Apparatus for making electrical wiring harnesses

• US 3,913,202 A
• Filed: 08/10/1973
• Issued: 10/21/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Doucette, Wayne E. Pyle
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Doucette, Wayne E. Pyle
• Inventors: Pyle, Wayne E., Doucette, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Lowell A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walkowski, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US05/387,497
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 29/23R,23B,23MW,624,593 317/122 240/25 340/252R 324/51,66
• US Class Current: 29/721
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/32 Stands or frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01227 using a layout board
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53091 for work-holder for assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53243 Multiple, independent conductors

Abstract

A system and method for assembling electrical wiring harnesses composed of a plurality of wire runs between specified terminal points where the terminal points for each run present a visual indication as a wire run is made and the indications are extinguished as the wire is properly placed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for assembling wire harnesses, comprising a board, a plurality of wire receptacles mounted to said board in a predetermined arrangement to signify beginning and ending terminal points for a plurality of wire runs, said receptacles adapted to receive and hold one or more wires therein, each of said receptacles including a light emissive device and a switch in circuit therewith, said switch being normally closed but responsive to placement of a wire in said receptacle to open.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacles have a body portion of translucent material and said light emissive device radiates into said translucent material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacles include a resilient wire retaining clip, said clip being displaceable to accept a wire.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said receptacles are responsive to pressure exerted thereon to open said switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said receptacle includes a spring clip defining with said body portion, said spring clip arranged to be displaced to permit placement of wire in said well.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said clip forms part of said switch, and dispLacement thereof opens said switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacle defines a well to retain wire therein, and including a light conductive body member with said light emissive device carried thereon, and said switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including control means, and wire run instruction means, means responsive to said wire instruction means to cause said control means to illuminate at least two of said receptacle light emissive devices.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a supply of a multiplicity of different wires, an indicating means positioned to indicate each wire, and means responsive to said instruction means, and said control means for energizing one of said indicating means.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said instruction means includes an advanceable instruction medium with a plurality of wire run instructions thereon, and reading and advancing means therefor, means responsive to placement of a wire in each of the illuminated receptacles to permit said reading and advancing means to advance said medium for reading of the next wire run instructions thereon.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a supply of a multiplicity of different wires, an indicating means positioned to indicate each wire, and means responsive to said instruction means, and said control means for energizing one of said indicating means.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of said light emissive devices and its associated switch is in circuit with an electronic switch, means for rendering two of said electronic switches conductive to illuminate two of said light emissive devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said electronic switches are controlled rectifiers having a gate electrode, and means for applying a gating signal to the gate electrodes of two selected rectifiers.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said light emissive devices and its associated switch is in circuit with an electronic switch, means for rendering two of said electronic switches conductive to illuminate two of said light emissive devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said electronic switches are controlled rectifiers having a gate electrode, and means for applying a gating signal to the gate electrodes of two selected rectifiers.