International Business Machines Corporation

Robert W Sargent

William E Dougherty, Jr

Robert F Florence, Jr

Lawrence G Cook

Stuart E Greer

Gordon E Johnson

Gary M Gallagher

A reusable isolation structure features an easily cleanable shell having viewing windows formed therein, each protected by a framing ridge or a recess integrally formed in the shell provides protection of contents from contamination, impact, vibration and tampering. Framing ridges or recesses also facilitate stacking of shells. The closure member opening of the shell includes a groove formed around the periphery thereof and is preferably not more than slightly smaller than an interior cross-section of the shell. A door of the isolation structure is dimensioned to fit within the closure member opening and has a resilient seal clamped to the periphery of a backbone by front and rear plates. The front and rear plates cooperate with grooves formed in the backbone to define a preferred form of manifold for coupling pressure or a vacuum to the interior of the resilient seal whereby the resilient seal may be collapsed to allow removal of the door or allowed to expand or pressurized to provide secure closure. Filters and vapor and moisture drains are carried by the door structure. The door also provides a smooth interior surface of the isolation structure of closely controlled and accurately repeatable dimensions. A vacuum plate for handling the door simultaneously provides for evacuation and controlled collapse of the resilient seal as well as containment of contamination of the exterior thereof.

Isolation structure for contamination sensitive items

A method of making an aperture of a predetermined shape into a dielectric substrate which will lockingly receive a deformable contact pin. It includes providing a dielectric material which shrinks in response to a heat treatment by an amount which is different in one direction from that in another direction, and which irreversibly changes dimensions in its two orthogonal directions in proportion to this difference. An aperture is formed in such a material, in a direction normal to the plane of the two orthogonal directions and the material is subjected to a heat treatment that causes a differential shrinkage in the aperture and a change in the shape of the aperture. A deformable contact pin is then forced into a locking position in the aperture. By using such a method to lock a contact pin in close proximity to a conductive line extending across the substrate or by having the aperture and the pin extend through the substrate, electrical circuits on one side of the substrate can be contacted through a contact pin on the opposite side of the substrate.

Method for providing improved electrical and mechanical connection

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LaGrangeville, NY, United States of America

Robert W Sargent