Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing having a slot and an elastomeric connector of uniform width disposed in the slot.

Abstract: An electrical socket (10) is disclosed for an electronic package (2) having an array of pins (4) wherein at least some of the pins are standoff pins each having a respective cross-sectional enlargement (6). The socket comprises a housing having a wall (12) defining a package mounting surface (14) and an oppositely facing locking surface (58). The wall has an array of openings (18, 48) which receive the pins and permit free passage of the enlargements through the wall. The openings include lateral channels (56) which are narrower than the enlargements. The package is secured to the socket by inserting the leads into their associated entranceways and moving the package transversely over the mounting surface so that the enlargements become trapped beneath the locking surface.

Abstract: A socket (8) for electrically connecting a circuit card (4) to a substrate comprises a dielectric housing (10) defining a card-receiving slot (12) having a bottom surface (24) and a pair of opposite side surfaces (26, 28), and a plurality of contacts (31, 32) spaced apart along the length of the slot. The plurality of contacts include contact beams (37, 38) at least some of which extend to a greater height above the bottom surface than others of the contact beams. Each of the contact beams includes a contact section (45, 46) extending into the slot and having a card-contacting surface (47, 48) for electrically connecting with the circuit card. All of the card-contacting surfaces are at a substantially same height above the bottom surface.

Abstract: A safety switch system for a machine having a ram which can be cycled toward and away from a workstation includes a pair of trip switch triggers disposed on handgrips remote from the workstation and an anvil switch trigger coupled to the machine at the workstation. The trip switch triggers are operable to effect a first signal, and the anvil switch trigger is operable to effect a second signal. The handgrips are coupled to a workpiece holder which is movable to align a selected area of a workpiece in the tooling ram path and to move the workpiece into actuating engagement with the anvil switch trigger. A control system is provided for cycling the ram upon sensing the first and second signals.

Abstract: An electrical plug connector for an electrical connector assembly comprises a dielectric housing having at least one cavity which extends inwardly from a mating face of the housing. An electrically conductive socket contact is disposed in the at least one cavity. The socket contact has a generally tubular shape with inner and outer surfaces and an end face which is disposed in a vicinity of the mating face. A first dielectric member is disposed on the socket contact and extends at least over the end face so as to shield the socket contact from inadvertent electrical engagement. For a socket contact of relatively large diameter, a second dielectric member having a post may be disposed centrally within the socket contact to prevent inadvertent engagement with the inner surface thereof.

Abstract: A fixture for handling an article comprises a body which defines a track having a length which extends between upstream and downstream ends. The track is configured for confining the article to sliding movement along the length of the track. The track is open to an outside of the body along at least a portion of its length so as to provide access for performing an operation of the article. The body has a first finger mechanism disposed relatively upstream along the track for permitting the article to pass along the track in a downstream direction and for preventing the article to pass the first finger mechanism in an upstream direction. A second finger mechanism is disposed downstream from the first finger mechanism for preventing inadvertent downstream movement of the article.

Abstract: An electrical contact comprises a generally flat contact body having a central member and a pair of compliant sections formed as tandem loops on opposite sides of the central member. Each of the compliant sections has a contact section at an end remote from the central member, and the body is resiliently compressible along an axis of deflection extending through the central member and the contact sections.

Abstract: A machine (10) for inserting metal hold down clips into a connector housing (26) is disclosed. An improved positioning mechanism (14) is provided for accurately positioning the housing (26) with respect to the parts to be inserted. The positioning mechanism (14) includes a track (64) for receiving and guiding the connector housing along a feed path and through an insertion workstation (60) where the hold down clips are inserted. The track (64) is vertically movable by a servo motor (100) while an adjacent feed mechanism (160) positions the connector housing along the track. The adjacent feed mechanism (160) is coupled to the track so that it moves vertically with movement of the track but moves horizontally by means of a second servo motor (190) independent of movement of the track. Both servo motors are mounted to the frame (12) structure and, therefore, do not contribute to the mass of the moving mechanisms.

Abstract: A crimping apparatus includes a pair of relatively movable jaws (22) carrying a mating pair of crimping dies (25). Stop surfaces (30) on respective ones of the jaws are in abutting relationship when the dies are fully closed. A flat film sensor (40) on one of the stop surfaces is coupled in an electrical circuit so as to produce an electrical signal when the stop surfaces come together and a force is imposed on the sensor. The electrical signal may be used to illuminate a visual display, generate an audio tone, or trigger an actuator which causes the jaws to retract to an open position.

Abstract: A crimping tool has a movable die attached to a reciprocable slide member for movement toward and away from a fixed die. A pair of rollers are journaled for rotation in pivotable links carried by the slide member. An actuating mechanism includes a wedge which is movable between the pair of rollers to drive the rollers apart and into engagement with a pair of ramps, thereby moving the slide member and the movable die toward the fixed die. A biasing mechanism is selectively operable to bias the slide member and the movable die either toward or away from the fixed die with a relatively small force during times when the wedge is withdrawn from between the rollers.

Abstract: A shunt (20) for electrically joining terminal posts (12) each having a width (W) comprises a base (22) which is apertured (23) to freely receive the posts (12) therethrough, and arms (26) extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base (22) and converging to a constriction (28) between free ends (18) thereof. A dimension (D) of the constriction (28) is less than the width of the posts (12), whereby the posts may be captured between the free ends (18). The base (22) has ears (24) at opposite ends which extend beyond side edges (27) of the arms (26) and are adapted to be engaged by the tool (30). The tool comprises a body (32) and a separator (34) extending from the body. The separator (34) has a width (S) which is greater than the constriction dimension (D) but less than the width (W) of the posts. The separator (34) is insertable in the constriction (28) to resiliently deflect the arms (26) and thereby become engaged between the free ends (18) to frictionally retain the shunt (20) to the tool (30).

Abstract: A socket for electrically connecting a circuit card to a substrate comprises a dielectric housing (10) having a card receiving slot (12) and a plurality of contacts (30). Each of the contacts (30) comprises an electrically conductive body including a portion rigidly secured with respect to the housing, a lead for engaging a respective circuit trace on the substrate, and an elastic portion extending from the rigidly secured portion along a course which includes first a stress loop (44) and then a contact loop (46). The contact loop (46) is open in a direction toward the slot opening. A pair of opposed contact points (50, 52) at ends of the contact loop 46 extend into the slot (12) through opposite sides thereof for engaging respective contact pads on the circuit card. The stress loop (44) is open in a direction substantially opposite to the contact loop.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a generally cylindrical tube member (10) having a tube wall (12) and an electrically conductive body (22) having a plurality of louvers (24) in a generally tubular array. The body and the tube member are nested one within the other, with the louvers having respective sides (28) projecting away from the tube wall for engagement with a complementary connector. The body and the tube member are secured against relative axial movement in at least one direction by at least one extruded projection (40) of the tube wall.

Abstract: A contact retention device for an electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing (12) having a cavity (18) with opposed first and second walls (30, 32). A recess (34) in the first wall (30) has side walls (35) which define corners (36) with the first wall. A contact (40) has a retention section (46) configured for insertion into the cavity (18). The retention section (46) has a base surface (54) which resides against the second wall (32) of the cavity. An oppositely facing surface (56) of the retention section has an embossment (58) with non-parallel side surfaces (60) which engage the corners (36) of the cavity in an interference fit, thereby retaining the contact in the connector.

Abstract: An initially integral terminal assembly 84; 94 useful for terminating a selected conductor 74; of a flat power cable 72 having at least two insulated conductors 74, 76 includes upper and lower plate sections 26, 50 extending in diverging directions from a common bendable hinge 46 defining a cable receiving region therebetween. Each plate section 26, 50 has at least a first portion 28, 52 corresponding to the first conductor 74 and a second portion 36, 60 associated with a second conductor 76 of the cable 72. Each portion 28, 52; 36, 60 further includes conductor terminating regions 30, 38, 54, 62 intermediate opposed upstanding side walls 42, 66 of the upper and lower plate sections 26, 50.

Abstract: A retainer is disclosed for securing a heat sink having a plurality of parallel vertical fins above an electronic package which is mounted on a socket. The retainer comprises a clip assembly including a clip having a pair of spaced apart beams dimensioned to span the heat sink and to reside in respective grooves between respective pairs of adjacent ones of the fins. The beams are resiliently deflectable in respective planes extending parallel to the fins. One end of the clip is engageable beneath a ledge on one side of the socket. An opposite end of the clip is pivotally coupled to a latch. The latch is engageable beneath a second ledge on an opposite side of the socket upon deflection of the beams in their respective planes. The clip assembly biases the heat sink toward the socket when the one end of the clip and the latch are engaged beneath the first and second ledges.

Abstract: A socket comprising a housing (10) defines an upwardly open slot (12) for receiving an edge portion of a circuit card (6). A plurality of contacts (16) extend into the slot for electrically engaging respective contact pads on the circuit card, and leads (17) of the contacts extend to an exterior of the housing for electrically engaging respective circuit traces on a substrate. A resilient beam (20) connected to the housing has a free end (24) which is normally disposed outwardly of a plane of the circuit card which is received in the slot. The free end has a projection (26) which is dimensioned for reception in an aperture (2) in the circuit card and is aligned with the aperture when the circuit card is disposed in the socket. A lock lever (50) is movable on the housing between lock and unlock positions.

Abstract: A hand tool (40) is disclosed for terminating an optical fiber (26) of a cable (10) to a crimp contact (14) of a connector. The tool includes a carriage assembly (60) that utilizes a delicate spring (250) to provide a desired abutting force at the point of engagement of the optical fiber with the connector contact. The carriage (64) slides along a pair of guide rails (70, 72) rigidly held by a base (62). A counterweight (80) is also arranged to slide on the guide rails and is coupled to the carriage by means of two pulleys (106) and a thin steel cable (230) so that when the carriage moves in one direction the counterweight moves in an opposite direction an equal amount. The counter weight has a mass that is substantially equal to the combined masses of the carriage and the cable so that the system is balanced and unaffected by gravity or sudden movements, thereby assuring that the abutting force is maintained within desirable limits, even when the tool is tilted somewhat with respect to the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A socket for an electrical component comprises a dielectric housing (10) having contact retention cavities (12) and contacts (20) disposed in respective ones of the cavities. At least two of the contacts (20) each comprises a generally U-shaped configuration having first and second legs (21, 22) with a transverse element (23) joining together said legs. An extension (24) of the first leg (21) is bent back toward the second leg (22) and arranged to engage a lead of the electrical component. A tab (26) sheared from a center portion of the transverse element (23) and the first leg (21) extends downwardly from the second leg (22) through an aperture in a bottom of its respective cavity, thereby defining a slot (27) in the center portion of the transverse element and the first leg.

Abstract: A modular tooling package is disclosed for use in an assembly machine having a plurality of actuators for operating a plurality of tools. The tooling package comprises a module block and a plurality of tools carried by the module block. Each of the tools is arranged for relative movement in response to forces imparted by a respective one of the actuators at a respective separable interface. A means for removably mounting the module block to the assembly machine enables the tooling package to be removed from the assembly machine as an integral unit. The tooling package is operatively coupled to and decoupled from the assembly machine at the respective separable interfaces, thereby enabling the plurality of tool actuators to remain in the assembly machine when the tooling package is removed therefrom.