Interface engagement and locking system
US5562458A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S439/953
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An operating mechanism (50,182) for providing mechanical advantage for mating and unmating a fixture (10) to a receiver (150) manually at a separable interface for mating complementary arrays of electrical connectors (12,152) for use in testing equipment. The leading end (80,88) of the operating mechanism (50) of the fixture is inserted into a receptacle (182) of the receiver and locks to secure the fixture to the receiver, simultaneously unlocking a subassembly (58) within the operating mechanism to be manually rotated to fully mate the now-adjacent arrays of connectors. The subassembly (58) is movably secured within an outer barrel (54) affixed to a frame (20) of the fixture and includes an axially spring biased central shaft (70) movable within an inner barrel (72). Arrays of locking balls (76,82) within apertures 86,90) of the inner barrel move between annular grooves 78,84) of the central shaft (70) and annular grooves 186,142) of a surrounding cylinder (either the receptacle 182) or the outer barrel (54)) to lock and unlock the central shaft from being axially moved with respect to the particular surrounding cylinder. An acme screw (100) within the operating mechanism convert…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.