Abstract: The machine comprises a guideway 12 extending past a series of work stations 13, 13' and supporting a series of pairs of pallets 14, 14' carrying connectors 15, 15'. A return guideway 16 supporting empty, returning pallets extends under the guideway 12. Forward and return pallet indexing mechanisms 17 and 17' are carried by pallet lifts 18 and 18' movable between entry and exit ends of the respective upper and lower guideways (12, 16) to carry pallets (14, 14') between the guideways and to enable the indexing mechanism 17 and 17' to feed the pallets alternately onto the entry ends of the upper and lower guideways and receive expelled pallets (14, 14') from the exit ends thereof. Pilot mechanisms 21, 21' are arranged for vertical reciprocation into engagement with leading and trailing pallets (14, 14') on the upper and lower guideways (12, 16) alternately to confine the pallets (14, 14') together on the guideways (12, 16) in between operation of the forward and return indexing mechanisms 17 and 17'.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing assembly in which a housing shell (11, 11') is formed with a pair of spaced cable lead out openings (22, 22'; 23, 23') having axes inclined at an angle to each other. A plug member (34) is provided with adjustable cable clamping means (41, 44) and is receivable in either lead out opening (22, 22'; 23, 23') with the line of action of the cable clamping means (41, 44) inclined at an angle with the axis of the lead out opening (22, 22' or 23, 23') in which it is received, complimentary to the angle of inclination of their axes to exert a clamping force perpendicular to the axis of a cable (49) received in the other lead out opening (23, 23' or 22, 22').

Abstract: A one-piece electrical terminal for wires of different gauges comprising a pale portion including a pair of inner, resilient limbs arranged side-by-side in spaced apart relation with opposed edges defining between them a wire receiving slot and a pair of outer, resilient limbs arranged in respective opposite sides of and spaced from the pair of inner limbs. Insulated wire can be forced perpendicularly of its axis into a mouth of the wire receiving slot so that the edges of the inner limbs penetrate the insulation and establish permanent connection to the wire core with deformation of the inner limbs towards the outer limbs. Insertion of a small wire causes resilient deformation of only the inner limbs which remain spaced from the outer limbs whereas insertion of a large insulated wire deforms the inner limbs into engagement with the outer limbs producing resilient deformation thereof.

Abstract: Electrical terminal comprises first and second plate members joined by an integral bight. A wire-receiving slot extends into one of the plate members and an enlarged clearance opening is provided in the other plate member. The terminal is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in a housing having wire-admitting slots which permit placement of a wire in the slots with the wire extending through the cavity. A rib is provided in the cavity which is received in the clearance opening in the other plate member, the rib having a wire supporting surface at its upper end. The terminal is produced from dual thickness material with the first plate member and a major portion of the second plate member being of material of reduced thickness. Parts of the one plate member are a relatively thick stock metal and the free end of the other plate member is against the relatively thick stock metal. The wire-receiving slot is a sheared slit and the terminal is intended to make connections to relatively fine wires.

Abstract: An electrical connector for terminating small gauge magnet wire comprising a resilient, tubular socket (11) having a serrated, internal, wire engaging surface (18) and a plug (13) having an enlarged head (28) at a leading end and a wire supporting surface (27) at a trailing end. The plug head (28) expands the socket (11) during movement therethrough to permit the wire supporting surface (27) to be freely received in the socket (11) until opposite the wire engaging surface (18). Exit of the head (28) from an exit end of the socket (11) permits resilient contraction of the socket (11) to press the wire engaging surface against the wire supporting surface so that the serrations effect connection to the wire at multiple points therealong.

Abstract: In a method of, and apparatus for, mating an insulating housing of an electrical connector and a cover for the housing, to terminate an electrical conductor inserted between the housing and the cover, to an electrical terminal in the housing, the leading connector of a row of connectors fed towards a support, is positioned on the support, the conductor is inserted between the cover and the connector and a terminating punch is applied to the cover to mate it with the housing. The connectors of the row are detachably joined together in the form of a strip and a column of covers is also fed in the direction of the support to position the leading cover of the column between the punch and the support. When the housing of the leading connector has been mated with the leading cover, the leading connector and the next following connector of the strip are relatively displaced to detach the leading connector from the strip.

Abstract: A cable clamp moulded in one piece from plastics material comprising first and second clamping limbs (11, 11') extending in side-by-side relation and joined at respective opposite ends by first and second tool bearing portions (12, 13). Each clamping limb (11, 11') comprising a rigid portion (14, 14') joined to the first tool bearing portion (12) by a web hinge (16 or 16') at one end of the limb (11 or 11') and joined by another web hinge (19 or 19') to a flexible wire engaging portion (15, 15') adjacent the second bearing portion (13) such that on urging the tool bearing portions (12, 13) together, the clamping limbs are changed from erect to collapsed clamping conditions with deformation of the wire engaging portions (15, 15') into clamping engagement with wires. A latching tongue 25 is received in a latching eye (36) to latch the cable clamp in the clamping condition.

Abstract: A one-piece wire stuffing cover having a series of tubular terminal receiving sockets with wire gripping slots at front and rear faces and respective wire stuffers between the slots, lead-out openings for wires terminated by the cover being provided in the sockets rearward of the wire stuffers. The lead-out openings are provided by rebated portions in the sockets which define wire engaging shoulders extending across a rear axial end of the terminal for strain relief. The slots in the rear face diverge progressively to release the wire at the rear face during termination.

Abstract: An electrical connector in which preselected terminals are shunted. Contact portions of the terminals are aligned with a shunt bar and are resiliently deformable from positions engaging the shunt bar in an unmated condition of the connector to positions spaced from the shunt bar in a mated condition of the connector by mating engagement with a complimentary connector. The shunt bar comprises a bridge portion from which contact lugs depend spaced asymmetrically along the bridge. Two shunt bars are located in tandem in back-to-back relation in a connector housing so that alternate contact tongues are aligned with respective contact lugs on respective shunt bars.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing (3, 4) is sealed at its conductor-entry face by means of a sealing member (14) which is compressed against the face and into engagement with a shroud (12) surrounding the face and with conductors (8) passing through holes (15) in the sealing member (14), by means of a lid (17) which is latched to the shroud (12). The sealing member (14) when compressed is also engaged by terminals (6, 7) terminating the conductors (8) and prevents back-out of the terminals (6, 7) from their passageways (5) in the housing (3, 4).

Abstract: A zero insertion force dual-in-line plug and socket assembly comprising a socket housing having spaced rows of finger-proof terminal-receiving compartments and a dual-in-line plug supported by an insulating carrier with barriers extending between and beyond respective plug leads defining a finger-proof enclosure. The dual-in-line plug assembly is receivably as a free fit between the compartment rows and the socket assembly includes a closure member having a series of cams which urge the terminals into engagement with the plug leads on movement to a closed condition. The terminals include sinuous intermediate portions to provide desired flexural characteristics.

Abstract: A grommet having a body of resilient material formed with a laterally extending mounting flange axially spaced from a laterally extending detent shoulder for securing the grommet in an aperture in a panel received between the mounting flange and detent shoulder and an axially extending socket adjacent the detent shoulder for receipt of a lever-form release tool between a cable anchored by the grommet and the detent shoulder. The socket opens to a front face of the body adjacent the mounting flange and a stress-relieving cavity is formed in the rear face of the body between the socket and the grommet axis. The grommet may be formed by moulding directly onto a cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a metal sleeve having a locking cap rotatably mounted on the sleeve to extend from a mating end, a generally cylindrical, insulating, terminal-locating block receivable as a close fit within the sleeve to locate terminals projecting from the mating end and a retention bush to retain the terminal-locating block in the sleeve. The block is bipartite, each part being generally hemicylindrical and being formed with terminal-receiving recesses at a mating end communicating with a cable-receiving recess at a rear end across which extends a cable-clamping rib, a drain wire-receiving passageway extending radially through the body.

Abstract: A fastener for mounting in a panel aperture including a body portion from which depends a mounting post slotted to provide a C-spring cross-section. Surface portions of the post adjacent each side of the slot and aligned with an envelope defined by the body sides are formed with upwardly facing latching shoulders which are located only outside the envelope.

Abstract: A dual-in-line plug and socket assembly in which the socket assembly has spaced rows of contact arms and opposed side walls comprising a series of barriers located between respective contact arms, profiles of the barriers extending transversely beyond the contact arms in lateral directions to protect the contact arms. The plug assembly includes a series of ramp surfaces located adjacent a component body supporting portion and arranged to interdigitate with the barriers and to urge the contact arms against contact legs of the component during mating the plug and socket assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector for undercarpet flat, flexible cable includes a metal plate having plural lands raised in relief, a terminal block constructed to overlie selected lands and a fastener carried by the block to secure in one of the overlaid lands and apply the block and the overlaid lands in clamped relationship on a flat flexible cable, terminals in the terminal block are urged by the block to penetrate into the cable conductors to establish electrical connections.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing in which a latch member comprises a lever arm having front and rear ends and integrally joined adjacent the rear end by a resilient web to a side wall of a terminal receiving body to provide a relatively long latch portion with a latching eye adjacent the front end and a shorter, release portion. Anti-overstress flanges depend in parallel relation from lateral edge portions of the release portion in planes beyond and adjacent opposite lateral edges of the side wall aligned for engagement with lugs on adjacent faces of the body enabling the electrical connector housing to be moulded without a requirement for side core pins.

Abstract: An electrical tab receptacle (2) formed from sheet metal has a box-like body (3) with spring arms (7, 8) extending forwardly in convergent manner and having turned out ends (9, 10) defining a divergent entry to a tab receiving space. A latch projection (13) is formed on one arm (8) and presents a rear-facing shoulder in the tab receiving space, arranged to engage a tab recess or aperture (16) of a complementary tab to resist withdrawal of the tab (17) from the receptacle. Outward flexure of the arm (8) serves to release the latch projection (13) and the receptacle (2) is suitably mounted in a housing (1) with the capacity for limited movement in the tab receiving direction between forward and rearward housing shoulders (11, 6). The forward shoulder (11) is formed on its rearward face with a ramp (12) adapted to deflect the arm (8) transversely outwards on rearward movement relative to the receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing for flat cable comprising first and second members movable between mutually adjacent and remote positions corresponding to closed and open conditions of the housing respectively. Latching means comprise a latch bar and a release bar supported for deflection adjacent an end of one member and extending spaced apart in side-by-side relation interconnected by a plurality of transverse struts to defining an eye. A catch means on the other member is receivable in the eye in latching engagement with the latching bar in the closed condition of the connector housing, movement of the release bar in the direction of the latch bar deflecting the latch bar, thereby to disengage the catch means from the latch bar.

Abstract: An electrical connector shield includes a one-piece base member having a cable braid connecting portion comprising a panel from respective opposite sides and the rear of which upstand flanges formed with cable-receiving apertures opening away from the panel. Each aperture has inturned cable gripping lips. A closure member is provided for latching receipt on the base member with a detent action. A connector includes a terminal housing received between the base and closure members and having hood and platform portions providing supports for contact portions of the shield at a mating face.