Patent GB-1210701-A (GB)
Title: Electronic apparatus panel wiring arrangements
IPC: H05K7/18
Filed: 1968-01-08
Abstract: 1,210,701. Mounting electrical equipment. RELIANCE ELECTRIC CO. 8 Jan., 1968 [18 April, 1967], No. 1119/68. Heading H1R. [Also in Division H2] In a computer assembly electrical distribution from a patchboard to the computer circuits is made via a plurality of connection assemblies arranged perpendicular to the patchboard and each of which comprises a plurality of printed circuit boards sandwiched rigidly together to form a unit and one board of which is provided along one edge with connectors for co-operating with the patchboard the opposite edge having connectors connecting with the computer circuits. A patchbay 12 into which a patchboard is plugged is mounted on the front of a computer console, Figs. 1, 2 (not shown) and Fig. 3 and two groups of connection assemblies 50, 51 arranged in rows are plugged into columns of contacts on the patchbay 12 by edge connectors as well as printed circuit connectors arranged in rows 60 mounted just below a bussing raceway 66 and 68. The rear edge assembly 50, 51 carries female printed circuit connectors 86, 88 into which circuit cards carrying components are plugged, these circuit cards being carried in racks 90 which are each mounted behind two connector assemblies 50. A capacitor housing 100 may in turn be mounted and connected to two racks 90. Racks 90.-Each rack 90, Fig. 7 and Fig. 7a (not shown) comprises a pair of spaced apart metal sheets 91, 92 having a plurality of H- shaped horizontally extending guide bars 94 held together by spacers 88. Slots 96 in adjacent pairs of guide bars on each side of the rack hold the edges of printed circuit cards 87 which each have a smaller circuit card 87a mounted thereon. The front edges of both cards engage the connectors 86 on the corresponding connector assembly 50, 51. The rear edges of one or more cards protrude beyond the rack 90 and the conductors at the edge engage ribbon connectors 104, Fig. 3, on the front face of capacitor housing 100 bolted at 102 to the racks 90. Circuit connection assembly 50, 51.-Each assembly Figs. 5, 6 comprises an outer shield plate 110, printed circuit card 122, centre shield plate 112, printed circuit card 125 and outer shield plate 114. The shield plates 110, 112, 114 are made of metal or metal coated plastic and the inner faces of plates 110, 114 are provided with milled slots 130 into which contacts of a respective row of patchbay 12 contacts protrude and engage box contacts 132, 133 on cards 122, 125. Centre plate 112 is provided on each side with slots 134 which align with the slots in plates 110, 114 to provide each box contact with shielding. Outer printed cards 121, 126 are affixed by screws 129 to the outer shield plates 110, 114 and spaced by strips 111 from cards 122, 125 which carry conductors. A further pair of printed circuit cards 123, 124 are mounted as shown. Cards 122 and 123 at their rear have three dual ribbon connectors having two rows of twenty two contacts each and a terminal bar extending from each connector contact, which bars are soldered to conductors on cards 122, 125. Card 126 has similar connectors at its rear. Extra screening may be obtained by using ground conductor areas 142 on alternate layers of the sandwich. Card 124 functions as a spacer, stiffener and insulator and carries no conductors. In a second embodiment Figs. 8, 8b a connector assembly 150 acts as the patchbay assembly and is mounted between braces 151, 152 on the front of a computer housing. Top and bottom front edge portions 154, 155 plug into printed circuit ribbon connectors 157, 158 and a plurality of connectors 159 mounted on the rear edge of the assembly receive printed circuit networks not shown. The assembly 150 includes a plurality of shield pieces 162, 164, printed circuit boards 166, 168 and a further shield plate 170, cards 166, 168 being provided with leaf-spring electrical contacts 174. Printed conductors on the circuit boards connect each contact 174 with an eyelet 176 and further conductors lead rearwardly from the eyelets. A plug board may be fitted on to the front of a plurality of the assemblies 150.