Abstract: A manually operated tool for terminating electrical conductors to insulation displacement contacts in a connector. The tool includes a connector holder and a pair of hingeable jigs for holding and positioning the conductors adjacent the connector terminals for shearing to length and inserting. Shearing and insertion assemblies are secured to two arms which are pivoted toward the connector until the assemblies engage and terminate the conductors. A pair of handles and a pair of toggle links are pivotally attached to the two arms for effecting a mechanical advantage during the shearing and insertion process.

Abstract: Hydraulic actuator comprises a piston-cylinder which has a fail-safe feature in the form of a lost motion coupling between the cylinder head and portions of the cylinder. The coupling comprises a constraining rod which is secured to the cylinder at the opposite end thereof from the cylinder head. The constraining rod extends into a bore in the piston rod and has a shoulder which is opposed to a shoulder on the piston. The amplitude of the lost motion is such that the coupling does not interfere with normal operation of the actuator but is effective in the event of failure of the cylinder or cylinder head. The lost motion coupling would prevent movement of any parts broken away by the fracture any significant distance from the remaining parts of the cylinder. An energy absorbing means is provided in the lost motion coupling. A second lost motion coupling is provided between the end of the cylinder and the external surface of the cylinder head.

Abstract: An improved cartridge for use with explosively-operated industrial tools. More particularly the cartridge includes a gas check having a rigid washer between opposite ends which causes the deformation of the gas check in cooperation with the gases from burning powder.

Abstract: Tooling to apply an SDL connector to a cable containing a plurality of conductors contains at least a contact-engaging die surface to apply contacts to said conductors. The die surface is on a crimping plate which is secured to the tooling against a main body member and is incrementally movable vertically by the user of the tooling through a range of adjustment positions to adjust the height of the die surface which results in an adjusted height of the contacts after application. The crimping plate is movable by a plate-moving means such as a wedge member having a slightly sloping bearing surface where the wedge member is moved horizontally atop the main body member by an adjustment screw, for instance. The tooling can be secured in a handtool, or a pneumatic bench machine, or a semiautomatic applicator apparatus as desired.

Abstract: Apparatus (26) for taping bundles of wires (4) into compact sheaves (8) comprises first and second bundling rolls (28, 30) having cylindrical surfaces (36, 38) which are in contact in a nip zone (40). First and second tapes (42, 46) are fed towards the rolls on one side of the nip zone and extend through the nip zone. Wires (4) are presented to the rolls on the one side (52) and passed through the nip zone during rotation of the rolls (28, 30). Tape is applied to each bundle from opposite sides of the bundle. On the other side (54) of the nip zone the tape is cut between adjacent bundles by knives (60) on a cutting wheel (56). A plurality of taping devices (26) can be provided on a harness making machine (12) so that the completed harnesses (2) are taped at several locations (10) along their lengths.