The Boeing Company

David Scott Wright

Donald Wayne Coffland

Aaron Robert Ayers

Christine Mary Anderson

Donald Richard Young

Curt Backman

Scott Edward Shapiro

Curtis Lynn Backman

Bradley James Mitchell

Nick Shabdeh Evans

Eerik J Helmick

Damien O Martin

Lars Eric Blacken

Grace L Duncan

Keith M Cutler

Aphea Ann Thornton

Jeffrey Wayne Hamilton

Guy N Middleton

Daniel G Spreine

Dinh X Tran

Aaron R Ayers

A method of manipulating a wire, having an electrical contact, comprises clamping the wire with a predetermined force between a first gripping portion, installed in a first channel of a first tip half, and a second gripping portion, installed in a second channel of a second tip half. The method also includes pushing the electrical contact into a receptacle of a terminal block using a first internal shoulder of the first channel and a second internal shoulder of the second channel to interlock the electrical contact and the terminal block. With the wire clamped between the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion, the method includes verifying that the electrical contact and the terminal block are interlocked by pulling the first tip half and the second tip half away from the terminal block until the wire slips along the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion.

Apparatuses and methods for manipulating a wire

An apparatus () for installing at least one electrical contact () into a connector housing () comprises a base () configured to fixedly support the connector housing (), an alignment guide (), extending from the base () and having a central axis (), and a carrier (), translatably and pivotally coupled with the alignment guide (). With the connector housing () fixedly supported by the base (), the alignment guide () is configured to be parallel to an insertion axis () of a socket () of the connector housing (), and the carrier () is movable parallel to the insertion axis (). The apparatus () additionally comprises a tool holder (), coupled to the carrier (). The tool holder () has a working axis (), only one degree of freedom relative to the carrier (), and only three degrees of freedom relative to the base ().

Methods for installing electrical contacts into a connector housing

An automated system for processing an end of a cable. The system includes: a cable delivery system; a cable processing module; a pallet supported by the cable delivery system; a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the pallet; a motor operatively coupled for driving rotation of the drive wheel; and an idler wheel rotatably coupled to the pallet and forming a nip with the drive wheel. The cable processing module includes cable processing equipment and a computer system. The computer system is configured to: (a) cause the drive wheel to rotate in a cable pushing direction to cause a specified length of cable to be inserted into the cable processing equipment; (b) activate the cable processing equipment to operate on the cable end; and (c) cause the drive wheel to rotate in a cable pulling direction to cause the length of cable to be removed from the cable processing equipment.

System for processing an end of a cable

An apparatus for manipulating a wire comprises a first lever and a second lever. The first lever comprises a first tip-support portion, a first handle portion, and a first hinge portion. The second lever comprises a second tip-support portion, a second handle portion, and a second hinge portion. The first hinge portion and the second hinge portion are pivotally interconnected about a lever-pivot axis. The apparatus also comprises means for biasing the first tip-support portion and the second tip-support portion toward each other, a first tip half pivotally coupled to the first tip-support portion, and a second tip half pivotally coupled to the second tip-support portion. The first tip half comprises a first channel. The second tip half comprises a second channel.

Apparatuses for manipulating a wire

A tool comprises housing, elongated member, trigger, first jaw, and second jaw. Housing comprises housing abutment surface. Elongated member comprises distal end, proximal end, and elongated-member abutment surface. Trigger is pivotally coupled to housing and is coupled to elongated member. Elongated member translates along axis when trigger is moved relative to housing. First jaw abuts housing abutment surface of housing and is configured to engage cable tie. First jaw is located between distal end of elongated member and housing abutment surface. Second jaw abuts elongated-member abutment surface and is configured to engage cable tie. Second jaw translates relative to first jaw along axis when trigger is pivoted with respect to housing.

Tools for releasing cable ties

A tool comprises a chassis, a slider, a first jaw, a second jaw and a compression spring. The chassis comprises a distal end, a proximal end, opposite the distal end, and a distal interior wall, facing the proximal end of the chassis. The slider comprises a slider opening and is coupled to the chassis. The first jaw is coupled to the chassis and is located between the distal interior wall of the chassis and the slider. The second jaw is coupled to the chassis and is located between the first jaw and the slider. The compression spring is located between the first jaw and the second jaw. When the slider is moved relative to the chassis, the first jaw is stationary relative to the chassis, and the second jaw moves relative to the chassis and is stationary relative to the slider.

A tool for cutting a tie wrap bound about a wire bundle. The tool includes a body portion having a generally disc-shaped cutter and cutting edge. A shield covers one side of the cutter and defines first and second shield slots in communication with the cutting edge. A housing pivotally connected to the body portion covers the other side of the cutter and defines first and second housing slots that communicate with the cutting edge. The housing pivots between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first housing slot communicates with the first shield slot to expose the cutting edge for cutting purposes. In the second position, the first housing slot is out of communication with the first shield slot, thereby covering the cutting edge. And, in the third position, the second housing slot communicates with the second shield slot to expose the cutting edge.

Cutting methods

A method of cutting a tie wrap, bound about at least one wire, using a cutting tool is provided. The method comprising steps of: applying a housing of the cutting tool to the tie wrap, positioning a portion of the tie wrap within a first groove of the housing between first two opposing sidewalls and second two opposite sidewalls of the housing, moving the at least one wire and maintaining the at least one wire a distance away from the tie wrap, moving a circular blade of the cutting tool against the portion of the tie wrap, positioned within the first groove, and at least partially cutting the tie wrap with the circular blade. In some examples, the method further comprises controlling a depth of the circular blade within the tie wrap while the circular blade at least partially cuts the tie wrap.

Methods of operating cutting tools

An apparatus for installing at least one electrical contact into a connector housing comprises a base configured to fixedly support the connector housing, an alignment guide, extending from the base and having a central axis, and a carrier, translatably and pivotally coupled with the alignment guide. With the connector housing fixedly supported by the base, the alignment guide is configured to be parallel to an insertion axis of a socket of the connector housing, and the carrier is movable parallel to the insertion axis. The apparatus additionally comprises a tool holder, coupled to the carrier. The tool holder has a working axis, only one degree of freedom relative to the carrier, and only three degrees of freedom relative to the base.

Apparatuses and systems for installing electrical contacts into a connector housing

A tool for use in cutting a tie wrap that is bound about at least one wire is provided. The tool includes a housing having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side are coupled together to define a cavity. The housing further includes a groove formed in the first side and in the second side, wherein the groove is in flow communication with the cavity. A blade is coupled to the first side and positioned with the cavity, wherein the blade includes a cutting surface partially extending into the groove. The tool also includes a spacer coupled to the housing and configured to maintain the wire a distance away from the cutting surface when the housing is applied to the tie wrap.

Cutting tools

One example of the present disclosure relates to a tool for releasing a cable tie. The tool includes a front member having a front indexing surface and a front extension member. The tool includes a rear member movably coupled to the front member, with the rear member including a rear indexing surface and a rear extension member. When the front member and the rear member engage a head of the cable tie in a closed state, the front extension member protrudes into an opening in the head, in an insertion direction, a front extension distance that is less than the length of the head minus a distance from the rear surface to a pawl of the cable tie along the insertion direction, and spaces a contact portion of the pawl, along a transverse direction, by a distance sufficient to disengage the cable tie.

Method and apparatus for releasing a cable tie

A cutting tool and method of operating cutting tool. The tool includes a support having a first side and a second side. The tool further includes a handle coupled to at least one of the first side and the second side. The handle includes a blade, wherein the handle is configured to move the blade between a first position and a second position. An alignment guide is coupled to the support. The alignment guide includes a channel configured to receive the blade positioned in the second position.

Cutting tool and method of operating same

Illustrative Embodiments may provide for an apparatus and method for fitting a first tube to a second tube. The apparatus may have a first section and a second section. The first section and the second section may engage each other to form a spreine. Each section may engage a sleeve. The spreine may encircle the sleeve encircling the first tube. The spreine may include a slider that may receive a force that may move the spreine and the sleeve, engaged within the spreine, and fit the first tube to the second tube. Fitting the first tube to the second tube may include engaging the sleeve with a first O-ring that may encircle a first ferrule in the first tube, and the sleeve simultaneously engaging a second O-ring encircling a second ferrule in a second tube.

Growing community of inventors

Snohomish, WA, United States of America

David Scott Wright