Modular assembly for fastening electronic modules

• US 8,760,873 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Salles, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, COURTNEY L
• Application Number:
  US13/085,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 361/676, 36167946-67954, 361688-722, 361727-733, 361/752, 361/756, 361/796, 361/831
• US Class Current: 361/730
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1412 hold down mechanisms, e.g. avionic racks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular assembly for fastening electronic modules carried on board an aircraft, characterized in that it comprises:

• • a frame (10) having a more or less planar vertical front surface, comprising several mechanical fastening interfaces each intended for mechanically fastening an electronic module,
  • at least one electronic module (80) comprising a mechanical fastening interface and which is attached to the front surface of the frame in suspended position via cooperation of the mechanical fastening interface of the said at least one electronic module with one of the mechanical fastening interfaces of the frame.

Claims

1. A modular assembly comprising:

a frame having a front surface;

an interfacing block including a mechanical fastening interface, the interfacing block attached at opposite ends thereof to the front surface of the frame; and

at least one electronic module including a mechanical fastening interface, the at least one electronic module being attached to the front surface of the frame in a suspended position such that the mechanical fastening interface of the at least one electronic module engages with the mechanical fastening interface of the interfacing block on the frame,

wherein the frame includes

first and second longitudinal jambs extending in a first direction, and

first and second lateral jambs, each lateral jamb having respective first ends thereof connected to the first longitudinal jamb and having respective second ends thereof connected to the second longitudinal jamb, the first and second lateral jambs extending between the first and second longitudinal jambs in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, and

wherein the interfacing block is attached at opposite ends thereof to the first and second lateral jambs, respectively.

2. The modular assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic module further includes an electrical connection interface, and

wherein the interfacing block further includes an electrical connection interface that establishes an electrical connection with the electrical connection interface of the at least one electronic module.

3. The modular assembly according to claim 1 further comprising locking means for locking the module in the suspended position.

4. The modular assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one electronic module further includes an actuation component connected to the locking means, the actuation component being actuable between a locked position in which the actuation component is disposed against the at least one electronic module and an unlocked position in which the actuation component is moved away from the at least one electronic module.

5. The modular assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic module is attached to the front surface of the frame via an attachment system including an articulated link.

6. The modular assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an air-conditioning system to cool the at least one electronic module.

7. The modular assembly according to claim 6, wherein the air-conditioning system is fastened to the frame, the air-conditioning system including

a fluid injection unit via which a fluid is injected into the at least one electronic module, and

at least one of

a fluid suction unit via which the fluid is suctioned from the at least one electronic module,

a plurality of openings in the at least one electronic module for evacuation of the injected fluid, and

wherein the at least one electronic module further includes a complementary interface for cooperating with the fluid injection unit.

8. The modular assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of interfacing blocks which are arranged-horizontally so as to suspend a corresponding number of electronic modules adjacent to each other according to a horizontal arrangement forming a row, and the plurality of interfacing blocks being further arranged at different vertical heights so as to suspend several rows of electronic modules vertically with respect to each other.

14. An aircraft, comprising;

a modular assembly according to claim 1.

9. A frame for fastening electronic modules carried on board an aircraft, comprising:

a front surface;

a plurality of interfacing blocks, each interfacing block being attached at opposite ends thereof to the front surface, each interfacing block respectively including a mechanical fastening interface disposed outwardly with respect to the front surface, and each interfacing block being configured to secure, in a suspended position, an electronic module carried on board the aircraft;

first and second longitudinal jambs extending in a first direction; and

first and second lateral jambs, each lateral jamb having respective first ends thereof connected to the first longitudinal jamb and having respective second ends thereof connected to the second longitudinal jamb, the first and second lateral jambs extending between the first and second longitudinal jambs in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction,

wherein at least one of the interfacing blocks is attached at opposite ends thereof to the first and second lateral jambs, respectively.

10. The frame according to claim 9, further comprising an air-conditioning system for cooling the electronic module, the air-conditioning system including a fluid injection unit via which a fluid is injected into the at least one electronic module.

11. The frame according to claim 9, wherein each interfacing block respectively further including an electrical connection interface for establishing an electrical connection with the respective electronic module to which the interfacing block is attached.

12. The frame according to claim 11, wherein the electronic module comprises a mechanical fastening interface complementary to the mechanical fastening interface of the interfacing blocks.

13. The frame according to claim 12, wherein the electronic module further comprises an electrical connection interface complementary to the electrical connection interfaces of the frame to establish an electrical connection.

15. An aircraft, comprising:

a frame according to claim 9.

16. The frame according to claim 10, wherein the air-conditioning system further includes a fluid suction unit via which the fluid is suctioned from the at least one electronic module.