Apparatus for inserting wires into terminals in modular type connector

#This invention relates to apparatus for use in installing modular type multi-contact electrical connectors on groups of wires such as wire bundles contained in a multi-conductor cable. The apparatus is herein disclosed in conjunction with a pedestal of the type used in the telephone industry as a housing for an above-ground splice between sections of buried telephone cable, however, it will be apparent that the apparatus can be used under other circumstances; for example, for splicing electrical cables in a manhole and for splicing elevated cables.

#Application Ser. No. 707,981 discloses and claims an apparatus for inserting wires into the terminals in a modular type connector which has a roller, or alternatively a sliding member, which moves relatively over the surface of a connector positioned in the apparatus and during such movement it trims wires positioned transversely across the connector and inserts the trimmed wires into the wire receiving portions of terminals in the connector. The principles of the invention described in Application Ser. No. 707,981 are sound and the specific apparatus shown therein has been tested with favorable results. It has become apparent, however, that it would be desirable to provide an insertion and assembling apparatus having the advantages of the apparatus disclosed in the above identified application which would be more compact than my previous apparatus. The instant invention is specifically directed to the achievement of this end and additionally to the achievement of an apparatus which can be used under a wide variety of working conditions.

#It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for assembling the parts of a modular electrical connector and/or inserting wires into the wire receiving portions of terminals in a modular electrical connector. A further object is to provide an apparatus which is relatively compact and which can be used under a wide variety of working conditions. A further object is to provide an apparatus having an improved force multiply means which can be manually operated without undue fatigue on the part of the operator. A further object is to provide an apparatus which can be used for trimming wires and inserting the trimmed wires into terminals of a modular electrical connector and which can also be used for assembling the parts of a modular electrical connector to each other by pressing them together. A further object is to provide an apparatus of robust and durable construction which is at the same time relatively simple and which can be operated by a technician without an extended period of training.

#These and other objects of the invention are achieved in preferred embodiments thereof which are briefly described in the foregoing abstract which are described in detail below, and which are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pedestal type housing for a cable splice or other types of electrical connections among communications cables showing an apparatus in accordance with the invention mounted on the pedestal and in position for cable splicing operations.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a modular type electrical connector of the type for which the herein disclosed embodiment of the apparatus is particularly intended.

#FIG. 1 shows a pedestal 12 which serves as a housing for aboveground electrical connections between the wires 2 of bundles 4 and the wires 2' of bundles 4'. It will be understood that the bundles extend from buried sections of cables and the periodic cable splices which are required are contained in the pedestal so that they can be readily serviced or repaired if the need arises. The pedestal has a mounting panel 10 therein in which the connectors 8 are mounted in openings 9. The apparatus 6 is mounted in one of these openings 9 during use, as will be explained below, although it can be used under other circumstances such as in a manhole or on an elevated platform when axial cables are being spliced.

#The connector 8 is, in general, constructed in accordance with the teachings of copending application Ser. No. 630,589 filed Nov. 10, 1975. Since an understanding of this connector is required for an understanding of the instant invention, the connector is shown in FIGS. 2-5 and is briefly described below.

#The modular connector assembly comprises a base section 14, an intermediate body section 16, and a cover member 18, these members being assembled to each other as shown in FIG. 5 when the connector is in use and functioning to connect the conductors 2 of the bundle 4 to the conductors 2' of the bundle 4'. The base member 14 has a back wall 20, a front wall 22, and end walls 24, 26, these walls being in surrounding relationship to an internal surface 28 as shown in FIG. 3. Plate-like terminals 30 are mounted in, and extend upwardly from, the surface 28 and are arranged in two parallel rows 36, 38 with the terminals of each row being offset relative to the terminals of the other row. Each terminal has a wire receiving slot 32 extending downwardly from its upper end 34, the width of this slot being such that when the wire 2 is forced into the slot the edges thereof will penetrate the insulation of the wire and establish electrical contact with the conducting core of the wire. Bosses 40 extend upwardly from the surface 28 and provides supporting surfaces for the wires adjacent to the terminals as indicated in FIG. 3. The wires extend through the spaced-apart notches 42 in the front wall 22 and these notches are in alignment with the slots 32 of the terminals.