Patent Abstract:
An example device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes a dripless connector that has a base and an extension. A manifold is to slidably mount the dripless connector. The base of the dripless connector is slidable, relative to the manifold, along a floating direction substantially non-parallel to an engagement direction of the extension of the dripless connector.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Computing systems may be cooled using various techniques, such as air cooling and water cooling. Water cooling systems may use hoses and fittings, based on manual installation and removal of clamps and other equipment to ensure proper retention and seal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
         [0002]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system including a dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0003]      FIG. 2A  is a block diagram of a system including a dripless connector in a first position according to an example. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2B  is a block diagram of a system including a dripless connector in a second position according to an example. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of a system including a dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of a system including a dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a manifold according to an example. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4B  is a partially exploded perspective view of a system including a manifold and a dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a system including a manifold according to an example. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective section view of a system including a manifold according to an example. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8A  is a section view, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4B , of a system including a dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6B  is a section view, taken along line B-B of  FIG. 4B , of a system including a dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a system including a manifold according to an example. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a system including a manifold and dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0016]    FIG,  10  is a perspective view of a female dripless connector according to an example. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a cap according to an example. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective section view of a cap according to an example. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a system including a dripless connector according to an example. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Servicing water-cooled arrangements may be difficult, time consuming, and expensive. Disassembly incurs risks that other elements in the nearby assemblies could be damaged, and imposes a need to shutdown otherwise functional units to drain the assembly. A leak in any of the elements may drain the assembly and put other units at risk of overheating, as well as causing water damage. 
         [0021]    Example systems provided herein may provide thermal services (e.g., cooling) to a computing system such as a server and/or rack of servers, based on a blind mate dripless connector (e.g., a connector including an automatic integrated shut-off valve). The dripless connector may “float” or translate to accommodate movements associated with assembly, shipping, installation, usage, or other events such as vibration, accidents, earthquakes, and so on. Examples may be constructed in increments of one rack unit (i.e., 1U), to match sizes of various servers. The floating dripless connector may accommodate movement of the computing system within a rack, and/or movement of an element/component within a computing system. 
         [0022]    Examples based on the floating dripless connector may enable enhanced serviceability, reliability, thermal performance, and cost reductions for computing systems. Fluid couplings may be achieved without the use of hoses that are difficult to install, such that example cooling solutions may include individual flow control shut-off for each 1U cooling unit. Server issues (e.g., failures) or other service events may be addressed individually, without needing to shut down and/or disassemble large groups of servers and stop water flow simultaneously to large portions of the rack to remove an entire cooling wall assembly. The blind mate floating dripless connector enables the capability to diagnose and investigate issues at an individual level, without needing to disassemble an entire rack to remove one computing system. Additionally, examples described herein enable easy upgrades to a particular computing system, without the difficulty associated with disassembling and/or interrupting cooling to the entire rack/system. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system  100  including a dripless connector  110  according to an example. The dripless connector  110  is slidably mounted to a manifold  140 . The dripless connector  110  includes a base  120  and an extension  130 . 
         [0024]    The dripless connector  110  is slidable along a floating direction  122 . The extension  130  is associated with an engagement direction that is substantially non-parallel to the floating direction, e.g., into and out of the page as shown in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, the extension  130  may engage another element to establish a fluid flow through the dripless connector  110 , based on a blind mate snap-together fit independent of the floating direction. Additionally, the dripless connector  110  is slidable without needing to disengage or otherwise affect the connection established by the extension  130 , ensuring a reliable fluid seal even when components shift or move. As used herein, the terms slidable, floating, movable, and so on may include omnidirectional movements, e.g., along multiple axes. Accordingly, example dripless connectors  110  may be slidable along an X-axis and Y-axis, which are substantially non-parallel to the engagement direction (i.e., the Z-axis). In an example, the X-axis may be along a major axis of an elongated recess in the manifold, and the Y-axis may be along a minor axis of the recess, Accordingly, a recess in the manifold (or other non-recessed corresponding feature of the manifold to receive the dripless connector) may be larger than a corresponding dripless connector to be received at the recess. The omnidirectional slidability of the dripless connector may be based on omnidirectional clearances between the dripless connector and the manifold, to accommodate the floating dripless connector while enabling a fluid seal. 
         [0025]    The manifold  140  may be provided at a rack or computing system. The manifold  140  may provide a fluid supply and fluid return for a plurality of dripless connectors  110 , such that a dripless connector  110  may be used for supplying fluid (e.g., cool fluid) or returning fluid (e.g., warm fluid). Various fluids may be used, such as coolant based on water or all, or other materials having desirable characteristics for heat transfer. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2A  is a block diagram of a system  200  including a dripless connector  210  in a first position according to an example. The system  200  includes a rack  204  to house a manifold  240  and receive a computing system  205 . The manifold  240  includes a recess  242  in which the dripless connector  210  is slidably mounted. The rack  204  includes an element  202 , to which the dripless connector  210  is engaged. The element  202  and dripless connector  210  are slidable, while engaged, in the floating direction  222 . The element  202  may be a thermal bus bar (TBB) that is movable within the rack  204 . As shown, the element  202  is moved away from component  206 , allowing a gap between the element  202  and the component  206  to enable easy installation of the computing system  205  in the rack  204 . The gap allows the computer system  205  or components therein to be installed without risking contact and/or damage to the computer system components or element  202 , while using improved tolerances for a very snug fit after the gap is closed. In alternate examples, the dripless connector  210  may be connected directly to a component  206  (e.g., to the computing system  205 , or to a heat-generating element of the computing system  205 , directly or indirectly). 
         [0027]    The manifold  240  may form a wall structure within the rack  204  to provide fluid flow, as a rack-based cooling solution. In an alternate example, a manifold  240  may be provided at a computing system  205  directly, as an individual server-based cooling solution in the server. The manifold  240  may be formed of metal such as aluminum. Systems  200  may be pre-assembled and shipped. During assembly, shipping, and/or site installation, an integrated structure of multiple servers  205  in system  200  may experience shifting/movement. The floating dripless connector  210  can move along the floating direction  222 , to absorb shock and vibe and prevent damage or leaks, in contrast to a fixed rigid connector fitted directly to a member. The dripless connector  210  enables protection even in earthquakes or other unusual situations, in addition to shipping and normal use of system  200 . 
         [0028]    In examples where element  202  is a TBB, heat may be transferred away from the computing system  206  (i.e., component  206 ) through a dry thermal pad interface between component  206  and element (TBB)  202 , where TBB  202  circulates fluid to remain cool without circulating fluid through component  206 . The TBB  202  is movable to close an air gap between the TBB  202  and the component  206 . Thus, thermal connection between the TBB  202  and the component  206  may be achieved by moving the TBB  202  over to compress against the component  206  with a high amount of precision and force, for heat transfer to the TBB  202  and its internal circulating fluid. 
         [0029]    Thus, the manifold  240  may be set into the rack  204  to remain immobile relative to the computing system  230  and/or component  206 . In an alternate example, the manifold  240  may serve as a structural support for the rack  204  and/or computing system  230 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2B  is a block diagram of a system  200  including a dripless connector  210  in a second position according to an example. The dripless connector  210  has remained engaged to the element  202 , which has translated the dripless connector  210  along a floating direction. The element  202  is in contact with the component  206  (i.e., having closed the air gap between the element  202  and the component  206 ). Accordingly, the dripless connector  210  has maintained a fluid seal with the element  202  and manifold  240 , while sliding relative to the manifold  240 . 
         [0031]    An element  202  (e.g., TBB) may be provided at computing system  205 , such that a plurality of computing systems  205  (e.g., servers) may be provided with their own respective element  202  that communicates via a corresponding dripless connector  210  to the manifold  240 . Thus, the manifold  240  may be associated with a plurality of independently slidable dripless connectors  210 . A computing system  205  may provide a handle to actuate side-to-side movement for engaging element  202  with the component  206 . 
         [0032]    In an example, a manifold  240  may include ten dripless connectors  210  that communicate via supply/return paths of the manifold  240 . The plurality of dripless connectors  210  are independently movable/slidable along the floating direction  222 , and a computing system  205  may be independently disconnected from its dripless connector  210  without disrupting fluid flow or operation of other computing systems  205 . A plurality of computing systems  205  may be integrated into a Performance Optimized Datacenter (POD) and shipped assembled together as a unit, whereby the floating dripless connector  210  may avoid problems from stress/shock/vibe experienced by the entire POD. In an alternate example, the computing system  205  may be a liquid-cooled server where the dripless connector  210  connects directly to the computing system  205  (i.e., without using the element  202 ). The dripless connector  210  may be self-aligning, including a lead-in and/or angled funnel to self-align and mate the dripless connector  210 , regardless of its location along the floating direction  222  prior to engagement, Thus, the dripless connector  210  can tolerate misalignment before being connected, and handle shock/vibe movement after being connected. 
         [0033]    An example system  200  may support server/rack configurations that are not fully populated, allowing for half-tray applications including cooling, the use of storage trays, and other features that may be added or removed on-the-fly during operation of the system  200 . For servicing and/or upgrades, operations may continue without needing to shut down other unaffected systems or stop their coolant/water flow. Individual systems may be serviced on an as-needed basis, and a single system  205  at a time may be removed via front access to the system  200 . A system  205  may be compatible with a dry-disconnect cooling system, such as a 1U TBB that may move side-to-side when a computing system  205  is inserted in or removed from the rack  204 . 
         [0034]    Thus, the floating blind mate dripless connector  210  enables alternate examples to have cooling integrated into the computing system  205 , for further improvements to cooling effectiveness and cost reduction. Robust blind-mate dripless connectors  210  provide a repeatable and reliable process of connection, minimizing assembly work and need for lengthy quality testing before shipping. Individual units may be serviced, and the use of an integrated valve at the dripless connector  210  avoids a need to shut down and/or remove a large portion (such as a heavy wall full of TBB units) of a rack  204 . A water wall of a rack  204  may be customized for using storage trays and other features that may be individually added/removed from the example systems described herein. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of a system  300  including a dripless connector  310  according to an example. A plurality of dripless connectors  310  are slidably mounted to a manifold  340 . A fitting  345  is to provide inlet and return fluid paths for the manifold  340 . 
         [0036]    In an example, the dripless connector  310  may extend 0.575-0.875 inches from the manifold  340 , and the dripless connectors  310  may be spaced from each other 0.918 inches. The manifold  340  may be two inches deep, 1.475 inches wide, and 17.5 inches tall. Pairs of connectors may be arranged on 1U increments of 1.75 inches. Connectors may be offset from each other by 0.140 inches. A dripless connector may translate in the floating direction by 0.125 inches. Specific dimensions and measurements may be changed in various examples, and the foregoing are provided merely as guidelines. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of a system  300  including a dripless connector  310  according to an example. A plurality of dripless connectors  310  are shown in a staggered arrangement on the manifold  340 . A cap  350  is to slidably secure a dripless connector  310  to the manifold  340 . The manifold  340  may support a circuit board  341 . The dripless connector  310  is shown in a first position, and may be biased to the first position based on spring  360 . 
         [0038]    The blind mate dripless connector  310  may be slidably secured to the manifold  340  by a cap  350 . The dripless connectors  310  are shown offset from each other in a “zig-zag” pattern. In alternate examples, the dripless connectors  310  may be aligned in a straight pattern or other pattern. The cap  350  may be secured to the manifold using various techniques, such as a press-fit arrangement. O-rings may be used in the system  300  (e.g., at the dripless connector  310 , at the cap  350 , at the fitting  345 , etc.) to allow the dripless connector  310  to float and move while maintaining a fluid seal. The cap  350  may include a slot arranged along the floating direction, to provide clearance for the dripless connector  310  to translate freely left and right. A spring  360  may provide a biasing force to the dripless connector  310  along the floating direction. The spring  360  is to bias the dripless connector  310  to a first position, which may be aligned for coupling. The first position of the dripless connector  310  may facilitate proper connection with a corresponding mating receptacle connector, e.g., on a server cooling unit, on an in-wall TBB, or on other components/elements. The spring MO may be layered under the press-in cap  350 , and in alternate examples may be placed on the same level with, or above, the cap  350  relative to the manifold  340 . 
         [0039]    The spring  360  is shown as a coil spring, and may be various other types of springs not specifically shown. In alternate examples, the spring  360  may be a full-perimeter circular spring to bias the dripless connector  310  in multiple directions, and may be a u-shaped spring for unidirectional biasing along the floating direction. 
         [0040]    The spring  360  may be secured in the proper position by the cap  350 , by the manifold  340  (e.g., in a manifold recess), and/or by the dripless connector  310 . The spring  360  may thereby push against a base of the dripless connector  310 , for stability and avoiding the creation of a torque moment when biasing the dripless connector  310  toward the first position. In alternate examples, the spring  360  may be omitted and the dripless connector  310  may be self-aligning within its full range of floating motion (e.g., based on use of a large lead-in and/or funnel), to safely and securely allow the dripless connector  310  to align and mate. 
         [0041]    The system  300  may include a circuit board  341 , such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or flexible circuit board etc. The circuit board  341  may include an electrical connector having spring-loaded posts or “fingers” to communicate electrical signals to/from a mated element/component. Accordingly, the circuit board  341  may communicate with various electrical features of the installed element/component, such as integrated sensors, active control valves, and so on. Accordingly, while the installed element/component may mate with a fluid connection via the dripless connector  310 , it also may mate with an electrical connection via the circuit board  341 . The electrical connection is to enable electrical signals such as feedback of happenings in the element/component, and/or enable the system  300  to operate/direct valves or other features of the element/component, Thus, remote control, reaction, and/or communications with coupled systems are enabled, providing information such as server temperatures, internal water temperatures, pressures, flows, and so on, while enjoying a quick connect/disconnect interface. 
         [0042]    The circuit board  341  enables a blind-mate electrical connection to transfer signals/data without a need to separately place wiring or otherwise plug-in electrical connections when a computing system is installed (i.e., into a rack). The flexible contacts allow for sideways translation while maintaining a floating electrical connection. Spring-loaded contacts/fingers of the circuit board  341  may contact corresponding pads at the computing system, and translate side-to-side in the floating direction along with the dripless connector  310 . The electrical contacts thereby may slide on the electrical contact pads without breaking the electrical connection. The circuit board  341  may be supported and aligned by the manifold  340 , and the circuit board  341  may be wired to elements supporting the manifold  340  for communicating signals, such as a rack-based aggregator positioned behind the manifold (not shown). Alternate examples may support contactless technology for transmitting electrical signals and/or power, such as flow-powered sensors, radio-frequency identification (RFID), magnetics, and so on that do not need a physical direct connector link. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a manifold  440  according to an example. The manifold  440  includes a recess  442  to receive a dripless connector. The manifold  440  also includes a protrusion  447 . The recess  442  is elongated to allow slidable movement of the dripless connector at the recess  442 , while maintaining a fluid seal with the manifold  440 . The recess  442  includes a passage  443  for fluid flow to/from the dripless connector. 
         [0044]    The recess  442  is shown as a counter-bored oval recess in the manifold  440 . The recess  442  may be formed using various techniques, such as machining, molding, and so on. The passage  443  enables fluid flow regardless of the position of a dripless connector. The protrusion  447  enables a mounting area, for securing the manifold  440  to other objects (such as a rack), and for securing other objects (such as a sensor) to the manifold  440 . In alternate examples, the protrusion  447  may be omitted. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4B  is a partially exploded perspective view of a system  400  including a manifold  440  and a dripless connector  410  according to an example. The dripless connector  410  is received at the recess  442  of the manifold  440 , and secured with the cap  450 . The dripless connector  410  may include an o-ring  426 . The fitting  445  may be used to couple supply/return fluid lines to the manifold  440 . The line A-A corresponds to a section view shown in  FIG. 6A , and the line B-B corresponds to a section view shown in  FIG. 6B . 
         [0046]    The exploded view shows cap  450  being assembled to manifold  400  based on a press-fit, such as an interference fit. In alternate examples, the cap  450  may be removably secured to the manifold  440  by fasteners or other techniques. 
         [0047]    The dripless connector  410  may be sealed to the cap  450  and/or the manifold  440  based on o-rings  426 . An o-ring  426  may be used on a top surface of the dripless connector  410  to seal against the cap  450 , and an o-ring  426  may be used on a bottom of the dripless connector  410  to seal against the manifold  440 . 
         [0048]    The fitting  445  may send/receive fluid flow to/from the manifold  440 . The fitting  445  may be fit to an end of the manifold  440 . The manifold  440  may include end passages (not shown) to allow flow to/from the fitting  445 . In alternate examples, the fitting  445  may be omitted, and supply/return fluid lines may be coupled to the manifold  440  without the separate fitting  445  (e.g., based on connectors boring directly into the manifold  440 ). 
         [0049]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a system  500  including a manifold  540  according to an example. The manifold  540  includes a fitting  545  and a plate  549 . The fitting  545  may be coupled directly to the manifold  540 , without a need for the end-cap style of fitting as shown in  FIG. 4B , The plate  549  may be used to secure the fitting  545  via removable fasteners. In an alternate example, the plate  549  also may be used as a removable cap to secure a floating dripless connector (not shown in  FIG. 5A ), and/or may be used to removably secure a cap itself (not shown in  FIG. 5A ). 
         [0050]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective section view of a system  500  including a manifold  540  according to an example. The manifold  540  includes a fitting  545  and a plate  549 . The manifold  540  includes a first chamber  546  and a second chamber  548 . 
         [0051]    The manifold  540  is shown divided front from back to provide the first chamber  546  and the second chamber  548 . The fitting  545  is shown bypassing fluid communication with the first chamber  546 , and enabling fluid communication with the second chamber  548 . Similarly, a dripless connector (not shown) may selectively enable fluid communication with the first chamber  546  and second chamber  548  based on a depth of the connector, enabling such dripless connectors to be in-line with each other without a zig-zag offset shown in other drawings, while still alternating between supply and return chambers of the manifold  540 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 6A  is a section view, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4B , of a system  600  including a dripless connector  610  according to an example. A base  620  of the dripless connector  610  is secured to a manifold  640  by a cap  650 . The base  620  and/or cap  650  may include o-rings  626 . An extension  630  of the dripless connector  610  may extend away from the manifold  640  through the cap  650 . The manifold  640  includes a protrusion  647  and passage  643 . 
         [0053]    A spring (not shown) may be positioned between the manifold  640  and the base  620  of the dripless connector  610  (to the right of the base  620  as illustrated), to bias the dripless connector  610  toward the first position (to the left as illustrated). O-rings  626  enable a fluid seal between the base  620  and the cap  650  and manifold  640 . Translation of the connector  610  enables fluid flow to be maintained via the passage  643 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 6B  is a section view, taken along line B-B of  FIG. 4B , of a system  600  including a dripless connector  610  according to an example. A plurality of dripless connectors  610  are shown in communication with first chamber  646  and second chamber  648  via passages  643 . 
         [0055]    The section view cuts through a center of two dripless connectors, and through a portion of two of the dripless connectors  610 , illustrating the zig-zag offset between dripless connectors  610 . The offset enables two of the illustrated dripless connectors  610  to be in fluid communication with the first chamber  646 , and two of the illustrated dripless connectors  610  to be in fluid communication with the second chamber  648  (where the first and second chambers  646 ,  648  are defined by a zig-zag divider, e.g., as shown in  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0056]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a system  700  including a manifold  740  according to an example. The manifold  740  is shown from a back side with a back plate removed for visibility, revealing a divider  744  separating the manifold  740  into first chamber  746  and second chamber  748 . The manifold  740  is in fluid communication via passages  743  alternating between the first chamber  746  and second chamber  748 . The first chamber  746  and/or second chamber  748  are also in fluid communication with the fitting  745  (passages in the manifold  740  to the fitting  745  are not shown in  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0057]    The divider  744  is zig-zag to accommodate a geometry of arrangement of the dripless connectors that would extend from the opposite side of the manifold (not shown), partitioning between hot and cold (supply and return) fluid paths of the first chamber  746  and second chamber  748 . The divider may be insulated, based on plastic (e.g., a metal manifold  740  having a plastic divider  744  separating the fluid paths). The insulated divider  744  is to minimize thermal conduction between the first chamber  746  and the second chamber  748 , The manifold  740  and/or divider  744  (as well as any other component of the example systems throughout) may be constructed using techniques such as die cast, extrusion, injection molding, machining, epoxy, welding, and so on, including combinations of techniques. The manifold  740  may be sealed with a back plate (not shown) to create an enclosed volume with the first chamber  746  and second chamber  748 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a system  800  including a manifold  840  and dripless connector  810  according to an example. Dripless connector  810  may be slidable at recess  842  of the manifold  840 . The dripless connector  810  may include an o-ring  826 . The cap (not shown) to secure the dripless connector  810  to the manifold  840  is removed, to illustrate a first position  812  and a second position  814  of the dripless connector  810  superimposed over each other. An extent of the floating/slidable movement of the dripless connector  810  is visible, enabled by the elongated recess  842  and corresponding shape of a base of the dripless connector  810 . 
         [0059]    The dripless connector  810  is shown with a floating range of motion of 0.125 inches between the first position  812  and the second position  814 , although larger or smaller ranges are possible in alternate examples (e.g., by using a wider elongated recess  842  or narrower base for the dripless connector  810 ). A biasing spring (not shown) may be positioned in the gap between the recess  842  and base of the connector  810 , i.e., to the left of the base of the dripless connector  810 . A cap (not shown). when inserted, may secure the spring and dripless connector  810  in place at the manifold  840 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a dripless connector  910  according to an example. The dripless connector  910  includes a base  920  and an extension  930 . The base  920  includes a cutout  924  and a lip  928 . The extension  930  includes an undercut  934 , a valve  936 , and a bevel  938 . 
         [0061]    The base  920  of the dripless connector  910  may be elongated, to mate with a recess of the manifold. The base  920  is shown generally as an oval, and other shapes are possible including a circle, square, rectangle, and so on. A corresponding accommodating shape at the manifold may be used (e.g., a corresponding manifold recess, or plate on the surface of the manifold in examples where a recess is not used for slidably mounting the dripless connector). 
         [0062]    The base  920  may include a lip  928 , shown as an upper raised perimeter lip structure corresponding to an upper o-ring (not shown). A lower lip (not shown) also may be used, corresponding to a lower o-ring (not shown) at an underside of the base  920 . The lip  928  may be formed as a wall to minimize over-deflection/tilting of the dripless connector  910 , to retain the o-ring&#39;s shape and prevent over-compression and leakage of the o-ring. 
         [0063]    The base  920  may include cutout  924 . Cutout  924  may be a circular portion, shaped to accommodate a biasing spring (not shown). Thus, cutout  924  may be a hole corresponding to a traditional coil spring, an arc (as shown) corresponding to a U-shaped spring around a portion of the perimeter (e.g., to bias the base  920  toward a first position), and other shapes. 
         [0064]    The extension  930  of the dripless connector  910  includes a lead-in bevel  938 , and an undercut  934 . The bevel  938  is to facilitate blind-mating and self-alignment of the dripless connector  910 . The undercut  934  is to allow space for a ledge of a cap (not shown) to surround the extension, to provide a fluid seal and secure/stabilize the dripless connector  910  to ensure smooth translation along the floating direction and minimize deflection/tilting of the extension  930  during self-alignment. 
         [0065]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a female dripless connector  1011  according to an example. Female dripless connector  1011  includes an extension  1030  coupleable to an extension from a male dripless connector, such as the extension  930  of dripless connector  910  of  FIG. 9 . Female dripless connector  1011  may include a funnel  1029 , shown in  FIG. 10  as generally circular (although elongated and other shapes are possible). 
         [0066]    The female dripless connector  1011  provides a smaller body size for coupling with the dripless connector  910 , while including a larger funnel  1029  for blind-mating self-alignment. The funnel  1029  may be wide enough to accommodate a range of motion of the dripless connector  910 . Thus, the funnel  1029  may provide a “don&#39;t-care” alignment feature, allowing omission of a biasing spring for the dripless connector  910 , and enabling self-alignment even if a connector is not in a first position. The funnel can self-align the dripless connector  910  to bring it to the first position during engagement, regardless of whether the corresponding connector is biased. 
         [0067]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a cap  1150  according to an example. The cap  1150  includes an overlap  1152  and ledge  1154 . The overlap  1152  is to contact the manifold (not shown), to provide a secure fit and seal. The ledge  1154  is at a base of the cap  1150  to provide a sealing surface for an o-ring (not shown) of a base of the dripless connector (not shown) to contact, regardless of translation and/or floating movement of the dripless connector. The ledge  1154  also may help to retain and align an undercut of the dripless connector. The ledge  1154  is positioned along an inner perimeter of the cap  1150 . A portion of the ledge  1154  is removed (toward the right as shown in  FIG. 11 ), to enable a large range of translation of the dripless connector toward the removed area. 
         [0068]      FIG. 12  is a perspective section view of a cap  1250  according to an example. The cap  1250  includes o-ring  1226 , overlap  1252 , and ledge  1254 . The cap  1250  may be formed of a rigid material such as metal. Thus, the overlap  1252  may form a rigid barbed interface for a press-fit seal against the manifold (not shown). The manifold also may be metal to engage with the overlap  1252  in an interference pressed fit. The angled/barbed feature of the overlap  1252  enables the cap to be smoothly insertable into a recess of the manifold, such that the barb of the overlap  1252  may bite in to the manifold and prevent the cap  1250  from being ejected from the manifold when experiencing fluid pressure. The o-ring  1226  may be placed around an outside of the cap, ensuring a fluid seal at the junction between the cap  1250  and manifold to withstand fluid pressure. The cap  1250  may be made of various materials to withstand fluid pressure and maintain integrity with the manifold. In an example, the cap  1250  may be formed of a material as hard as, or harder than, the manifold, enabling the barbed overlap  1252  to bite into and grip the manifold. In an alternate example, the barbed overlap  1252  may be formed on the manifold to bite into the cap  1250 . In yet another alternate example, the overlap may be omitted and the cap  1250  may be removably secured with fasteners and/or a plate (e.g., similar to the plate  549  of  FIG. 5A ), to enable inspection, repairing, changing, and other servicing of the dripless connector, manifold, passageways, and other features of the dripless connector systems accessible by removing the cap  1250  from the manifold. 
         [0069]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a system  1300  including a dripless connector  1310  according to an example. Manifold  1340  includes a plurality of male dripless connectors  1310  coupled to corresponding female dripless connectors  1311  associated with an element  1302  (e.g., a thermal bus bar of a computing system). The manifold  1340  also includes a fitting  1345  and protrusion  1347 . 
         [0070]    As shown, two of the dripless connectors  1310  are engaged with the element  1302 . Accordingly, the element  1302  may float with respect to the manifold  1340 , without causing damage or leakage due to the floating dripless connectors  1310  maintaining a fluid seal. Furthermore, the element  1302  may fully receive the benefits from fluid flow to/from the manifold  1340 , even though the upper dripless connector  1310  is disconnected. The element  1302  may engage the dripless connectors  1310  by moving toward the right as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , along an engagement direction. The dripless connectors  1310  are slidable along a floating direction, shown as upward and leftward in  FIG. 13 . Accordingly, the engagement direction of the dripless connectors  1310  is substantially non-parallel to the floating direction. In alternate examples, the interface between the engaged connectors may allow some movement/tolerance without breaking the fluid seal.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7