GB2323219A

GB2323219A - Connector operating mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2323219A
Application number: GB9705476A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Joseph Hurst
Original assignee: INTELLITEST
Current assignee: INTELLITEST
Priority date: 1997-03-15
Filing date: 1997-03-15
Publication date: 1998-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-15
Also published as: GB2323219B; GB9705476D0

Abstract

An apparatus for mating and disengaging connector parts, comprising a first holder (10) operable to receive the female parts of a plurality of electrical connectors, a second holder (11) operable to receive the male parts of a plurality of the electrical connectors, and displacing means (17, 18, 21, 22) which moves the second holder (11) relative to the first holder (10) such that in use the male parts of the connectors in the second holder (11) lift squarely into and out of the female parts of the connectors in the first holder (10).

Description

APPARATUS FOR MATING CONNECTOR PARTS The present invention relates to an apparatus for mating connector parts.

One type of electrical connector which is, for example, used at computer interfaces comprises a large number of male pins that are received in a corresponding number of female sockets. The pins of said connectors are often quite thin and are consequently easily damaged. The pins are generally received in the sockets with a friction fit. In view of the large number of pins that are received in the sockets, once mated, the male and female parts of the connection are relatively difficult to disengage.

This difficulty in disengaging the two parts of the connector can result in one part tilting relative to the other during the disconnection process. This, however, may damage the pins and is thus undesirable. Ideally the pins should be removed from the sockets in a vertical "square" manner without tilting. In certain testing apparatus in which a large number of these connectors are located for testing purposes the force required to remove the pins of the male connectors from the female connectors is very large. Thus a mechanism has been proposed for disconnecting the male and female connectors in a "square" manner.

US 4,329,005 describes such a connecting apparatus in which an inner frame is received between outer walls. Fixed hanger plates provided with straight slots and interior slides having coacting cam slots are placed between the outer walls and adjacent side of the receiver frame. The slides are driven by a hand lever and attached torsion shaft with a connected slotted linkage having an over-dead-center locked position. This arrangement is very complicated involving a large number of moving parts. Consequently the connecting apparatus is very expensive to produce.

The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for mating and disengaging connector parts which is more cost effective to produce and can be scaled down to provide "square" connection and disconnecting of male and female connectors in smaller units where no mechanism currently exists.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for mating connector parts, the apparatus comprising a first connector part holder and a second connector part holder, the apparatus further comprising displacing means for displacing one of the said holders relative to the other so as to bring male and female connector parts located in the first connector part holder and second connector part holder respectively into and/or out of engagement, wherein the said displacing means comprises a first body which is pivotally connected to the first connector part holder and a second body which is pivotally connected to the first body so as to tilt about the pivot, one end of the second body being captured by the first connector part holder, the other end of the second body being operative to engage the second connector part holder, the second connector part holder being further captured in the first body so as to facilitate even relative displacement of the first and second connector part holders.

This arrangement provides a cost effective manner of providing for even displacement of the two connector part holders so as to facilitate "square" displacement of the male and female connector parts located in the holders.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one apparatus for mating connectors in accordance with the present invention; Fig.2 is a section of view in which the apparatus is in the closed position; and Fig. 3 is a section of view in which the apparatus is in the open position.

Referring to the drawings an apparatus for mating connector parts comprises a block 10 of insulating material. This block 10, the lower block, has a number of indentations 12 provided in its top. These are operable to receive the female parts of a plurality of electrical connectors (not shown). A similar block of insulating material, the upper block 11, is operable to receive the male parts of these connectors.

Two pins 13,14 extend from a first side of the lower block 10. Two further pins 15,16 protrude from the opposite side of the block. A similar arrangement of pins 13a to 16a is provided in the upper block 11.

The blocks 11,12 are received in between two side walls 17,18 and two end walls 19,20 which when connected together form a continuous outer boundary. The two end walls 19,20 perform no function, save to connect the two side walls 17,18.

Wire connections for the connector parts may enter the apparatus through one of the end walls.

The side walls 17,18 and arms 21,22 connected thereto provide the means by which the two blocks 10,11 may be brought together and separated so as to mate and disengage the connector parts provided therein.

The right hand pins 14,16, as illustrated, of the lower block 10 engage and are captured with a snug fit in circular apertures provided in the side walls 17,18 such that the side walls 17,18 pivot relative to the lower block 11. Thus one end of the side walls 17,18 may be raised from the closed position shown in fig.2 to the open position shown in fig.3.

Each side wall 17,18 has a profiled groove 23 therein so as to receive an arm 21,22. The grooves 23 are of sufficient dimensions so as to allow for limited pivotal movement of the arm in the groove, the arms being connected to the side walls 17,18 by way of pivotal connectors 24 at substantially the centre of the arms. The lower end of the arms is connected to the lower block 10 by way of the left hand pins 13,15 is illustrated in fig. 1. These pins 13,15 are captured in small slots 25 in the lower ends of the arms 21,23. The upper ends of the arms have open ended slots 26 therein for receiving a first pair of pins 1 4a, 1 6a, of the upper block. Those pins 14q16a further extend into slots 27 provided in the upper block. The other pair of pins of the upper block are received in open ended slots 28 in the side plates. These slots 28 have two limbs set at about 45" to each other. The blind end of the slots extend substantially horizontally when the aperture is in the position as shown in fig.2.

It is noted that the lower block 10 remains integral with the unit at all times.

However, the upper block 11 is removable. When both blocks 10,11 have been charged with connectors they are moved into the position as shown in fig.2. The connector parts may then be separated by separating the upper block from the lower block. This may be facilitated by way of a lever handle, screw mechanism or other means of providing mechanical advantage.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment is by way of example only. Many modifications and variations are possible. For example the apparatus does not have sole application in test apparatus but may be used in many applications for example at personal computer ports.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mating connector parts, comprising a first connector part holder, a second connector part holder, and displacing means for displacing one of the holders relative to the other so as to bring male and female connector parts located in use in the first and second connector part holders respectively into and/or out of engagement, wherein the displacing means has a first body which is pivotally connected to the first connector part holder and a second body which is pivotally connected to the first body so as to tilt about the pivot, one end of the second body being captured by the first connector part holder, the other end of the second body being operative to engage the second connector part holder, the second connector part holder being further captured in the first body so as to facilitate even relative displacement of the first and second connector part holders.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second body is substantially captured in a groove in the first body, the groove allowing said pivotal movement of the second body.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pivotal connection of the second body to the first body is at a central location on the second body.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the capture of the end of the second body by the first connector part holder is by a first pin extending through a first slot in the second body, the first pin being fixedly connected to the first connector part holder.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first pin also extends into a further slot in the first body, and a second pin fixedly connects the first connector holder to the first body at a position remote from the first pin.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement of the second body to the second connector part holder is by way of a third pin fixed to the second connector part holder and which extends into an open ended slot in the second body.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the third pin also extends into a second further slot in the first body.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a fourth pin extends between the second connector part holder and the first body and movably engages in a slot having two limbs set at substantially 45" to each other.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the connector part holders is removable.

10. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a further first and second body is provided at the opposite side of the first and second connector part holder.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first body is integrally connected to the further first body.

12. An apparatus for mating connector parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.