Closure mechanism for pressure test chambers for testing electronic components, in particular ICs

1. Closure mechanism for pressure test chambers for testing electronic components, ICs, under specific pressure conditions, the pressure test chamber having first and second cavity members which can be brought into a converged position in which they enclose a cavity in a tight manner, comprising:

a plurality of pivoting jaws which can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position,

spacer members movable into a gap between the pivoting jaws and the first cavity member when the first and second cavity members are in the converged position, the spacer members being movable both relative to the plurality of pivoting jaws and relative to the cavity members when the cavity members are in the converged position,

a locking arrangement structured to move the spacer members,

at least a part of the pivoting jaws having at least one lifting device structured to advance towards the first cavity member by the pivoting jaws so as to press said first cavity member against the second cavity member by the lifting devices in the closed position of the pivoting jaws,

at least a part of the pivoting jaws having at least one locking arrangement structured to move at least one of the spacer members into the gap between the pivoting jaws and the pressed first cavity member in such a way that the pressed first cavity member remains in the converged position even when the lifting device has been retracted,

wherein the locking arrangement is configured to insert the one of the spacer members perpendicular to the pressing direction into the gap between the pivoting jaw and the first cavity member.

2. Closure mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the pivoting jaws are C-, L- or U-shaped.

3. Closure mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein a pivoting jaw, on which a plurality of lifting devices and locking arrangement is provided, is arranged on each of two opposite sides of the cavity members.

4. Closure mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein at least two pivoting jaws are arranged on each of two opposite sides of the cavity members, adjacent pivoting jaws alternately comprising a lifting device or locking arrangement.

5. Closure mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting device comprises a plunger, said plunger being guided in a support portion, which engages from behind the first cavity member to be pressed, of the pivoting jaw and being movable in the pressing direction.

6. Closure mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein the plunger is functionally connected via a lever mechanism to a drive means arranged within the pivoting jaw.

7. Closure mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein the drive is formed from a pneumatically or hydraulically displaceable piston.

8. Closure mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises a driving toothed wheel which is mounted in or on the pivoting jaw and cooperates with a toothed rack portion of the small spacer plate.

9. Closure mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein a counter-pressure member is fastened to each pivoting jaw and, in the closed position of the pivoting jaw, contacts the second cavity member not contacted by the lifting devices in such a way that this second cavity member is supported against the pressing force produced by the lifting devices.

10. An integrated circuit test assembly comprising:

plural cavity members that when engaged together define a sealed recess for accepting an electrical component, the sealed recess having electrical contacts therein for operating said accepted electrical component; and

a closure mechanism comprising:

pivoting jaws that pivotably engage and thereby force the cavity members together;

an automatically-actuatable lifting device disposed on the pivoting jaws that applies force in a predetermined direction to press the cavity members together; and

a spacer perpendicularly movable relative to the predetermined direction, the spacer structured to be movable into a gap defined between the pivoting jaws and the pressed cavity members, the spacer being structured to move both relative to the pivot jaws and relative to the cavity members, the moveable spacer penetrating into said gap when the cavity members are engaged together to thereby apply force against the cavity members to seal the recess and lock the closure mechanism.