Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10), having one or more electrical contacts (110) mounted therein, each contact (110) including a forward mating end (112) and a rear portion (114) adapted to mate with an insulated electrical conductor (210) without requiring the preparation of the insulated electrical conductor (210) by removal of the external insulation (212). The electrical contact in the assembly includes a plurality of fine, axially aligned wires (114) at the rear portion of the contact, with each wire having an acutely angled end portion (118). The acutely angled end portions of the fine wires project through the insulation (212) of the insulated electrical conductor (210) into the central conductor (214) to provide an electrical connection between the central (metallic) conductor (214) which is located proximate to, and transverse of, the axially aligned wires.

Abstract: A method of making an electrical contact wherein the contact includes a plurality of axially aligned wires (200) extending from a forward end (110) of a holder which has a rear portion (130) for receiving an electrical conductor (300). The holder (100) is manufactured by stamping it as a flat metallic piece with enlarged forward and rear portions then forming the forward portion (110) in a die to form a socket like portion for the plurality of fine, axially aligned wires and forming the rear portion (130) to receive the conductor (300).

Abstract: An electrical contact (10) for an electrical connector including a sleeve (20) and a plurality of axially-aligned fine wires (30), with each wire having an acutely angled end portion (32) at one end thereof and with the plurality of wires secured together at the other end to form a bundle (40). Preferably, the wires are secured together by a weld (50) formed by a capacitor (210) discharging across a gap (300) to the wires, although other securing methods could be used. The bundle (40) of wires then may be inserted into the sleeve of the contact (10) with the angled ends (32) forward in the sleeve (20) and the weld (50) rearward in the sleeve. Said sleeve then is crimped inwardly (25) forward of, or including, the welded portion, to hold the bundle (40) in place within the sleeve.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for measuring parts using cylindrical coordinates. The machine includes a base, an articulated arm mounted to the base at its proximate end for movement within a plane, and a vertically movable probe assembly mounted near the distal end of the articulated arm. A horizontal measuring rod extends between the distal end of the arm and the base to provide a measurement of the location of the probe with respect to the base, in terms of a radius and an angular displacement. The probe assembly includes means for measuring perpendicular displacement of the probe from the plane of the articulated arm.

Abstract: A measurement display apparatus and method of generating the display which has improved stability. The display includes plurality of discrete indicators and includes a buffer and a sensor, with a convertor and logic intercoupling the sensor and the buffer. The convertor generates a digital representation of the measurement sensed by the sensor including more significant digits and less significant digits. The less significant digits which are adjacent to transitions of the more significant digits are sensed by the logic and used to inhibit an updating of the buffer when the less significant digits are adjacent to a transition of the more significant digits (i.e., one count more or less in the digital representation causes a change in the more significant digits).

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine having an automatic failsafe protection system. The coordinate measuring machine (10) includes a vertically mounted probe shaft (42) which is preferably counterbalanced by an air counterbalance system (100). The automatic failsafe protection system (200) insures that, in response to a loss of air pressure (or in response to other possibly unsafe conditions), the vertically-mounted, air-counterbalanced probe shaft (42) will be prevented from falling down uncontrollably. The failsafe protection system (200) includes a pair of members (230, 240), with each member mounted adjacent to and on opposite sides of the probe shaft (42) and urged toward engagement with probe shaft by a spring (250). Air under pressure from an air cylinder (210) also acts upon the members (230, 240) to bias the members outwardly away from engagement with the shaft when normal (i.e. safe) operating conditions exist.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine (10) having a vertically mounted probe (32), the weight of which is offset by an air counterbalance system (100). The air counterbalance system is adapted to use a source of air under pressure acting upon a piston (127) coupled to the vertically mounted probe (42). A torque converter (130) is mounted between the probe (42) and the piston (127) allowing the piston (127) to have a shorter travel than the allowable vertical travel of the probe (42). The air counterbalance system (100) preferably has components selected and arranged to minimize friction and weight to avoid distorting the precision of measurements on the coordinate measurement machine.

Abstract: An electrical conductor (10) having at forward end portion (F) of the conductor an integral electrical contact portion consisting of a plurality of fine, axially aligned wire strands (21), each wire having an acutely angled end surface (22) for mating with another electrical contact, said contact wires being an integral part of and continuous with the wires of said conductor in a rear portion (R). Preferably, the wires in the forward portion of the conductor are held radially together by a sleeve or holder which is inserted over the forward end, around the wires and crimped in place, separating the rear portion (R) of the conductor, which generally has insulation (30) around the conductor for a portion of its length from the forward contact portion.

Abstract: An electrical contact retention bushing (100) which is stamped and formed from flat stock. The bushing is stamped in a shape that includes a base portion (110) with a plurality of fingers (120) extending from the base portion. Each finger (120) includes at least one (and preferably two) retention tine (130). Once formed, the bushing fits within and seats on a shoulder (312) of a wafer (300) within an electrical connector. The bushing retains an electrical contact (500) by engaging a shoulder (510) of the contact with the tines (130) on the fingers (120). The bushing (100) is preferably stamped from a soft metal which is then heat-treated to harden it and formed into the desired shape to save weight and manufacturing and material costs when compared with a machined bushing.

Abstract: A chuck assembly and collet for retaining an end mill tool against axial pullout. The collet includes a radially compressible body having a tapered outer surface, a central bore and a radial aperture extending from the outer surface into the central bore. The radial aperture, which includes larger and smaller diameter portions, has a movable pin mounted therein and adapted to extend into the bore to retain the tool. The pin has an undercut portion, with a spring or snap ring mounted around the pin in the undercut portion, said spring having a free diameter slightly larger than the larger diameter to provide a pressure fit when mounted therein.

Abstract: A back pressure fluid gaging circuit for measuring dimensions of a workpiece. The gaging circuit (100) includes gage tooling (190) including at least one fluid jet (192) disposed to be directed at a surface (210) of the workpiece (200), with variations in the distance between the surface (210) and the tooling (190) providing a varying back pressure of the fluid which is measured by a gage (150) located intermediate the length of a conduit (170) connecting a source (110) of fluid under pressure with the tooling (190). First and second adjustable (variable) fluid passage restrictions (130, 140) in the conduit (170, are adjusted to provide an output within a range that can be displayed by the gage (150) for the particular tooling selected. One of the adjustable restrictions (130) is located along the conduit between the source (110) of pressurized fluid and the gage (150) and the other restrictions (140) between the gage (150) and the tooling (190).

Abstract: A method of making 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 extracting an electrical contact (400) from a housing passage (510), said apparatus including a first member (100) with an internal bore (130) extending rearwardly from a forward end (110) and a second member (200) having a tapered or pointed forward end (211) and movably mounted within the bore of said first member. The electrical contact (400) preferably has a plurality of aligned wires (410) and held within a passage of an electrical connector insert. When the first member (100) is inserted over the contact (400) and the second member (200) is moved forward, the pointed end (211) of the second member urges the wires radially outward and into pressure contact with a portion of the bore (130) of the first member. The axially aligned wires are in pressure contact for removal of the contact simultaneously with the removal of the apparatus. The first member has an axial slot extending rearwardly from the forward surface to accommodate a bent wire.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding 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: A multi-axis load cell of the type adapted to generate signals corresponding to each of the various force and moment components exerted on the load cell is disclosed, comprised of a hub and a housing interconnected by three flexure arms, each flexure arm fixed at one end to one of the hub or housing and at the other end to a beam flexure element fixed to the other of the hub or housing. Each flexure beam is designed to be readily deflected in directions aligned with its respective flexure arm but offers substantially greater resistance to deflection in other directions, so that a centering bias force is provided without restricting the bending deflection of the flexure arms relied on to measure the force and moment components.Two sets of displacement transducers are provided, each set consisting of three transducers, with the first set arranged in pinwheel fashion about the load cell axis to measure the XY displacement components and torsional about the load cell axis.

Abstract: A probe for measuring coordinate positions on an object by sensing a displacement of the stylus which contacts the object. The probe is responsive to forces which result from the contact between the object and the stylus to indicate coordinate positions of the object. The probe includes a replaceable stylus having a shank portion defining an axis, with a transversely-extending portion extending from the shank portion for sensing forces exerted by objects in the axial direction away from the probe, while the stylus shank portion is responsive to forces in the radial and axial (toward the probe) directions. The probe is thus responsive to forces exerted on the stylus in any direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically changing interchangeable machining tool heads carried by a tool carrier. The tool heads are suspended from an overhead trolleyway by leading and trailing trolleys, with the leading trolley carrying a probe and a vertical finger and the trailing trolley carrying an inclined guide. The vertical finger selectively engages a block carried on an overhead moving chain for moving the tool head toward the tool carrier. The probe extends in the direction of tool head travel and is responsive to proximity of the probe to the inclined guide of another tool head or to a pneumatically-actuated stop for disengaging the vertical finger from the chain. A shuttle bar assembly simultaneously loads and unloads tool heads from the tool carrier by engaging a block on each of the tool heads and moving the tool heads horizontally to loaded and unloaded positions.

Abstract: Polarizing and locking means for a pair of mateable units including a member having a key on one unit and a member having a plurality of keyways on the other unit. A ring-shaped element selectively obstructs all the keyways but one on the associated member and the key is angularly disposed on the other member to register with the unobstructed keyway when mating the units. One of the members is moved axially and rotated to engage the key with the rear wall between the keyways for locking the units together.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly in which the electrical connectors are capable of being quickly and easily coupled and decoupled with mechanism for preventing accidental decoupling of the connector through vibration. The coupling and decoupling is accomplished by a coupling nut mounted to one electrical connector, with the coupling nut having a screw thread adapted to receive a screw thread on a second connector. The connector assembly is adapted to remain coupled to said first housing by a spring mounted to the coupling nut and engaging ratchet teeth carried on an edge of the housing. The ratchet teeth are more steeply angled on the leading edge engaged during decoupling and more gradually angled on the leading edge during coupling, allowing for an ease in coupling and a greater resistance to decoupling.

Abstract: An improved snap action switch wherein a snap action blade (30), that moves a contact carrying leaf spring (40), includes a latch (31) that mates with a notch (41) in the leaf spring member to eliminate the "teasing" effect normally associated with opening and closing a snap action switch.