Amp LLC

The Whitaker Corporation

Other

David L Meyer

Lawrence John Brekosky

Brian A Wolfe

Leslie C Hall, Jr

Todd M Spangler

An alignment tool (44) is disclosed for aligning the conductors of a ribbon cable (12) to insulation displacement contacts (162, 168, 172) of a connector (16, 18, 14) during termination of the connector to the cable. The tool includes a body (46) having a fluted cable guiding surface (72, 74) and first and second connector receiving cutouts (66, 68) on opposite sides of the guide surface. A retaining plate (112) is hingedly attached to the body (46) and is arranged to releasable hold the ribbon cable (12) in located engagement with the fluted guide surface (72, 74). The retaining plate (112) enables the ribbon cable (12) to move longitudinally to position it for termination of a connector (14, 16, 18) without loosening the retaining plate (112) and without disturbing the alignment of the ribbon cable.

Tool for aligning a ribbon cable to a connector

A gull-wing strain relief (10) for a flat multi-conductor ribbon cable (30) exiting a connector assembly (20). The gull-wing strain relief (10) is mounted directly on the connector assembly (20) and includes lateral flaps (14) which close around the connector assembly (20). The flaps (14) may be interlocked in a fully closed position wherein the ribbon cable (30) exiting the connector assembly (20) is held in compression to thereby protect against strain from twisting or pulling.

Gull-wing strain relief

An assembly for wiring a terminating tool (6) having wire combs (34,36) comprises a tool mount (164), a bench stand (166) and a clamp (168). The tool mount (164) has a clevis (178) for receiving one end of the tool (6) and a screw (187) for securing the tool (6) to the clevis (178). There depends from the clevis (178) a support leg (170) which is received between side walls (190) of the bench mount (166) which is mounted on the top surface of a work table (210). The clamp (168) has a clamp post (204) which is passed through notches (194) in the walls (190) of the bench mount (166) and through a hole (172) in the support leg (170), so that the tool mount and thus the tool (6) can be rocked about the axis of the clamp post (204). The clamp (168) has a clamp screw (200) which can be tightened against the underside of the work table (210) so that the clamp post (204) urges the bench mount (166) against the top side of the work table (210). The tool (6) can be rocked to one side of the vertical for wiring one of the combs (34,36) and to the other side of the vertical for wiring the other comb (34,36).

Wiring tool having wire combs

There is disclosed, a kit of parts for a hand tool (2) for forming electrical tabs (T1,T2) projecting from cable end portions (FC1, FC2) to a plurality of different configurations. The kit of parts comprises a plurality of different tab forming dies (14,16,18), a base assembly (8) having thereon two spaced tab forming anvils (10,12) for co-operation respective ones of the dies (14,16,18), an upper tooling mount assembly (6) having a spline (60) for receiving a selected one of the dies (14,16,18), and an actuating mechanism (4). The tooling mount assembly (6) is mounted to the base assembly (8) so as to be moveable theretowards through a working stroke to cause the selected die (14,16,18), on the spline (60) to co-operate with the appropriate anvil (10,12) to form the tabs (T1 or T2) of a cable end portion (FC1,FC2) laid on a cable receiving surface (92,104) of the appropriate anvil (10,12) to a particular configuration determined by the choice of the die (14,16,18) and anvil (10,12). The actuating mechanism (4) has a moveable handle (32) which can be depressed to drive the tooling mount assembly (6) through its working stroke.

Hand tooling for forming electrical contact elements

There is described,a tool (2) for cooperation with wire insertion fingers (37), for terminating electrical wires (W) to wire receiving contacts (8) which project from two opposite sides of an electrical connector (4). The tool (2) comprises a wire comb holder (46) in which are pivotally mounted two parallel wire combs (48). The wire combs (48) having a wire receiving angular position in which wire slots (96) of the combs (48) open way from the comb holder (46), in which position wires (W) are laced into the wire slots (96), and a wire terminating position in which the wire slots (96) of the two combs (48) open towards each other. A connector holder (52) pivoted to one end of the comb holder (46) and containing a connector (4) is moved to a closed position, in the terminating position of the wire combs (48), to insert the contacts (8) of the connector (4) between the teeth of the combs ( 48). A press (22) is used to drive the insertion fingers (37) through the combs (48) to terminate wires (W) in the combs (48) to the contacts (8) of the connector (4).

Tool for mass terminating wires to electrical connectors

A tooling assembly (1) comprises an upper tooling assembly (4) a lower tooling assembly (6) and a base plate (8). The upper tooling assembly (4) is connected to a press ram and the base plate (8) is connected to the press frame. The lower tooling assembly (6) comprises a pivotable wire shearing comb (34) and a stationary wire shearing comb (36). In the use of the tooling, the pivotable wire comb (34) is moved to an open position and a connector (2) having slotted plate contacts (162) projecting from opposite sides of the connector (2) is laid on the fixed comb (36) and the pivotable comb (34) is then pivoted to a closed position. Wires (W) to be terminated, are inserted through slots (82) in the pivotable comb (34) and through slots (100) in the stationary comb (36). The lower tooling assembly (6) is then laid on the base plate (8) with one of the combs ( 34 or 36) uppermost. The press ram (14) is then actuated to cause wire stuffer and wire shear fingers (22) to be inserted through the slots of the comb which is uppermost, to shear the wires (W) against shear edges (83) in the slots and to drive severed end portions of the wires (W) into the contacts (162) on one side of the connector (2).

Mass terminating wires to electrical connectors

A throwing toy is comprised of a spherical ball filled with foam rubber, and a long tether tail, one end of which is anchored within the center of the ball. The tail is preferably a light weight strong ribbon having visibly distinctive indicia. The tether is used to swing the toy prior to its release for airborne travel, and to catch the toy upon its descent. The ball includes a diametrically aligned slot and cylindrical channel. One end of the ribbon is anchored at the center of the ball, where the slot meets the channel. The ribbon is assembled to the ball by inserting a tool including a hook into the slot, then through the cylindrical channel, and then hooking a loop at the end of the ribbon, and then pulling the loop to the center of the ball. The loop containing end of the ribbon may be withdrawn from the ball through the slot, and a metal rod may be placed in the loop, which is then pulled into its anchoring position at the center of the ball.

Throwing toy and method of manufacture

Cable harness manufacturing apparatus comprises a pair of rails defining a linear path through a workstation where a press terminates ribbon cable to connectors in connector receiving fixtures independently journaled to the rails. A first stop on the path positions connectors sequentially at the workstation while a series of second stops along the path downstream of the workstation act on the lead fixture to define the length of cable between pairs of connectors as well as triggering the press for sequential terminations of connectors in remaining fixtures. A cutter carriage journaled to the rails upstream of the workstation is spring loaded to urge remaining fixtures to the workstation. A third stop along the path downstream stops the lead fixture when it is desired to cut the cable, the cut end subsequently being drawn flushly into the last connector terminated.

Cable harness assembly apparatus

A cable harness assembly apparatus has a press assembly defining a workstation and an index frame assembly moveable transversely through the workstation. A plurality of connector receiving fixtures are adjustably spaced along the index frame with a plurality of cable clamping fixtures interspersed with the connector carrying fixtures. At least one of the connector carrying fixtures is provided with cable cutting means which, when actuated, sever the cable simultaneously with termination thereof by the last connector of the harness.

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Jonestown, PA, United States of America

David L Meyer