Apparatus and method for providing an electrical contact with a tip portion substantially free of burrs
AssigneeGTE Sylvania Incorporated
InventorsRobert Arthur Coons, Richard Earl Gipe, Richard Lee Marks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing an electrical contact with a tip portion substantially free of burrs during the manufacture of said contact. The strip from which the contact is produced is positively engaged at two separate but adjacent locations, heat is applied to a third location between the two, and the two adjacent locations separated a pre-established distance until the third location becomes severed.
Claims17
A method of providing an electrical contact with a tip portion substantially free of burrs wherein said contact is produced from an elongated strip of metallic material having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area, said method comprising:
- positioning said metallic strip on a base member;
- clamping said metallic strip positioned on said base member at a first location with a movable clamping member;
- clamping said metallic strip at a second location substantially adjacent said first location with at least two clamping members pivoted about a common axis, each of said clamping members having first and second end portions located on opposing sides of said clamping members from said common pivot axis, said first end portions of each of said clamping members including a jaw portion for engaging said strip, said clamping achieved by engaging each of said second end portions of said clamping members with a movable engagement arm to provide separation thereof causing said jaw portions to engage said strip;
- heating said metallic strip to an established temperature for a predetermined time period at a third location substantially between said first and second locations;
- and
- withdrawing said movable clamping members away from said base member to separate said first and second locations of said metallic strip a pre-established distance to elongate said heated third location and reduce the cross-sectional area thereof until said third location is completely severed, said severed third location defining said tip portion of said electrical contact.
An apparatus for providing an electrical contact with a tip portion substantially free of burrs wherein said contact is produced from an elongated strip of metallic material having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area, said apparatus comprising:
- means for positively engaging said metallic strip at a first location, said means comprising a base member for having said strip positioned thereon and a movable clamping member for positively engaging said strip when said strip is positioned on said base member;
- means for positively engaging said metallic strip at a second location substantially adjacent said first location, said means comprising at least two clamping members pivoted about a common axis, each of said clamping members having first and second end portions located on opposing sides of said clamping member from said common pivot axis, said first end portions of each of said clamping members including a jaw portion for engaging said strip;
- means for actuating said pivoted clamping members comprising a movable engagement arm for engaging each of said second end portions of said clamping members to provide separation thereof, said separation causing said jaw portions to engage said strip;
- means for heating said metallic strip to an established temperature for a predetermined time period at a third location substantially between said first and second locations;
- and
- means for separating said first and second locations of said metallic strip a pre-established distance to elongate said third location and reduce the cross-sectional area thereof until said third location is completely severed, said severed third location defining said tip portion of said electrical contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.