Crimp tool having non-linear crimping force and related methods

Abstract

A crimp tool for crimping a prepared wire into a corresponding contact wire barrel includes a circular cam having an aperture therein, where the aperture forms an inner camming surface. The crimp tool also includes a cam handle extending from the circular cam, a lower handle pivotably connected to the cam handle at the circular cam, and an indentor holder mounted within the aperture of the circular cam, where the indentor holder has a plurality of radially extending channels or holes. In addition, the crimp tool includes a plurality of indentor elements slidingly engaged with the plurality of radially extending channels, where the inner camming surface has a plurality of curvilinear ramps for the plurality of indenter elements to slide along as the circular cam rotates from an open position to a closed position. The plurality of curvilinear ramps have at least one change in ramp geometry.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.