US3376543A

US3376543A - Alignment of connector blocks in a panel

Info

Publication number: US3376543A
Application number: US497271A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hammell Kemper Martel
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1965-10-18
Filing date: 1965-10-18
Publication date: 1968-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-02

Description

April 2, 1968 K. M. HAMMELL ALIGNMENT OF CONNECTOR BLOCKS IN A PANEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR. KEMPER MAarsL HAMMELL April 2, 1968 K. M. HAMMELL ALIGNMENT OF CONNECTOR BLOCKS IN A PANEL 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR.

KEMPER Mum. Human. Y may why/M Unit (I 3,376,543 ALIGNMENT OF CONNECTOR BLOCKS m A PANEL Kemper Martel Hammell, Harrisburg, Pa, assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,271 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-132) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention generally relates to multiple contact electrical connectors, and particularly relates to a frame structure for units of the character described, wherein a plurality of connectors is mounted in spaced openings in the frame. An automatic wiring means of the type described in US. Patent No. 3,186,077, which is assigned to the present assignee, effects point-to-point wire terminations to contacts of the connectors.

In the art of manufacturing connectors of this general type, which contain metal contact springs with integral wiring posts extending from the rear surface of an insulated molded housing, certain maximum manufacturing tolerances must be provided. For instance, the location of each contact cavity in the housing cannot be held to less than :*;.003 with respect to the base end and base side locating areas of the housing. Further, the contacts cannot be centered in their individual cavities to anything less than 3002. In turn, the straightness and squareness of the posts extending from the back surface of the housing is diflicult to hold so that their tips are within i010 of the contact at their base. Further, a crosswise housing warpage of :':.010 in the molding housing is permissible. The above total tolerance in location of the post tips with respect to the base locating areas of the connector housing is already as great as 1025 before the connector is secured to the frame structure. The openings in the frame structure, while normally located to within $005 for hand wired connectors, can be held to within :.003 by recently developed refinements in numerically controlled precision metal piercing and blanking machinery. In turn, the numerically controlled wiring head of the automatic wiring machine can be located to within :.002. Thus, the total overall post tip location with respect to all the locating variables is approximately :.030. Since the post tip locating means of the most advanced numerically controlled wiring machine is substantially no greater than i.030, it becomes quite clear why extraordinarily precise locating means must be provided within the openings of the connector frame structure, and why these means must eliminate the effect of errors in stamping processes and warpage in the connector housings.

Alignment of individual contact wiring posts with respect to the head of an automatic wiring means is critical. If connectors are not properly aligned and centered on the frame, their contact posts will not be adequately aligned with respect to the automatic wiring head. This has been a serious problem in automating point-to-point wiring. Misalignment of connectors in a frame having accurately positioned and sized openings can occur as a States Patent result of the connectors being improperly located in the openings or the connector bodies being warped, or as a result of burrs in the openings of the frame.

In prior aligning and mounting schemes, connectors were aligned and secured to a frame structure by screws on either end of the connector which project through corresponding holes in a structure. This scheme, while sufficient for hand-wiring opeartions, will not provide the required close tolerances to 'be held unless a precision jig is provided to position all the connectors, and therefore will be rendered ineffective when used in conjunction with precision automated wiring devices.

In another aligning and mounting scheme, two right angle sides of a connector block are pressed tightly against two corresponding sides of an opening in a frame structure, whereafter the connectors are secured to the structure. This scheme is also ineffective when used in conjunction with precision automatic wiring devices. If a connector is warped, or if the normal blanking burrs remain along the sides of an opening, the connector and its contacts cannot be properly aligned on the structure.

The present invention obviates this misalignment problem by providing means in a frame structure wherein connectors are aligned by at least three precise locating sides of an opening in the structure, all the other edges being relieved so that neither burrs nor warped connector bodies prevent accurate alignment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a frame structure for precisely locating and align ing connectors.

Another object is to provide new and improved openings in a frame structure for receiving connectors and precisely locating them.

Another object is to provide openings with locating sections to receive and align warped connector blocks.

Another object is to provide openings in a structure as described above wherein burrs which result from punch or other fabrication processes have no detrimental effect on the exact alignment or securement of connectors entered therein.

Still another object is to provide means to locate connectors in frame structure openings wherein at least three distinct areas of the connector housings may be aligned accurately and precisely to at least three corresponding locating sides within the openings.

These and other desirable objects are achieved in a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the connectors comprise insulating housings having a series of suitable cavities therethrough to receive contacts. The contacts have means thereonincluding posts protruding from the housings adapted to be terminated to lead wires. The connectors are secured in spaced openings in a frame structure, which structure is ultimately used in complex electronic equipment such as computers.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 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 conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective and exploded view of connectors secured in my proposed frame structure and with a connector exploded therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a slightly warped connector secured to my frame structure;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing an unwarped connector secured to my frame structure;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a slightly warped connector secured to a prior art frame structure; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing an unwarped connector secured to a prior art frame structure.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, prior frame structures S usually comprise a sheet metal panel P having openings therein to receive portions of connectors C. Located adjacent openings 10 are holes 12 and 14' which correspond with hole means 2 and 4' of connector C. Screws 16' are used in this hole arrangement to secure but not to precision locate connectors C to panel 1?. Openings 10' frequently have burrs 18 along their long sides as a result of fabrication operations. These burrs project into opening 10 sufliciently to prevent non-warped or slightly warped connectors C from being properly located along two sides 20' and 22, FIGURE 5. Therefore, contacts 8 in connector C will not be located within tolerance ranges, relative to an automatic wiring machine.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 4, a slightly warped connector C cannot be aligned in opening 10'. The connector may be located at side 22' but not along side 20. Therefore, contacts 8' will not be located, within tolerance ranges, relative to a wiring device.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a connector C comprises an insulating housing H having hole means 2 and 4 on each end thereof for securing the connector to a frame structure. A series of passageways 6 is formed through housing H into which the ends of contacts 8 are insertably locked in accordance with conventional practice.

Referring to FIGURES 2- and 3, a frame structure S in accordance with the present invention comprises a panel P of sheet metal or dielectric material having suitable openings 10 therein to receive portions of connectors C. Located adjacent to openings 10 are

holes

12 and 14 which correspond with hole means 2 and 4 of connector C. Suitable screw lock fasteners 16 or other conventional securing means are used in these holes to secure connectors C to frame S.

Openings 10 are provided with rectilinear

shaped recesses

26 and 28 along two opposing sides thereof whereas the

extreme ends

30 and 32 of the openings are substantially the same size as connector C. By this means, connector C may be inserted into opening 10 and located along end 32 and

sides

33 and 34, FIGURE 3. Burrs 18 will have no effect on locating and positioning of the connector in the opening, as the burrs are situated along the sides of

recesses

26 and 28, and will not come in contact with the connector.

A slightly warped connector C may also be located and positioned in opening 10, FIGURE 2. A curved edge 35 of thewarped connector will be disposed in recess 28 and will not come in contact with any burrs 18 along the side of opening 10. The extreme ends of even a warped connector C may be located and positioned along end 32 and

sides

33 and 34, whereafter the connector may be secured to frame S by screws 16. The contacts 8 will be in position within tolerances relative to the head of an automatic wiring machine.

It should be noted that holes 12 and .14 in frame S are of suitable diameter to allow a conector to be moved in sidewise or endwise fashion in opening 10 and located relative to the sides in the opening, whereafter screws 16 may be tightened to secure the connector in the preselected position against an end and sides. It is pointed out that either

end

30 or 32 and slides 33 and 34 or 33 and 34 are selected to secure and align one connector in an opening 10 of panel P and the selected end and sides are used to secure and align the remainder of the connectors within openings 10 of panel P.

This invention is not intended to be limited to the specific examples given herein; it should be noted that recessed openings in accordance with this invention may be utilized in other applications wherein connectors are precisely located and subsequently secured to panels.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementiod. been achieved; 1 however, it should be emphasized that the particular em-.

ed and other desirable objectives have bodiment of the invention which is shown and described herein is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a panel for mounting and aligning elongated electrical connectors having aligned contacts therein, panel having openings therein to receive said connectors, and lock means defining holes. in said connectors aligned said with respective holes in said panel and screws mateab le t with these aligned holes to secure said connectors to said opening and warpage of the connector whereby said coni nectors are aligned relative to said panel and to each other.

2. In combination, a mounting panel having openings therein and electrical connectors having dielectric housings each provided with a section disposed in said openings .and extension means-extending outwardly from said sectionin engagement with area means of said panel adjacent the respective openings, each of said openings having first opposing sides and second relatively longer opposing sides, said first opposing sides being of slightly greater extent, than the corresponding width of the housing disposed therein with one surface of the sectionbeing disposed adjacent parts of said first opposing sides, which parts are located in a plane extending substantially parellel with respect to the said one surface of the housing section, and engageable therewith said second opposing sides defining substantially rectilinear recesses having edges spaced from respective sides of said section, and means engaging said extension means and said area means securing said electrical connectors in position in said openings and adjacent said parts of said first opposing 3. In a panel for mounting and aligning elongated electrical connectors having sections carrying electrical terminals and extensions extending outwardly from said sections, said panel having openings therein, each of said openings having opposed locating sections and opposed recessed sections, said opposed locating sections having a width slightly larger than the width of a connector'section and being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of said connector section, one surface of one of said locating sections and another surface of said one locating section perpendicular to said one surface including a further surface in the other locating section aligned with said another surface serving as alignment surfaces for aligning said connector section in the opening, said recessed sections being spaced outwardly from said 10- cating sections to provide clearance between respective sides of said section, and means provided adjacent said openings for securing said connectors on said panel via said extensions of said connectors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,059 2/1935 Despard 339--133 2,935,725 5/1960 Fox 339-l7 X 3,149,899 9/1964 Johanson 339-276 X RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner.