Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means to assemble electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-07-10
Young, Lee (Department: 3729)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means to assemble electrical device
C029S751000, C029S03300H, C029S857000, C029S861000, C029S863000, C072S409060, C072S427000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256871
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an apparatus for crimping a crimpable connector onto at least one electrical conductor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, electrical connectors are used to interface one electrical conductor to another conductor. The conductors may be terminated to respective terminals or contacts and the terminals, in turn, may be interengaged by the connector. In other connectors, a pair of conductors may be connected directly to each other without employing terminals or contacts.
In the latter situation, above, two conductors often are connected directly to each other by using a crimpable conductive component such as a sleeve. The conductors are inserted into the sleeve, and the sleeve is crimped or deformed to clamp the conductors therebetween to mechanically and electrically join the conductors. The sleeve may be encased by a dielectric tube or cup.
A wide variety of assembly, terminating or crimping apparatus or tools are used for assembling, terminating or otherwise interfacing an electrical connector with the conductors to be joined. Such apparatus can range from fully automated machines which are quite elaborate and very expensive, to semi-automatic apparatus to simple manually operated tools such as crimping pliers. The present invention is directed to semi-automatic apparatus, particularly a crimping apparatus for crimping a connector to join a pair of electrical conductors, such as the ends of a pair of electrical wires. Heretofore, such crimping apparatus have been unduly complicated and unreliable. Particularly when the connectors are mechanically or otherwise fed to the apparatus, jamming continues to be a major problem. The present invention is directed to solving the problems of semi-automatic crimping apparatus in a relatively simple and inexpensive hand-operated tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described, particularly for crimping a crimpable connector onto at least one electrical conductor.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a pair crimping arms defining a staging area behind a crimping area, with a pair of opposing crimping jaws on opposite sides of the crimping area. The arms are movable between open and closed positions to move the jaws between loading and crimping positions, respectively. The arms in the open position (the loading position of the jaws) allow a first connector to be fed from the staging area to the crimping area. The jaws in the closed position (the crimping position of the jaws) block the staging area to prevent a second connector from being fed thereto while the first connector is being crimped. Means provided for moving the crimping arms between their positions. Means are provided for feeding connectors seriatim to the staging area. An ejector is provided for engaging the second connector fed to the staging area when the crimping arms are open and for moving the second connector from the staging area to the crimping area into engagement with the first connector to eject the first connector from the crimping area while the second connector moves into the crimping area.
As disclosed herein, means are provided for pivotally mounting the crimping arms for relative movement between their open and closed positions. The staging area is defined by an open area between the pivoted crimping arms behind the opposing crimping jaws. The open area is dimensioned to be narrower than one of the connectors when the crimping arms are in their closed position. The open area is at least as wide as one of the connectors when the crimping arms are in their open position.
The means for moving the crimping arms in the preferred embodiment comprise a piston and cylinder device. The means for moving the ejector also comprise a piston and cylinder device. The means for feeding the connectors include a hollow tube leading to the staging area.
Means are provided for moving the ejector from a retracted position to an extended position to effect moving the second connector from the staging area to the crimping area and ejecting the first connector from the crimping area. The ejector is moved back to its retracted position as the crimping arms are moved to their closed position to move the jaws into crimping position against the second connector.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a spring loaded collet at the front of the crimping area for releasably holding the first connector in the crimping area during crimping. The spring loaded collet allows the first connector to be pushed out of the collet by the second connector after crimping. As disclosed herein, the spring loaded collet comprises a split collet surrounded by a resilient ring.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3427852 (1969-02-01), O'Loughlin et al.
patent: 4236302 (1980-12-01), Kuehling
patent: 4489589 (1984-12-01), Kirsinas et al.
patent: 5054191 (1991-10-01), Schule
patent: 5385434 (1995-01-01), Quinn et al.
patent: 5687613 (1997-11-01), Swedberg
Bunnell Ed
DeRoss Robert
Grosjean John
MacNeil John
Quinn Robert
Chang Rick Kiltae
Molex Incorporated
Weiss Stephen Z.
Young Lee
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