Abstract: Handheld wire twisting apparatus can be readily applied to a working section of an elongated electrical harness to be twisted, operated to impart twist to the desired extent, then removed after the twist has been secured in the harness. It includes a housing with an integral handle. An internal cylindrical bearing surface defines a transverse axis and includes an inlet into a bearing cavity which is a hiatus in the bearing surface. A c-shaped cylindrical wire twisting head is journaled on the cylindrical bearing surface for rotation about the transverse axis and defines a transverse passageway for reception of a wire bundle to be twisted. The wire twisting head has a peripheral gap for reception of the wire bundle into the transverse passageway when the peripheral gap is coextensive with the inlet in the housing.

Abstract: A portable taping machine for wrapping an elongated article with continuous strip material includes a housing adapted to be gripped by an operator and defines an internal cavity for receiving the article and a passageway communicating with the internal cavity. A taping head including a C-shaped drive wheel with integral gear teeth formed around its periphery is mounted on the housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis which extends through the internal cavity. The drive wheel has a peripheral discontinuity for lateral reception of the article into the internal cavity when the peripheral discontinuity is coextensive with the passageway. When the peripheral discontinuity is substantially non-coextensive with the passageway in the housing, entry of the elongated article into the internal cavity or egress from the internal cavity are prevented. A spindle on the taping head removably supports a supply roll of the strip material on an axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the internal cavity.