassis. 
In the case of the fluidic connector in FIGS. 1 and 2 the female fluidic 
contact contains a self-plugging device. It is nevertheless conceivable, 
without departing from the scope of the present invention, to have a 
fluidic contact without a self-plugging device. 
This self-plugging device is constituted by a valve 90, and an elastic 
device urging the valve into closed position to prevent the passage of the 
fluid in uncoupled position, this elastic device being constituted by a 
coiled compression spring 47 in the embodiment shown, and a means which, 
during the coupling, brings the valve into open position to permit the 
passage of the fluid, this means being constituted, for example, by a 
control rod 91 prolonging the end of the valve and inner sealing device 
constituted for example by a washer or O-ring 65. This self-plugging 
device is mounted in the inner chamber 66 of the contact body 68. 
According to a first embodiment, valve 90 which is made in one piece is 
constituted by a cylindrical skirt 87 whose external guidance contour 88 
slides in inner chamber 66 of contact body 68 and whose inner recess 89 
receives compression spring 47. Cylindrical skirt 87 is prolonged by a 
part 85 smaller in diameter than the skirt and is equipped on its 
perimeter with orifices 95 to permit the passage of fluid between the 
inner recess of skirt 87 and the inner chamber of contact body 68. Part 85 
terminates in a closure cone 86. In the embodiment shown, the closure cone 
86 is prolonged by a control rod 91 of smaller diameter than hole 76 
communicating between the contact body and the female tip. Control rod 91 
is co-axial to the axis of the contact body and projects into the inner 
recess 72 of the female tip so as to cooperate with the corresponding 
control rod of the male contact 5 during the coupling of these contacts to 
repel valve 90 toward the opposite end of the inner chamber of the contact 
body and thus unplug the contact in order to establish the fluidic 
connection. 
A shoulder 98 is formed at the level of the junction between cylindrical 
skirt 87 and the part 85, shoulder 98 serving as a stop for compression 
spring 47 mounted inside inner recess 89 of skirt 87. 
In uncoupled position, as shown in FIG. 1, spring 47 compresses the 
pressure face of the closure cone 86 on the inner washer 65 which is in 
turn flattened against the bottom 78 of inner chamber 66, thereby 
establishing the self-plugging of fluidic contact 3 in uncoupled position. 
The action of the compression spring 47 is supplemented by the trust due 
to the pressure of the heat-carrying fluid. 
The inner washer 65 is, for example, a toric gasket made of an elastomer 
such as nitrile, fluorocarbon, or silicone, this material being capable of 
withstanding chemical attack of the various types of heat-carrying fluids. 
Gasket 65 is placed in a groove 80 provided against the bottom 78 of inner 
chamber 66 of the contact body, in order to avoid being displaced inside 
the said recess and producing surges or "hammer" in the channels 
circulating the heat-carrying fluid. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, this 
groove is obtained with the aid of a shoulder 82 formed from the wall of 
inner chamber 66, the diameter of the top of shoulder 82 being very 
slightly greater than that of the outer contour of part 85 of the valve. 
Thus, during the uncoupling operation, the choking of the passage of the 
fluid generated by the top of the shoulder and the outer contour of part 
85 which is then at the same level creates, at the beginning of the 
self-plugging of the fluidic contact, a drop in pressure of the fluid just 
before washer 65 is compressed by the closure cone 86 of the valve and 
establishes the leakproof plugging of the contact. This pressure drop 
created during the phase of self-plugging of the contact enhances the 
efficiency and the life of the washer 65. To facilitate the emplacement of 
washer 65 in groove 80 as the fluidic contact is being made, the shoulder 
of the groove preferably has an engagement bevel 84 on the side of the 
shoulder opposite the wall of the groove. Note that in coupled position, 
as shown in FIG. 2, the shoulder of the groove causes no disturbance in 
the circulation of the heat-carrying fluid. 
The end of the contact body opposite female tip 69 is embedded in a recess 
56 of a coupling 50 insuring the fluidic connection of contact 3 with the 
channel network of the card with fluid circulation. In the example shown 
in FIG. 1, this embedment is obtained by force-fitting contact body 68 
into coupling 50, the facing diameters of the two elements being designed 
for a tight fit. To gurantee the tightness of the bond between coupling 50 
and contact body 68, an annular gasket 62 is placed at the bottom of 
recess 56 of coupling 50. Gasket 62 is compressed by the end 67 of contact 
body 68. The compression of gasket 62 is obtained during the operation of 
force-fitting of body 68 into coupling 50 and maintained by the strong 
forces of retention of the fit. This tightness can likewise be obtained by 
an intermetallic sealing bond 63, 64 as shown in FIG. 3. The tightness and 
the attachment of coupling 50 on contact body 68 can also be produced by 
operations of gluing, brazing or shrink-fitting. 
In the embodiment shown, coupling 50 appears in the form of a 
parallelopipedic block, of which one face 55 is pierced with a stepped 
hole not opening on the rear face. This stepped hole is composed of the 
embedment recess 56 of the same diameter as the outer contour of the 
contact body 68 and of an inner conduit 52 which is concentric to recess 
56 and has a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of spring 
47, so that the shoulder between the inner conduit and the recess forms a 
stop for the end of the said spring and of gasket 62. 
One of the faces perpendicular to face 55, namely face 58, which rests on 
card 1, is pierced with a hole 51 that only partially extends through the 
coupling, so that hole 51 and the inner conduit 52 will be secant and open 
into one another. This face 58 is likewise pierced with two tapped holes 
33 and 34 situated on either side of hole 51. These tapped holes 33 and 34 
are used for the attachment of coupling 50 on printed card 1 as shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2. Moreover, face 58 is equipped with an annular groove 42 
concentric to hole 51 which serves as an accommodation for an annular 
gasket 37 insuring a seal between coupling 50 of fluidic contact 3 and the 
end 51 of the network of channels of card 1 with circulation of fluid. 
As already mentioned, the outer contour of female tip 69 has a diameter 
slightly smaller than that of the outer contour of contact body 68. The 
two outer contours join by means of a stop face 77 whose plane is 
perpendicular to the main axis. When the contact body has been fitted into 
coupling 50, the part of length "l" of the outer contour of the contact 
body situated between stop faces 77 and 55 is used to place a retention 
clip 143, to lock fluidic contact 3 in the opening 135 of insulation 130 
of connector 2. As shown in FIG. 4, this retention clip appears in the 
form of a thin elastic tube of length "l", slit along one generatrix 143" 
and having on its perimeter several retention tabs 143', projecting and 
elastically deformable. The clip is immobilized in translation on contact 
body 68 by the stop faces 77 and 55. 
Reference is now made to the male fluidic contact 5 shown on the right-hand 
side of FIGS. 1 and 2. This male contact is constituted by a contact body 
68' of cylindrical shape which is prolonged by a male tip 101 appearing in 
the form of a metal tube equipped on its outer surface with a groove 107 
serving as a recess for a washer 125. The diameter of the outer contour of 
male tip 101 is very slightly less than that of cavity 72 of female tip 69 
of the female contact. The outer diameter of gasket 125 mounted in its 
recess is very slightly larger than that of cavity 72 so as to be 
compressed on its perimeter when it is engaged in the latter and thus 
insures the sealing of the fluidic connection. Furthermore, the end of 
male tip 101 preferably has an entry bevel 106. Entry bevel 106 cooperates 
with round portion 74 to facilitate the engagement of male tip 101 in 
cavity 72 of female contact 3. Moreover, the diameter of the hole 76' in 
male tip 101 is equal or close to the diameter of communicating hole 76 in 
female tip 60 to permit the passage of the heat-carrying fluid along a 
section that is substantially constant through the fluidic connection. 
The length of male tip 101 separating the front face 105 thereof and the 
stop face 102 is substantially equal to that of the depth of inner cavity 
72 of female tip 69. 
The self-plugging device contained in the inner chamber 66' of the contact 
body 68' of male contact 5 of receptacle 4 is identical to that of female 
contact 3 of plug 2. Consequently, it will not be described herein and the 
same elements will bear the same references with a prime. Furthermore, the 
outer contour of contact body 68' with the clip locking contact 5 in 
opening 135' of receptacle 4 is identical to that of contact 3 of plug 2 
except that one end of the clip presses on the pressure face 109 of 
contact body 5 instead of pressure face 55 of coupling 50 for contact 3 of 
plug 2. 
The fluidic connection of contact 5 of the receptacle differs from that of 
contact 3 of the plug by the fact that contact 5 is directly connected to 
the device supplying heat-carrying fluid in the electronic equipment. Thus 
contact body 68' is prolonged, on the side opposite that of the male tip, 
by a connecting sleeve 110 whose outer contour 111 is larger than the 
outer contour 79' of contact body 68'. The outer contours 111 and 79' are 
connected by a pressure face 109 perpendicular to the axis of the contact 
body. During the assembly, this face 109 comes to press on the rear face 
134' of the insulation of receptacle 4. Sleeve 111 has an inner cavity 112 
communicating with inner chamber 66' of the contact body and in its 
prolongation. Cavity 112 terminates at the end of the contact body. The 
diameter of cavity 112 which has a tapped thread 114, is larger than that 
of the inner chamber 66'. Cavity 112 receives the coupling 120 of the 
fluid supply system. The latter appears in the form of a tube equipped 
with a thread 116 which is screwed into tapping 114 until collar 119 of 
coupling 120 begins to compress an annular packing 124 inserted between 
itself and the end 113 of sleeve 111. Coupling 120 has a bore 117 whose 
diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of compression spring 
47'. The front face 118 of coupling 120 severs as a support for the 
terminal turn of spring 47'. 
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the fluidic connection system in uncoupled 
position. Note that in this case the pressure faces 92 and 92' of the 
control rods of the valves of the fluidic contacts are preferably set back 
relative to the ends of the latter, that is to say, respectively relative 
to the protective round 74 of the female tip of the female contact and to 
the front face of male tip 101 of the male contact. As a matter of fact, 
if, in the uncoupled position, one of the fluidic contacts exhibits a 
valve rod protruding relative to the end of the contact, the guarantee of 
self-plugging of the latter is not well assured because the control rod 
risks being accidentally brought into contact with an object and thus 
cause a leakage of heat-carrying fluid. In the case of the example 
described, the control rods which remain in the interior of cavities 72 
and 72' are naturally protected from such a risk. Moreover, if the two 
control rods of the male and female contacts are protuberant in the 
uncoupled state, it is not possible to uncouple them without causing 
leakages of fluid. Consequently, the control rods are set back by a length 
"a" relative to the protective rounding 74 of the male contact and by a 
length "b" relative to the front face 105 of the male contact. 
In order to make the connection and disconnection without leakage of 
heat-carrying fluid, it is necessary that the washer 125 be able to slide 
on the inner contour of the inner cavity 72 before the pressure faces 92, 
92' of the control rods come into contact at the moment of coupling. This 
implies that: 
(1) "a" is greater than "c" if the face 92' is situated between the face 
105 and the plane of symmetry of the gasket 125, "c" being the distance 
between this plane of symmetry and the face 92'. 
(2) or that the face 92' is set back relative to the plane of symmetry of 
gasket 125. 
FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the entire fluidic connection system in 
coupled position. The essential condition, if the fluidic connection is to 
be insured in coupled position, is that the closure cones 86, 86' of the 
valves 90, 90' no longer press on the washers 65, 65'. Now, as a function 
of the conditions of pressure and the direction of circulation of the 
heat-carrying fluid, as well as of the respective forces of compression of 
springs 47 and 47', the kinetics of the self-plugging device of the female 
and male fluidic contacts can be done in different ways at the moment of 
connection of the latter. 
Thus, either the two valves 90 and 90' are opened conjointly as soon as 
their control rods press on one another, and then the fluidic connection 
is immediately insured, or one of the two valves 90 or 90' first opens 
completely until its receptacle 99 presses on the bottom of this recess, 
then the opening of the second begins. Then, at this moment only, the 
fluidic connection is made. 
The penetration of male contact 5 into female contact 3 is limited by the 
meeting of the front faces 133 and 133' of the respective insulations of 
the plug and of the receptacle of the electrical connector. Thus to insure 
the fluidic connection in all the figure cases, the algerbraic sum "d+e" 
must be larger than the highest of the two values "f", "g" in which: 
"d" is the distance between faces 92 and 133 in the uncoupled state, 
"e" is the distance between faces 92' and 133' in the uncoupled state. 
("d" or "e" will have a positive sign when the pressure face of the control 
rod of the valve projects beyond the plane of the front face of the 
insulation, and a negative sign when it is retracted relative to the 
latter.), 
"f" is the distance between receptacle 99 of the valve and bottom 57 in the 
uncoupled state, and 
"g" is the distance between the receptacle 99' of the valve and the face 
118 in the uncoupled state. 
("f", "g" having a positive sign.) 
The difference .DELTA. between the algebraic sum "d+e" and the higher of 
the two values "f" and "g" constitutes what is called the plug-in security 
of the connector. 
It expresses the maximum spread .DELTA. between the two insulators 133 and 
133' for which the fluidic connection is assured. The distances a, b, c, 
d, e, f, and g will preferably be determined so that the plug-in security 
.DELTA. of the fluidic connection will be at least equal to that of the 
other contacts of the electrical connector. 
FIGS. 5 to 7 show a number of variations of embodiment of the connection of 
fluidic contact 3 on the daughter card 1. In FIG. 5, the mechanical 
attachment of coupling 50 of fluidic contact 3 on card 1 with fluid 
circulation is embodied by means of a hollow screw 160. This hollow screw 
160 is mounted in orifice 51 with a tapped thread 167 of coupling 50 and 
is situated in the passage of the heat-carrying fluid. As a result, the 
threaded rod 165 of screw 160 has a hole 162 with axis 40 that terminates 
in inner conduit 52 of coupling 50 and with the end 15 of the channel 
network of the card by means of holes 161 with axes perpendicular to axis 
40 and pierced in threaded rod 165 under the head 163 of the screw. 
Moreover, the bottom of channel 17 of the card is pierced with a hole 168 
for the passage of screw 160 and as a result it is necessary to place a 
gasket 169 in a shoulder 164 of head 163 to insure the sealing of the 
device. Consequently, hollow screw 160 ensures securing of coupling 50 on 
card 1. As a result one single screw suffices to ensure the attachment 
with a guarantee of an effective seal between coupling 50 and card 1 
because the pressure is thus distributed uniformly over the perimeter of 
the gaskets. 
This variation has the following advantages: 
reduction in the number of attachment screws and consequently, the 
simplification of coupling 50 and reduction of its volume, which increases 
the useful surface for the implanation of components on the card, and 
simplification of the network of channels of the plate of the heat drain 10 
because the ends 15 and 16 can be situated directly in the prolongation of 
the channels. 
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a system of fluidic connection similar to 
that in FIG. 5, in which a fluted screw 170 is used in place of screw 160. 
In this case the passage of the heat-carrying fluid between end 15 of the 
network of channels in the card and inner conduit 52 of coupling 50 is 
made through the flutings 172 cut longitudinally on the outside of the 
threaded shaft of fluted screw 170 instead of through the inner hole 162 
in hollow screw 160. 
FIG. 7 shows in section a view of a system of fluidic connection coupled on 
the transverse edge 27 of card 1. This variation is used in particular 
when the output terminals of the electrical contacts of the plug are 
soldered flat on either side of card 1 so that the plane of the latter 
proves to be substantially in the prolongation of the plane of symmetry of 
plug 2 instead of being offset on one side or the other as shown in the 
other figures. In this case coupling 50 has a slot 187 in the axis of the 
fluidic contact 3. Coupling 50 is pierced along an axis perpendicularly to 
slot 187. The hole 191 in the upper part of the coupling terminates on the 
upper face in a beveled orifice 193. The hole 192 with the same axis as 
hole 191 terminates on the lower face in a beveled orifice 194. End 15 of 
the channel network of card 1 has an opening 196 terminating on the 
transverse edge 27 of the card. In this variation, no hole communicating 
with end 15 is pierced in closure plate 11. A guide hole 197 is pierced in 
the prolongation of opening 198, but outside the network of channels. The 
connection of card 1 on the plug of connector 2 is operated as follows. A 
flat gasket 195 is introduced at the bottom of slot 187 of coupling 50 so 
that the hole of the gasket will be face to face with inner conduit 52. 
Card 1 is engaged simultaneously in slot 187 of coupling 50 and between 
the two rows of output terminals of the electrical contacts. A cone-head 
screw 180 passing through holes 191, 197 and 192 is introduced into 
coupling 50. The diameter of the smooth part 184 of the threaded shaft 185 
of screw 180 is equal to the diameter of hole 197 in the card and smaller 
than the diameter of holes 191 and 192. 
At this moment, the axis 196 of screw 180 is offset toward the rear face of 
coupling 50 relative to the axis of holes 191 and 192. A conical nut 181 
is then screwed on threaded shaft 185 of screw 180. Under the influence of 
the tightening of this nut, the pressure cone 186 of the head of screw 183 
and the pressure cone 182 of nut 181 cooperate respectively with orifices 
193 and 194 to displace card 1 in the direction of the arrow f toward the 
bottom of slot 187 in coupling 50. When the complete tightening of the 
screw and the nut is achieved, axis 196 of screw 180 coincides with the 
axis of holes 191 and 192 and gasket 195 is compressed to insure the seal 
of the coupling of fluidic contact on card 1. 
There will now be described, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, some 
variations of embodiments of the self-plugging device, the other parts of 
the fluidic contacts being substantially similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 
and 2. 
In the embodiment in FIG. 8, the valve is constituted by a solid piece 900 
equipped at the rear opposite control rod 91 with a guide shaft 901 
sliding in a journal 902 provided in the interior of inner chamber 66 of 
contact body 68. The journal is equipped with longitudinal orifices for 
the passage of the fluid. In this case compressing spring 47 is mounted 
around the guide shaft between journal 902 and the rear face of solid 
piece 900. Moreover, the coupling 50' permitting the connection of fluidic 
contact 3 with the card has a form slightly different from that of 
coupling 50 in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
The contact body 68 is no longer inserted in a recess 56 terminating on one 
face of coupling 50 as in the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, but the contact 
body 68 has, at its rear ends, a tapped internal recess 67 larger in 
diameter than inner recess 66 in order to be screwed on a threaded 
coupling part 54 replacing the recess 56. In this embodiment, the same 
plug devices are provided in the male fluidic contact and the female 
fluidic contact, as will clearly be seen in FIG. 8, with the exception of 
the fact that the control rods of the male and female contacts are unequal 
but answer to the algebraic sum "d+e" mentioned above. 
FIG. 9 shows another variation of the plug device. In this figure, the male 
fluidic contact is mounted in an opening 135 of plug 2 of the electrical 
connector coupled on the daughter card while the female fluidic contact is 
mounted on receptacle 4 of the said connector. The plug device of the male 
fluidic contact is constituted by a ball 910 actuated by a compression 
spring 470 preferably constituted by a conical spring for a better seating 
of the ball. This ball serves as self-plugging valve as it compresses an 
annular washer 65. Moreover, compression spring 470 is positioned between 
the rear face of the ball and a shoulder 471 embodied by a cylindrical 
tube which is positioned in the interior of the inner chamber of the 
contact body and pressing against the bottom of recess 56 in coupling 50 
which, in this embodiment, is identical to the coupling in FIG. 1. 
Moreover, the female fluidic contact is equipped with an external-flow 
valve substantially identical to the valve described in reference to FIG. 
8, thus this valve will not be described in detail. Nevertheless, the 
toric gasket 65 is replaced by a gasket 65" mounted on the front face of 
valve 900. In this case the ball is not equipped with a control rod, hence 
the length of the control rod of the external-flow valve will have a 
length equal to "d+e". 
Other types of plug devices can be envisaged. Thus, so-called slide valves 
can be envisaged. 
Such a valve is shown, for example, in FIG. 10. 
In this case contact body 68 of female fluidic contact 3 has a modified 
form. As a matter of fact, inner chamber 66 has, on the side of the female 
tip, a part 66" of larger diameter for the passage of the heat-carrying 
fluid when the two contacts are coupled. Moreover, the diameter of inner 
cavity 72 of the female tip is identical to the diameter of the rear part 
of the inner chamber. As shown in the figure, two washers 650, 651 are 
provided in grooves formed respectively in the rear part of inner chamber 
66 and inner cavity 72. In this case the value is constituted by a 
cylindrical piece 920 closed at one end, whose outer diameter corresponds 
to the inner diameter of the rear part of inner chamber 66 and of the 
inner cavity of the tip so as to slide inside the body 68 and the female 
tip. 
Furthermore, piece 920 is equipped with at least one orifice 921 for 
passage of the heat-carrying fluid. It also has, at its rear end a bore 
922 of larger diameter receiving a compression spring 47 which, in 
uncoupled position, urges the piece projecting into the female tip so that 
the fluid cannot flow out of part 66". The rear end of spring 47 presses 
against a ring provided in the bottom of recess 56 of coupling 50. The 
orifices 921 are positioned on the cylindrical piece so that in coupled 
position they coincide with part 66" as shown in FIG. 10. 
Furthermore, piece 920 is prolonged by a control rod 91. The contact body 
68 is mounted in a coupling 50 similar to coupling 50 in FIG. 1. 
The right-hand part of FIG. 10 shows a male fluidic contact 5 equipped with 
a slide valve cooperating with the slide valve of the female fluidic 
contact. In this case the valve is constituted by a cylindrical piece 
920'; closed at one end and equipped on its perimeter close to this end 
with at least one orifice 921', this piece being urged, in uncoupled 
position, by a spring 47', toward the front end of the male tip which is 
then constituted by a cylindrical piece 101' equipped at its front end 
with a hole whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of rod 91. 
Furthermore, the male tip 101' has, on its perimeter, at least one orifice 
101" whose position corresponds, when the connector is coupled, to the 
position of orifice 921' of the valve. 
Thus, during the coupling, rod 91 cooperates with the end of piece 920' to 
repel valves 920 and 920' so that the orifices 921' and 101' will be made 
to correspond and so that these orifices and so orifices 921 will be in 
communication with part 66" to permit the passage of the fluid as can 
clearly be seen in FIG. 10. 
Various modifications can be brought to the form of the contacts, couplings 
or valves without departing from the scope of the present invention.