Abstract: An apparatus for removing the insulation from the end of an insulated electrical wire. A common disadvantage of this type of apparatus is that by clamping the insulation of the conductor on two sides, indentations and possibly even damage to the insulation may be caused. Further, owing to cutting into the insulation only from two sides, the piece of insulation to be removed cannot be cleanly cut prior to removal from the central conductor core. The present apparatus overcomes the above-described disadvantages and shortcomings and permits various types of insulation to be rapidly, cleanly, and simply, freed from the conductor core. The removal of the insulation is initiated by inserting the end of the wire into the apparatus, without fear of folding the end of the wire even in the case of very small diameters of the conductive core of the wire, whereupon the insulation is removed fully automatically.

Abstract: The invention is a connector assembly consisting of an elastomeric insert member held within a rigid shell by a retaining ring which engages both the shell and the insert. The assembly includes a passageway between the insert member and the shell permitting access to the retaining ring to allow ready disengagement of the ring and insert from the shell. The retaining ring is composed of two half sections which close about the insert member. The ring includes first retention means for engaging and maintaining the insert member in fixed position within the ring. The first retention means may consist of protuberances extending radially inward from the retaining ring to engage the insert member or it may comprise keying means configured to prevent both axial and rotational movement of the insert member relative to the retaining ring. The retaining ring also includes radially movable second retention means for engaging the shell to maintain the ring and insert member in fixed axial position within the shell.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing for removably retaining an electrical contact consisting of a dielectric body with a passageway having a flexible latch which cooperates with a forward stop and abutment shoulders to lock the contact in the housing without interfering with the termination section of the contact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for electroplating a selected portion of an article by carefully confining electrolyte contact to the selected portion of the article and establishing a generally uniform electrical field adjacent that selected portion. Electrolyte wetting of the article, which is partially immersed in an electrolytic plating bath maintained under agitation, is minimized by surrounding the article with a dielectric baffle to establish a quiescent zone on the bath surface adjacent the article. Thus, the selected portion of the article is fully exposed to the bath while electrolyte wetting of portions of the article outside of the selected portion is minimized by the baffle. A generally uniform plating of the selected portion is obtained by positioning an electrode in close proximity to the selected portion and maintaining a generally uniform separation between the selected portion and the electrode while an electrical potential is applied between the electrode and the article.

Abstract: An electrical connector useful for interconnecting circuits of adjacent guided missile stages and the like includes first and second interengageable housings. Each connector housing supports contact members which are interengageable when the first and second housings are brought into engagement. Actuator means are provided for engaging and disengaging the connector contact members independent of the engagement and disengagement of the connector housings and include a movable insert member disposed within the second housing for movement between mating and non-mating positions. The contact members supported within the second housing each include a terminal portion, an active contact portion carried by the insert member for engagement with a first housing contact member, and an extendable portion for maintaining continuous electrical connection between the active and terminal portions as the insert member is moved between its mating and non-mating positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet metal contact element which can be inserted into a chamber of an insulating housing and comprises a rear terminal portion for connecting a conductor, a forward contacting portion, and an intermediate locking section with at least one stamped, outwardly protruding locking tab to anchor the contact element in the chamber. When a strong tensile load is applied to prior art contact elements, the locking tabs, which usually are bent slightly outwardly, are deflected toward the interior of the contact element and permanently distorted. Thus, the contact element is no longer kept in the proper axial position, and the damaged contact element must be replaced. This problem is solved by the present invention by providing a reinforcing pin inserted into the inner cavity of the locking portion. The reinforcing pin prevents the locking hook from being deflected into the interior of the contact element when a load is applied.

Abstract: A composite epoxy/glass-microsphere-dielectric for hermetic R.F. connectors and coaxial cables is provided. A material which is a composition of moisture resistant epoxy resin, curing agent, glass microspheres, and silane coupling agent provide a low dielectric constant material to be molded into the various geometrics required for hermetic R.F. connectors and coaxial cables.

Abstract: A test adapter plug for connecting a solid wire conductor to a wire-wrap terminal post includes an elongated insulating housing having first and second openings respectively dimensioned to conform to the terminal post and the solid wire conductor, with the conductor opening accommodating passage therethrough only of the bare wire and not the insulation thereon. The housing contains two spaced-apart electrical receptacles interconnected by a conductor or a circuit element, such as a diode, each receptacle having a pair of spaced-apart spring contacts with the pairs of contacts respectively disposed adjacent to the two openings in alignment therewith for receiving and electrically contacting the terminal post and the solid wire conductor. The housing carries a strain relief member adjacent to the conductor opening for receiving the insulated portion of the conductor.

Abstract: A tool for facilitating the insertion of an electrical contact into a contact receiving bore of a resilient electrical connector together with a unitary control mechanism for such a tool. The tool has bore enlarging means including a sleeve and a rod coaxially aligned within the sleeve for insertion into the bore of the connector for enlargement thereof. The tool also includes a unitary control mechanism operatively associated therewith which enables relative movement between the sleeve and the rod. The unitary control mechanism includes spring release means which in a first position resists rearward movement of the sleeve and the rod, in a second position permits rearward movement of the rod but resists rearward movement of the sleeve, and again in the first position permits rearward movement of the sleeve for relative sequential movement between the sleeve and the rod.

Abstract: A novel mold coating comprising humic acid, and/or humic acid salts, and graphite in a liquid suspension containing organic bonding agents is disclosed as well as a method of forming ingots in which molten steel is poured into molds which are covered by the coating.