Abstract:
A mechanism is provided for physically protecting an interface on an electronic device having first and second protrusions, each having a surface. The mechanism includes first and second clamping mechanisms, a hinge assembly and a cover plate. Each clamping mechanism has a pair of blocks that are detachably fastenable together. As assembled along the protrusion surface of the device, the blocks form a channel that rigidly engages that surface. The hinge assembly forms a pivotable joint and can be removably attached to the first clamping mechanism to orient the pivotable joint substantially parallel to the interface. The cover plate can be removably attached to the hinge assembly for disposal to swing on the pivotable joint between closed and open positions. In the closed position, the cover plate securely connects to at least the second clamping mechanism.

Description:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     The invention described was made in the performance of official duties by one or more employees of the Department of the Navy, and thus, the invention herein may be manufactured, used or licensed by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates generally to a mountable cover plate. In particular, the invention relates to a protective plate for sensitive electronic interfaces. The plate can be readily installed onto conventional attachments for the interface components, and enable convenient access as desired. 
     Infantry assigned to patrol hostile territory can encounter an improvised explosive device (IED) disposed to cause damage and injury to personnel and equipment. Efforts to detect and disable such irregular weapons include projects under the Counter Remote-controlled IED Electronic Warfare (CREW) office. 
     Various military vehicles used by the United States armed forces employ a CREW Vehicular Receiver/Jammer (CVRJ) to aid troops in the field to defeat the IED. The CVRJ has electronic components connected to auxiliary equipment by cables. The CVRJ is commonly located in the vicinity of a vehicle&#39;s gunner and/or other troops. 
     SUMMARY 
     Conventional operations using the CVRJ in a military vehicle yield disadvantages addressed by various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In particular, a mechanism is provided for physically protecting an interface on an electronic device that includes first and second protrusions, each having a surface. The mechanism includes first and second clamping mechanisms, a hinge assembly, and a cover plate. Each of these components is attachable and detachable from one another. 
     Each clamping mechanism has a pair of blocks that are detachably fastenable together. As assembled along the protrusion surface of the device, the blocks form a channel that rigidly engages that surface. The hinge assembly forms a pivotable joint and can be removably attached to the first clamping mechanism to orient the pivotable joint substantially parallel to the interface. 
     The cover plate can be removably attached to the hinge assembly for disposal to swing on the pivotable joint between closed and open positions. In the closed position, the cover plate securely connects to at least the second clamping mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and various other features and aspects of various exemplary embodiments will be readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like or similar numbers are used throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric assembled view of a Protective Cover Assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric exploded view of components for the Protective Cover Assembly; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are isometric views of a CVRJ with the handle mounts; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric detail view of the CVRJ with the Protective Cover Assembly installed and open; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the CVRJ with the Protective Cover Assembly installed and closed; 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view of the CVRJ with the Protective Cover Assembly installed and closed; and 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the CVRJ with the Protective Cover Assembly installed and open. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized, and logical, mechanical, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The proximity of the CREW Vehicular Receiver/Jammer (CVRJ) to military personnel under field conditions renders the cable connections vulnerable to physical interaction and consequent damage. The CVRJ includes an interface at its front with 90° adapters, thereby providing access for maintenance, program instruction and switch initialization. Embodiments of the protective cover are currently in production and have been delivered to the field for operational use to provide protection to the cable and CVRJ interfaces. An initial run of five-hundred units have already been fabricated, and more than three-thousand are planned for production. 
     The CVRJ Protective Cover Assembly is designed to isolate the front of the CVRJ interfaces from human interference. The mountable cover protects the cables and other features on the front of the CVRJ from being damaged or destroyed by the occupants of the vehicle in which the CVRJ is disposed. 
       FIG. 1  shows an isometric assembly view  100  of a Protective Cover Assembly for the CVRJ. A cover plate  110  provides physical protection for CVRJ interface components. The obverse front of the plate  110  can be struck to absorb such kinetic impact and protect the components obscured thereby. The plate  110  includes an elongated orifice  115  that serves as a window to a select portion of the components for access while the Protective Cover Assembly remains closed. 
     The Protective Cover Assembly further includes a pair of handle clamps  120  that form a channel  125 , a hinge mechanism  130  and a thumb-screw  140 . The handle clamps  120  flank the longitudinal ends on the reverse aft of the plate  110  that faces the components. The channel  125  can have a circular cross-section (e.g., Ø½″ or 0.5 inch diameter) or alternate configuration, as preferred to rigidly engage (i.e., frictionally fasten to) a corresponding handle (or similar protrusion) of the CVRJ or associated device. The hinge mechanism  130  pivotably connects the plate  110  to one of the clamps  120 . In the configuration illustrated, the plate  110  has a longitudinal length between the clamps  120  that exceeds the plate&#39;s width. Also in the arrangement described, the plate  110  can be described as having a pivot side (shown as port) and a swing side (shown as starboard). The thumb-screw  140  could also be replaced with a variety of fasteners such as quarter-turn or push-to-lock style clamps. For the configuration depicted herein, the cover assembly  100  weighs ˜4 lbm incorporating the plate  110  having dimensions of 12.5″×6″×½″ composed of T6-6061 aluminum. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric exploded view  200  of components for the Protective Cover Assembly. The plate  110  includes three round orifices  210 . A single orifice on the swing (starboard) side corresponds to a washer  215 . The handle clamps  120  correspond to a mount assembly  220 , which includes an aft block  222  and a fore block  224 , shown on the swing side. On the pivot (port) sides, the corresponding mount assembly  220  includes aft and fore blocks  222 ′,  224 ′ that for fabrication purposes can be identical except for select round orifices. The thumb-screw  140  inserts into a single orifice on the swing (starboard) side and through the washer  215  to screw into a center threaded orifice  225  within the fore block  224 . The aft and fore blocks  222 ,  224  can be held together near their corners by screws  226  that penetrate through corresponding orifices  228 . 
     The hinge mechanism  130  corresponds to a hinge assembly  230 , which includes a fore arm  232  and a lateral arm  234  sharing an edge to form a hinge joint. The arms at the edge join by annular segments that interlink with each other to form a concatenated pivoting joint  236  held by an internal rod or pin longitudinally aligned with the pivot axis. The fore arm  232  is fastened to the plate  110  at swing side orifices  210  by short screws  238 . Additional short screws  238  fasten the lateral arm  234  to the (pivot) fore block  222 ′. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the screws  226  and  238  inserted into corresponding threaded orifices represent only an exemplary instrument for attachment and are not limiting. Other mechanisms, such as latches and adhesive can substitute for screws. 
     The configuration described enables the plate  110  to be swung on a vertical pivot axis. The pivot side can correspond to port as shown, or alternatively to starboard, with the thumb-screw  140  engaging on at port. Artisans of ordinary skill will also recognize that the hinge mechanism  130  can alternatively be distributed between both port and starboard clamps  120  to enable the plate  110  to be swung upward or downward from a horizontal pivot axis. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show isometric views  300  of a CVRJ unit  310  with the handle mounts. The CVRJ unit  310  includes an electronics interface  320  with cable connectors, switches and indicators. A pair of handles  330  extends from the unit  310 , laterally flanking the interface  320 .  FIG. 3A  shows the aft blocks  224 ,  224 ′, while  FIG. 3B  also features the fore blocks  222 ,  222 ′ as attached to the handles  330 . The unit  310  can be disposed on a support platform  340 , separated by shock-absorbing spring legs  350  there-between. In the configuration shown, the interface  320  includes a triplet of LED indicators  360  for monitoring status of the CVRJ electronics. The CVRJ unit  310  weighs ˜70 lbm, and the handles  330  are separated by about ˜10.5″. Artisans of ordinary skill will recognize that these parameters are exemplary only, and do not limit the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  provides an isometric detail view  400  of the CVRJ with the Protective Cover Assembly installed and open. The handle  330  on the port side is shown with the fore and aft blocks  222 ′,  224 ′ attached thereto (secured by the screws  226 ). The hinge mechanism  130  fastens at the lateral arm  234  to the fore block  222 ′ of the (port) handle clamp  120  and at the fore arm  232  to the plate  110  by screws  238 . The joint  236  aligns substantially parallel to the handle  330  along the portion enveloped by the channel  125  of the clamp  120 . The assembly of the clamp  120  connected to the handle  330  and the hinge  130  attached thereto represents the port side assembly  410 . The joint  236  forms a pivot axis substantially parallel to the interface  320 , shown in  FIG. 4  as being vertical, and extending forward thereof, so that an offset distance separates the plate  110  and the interface  320 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric view  500  of the CVRJ with the Protective Cover Assembly installed and closed. The hinge  130  swings the plate  110  to be substantially parallel with the interface  320 , separated by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the fore blocks  222 ,  222 ′. This separation can be customized depending on the cable thickness and their minimum radius of curvature to securely plug the cables into their corresponding connectors on the interface  320 . For the cover assembly configuration depicted in the closed position, the plate  110  has a separation distance from the interface  320  of ˜3″. 
     The plate  110  can be secured by the thumb-screw  140  to the swing side clamp  120 . The window  115  provides visual access to a portion of the interface  320 .  FIG. 6  shows an elevation view  600  of the CVRJ with the Protective Cover Assembly installed and closed. The indicators  360  can be visually observed through the window  115 , as the unit  310  rests on the platform  340  suspended on its legs  350 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an isometric view  700  of the CVRJ with the Protective Cover Assembly installed and open. Upon releasing the thumb-screw  140 , the plate  110  can be swung open on the hinge mechanism  130 , thereby controllably exposing the entire interface  320 , including the indicators  360 , as intended. 
     The Protective Cover Assembly for the CVRJ is designed for permanent or long-term installation, with a hinged cover plate  110  to provide quick access to the cables and switches on the interface  320  at the front of the unit  310 . The clamps  120  that attach the Protective Cover Assembly are removable, enabling the components to be detached and stored. The Protective Cover Assembly is first attached to the CVRJ unit  310  by installing the clamps  120  onto the handles  330 . The plate  110  is then attached to the pivot side clamp using the hinge mechanism  130 , and to enable swinging freely. The cover plate  110  is closed using a thumb-screw  140  through the plate  110  and into the swing side clamp  120 . The Protective Cover Assembly remains mounted to the CVRJ unit  310  and the cover plate  110  opened when access is required, and closed when traveling. The Protective Cover Assembly can similarly be detached from the unit  310  by removing the screws  238  that secure the hinge mechanism  130  to the pivot side clamp  120 , and to detach both clamps  120  from their respective handles  330 . 
     Because the CVRJ is shock mounted, a cover that protects the cables must effectively either encase the entire unit (i.e., including the platform  340 ), or attach only to the shock-mounted portion (i.e., above the legs  350 ). The design of the Protective Cover Assembly enables attachment onto the CVRJ with no modifications to the unit  310 . This facilitates expedient installation in any vehicle that is equipped with CVRJ. The mounting method can also be adapted to other applications of equipment having similar environmental and operational requirements as the CVRJ. This also permits access to the front of the CVRJ without the need of tools to remove the entire assembly. 
     The CVRJ Protective Cover Assembly can be made from a variety materials including but not limited to aluminum, steel, and stainless steel depending on field requirements and material availability. The cover plate  110  can be modified to accommodate any customization alterations, such as in area coverage, shape, location and configuration of window  115 , etc, without departing from the inventive concept described in the above embodiments. 
     While certain features of the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the embodiments.