GB1244059A - Method and apparatus for insertion of electrical contacts into electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

1,244,059. Inserting electrical contact pins and sockets; contact insertion tools. HUGHES AIRCRAFT CO. 23 July, 1969 [19 Aug., 1968], No. 37123/69. Headings B4C and B4W. [Also in Division H2] Electrical contacts in the form of pins or sockets crimped on to wires are gripped by a retaining device 44 on the end of an elongated portion 43 of a tool 40 and pulled into an aperture, e.g. 101, of a connector body 100, the retaining device 44 being actuated by a trigger 32 on the tool 40. The contacts may be numbered corresponding to numbering of the apertures in the connector body, and these apertures may have sealing members 102 with contact engaging ribs. For inserting the electrical contact pins 111, the retaining device 44 comprises a collet 13, Fig. 3, slidably mounted within a housing 14 and having an enlarged end portion 133 with a bevelled surface 139 engaging a similar surface 38 on the housing 14. The pin portion of the contact may be inserted in the collet 13, and when the collet is retracted by pulling a wire 15 having an enlarged portion 115 engaging with a shoulder 236 on the collet, slots 138 in the collet allows it to contract to grip the pin contacts. For inserting electrical contact sockets, the retaining device comprises a cylinder 22, Fig. 5, having bevelled edges 29, 30 which engage with similar edges 16, 24 on bushes 17, 18, the bush 17 being movable relative to the bush 18, the movement being limited in one direction by a stop 23. The cylinder 22 has a longitudinal slot (not shown) and hence expands outwardly when the bush 17 is moved towards the bush 18 by a wire 21, to which it is attached in a similar fashion to the wire 15 and collet 13. The cylinder 22 is thus inserted in the contact socket and expanded to grip the socket. The other end of either the wire 15 or 21 is held in a plunger 59, Fig. 6, partially contained in a housing 58 having a threaded portion 65 to adjust the tension in the wire. The plunger 59 is reciprocated against the pressure of a spring 60 by the rocking of a trigger 32 about a pivot 146, Fig. 7, through a " dumbell " 90 having each end engaged in recesses in the plunger and trigger respectively. In the fully retracted position of the plunger, i.e. when the contact is gripped to draw it into the aperture in the connecting body, the trigger and hence the dumbell is in its raised position. To release the contact the trigger is depressed through the position of maximum pressure in the spring 60 and is stopped at a position just below this. The movements of the trigger 32 are limited by a peg 148 abutting the perimeter of an aperture 145 in the trigger. In a further embodiment, the dumbell 90 may be dispensed with, and a trigger 177 rockable about a pivot 196 may be provided having cam surfaces 197, 178, which engage a roller 198 mounted on the plunger (not numbered). The tool as shown in Fig. 11 is in the retracted gripping position and forward movement of the trigger will release the contact.