The Whitaker Corporation

Yazaki North America, Inc.

Amp LLC

William Herbert Bair

Kenneth F Folk

Larry E Dittmann

Matthew T Miller

Jeffrey J Fegley

Craig Warren Hornung

David Joseph Erb

Alden O Long, Jr

The invention provides a modular distribution system having central distribution panel for receiving a plurality of services at an input and having a plurality of outputs each connected to an outlet at a remote location. A central region is provided in the central distribution panel having a plurality of module receiving connectors each having a first portion connected to the input and a second portion connected to one of the plurality of outlets. A plurality of modules are each separately connectable to a respective module receiving connector and configured to bridge a selected service from the first portion of the module receiving connector to the second portion of the module receiving connector.

Reconfigurable signal distribution system

A terminal applicator (10) includes a terminal feed mechanism (46) having a feed finger (84) attached to a slide member (70) that is adjustably movable with respect to a yoke (45) of the feed mechanism for positioning the end feed point of the feed finger (84). An adjusting screw (110) is arranged to move the slid member (70) to the desired position. A locking member (164) is arranged to both frictionally bind the threads of the adjusting screw so that it cannot be turned and to frictionally engage the mating surfaces of the slide member and the yoke (45) so that the slide member (70) cannot slide with respect to the yoke (45).

Feed position locking device for a terminal applicator

A terminal applicator (10) is provided for attaching terminals to electrical conductors. The applicator (10) includes a frame (12) having a base plate (28) and two upright plates (34,38) extending upwardly from the base plate. The two upright plates (34,38) are rigidly attached to each other along a surface (42,44) adjacent an edge of each so that they form a right angle. One end of each of the upright plates (34,38) is rigidly attached to the base plate (28) at right angles thereto. A ramway (50) is rigidly attached to one of the upright plates (34) and is in sliding engagement with an opening (94) in a ram (14). The ram (14) is arranged for reciprocating motion toward and away from the base plate (28) and includes outer surfaces (112,114,116,118) for mounting crimping tooling and cams (120) or other power takeoff devices.

Applicator for terminating electrical wires

A terminal feed mechanism (16) is provided for an applicator (10) for attaching terminals (198) to electrical conductors. The feed mechanism (16) includes first, second, and third pivoting links (34, 36, and 38, respectively), the first and second of which are pivotally coupled by means of gear teeth (52, 54). The second and third links (36, 38) are coupled by an adjustable slide member (84) that is in sliding engagement with the third link (38). The position of the slide member with respect to the third link governs the length of the feed stroke. A feed finger (170) that engages and advances the strip (196) of terminals (198) is carried by another adjusting mechanism (46) that independently controls the feed end point of the feed finger (170).

Feed mechanism for a terminal applicator

A powered hand tool (10) is disclosed for crimping terminals (30) to a conductor. The tool includes a linear actuator (18) for driving a cam (70) along a linear path (272). The cam (70) interacts with a pair of followers (192, 194) to first cause the crimping mechanism (16) to crimp the terminal and then, during the last part of the power stroke, to open the crimping mechanism (16) so that the crimped terminal (30) can be removed during the return stroke. Additionally, during the last part of the power stroke the feed mechanism (22) is actuated to store energy so that during the return stroke the main mechanism can utilize the stored energy to effect the feeding of the next terminal into position for crimping.

Power crimping tool for tape feed products

A ram drive mechanism for an automated terminal crimping machine of the type having a rotating crank shaft with an offset crank pin (2) protruding therefrom and orbiting about the rotation axis of the crank shaft. The mechanism includes a ram (20) mounted for reciprocating motion in a first direction toward a crimping zone and in a second direction away from a crimping zone. The ram (20) carries tooling for performing a terminal crimping operation. The invention also includes a ram drive linkage comprising a drive link (40) having a pivotal connection with the crank pin (2) at one end. An other end of the drive link (40) has a pivotal connection with a link pin (50). The drive linkage reciprocates the ram (20) in accordance with orbiting of the crank pin (2). The ram (20) is arranged such that the one end of the drive link is disposed relatively further in the first direction than the other end of the drive link, whereby the drive link is in tension during the reciprocation of the ram toward the crimping zone.

Ram drive mechanism having a pivoted drive link

The present invention includes a lead sorting module in an automated lead making machine for segregating leads having defective terminations from the other leads. The module includes a lead deflecting door that is moved by an actuator to cause the leads having defective terminations to fall into one tray and the other leads to fall into another tray. The machine includes a crimp quality monitor which determines whether or not a termination is defective and then effects a corresponding control over the actuator.

Growing community of inventors

Mechanicsburg, PA, United States of America

William Herbert Bair