Splicing device

An assembly for making a mechanical and/or electrical connection between two conductors and the like, comprising:

• a tubular housing having tapered portions converging toward open outer ends of the housing,
• unitary, tubular, conductor gripping structures located within said housing, the wall of each structure having an outer tapered surface converging toward the open outer end of the housing, and thin wall portions that form a continuous hoop of material at least adjacent the ends of the structure,
• hammers of substantial mass located within the housing, and spaced a predetermined distance from the conductor gripping structure,
• at least one coil spring made of relatively large gauge spring material located between and in engagement with the hammers,
• rod means extending between and in engagement with the hammers for holding the hammers against the spring and the spring in compression, and
• means for releasing the rod such that the hammers and the compression of the spring are released, the hammers and released compression of the spring being effective to drive the hammers the predetermined distance to the conductor gripping structures, and the gripping structures toward the open end of the housing, the tapered portion of the housing being effective to reduce the diameter of the structures by folding the thin wall portions thereof.