Through-port load carrier and related test apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In this specification, terms like "front," "rear," "inside" and the like are used.
Such terms are based upon, e.
g.
, the front and rear of an exemplary chamber and upon the relationship of parts to the chamber or to parts of the chamber.
And such terms are for ease of explanation and are not intended to limit the invention.
Referring first to FIG.
1, the new "through-port" load carrier 10 is shown in conjunction with an environmental test chamber 11 and electronic equipment 13 used to gather data and otherwise carry out testing of, for example, printed circuit boards contained within the chamber 11.
The carrier 10 and the equipment 13 are connected together by wires 15.
A typical chamber 11 is equipped with heating and refrigeration equipment and, often, humidification equipment (not shown) permitting rapid and dramatic excursions of the temperature and humidity in the chamber 11.
Before describing the new carrier 10, it will be helpful to have an understanding of certain aspects of the chamber 11.
Referring also to FIGS.
2, 3 and 4, the rear chamber wall 17 includes a partitioning frame 19, an exterior panel 21 and a gasket section 23 interposed between the frame 19 and the panel 21.
FIG.
4 shows the frame 19 and the panel 21 and the gasket section 23 assembled to one another and shows how those parts 25 define ports for mounting load carriers 10.
The frame 19 includes an interior panel 27 having apertures 29 therethrough and the purpose of such apertures 29 is explained below.
Several elongate, horizontally-disposed divider members 31 are attached to the panel 27 and are vertically spaced from one another.
Each pair of members 31, e.
g.
, members 31a and 31b, has one or more pairs of vertically-arranged webs 33 mounted and extending therebetween and each web 33 has a pair of threaded studs 35 protruding rearward from it.
As will be appreciated from the following description, the studs 35 are used to mount carriers 10 on the rear chamber wall 17