Wedge connector installation tool

• US 20090223042A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Inventors: Chadbourne, Christopher G., Crutcher, Bernard C., Montminy, Armand T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,160,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/758
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/5083 using a wedge
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/027 for connecting conductors by clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/04 for forming connections by deformation, e.g. crimping tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53222 Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53257 Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement

Abstract

An electrical connector installation tool including a frame and a screw ram. The frame includes a front end having an anvil section adapted to contact a front end of an electrical wedge connector shell, and a rear end having a threaded aperture. The screw ram has a front end, a rear end and a middle section. The front end is adapted to contact a rear end of an electrical wedge connector wedge. The middle section includes a threaded section which is connected to the threaded aperture of the frame to allow the screw ram to be screwed into the frame and thereby move the front end of the screw ram towards the anvil section.

Claims

1. An electrical connector installation tool comprising:

a frame comprising a front end having an anvil section adapted to contact a front end of an electrical wedge connector shell, and a rear end having a threaded aperture; and

a screw ram having a front end, a rear end and a middle section, wherein the front end is adapted to contact a rear end of an electrical wedge connector wedge, and wherein the middle section comprises a threaded section which is connected to the threaded aperture of the frame to allow the screw ram to be screwed into the frame and thereby move the front end of the screw ram towards the anvil section.

2. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 wherein the front end of the screw ram comprises a rounded shape.

3. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 wherein the front end of the screw ram comprises a ball shape.

4. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 wherein the rear end of the screw ram has a general cross sectional polygon shape.

5. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 wherein the rear end has a general cross sectional hexagon shape.

6. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 wherein the rear end comprises at least two different size, stepped general cross sectional polygon shapes.

7. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 wherein the rear end of the crew ram is sized and shaped to be connected to an impact wrench for axial rotation of the screw ram by the impact wrench.

8. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 further comprising a travel limiter collar movably located on the threaded section.

9. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 wherein the rear end of the frame comprises a section adapted to contact a power tool, which is attached to the rear end of the screw ram, to prevent the frame from rotating while the screw ram is rotated by the power tool.

10. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 wherein the rear end of the screw ram has a keyed aperture.

11. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 10 further comprising a shear connector member removably located in the aperture.

12. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 11 wherein the shear connector member comprises a first end which is sized and shaped to mate in the aperture, an opposite second end which is sized and shaped to removably connect to a power tool, and a middle section forming a shear pin section.

13. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 1 further comprising a shear connector member removably connected to the rear end of the screw ram, wherein the shear connector member comprises a first end which is sized and shaped to removably connect to the rear end of the screw ram, an opposite second end which is sized and shaped to removably connect to a power tool, and a middle section forming a shear pin section.

14. An electrical connector installation tool screw ram comprising:

a front end which is adapted to contact a rear end of an electrical wedge connector wedge;

a rear end which is sized and shaped to connect to a hydraulic impact wrench for axial rotation of the screw ram by a hydraulic impact wrench; and

a middle section comprising a threaded section which is adapted to be connected to the threaded aperture of an electrical connector installation tool frame to allow the screw ram to be screwed into the frame and thereby move the front end of the screw ram towards an anvil section of the frame.

15. An electrical connector installation tool comprising:

a frame comprising a front end having an anvil section adapted to contact a front end of an electrical wedge connector shell, and a rear end having a threaded aperture; and

a screw ram as in claim 14 connected to the threaded aperture.

16. An electrical connector installation tool screw ram as in claim 14 wherein the front end of the screw ram comprises a rounded shape.

17. An electrical connector installation tool screw ram as in claim 14 wherein the front end of the screw ram comprises a ball shape.

18. An electrical connector installation tool screw ram as in claim 14 wherein the rear end has a general cross sectional polygon shape.

19. An electrical connector installation tool screw ram as in claim 14 wherein the rear end has a general cross sectional hexagon shape.

20. An electrical connector installation tool screw ram as in claim 14 wherein the rear end comprises at least two different size, stepped general cross sectional polygon shapes.

21. An electrical connector installation tool screw ram as in claim 14 further comprising a travel limiter collar movably located on the threaded section.

22. An electrical connector installation tool as in claim 14 wherein the rear end of the frame comprises a section adapted to contact a power tool, which is attached to the rear end of the screw ram, to prevent the frame from rotating while the screw ram is rotated by the power tool.

23. An electrical connector installation tool comprising:

a frame comprising a front end having an anvil section adapted to contact a front end of an electrical wedge connector shell, and a rear end having a threaded aperture; and

a screw ram having a front end, a rear end and a middle section, wherein the front end has a general ball shape and is adapted to contact a rear end of an electrical wedge connector wedge, wherein the rear end has a general cross sectional polygon shape which is sized and shaped to connect to a hydraulic impact wrench for axial rotation of the screw ram by the hydraulic impact wrench, and wherein the middle section comprises a threaded section which is connected to the threaded aperture of the frame to allow the screw ram to be screwed into the frame and thereby move the front end of the screw ram towards the anvil section,

wherein the rear end of the frame comprises a section adapted to contact the hydraulic impact wrench, when the hydraulic impact wrench is attached to the rear end of the screw ram, to prevent the frame from rotating while the screw ram is rotated by the hydraulic impact wrench.