Method and device for crimping composite electrical insulators
AssigneeTyco Electronics UK Ltd.
InventorsBrian McGowan, Ronan Kavanagh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring crimping of metal end fittings onto electrically insulating core rods. The force and/or pressure applied to the metal end fittings by crimping jaws are monitored during crimping. The distance travelled by the crimping jaws is also measured during crimping. A change is detected in the relationship between the force and/or pressure and the distance travelled by the crimping jaws, such as by detecting a non-increasing force and/or pressure with an increasing distance. The methods and apparatus of the present invention may provide for detection and/or prediction of cracks in the electrically insulating core rods to improve the crimping process.
Claims16
Method of monitoring the crimping of metal end fittings onto an electrically insulating core rod of an electrical insulator using a crimping apparatus having crimping jaws, comprising:
- measuring the force and/or pressure applied to the end fittings by the crimping jaws during the crimping,
- measuring the distance travelled by the jaws during the crimping,
- detecting a non-increasing force and/or pressure with an increasing distance during the crimping.
Crimping apparatus having crimping jaws for crimping metal end fittings onto an electrically insulating core rod of an electrical insulator, comprising force and/or pressure transducers associated with the jaws so as to be capable of monitoring the progress of the crimping operation to detect over-crimping by measuring the force and/or pressure applied by the jaws to the end fittings being crimped and the distance traveled by the jaws during crimping.
A method of monitoring crimping of metal end fittings onto an electrically insulating core rod of an electrical insulator using a crimping apparatus having crimping jaws, the method comprising:
- measuring a force and/or pressure applied to the end fittings by the crimping jaws while the crimping jaws are moving toward the core rod;
- and
- detecting a crimping failure if a non-increasing force and/or pressure is measured while the crimping jaws are moving toward the core rod.
A crimping apparatus having crimping jaws for crimping metal end fittings onto an electrically insulating core rod of an electrical insulator, the apparatus comprising:
- a transducer that measures a force and/or pressure applied to the end fittings by the crimping jaws while the crimping jaws are moving toward the core rod;
- and
- a detector that detects a crimping failure if a non-increasing force and/or pressure is measured while the crimping jaws are moving toward the core rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.