Abstract: A cage apparatus for receiving printed circuit boards which permits an electrical potential to be directed across the printed circuit boards and a method for preventing the development of sharp spikes in the circuit signal applied to said printed circuit boards are provided. A first and second array of mounting guides are mounted in the cage apparatus to receive the printed circuit boards. The second array of mounting guides is electrically conductive and an electrical potential is directed across said second array. The printed circuit board is inserted in the cage apparatus and contacts the second array of mounting guides before a circuit signal is applied. Thus an electrical potential is directed across the printed circuit board which prevents the development of sharp spikes when the circuit signal is thereafter applied to said printed circuit board.

Abstract: A heat dissipator is provided including a radiator chimney and a separate heat conducting clamp for use with integrated circuit chips. The radiator chimney functions to conduct heat away from the top surface of the chip, and to radiate the heat upwardly into the air. The heat conducting clamp functions to conduct heat away from the bottom surface of the chip to the radiator chimney and also to securely retain both members of the heat dissipator in contact with the chip. The biasing clamping engagement between the radiator chimney and the heat conducting clamp enables easy mounting of the subject heat dissipator, as well as removal and reuse.

Abstract: An adjustable circuit card retainer has mounting and card retaining brackets constructed from a dielectric material. The mounting bracket includes base and mounting walls disposed perpendicular to each other and a pair of parallel support walls that are perpendicular to the base and mounting walls. The card retaining bracket includes mounting and card retaining legs. The mounting leg is dimensioned to slidably move with respect to the support and mounting walls of the mounting bracket and includes a slot that slidably engages at least one boss on the mounting bracket. The card retaining leg includes a card receiving member and a top support member for engaging a circuit card. The card retaining bracket is slidably moved with respect to the mounting bracket so that the card retaining leg engages the circuit card. The card retaining bracket then is secured in position by fasteners extending through the adjustment slot into the bosses.

Abstract: A heat dissipator for use with a dual in line integrated circuit package. The subject dissipator is unitary in construction and formed of a resilient material to facilitate rapid mounting and subsequent removal from an IC package. The dissipator includes a pair of opposed top and bottom contact plates interconnected by an intermediate segment. A radiator plate is provided extending upwardly from the remaining free end of the top contact plate. The dissipator may be slidably mounted on an IC package, with the bottom contact plate being in contact with the bottom wall of the package and with the top contact plate being in coplanar and contiguous relationship with the top wall of the package. By this arrangement, heat generated by the IC package during use is conducted by the top and bottom contact plates to the radiator plate for dissipating the heat and reducing the operating temperature of the package.

Abstract: A printed circuit board guide and holding device which is particularly adapted for use with metallic printed circuit boards, and which has improved heat transfer capabilities comprises an elongated heat transfer support member which is adapted to receive the printed circuit board engaging means. The heat transfer support member is of generally U-shaped cross section and is made of metallic material, with the upstanding arms including spaced flanges to enable the passage therethrough of the edge of the printed circuit board. One of said flanges includes a depending heat conductive element that is adapted to directly engage and be in intimate contact with the metallic printed circuit board to facilitate the conductive transfer of heat from the board to the support member.

Abstract: A track mounting device for printed circuit board includes an elongated channel member of generally U-shaped cross-section, and including intermediate opposed resilient finger means for resiliently gripping the circuit board, as well as opposed intermediate thickened portions for reinforcing the upstanding parallel side walls of the track device. Furthermore, the track mounting device is provided with opposed protrusions disposed at the opposite ends of the side walls and projecting into the space between said side walls. The spacing between the opposed protrusions is less than the spacing between the opposed thickened portions, but greater than the spacing between the opposed resilient fingers. The end protrusions limit the vibration of the printed circuit board at its extremities where vibrations are the greatest, and also prevent the inadvertant insertion into the track of oversized (thickness) printed circuit cards.

Abstract: Apparatus for uniformly cooling an array of printed circuit boards mounted in a card holding means includes a high velocity centrifugal fan which is in communication with a plenum chamber secured to the lower end of the card holding means. Disposed in the plenum chamber is a perforated screen configured to include a series of crests and troughs which operate as baffle means for providing resistance to the flow of high velocity air from the blower. The screen causes turbulence which reduces the velocity and uniformly directs the airflow through openings in the plenum chamber to the spaces between the array of printed circuit boards. The airflow thus divided cools each card on both sides as the air flows from bottom to top, thereby displacing the warmer air heated by the components mounted on the printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A composite printed circuit card guide and holding device comprises a U-shaped elongated member made of a rigid material, and including two upstanding arm members having inwardly directed flanges which are spaced a sufficient distance to enable the passage therethrough of the edge of the printed circuit card. Printed circuit card engaging means are slidably received within the U-shaped member, which printed circuit card engaging means includes a plurality of opposed, cantilevered flexible spring fingers extending into the region where the printed circuit card is mounted thereby resiliently engaging and holding the printed circuit card.