Abstract: A zero insertion force connector system with a top entry for improved interconnection with a component card and a component card positioner for providing an interconnectable structure that is useable with adjacent apparatus. The zero insertion force connector system includes a housing with a card guide channel having a top entry and a sliding cam system for interlocking the component card positioner and the component card in an improved manner. The component card positioner includes a card positioning structure with a tab cover structure and a card guide channel positioner for interaction with the sliding cam system of the zero insertion force connector system to properly interconnect the component card. The component card includes card contact tabs protected by a tab cover structure in the component card positioner and related to connector contacts positioned in the housing of the connector.

Abstract: A card guide for guiding a circuit card towards a connector mounted on a backplane of electronic apparatus includes a first member which is mounted on the backplane and a second member releasably joined to the first member, the second member having a slot for accommodating an edge of the card for aligning and guiding it towards the connector.

Abstract: A circuit board ejector/guide has an ejector end and an integral guide end. The ejector end has a first bearing surface and the guide end adjacent the ejector end has a second bearing surface. The ejector end has means for pivotally mounting the circuit board ejector/guide on an extender circuit board so that the first bearing surface is used to remove the extender circuit board from a housing when the circuit board ejector/guide is in a stored position. The guide end includes guide rails for holding a circuit board to be tested when in an open position, and the second bearing surface is used to remove the extender circuit board from the housing when in the open position.

Abstract: A pair of track members is fastened to a framework of a black box forwardly of each mother board connector of an array thereof mounted on the mother board of the black box. The track members extend forwardly in parallel from end flanges of the connector to leading ends fastened to the black box framework at the LRM-receiving aperture, so that an LRM placed between the pair of tracks is movable to the mother board connector for mating of the LRM connector therewith. The trailing ends of the track members extend through precisely located holes through end flanges of the mother board connector and through the mother board after which the end portions are fastened to frame members behind the mother board. The track members can be hollow enabling fluid to be circulated therethrough to dissipate heat from the LRM. The track members can constitute the means to fasten the mother board connector to the mother board, and also the mother board to the framework of the black box.

Abstract: A pin mounted support system for printed circuit cards and connectors includes a base portion having one or more bores for mounting upon the pins of the header and a guide surface portion that delimits the installed position of the printed circuit card or connector. Where the support is intended for use with a printed circuit board, the support includes a groove or track for accepting and supporting a lateral edge of the printed circuit board. Where the support is intended for use with a connector terminated cable, a keytab is provided with one or more bores for mating with the pins of the header to delimit the proper position of the connector. The connector is positioned between the keytabs and installed in its mated position. The supports are typically fabricated from a molded plastic and are easily removable from their support pins to allow convenient reconfiguring of the header.

Abstract: A circuit board panel and chassis assembly comprises hollow panels for mounting circuit boards and a chassis provided with ducting communicating with inlets and outlets in the faces of the hollow panels for the circulation of coolant. Expansible retainers for sealing the inlets and outlets of the panels to the chassis ducting also free the panels from the chassis upon release of the panels and are operable by levers accessible from the exterior of the chassis.

Abstract: A structure for edge mounting chip modules to planar boards is provided. The structure includes a pair of spaced side rails mounted on a support structure extending generally parallel to each other. The rails each have first and second strips, insulated from each other, the strips each having projections extending therefrom and defining slots therebetween to receive the edges of the chip modules. Each strip is provided with an independent power level, whereby four distinct power levels can be supplied to the chip modules.

Abstract: In the disclosed electrical connector, the card inserted from the inlet is moved, together with the slider abutting against this card, in a state being inclined to the specified placing plane, resisting the thrusting force to the inlet side by the thrusting means, and when this card and slider reach the specified position, the card and slider are oscillated about the oscillating fulcrum part to position them on the specified placing plane, thereby causing the contact formed on the contact piece part of the conductor piece to contact elastically with the contact of the card, while fixed the slider on the specified placing plane by the lock mechanism.

Abstract: A sytem for connecting and disconnecting one or more banks of electrical connectors to and from the electrical leads of printed circuit cards supported at an opening in a mainframe card cage. The system includes: (a) a frame assembly supported by the mainframe card cage; (b) retractable support members carried by the frame assembly; (c) arms carried by the frame assembly, the arms being movable between first and second positions for moving the support members outwardly from the frame and inwardly toward the frame; and (d) one or more modules for carrying the bank(s) of electrical connectors. The module is detachably mounted to the support members such that the electrical connectors are aligned with and coupled to the electrical leads on the printed circuit cards in the mainframe card cage when the arms are moved from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure actuator such as a vacuum actuator comprising a valve unit including a plurality of solenoid valves and a diaphragm unit including a diaphragm defining a pressure chamber, air pressure within the pressure chamber being adjusted by selective activation of the solenoid valves which communicate the pressure chamber with pressure sources of different pressure levels, in which a casing of the actuator defines an accommodating chamber for accommodating the solenoid valve unit and a wall surface of the chamber is provided with ribs for guiding and positioning the solenoid valve unit inside the chamber. The ribs may be adapted to make a sliding contact with a side surface of the yokes of the solenoid valves and a smooth surface a printed circuit board which is attached to the solenoid valve unit. Alternatively or additionally, the ribs may be adapted to be fitted into a gap between a pair of adjacent yokes of the solenoid valves.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for printed circuit boards where electrical and mechanical connection is maintained by the characteristics of the contacts included in the connector. While support is provided for the printed wiring board, no retenion means other than the contacts themselves are employed. The combination of a rigid and a flexible contact inhibits "walking" of the board due to vibration.

Abstract: A biasing device for card edge connectors. More particularly, the biasing device is formed from suitable materials and includes as an integral part thereof a spring member which biases the device in the connector.

Abstract: A backplane structure for a computer includes first and second spaced apart backplane sections each having a series of spaced, vertical connector assemblies for receiving edge connectors of a series of parallel spaced apart circuit boards in a vertical orientation. Spaced bus lines run horizontally across each backplane section for interconnecting appropriate pins of the respective circuit board connectors. One of the backplane sections receives circuit boards of the memory section of a computer, and the other section receives the computer functional unit boards. A third backplane section extends between the first and second sections and has a series of spaced horizontal connector assemblies for receiving connector edges of a series of circuit boards in a horizontal orientation. At least some of the horizontal connector assemblies receive circuit boards of the buffer section of a computer.

Abstract: A rack for use in mounting a plurality of input/output modules in a programmable controller or process control computer system or the like has a plurality of first connectors mounted on a circuit board for making detachable electrical connection to the respective modules and has second connector means for connecting the circuit board to the controller system. A rack member molded of a stiffly resilient insulating material has a bottom with apertures therein mounted over the circuit board to permit access to the first connectors and has a pair of juxtaposed integral side walls upstanding from the bottom of the rack to engage respective opposite latteral edges of the modules to guide the modules into respective first connectors in compact side-by-side relation to each other within the rack member.

Abstract: A storage unit for an array of modular assemblies, such as disk drives, includes a cabinet having an array of rectangular cavities open toward the front, each for receiving an assembly carrier drawer. Each carrier drawer has electrical connections for receiving an electrical assembly in the drawer. The rear of each drawer has an electrical connection panel for mating a receiving panel connected to the inside back of the cabinet, and associated with the electrical connection panels are pin-and-aperture locating and registering means for precisely aligning the carrier drawer for proper mating electrical contact with the back of the cabinet automatically as the carrier drawer is pushed fully into the cabinet. This enables disk drive maintenance to be performed quickly and efficiently by pulling out a carrier drawer and inspecting, repairing or replacing the modular assembly.