Zero force insertion socket for gun mounts

A zero insertion force socket apparatus for testing gun assemblies comprising:

• a body including:
• a central region having:
• a raised top portion,
• a body central bore and
• a plurality of body apertures surrounding the central bore and forming a gear-like outer surface of the top portion,
• a radial web, and
• a cylindrical margin;
• a top plate designed to attach to the raised top portion of the central region of the body, the top plate including:
• a central bore coincide with the body central bore and
• a plurality of top plate apertures surrounding the central bore and coincide with the body apertures;
• a bottom plate designed to attach to a bottom surface of the cylindrical margin of the body, the bottom plate including:
• a bottom central bore coincide with the body and top central bores,
• a plurality of bottom plate apertures surrounding the central bore;
• a cam plate interposed between the body and the top plate and designed to mover relative to the top plate and the body, the cam plate including:
• a coupling member and
• a central aperture having an engagement surface so that the central aperture fits over the raised top portion of the central region of the body;
• a plurality of electrically conductive, deformable pin holders inserted into the coinciding top and body apertures, each holder having an exposed portion associated with the raised top portion of the body;
• and
• a plurality of electrical contact inserted into the bottom plate apertures, the contacts including an exposed end for receiving electrical power and an internal end in electric contact with the holders, and
• where the coupling member allows the cam plate to be moved from a disengaged state for zero force insertion and removal into the holder and an engaged state designed to deform the exposed portion of the holders so that the holder comes into electrical contact with an inserted gun mount assembly pin.

A method comprising the steps of:

• aligning a gun mount assembly with a socket apparatus comprising:
• a body including:
• a socket comprising:
• a central bore extending through the body;
• a plurality of apertures surrounding the bore and extending into the body, each aperture having seated therein an electrically conductive, deformable pin holder;
• a plurality of electrical contacts in electrical communication with the holders and surrounding the central bore, each contact having an exposed portion for receiving electrical power;
• a gap interposed between a top portion and a bottom portion of the body;
• and
• an engagement member designed to moveably fit in the gap, the member comprising:
• at least one coupling member designed to move the engagement member between a disengaged or zero force insertion/removal state and an engaged or gun testing state;
• and
• an engagement surface designed to deform the holder when the engagement member is in the engaged state and leave the holder undeformed when the engagement member is in the disengaged state
• positioning the engagement member to its engaged state which places the holders into electrical contact with the pins of the gun mount assembly;
• testing the gun mount assembly by applying electric power to the gun mount assembly via the contacts;
• repositioning the engagement member to its disengaged state which breaks the electrical contact between the pin holders and the pins;
• and removing the gun mount assembly.