Abstract: Centering strips, pluggable onto the contact blades of a wiring backpanel for receiving cable plugs, are provided with fastening disks in the region of openings in the floor of the centering strips through which the contact blades project into the centering strip, the fastening disk likewise including openings for plugging the contact blades therethrough. After the centering strip has been plugged, the fastening disks are located such that their inner edges of their openings cut into the contact blades and their outer edges cut into the floor of the centering strip. A positive fixing between contact blade, fastening disk and centering strip is thereby achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus (60) is disclosed for accurately aligning and terminating conductors (4) of a flat multiconductor cable (2) to terminals (26) of a connector (18). This apparatus (60) is particularly suited for use with cables (2 ) that have closely spaced conductors (4). To ensure proper termination, the apparatus (60) forces the individual conductors (4) into respective grooves (38) of the cover (22) of the connector (18). These grooves (38) are molded in the cover (22) and are therefore, more accurately positioned than the extruded conductors (4). With the conductors (4) maintained in their resepctive grooves (38), the termination process is completed. This ensures that a positive electrical connection is effected between the connector (18) and the cable (2), even when the cable (2) has a nominal spacing between adjacent conductors (4) of 0.025 inches or less.

Abstract: A metallic terminal for use with a conductor having a conductive core and a jacket of insulation about the core. The terminal includes a deformable barrel for receiving the conductor, and a portion for contacting another electrical component. The barrel has an axis and includes a channel with a first end and a second end extending generally parallel to the axis. The barrel further includes a finger extending from the first channel end at least substantially across the opening of the channel and having a pointed distal end directed inside the channel. The barrel further includes a first abutment associated with the first channel end for engagement by one of the jaws of a pliers, and a second abutment associated with the second end of the channel for engagement by the other of the jaws of the pliers.

Abstract: A metal backshell for shielding electrical connectors terminating fully shielded, round conductor, flat ribbon cable. The backshell is comprised of a single-piece, metal shell which is snugly fitted over the electrical connector. The back end of the backshell is arranged so that it slides between the cable shield and cable. The front end of the shell extends to the face of a female connector, and on a male connector extends about and to the length of the pin field. When mated, the male backshell fits tightly around and over the female backshell to the length of the inserted pins.

Abstract: Connection is made to an insulated conductor (26) by the connector (2) of the invention without the need to pre-strip the conductor. The connector (2) comprises two contact members (12,14) that overlap to provide an aperture (21) for receipt of the insulated conductor (26). The connector (2) is recoverable, preferably by means of a memory metal strip (6), to cause the contact members (12,14) to slide relative to each other to reduce the aperture size, pierce the conductor insulation, and exert a permanent gripping force on the conductor.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing rivet-type electrical connectors onto flat conductor cables wherein the connectors are fed to the machine from a magazine, transferred to a press and then pressed onto and through the cable over an anvil which holds the rivet-type connector to form a secure connection with the cable. The resulting profile of the connector is such that it extends through the conductor of the cable and is held thereon by a flange on one side of the cable and an eyelet-type crimp on the opposite side of the cable.

Abstract: Termination of flat cable is effected with connectors fed individually from a reel having a wound substrate with connectors releasably secured thereto. The connectors are seated in a crimping device and elongate such cable is fed to the crimping device along the cable longitudinal axis. Cable guide and registration apparatus is also disclosed, as is a control system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing and crimp connecting terminals to insulated wires either with or without prior removal as by stripping of the insulation from the end portion of those wires is disclosed herein. The terminals are particularly suited for use in multiconductor connector assemblies and may be selectively treated to impart enhanced resilience to the connection forming portion of the terminal while maintaining the crimp connecting end thereof more malleable for better crimp electrical connection to the wires.

Abstract: A terminal (20; 20') comprised of a tubular metal sleeve (23; 33') includes four insulation slicing-conductor penetrating fins (26; 42) and a coaxially disposed conductor penetrating conical spike (32, 40) to provide a redundant electromechanical connection with a center conductor (16) of a wire (10), the fins extending longitudinally along and radially inward from the interior wall (24A) of the sleeve (23; 33') to terminate in a penetrating point (26p; 44) and the conical spike (32, 40) terminating in a point (32A; 45A) for impaling itself into the center conductor (16), the fins longitudinally slicing through the wire insulation (12) to expose the conductor (16) and the conical spike (32; 40) simultaneously impaling itself into the center of the conductor to expand the conductor and the sliced insulation radially outward, inward radial crimping of the sleeve driving the fins into the conductor and press-fitting the insulation segments against the sleeve to form a mechanical fitment therewith.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for manufacturing a cable comprising a number of insulated wires extending between two connector blocks to which each wire is connected at its ends. A wire is wound several times around two spaced points of supports which are adjustable to vary the distance between them, the resulting turns of wire being disposed at equal distances from one another on the points of support. Subsequently, at one of the points of support, the wire turns are each connected to respective connectors of each of two connector blocks after which the turns are severed between the two connector blocks.

Abstract: A continuous strip of serially interconnected and individually separable jumper cable assemblies and a method for making the same are disclosed. The strip is comprised of cable having a plurality of insulated conductors therein, the cable further having a plurality of spaced apart lines of perforations defining junctions between the jumper cable assemblies and relatively short intervening segments of cable between the end of one and the beginning of another jumper cable assembly. Rows of oppositely facing connecting means are attached to the cable adjacent the perforation lines so that the mating portions of the first and second connecting means are located essentially above the intervening segments. The rows of first and second connecting means need not necessarily be identical. Individual jumper cable assemblies are removed from the strip by severing the cable along the perforation lines and removing the intervening portion of cable.

Abstract: A connector for terminating a coaxial cable is provided which includes a first insulation displacement contact for contacting the shield and a second insulation displacement contact for contacting the central conductor. The contacts are arranged on a support base in an axial sense corresponding to the axis of the cable defined by the central conductor. The process of terminating the coaxial cable comprises stripping the outer insulating jacket and shield from a small end portion of the cable and then inserting that portion into one of the contacts while an unstripped portion is inserted into the other of the contacts. The insulation displacement contacts pierce the insulation to make direct electrical contact to the respective shield or central conductor.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector contact and process for electrically contacting a conductor by displacement of an insulating layer. The contact comprises a member including a slot having a desired width. The slot is defined by opposing legs of the member and a non-linear deformable web connecting the legs. By deforming the web it is possible to change the desired width of the slot to thereby adapt the contact to various conductor sizes. An electrical connector preferably adapted for terminating a coaxial cable on a printed circuit board employs such contacts.

Abstract: A connector for a coaxial cable and process for employing same. The connector includes first and second insulation displacement contacts which are arranged insulated from one another along a contact axis. Prongs are provided for stabilizing electrical connection between a first of the contact and a shield. The first contact also includes a system for aligning the prongs with the shield which is operative for a range of cable sizes.

Abstract: Two row electrical connector is manufactured by positioning a pair of connector modules in side-by-side relationship with the terminals in the two modules arranged as a single row. Wires are located in side-by-side relationship with each wire in alignment with one of the terminals. The wires are moved laterally into the wire-connecting portions of the terminals and connected to the terminals. The two modules are then positioned against each other in aligned relationship with the terminals forming two parallel rows and the modules are secured to each other.

Abstract: A tool and method are disclosed for terminating an electrical conductor to a contact member premounted in an electrical connector or the like, wherein the contact member has a terminal portion with a pair of spaced conductor engaging elements. The conductor is inserted into the contact member to seat the conductor within the terminal portion and make electrical engagement between the conductor and the spaced engaging elements. Simultaneously with the insertion of the conductor, sidewall portions of the contact member between the conductor engaging elements are crimped onto the conductor to mechanically retain the conductor in electrical engagement with the contact member. The novel tool includes a pair of crimping curved surface portions for shearing wall portions of the contact sidewalls between the conductor engaging elements and holding the sheared wall portions onto the conductor, with the surface portions intersecting along a common edge portion.

Abstract: Multi-wire group splicing in multi-wire telephone or like distribution systems, utilizing an at least three-sided distribution module (DM), the distribution module (DM) comprising an array of bridging slots (128, 130, 132, 134) in each of its sides (120, 122, 124, 126), and an array of disc type connectors (210 or 230 or 232) for interconnection of the respective prongs (502) of conventional prong type bridging modules (BM or 500) engaging the sides of the distribution module. By use of the distribution module (DM), additional or substitute multi-wire groups can be connected into the distribution system without interruption of service, and field fabrication of splices need involve only the "building" of prong type bridging modules (BM) at the ends of wire group sections of the system, with interconnection of the sections being simply by plugging of the prong type bridging modules (BM) into the distribution module (DM).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing harness assemblies comprising two connectors having wires extending between the connectors. The two connectors are positioned adjacent to each other in an insertion zone with the wire receiving portions of terminals in the connectors in alignment. The wires are located in two spaced-apart planes in alignment with the terminals and the wires are moved towards the connectors and into the wire receiving portions of the terminals. Thereafter, the one connector with the wires attached is removed and the other connector is moved through and beyond the insertion zone and wires are pulled from reels and located in the insertion zone in the spaced-apart planes. The cycle is then repeated in placing two additional connectors in the insertion zone between the two planes of wires. A specific apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Electrical connectors for use with relatively spaced printed circuit electrical conductors and more especially of the type contained on flexible flat conductors wherein the connectors are formed on a continuous mounting strip that retains the same in relative spaced relationship corresponding to the relative spacing of the electrical conductors such that a series of electrical connectors may be electrically engaged simultaneously in one operation with respective ones of the electrical conductors without disturbing or otherwise affecting the continuous insulating integrity between the relatively spaced electrical conductors.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting the ends of stator windings to stator supply terminals comprises a stator holding device which holds a wound stator with each winding end held by a holding element and an insertion and clamping device which is displaceable toward the stator holding device and which comprises a tong-like gripper for each winding end which is swivelable toward and away and laterally with respect to the stator holding device under variable tension. The grippers engage the winding ends and displace them into the respective supply terminals, whereupon the terminals are clamped by a clamping device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for preconnectorization of the ends of a cable for pulling through a standard diameter duct. The apparatus utilizes a connector consisting of three major parts: first and second wire organizers and a contact element means. The wire organizers are of a form factor sufficiently small and are organized such as to fit around the cable core without increasing the outside composite diameter of the cable. The apparatus further includes two forms of cable pulling devices.

Abstract: An electrical connector and termination tool are disclosed for making crimped, insulation-piercing terminations with insulation covered conductors. The connector includes a dielectric insert, a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the insert and an access passage for insertion of a termination tool to effect the crimp-pierce termination in situ. The termination tool has a bifurcated termination head including separate insertion and crimping members which are used sequentially to first press the conductor into the terminal portion of the contact and then to crimp the contact over the conductor to complete the termination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for terminating multi-conductor cable. A plurality of terminals are preloaded partially into a housing leaving their crimped terminating portions extending therefrom in such a position as they can be readily crimped connected to a cable. This allows for the terminals to be gang handled during the loading of the housing and yet be separated for individual termination on the cable. The cable can be crimped simultaneously to all of the terminals and the terminals fully inserted into the housing in subsequent operations. The terminal used with the subject method and apparatus includes an extra tine which serves alignment, stabilization, and cable positioning functions.

Abstract: A novel automatic multiple wire terminal applying machine which is selectively operable to simultaneously attach to one or both of the adjacent or opposite ends of multiple lengths of wire either a single terminal common to all of the wires or an individual terminal on each wire.

Abstract: A separation tool has a multiple-sectioned cable-advance assembly which locates an electrical cable relative to cutting blades on an anvil assembly, portions of the advance assembly being displaced laterally to follow the positions of the cable wires during their separation. Cutters having multiple staggered edges of varying orientation relative to the cutting direction pierce the outer insulation of the cable and separate the cable wires as the cable is advanced onto the cutter blades. A uniform force is to be exerted throughout a cutting stroke by an operator of the tool. Spring loaded rods push the wires away from the cutters to free the wires at the conclusion of the separation operation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for effecting mass insulation displacing termination of a plurality of conductors by a like plurality of terminals which have been pre-loaded into a housing. The housing has a plurality of terminal passageways therein opening onto a mating face and each passageway receives a terminal with a matable portion directed toward the mating face and an insulation displacing conductor engaging portion which lies in a rear portion of the passage having an opening to the side of the housing. The housing further includes a pair of hermaphroditic cover members which enclose the rear portion of the housing and also provide a strain relief function for the conductors when assembled on the housing.

Abstract: A clamp-squeezing apparatus for automatically urging a cable-engaging clamp of an electrical connector into clamping engagement with a cable is provided. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with wire-terminating apparatus. The squeezing apparatus comprises a movable carriage including a slidable plate on which is mounted a connector nest and pivotal squeezing arms having cam followers and squeeze jaws on opposed ends thereof. Upon movement of the carriage and nest into a desired position, the cam followers are urged by cam tracks in which they ride to urge the squeeze jaws together and squeeze the connector cable clamp into engagement with a cable.

Abstract: An improved method for mass termination of pre-stripped flat transmission cable having conductors on closely spaced centers with the connector providing selective programming of grounds within the connector is disclosed. A connector includes three sub-assemblies, namely, a cover, a housing assembly with a plurality of receptacle type contacts and a ground bus mounted therein, and a strain relief member. The present method employs slotted beams to effect a connection between the conductors and grounds of the cable and the terminals and bus bars of the connector. The cable is prepared in a cable stripper to cut the insulation and displace it towards the free end of the cable sufficiently to allow the conductors to be seated in the connector cover. The application tooling then inserts the exposed conductors into the proper alignment slots of the cover while simultaneously trimming them to the correct length.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the connection of insulated electric wires, and it pertains more precisely to a terminal and a connection block for electrically connecting two insulated wires without prestripping them. Prior art connecting devices that operate without prestripping are usually in the form of a flat spring, cut in a U shape, the branches of which define a slot. In such devices, the insulated wire to be connected is introduced at the end of the slot adjacent the free ends of the branches. This type of device has a disadvantage since the perforation of the insulation is made where the deformation of the branches is the easiest. The self-stripping connecting device of the present invention is constituted by a flat spring including a portion forming a U, the branches of which are elastically biased one against the other, and an opening to allow the introduction of the insulated wire at the end of the slot adjacent the base of the U.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for making electrical connectors and, in one embodiment suitable for use with a multiplicity of parallel planar arrayed, spaced-apart insulated conductors, comprises means for and the steps of retainably positioning the conductor array above the crimp retainer portions of interconnected connector members, inserting the conductors into the connectors, positionally affixing the conductors to the connectors as by crimp means encircling the cable insulation and crimp means enveloping the exposed cable conductors, shearing the strips which interconnect the connector members to each other, and inserting the cables and their associated connectors into an associated connector block.

Abstract: A method of terminating coil windings is disclosed in which the ends of the coil wire are wound around posts which are integral with the bobbin prior to and, at the conclusion of, the coil winding process. The bobbin is provided with terminal-receiving cavities located such that the ends of the coil wire extend from the posts across these cavities. Electrical connections to the ends of the coil wire are made by cutting off the posts and thereby severing the wire at a location adjacent to the post and inserting terminals into the cavities which establish contact with the ends of the coil wire. The lead wires can then be connected to the same terminals.