This application claims the priority of German Application DE 20 2005 004 039.8 filed on Mar. 10, 2005 and European Patent Application No. EP 05 007 706.4, filed on Apr. 8, 2005, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a device for levering in and levering out a plug-in unit into and out of a module carrier. Such a device comprises a corner piece arranged in a frontal region of the plug-in unit and a lever pull handle with a lever that is pivotally positioned on the corner piece, wherein a short lever arm is supported on a lateral profile of the module carrier and a grip is positioned rotating on a long lever arm.
With electronic equipment having a modular configuration, it is presently standard procedure to design the individual electronic modules as plug-in units. A plug-in unit of this type is provided with a multi-pole connector at the back end, which is plugged into a corresponding multipoint connector strip on the motherboard, the so-called back plane, of the module carrier. To create as well as separate the plug-in connection, considerable mechanical forces must be overcome, which depend on the type of connector used and in particular on the number of contacts. With electromagnetically screened plug-in units, the frictional forces of the EMV [electromagnetic compatibility] seals between the individual plug-in units and/or the plug-in unit and the module carrier must furthermore be overcome.
At least one pull lever is provided in the frontal region of the plug-in unit to overcome these forces during the insertion and removal of the plug-in unit. With the aid of this lever, the plug-in unit can be levered in or levered out of the module carrier.
If the plug-in unit forms a component of a bus system, a micro-switch is simultaneously activated during the levering in or levering out, wherein this micro-switch activates or cuts off the current supply. The electronic module can therefore be installed or removed during the operation. This so-called hot-swap-function is listed in the specification for numerous modular systems, for example those used in telecommunications.
Furthermore specified or at least desired is a mechanical lock for the pull lever to prevent the accidental levering out and thus a separation of the plug-in module from the bus system.
Pull levers levering in and levering out a plug-in unit, with and without automatic active-passive switching and/or locking device, are available in many different designs. Depending on the type of use, these pull levers differ with respect to angle of rotation, displacement, translation ratio, mode of operation, and optical appearance.
European patent document EP 1 499 171 A1 discloses a device for levering in and levering out a plug-in unit, for which a locking lever is rotatably attached to the handle arm of the lever pull and functions to block the pivoting motion of the pull lever.
A similar pull lever is disclosed in European patent document EP 1 463 394 A1, wherein the lever arm of the pull lever is provided with a switch lever with a rotatably attached pawl which can activate a micro-switch once the plug-in unit is completely inserted. The pawl for the switch lever furthermore has a detent nose, which can engage behind a detent edge in the frontal region of the plug-in unit to prevent a pivoting of the pull lever.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,489 B1 and the associated unexamined, published, German patent application DE 103 27 948 A1 disclose a lever mechanism for switchboards, having a toothed gearing.
German patent document DE 41 05 948 A1 describes a device for levering in and levering out a plug-in unit from a module carrier, comprising a cooling body arranged in the frontal region of the plug-in unit, a pull lever with a lever that is positioned pivoting on the cooling body and for which the short lever arm is supported on a lateral profile of the module carrier, as well as an activation arm that is positioned rotating on the long lever arm and has an exposed end which is embodied as a grip. The activation arm can be folded out, to an end stop predetermined by the upper edge of the lever. As a result, a wire spring that functions as a locking mechanism is guided out of a recess in the long lever arm.
The present application specifically relates to pull levers for modern telecommunications systems based on the ATCA Standard (Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture) developed by PICMIG (PCI Industrial Computing Manufactory Group). This standard specifies that the rotational movement of the pull lever should be 75°. At the same time, an upper and a lower horizontal limiting line is predetermined for the rotational movement of the grip, wherein the upper limiting line is intended to make possible the installation of a sub-module, a so-called AMC (advance mezzanine card module) just above the corner piece of the plug-in unit. The lower limiting line is intended to prevent a collision between the pull lever and components below the plug-in unit, such as a cable trough.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to design a pull lever for electronic plug-in units so that the region to be kept clear for pivoting the pull lever, meaning the region above and below the pivoting axis, is kept as narrow as possible, in particular within an upper and lower limiting line parallel to the insertion direction while still maintaining for the most part the standard lever geometry and an unchanged, high lever effect.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention by the provision of a device for levering in and levering out a plug-in unit into and out of a module carrier, which in an exemplary embodiment includes: a corner piece adapted for being arranged in a frontal region of the plug-in unit; and a pull lever comprising: a lever positioned to be pivotable on the corner piece, the lever including a long lever arm and a short lever arm that is adapted to be supported on a lateral profile of the module carrier, and a handle rotatably positioned on the long lever arm of the lever; wherein the handle is arranged to be displaceable in a longitudinal direction between a starting position in which the handle is freely rotatable, and an engaged position in which the handle is connected force-locking with the long lever arm for pivoting the lever.
Thus, according to the invention, the long lever arm has a two-part design, wherein the handle is attached articulated to the long lever arm, thereby permitting a pivoting of the handle in different angle positions, relative to the lever arm. As a result, the height-restricted space for pivoting can be used in multiple ways. The handle is furthermore positioned on the lever arm so that it can be displaced in a longitudinal direction. The handle consequently can be moved back and forth easily between a starting position, in which it can turn freely relative to the lever arm, and an engaged position, in which a gripping piece is fixedly connected to the lever arm.
For example, the handle can initially be moved into a horizontal position and can then be connected force-locking with the lever arm. Following a specific pivoting of the lever, the force-locking connection to the handle is released and the handle is turned counter to the rotational direction of the lever and is then again connected force-locking with the lever arm. The longer the handle and the tighter the limitation of the pivoting range, the more often the handle must be shifted until the lever is moved to its end position and the plug-in unit is completely levered out.
One considerable advantage of the pull lever is that the standardized geometry of the lever itself is not changed, in particular the standard angle of rotation of approximately 75° is maintained, even though the handle is rotated only by a maximum angle of 45°, for example, relative to the horizontal line.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,262 discloses an open-ended wrench with two arms, joined by a rotating joint. The rotating joint comprises an axially displaceable, toothed wheel with locking pin, which can be activated from the outside. If the toothed wheel is in the one end position, the arms can be rotated in opposite directions to permit adjusting their angle position relative to each other. By pressing against the locking pin, the toothed wheel is then moved to the other end position, thereby locking the rotating joint in place so that a torque can be transferred from one arm to the other arm. To be sure, the two arms of the open-ended wrench can be rotated around a joint axis, but they cannot be displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction.
Published European patent application EP 0 377 777 A1 describes a ratchet, consisting of a handle bar with manual grip and an operating head with a square socket that functions as ratchet. The handle bar can be placed at an angle relative to the operating head, and in the angled position can be locked in placed with a manually displaceable locking bar that is arranged inside the handle bar. The angling plane extends perpendicular to the rotational plane for the ratchet. To be sure, the handle bar can be angled, but cannot be rotated relative to the operating head. The transfer of a torque from the handle piece to the operating head is independent of the angle position of the handle piece. The displaceable locking bar in the handle bar only functions to lock the handle in place in the angled position and not to separate the force-locking connection between handle bar and operating head.
A displacement in the longitudinal direction can be achieved through simple structural means, for example by providing the handle with an elongated hole and providing a bearing shaft on the long lever arm, which engages in the elongated hole in the handle. Of course, the elongated hole can also be provided on the lever arm and the bearing shaft can be provided on the handle. If the handle is displaced in the longitudinal direction, the bearing shaft changes from one end of the elongated hole to the other end, wherein the length of the elongated hole restricts the displacement. In the process, the handle can be held by means of a spring in the starting position in which it can turn freely. The handle is then pushed forward, counter to the spring effect, meaning in the direction of the front panel and the engaged position, so as to create a force-locking connection with the lever arm.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the handle can be connected force-locking with the lever arm only when it is in specifically selected angle positions. The number and location of these angle positions depend on the limiting lines for the region in which the handle is allowed to move. When using an easily moved handle of average length, for example, it is sufficient to use three different angle positions to completely lever in or lever out the plug-in unit.
According to one advantageous and useful modification of the invention, the handle and the long arm of the lever are provided with means, allocated to each other, for creating a form-locking connection, wherein this form-locking connection is created as soon as the handle is in the engaged position. The long lever arm can be provided with a rocking-arm guide, for example, in which a pusher for the handle engages. A few selected angle positions can be predetermined by such a rocking-arm guide, in which the handle permits a force transmission to the lever arm through a form-locking connection. One of the angle positions for the handle, made possible by the rocking-arm guide, e.g. the horizontal position, can be used for locking and unlocking the lever. The same angle position can simultaneously also be used for the active and passive switching of the electronic module by depressing the handle. Two additional angle positions can additionally be specified, for example, which are used only for pivoting the lever.
To easily move to the selected angle position, the long lever arm and the handle can be provided with corresponding locking means that secure the handle in the specified angle positions. For this, at least some of the angle positions, which are predetermined by the locking means, correspond to the selected angle positions in which the handle can be connected form-locking with the lever arm. Additional angle positions for the handle can be predetermined, in which no form-locking connection with the lever arm is possible, for example various resting positions.
A different advantageous embodiment of the invention includes a push rod, positioned on the end piece of the plug-in unit so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction, wherein this push rod locks the lever in place to prevent pivoting. The push rod can be moved by the handle from the locked position to an unlocked position, provided the handle is in one of the selected angle positions. An automatic unlocking of the pull lever is thus possible immediately prior to the first pivoting of the lever, while an unintended unlocking is simultaneously prevented. The push rod returns to the locked position once the plug-in unit is completed levered in.
The push rod can furthermore operate a micro-switch for the active and passive switching of the plug-in unit. Normally, meaning when the plug-in unit is fully inserted, the micro-switch is in the ON position. The micro-switch is in the OFF position when the power to the plug-in unit is disconnected, as soon as the handle is in a selected angle position where it is connected force-locking and/or form-locking with the lever and the push rod is consequently displaced toward the back.
The automatic locking in place of the pull lever with simultaneous activation of the plug-in unit, following the complete levering in, can be achieved easily when the pull rod is pulled by a spring in the direction of the front panel of the plug-in unit. As soon as the handle returns from its engaged position to the starting position, the push rod follows under the effect of the spring, thereby locking the lever arm in place against pivoting and moving the micro-switch to the ON position.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
a,
1
b show two perspective views of the front lower edge of a plug-in unit with attached pull lever, at an angle from above and at an angle from below.
a,
2
b show the lever portion of the pull lever;
a,
3
b show the handle portion of the pull lever.
a,
4
b show the push rod for the pull lever.
a,
6
b show the plug-in unit, completely levered into a module carrier, shown in a partial sectional view;
a,
7
b show the start of the operation for levering out the plug-in unit.
a,
8
b show the partially levered-out plug-in unit.
a-9d show the plug-in unit at a further stage of levering it out.
a,
10
b show the completely levered-out plug-in unit.
Referring to
The pull lever 4 essentially comprises two moving parts, namely a lever 6 and a handle 7 that is positioned on the lever 6, such that it can rotate and is displaceable in longitudinal direction. A push rod 8, angled multiple times, is positioned to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction. Push rod 8 is slidably fastened on the side, in front by a bearing screw 5 together with the lever 6, and in back by a second bearing screw 9. The push rod 8 can be displaced toward the back by pushing the handle 7 in the direction marked by the arrow, so as to activate a micro-switch 10 that is arranged in the region of the back end of the push rod 8. This micro-switch 10 functions to switch on or off the power supply for the plug-in unit. A tension spring 11 (see
a and 2b show only the lever 6 for the pull lever 4, wherein
The handle 7 is shown prominently in
a and 4b show the push rod 8 in further detail, wherein the viewing angle in
In this way, the rotatable handle 7 can be secured in place in three angle positions, predetermined by the engagement grooves 19a, 19b, 19c, in which the follower pin 27 is positioned in front of one of the three radial slots 21a, 21b, 21c. The additional engagement grooves 19y and 19z are for the rest positions.
In
As a result, the lever 6 is locked and cannot be pivoted around its pivoting axis.
In the following, the additional Figures starting with
a shows the lower corner region of the plug-in unit 1, which is completely inserted into the module carrier, of which only the U-shaped profile of a lateral profile support 35 in front can be seen. A horizontal upper limiting line 36 and a lower limiting line 37, parallel thereto, delimit the clearance space inside of which the pull lever 4 can move. The lever 6 is in its horizontal rest position (0°). The handle 7 is also in the horizontal angle position, the normal position for installing a sub-module into the plug-in unit 1, directly below the upper limiting line 36, wherein the handle 7 is in its starting position relative to the lever 6. The bearing shaft 17 is positioned in the back end of the elongated hole 26 (on the left in the drawing). The push rod 8 is pushed all the way toward the front (to the right in the drawing). The locking offset 30 on the push rod 8 rests against the stop surface 22 of lever 6, thereby locking the lever 6 in place. The engagement pin 34 is positioned inside the engagement groove 19a on the sliding surface 18, thereby securing the handle 7. The follower pin 27 is positioned inside the circular slot 20. The micro-switch 10 is in the ON position, meaning the plug-in unit 1 is activated.
In
a shows the handle 7 and the lever 6, connected form-locking thereto, in a position where it is pivoted by 8° relative to the horizontal line. The levering-out nose 15 in this case rests against the lateral profile 35 and supports itself against its rear wall.
The angle position for lever 6 remains unchanged at 8° in the
A renewed pressure onto the end of the gripping piece 23 returns the handle 7 to its form-locking connection with the lever 6. If the handle 7 is subsequently pivoted downward in the direction of the curved part, as shown in
Following a pivoting of the lever 6 by approximately 23°, relative to the horizontal line, the end of the handle grip 23 is moved close to the lower boundary line 37. If the pivoting movement were to be continued past the position shown in
c shows the handle 7, pivoted back by 33.5°, while the pivoting angle of 23° for the lever 6 remains unchanged. The handle 7 thus for the first time is positioned upward at an angle, relative to the long lever arm 13. The handle 7 hits the upper boundary line 36 with its extreme upper edge, and the engagement pin 34 is now fitted into the center engagement groove 19b.
In the next step, illustrated with
Following a second pushing down of the handle 7, the lever 6 reaches the position shown in
In
The handle 7 can then be reversed for the second time, meaning it can be turned back, until it reaches the angle position shown in
The handle 7 can be pushed downward for the third time, until it assumes the position shown in
The handle grip 23 is the last to be released, thus causing the handle 7 to lose the form-locking connection with the lever 6 and return to the starting position.
The handle 7 could then still be turned to an optional angle position, for example it could be tilted upward so that it won't be in the way.
The levering-in of the plug-in unit 1 occurs basically in the same way, just in the reverse sequence.
The invention has been described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and the invention, therefore, as defined in the appended claims, is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
20 2005 004 039.8 | Mar 2005 | DE | national |
05 007 706.4 | Apr 2005 | EP | regional |