Abstract: An electrical wedge connector with a wedge and a shell. The shell is a one-piece sheet metal member with a conductor piercing section. The conductor piercing section comprises a tab of the sheet metal member at an end of the shell that is folded about 180° inward against an interior side of the shell. The tab has a section that projects in an inward direction generally perpendicular to the interior side and has teeth at an end edge thereof.

Abstract: Reducing adapters for splicing electrical conductors of unequal size and particularly to compression splices fitted with one of more adapters for splicing a range of conductors of dissimilar sizes.

Abstract: A hydraulic compression tool comprises a frame and a die movably connected to the frame with a hydraulic drive system. An alignment guard is connected to the frame, and the alignment guard extends along a side of the die and has a receiving area to a receive a workpiece therein such that the workpiece can be received in the receiving area and make contact with the alignment guard such that the alignment guard aligns the workpiece relative to the path of a die for aligning contact of the die against the workpiece as the die is moved toward the workpiece.

Abstract: A hydraulic spike puller comprising a frame with a chute, a hydraulic drive section connected to the frame, and a spike contacting section connected to the hydraulic drive section and movably located in the chute. The improvement comprises the spike contacting section comprising two jaws pivotably connected to each other and a friction system extending from the jaws and contacting opposite interior sides of the chute. The jaws each have a spike contacting claw section which, when the jaws are in an open position, have a back surface adjacent an interior side of the chute to block an area between the chute and the back surface. The claw sections have substantially non-curved bottom faces which, when the jaws are in the open position, can push a spike out of the chute. The claw sections are shaped to prevent a spike from being caught between the chute and the back surfaces of the claw sections.

Abstract: A hydraulic compression tool having a compression head with a frame and a movable ram. The ram has a first compression die removably mounted thereon. The first compression die has a front end with a connector contact surface and a rear end connection section. The front end connector contact surface has a general pyramid shape and two front facing flat sections extending from two opposite sides of the general pyramid shape. The outer perimeter of the front end of the connector contact surface, at two other opposite sides of the general pyramid shape, does not extend outward past the base of the pyramid shape at the two other opposite sides.

Abstract: A hydraulic spike puller having a frame, a hydraulic drive section connected to the frame, and a spike contacting section connected to the hydraulic drive section. The spike puller has a handle repositionably connected to the frame. The handle is positionable in a straddle position or a parallel position relative to a railroad rail to pull a spike.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a housing part, a cap part, and a clamp screw. The housing part has a conductor receiving channel formed therein. The cap part is removably connected to the housing part. The clamp screw is threadably mounted to the cap part to clamp a first conduct or located in the conductor receiving channel of the housing part to the housing. The clamp screw has means for connecting a second conductor to an insulated portion of the first conductor. The connecting means comprise the clamp screw having a contact surface disposed to capture a terminal of the second conductor between the contact surface and the first conductor.

Abstract: An electrical wedge connector with a sleeve and a wedge. The sleeve has two locking tabs to lock the wedge in the sleeve. The locking tabs extend into a wedge receiving area of the sleeve generally toward each other and have general cantilevered shapes.

Abstract: A removal tool is operable for separating components of an assembled electrical connector used for connecting electrical conductors together. The electrical connector includes a tapered connector sleeve having a general "C" cross section with a slot defining a stop ledge and a wedge having a latching ledge which engages the stop ledge when inserted into the slot preventing removal of the wedge. The removal tool with a first block member includes outwardly projecting ears for selective insertion into the slot for engagement with the stop ledge. A second block member includes outwardly projecting slide pins. The first block member is slidably received on the slide pins for movement toward and away from the second block member, a removal blade on the second block member having a tapered nose member projecting toward the first block member and an integral shoulder on the second block member facing the first block member and spaced from the removal blade in a direction away from the first block member.

Abstract: A connector having a frame with an upper arm and a lower arm cantilevered from a center section to form a channel adapted to receive a section of a structural steel member. The frame has a conductor receiving area to receive a conductor therein. The conductor receiving area is located so that when the upper arm and the lower arm are compressed to grip the section of the structural steel member received in the channel, the conductor located in the conductor receiving area is crimped to the frame.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool having a frame, a conduit system in the frame, a pump in the conduit system, a ram movably connected to the frame, and a mechanical actuator provided in the conduit system for contacting a rear end of the ram. The conduit system is adapted to conduit hydraulic fluid from the pump against both the rear end of the ram and a rear end of the mechanical actuator.

Abstract: A hydraulic compression tool comprises a frame and a first die and an opposite second die mounted on the frame. The first die is immovably connected to the frame and the second die is movably connected to the frame along a line of action and is positioned oppositely of the first die. The first die is positioned on the frame along the line of action of the second die. At least one of the first and second die has a work piece engaging surface which is disposed relative to the line of action at an angle other than perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: An electrical terminal connector comprising a connector body and a set screw. The connector body has a block section with a conductor receiving passageway. The set screw is connected to the block section to intersect the conductor receiving passageway. The block section further defines a porthole extending therethrough. The porthole intersects the conductor receiving passageway forming a lower recess therein. When a conductor is inserted into the conductor receiving passageway, the recess receives a portion of the conductor which is clamped down upon by the set screw.

Abstract: An electrical wedge connector having a shell and two wedges. The shell has two cross-sectional hook shaped sections orientated generally reverse to each other, but angled relative to each other at an acute angle. One of the wedges has insulation piercers and flaps over conductor contacting surfaces. The other wedge can be trimmed to length and has locking notches to longitudinally lock its relative position with the shell.

Abstract: An electrical wedge connector having a shell and a wedge. The wedge has a main body and flaps extending from the main body. Conductor receiving areas are formed between the flaps and the main body. The main body also has insulation piercers for piercing through electrical insulation on the conductors in the receiving areas.

Abstract: A contact retainer for retaining a contact to a housing. The contact retainer has stop surfaces for cooperating with stop surfaces on the housing and on the contact to hold the contact to the housing. One of the stop surfaces on the contact retainer comprises a hook shaped flange having a free edge. The press edge of the flange faces an end of the contact retainer.

Abstract: A hydraulically powered tool having a motor, a pump, and a hydraulic directional flow control valve. The valve has a frame and a rotatable spool with flow channels. The valve is provided as a four position, six way valve to provide four operational conditions for the tool including NEUTRAL, DRILL, RETRACT and FAST FORWARD.

Abstract: A card edge connector comprising a housing, signal contacts and a ground contact. The housing has a card edge receiving area. The signal contacts are connected to the housing. The ground contact is connected to the housing and generally surrounds a corresponding signal contact.

Abstract: A card edge connector having a housing, signal contacts and a four bladed ground contact. The housing has a card edge receiving area. The signal contacts are connected to the housing and the four bladed ground contact is also connected to the housing. The four bladed ground contact has a one piece frame with two pairs of opposing contact blades on opposite sides of the card edge receiving area in the housing.

Abstract: A card edge connector having a housing, first contacts, and second contacts. The first and second contacts each have mounting sections and cantilevered flexible sections. The mounting sections of the first and second contacts have different lengths. The cantilevered flexible sections of the first and second contacts have the same length and shape. The first and second contacts are inserted into the housing at the same time on a single carry strip to form multi-level contact areas.