Blind Docking Electrical Connector with Floating Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail systems for electronic equipment in racks require tool-based attachment and do not allow for flexible height adjustment to accommodate devices of varying heights, limiting their versatility and installation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system comprises longitudinally-extending shelf brackets secured to the rack's side walls with a forwardly-directed power connector for blind docking with the electronic module, allowing for adjustable and tool-free installation, with features like floating connectors and tapered slots for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rails are screwed, bolted, or otherwise attached to the rack, then the rails are securely fixed to the rack, but the installation requires tools and is not easily adjustable
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system employs self-gripping clips that automatically secure to the rack structure without requiring external tools. The clips are designed with resilient arms that engage with rack mounting holes, providing secure attachment through their own mechanical action rather than requiring screws, bolts, or other fastening tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical fastening systems (screws, bolts, wrenches) with a spring-loaded clip mechanism that uses elastic deformation and mechanical advantage to achieve secure attachment. The resilient arms of the clips bend during installation and then lock into place, substituting complex tool-based mechanical fastening with a simpler elastic-mechanical system.
2Reliability
If rails are fixed at specific heights, then the rack can support equipment, but the system cannot accommodate devices of varying heights
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system transitions from fixed-height mounting to dynamically adjustable positioning. The clips can be attached at multiple different heights along the rack, and the rails themselves can be positioned vertically at various levels. This dynamic configurability allows the system to adapt to equipment of different heights while maintaining stable support through the secure clip attachment at each chosen position.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail and clip system is designed to be universally applicable at multiple heights and positions within the rack. The clips can engage with mounting holes at different vertical locations, and the rails can be installed at various heights to accommodate different equipment sizes. This multi-functional capability allows a single rail system design to serve multiple height requirements without requiring specialized components for each height.
3Reliability
If connectors are rigidly mounted, then the connection is stable, but alignment is difficult without access to the rear of the device
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector incorporates floating mounting mechanisms that allow positional adjustment in multiple directions. Rather than being rigidly fixed, the connector can shift its position along the rail and adjust its orientation to achieve proper alignment with the mating connector. This parameter change capability maintains connection stability through flexible positioning while enabling easy alignment from the front without requiring rear access.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating connector design acts as an intermediary between the rigid rail structure and the mating connector. It provides a flexible connection point that can accommodate misalignments and adjust to the correct position during the docking process. This intermediary mechanism mediates between the fixed rail mounting and the need for precise connector alignment, achieving both stability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for blind docking an electronic device or module with an electrical connector, for example within a rack for a computer system. A forwardly-directed power connector is secured to a distal end of at least one rail or shelf bracket for blind docking with a rearwardly-directed power connector on the electronic module. The shelf bracket securing the forwardly-directed electrical connector is included in a pair of longitudinally-extending shelf brackets secured to opposing vertical side walls of a rack at a common elevation to form a module bay. The electronic module may slide along the shelf bracket until a rearwardly-directed power connector of the electronic module blind docks with the forwardly-directed power connector. A boss or alignment stud may be included on the bracket to improve alignment of the connectors. The forwardly-direct electrical connector may also be secured to the bracket with a floating connection to enable minor adjustments in alignment during blind docking.