Data connection apparatus and supporting apparatus

A data connection apparatus of a supporting apparatus includes a stationary part and a movable part. One of the stationary and movable parts has a circuit board having a number of electrically conductive pads, and the other has a receptacle within which the circuit board is received, such as when a circuit interrupter is moved to an installed position within a cassette of a draw-out switchgear cabinet. The data connection apparatus includes a housing within which the receptacle is formed, with the housing having a plurality of electrical contacts within the receptacle. The housing and the circuit board each have relieved regions in the exemplary form of ramped surfaces and edges that facilitate reception of the circuit board in the receptacle. Moreover, the circuit board and the housing are situated on structured that afford a certain level of flexibility to further facilitate reception of the circuit board in the receptacle.

BACKGROUND

Field

The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to a data connection apparatus and, more particularly, to a data connection apparatus that is usable in conjunction with a supporting apparatus, such as a draw-out switch gear cabinet and an electrical component, such as a circuit interrupter.

Related Art

Draw-out switch gear cabinetry is well known in the relevant art. A draw-out switchgear cabinet typically includes a cabinet and a number of cassettes. Each such cassette holds a circuit interrupter that is removably received in the cassette, it being noted that the circuit interrupter is movable between an installed position received in the cassette and a removed position wherein the circuit interrupter is partially or fully withdrawn from the cassette. When the circuit interrupter is in its installed position received in the cassette, electrical connectors that are situated on the circuit interrupter make electrical contact with corresponding electrical connectors that are situated on the cabinet within the cassette. While such draw-out switchgear cabinetry has been generally effective for its intended purposes, it has not been without limitation.

Modern circuit interrupters are far more complex from an electronic perspective than circuit interrupters that were manufactured in past decades. Such electronics perform numerous functions including monitoring conditions of the circuit interrupter, monitoring conditions of the current flowing through the circuit interrupter, and monitoring other conditions. Various data connections are required for these numerous features that are provided by the circuit interrupter. Such data connections are completed by detachable electrical connectors in the cassette when the circuit interrupter is moved from its removed position to its installed position. These data connections had previously been made by pins that were received in corresponding sockets when the circuit interrupter was fully received in cassette of the switchgear cabinet. Such pins and sockets have typically had a long pitch, meaning that they were spaced apart from one another a relatively long distance that enabled the pins to be robust and to enable the pins to withstand repeated withdrawals and insertions of the circuit interrupter out of and back into the cassette of the switchgear cabinet.

However, with the large number of data connections that are required with modern circuit interrupters, and with the limited spaced available within draw-out switchgear cabinetry, the pins that form the electrical connections have progressively been made to have a shorter pitch between them, meaning that the distance between such pins was relatively smaller. Such pins with relatively shorter pitch were also made relatively thinner and less robust in order to accommodate all of the needed electrical connections between a circuit interrupter and the switchgear cabinet. Such pins, being relatively smaller and less robust, have sometimes become bent during a misaligned insertion of a circuit breaker into a cassette, which has caused damage to the draw-out switchgear cabinetry, which is undesirable. Improvements thus would be preferred.

SUMMARY

An improved data connection apparatus that is usable as part of a supporting apparatus includes a stationary part and a movable part. One of the stationary part and the movable part has a circuit board having a number of pads that are electrically conductive, and the other has a receptacle within which the circuit board is received, such as when a circuit interrupter is moved to an installed position received within a cassette of a draw-out switchgear cabinet. The data connection apparatus includes a housing within which the receptacle is formed, with the housing having a plurality of electrical contacts that are situated within the receptacle. The housing and the circuit board each have relieved regions in the exemplary form of ramped surfaces and edges that facilitate reception of the circuit board in the receptacle. Moreover, the circuit board and the housing are situated on structures that afford a certain level of flexibility to further facilitate reception of the circuit board in the receptacle.

Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide an improved data connection apparatus having a circuit board that is removably received in a receptacle to form a number of electrical connections between the circuit board and the receptacle. As employed herein, the expression “a number of” and variations thereof shall refer broadly to any non-zero quantity, including a quantity of one.

Another aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide an improved supporting apparatus having such a data connection apparatus and including a stationary part and a movable part, with the movable part being movable with respect to the stationary part, such as may be employed in a draw-out switchgear cabinet or in any other type of device that makes and breaks electrical connections when a movable part is moved with respect to a stationary part.

Another aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide such a data connection apparatus that includes a circuit board having a plurality of pads that are electrically conductive and a housing having a receptacle within which the circuit board is receivable, with the housing having a number of electrical contacts that are situated within the receptacle and that make electrical connections with the pads when the circuit board is received in the receptacle.

Another aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide such an improved data connection apparatus that provides a high density of data connections and that enables megabit speeds to be maintained because the data connection apparatus mimics a proper transmission line and provides common mode noise immunity.

Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide an improved data connection apparatus that is usable in connection with a supporting apparatus and an electrical component, the supporting apparatus being structured to support the electrical component, the electrical component being movable with respect to the supporting apparatus between a first position and a second position. The data connection apparatus can be generally stated as including a first component structured to be situated on one of the supporting apparatus and the electrical component, the first component can be generally stated as including a support and a circuit board, the circuit board being situated on the support, the circuit board having an exterior surface and further having a plurality of pads that are electrically conductive and are situated on the exterior surface, and a second component structured to be situated on the other of the supporting apparatus and the electrical component, the second component can be generally stated as including a housing and a plurality of electrical contacts, the plurality of electrical contacts being situated on the housing, the housing having a receptacle which, in the first position, is structured to receive therein at least a portion of the circuit board with at least a subset of the electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts being engaged with and being electrically connected with at least a subset of the pads of the plurality of pads, the receptacle being structured to have the at least portion of the circuit board removed therefrom in the second position.

Another aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide an improved combination that can be generally stated as including a supporting apparatus, an electrical component that is movable with respect to the supporting apparatus between a first position and a second position, and a data connection apparatus that can be generally stated as including a first component and a second component, the first component being situated on one of the supporting apparatus and the electrical component, the first component can be generally stated as including a support and a circuit board, the circuit board being situated on the support, the circuit board having an exterior surface and further having a plurality of pads that are electrically conductive and are situated on the exterior surface, and the second component being situated on the other of the supporting apparatus and the electrical component, the second component can be generally stated as including a housing and a plurality of electrical contacts, the plurality of electrical contacts being situated on the housing, the housing having a receptacle which, in the first position, receives therein at least a portion of the circuit board with at least a subset of the electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts being engaged with and being electrically connected with at least a subset of the pads of the plurality of pads, the receptacle having the at least portion of the circuit board removed therefrom in the second position.

DESCRIPTION

An improved data connection apparatus4in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally inFIGS. 1 and 2. The data connection apparatus4is part of an improved combination6that is likewise in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept. The combination6can be said to include a supporting apparatus10and an electrical component12, with the electrical component12being movable with respect to the supporting apparatus10between a first position, such as is depicted generally inFIG. 2, and a second position, such as is depicted generally inFIG. 1. In the depicted exemplary embodiment of the combination6, the supporting apparatus10may be, for example and without limitation, a draw-out cassette, and the electrical component12may be, for example and without limitation, a circuit interrupter that is movable with respect to the exemplary cassette that forms the supporting apparatus10.

The data connection apparatus4can be said to include a first component16which, in the depicted exemplary embodiment, is situated on the electrical component12. The data connection apparatus4further includes a second component18which, in the depicted exemplary embodiment, is situated on the supporting apparatus10. It is further understood that the first component16is situated on the electrical component12and is movable with the electrical component12between the first and second positions that are depicted inFIGS. 2 and 1, respectively, by way of example. It is also understood that the combination6can be any of a wide variety of other types of devices other than draw-out cassettes and circuit interrupters that provide a movable component, such as the exemplary first component16, and a stationary component, such as the exemplary second component18, that make and break electrical connections depending upon the position of the movable component with respect to the stationary component.

As can be understood fromFIG. 1, the first component16can be said to include a support22that is situated on the electrical component12and to further include a circuit board24that is situated on the support22. The circuit board24includes an exterior surface28and a plurality of pads32that are situated on the exterior surface and that are electrically conductive. The circuit board24can be any of a wide variety of electrical boards that are relatively rigid, such as printed circuit boards and other boards. The exemplary first component16that is depicted inFIG. 1includes both the circuit board24and another circuit board that is identical to circuit board24but that is situated behind circuit board24and thus cannot be seen from the angle of the first component16that is depicted inFIG. 1. The pads32of the circuit board24and of the other circuit board that is not visible inFIG. 1are each electrically connected with a plurality of sockets that are indicated at the numeral34and that receive therein pins of electrical leads that are connectable with the circuit interrupter14.

As can further be seen inFIG. 1, the second component18can be said to include a housing36that is situated on the supporting apparatus10and that has a plurality of electrical contacts40situated thereon. The housing has a receptacle44formed therein. The electrical contacts40are, as a general matter, situated within the receptacle44, such as is depicted generally inFIGS. 3 and 4. As can further be seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, the housing36includes another receptacle48that is structured to receive therein the circuit board that is not visible fromFIG. 1but that is similar to the circuit board24. The second component18likewise includes a plurality of electrical contacts similar to the electrical contacts40and that are situated within the receptacle48. When the circuit board24is received in the receptacle44, the electrical contacts40are biased toward the circuit board24and are engaged with and form with the pads32a number of electrical connections, some of which are indicated at the numeral50inFIG. 3.

That is, the first component16, being disposed on the electrical component12, can be situated in a first position that is depicted generally inFIG. 2wherein the circuit board24is received in the receptacle44and the electrical contacts40form the electrical connections50with the pads32to thereby electrically connect together the first and second components16and18. This occurs in an installed position of the combination6which, as noted hereinbefore, is in the exemplary but non-limiting form of a circuit interrupter installed in a draw-out cassette, and which can be any of a wide variety of other types of electrical devices. The data connection apparatus4is movable between the first position ofFIG. 2and a second position ofFIG. 1wherein the circuit board24is removed from the receptacle44, thus breaking the electrical connections50that had been formed between the electrical contacts40and the pads32. This occurs when the electrical component12is partially or fully removed from the supporting apparatus10. Such movement between the first and second positions ofFIGS. 2 and 1, respectively, can be performed without a meaningful concern of damage to the data connection apparatus4since the circuit board24is itself relatively robust and is resistant to bending and breakage, which is advantageous. Moreover, the circuit board24and the housing36in the vicinity of the receptacle44both have relieved regions that facilitate self-alignment between the circuit board24and the receptacle44in order to facilitate reception of the circuit board24in the receptacle44and to facilitate the electrical connections50being formed therebetween. Further advantageously, the structures upon which the support22and the housing36are situated afford a certain amount of physical flexibility for the circuit board24and the housing36which further permits self-alignment therebetween.

As can be understood from the accompanying drawings, the housing36can be said to include a plurality of walls that are indicated at the numerals52A,52B,52C, and52D, which may be collectively or individually referred to herein with the numeral52, that are each situated adjacent the receptacle44. The walls52together form a mouth56of the receptacle44that is in the form of a widened mouth that comprises a relieved surface on each of the walls52in the vicinity of the mouth56. More specifically,FIG. 3depicts a relieved surface60A on the wall52A, and it can be understood fromFIG. 3that the relieved surface60A is a ramped insertion surface that is an interior surface of the receptacle48. Similarly,FIG. 4depicts the walls52B and52D each having a relieved surface indicated at the numerals60B and60D, respectively, that likewise are ramped insertion surfaces that are interior surfaces of the receptacle44. It is understood that the wall52C likewise has a relieved surface in the form of a ramped insertion surface that is an interior surface of the receptacle44and that is a mirror image of the relieved surface60A inFIG. 3.

The exemplary relieved surfaces60A,60B, and60D are described herein as being ramped insertion surfaces, meaning that they each are of flat surface that is oriented oblique to, for instance, an insertion direction that is indicated at the numeral64inFIG. 1. It is understood, however, that the various relieved surfaces could be of other configurations without departing from the spirit of the instant disclosure. For instance, the relieved surfaces could be of an arcuate profile, whether of fixed radius or varying radius. Furthermore, the relieved surfaces could be of a ramped profile but at angles other than what are depicted in the accompanying drawings with respect to the insertion direction64. Still alternatively, and by way of example, the relieved surfaces could be combinations of arcuate and ramped profiles, without limitation, and by way of example, and they need not all be of the same profile and rather could each be of different profiles depending upon the needs of the application. The widened mouth56that is afforded by the relieved surfaces60A,60B, and60D (and the relieved surface of the wall52C) together facilitate reception of the circuit board24in the receptacle44when the electrical component12is in the first position.

It can further be understood that the exterior surface28of the circuit board24actually is a plurality of surfaces that are generally indicated at the numeral78and that include an end surface68at the free end of the circuit board24, a pair of edge surfaces72A and72C, and a pair of main surfaces76B and76D. It is noted that the aforementioned plurality of surfaces78, i.e., the end surface68, the edge surfaces72A and72C, and the main surfaces76B and76D, are situated generally adjacent one another. Furthermore, it is noted that the pads32are situated on the main surfaces76B and76D but could be situated on other of the plurality of surfaces78depending upon the needs of the application.

The circuit board24can be said to include an end80opposite the support22that is in the form of a narrowed end that comprises a number of relieved regions that are situated adjacent at least a subset of the surfaces among the plurality of surfaces78. For instance, the number of relieved regions can be indicated at the numeral84and can be said to be situated generally at the free end of the circuit board24opposite the support22and generally in the vicinity of the end surface68. The depicted exemplary embodiment, the relieved regions84can be said to include a plurality of exemplary ramped insertion regions that are in the exemplary form of angled surfaces that are indicated at the numerals86A,86B,86C, and86D, and which may be collectively or individually referred to herein with the numeral86. The ramped insertion regions86A and86C are situated adjacent the edge surfaces72A and72C, respectively. In a like fashion, the ramped insertion regions86B and86D are situated adjacent the main surfaces76B and76D, respectively.

While the relieved regions84are each depicted in the exemplary form of the angled surfaces represented by the ramped insertion regions86, it is understood that the relieved regions84could alternatively be of arcuate profiles, ramped profiles of different angles, or combinations thereof, without departing from the spirit of the instant disclosure. Moreover, the relieved regions84need not all be of the same profile. It thus can be understood that the ramped insertion regions86that are the exemplary form of the relieved regions84that are at the narrowed end of the circuit board24facilitate insertion of the circuit board24into the receptacle44, and such insertion is further aided by the relieved surfaces of the widened mouth56of the receptacle44.

It is additionally understood that the reception of the circuit board24in the receptacle44is further aided by flexibility that inherently exists in the first and second components16and18. For instance,FIGS. 3 and 4depict the support22of the first component16being mounted to a platform that is indicated at the numeral83.FIG. 3depicts at the numeral88an angular departure between the support22and the platform83in a first plane.FIG. 4similarly depicts at the numeral90another angular departure between the support22and the platform83in a different plane, orthogonal to the plane ofFIG. 3. Such angles88and90are greatly exaggerated and are intended to demonstrate and exemplify that the circuit board24is situated on the electrical component12with at least a nominal level of flexibility that enables the circuit board24to pivot slightly when it is being received in the receptacle44. While the angles88and90depict flexibility between the circuit board24and the platform83, it is understood that the angles88and90are more specifically intended to depict elastic deformation of all structures between the electrical component12and the circuit board24that enable such pivoting movement of the circuit board24. Furthermore, it is understood that the housing36is situated on a base that is indicated at the numeral85, and it is understood that the base85likewise affords to the housing36a similar level of flexibility such that the housing36is movable by at least a nominal amount in a number of planes with respect to the supporting apparatus10when the circuit board24is being received in the receptacle44.

The flexibility of the circuit board24with respect to the electrical component12and the flexibility of the housing36with regard to the supporting apparatus10together further facilitate reception of the circuit board24in the receptacle44without damage to either such component due to the slight movement of such components with respect to the supporting apparatus10and the electrical component12when the first component16is moved along the insertion direction64and is received in the mouth56. Such flexibility promote self-alignment between the circuit board24and the housing36which contributes to the avoidance of damage to the data connection apparatus4when the combination6is moving between its removed position ofFIG. 1and its installed position ofFIG. 2.

As can be understood fromFIG. 4, the electrical contacts44are arranged in sets of opposed pairs, with one opposed pair of the electrical contacts40being depicted inFIG. 4at the numerals92A and92B. The opposed pair92A and92B of the electrical contacts40are biased toward one another when the circuit board24is received in the receptacle44. The opposed pair of electrical contacts40furthermore are engaged with a pair of the pads32and are electrically connected therewith when the circuit board24is received in the receptacle44. Such arrangement of the electrical contacts40in the sets of opposed pairs facilitates formations of the electrical connections50between the electrical contacts40and the pads32of the circuit board24when the circuit board24is received in the receptacle44.

As can be understood fromFIG. 5, the pads32are spaced apart from one another by a spacing dimension that is indicated at the numeral94inFIG. 5as measured along a direction96. It can also be seen fromFIG. 5that the pads32are of a physical dimension along the direction96, with the dimension of the pad32being indicated at the numeral98. It can be seen that the dimension of the pad98is greater than the dimension of the space94therebetween. In fact, the pad dimension98is several times the size of the spacing94between the pads32. The result is a very dense concentration of the pads32in a relatively small area, it being reiterated that pads32are formed on both of the main surfaces76B and76D in the depicted exemplary embodiment, and that the pads32are formed both on the circuit board24as well as the additional circuit board that is received in the receptacle48but that is not shown inFIG. 1.

The overall result is a large number of the electrical connections50, as shown inFIG. 3, being formed between the first and second components16and18in the first position of the data connection apparatus4, such as is depicted generally inFIG. 2. As noted hereinbefore, the relieved surfaces60and the relieved regions84facilitate reception of the circuit board24in the receptacle44, and such reception is aided by the at least nominal flexibility of the circuit board24and the receptacle44with respect to the movable and stationary parts12and10, respectively. The result is that the data connection apparatus4is robust and is capable of numerous receptions and removals of the circuit board24in the receptacle44to make and break the electrical connections50between, for instance, the circuit interrupter14and the combination6, by way of example. It is further noted that the relatively tight spacing of the pads32advantageously promotes control of common mode noise and enables the pads32and the electrical contacts40to mimic a proper transmission line. It is understood that a proper transmission line has an impedance that appears like 100 Ohms to an AC signal regardless of what the actual circuit trace resistance value is. Such proper transmission line behavior advantageously enables digital pulses to be communicated across the data connection apparatus4at extremely high speeds, such as at megabit speeds, which is highly advantageous. Other advantages will be apparent.