Bunker Ramo Corporation

Allied Corporation

Harley R Holt

Energizing a solenoid causes mechanical means to close a pair of jaws and crimp a cable in a U-shaped cable clamp mounted to a multi-contact connector positioned for termination in an electrically powered termination tool. A movable carriage carries termination means and controls activation of switch means for energizing the solenoid during a portion of its travel. The mechanical means comprise either a link block and toggle levers or bell cranks and push bars. Hold-down means are provided for temporarily holding the cable in the clamp prior to closure.

Apparatus for assembling electrical cables to electrical connectors

An apparatus and method for terminating insulated conductors in insulation-piercing contacts mounted in a connector body utilizing independently movable carriage and conductor retention means operating between separated loading and termination stations.

Conductor termination apparatus

A hand tool for assembling electrical cables to an electrical connector which has a cable clamp for clamping a cable in position for termination with conductive contact means on the connector. The tool includes a pair of roller members mounted on a base for rotation about generally parallel, spaced axes of rotation. The roller members have opposed notches in the peripheries thereof, defining jaws for movement toward and away from the connector to engage the cable clamp for crimping a cable to provide strain relief therefor. A hand lever is fixed at one end thereof to one roller member and extends outwardly therefrom in a plane generally perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the roller members. A link directly interconnects the roller members for conjoint rotation thereof in opposite directions toward and away from the cable clamp means in response to movement of the hand lever.

A hand operated tool for assembling electrical cables to an electrical connector which has a cable clamp for clamping a cable in position for termination with conductive contact means on the connector. A connector is properly located in position for receiving an electrical cable, and a pair of jaw members is mounted on the apparatus for movement in a transverse direction toward and away from the connector to engage and crimp the cable clamp onto the cable and provide strain relief therefor. A single hand lever is mounted for pivotal movement in a front-to-rear direction generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the jaw members. A motion transmitting mechanism is operatively associated between the hand lever and the jaw members for moving the jaw members in response to pivotal movement of the hand lever. The motion transmitting mechanism includes a cam member, having a cam ramp, fixed to the inner end of the hand lever, and a roller-type cam follower operatively associated with one of the clamping jaw members. The jaw members are interconnected by gear segments for conjoint movement thereof in unison toward and away from the connector and its cable clamp.

An apparatus for simultaneously terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in the insulation piercing contacts of a multiple contact electrical connector is disclosed. The apparatus includes means for mounting a connector in conductor receiving position, means for aligning the conductors adjacent individual contacts of the connector, means for positioning the insertion tool adjacent the contacts, the insertion tool being movable in a non-arcuate path substantially perpendicular to the planes defined by the contacts of the connector. The apparatus will accommodate connectors of different transverse dimensions without the necessity of any adjustment and includes uniquely configured conductor aligning means which enhance and facilitate the terminating operations.

Conductor terminating apparatus

A tool for facilitating the insertion of an electrical contact into a contact receiving bore of a resilient electrical connector together with a unitary control mechanism for such a tool. The tool has bore enlarging means including a sleeve and a rod coaxially aligned within the sleeve for insertion into the bore of the connector for enlargement thereof. The tool also includes a unitary control mechanism operatively associated therewith which enables relative movement between the sleeve and the rod. The unitary control mechanism includes spring release means which in a first position resists rearward movement of the sleeve and the rod, in a second position permits rearward movement of the rod but resists rearward movement of the sleeve, and again in the first position permits rearward movement of the sleeve for relative sequential movement between the sleeve and the rod. The tool can also include an opening therein having first and second pistons controlled by the unitary control mechanism with the sleeve being secured to the first piston and the rod being secured to the second piston. With such a tool, the unitary control mechanism enables the rod to be retracted within the sleeve for insertion of the contact into the sleeve and thereafter enables the sleeve to be withdrawn from the bore leaving the contact within the connector.

Contact insertion tool and unitary control mechanism therefor

Apparatus for inserting a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation piercing portions of contacts of an electrical device employs an electrically operable programmer for selectively controlling movement of a carriage along the electrical device, for example an electrical connector, and for controlling the insertion of conductors on each side of the device. The carriage is mounted for movement along the connector and is selectively programmed to stop at rest insertion positions at which insertion tools are operated to insert and terminate the conductors. The conductors are moved in the general direction of the insulation piercing portions of the contacts, manually and under tension, and are received by guide means which accurately align and position the conductors adjacent the respective contact portions. Each insertion tool includes two blades which are movable together toward the electrical connector. One of the blades normally extends beyond the other to slightly pre-insert a portion of a conductor into a strain relief member adjacent the contact portion prior to cutting and insertion of the conductor into the insulation piercing contact portion. The strain relief insertion blade is biased toward its extended position and movable with respect to the other insertion blade so as to have its forward end aligned with the forward end of the other blade for simultaneous and complete insertion of the conductor into the contact portion and the strain relief member after initial partial pre-insertion and cutting have occurred. Individual conductors of a pair of conductors may be simultaneously inserted on opposite sides of a connector, or sequentially on the same side of a connector by selection of double-sided or single-sided modes of operation. Also, connectors of different widths may be safely contacted without contact damage. A visual indicator is provided to indicate the position of a contact being terminated.

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Forest Park, IL, United States of America

Harley R Holt