Encapsulation housing for electronic circuit boards or the like and method of encapsulating

Abstract

A control device assembled on a circuit board is suitably encapsulated within a protective housing on a multiple unit basis especially suited for automation. A plurality of housings are arranged in an upright, side-by-side relation so that the associated circuit board may be inserted from a vertical direction and correctly positioned within the housing by a pair of guide rails and the action of gravity. The housings may then be suitably encapsulated utilizing a continuous and uninterrupted flow of encapsulating material.The housing itself is fabricated of a non-metallic, thermosetting material unaffected during subsequent operation in elevated ambient temperatures. The housing further includes a laterally extending lip or ledge which overlies a top portion of the next adjacent housing during assembly and encapsulation. Mounting holes are provided of a configuration to permit a wide variety of mounting locations.

Claims

2. An improved protective enclosure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the width of each of said channels measured in a plane parallel to the side walls progressively tapers from a point at the top of the side walls to a point toward the bottom of the side walls whereby the associated control circuit board may be inserted from a vertical direction and positioned as aforesaid within said housing by the action of gravity.

3. An improved protective enclosure in accordance with claim 2 wherein the width of each channel tapers progressively along the entire length of the channel.

4. An improved protective enclosure in accordance with claim 2 wherein the one end wall is the front end wall, the other.Iadd.end.Iaddend.wall is the back end wall and the channels are contiguous the back end wall.

5. An improved protective enclosure in accordance with claim 4 wherein the ledge extends the full width of the front end wall, the ledge having a top edge surface, each side wall having a portion extending to the top edge surface of the ledge, the portion being formed as a smooth extension of the channel.

7. An improved protective enclosure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing further includes a shallow trough positioned centrally of said laterally extending ledge for confining a stream of encapsulating material when poured into the interior of said housing to essentially the area of said trough.

8. An improved protective enclosure in accordance with claim 7 wherein said housing includes a pair of apertures extending through said front and back walls but sealed off from the interior of said housing, said apertures being of a size and configuration to permit mounting of said housing at a plurality of locations as well as being adaptable for providing a means of support for stacking of said housings together in multiple units during assembly and encapsulation of the associated control circuit board.

9. An improved protective enclosure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said edges lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the housing.