True rack-and-panel construction with self-locking connectors

Abstract

Method as well as apparatus makes and breaks electrical connections between at least one electrical cable connector and an electronics module that has at least one corresponding panel connector. A rack receives and holds the module. A cable-connector holder, formed in the rack, receives and holds the cable connector(s) in positions aligned with the panel connector(s) when the electronics module is held in the rack. Each cable-connector holder easily and quickly engages, or disengages from, a corresponding cable connector. The rack itself provides only a mechanical intermediary, not an electrical intermediary, between the panel connectors and cable connectors. Preferably there are numerous cable connectors, with corresponding cable-connector holders and panel connectors. In this case the rack includes a device for quickly and easily disengaging the electronics module from the rack, and all the cable connectors from panel connectors, essentially simultaneously. The device preferably includes a door on the rack, and a system of lever arms with a rod for pulling the module out of the rack slightly. Analogous devices on the inside of the door help push the module into the rack, after it has been almost completely inserted, to finish seating the connectors. Preferably slots formed in the rack receive sliding hooks associated with each cable connector, and tapered centering pins help align the cable connectors to the module panel connectors.

1 . Apparatus for making or breaking electrical connections between at least one electrical cable connector and an electronics module that has at least one corresponding panel connector; said apparatus comprising: 
 a rack for receiving and holding the electronics module; and    at least one cable-connector holder, formed in the rack, for receiving and holding the at least one cable connector in positions aligned with the at least one panel connector when the electronics module is held in the rack;    each cable-connector holder comprising means for easily and quickly engaging, or disengaging from, a corresponding cable connector.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , for use if said at least one cable connector comprises numerous individual electrical cable connectors and said electronics module has numerous individual panel connectors in an array; and wherein: 
 the at least one cable-connector holder comprises an array of numerous individual cable-connector holders formed in the rack, for receiving and holding the numerous individual cable connectors, in positions aligned with the numerous individual panel connectors when the electronics module is held in the rack.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the rack has means for quickly and easily disengaging the electronics module from the rack, and all the cable connectors from the panel connectors, substantially simultaneously.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the disengaging means comprise: 
 a door, hinged to the rack, for securing the electronics module;    two lever arms actuated by the door; and    a rod, attached to the lever arms, for pulling the electronics module slightly out of the rack to disengage all the cable connections substantially simultaneously.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the rack has means for quickly and easily engaging the electronics module with the rack, and seating all the cable connectors to the corresponding panel connectors, substantially simultaneously.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging or disengaging means comprise: 
 an aperture in the rack.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the aperture in the rack is a narrow elongated slot.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for guiding the cable connector into the cable-connector holder.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the guiding means comprise: 
 at least one aperture in the cable-connector holder for receiving respective tapered screws on the cable connector.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 each aperture is substantially circular.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging means comprise: 
 a door, hinged to the rack, for securing the electronics module;    at least one bar on the inside of the door.    
   
   
       12 . Apparatus for making or breaking electrical connections between at least one electrical cable and an electronics module that has at least one panel connector; said apparatus comprising: 
 a rack for receiving and holding the electronics module;    at least one cable connector terminating the at least one cable, respectively; and    at least one cable-connector holder, formed in the rack, for receiving and holding the at least one cable connector in position aligned with the at least one panel connector when the electronics module is held in the rack;    each cable connector comprising means for easily and quickly engaging, or disengaging from, a corresponding cable-connector holder; and    each cable connector comprising pins for mating directly with a corresponding panel connector of the electronics module.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , for use with an electronics module that has numerous individual panel connectors in an array; and wherein: 
 the at least one electrical cable comprises numerous individual electrical cables;    the at least one cable connector comprises numerous individual cable connectors terminating the cables, respectively; and    the at least one cable-connector holder comprises an array of individual cable-connector holders, formed in the rack, for receiving and holding the numerous individual cable connectors in positions aligned with the numerous individual panel connectors when the electronics module is held in the rack.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 said numerous individual panel connectors of the electronics module.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the panel connectors are mounted in a common chassis panel of the electronics module.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 said electronics module.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the engaging or disengaging means for each cable connector comprises a respective slide-lock retainer that tends to prevent vibration-induced spontaneous disconnection of the individual cable connector from its connector holder.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the slide-lock retainer has a self-locking mechanism to automatically secure the retainer to the corresponding connector holder.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the self-locking mechanism comprises: 
 a spring-loaded latch; and    a cam that engages the corresponding connector holder during making of a connection, to move the latch out of its locked position temporarily permitting connection of the individual cable connector to its holder.    
   
   
       20 . A cable connector for positioning a cable at a connector holder; said connector comprising: 
 a multiplicity of connector pins mounted in a connector body;    means for connecting wires to the pins;    a shell for protecting the pins and connecting means;    a slide-lock retainer for engaging the connector holder to avoid vibration-induced spontaneous disconnection of the connector from its holder; and    a self-locking mechanism to automatically secure the retainer to the corresponding connector holder.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the self-locking mechanism comprises: 
 a spring-loaded latch; and    a cam that engages the corresponding connector holder during making of a connection, to move the latch out of its locked position temporarily permitting connection of the individual cable connector to its holder.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a tapered element projecting from the cable connector toward a receptacle in the holder, to facilitate manual alignment of the connector with the holder.    
   
   
       23 . A method of interconnecting numerous cable connectors with corresponding numerous panel connectors of an electronics module, using a rack that receives the module at one side of the rack and receives the panel connectors at another side of the rack; said method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting the electronics module into the rack; and    then operating a lever to seat all the cable connectors and corresponding panel connectors substantially simultaneously.    
   
   
       24 . A method of disconnecting numerous cable connectors from corresponding numerous panel connectors of an electronics module, using a rack that receives the module at one side of the rack and receives the panel connectors at another side of the rack; said method comprising the steps of: 
 operating a lever to start all the cable connectors out of the corresponding panel connectors substantially simultaneously; and    then removing the electronics module from the rack.    
   
   
       25 . A method of connecting an individual cable connector which is one of numerous cable connectors attached to respective numerous individual panel connectors of an electronics module, using a rack that receives the module at one side of the rack and receives the panel connectors in respective individual cable-connector holders at another side of the rack; said method comprising the steps of: 
 plugging the individual cable connector into its respective individual panel connector of the electronics module; and    securing the individual cable connector to its respective individual cable-connector holder.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , for use with a cable connector that has a slide-lock with a cam that engages the connector holder to temporarily displace the slide-lock for attachment to the connector holder; wherein: 
 the securing step comprises advancing the connector generally straight into the holder, to operate the cam for temporary displacement of the slide-lock and enable engagement of the connector with the holder.    
   
   
       27 . A method of disconnecting an individual cable connector which is one of numerous cable connectors attached to respective numerous individual panel connectors of an electronics module, using a rack that receives the module at one side of the rack and receives the panel connectors in respective individual cable-connector holders at another side of the rack; said method comprising the steps of: 
 disconnecting the individual cable connector from its respective individual cable-connector holder; and    unplugging the individual cable connector from its respective individual panel connector of the electronics module.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 the disconnecting step comprises operating a slide-latch on the cable connector to release the connector from the holder.