Installation, insulation displacement, and terminating tool

Abstract

An installation, insulation displacement, and terminating power tool, for inserting electrical wires into, and for electrically connecting the electrical wires to electrical contact members disposed within, an electrical connector, comprises a three-chamber pneumatic driving section for developing an enhanced level of driving force necessary for inserting and terminating the electrical wires into and upon the electrical connector, a quick-release mechanism for mounting a punch or die set holder upon the driving section so as to enable the quick exchange or replacement of the particular punch or die set, a quick insertion system for mounting the driving section-punch or die set holder assembly upon the base fixture or framework, and primary and secondary means for accurately positioning both the electrical connector and an associated pin header upon the base fixture or framework wherein the pin header is also used for integrity verification of the electrical circuits defined between the installed electrical wires and the electrical contact members of the electrical connector.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A tool for inserting a plurality of electrical wires into an electrical connector for mating with a plurality of electrical contact members fixedly mounted within the electrical connector, comprising: 
 a base fixture upon which an electrical connector is to be installed;    an insertion die holder upon which a set of insertion dies is mounted for encountering and forcing the plurality of electrical wires into the electrical connector;    a driving assembly for moving said insertion die holder toward said base fixture so as to cause said set of insertion dies mounted upon said insertion die holder to force the plurality of electrical wires into the electrical connector and mate with the electrical contact members of the electrical connector;    means for fixedly mounting said insertion die holder upon said driving assembly so as to comprise an integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit; and    means for permitting axial insertion of a first end of said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit into a first end of said base fixture and for permitting angular rotation of said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit with respect to said base fixture such that a second end of said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit engages a second end of said base fixture so as to fixedly mount said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit upon said base fixture.    
   
   
       11 . The tool as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said means for mounting said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit upon said base fixture, comprises: 
 a first socket defined within said base fixture;    a first set screw mounted upon said base fixture and operatively associated with said first socket;    a second socket defined within said base fixture;    a second set screw mounted upon said base fixture and operatively associated with said second socket;    a first guide rod mounted upon said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit and having structure incorporated thereon for permitting said first guide rod to bypass said first set screw when said first guide rod is axially inserted into said first socket and for engaging said first set screw when said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit is angularly rotated such that said first guide rod is axially retained within said first socket; and    a second guide rod mounted upon said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit and having structure incorporated thereon for engaging said second set screw when said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit is angularly rotated such that said second guide rod is axially retained within said first socket.    
   
   
       12 . The tool as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said first guide rod comprises a flat peripheral portion for axially bypassing said first set screw, and a first annular recessed portion for operatively engaging said first set screw; and    said second guide rod comprises a second annular recessed portion for operatively engaging said second set screw.    
   
   
       13 . The tool as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a detent recess formed within said second guide rod; and    spring-biased plunger latching means disposed within said second socket for engaging said detent recess of said second guide rod so as to latchingly retain said second guide rod within said second socket at a fully angularly rotated position.    
   
   
       14 . The tool as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said first guide rod fixedly mounted upon said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit, and said first socket defined within said base fixture, have first predetermined diametrical extents, and said second guide rod fixedly mounted upon said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit, and said second socket defined within said base fixture, have second predetermined diametrical extents which are different from said first predetermined diametrical extents of said first guide rod and said first socket such that said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit can only be mounted upon said base fixture in a single predetermined orientation.    
   
   
       15 . The tool as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an aperture defined within said insertion die holder at a predetermined angular position; and    a tooth integrally formed upon said base fixture at a predetermined angular position for insertion within said aperture defined within said insertion die holder so as to ensure that said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit has been rotated to said fully angularly rotated position.    
   
   
       16 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A tool for inserting a plurality of electrical wires into an electrical connector for mating with a plurality of electrical contact members fixedly mounted within the electrical connector, comprising: 
 a base fixture upon which an electrical connector is to be installed;    an insertion die holder upon which a set of insertion dies and a cutter die are mounted for encountering and forcing the plurality of electrical wires into the electrical connector;    a driving assembly for moving said insertion die holder toward said base fixture so as to cause said set of insertion dies mounted upon said insertion die holder to force the plurality of electrical wires into the electrical connector and mate with the electrical contact members of the electrical connector; and    cutter means movably mounted upon said base fixture for permitting said electrical connector to be mounted upon and removed from said base fixture and for operatively cooperating with said cutter die for severing the electrical wires when an end-type electrical connector is being fabricated.    
   
   
       22 . The tool as set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 trunnion means pivotally mounting said cutter means upon said base fixture.    
   
   
       23 . The tool as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said cutter means comprises a cutter blade element comprising a substantially arcuate cut-out section for permitting the discharge of severed pieces of the electrical wires so as to prevent the accumulation of severed pieces of the electrical wires and jamming of said tool.    
   
   
       24 . The tool as set forth in  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a cutter blade holder fixedly mounted upon said base fixture; and    spring biasing means interposed between said cutter 878 blade holder and said cutter blade element for normally biasing said cutter blade element toward said operatively cooperative position with respect to said cutter die.    
   
   
       25 . A tool for inserting a plurality of electrical wires into an electrical connector for mating with a plurality of electrical contact members fixedly mounted within the electrical connector, comprising: 
 a base fixture upon which an electrical connector is to be installed;    an insertion die holder upon which a set of insertion dies and a cutter die are mounted for encountering and forcing the plurality of electrical wires into the electrical connector;    cutter means movably mounted upon said base fixture for permitting said electrical connector to be mounted upon and removed from said base fixture and for operatively cooperating with said cutter die for severing the electrical wires when an end-type electrical connector is being fabricated;    a driving assembly for moving said insertion die holder toward said base fixture so as to cause said set of insertion dies mounted upon said insertion die holder to force the plurality of electrical wires into the electrical connector and mate with the electrical contact members of the electrical connector;    means for fixedly mounting said insertion die holder upon said driving assembly so as to comprise an integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit; and    means for permitting axial insertion of a first end of said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit into a first end of said base fixture and for permitting angular rotation of said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit with respect to said base fixture such that a second end of said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit engages a second end of said base fixture so as to fixedly mount said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit upon said base fixture.    
   
   
       26 . The tool as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said means for mounting said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit upon said base fixture, comprises: 
 a first socket defined within said base fixture;    a first set screw mounted upon said base fixture and operatively associated with said first socket;    a second socket defined within said base fixture;    a second set screw mounted upon said base fixture and operatively associated with said second socket;    a first guide rod mounted upon said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit and having structure incorporated thereon for permitting said first guide rod to bypass said first set screw when said first guide rod is axially inserted into said first socket and for engaging said first set screw when said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit is angularly rotated such that said first guide rod is axially retained within said first socket; and    a second guide rod mounted upon said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit and having structure incorporated thereon for engaging said second set screw when said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit is angularly rotated such that said second guide rod is axially retained within said first socket.    
   
   
       27 . The tool as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said first guide rod comprises a flat peripheral portion for axially bypassing said first set screw, and a first annular recessed portion for operatively engaging said first set screw; and    said second guide rod comprises a second annular recessed portion for operatively engaging said second set screw.    
   
   
       28 . The tool as set forth in  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a detent recess formed within said second guide rod; and    spring-biased plunger latching means disposed within said second socket for engaging said detent recess of said second guide rod so as to latchingly retain said second guide rod within said second socket at a fully angularly rotated position.    
   
   
       29 . The tool as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said first guide rod fixedly mounted upon said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit, and said first socket defined within said base fixture, have first predetermined diametrical extents, and said second guide rod fixedly mounted upon said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit, and said second socket defined within said base fixture, have second predetermined diametrical extents which are different from said first predetermined diametrical extents of said first guide rod and said first socket such that said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit can only be mounted upon said base fixture in a single predetermined orientation.    
   
   
       30 . The tool as set forth in  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 an aperture defined within said insertion die holder at a predetermined angular position; and    a tooth integrally formed upon said base fixture at a predetermined angular position for insertion within said aperture defined within said insertion die holder so as to ensure that said integral insertion die holder and driving assembly unit has been rotated to said fully angularly rotated position.    
   
   
       31 . The tool as set forth in  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 trunnion means pivotally mounting said cutter means upon said base fixture.    
   
   
       32 . The tool as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 said cutter means comprises a cutter blade element comprising a substantially arcuate cut-out section for permitting the discharge of severed pieces of the electrical wires so as to prevent the accumulation of severed pieces of the electrical wires and jamming of said tool.    
   
   
       33 . The tool as set forth in  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 a cutter blade holder fixedly mounted upon said base fixture; and    spring biasing means interposed between said cutter blade holder and said cutter blade element for normally biasing said cutter blade element toward said operatively cooperative position with respect to said cutter die.