Power connector having linearly moving cam for daughter card

摘要

A power connector for distributing power current to an active edge of a daughter card which is insertable into a channel of the power connector, includes a plurality of terminals electrically connected to a power source. A rectilinear cam shaft within a longitudinal aperture of the connector housing is movable linearly upon actuation to deflect cantilever beam portions of the terminals into the card-receiving channel to engage contact sections of the daughter card along the active edge and power the card. The cantilever beams extend at an angle through transverse angled profiled apertures of the cam shaft to free ends along the channel bottom and are cammed into the channel and against card contacts by being engaged by first camming wall surfaces of the profiled aperture upon actuation. The beams may also be similarly cammed out of card contact engagement by opposed second camming wall surfaces of the profiled aperture engaging the beams when the cam shaft is moved linearly in the opposite direction to disengage from the card's contact sections and clear the channel allowing withdrawal of the card from the channel. An actuator which is rotatable at a front end of the connector has a helical groove segment into which is held a boss of a follower contained in the front of the cam shaft, translating the actuator's rotary motion into linear motion.