The Boeing Company

Franklin D Harsch

Luis J Lazaro, Jr

Richard C Krotzer

Ronald E Novak

Hans Tittel

Steve Frediani

Gary W Gwin

Darryl K Loving, Sr

A device that automatically engages a contact, having a tip portion and a barrel portion, to a stripped end of an insulated wire. The apparatus includes a crimping gun having at least a pair of opposing jaws, and a push rod having a distal end that engages the tip portion of the contact and moves the contact to a pre-determined position between the jaws of the crimping gun. The device also includes a detector that sends out a signal upon sensing that the stripped end of the insulated wire has made contact with a rear most portion inside of the barrel portion of the contact, and a CPU in communication with the crimping gun and the detector. The CPU directs the crimping gun to crimp the contact to the stripped end of the insulated wire upon receipt of the signal from the detector.

Automated method and apparatus for crimping a contact

A cable clamp which utilizes a bayonet coupling attachment mechanism when coupled into an electrical connector. Attachment means of the cable clamp may utilize one of the two designs for two airplane general environments, such as the pressurized and unpressurized high vibration areas. Helical ramp grooves formed in the interior of a coupling ring act against bayonet pins mounted on a connector to effect coupling between the two components. A preloaded wavespring washer becomes effective during coupling of a Single Leg cable clamp used in the pressurized area, while a specially tapered spring washers become effective during the coupling procedure to maintain a no-motion condition on a Saddle-type cable clamp used in unpressurized, high vibration areas. Additionally, a plurality of detent pins are automatically shifted into a holding position at the completion of the coupling action, thereby further contributing to the maintenance of the coupled condition between the Saddle-type cable clamp and connector. Also, a grounding spring is centrally positioned on the cable clamp body which when coupled to an electrical connector makes interengageable contact thus providing low impedance and additional mechanical strengthening properties to the cable clamp.

Bayonet coupling cable clamp

An electrical connector modularly arrayed wherein electrical contacts either manual or automatic assemble through a grommet assembly into retention clips.

Modular, circular, environment resistant electrical connector assembly

A piston rod (32) retracts to close gripper jaws (50, 52) and cutting jaws (54, 56) and then to pivot the two pairs of jaws away from each other. The upper jaw (50, 54) of each pair is connected to a corresponding actuating lever (78). The levers (78) are pivotally mounted on a housing and are connected to an end connector (42) on the rod (32) by a flexible chain (94) which engages sprocket wheels (92) carried by the levers (78). Retraction of the rod (32) exerts a pulling force on the levers (78) to pivot the levers (78) toward each other. The pulling force has a component parallel to the actuating axis and a perpendicular component to maintain mechanical advantage.

Hand held pneumatic wire stripper

An electrical connector modularly arrayed for ease in manual and automatic fabrication and assembly of wire bundle assemblies. Increased structural strength, elimination of snap ring, straight bore inside diameter, the addition of an insert alignment key, and elimination of electrical contact retention clips are features of the present modular electrical connector assembly.

Method of assembling an electrical connector assembly

An electrical connector modularly arranged wherein electrical contacts either manual or automatic assemble though a grommet assembly into retention clips.

Improvements in electrical test probes. The problem with known probes is that degree of penetration into a material being tested is inconsistent and complete penetration of protective coatings is not reliably achieved. The device and method of the invention provide consistent and reliable penetration and electrical contact. Probe assembly (30) includes a probe tip (44) for penetrating a protective coating (4). An off-center punch (42) transmits an axially outward impact force of a predetermined magnitude to tip (44) when tip (44) is urged against coating (4) to move tip (44) axially inwardly against the force of springs (56, 74). The force compressing spring (56) is suddenly released to allow spring (56) to apply an abrupt impact force to tip (44). The degree of impact and penetration may be adjusted for different coating thicknesses by adjusting the stiffness of spring (56).

Growing community of inventors

Renton, WA, United States of America

Franklin D Harsch