Moveable floating connector
A movable floating connector is disclosed. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a fixed structure coupled to a chassis, a movable floating connector assembly, and an elastic object. The movable floating connector assembly includes a receiving connector configured to engage with a module connector of an insertable module removable from the chassis. The elastic object is interfaced between at least a portion of the fixed structure and at least a portion of the movable floating connector assembly. The elastic object is configured to provide a force on the movable floating connector assembly against a direction of insertion of the insertable module to maintain a consistent engagement between the receiving connector of the movable floating connector assembly and the module connector of the insertable module across a variation in length in the direction of insertion.
1. An electrical apparatus comprising:
a fixed structure including a back plate and at least one guard rail, wherein the at least one guard rail defines a region within a chassis;
a movable portion including a receiving connector configured to engage with a module connector of an insertable module, wherein the insertable module is removable from the chassis; and
an elastic object interfaced between at least a portion of the back plate and at least a portion of the movable portion and configured to provide a force on the movable portion against a direction of insertion of the insertable module to maintain a consistent engagement between the receiving connector of the movable portion and the module connector of the insertable module across a variation in length in the direction of insertion, wherein:
the fixed structure further includes a standoff and a captive screw with a shaft configured to fit into the standoff, the standoff positioned on a moving portion plate of the movable portion, and enables a replacement or upgrade of the movable portion, and
the captive screw is configured to pass through the back plate and is accessible and removable from a back side of the electrical apparatus opposite a front side providing insertion access to the receiving connector.
2. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the variation in length in the direction of insertion corresponds to a variation in a length of the insertable module.
3. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elastic object is a conical washer made of an elastomer.
4. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elastic object is a disk spring.
5. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elastic object is a coil spring.
6. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one guard rail defines a region in which the module is insertable.
7. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the captive screw is threaded through the elastic object.
8. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the captive screw is configured to guide movement of the movable portion.
9. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the captive screw is threaded through an opening on a component of the movable portion.
10. The electrical apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the shaft of the captive screw is also threaded through the back plate.
11. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the captive screw is screwed into a standoff included in the fixed structure.
12. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second elastic object configured to provide a second force on the movable portion against the direction of insertion of the insertable module.
13. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the movable portion includes a guiding screw configured to guide movement of the movable portion.
14. The electrical apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the guiding screw is threaded through an opening of a plate that is coupled to the fixed structure.
15. The electrical apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the plate is threaded through the captive screw.
16. The electrical apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a shaft of the guiding screw is configured to guide movement of the movable portion.
17. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fixed structure includes a latch opening configured to receive a latch extension of a moving arm of the insertable module.
18. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the insertable module includes an ejector arm configured to pivot and apply leverage against the fixed structure to eject the module connector from the receiving connector.
19. A method of manufacturing an electrical apparatus comprising:
providing a fixed structure including a back plate and at least one guard rail, wherein the at least one guard rail defines a region within a chassis;
providing a movable portion including a receiving connector configured to engage with a module connector of an insertable module, wherein the insertable module is removable from the chassis; and
providing an elastic object interfaced between at least a portion of the back plate and at least a portion of the movable portion and configured to provide a force on the movable portion against a direction of insertion of the insertable module to maintain a consistent engagement between the receiving connector of the movable portion and the module connector of the insertable module across a variation in length in the direction of insertion, wherein:
the fixed structure further includes a standoff and a captive screw with a shaft configured to fit into the standoff, the standoff positioned on a moving portion plate of the movable portion, and enables a replacement or upgrade of the movable portion, and
the captive screw is configured to pass through the back plate and is accessible and removable from a back side of the movable portion opposite a front side providing insertion access to the receiving connector.
20. The electrical apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the elastic object is aligned with the shaft of the captive screw such that the captive screw passes through the elastic object and is threaded through the back plate.