DE20119190U1 - Electronics chassis for mounting and holding electronic circuit boards - Google Patents

Description

Götz & Küchler .·/,. ',]' * _# · _# &iacgr; * I * · 27.11.01

Patent attorneys *** *** ·· ···

B002/222 B DE/28-mt

Electronic chassis for mounting and holding electronic circuit boards

The invention relates to an electronic chassis for mounting and holding electronic circuit boards, cards or other flat carrier plates or cards, wherein a chassis base plate or wall is made of metal and is penetrated by one or more recesses or openings. Furthermore, the chassis base plate is provided with one or more structurally integrated plastic holding elements which protrude from a surface of the wall and each have a carrier plate or other components

&iacgr;&ogr; are assigned.

From DE 36 40 273 A1 it is known to attach a drive assembly with electric motor and gearbox to a mounting plate. Axle and shaft bearing sets as well as a bearing plate of the electric motor are injection molded onto this, in particular using outsert technology.

According to DE 196 35 049 A1, a holding part made of plastic forms the basis for functional parts on a metal carrier plate. This holding part is intended for use in a drive or in a magnetic tape cassette device.

The holding parts are injected into openings using outsert molding technology. A holding web of the holding part, designed in the form of a hollow cylinder, passes through the opening in the metal carrier plate and is supported on both surface sides radially to the side of the opening by means of holding pieces. Functional parts such as bearings, axles, pins, etc. can be attached to the holding web, designed as a hollow cylinder. These can be clamped, clicked or glued into a holding web of the holding part that is attached immovably. It is also proposed to attach the functional part to the holding part by welding.

DE 42 26 016 A1 discloses a chassis with fastening elements of the type mentioned above that are permanently connected to the chassis. The fastening elements serve to store, hold and fasten electrical and/or mechanical components. It is proposed to use a metal plate of the chassis as one of the boundary surfaces of a spray channel.

Götz & Küchler .!.. ..· _# . '.2 * I \ ; 27.11.01

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B002/222 B DE/28-mt

a plastic injection molding arrangement (outsert technique). The fastening elements produced in one operation are partially connected to one another via injection molding webs resting on the metal plate of the chassis and are rigidly and permanently attached to the metal plate by injection molding material passing through recesses in the metal plate. The fastening elements are designed in such a way that the components to be attached to the chassis can be inserted or snapped into the fastening elements by means of assembly devices and the components are locked into their fastening device by a snap lock or snap lock of the fastening elements.

&iacgr;&ogr; are held and stored. However, the components can only be removed from the fastening elements with great difficulty, if at all, because the locking or snap fasteners are designed from the outset to hold the components permanently due to the specific locking and snap hooks.

The invention is based on the object of further developing an electronic chassis for mounting and holding electronic and mechanical components in such a way that they can be easily assembled and disassembled. Furthermore, the chassis should be particularly suitable for mounting and holding flat components and devices, such as printed circuit boards or carrier boards or cards.

To solve this problem, in an electronics chassis with the features mentioned at the outset, it is proposed according to the invention that at least one of the mounting elements is designed as a rotary latch with one or more latch parts and is rotatably mounted and anchored in or on an area of the chassis wall that borders on at least one of the recesses, and the latch part or parts protrude transversely from a pivot pin that forms a rotation axis of the rotary latch and is rotatably anchored in the wall with such a length that the latch part or parts overlap or cover the nearest recess for engaging behind the component when the pivot pin is in the corresponding rotational position.

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Götz & Küchler ......· _# j _# .3 I *. ; 27.11.01

Patent Attorneys ··

B002/222 B DE/28-mt

The component can then be inserted into the recess, arranged and secured using known fastening elements. To fix or lock it in place, the rotary latches can be manually turned so that the protruding latch part(s) protrude into the area of the recess or overlap it, thereby engaging behind the component for locking. To disassemble, this assembly process simply needs to be reversed, i.e. the rotary latches need to be manually turned into a position in which the protruding latch parts no longer overlap the recesses and thus no longer get in the way of a disassembly or pulling-out movement.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention relates to a carrier card to be held, which has a front plate running transversely to the base plane of the plate on its front edge. This can serve as a stop when inserted into the electronics chassis and as a holding and receiving frame for various connection elements (plug connectors, spring strips, sockets, etc.) or display elements (LEDs, displays) or even for switches. The advantageous embodiment of the invention in this regard consists in the fact that the one or more recesses for inserting the carrier plates are dimensioned with struts adjacent to the recesses so that the latter form a stop or resistance against the front plate when the carrier plate is inserted, and the rotary latch is arranged in or on this strut to grip behind the front plate on the side facing away from the stop. By turning the rotary latch, its locking part can be adjusted to the closest surface of the front plate of the carrier card, so that the latter is prevented from being pulled out or falling out by the locking part. In this design, the locking part is arranged on the outside or front side of the chassis.

Alternatively, based on the invention, the locking part(s) can also be arranged on an inner side of the chassis that faces away from the outer or front side of the chassis. This design is suitable when components are to be attached to the electronics chassis without being pushed through a recess. It is expedient if the locking part(s) form an L-shaped and thus space-saving course with the associated pivot pin.

Götz&Küchler .'... ..* · &Idigr;4 ^&bgr; JJJ 27.11.01

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&Bgr;002/222 B DE/28-mt

The handling and user-friendliness as well as the speed of assembly are enhanced if, according to an inventive design, the pivot pin is provided with an adjustment or transverse groove on its front side (accessible from the outside) for the engagement of a turning tool, for example a screwdriver. This transverse groove (transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotary latch) can then also serve as a marking for the rotary position of the rotary latch. The same applies if an eccentric elevation or depression is formed on the pivot pin front side. The engagement of a turning tool is also possible if the design

Ø of polygonal elevations or depressions on the front side of the pivot pin is possible.

According to another embodiment of the invention - for the optical representation of the rotational position of the rotary latch - the pivot pin is provided on its long side or its cylindrically curved outer casing with a marking projection which projects or runs transversely to the axis of rotation.

In order to create a secure and easily mountable holder for electronic circuit boards or other flat carrier boards, it is proposed in the chassis with the features mentioned at the beginning according to an alternative embodiment of the general inventive idea to design at least two of the mounting elements with opposing receiving grooves, the inner widths of which correspond to the thickness of the circuit boards. In particular, if, according to a special embodiment of this inventive idea, the at least two mounting elements are designed as elongated receiving or insertion rails with the receiving grooves on their long sides, secure guidance and simultaneous mounting can be ensured when inserting circuit boards. It is expedient if the insertion rails are attached with one end face to the wall, for example using the outsert technique mentioned.

In the case of the above-mentioned design of struts delimiting a plurality of recesses, the invention provides the particularly advantageous embodiment that the mounting element for its fastening

Götz&Küchler ·Î.. ,.'.; ·5 * III 27.11.01

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&Bgr;002/222 B DE/28-mt

a strut. This can be achieved by injecting plastically deformable plastic around the strut and then allowing it to harden.

The invention is not limited to the design explained so far. At least one of the mounting elements can additionally or alternatively be designed as a linearly movable sliding bolt. This means that a linear sliding movement of bolt parts, slidably guided in recesses in the base plate that form a sliding track, is also within the scope of the invention.

Further details, features, advantages and effects based on the invention emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the drawings. These show in:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the outside or front side of a

Electronic chassis designed as a mounting frame according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the front of the chassis according to Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view of a narrow side of the chassis according to Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the rear side of the chassis facing away from the front side according to Figure 2,

Figure 5 shows a representation of the single-turn lock attached to the chassis according to Figures 1-4 using the outsert technique in several views,

Figure 6 shows a representation of the double rotary latch mounted in the chassis according to Figures 1-4 using the outsert technique in several views,

Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of a single-turn lock used in the chassis according to Figures 1-4 in a sectional view,

Götz&Küchler .J,. ,.· ' · ',6*1 I ; 27.11.01

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B002/222 B DE/28-mt

Figure 8 shows in (exploded) exploded view the assembly of regulator, control circuit boards and additional boards on the chassis according to the invention according to Figures 1-4,

Figure 9 is a perspective (exploded) exploded view

of the completely assembled chassis according to the invention and an associated housing (drawn broken away) and

Figure 10 shows in perspective the operation of the rotary latch based on detail Y from Figure 10,

Figure 11 shows a top view of the operation of the single-turn latch according to Figure 7.

According to Figure 1, the chassis that can be used as a mounting frame is realized with a metal base plate 1, which is provided on its front side 2 with an information carrier 3 with letters or the like. A large number of recesses 4 are punched out, cut out or the like from the base plate 1 and are limited by remaining cross struts 5 and longitudinal struts 6. The base plate 1 or the corresponding chassis has an overall elongated, rectangular basic shape.

According to Figures 1 and 2, a large number of mounting elements 7 are expediently molded onto the front side 2 (as well as onto the rear side shown in Figure 4) using the outsert molding technique known per se. The mounting elements 7 can be designed to perform a wide variety of functions. For example, ring snaps 8 made of plastic are attached to the front side 2. Single rotary latches 9, double rotary latches 10 and card receiving rails 11 are molded onto or into the cross struts 5. A single rotary latch 9a is also attached to the inner edge of an outer longitudinal strut 6a. In Figures 1 and 2, the single and double rotary latches 9, 9a, 10 are shown throughout in their locking rotational position: their respective arched projecting latch parts 12 cover or overlap the respective recesses 4.

Götz & Küchler ···· .,· _# j _# ,jj · &idigr;&idigr; 27.11.01

Patent attorneys ** *· ···

B002/222 B DE/28-mt

According to Figures 1 and 3, the support rails 11 have an elongated shape and protrude vertically from the rear side 18 of the base plate. According to Figures 1, 2 and 4, support rails 11 arranged in pairs opposite one another are designed on their opposite long sides with support grooves 13 for inserting carrier cards 25 with electronic components. According to the illustrated embodiment, the support rails 11 are attached exclusively to cross struts 5. The support rails 11a arranged on the front side are attached to the outer cross struts

&iacgr;&ogr; 5a and each have only a single, inward-facing receiving groove 13. The other receiving rails 11 are different; they are each formed with receiving grooves 13 on both sides, i.e. each with two receiving grooves 13 on their parallel sides. The inner width 14 of the receiving grooves 13 is dimensioned to accommodate the carrier cards 25 (see e.g. Figure 8) according to their thickness. To attach them, the receiving rails 11, 11a are injection-molded onto the respective cross struts 5, 5a in such a way that the front ends of the receiving rails encompass or enclose the cross struts with plastic material. The double rotary latches 10 already mentioned are always in the immediate vicinity or neighborhood of receiving rails 11 with receiving grooves 13 on both sides, likewise each attached to the common cross strut 5. When rotated into a position transverse to the cross strut 5, the locking parts 12 cover or overlap the respective recess 4 provided for inserting an electronic card. The single rotary locking latches 9a with only one locking part 12 instead of two control parts are arranged only on the two front cross struts 5a, analogous to the receiving rails 11a which only have a receiving groove 13 on one side. On the middle longitudinal strut 6 in the area where it meets a cross strut 5 there is also a single rotary locking latch 9 with only a single, curved locking part 12.

According to Figure 5, a single rotary latch is realized with a rotary pin 15, which is designed with a mushroom-like extension 16 on its foot-side front end. The latter, together with an opposite, axially inwardly offset ring edge 17, has the function of holding the rotary latch within a hole in the

Götz&Küchler .J., ,,· · .8'JI; 27.11.01

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Base plate 1 is to be fixed axially. For this purpose, the mushroom-shaped extension 16 on the foot side engages behind the rear side 18 of the base plate (see Figure 3) and the ring edge 17 engages behind the front side 2. The tapered area 19 remaining between the ring edge 17 and the extension 16 forms, together with a surrounding hole in the base plate 1, a pivot bearing within which the pivot pin 15 with its tapered area 19 can be adjusted slidingly about the axis of rotation 20. In the head-side end of the pivot pin 15 closest to the arched locking part 12, an adjustment groove 21 is formed running transversely to the axis of rotation 20. Using a hand tool,

A screwdriver, for example, can be inserted into this adjustment groove 21 in order to rotate the rotary latch about the axis 20. The free end 22 of the arcuate latch part 12 is provided to rest on a surface of an electronic card held in receiving grooves 13 of the receiving rails 11, preferably on a transversely mounted front plate 128 thereof (cf. Fig. 8), when the rotary latch is in the corresponding rotational position, and thus to lock it.

The statements relating to Figure 5 apply accordingly to the double rotary latch shown in Figure 6, as can be seen from the corresponding reference numbers. The adjustment groove 21 is arranged here between two arcuate latch parts 12 which project diametrically opposite one another with respect to the rotation axis 20.

According to Figure 7, a special single rotary latch 23 is mounted in the base plate 1 so close to a nearest recess 4 that it can slide around the axis 20 so that its rear latch part 24 can cover the recess 4. In a space-saving design, the latch part 24 is attached to it at right angles to form an L-like structure together with the pivot pin 15 of the special rotary latch 23. The head end of the pivot pin 15 is provided with an adjustment groove 21 running transversely to the axis of rotation 20, similar to the rotary latches 9, 10 described above. The rotatability is again realized via a sliding bearing on the pivot pin 15 in combination with the adjacent bore walls of the base plate 1. The pivot pin 15 again has a tapered area 19 for axial fixing.

Götz&Küchler *U, /,* * .·. .;9 * II f 27.11.01

Patent attorneys

B002/222 B DE/28-mt

According to Figure 8, the chassis with its specifically equipped base plate 1 is used to hold individual carrier cards 25 with various electronic components (regulators, controls, etc.). For holding and assembly, the carrier cards 25 are pushed with their long side edges 26 into the receiving grooves 13 of the receiving rails 11, 11a. The rotary latches 9, 9a, 10 are used to lock the carrier cards 25 in the insertion direction 27 by engaging behind the front panels 28 of the carrier cards 25 with their latch parts 12 after they have been pushed in or completely. For this purpose, the front panels 28 are attached to a front edge on the rear in the insertion direction 27, running transversely to the base plane of the carrier card 25.

According to Figures 9 and 10, the single rotary latches 9 and double rotary latches 10 are rotated so that their respective latch parts 12 hold the three front panels 28a, 28b, 28c shown in Figure 10 in the recesses of the chassis according to the invention. According to Figure 9, the chassis together with the inserted carrier cards 25 forms a module cassette 29 which can be inserted into a power unit housing 30 designed to accommodate it (insertion direction 31).

According to Figure 11, the assembly cassette 29 with the chassis according to the invention, which forms the front side, can be clamped in the housing 30 by turning the special single rotary latch 23 from Figure 7 from the "unlocked" position to the "locked" position. The associated L-latch part 24 is moved out of the area overlapping the recess 4 and, in the course of a 90° rotation, for example, is brought into a position for engaging behind a counter-latch part in the housing 30 (not shown). This allows the assembly cassette 29 to be fixed or locked in the housing 30.

Götz & Küchler .J«, ,,· · &Idigr;10* j JJ 27.11.01

Patent attorneys B002/222 B DE/28-mt

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List of reference symbols

1 Base plate 2 Front 3 Information carrier 4 Recess 5.5a Cross brace 6, 6a Longitudinal strut 7 Mounting element 8th Ring snap 9.9a Single-turn latch 10 Double turn latch 11, 11a Card holder rail 12 arched locking part 13 Receiving groove 14 Inside width 15 Pivot 16 fungal enlargement 17 Ring edge 18 back 19 rejuvenated area 20 Rotation axis 21 Adjustment groove 22 free end 23 special single-turning gate 24 L-bar element 25 Carrier card 26 Longitudinal edges 27 Insertion direction 28 Front panels 29 Assembly cassette 30 Power unit housing 31 Insertion direction * * * ****·· ··· ··*

Götz & Küchler

Patent attorneys B002/222 B DE/28-mt

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Claims (14)

1. Electronic chassis for mounting and holding electronic circuit boards or other flat carrier cards ( 25 ), with a chassis base plate ( 1 ) made of metal, which is penetrated by one or more recesses ( 4 ) and has one or more structurally integrated holding elements ( 7 ) made of plastic, each associated with a carrier card ( 25 ) or other components ( 28 , 30 ), which protrude from a surface of the chassis base plate ( 1 ), characterized in that at least one of the holding elements ( 7 ) is designed as a rotary latch ( 9 , 9a , 10 , 23 ) with one or more latch parts ( 12 , 24 ) and is rotatably mounted and anchored in or on a region of the chassis base plate ( 1 ) which adjoins at least one of the recesses ( 4 ), and the latch part or parts ( 12 ) are connected by a rotary axis ( 20 ) of the rotary latch ( 9 , 9 a, 10 , 23 ) and rotatably anchored in the chassis base plate ( 1 ), protrude transversely with such a length that the latch part or parts ( 12 , 24 ) overlap or cover the nearest recess ( 4 ) for engaging behind the component ( 30 ) when the rotary latch ( 15 ) is in the corresponding rotational position. 2. Chassis according to claim 1, wherein the carrier card ( 25 ) to be held has a front plate ( 28 ) running transversely to the card plane on one end edge, characterized in that the one or more recesses ( 4 ) for inserting the carrier cards ( 25 ) are dimensioned to form struts ( 5 , 5a , 6 , 6a ) adjacent to the recesses ( 4 ) such that the latter form a stop against the front plate ( 28 ) of the carrier card ( 25 ) when it is inserted ( 27 ), and the rotary latch ( 9 , 9a , 10 , 23 ) is arranged in or on a strut ( 5 , 5a , 6 , 6a ) for engaging behind the front plate ( 28 ) on its side facing away from the stop. 3. Chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking part or parts ( 9 , 9a , 10 , 23 ) are arranged on a chassis inner or rear side ( 18 ) facing away from a chassis outer or front side ( 2 ). 4. Chassis according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking part or parts ( 24 ) form an L-like structure with the associated pivot pin ( 15 ). 5. Chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking part or parts ( 12 ) have a U-like shape with two U-legs, one of the U-legs being fastened with its free end to the pivot pin ( 15 ), while the other U-leg is arranged with its free end ( 22 ) to rest on the component ( 25 , 28 ). 6. Chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot pin ( 15 ) is rotatable via a sliding bearing in the chassis base plate ( 1 ). 7. Chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot pin ( 15 ) is provided on its front side with a polygonal elevation or depression, a transverse or adjustment groove ( 21 ) or an eccentric elevation or depression for the engagement of a turning tool and/or for indicating the rotational position. 8. Chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot pin ( 24 ) has a marking projection ( 32 ) extending transversely to the axis of rotation ( 20 ). 9. Electronic chassis for mounting and holding electronic circuit boards or other flat carrier cards ( 25 ), with a chassis base plate ( 1 ) made of metal, which is penetrated by one or more recesses ( 4 ) and has one or more structurally integrated holding elements ( 7 ) made of plastic, each associated with a carrier card ( 25 ) or other components ( 28 , 30 ), which protrude from a surface of the chassis base plate ( 1 ), characterized in that at least one of the holding elements ( 7 ) is designed as a sliding latch with one or more locking parts and is slidably mounted and anchored in or on an area of the chassis base plate ( 1 ) which borders on at least one of the recesses ( 4 ), and the locking part or parts protrude from a sliding body slidably anchored in the chassis base plate ( 1 ) with such a length that the locking part or parts can be moved in the corresponding sliding position of the Sliding body overlap or cover the nearest recess ( 4 ) for engaging behind the component ( 25 , 28 , 30 ). 10. Chassis according to claim 9, wherein the carrier card ( 25 ) to be held has a front plate ( 28 ) running transversely to the plate plane on one end edge, characterized in that the one or more recesses ( 4 ) for inserting the carrier cards ( 25 ) are dimensioned to form struts ( 5 , 5a , 6 , 6a ) adjacent to the recesses ( 4 ) in such a way that the latter form a stop against the front plate ( 28 ) of the carrier card ( 25 ) when it is inserted ( 27 ), and the sliding latch is arranged in or on a strut ( 5 , 5a , 6 , 6a ) for engaging behind the front plate on its side facing away from the stop. 11. Electronic chassis for mounting and holding electronic circuit boards or other flat carrier cards ( 25 ), with a chassis base plate ( 1 ) made of metal, into which holding elements ( 7 ) made of plastic, each associated with a carrier card ( 25 ), are structurally integrated and protrude from a surface of the chassis base plate ( 1 ), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two of the holding elements ( 7 ) are designed with receiving grooves ( 13 ) lying opposite one another, the inner width ( 14 ) of which corresponds to the thickness of the carrier cards ( 25 ). 12. Chassis according to claim 11, characterized in that the at least two holding elements ( 7 ) are designed as elongated receiving or insertion rails ( 11 , 11a ) which are fastened with one end face to the chassis base plate ( 1 ) and have one or more of the receiving grooves ( 13 ) on their longitudinal sides. 13. Chassis according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the one or more recesses ( 4 ) for inserting ( 27 ) the carrier cards ( 25 ) are designed to form struts ( 5 , 5a , 6 , 6a ) adjacent to the recesses ( 4 ), and the holding element ( 7 ) comprises a strut ( 5 ) for its fastening. 14. Chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding elements ( 7 ) are attached to the metallic chassis base plate ( 1 ) by means of plastic injection molding technology, in particular outsert technology.