Panduit Corporation

Other

Roy A Moody

Jack E Caveney

John J Bulanda

Robert F Levin

Ronald T Fulton

Steven S Timian

Stephen A Waltasti

James A Turek

Charles J Rehling

David W West

Larry A Hillegonds

Russell E Wende

Peter Kirsinas, Jr

David Robert Schoenfeld

William C Kearns

Thomas C Pienkowski

Cazimir M Guzay

Donald W Yudis

A tension limiting strap tool for tightening a cable tie around a bundle of wires or the like. The strap tool includes a pair of pivotally connected handles, one of the handles having a cam surface that cooperates with a flexible barb member to hold an end of the cable tie strap as the handles are pivoted towards each other. One of the handles also includes at least one abutment surface that pushes away the cable tie head from the held strap end, and thus tightens the cable tie around the bundle.

Tension limiting strap tool

An automatic harness testing apparatus test a multiconductor single connector wire harness for continuity faults in each conductive path of the wire harness by capacitively inducing an oscillatory test signal through the insulation of the conductors, probing each of the terminals of the connector and sequentially testing each probe for the presence of a test signal having a predetermined amplitude.

Apparatus for testing a wire harness and method of use

A ball-lock tie application tool includes a blade projecting from the front face of the tool disposed to engage a ball-containing finger on the head of the tie. During tensioning of the tie around an object by the tool the blade deforms the finger inwardly against the locking ball which results in a greater retention of the initial tension applied by the tool to the tie.

Ball-lock tie application tool and method of use

An automatic cable tie installation tool for applying discrete cable ties around bundles of wires or the like where the cable ties are provided to the tool on a continuous ribbon. The automatic tool including a dispenser mechanism that accepts the ribbon of cable ties and provides discrete cable ties therefrom; a tool mechanism that positions the discrete cable tie around the bundle of wire, tensions the tie to a preselected value and severs the tail of the cable tie; and a conveyance mechanism that delivers the cable tie provided by the dispenser mechansim to the tool mechanism. The dispenser mechanism including a reel mechanism for providing the cable tie ribbon to the dispenser mechanism, a grooved cylinder that carries individual cable ties for positioning and translating the ribbon longitudinally, an index mechanism for rotating the cylinder in accurate increments, a mechanism for separating individual cable ties from the ribbon, a guide mechanism for positioning the ribbon laterally relative to the separation means and a mechanism for transferring the separated cable ties to the conveyance mechanism. The ribbon includes a strip portion extending the length of the ribbon having a plurality of cable ties connected thereto by respective connecting tabs. The strip portion having an alignment mechanism adapted to cooperate with the guide mechanism in the dispenser to accurately position the ribbon laterally in the dispenser mechanism.

Dispenser of discrete cable ties provided on a continuous ribbon of

An integral one-piece cable tie including an elongated flexible strap having a row of teeth thereon, a frame integral with one end of the strap and having an abutment wall and an entry surface and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending therethrough, a pawl pivotally mounted by a hinge within the opening and having a set of teeth thereon shaped complementary to the row of teeth, wedging surfaces on the facing portions of the frame and the pawl, the thickness of the hinge being less than the thickness of the strap so as to accommodate sliding movement of the pawl toward the entry surface with the wedging surfaces in contact, thereby to move the set of teeth toward the abutment wall to grip the strap therebetween.

One-piece cable tie

Ribbon of cable ties including a strip portion extending the length of the ribbon having a plurality of cable ties connected thereto by respective connecting tabs. The strip portion having an alignment mechanism adapted to cooperate with the guide mechanism in a dispenser to accurately position the ribbon laterally in the dispenser mechanism.

Tool for the automatic installation of discrete cable ties provided on a

An insulation displacement mass termination connector includes a base and a cover with the base having a plurality of insulation displacement terminal elements extending toward the cover. The base and cover are joined by interconnection means for holding the connector in an insertion position for receiving the conductors. The base and cover are movable from the insertion position to a connector termination position in which the elements engage the conductors.

Flat cable connector and method of use

A portable tool for simultaneously terminating a plurality of conductors in a mass termination, insulation displacement connector. The connector is positioned in a connector holder mounted on a wiring board. The tool includes structure for detachably mounting the tool on the connector holder. The tool also includes an insertion assembly which reciprocates relative to the holder for moving the conductors to terminate them in the connector. The mounting structure includes locking structure for locking the tool to the holder only prior to termination of the conductors. Thus the operator is prevented from inadvertently removing the tool from the holder prior to conductor termination.

Portable mass termination tool

A tool assembly for use with a prime mover, such as a bench press, for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in a mass terminator connector. The tool assembly includes a pair of supports, at least one of which is adapted for attachment to the prime mover, for reciprocal movement relative to one another. The assembly also includes a conductor insertion die set carried by one of the supports for inserting the conductors into the connector. This die set includes an insertion die corresponding to each terminal element of the connector. Finally, the assembly includes connector holding means carried by the other support for holding the connector in alignment with the die set. The holding means has connector release means for retaining the connector in the holding means and is engageable by the connector and movable by the connector from a retention position to a release position and biased to the retention position. Thus, by pulling the terminated conductors sufficiently to overcome the bias, the connector is released from the holding means.

Mass termination connector tool assembly

An integral tie strip formed from sheet stock for fastening elongate objects or for closure of containers. The tie including a substantially planar elongated strap having a plurality of raised portions formed on and projecting from the plane of the strap. Joined to the strap is a substantially planar head having a slit which accepts the strap and flexibly accommodates the receipt of the strap and the raised portions upon insertion of the strap into the head but engages the raised portions upon retrograde movement of the strap. Formed on the head is a locking tongue which is positioned to engage the raised portions and ensure that the raised portions cannot pass through the slit upon retrograde movement of the strap.

Tie strip

An automatic cable tie installation tool for applying discrete cable ties around bundles of wires or the like where the cable ties are provided to the tool on a continuous ribbon. The automatic tool including a dispenser mechanism that accepts the ribbon of cable ties and provides discrete cable ties therefrom; a tool mechanism that positions the discrete cable tie around the bundle of wire, tensions the tie to a preselected value and severs the tail of the cable tie; and a conveyance mechanism that delivers the cable tie provided by the dispenser mechanism to the tool mechanism. The dispenser mechanism including a reel mechanism for providing the cable tie ribbon to the dispenser mechanism, a grooved cylinder that carries individual cable ties for positioning and translating the ribbon longitudinally, an index mechanism for rotating the cylinder in accurate increments, a mechanism for separating individual cable ties from the ribbon, a guide mechanism for positioning the ribbon laterally relative to the separation means and a mechanism for transferring the separated cable ties to the conveyance mechanism. The ribbon includes a strip portion extending the length of the ribbon having a plurality of cable ties connected thereto by respective connecting tabs. The strip portion having an alignment mechanism adapted to cooperate with the guide mechanism in the dispenser to accurately position the ribbon laterally in the dispenser mechanism.

Termination tooling adapted for use with a prime mover, such as a bench press, for terminating a flat cable in a connector of the type having an insulative base and cover with the base carrying a plurality of insulation displacement terminal elements extending toward the cover. The tooling includes a termination die and holding means for positioning the connector with respect to the termination die. The prime mover is connected to cause the die and the holding means to undergo reciprocal movement relative to one another. The tooling also includes stop means disposed adjacent one side of a connector positioned in the holding means for engaging the leading end of a flat cable. Cable movement means is provided for moving the leading end of the cable a predetermined distance away from the stop toward the connector prior to termination of the connector.

Termination tooling for applying connectors to flat cable

A tool for applying an elongate connector to a plurality of insulated conductors. The connector includes a base and a cover with the base having a plurality of insulation displacement terminal elements extending toward the cover. The base and cover are joined by interconnection means for holding the connector in an insertion position for receiving the conductors. The base and cover are movable from the insertion position to a connector termination position in which the elements engage the conductors. The tool includes a die for moving the connector to its termination position, holding means for positioning the connector with respect to the die and prime mover means connected to cause the die and a component of the holding means to undergo reciprocal movement relative to one another. The holding means includes stop means positioned to engage the connector when it is in its insertion position. The stop means is spaced from the connector when the connector has been moved to its termination position whereby, prior to termination, the stop means maintains the connector in alignment with the die and, after termination, the connector can be removed from the tool without interference from the stop means.

Tool for applying connectors

A method of fabricating a wire harness, the invention comprises several steps. The connectors are positioned at desired locations at a first station. Then wires in lengths dictated by the dimensions of the finished harness are run between predetermined terminal element locations at the connectors. The various wires are fixed in the respective holding means associated with the predetermined terminal element locations so that prior to electrical termination of the wires, the partially completed harness can be moved to a station remote from the first station with the wires maintained relative to the entrances of their corresponding wire-receiving slots.

Method of fabricating a wire harness

Apparatus for insulating a connector, mechanically joined to one end of an electrical conductor, by positioning a radially expandable resilient insulating sleeve, having an inside diameter in its non-expanded condition smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the connector, about the connector. The connector includes one end portion mechanically joined to the conductor and a terminal end portion for connection to another electrical component. The apparatus of the present invention includes expansion means for expanding the sleeve sufficiently to receive the connector and holding means for maintaining the sleeve in its expanded condition and for permitting the connector to be received, terminal end portion first, into the expanded sleeve. The apparatus further includes release means operable to release the sleeve from its expanded condition whereby after the sleeve is held expanded and said connector inserted therein, operation of the release means frees the sleeve to become disposed about and compressively hold said connector. As a method, the invention comprises several steps. The sleeve is expanded sufficiently to receive the connector and held in its expanded condition. Thereafter, the connector is inserted, terminal end portion first, into the expanded sleeve. Finally, the sleeve is released from its expanded condition whereby it contracts about and effectively insulates the connector.

Growing community of inventors

Flossmoor, IL, United States of America

Roy A Moody