Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6176732
-
Patent Number
6,176,732
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, June 8, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 23, 200124 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Luebke; Renee
- Hammond; Briggitte R.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 404
- 439 828
- 439 835
- 439 395
- 029 749
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A wire terminator assembly is for connecting a plurality of wires to an electrical connector having a plurality of terminals. The wire terminator assembly includes two terminator blades slidably retained within a base unit. Each terminator blade is configured for connecting a respective one of the wires to a respective one of the terminals of the electrical connector. A drive unit is configured for simultaneously sliding each of the terminator blades within the base unit to thereby connect the wires to the electrical connector.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wire terminator, and, more particularly, to a wire terminator for connecting wires to the terminals of an electrical connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to connect wires to an electrical connector by individually pressing each wire onto a respective terminal of the electrical connector. Each terminal has a pair of sharp edges between which the wire is pressed. The sharp edges pierce the insulation surrounding the wire and thereby make electrical contact with the internal electrical conductor. Such a connector is known as an “insulation displacement” connector. Before being connected to the electrical connector, adjacent wires are twisted together in pairs in order to reduce crosstalk between the wires. The ends of each twisted wire pair are left untwisted so that they may be individually and sequentially inserted into a wire terminating apparatus.
The untwisted end of one of the wires of the twisted wire pair is pulled into the wire terminating apparatus such that the untwisted end of the wire engages a leading edge of a terminator blade within the apparatus. The terminator blade is then actuated to push the wire end into the terminal of the electrical connector. After the terminator blade has been retracted to its original position, and the wire end has been attached to the terminal, the terminator blade is then aligned with a second terminal of the electrical connector, with the second terminal being adjacent to the first terminal. The untwisted end of the second wire of the twisted wire pair is then pulled into the wire terminating apparatus, similarly to the first wire, such that the untwisted end of the second wire engages the leading edge of the terminator blade. The terminator blade is then again actuated to push the second wire end into the second terminal of the electrical connector.
A problem is that, for a couple of different reasons, a substantial length of the wire ends is left untwisted. One of the reasons is to avoid the second wire interfering with the connection of the first wire to the connector terminal. That is, the longer the length of untwisted wire ends, the further the second wire end can be pulled from the first wire end while the first wire end is being connected. Another reason is to provide slack for the travel distance of the terminator blade, particularly after the first wire end has been connected to the terminal and the second wire is being inserted into the terminating apparatus. A large travel distance for the terminator blade has the advantage of providing a larger space between the terminator blade and the electrical connector in which the wires can be threaded into the terminating apparatus, thus making operation of the terminating apparatus easier and quicker. However, the large travel distance has the disadvantage of requiring that the length of untwisted wire ends be longer, which results in more crosstalk between the wires.
Yet another problem associated with individual termination of the wire ends is that it causes the wire ends to have different lengths. In order to avoid electrical interference, it is very important that the spacing between the wires is consistent and that the two wires of the pair are of the same length.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a wire terminator assembly which can simultaneously connect both wires of a twisted wire pair to respective terminals of an electrical connector.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a wire terminator assembly for connecting a plurality of wires to an electrical connector having a plurality of terminals. The wire terminator assembly includes two terminator blades slidably retained within a base unit. Each terminator blade is configured for connecting a respective one of the wires to a respective one of the terminals of the electrical connector. A drive unit is configured for simultaneously sliding each of the terminator blades within the base unit to thereby connect the wires to the electrical connector.
An advantage of the present invention is that both wires of a twisted wire pair can be simultaneously connected to an electrical connector.
Another advantage is that the lengths of the untwisted ends of the twisted wire pair are reduced, thereby minimizing crosstalk between the wires.
Yet another advantage is that by connecting two wires at a time instead of one, a group of wires can be connected the electrical connector more quickly.
A further advantage is that both wires of the pair have the same length, thus reducing loops that otherwise occur when wires are individually terminated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of one embodiment of a simultaneous wire pair terminator of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the base unit of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the terminator blades, the spacer blade and the drive unit of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the simultaneous wire pair terminator of
FIG. 1
engaging a twisted wire pair;
FIG. 5
is an exploded side view of the terminator blades and the spacer blade of the simultaneous wire pair terminator of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 6
is a fragmentary top view of the terminator blades and the base unit of FIG.
1
.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to
FIG. 1
, there is shown one embodiment of a wire terminator assembly
10
of the present invention including a base unit
12
, terminator blades
14
and a drive unit
16
.
Base unit
12
, best seen in
FIG. 2
, includes a channel
18
in which terminator blades
14
are slidingly received. Channel
18
has a widened area
20
in which base
12
is separated from contact blades
14
, thereby reducing friction therebetween. Channel
18
also has a rear narrow portion
22
and a front narrow portion
24
which work in conjunction to retain blades
14
in alignment. Base unit
12
also includes a front face
26
from which blades
14
extend out of channel
18
. An adapter portion
28
interfaces with an electrical connector (not shown) so that blades
14
can be aligned with respective pins or terminals
30
(
FIG. 6
) of the electrical connector.
Terminator blades
14
, shown assembled to drive unit
16
in
FIG. 3
, each include a recessed area
32
with a beveled surface
33
and a slot
34
. Front ends or leading edges
36
of terminator blades
14
each include a shoulder
38
with a substantially horizontal edge
40
and a substantially vertical edge
42
. Each terminator blade
14
can include a sharp bottom cutting edge
43
. A spacer blade
44
(
FIG. 5
) is disposed between terminator blades
14
and is received in recessed areas
32
. Spacer blade
44
includes a slot
46
which can be at least partially aligned with slots
34
of blades
14
. Front end or leading edge
48
of spacer blade
44
includes a shoulder
50
with a substantially horizontal edge
52
and a substantially vertical edge
54
.
A pin
56
is received in a through hole
57
which extends through base
12
on one or both sides of channel
18
. Pin
56
extends across channel
18
and through slots
34
and
46
of terminator blades
14
and spacer blade
44
, respectively.
Pneumatic drive unit
16
includes a notch
58
receiving terminator blades
14
. Drive
16
is placed over an air cylinder adapter (not shown) for actuating sliding movement of blades
14
within channel
18
.
In operation, drive unit
16
slides terminator blades
14
and spacer blade
44
rearward in channel
18
. Slots
34
allow leading edges
36
of terminator blades
14
to be moved further back in channel
18
than slot
46
allows leading edge
48
of spacer blade
44
to be moved. Thus, when terminator blades
14
and spacer blade
44
are in a rearward position, as best seen in
FIG. 5
, leading edge
48
of spacer blade
44
extends past front face
26
, while leading edges
36
of terminator blades
14
are recessed within channel
18
.
A twisted wire pair
60
(
FIG. 4
) is placed on horizontal edge
52
of shoulder
50
of spacer blade
44
such that each of two untwisted wire ends
62
and
64
falls adjacent to a separate side of spacer blade
44
. In this position, spacer blade
44
holds wire ends
62
and
64
at a predetermined vertical level such that wire ends may be engaged by shoulders
38
of terminator blades
14
.
Drive unit
16
then slides terminator blades
14
forward in channel
18
toward terminals
30
of the electrical connector (not shown). As blades
14
move forward, vertical edges
42
of blades
14
, as well as vertical edge
54
of spacer blade
44
, engage wire ends
62
and
64
. Also occurring as blades
14
move forward, their beveled surfaces
33
engage spacer blade
44
, thereby carrying spacer blade
44
forward for a distance limited by the length of slot
46
. Pin
56
, in conjunction with slots
34
and
46
, limits the longitudinal sliding movement of both terminator blades
14
and spacer blade
44
.
After spacer blade
44
has moved to its most forward position, each terminator blade
14
continues to move respective wire
62
or
64
of the wire pair
60
toward the electrical connector, thereby causing spacer blade
44
to lose contact with wire ends
62
and
64
. Spacer blade
44
ensures that each of wire ends
62
and
64
falls over a separate, respective one of shoulders
38
, thereby preventing both wire ends
62
and
64
from being connected to a same terminal
30
.
The electrical connector interfaces with adapter
28
such that terminals
30
are each aligned with a respective one of terminator blades
14
. Blades
14
continue to push wire ends
62
and
64
forward into respective terminals
30
. As wire ends
62
and
64
are pushed forward, the cutting edges of terminals
30
pierce the insulation surrounding wire ends
62
and
64
until terminals
30
make electrical contact with the electrical conductors within wire ends
62
and
64
.
At some point along the forward progression of terminator blades
14
, bottom cutting edges
43
of blades
14
can be used to cut off the tips of wire ends
62
and
64
against adapter portion
28
. Thus, after attachment to the electrical connector, wire ends
62
and
64
do not extend downward past terminals
30
for a substantial distance.
After wire ends
62
and
64
have been fully attached to respective terminals
30
, drive unit
16
can again move terminator blades
14
rearward in channel
18
, in a direction away from the electrical connector. The electrical connector can then be moved laterally in order to align each of another two terminals
30
with a respective one of terminator blades
14
. The above-described process is then cyclically repeated until all remaining wires have been attached to the electrical connector.
Wire terminator assembly
10
is shown as including two terminator blades
14
. However, it is to be understood that it is possible for terminator assembly
10
to include more than two terminator blades
14
for simultaneously terminating a corresponding number of wires. Further, it is possible for drive unit
16
to be powered other than pneumatically. For example, drive unit
16
may be hydraulic, manually actuated or mechanically driven by gears.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A wire terminator assembly for connecting a plurality of wires to an electrical connector having a plurality of terminals, said wire terminator assembly comprising:a base unit; two terminator blades slidably retained within said base unit, each terminator blade being configured for connecting a respective one of the wires to a respective one of the terminals of the electrical connector; a spacer blade disposed between said terminator blades; and a drive unit configured for simultaneously sliding each of said terminator blades within said base unit to thereby connect the wires to the electrical connector.
- 2. The wire terminator assembly of claim 1, wherein each said terminator blade includes a shoulder configured for supporting a respective one of the wires.
- 3. The wire terminator assembly of claim 1, wherein said terminator blades are disposed in side by side relationship within said base unit.
- 4. The wire terminator assembly of claim 3, wherein said base unit includes a channel, said terminator blades being received within said channel.
- 5. A wire terminator assembly for connecting a plurality of wires to an electrical connector having a plurality of terminals, said wire terminator assembly further comprising:a base unit; two terminator blades slidably retained within said base unit, each terminator blade being configured for connecting a respective one of the wires to a respective one of the terminals of the electrical connector; a spacer blade disposed between said two terminator blades, said spacer blade being configured for sliding along with said terminator blades; and a drive unit configured for simultaneously sliding each of said terminator blades within said base unit to thereby connect the wires to the electrical connector.
- 6. The wire terminator assembly of claim 5, wherein at least one said terminator blade includes a recess configured for receiving said spacer blade.
- 7. The wire terminator assembly of claim 5, wherein each of said terminator blades and said spacer blade includes a slot, said wire terminator assembly further comprising a pin extending through each of said slots, said pin and said slots conjunctively defining a means for limiting sliding movement of said terminator blades and of said spacer blade.
- 8. A wire terminator assembly for connecting a plurality of wires to an electrical connector having a plurality of terminals, said wire terminator assembly comprising:a base unit; at least two terminator blades slidably retained within said base unit, each terminator blade being configured for connecting a respective one of the wires to a respective one of the terminals of the electrical connector; a spacer blade disposed between said terminator blades; and a drive unit configured for simultaneously sliding each of said terminator blades within said base unit to thereby connect the wires to the electrical connector.
- 9. A method of connecting a plurality of wires to a plurality of terminals of an electrical connector, said method comprising the steps of:providing each of two of the wires with a respective first portion and a respective second portion, said first portions of the two wires being twisted around each other, said second portions of the two wires being untwisted; slidably retaining two terminator blades within a base unit; providing a spacer blade between said terminator blades; separating the second portions by placing each second portion on a separate side of said spacer blade; and simultaneously sliding each of said terminator blades with a drive unit such that each said terminator blade presses a respective one of the second portions of the two twisted wires against a respective one of the terminals of the electrical connector.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said simultaneously sliding step includes piercing respective layers of insulation surrounding respective ones of the two twisted wires with respective ones of the connector terminals such that each of the two twisted wires is electrically connected to a respective one of the connector terminals.
- 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said simultaneously sliding step includes attaching a respective one of the second portions of the two twisted wires to a respective one of the terminals of the electrical connector.
- 12. The method of claim 9, wherein each said terminator blade includes a shoulder, said method comprising the further steps of:supporting each of the second portions of the two twisted wires with a respective said shoulder of a respective said terminator blade; and pulling a distal end of each said second portion of the two twisted wires such that each said second portion is held taut against a respective said terminal blade shoulder.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said simultaneously sliding step includes cutting off the distal ends of the two twisted wires.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5655284 |
Ferrill et al. |
Aug 1997 |
|
5888100 |
Bofill et al. |
Mar 1999 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2 233 585A |
Jan 1991 |
GB |