U.S. patent application number 12/173922 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for pivoting apparatus for mating a power supply with a riser card and method for doing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Robert K. Mullady.
Application Number | 20080274637 12/173922 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39189172 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080274637 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mullady; Robert K. |
November 6, 2008 |
PIVOTING APPARATUS FOR MATING A POWER SUPPLY WITH A RISER CARD AND
METHOD FOR DOING THE SAME
Abstract
Disclosed is a pivoting apparatus comprising a pivot base
defining a connection cavity, a pivot slot including an L-shape,
and an alignment slot including a curvature that bulges towards a
riser card, a key structure extending from at least one of the
riser card and a processor in an electronic enclosure, the key
structure being fixedly associated with the connection cavity of
the pivot base, and a pivotor rotateably associated with the pivot
base and fixedly associated with a power supply, the pivotor
including an alignment ramp, an alignment pin, and a pivot pin,
wherein the alignment pin is removably disposed in the alignment
slot, and the pivot pin is pivotably disposed in the pivot slot.
The pivotor supports an electrical connector joined to the supply.
The connector mates with a riser card mounted in a processor to
supply power to the riser card.
Inventors: |
Mullady; Robert K.;
(Highland, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN LLP-IBM POUGHKEEPSIE
20 Church Street, 22nd Floor
Hartford
CT
06103
US
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
39189172 |
Appl. No.: |
12/173922 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11533216 |
Sep 19, 2006 |
7416431 |
|
|
12173922 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/341 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/88 20130101;
G06F 1/188 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/341 |
International
Class: |
H01R 12/14 20060101
H01R012/14 |
Claims
1. A method for mating and disengaging a power supply with a riser
card, the method comprising: providing a pivoting apparatus
including a pivot base defining a connection cavity, a pivot slot
including an L-shape, and an alignment slot including a curvature
that bulges towards the riser card, a key structure extending from
at least one of the riser card and a processor in an electronic
enclosure, said key structure being fixedly associated with said
connection cavity of said pivot base, and a pivotor rotateably
associated with said pivot base and fixedly associated with the
power supply, said pivotor including an alignment ramp, an
alignment pin, and a pivot pin, wherein said alignment pin is
removably disposed in said alignment slot, and said pivot pin is
pivotably disposed in said pivot slot; and rotatingly associating
the power supply with the riser card via the pivoting
apparatus.
2. The method of claim 1, further including rotating the power
supply toward the riser via said associating.
3. The method of claim 1, further including rotating the power
supply away from the riser via said associating.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation application of U.S. Ser.
No. 11/533,216, filed Sep. 19, 2006, the contents of which are
incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The disclosure relates generally to a pivoting apparatus,
and more particularly to a pivoting apparatus for mating a power
supply with a riser card.
[0003] Typically the electronic assemblies of an electronic
enclosure are mated via a straight on or linear motions. Electronic
components such as power supplies and riser cards are examples of
components that comprise these electronic assemblies, and are mated
via straight on or linear motions. One drawback of this type of
mating is the requirement of complete part removal of, for example,
the power supply, when access to the power supply or riser card to
which it is mated is desired for procedures such as part
maintenance. Another drawback for the power supply is that power is
fed through a single linear connection, which limits connector size
and power distribution on the mating board.
SUMMARY
[0004] Disclosed is a pivoting apparatus comprising a pivot base
defining a connection cavity, a pivot slot including an L-shape,
and an alignment slot including a curvature that bulges towards a
riser card, a key structure extending from at least one of the
riser card and a processor in an electronic enclosure, the key
structure being fixedly associated with the connection cavity of
the pivot base, and a pivotor rotateably associated with the pivot
base and fixedly associated with a power supply, the pivotor
including an alignment ramp, an alignment pin, and a pivot pin,
wherein the alignment pin is removably disposed in the alignment
slot, and the pivot pin is pivotably disposed in the pivot slot.
Also disclosed is a method for mating and disengaging a power
supply with a riser card, the method comprising rotatingly
associating the power supply with the riser via a pivoting
apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at
the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other
objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent
from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side view of a pivoting apparatus;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of a pivot base;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of a pivotor; and
[0009] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a method for mating
and disengaging a power supply with a riser card.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a pivoting apparatus 10 is
illustrated and includes a pivot base 12 that is rotateably
associated with a pivotor 14. The pivot base 12 defines an L-shaped
pivot slot 16, a connection cavity 18, and an alignment slot 20,
wherein the alignment slot 20 includes a curvature 22 that bulges
in the direction of a riser card 24 (the riser card 24 being
discussed in greater detail further along in the disclosure). The
pivotor 14 includes an alignment ramp 25, an alignment pin 26, and
a pivot pin 28. The pivot base 12 is fixedly associable with the
riser card 24 and/or a processor 30, and the pivotor 14 is fixedly
associable with a power supply 32.
[0011] The association between the pivot base 12 and/or riser card
24 is achieved via a key structure 34 that extends from either of
the riser card 24 and the processor 30, and locks into fixed
association with the base 12. The key structure 34 may lock into
association with the pivot base 12 via disposal of an L-shaped
portion 36 of the key structure 20 through the connection cavity
18. A threaded instrument (not illustrated) may be further screw
the L-shaped portion 36 into threaded association with the base 12.
In addition, as was mentioned above, the pivotor 14 is fixedly
associable with the power supply 32. This association may be
achieved via threaded instruments 38a-b.
[0012] As was also briefly mentioned above, the pivot base 12 and
pivotor 14 are rotateably associated with each other. This
rotateability of the components is achieved via removable disposal
of the alignment pin 26 of the pivotor 14 within the alignment slot
20 of the pivot base 12, and removable/pivotable disposal of the
pivot pin 28 of the pivotor 14 within the pivot slot 16 of the
pivot base 12. The pivot pin 28 extends from a pivot pin surface 40
of the pivotor 14. The pivot pin 28 is disposed in pivot slot 16
via a pivot slot opening 42, and moved to an end 44 of a horizontal
portion 46 of the L-shaped pivot slot 16. Disposal of the pivot pin
28 within the pivot slot 28 would allow 360-degree rotation of the
pivotor 14 about the pivot pin 28 in relation to the pivot base 12
if the alignment pin 26 were removed.
[0013] However, since the alignment pin 26 does extend from the
pivotor 14, rotation of the pivotor 14 towards the riser card 24
and processor 30 can only continue until the alignment pin 26
contacts the pivot base 12. When the pivot pin 28 is positioned at
the end 44 of the horizontal portion 46 of the pivot slot 16, this
contact will occur at a relative bottom end 47 of the alignment
slot 20, with the alignment pin 26 entering the alignment slot 20
via an alignment opening 48, and following the curvature 22 of the
alignment slot 20 (via a rotating motion of the pivotor 14) to the
relative bottom end 47 of the alignment slot 20.
[0014] Substantially simultaneously to contact between the
alignment pin 26 and bottom end 47 of the alignment slot 20 via
rotation of the pivotor 14, the alignment ramp 25 abuts the riser
card 24. This abutment allows the pivotor 14 to align with the
riser board 24. When the pivotor 14 is rotated to a point where the
alignment ramp abuts the riser card and the alignment pin 26
reaches the bottom end 47 of the alignment slot 20, a connector 50
associated with the power supply 32 is allowed mate with the riser
board 24. This mating of the power supply 32 with the riser board
24, via pivoting/rotation of the power supply 32 (via the apparatus
10), provides power to the riser board 24 and processor 30. The
pivoting apparatus 10 also allows the power supply 32 to be removed
from this mating via pivoting/rotation, allowing convenient access
to the parts (i.e. the power supply 32, riser card 24, processor
30, and memory DIMM's) for procedures such as maintenance.
[0015] Referring to claim 4, a method 100 for mating and
disengaging a power supply 32 with a riser card 24 is illustrated
and includes rotatingly associating the power supply 32 with the
riser 24 via a pivoting apparatus 10, as shown in operational block
102. The method 100 may further include rotating the power supply
32 towards the riser 24 via the associating, and rotating the power
supply 24 away from the riser 24 via the associating.
[0016] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation or substance to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it
is important that the invention not be limited to the particular
embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out
this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments
falling within the scope of the apportioned claims. Moreover,
unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc.
do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first,
second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.
* * * * *