US3170746A

US3170746A - Plugboard assembly

Info

Publication number: US3170746A
Application number: US250815A
Authority: US
Inventors: Aksu Akin
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1963-01-11
Filing date: 1963-01-11
Publication date: 1965-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-23
Also published as: BE642160A; NL302104A; SE305475B; GB993351A; FR1386577A; CH407279A; DE1515450A1

Description

Feb. 23, 1965 Filed Jan. 11, 1963 A. AKSU PLuGBoARn ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR H m N A KSU Feb. 23, 1965 A, AKsu 3,170,746

PLUGBOARD ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. l1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent() 3,170,746 PLUGBOARD ASSEMBLY` Akin Aksu, Harrisburg, Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed Jan. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 250,815 4 Claims. (Qi. 3395-18) This invention relates to improvements in plugboard devices of the type'used to program electronic computers, oiice equipment andthe like. Y

In U.S. Patent No. 2,975,395, issued March 14, 1961, to G. C. Sitz, there is described a specialized electrical switch or multiple connector known in the art as a plugboard or patchboard. The Sitz type assembly includes a rear bay carrying a matrix of contact spring members and a front bay carrying a complementary matrix of contact pin members. The frame of a rear bay includes a hinge mechanism fastened at the bottom thereof adapted to receive and secure a front bay and uponclosure operate to cam the front bay upwardly driving pin members into contact with spring members in a particular movement of `closure providing good electrical contact between pin and contact members. Through this operation sub-components of electronic systems may be selectively interconnected through paths leading to vrear bayspring'members in contact-*with front bay pin members interconnected in pairs by patchcords. As taught lin the Sitz patent, a front I l:bay may be removed and reinserted with different patterns of patchboards to deine distinctive electronic system programs by interconnection of dierent electronic compornents.-

In certain.` instances wherein there is no` needfor speed or wherein programs are infrequently changed, only a single` front bay isprovided; the front bay being withdrawn, manually reprogrammed and reinserted when the occasion arises. Infother instances, circumstances may dictate the provision of ten or'twelve` frontbays which can be, alternatively, rapidly placed into a given rear bay and driven to yprovide a different program.

In both'the above vmentioned situations, itis highly -desirableto avoid iinalclosure ofV bays-until exactly the proper moment when system vcomponent interconnection `is required.'l It is lequally.important Athat no .accidental opening; occur oncea front'bay has `been installed and .closurefeglected .Asfa further requirement, itshould not be-possible toins'ert or Withdraw a front bay from a rear bay Vassembly until andlunless the cammin'gmechathereofv is `in the` proper position where pin and f damaged-by striking each other.

,spring members haverelative free travel `so as not be While'jthe ty-pe of assembly shown in the-.Sitz patent",4

respect tot small or medium size plugboards, a new plugvboard assembly of simpler construction has been developed which is particularly well adapted for larger sizes `meets theforegoing requirementsl quite satisfactorily with v Y Y l'mj Patented Feb, 23, 1935 ice vention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the Y conditions of a particular use.

front bay upwardly carrying the pin members thereof Y into engagement with the spring members of the rear bay to effect interconnection of desirable circuit paths.

VFurther included in the rear bay in each side of the .trame member at the bottom portion is a latch mechai nism adapted to. receive and secure a front bay through cooperation with latch pins integral with the bottom sides thereof. The positioning of each latch mechanism rela- -tive to the latch pins is such that upon rst closure of ,the front bay each latch mechanism will be cammed upwardly. and .then returned `downwardly by spring pres-k sure to hold the front bay in position withinvthe frame of the rear'bay. Further provided as part of each latch vmechanism is a feature limiting the upward travelsuch that once the front bay has been camrnediupwardlyeachy latch'mechanism is then locked to. preclude withdrawal ,p ofthe front bay. until after operationof the camming mechanism to'l drop the front bay to the initial position following installation.

i Y speciiic characteristics of the4.invention, as well l Mas ot-heradvantages thereof, will be more fullyl brought outfrom lthe following description takenfin conjunc- VVtion with drawings including:Vv Y

A FIGURE 1,`;showing perspective of a plugboard assem- .-bly ,having a portion4 sectionedfto reveall the latching mechanism ofthe invention; Y

1 I` v lFIGURE, 2',.showing an-exploded View of thev latching' mechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 3, showing'a sectional plan view ofvthe'lockn ing mechanism of the invention; and g `FIGURES .4p-7, showing elevations of the latching mechanism ofinvention infvariouspositions of opera-k Y Vtion `relative to the movement of-the latch pin of a front,V Y

tvherein'oneV or several thousand' contact pathsy are ,proj vided; It isazprincipalobiect of` this invention to pro` vide Aa noveljlatch mechanism in cbmbination with this newly developed plugboard assembly.y

, It isa further object ofinve'ntin tofprovide a ,novel latch mechanism' for plugboard assemblies operable to prevent accidental opening or-closing of the- Contact carrying bays thereof.

It is another object of ,invention to provide a simple i. vand reliable 'mechanism within the rearbay of aV plug- L board assembly` adapted `toboth latch and'locka front baytherewithin. 4 Y t Other objects and Vattainments of the present inven tionwill become apparent to those skilled inthe art upon'a reading of-thejfollowing detailed description when 1 2 is a matrixV or contact `spring members 14 secured in Vfour insulating panel members 15 rigidly secured

tofra'me members

16, 1S, 20 andZZ. Contact'spring members 14 and panel members, Y1.5 are of the type shown in the abovellntione'd Sitz patent. "20 and 22. are of milled stainlesssteel ork aluminum `bar fstock suitably secured at their ends by screws,` rivets or t vthe like. To the rear of bay 12 and not shown, individual Velectrical conductors are secured to each of the con- -

Frame members

16, 18,

.fvtact spring` members. lforming signal paths to and from taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which there is'r shown and described illustrative embodimentsof y'the -in- 'various electronic components sought to be interconnected 'by operation of assembly 10. Y i t f j f Y Supported by and secured to cross 'pieces 2 2 of thev frame isV arbearing support 24 centrally disposed to carry carnjmembers'zdat one-vend thereof. Theotherendsof members "26 are carried by a bearing surface in the lower The frame of the rear bay is slotted at the FIGURE 1 depicts aplugboard assembly 10 including Va rear bayr12 having a frontibay 38 mounted Vtherein in ,an initial position of installation. t Carried inrrear bay 3 `portion of

side pieces

16 and 18 of frame 12 and include 'extensions through such side pieces to engage

cam arms

30 and 34 as indicated by numeral 28 with respect to arm 30.

Cam arms

30 and 34 are locked to cams 26 and rotation of

arms

30 and 34 will operate to drive cam members 26 in an identical rotary movement.

Arms

30 and 34 are shown in FIGURE l in the fully opened position; the fully closed position being parallel to

frame side pieces

16 and 18 with the upper face of each arm resting against the olfset on each side piece indicated by numeral 17 with respect to side piece 16. Handles 32 and`36 are useful in rotating

arms

30 and 34 downwardly from the closed position.

Adapted to be positioned within frame 12 is a front bay 38 having a rigid frame 40 mounting four insulating panel members 42 apertured as at 43 to receive pin assemblies interconnected in pairs by patchcords such as 45. Frame 40 may be comprised of stainless steel or aluminum stock suitably milled to accommodate panels 42; or as in the preferred construction shown in FIGURE 1 may be comprised of an interior frame of ock filled phenolic resin member 46 surrounded by stainless steel bar members 47. At opposite corners secured to the vertical members of frame 40 are projecting pin members; the upper pin members (not shown) being similar to

lower pin members

52 and 54. Also attached to the side pieces of frame 40 are handle members 48 employed to lift and manipulate front bay 38.

Located at the bottom interior of rear bay 12 are latch mechanisms 66 and 68 positioned in slots 62 and 64 of

side pieces

16 and 18. As shown in FIGURE 1, the latch mechanisms are set back into

side pieces

16 and 18 so as to provide free travel of frame 40 of 38 into the face of 12. Each mechanism 66 and 68 is positioned so as to be engaged by one of the

pin members

52 and 54 as 38 is closed into 12.

Operation of assembly calls for an initial placement of front bay 38 as shown in FIGURE 1 with the upper pin members resting in pivotal relationship within slots in plate members 19 and 21 set into the

side pieces

16 and 18 of 12. Following this initial placement, front bay 38 may be swung downwardly and into the face of rear bay 12 pivoted on the upper pin members. As 38 enters the face of 12,

pin members

52 and 54 engage the lower forward surfaces of each latch mechanism 66 and 68, respectively, driving such upwardly to be returned under spring pressure in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. With 38 fully seated within 12, latch mechanisms 66 and 68 serve to hold 38 within the face of 12 by holding

pin members

52 and 54 against withdrawal.

Because of this, front bay 38'is latched against outward movement regardless of the attitude of assembly 12 and even in the presence of jars, shocks or substantial gravitational forces applied to assembly 10 through the dis-A v placement of the vehicle, craft or other housing in which assembly 10 is situated. Furthermore, with front bay 38 latched by assemblies 66 and 68, a proper alignment of 38 is assured with respect to cams 26. With 38 in the closed position, arms 30 and 34- may be rotated upwardly Y to drive cams 26 into engagement with the lower surface 39 of frame 40 and thereby drive the pin members of the front bay into a particular wiping contact withthe spring members of the rear bay to perform a given programming function in the same manner as taught in the Sitz patent. As will be apparent from the description further to be given, with

arms

30 and 34 in the upward position and the spring and pin members inclosure, front bay 38 is locked within 12 and cannot be withdrawn therefrom until

arms

30 and 34 and cams 26 have been rotated to place further operate to lock front bay 38 within rear bay 12. When 38 is latched within 12 it may be withdrawn by pulling on handles 48 in a sharp outward movement. When assembly 38 is locked within 12, no amount of pulling or other force will operate to move 38 with respect to 12.

Considering now the latching mechanisms of the invention in greater detail, FIGURE 2 shows the assembly 66 exploded relative to slot 62 of side piece 16. Latching mechanism 68 fitted within side piece 18 is identical in function and substantially the same in structure having certain portions reversed for obvious reasons.

Within slot 62 is a centrally disposed channel 65 and two stepped apertures 70 each having relieved portions 71. The configuration of each aperture is such as to receive in a close fit stepped pin members 74 each having a lower portion 76 and an enlarged upper portion 78 adapted to nest within complementary bores of the respective apertures as shown more clearly in FIGURE 3. Each of the pin members 74 is internally threaded in portion 76 to receive externally threaded screw portions 73 of members 72 which operate to secure pin members 74 against relative movement with respect to side piece 16. The enlarged diameter portion 78 of pin members 74 is of a length to define a space when the pin members are fully seated slightly greater than the thickness of a latch plate 80. Each pin member 74 includes a head portion 79 adapted to hold plate 80 and is of a length when fully seated so as not to project within the face area of rear bay 12 and interfere with the movement of closure of front bay 38.

Adapted to fit within slot 62 is latch plate 80 having longitudinal slots 94 by which 80 is held against all but sliding movement by the portions 78 of pin members 74.

Plate member 80 in the preferred embodiment is made of stainless steel suitably drilled and formed to include at one end beveled edge 82 and at the other end beveled edge 84 serving to eliminate manufacturing tolerance problems with respect to what otherwise might be sharp edges hindering sliding movements of plate 80 in slot 62. At the end adjoining edge 84 and integral with plate 80 is a pointed portion 86 defining a forward cam surface 88 and a rearward cam surface 90 abutting a cam surface 92 approximately transverse to the longitudinal axis of 80. Further included as an integral part of 80 is a bent out tab portion 98 having a spring stop portion 100 adapted to hold one end of a relatively stii compression spring 102 against one end of channel 65.

The assembly lforming the latching mechanism of the invention is assembled as shown in FIGURE 3 with the plate member 80 held against all but longitudinal movement within slot 62 by the cooperation of slots 94 with portions 78 of pins 74. Spring 102 is Vheld within channel by plate 80 and engagement with 100 and by further engagement with channel 65. It is preferred that spring 102 have a length and characteristics such as to drive plate 80 under considerable force against pins 74 in the position shown in FIGURE 3; the position existing when rear bay 12 does not contain a front bay.

With the latching mechanism of the invention thus decribed, the operation thereof in performing both the latching and locking functions mentioned above will now be outlined. FIGURE 4 depicts 80 in the position the assembly in the open position. This feature precludes A accidental damage to either pin or contact spring members through premature attempts to withdraw the front bay from the rear bay.

Mechanisms 66 and 68 thus operate to both latch front I bay 38 within rear bay 12 before interconnection of circuit pathsis called for and, following interconnection,

shown in FIGURE 3, the rest position. As front bay 38 is closed the latch pin members thereof including pin 52 will be driven in the arcuate path indicated by the arrow in FIGURES 1 and 4. As 38 continues in the path of closure, member 52 will strike the forward surface 88 of 86 as indicated in FIGURE 5, the slope of which will produce a resultant force driving plate in travel along 62 limited by the diameter of 52 and the line of travel thereof. As 52 moves further inwardly Ythe apex of 86 will be passed and 52 will contact face and face 92, plate 80 being driven downwardly by spring 102 to the position indicated in FIGURE 6. At this point, front bay 38 is latched within rear bay 12 Y and removal or withdrawal of 3:8 may be accomplished by pulling outwardly on handles t8 with a force sufiicient to result in forces exceeding the spring force of springs 102 in both mechanisms 66 and 68. 1

In the manner described with respect to FIGURE l, final movement of closure effected by rotation of arms Si) and 34 operates to drive front bay 38 upwardly to cause pin members to engage contact springs of rear bay 12. FIGURE 7 depicts the movementl of latch mechanism 66 caused by the coincident displacement of pin member 52. In the position shown, plate titl is stopped against further movement in slot 62 by pins 74 engaging the surfaces 95 of apertures 94. As will be apparent from FIGURE 7, the configuration of plate'

surfaces

86 and 90 taken in conjunction withthe disposition of plate bfi positively'precludes withdrawal of front bay 38 by blocking forward movement of pin member 52. Front bay 38 is then locked within. rear bay I2 and `cannot be withdrawn until pinmember 52 is returned Y Vto the position shown in FIGURE 6 Afrom the position shown in FIGURE 7; which return necessitates movement of handles Pill and 34 to return cams26 and front bay St'downwardly'to the open position.

Removal of front bay 3S is accomplished in a reverse order from that above described with arms Sii and 34 rotated to drop 38 resulting in spring member 102 driving plate titl from the position shown in FIGURE 7 to the position shown in FIGURE 6 permitting 38 to be swung outwardly and removed from the assembly 10.

Thus the mechanisms 66 and 6d operate to both latch and lock a plugboard front bay within a plugboard rearv bay.- The movement of the plate member mechanisms 66 and 63 is limited to approximately the vertical movement of the front bay in the final movement of closure. This distance is also defined by the differences in cam radius and further defined by the spacing-between pin and contact spring members with the iront .bay positioned within the rear bay before closure.

Based upon the above distances and in conjunction with the foregoing teaching, plugboard assemblies may cluding latch means havingy spring means, said latch means being driven upwardly by said pin means as saidl be manufactured or modified to include the advantages of the present invention.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in Vthe foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

I claim:

1. An improved plugboard assembly including a rear bay havingkspring contact members secured therein, a front bay pivotally supported in the face of the rear bay having pin contact members complementing the spring Contact members, the front bay being adapted to swing into the face of the rear bay with pin contact members spaced from the spring contact members by a given distance to permitbay closure, camming means secured to the rear bay operable to drive the front bay upwardly a vertical distance greater than said vgiven distance to cause Vpin contact members to bear against spring contact-members to eflect contact therebetween, pinmeans integral with said front bay, means disposed in the rear bay infront bayis closed into said rear bay, and downwardly by said spring means to latch the front bay against withdrawal from said rear bay, the latch means having stops limiting travel thereof to a distance approximating said given distance whereby the -front bay is locked within the rear bay following operation of said camming means.

2. The assembly of claim l, wherein said latch means comprises at least one plate member havinga pointed extension defining forward and rearward cam surfaces adapted to cooperate with said pin means to drive said latch means upwardly responsive to inward and outward movements of said front bay, the rearward cam surface operating to cooperate with said pin means to lock said front bay against withdrawal following operation of said Acamming means.

3. Thelassembly of claim 2 wherein said plate member includes apertures intersected by said stop means of ailength approximating said vertical distance.

4. A latching and locking mechanism for plugboard assemblies of the type having a rear bay anda front bay adapted to be fitted therein and driven in a parallel plane for a given distance to effect contact between contact members supported in each bay, including a latch plate to said given direction and means linking said latch plate to limit movement thereof to a distance approximating said given distance to lock said front bay against withdrawal from said rear bay.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,594,737 Y Cunningham Apr. 29, 1952 2,594,748 Earl Apr. 29, 1952 sitz Mar. 1, 1960

Claims

4. A LATCHING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PLUGBOARD ASSEMBLIES OF THE TYPE HAVING A REAR BAY AND A FRONT BAY ADAPTED TO BE FITTED THEREIN AND DRIVEN IN A PARALLEL PLANE FOR A GIVEN DISTANCE TO EFFECT CONTACT BETWEEN CONTACT MEMBERS SUPPORTED IN EACH BAY, INCLUDING A LATCH PLATE HAVING CAM SURFACES DISPOSED AT ONE END ADAPTED TO CAM SAID PLATE IN A GIVEN DIRECTION RESPONSIVE TO FRONT BAY MOVEMENT INTO OR OUT OF THE REAR BAY, SPRING MEANS HELD BETWEEN THE REAR BAY AND A PORTION OF THT LATCH PLATE TO DRIVE SAID LATCH PLATE IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID GIVEN DIRECTION AND MEANS LINKING SAID LATCH PLATE