Abstract: An igniter plug having a center electrode and annular electrode with an air gap therebetween is provided having a nickel coating on the tungsten electrode and a portion of the supporting pin therefor, and a collar situate within a portion of the annular electrode to retain a ceramic sleeve within the air gap.

Abstract: In order to prevent the rotation of an electrical contact 30 within a connector assembly housing 3 the contact 30 is provided with a plurality of radial fins 37 which are located within a space between resiliently deflectable fingers 21 which are part of the contact retaining insert 20. Because the contact 30 does not rotate, the winding of a wire around the wire receiving portion 38 of the contact is facilitated.

Abstract: This invention is a three piece contact assembly of the type having an inner sleeve (10), a forward sleeve (20), and a rear sleeve (30), wherein the inner sleeve is characterized by a dual thickness. The forward portion of the inner sleeve 10 has a thickness (T) greater than the thickness (t) of the rear wire receiving end thereby strengthening the deflectable fingers (14) at the mating end of the inner sleeve (10).

Abstract: A method of making a hermaphroditic electric contact including steps of forming a tubular body with fingers having offset blade portions extending longitudinally from one end portion of the body, bending the blade portions to face radially inwardly of the body, cutting openings in the body to form medial wall portions, forcing the opposite ends of the tube together and allowing the wall portions to bend outwardly and form U-shaped locking shoulders, the locking shoulders being axially compressible during twisting fitment of the contact into a retention shoulder formed in a connector passage.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes means for piercing the insulation of an insulated conductor wire, the piercing means including inner and outer coaxially interfitted sleeves slidably disposed for movement between first and second axial positions which define an electrically unconnected and an electrically terminated position with respect to the wire. One embodiment includes the outer sleeve having diametrically disposed openings, the inner sleeve having a pair of axial slots disposed in register with the openings, a deflectable arm extending radially outwardly from an axial end of each slot and through a respective opening with each arm including a pointed end for piercing the insulation of the wire. Means for locking the sleeves in the terminated position include a resilient lance being adapted to spring outwardly from the inner sleeve to abut an end of the outer sleeve. In operation, a wire is inserted into the wire receiving end of the inner sleeve in the first position.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method for sorting a batch (200) of electrical contact pieces (11, 11') into two groups. The apparatus is characterized by a tiltable frame (72) concentrically mounting an assembly of a rotatable circular table (74) in spaced relation to a platform (80) having a radial wall (82) of less diameter than the table (74) to define an opening (86) therebetween. The circular table (74) includes an annulus sized to receive contacts. A guide arrangement (46) including a pair of guide members (50, 52) allows the contacts to pass to the rotating annulus, the good contacts rolling between the opening and through central holes in the table and the bad contacts rotating around and being scraped from the annulus.

Abstract: The invention is a plastic coupling ring 20 that has along the sides of a groove 21 in the forward mating portion thereof a metal liner 10 that protects the sides of the groove 21 when it is mated with the bayonet pin on another connector housing.

Abstract: A one-piece molded protection cap 200 having a bayonet-type coupling arrangement and a resilient member 260 for fitting about a pair of contacts terminated to a cable 50 in a connector 100 of the type including a pair of locking lugs 150. The coupling arrangement includes a pair of separated annular walls 220 with a rigid latch 280 between each with each latch having a V-shaped ridge 250 having a peak 257 for bearing against a lip 154 extending from the lug of the connector, a keyway 254 initially allowing axial approach and retreat of the locking lugs while preventing rotation, the V-shaped ridge then allowing rotation while preventing substantial axial retreat or approach, the resilient member (260) biasing the cap from the connector and locking the lug in a locking recess 258 in the final rotated position.

Abstract: A plurality of integrally molded fingers (21) extend outwardly and forwardly from the rear portion of a housing (20) to captivate an annular shoulder (11) of a coupling member (10) between the fingers (21) and an annular shoulder (22) on a housing (20).

Abstract: The invention is a plastic connector assembly characterized by a metal washer 10b, located between a wave washer 30 and the shoulder 21 of the connector housing 20. The metal washer 10 is further characterized by at least one projection 11 or 12 thereon which prevents relative motion between the metal washer 10b and the housing shoulder 21. This reduces the wear on the shoulder of the housing. Similarly to reduce wear on the shoulder in the coupling ring a second metal washer 10a may be placed on the other side of the wave washer 30 to accomplish the same purpose.

Abstract: The invention is a one piece molded electrical connector insert that snaps in to a connector housing without the need for additional mounting members or chemical bonding. The insert includes a plurality of resiliently and radially deflectable fingers 21 disposed around the outside of the insert and a second plurality of resiliently and axially deflectable fingers 22 also disposed on the outside of the insert 20 and adjacent to first plurality of fingers 21. The radial fingers 21 and axial fingers 22 completely fill a groove 15 in the inside of a connector housing 10 to prevent axial movement of the insert once it is mounted in the connector housing 10.

Abstract: The invention described is a plastic electrical connector characterized by a metal sleeve 20 mounted around the bayonet pin 12 coupling that projects from a connector housing 10.

Abstract: An improved electrical connector assembly (10) is disclosed. The assembly is especially adapted for engagement with a printed circuit board (76) having electrical circuits formed on both sides thereof. The assembly includes a body (12) of molded dielectric material having four spaced rows of passages (24) extending therethrough from a front face (26) to a rear face (28) of the body. The assembly also includes brush wire electrical contacts (14) each received in its respective passage. Each of the contacts has a cylindrical body portion (62) and an elongated tail (64) attached to one end of its body portion. The ends (72) of the termination portions extend beyond the rear face and form two spaced straight line rows adapted to receive the printed circuit board therebetween. The ends (63) of the body portions opposite their respective termination portions comprise four spaced apart, straight line rows of body portion ends.

Abstract: The invention is an electrical connector assembly characterized by a plurality of resiliently deflectable fingers (11) which extend between a shoulder 12 in the coupling ring and a shoulder 22 of the housing 20 to provide a bias between the coupling ring 10 and the housing 20 when the coupling ring 10 is completely threaded onto another connector housing. The fingers 11 may be integrally molded into either the coupling ring or the housing shoulder eliminating the need for an extra biasing member. The bias increases the force of friction on the threads in the coupling ring when it is fully mated to retard unwanted rotation, i.e., uncoupling.

Abstract: The invention described is a plastic electrical connector characterized by a coupling ring 1 having two elongated apertures 11 and 14, one of which 14 receives a pin 21 on another housing 2. The elongated aperture 11 allows the portion 16 between the apertures 11 and 14 to deflect when the pin 21 travels between recesses 15 in one side of aperture 14 thereby providing a bias against the coupling ring 1 that helps to prevent accidental uncoupling of the housings 2 and 3.

Abstract: This invention is an electrical connector assembly that prevents unwanted decoupling when this connector assembly is connected to another connector assembly. The first connector assembly is characterized by at least one resiliently deflectable and rearwardly extending projection 31 that mates with a notch 21 in the coupling ring 20 to prevent rotation of the coupling ring when it is connected to the second connector housing. An outer ring 10 is used to unlock the coupling ring and allow rotation when the coupling ring 10 is pushed forward against the coupling ring 20 and a forward projection 11 on the outer ring 10 enters the notch 21 in the coupling ring 20 and forcing the housing projection 31 out of the notch so that when the outer ring 10 is rotated the coupling ring 20 will also rotate.

Abstract: Strain relief apparatus for a plurality of discrete side-by-side cables (60) terminating in a matable electrical connector (10) housing (11) disposing a like plurality of contacts in a generally linear array or parallel side-by-side relation with each terminated wire extending axially rearwardly therefrom. The strain relief apparatus includes a pair of U-shaped channels (30, 40) having confrontable medial bight portions for clasping plates (36, 46) provided with aligned sets of apertures (37, 47) and coated with a deformable plastic material (55), the medial bight portions when brought into confronting relation and compressed together about the rearwardly extending wires passing therebetween rigidly secures an axial portion of each of the wires and prevents forces from deflecting the wires. A pair of stand-off support brackets (20) securingly spaces each of the channels axially rearward from the connector entry face (14).

Abstract: A one piece insert (10) for retaining a plurality of electrical contacts (20) in an electrical connector. The insert (10) includes a plurality of bores or passageways (15) having integral with the insert means for retaining a contact within each of the insert passages. The integral means for retaining a contact (20) includes a plurality of radially deflectable contact retaining fingers (11) adjacent a plurality of ribs (16). Shoulders (17) on the ribs (16) and the free ends (12) of the retention fingers (11) engage forwardly and rearwardly facing shoulders (21, 22) on a contact, thereby captivating a portion (25) of the contact within the insert. The radially deflectable fingers (11) in the insert allow a contact to be inserted and removed from one end of an electrical connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming brush contacts from spools of wire and holders for angular ended wire segments cut from said wires, has a wire feeding means for feeding spools thereof independently of each other, a cutting device for cutting segments from the wires and feeding the segments to a common collection point where the segments are loaded into the holders provided, and a crimping device for crimping the holder to retain the wires therein without causing flaring of the exposed ends. A checking station is provided to determine whether each brush contact contains the requisite number of wire segments and ejection means to eject defective contacts. The completed contacts are collected in such a manner as to prevent damage thereto.

Abstract: A valving arrangement is disclosed for varying the quantity and timing of fuel injections of a jerk pump (10) associated with an internal combustion engine. The arrangement consists of a bypass valve (40) in communication with the injection chamber (22) of the jerk pump (10) which produces a controlled bypass of fuel rather than being delivered through the injector delivery valve (42) to the engine cylinders. The bypass valve (40) in turn is controlled by a solenoid-operated three-way pilot valve (88) which causes pressurizing or venting of an operating chamber (84) adjacent a bypass valve operator piston (80). The three-way pilot valve (88) in turn is controlled by the fuel system electronic controls (98) to control the timing and volume of fuel charge delivered by the jerk pump (10) in each injection cycle.