Mounting devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9814169-B2
Application number	US-201514829068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2015
Priority date	Aug 18, 2015
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting electronic components includes a linear actuator defining a longitudinal axis. A driver member is engaged to the linear actuator for motion along the longitudinal axis. The driver member defines a mounting plane and includes a wedge surface that is oblique facing in a direction that has a component towards the mounting plane and a component away from the longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the mounting plane. A locking wedge is engaged with the wedge surface of the driver member to be driven both toward the mounting plane and lateral to the mounting plane away from the longitudinal axis by sliding along the wedge surface of the driver member with the actuator driving the drive member toward a center of the locking wedge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for mounting electronic components comprising:
a linear actuator defining a longitudinal axis;
a driver member engaged to the linear actuator for motion along the longitudinal axis, wherein the driver member defines a mounting plane and includes a wedge surface that is oblique facing in a direction that has a component in a first direction towards the mounting plane and a component away from the longitudinal axis in a second direction parallel to the mounting plane, wherein the first and second directions are different from one another; and
a locking wedge engaged with the wedge surface of the driver member to be driven both toward the mounting plane and lateral to the mounting plane away from the longitudinal axis by sliding along the wedge surface of the driver member with the actuator driving the drive member toward a center of the locking wedge.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a base member opposite the driver member across the locking wedge along the longitudinal axis, wherein the base member includes a wedge surface symmetrical with the wedge surface of the driver member across the center of the locking wedge, wherein the locking wedge engages the wedge surface of the base member to be driven outward from the longitudinal axis and toward the mounting plane as the linear actuator drives the driver member toward the base member.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a chassis, wherein the base member is mounted stationary relative to the chassis, and wherein the driver member is mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the chassis.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the locking wedge is a first locking wedge, and further comprising a second locking wedge mounted back to back with the first locking wedge across the longitudinal axis, wherein the wedge surface of the driver member is a first wedge surface, wherein the driver member has a second wedge surface symmetrical with the first wedge surface across the longitudinal axis, wherein the second locking wedge is engaged with the second wedge surface of the driver member to be driven both toward the mounting plane and lateral to the mounting plane away from the first mounting wedge.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a biasing member engaged to bias the first and second locking wedges together.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , further comprising:
a base member opposite the driver member across the first and second locking wedges along the longitudinal axis, wherein the base member includes respective first and second wedge surfaces symmetrical with the wedge surfaces of the driver member across the center of the locking wedge, wherein the first and second locking wedge engage the wedge surfaces of the base member to be driven outward from the longitudinal axis and toward the mounting plane as the linear actuator drives the driver member toward the base member.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein the driver member and the first and second locking wedges are a first clamping group engaged with a base member, and further comprising a second clamping group engaged with the base member, wherein the second clamping group is substantially symmetric with the first clamping group across the base member.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein each locking wedge is operatively connected to the driver member for actuation between a retracted position proximate the longitudinal axis and an extended position spaced apart from the longitudinal axis and proximate the mounting plane.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein each locking wedge is operatively connected to the driver member for actuation between a retracted position proximate the longitudinal axis, spaced apart from the chassis, and an extended position spaced apart from the longitudinal axis and in thermal communication with the chassis for conduction of heat through the locking wedge to the chassis.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator includes a threaded rod, wherein each driver member is threaded to the threaded rod for linear actuation with rotary motion of the threaded rod.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the linear actuator includes a threaded rod, wherein the driver member of the first clamping group is threaded to the threaded rod with threads in a first thread direction, and wherein the driver member of the second clamping group is threaded to the threaded rod with threads in a direction opposite the first thread direction for actuation of the driver members in opposite axial directions.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a circuit card assembly pinched between the locking wedge and a shoulder portion of the chassis, wherein the locking wedge is in thermal communication with a base portion of the chassis for conduction of heat from the circuit card assembly through the locking wedge to the chassis.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the linear actuator, driver member, locking wedge, and base member are a first dual wedge assembly, and further comprising a second such dual wedge assembly mounted to the chassis opposite the first dual wedge assembly across the circuit card assembly, wherein the circuit card assembly is pinched between a locking wedge of the second dual wedge assembly and a shoulder portion of the chassis, and wherein the locking wedge of the second circuit card assembly is in thermal communication with a base portion of the chassis for conduction of heat from the circuit card assembly to the chassis.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , further comprising first and second circuit card assemblies, the first circuit card assembly being pinched between the first locking wedge and a shoulder portion of the chassis, the second circuit card assembly being pinched between the second locking wedge and a shoulder portion of the chassis, wherein each of the first and second locking wedges is in thermal communication with a base portion of the chassis for conduction of heat from the respective circuit card assembly to the chassis.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 14 , wherein the linear actuator, driver member, first and second locking wedges, and base member are a first dual wedge assembly, and further comprising a second such dual wedge assembly mounted to the chassis opposite the first dual wedge assembly across the circuit card assembly, wherein the circuit card assemblies are pinched between respective locking wedges of the second dual wedge assembly and respective shoulder portions of the chassis, and wherein the locking wedges of the second circuit card assembly is in thermal communication with a base portion of the chassis for conduction of heat from the circuit card assemblies to the chassis.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Mastrocola Naison E

Classifications

• H05K13/04 Primary

  Mounting of components {, e.g. of leadless components} · CPC title

• H05K7/1404 Primary

  by edge clamping, e.g. wedges · CPC title