US 5,178,257 AGranted

Wire carrier and method of using same

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorDan A. Cross

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Abstract

An open topped carrier (2) has a space (6) dimensioned to receive a plurality of coiled wire segments (100) hung on hangers (26) carried by upper portions of dividers (22). The dividers (22) are held in vertical, horizontally spaced use positions by slots (12) formed on the inner wall surfaces of the carrier (2). Each divider (22) may be independently grasped and slid into an elevated use position to facilitate hanging the coiled segment (100) on the hanger (26). A clamping device (32) extends along each of opposite side portions of an upper flange (14) of the carrier (2). The ends (102) of each segment (100) are clamped in an accessible transport position by the clamping device (32). The carrier (2) may have portions to facilitate handling of the segment ends (102) by an operator and/or an indicator bar (58) with a plurality of lights (62) aligned with the segment ends (102) for a human operator. The coiled configuration permits a segment end (102) to be released from the clamp (32) and pulled away from the carrier (2) for processing without moving the segment (100) or the divider (22) on which it is hung away from their lower transport positions.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method of transporting a plurality of wire segments and of delivering the ends of said segments to devices for processing said ends, comprising:

providing a carrier having a top opening;
said carrier including a plurality of substantially vertical, horizontally spaced dividers, and two rows of clamps adjacent to opposite lateral edges of said opening;
each said divider having a hanger on a top portion thereof;
hanging each of a plurality of wire segments in a loosely coiled configuration on a different one of said hangers, and allowing said segment to extend downwardly and laterally outwardly from said hanger in said carrier;
securing each end of each said segment in a clamp in a different one of said rows of clamps;
transporting the carrier with said segments hanging therein and said ends so clamped to a work station where at least one said device is located;
releasing one end of one of said segments from said clamp, and while allowing said segment to continue to hang on said hanger, pulling said one end into engagement with said device;
and
after pulling said one end and while continuing to allow said segment to hang on said hanger, moving said one end back to said clamp and again securing said one end in said clamp.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.