Abstract: A resilient insulator having a hole therethrough is supported and a first reciprocable mechanism is provided to telescope a hollow cylinder into the insulator hole to stretch the hole to a position larger in cross section. A second reciprocable mechanism is provided to telescope an insulated rod partway into the cylinder and insulator. A third electrically operable mechanism responsive to a contact touching one end of the rod is provided to actuate one of the first and second mechanisms to relieve the insulator in a manner to allow the same to hold the contact fixedly in inward radial compression in the insulator hole.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a zero insertion force upon mating of a first connector member and a second connector member. Each of the connector members contains contacts mounted in bores formed therein. The contacts in one of the connector members extend forwardly from the bores. A split insulator member in such connector member forms a pair of actuating plates. A rotatable actuating shaft is disposed between the plates and carries an actuating cam which, when the shaft is rotated, shifts the actuating plates apart to mate the contacting surfaces of the contacts in the respective connector members. The actuating shaft carries a pin at its forward end which cooperates with an inclined ramp in the second connector member to cause the connector members to shift axially relative to each other upon actuation of the movable contacts thereby producing an axial wiping engagement between the associated contacts in the two connector members.