Power activated tool with safety power cell

• US 4,945,730 A
• Filed: 05/11/1989
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Burndy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Burndy Corporation
• Inventors: Laney, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/350,785
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 60/632, 60/635, 60/636, 227/9, 227/10
• US Class Current: 60/635
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/008 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/146 operated by a hammer blow
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/0275 by using explosive force

Abstract

A power actuated tool having an explosive cartridge for applying connectors to power lines wherein the tool is armed as the power tool is loaded with a cartridge and engaged with a connector, and disarmed if the tool operator disengages the connector leaving the connection unfinished.

Claims

1. An explosively actuated tool in combination with a cartridge for forming a connection between main and branch cables comprising:

a base member having a fixed anvil and an upstanding support member having a sleeve for positioning a power ram in alignment with the anvil,

a main breech action assembly carried by the support member and including a power ram, a firing chamber housing, and a breech assembly,

the breech action assembly including an elongated tube having a forward portion mounted in the support member and a rear portion defining a firing chamber housing, the tube having an axial bore for receiving and projecting the power ram in alignment with the anvil, the axial bore further defining the firing chamber for receiving the cartridge case, the power ram in the axial bore having a ram end aligned with and adapted for cooperation with the anvil for finishing a connector and a breech end extending into the firing chamber,

the breech assembly including a cylindrical housing telescoped into the firing chamber housing and a breech plug for closing the breech end of the firing chamber, a firing pin and a breech pad carried by the breech plug in operative relation with the firing chamber, a cartridge case in the firing chamber having a power piston and a power cell slidably received therein,

means for extending the breech end of the power ram into the firing chamber for pressing the power cell against the breech plug in range of the operative excursion of the firing pin when the tool is in engagement with a connector workpiece,

and means for moving the power cell out of range of the firing pin when the ram is retracted from the firing chamber.

2. An explosively actuated tool using a power cartridge for forming a connection between main and branch cables comprising:

a base member having a fixed anvil and an upstanding support member having a sleeve for positioning a power ram in alignment with the anvil,

a main breech action assembly carried by the support member and including a power ram, a firing chamber housing, and a breech assembly,

the breech action assembly including an elongated tube having a forward portion mounted in the support member, the tube having an axial bore for receiving and projecting the power ram from the forward portion of the base in alignment with the anvil, the rear portion of the elongated tube defining the firing chamber housing with the axial bore defining the firing chamber for receiving a power cartridge,

the power ram in the axial bore having a ram end aligned with and adapted for cooperation with the anvil for finishing a connector and a breech end extending into the firing chamber,

the breech assembly including a cylindrical housing telescoped into the firing chamber housing and a breech plug for closing the breech end of the firing chamber, the breech plug having a firing pin in operative relation with a power cartridge in the firing chamber having a power piston and a power cell slidably received therein,

means for moving the breech end of the power ram into the firing chamber for pressing the power cell against the breech plug in range of the operative excursion of the firing pin when the power ram and anvil are in engagement with an unfinished connector workpiece,

and the breech plug having means for moving the power cell out of range of the firing pin when the power ram and anvil are disengaged from the unfinished connector workpiece.

3. A tool according to claim 2 in which the breech plug has a firing pin for detonating the power cell and a breech pad for moving the power cell away from the firing pin.

4. A breech housing assembly for an explosively actuated tool having a firing chamber, a power cartridge in the firing chamber and a power ram for engaging moving the cartridge toward the breech end of the firing chamber comprising a breech housing slidably fitted over the firing chamber and having an opening for inserting a cartridge into the firing chamber, a breech plug secured to one end of the breech housing for movement with the breech housing assembly to close the breech end of the firing chamber, the breech plug having:

a front face to receive the breech end of a cartridge case,

a firing pin adapted to protruding through the front face and having an excursionary range for detonating the power cartridge,

a hammer for actuating the firing pin,

and a spring loaded breech pad projecting from the front face of the breech pad and engaging the breech end of the cartridge case for pushing the catridge case out of range of the firing pin when the power ram is disengaged from the cartridge.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 in which the front face of breech plug is recessed.

6. In a power tool with a firing chamber, having a longitudinal axis, a power cartridge in the firing chamber, and a power ram engaging the cartridge and pushing the cartridge toward the breech end of the firing chamber, a breech plug comprising a plug body having a breech face for receiving the breech end of a cartridge case, a rearwardly open cavity having a hammer mechanism therein, means for limiting the axial distance of travel of the hammer mechanism, a firing pin carried by the hammer and having a firing pin tip protruding through an opening in the breech face to fire a cartridge, the hammer and firing pin having a predetermined excursionary range for firing a cartridge, a breech pad carried by the breech plug and protruding from the breech face, means for urging the breech pad to protrude from the breech face, means for limiting the axial movement of the breech pad, so that the breech pad moves a cartridge beyond the operational range of the firing pin when the power ram disengages the cartridge.

7. A breech plug according to claim 6 in which the breech face is recessed.

8. A power tool for applying a connector between main and branch cables comprising an interconnected anvil and power ram, a main breech assembly for advancing the power ram for engaging a connector between the power ram and the anvil so that the tool is in ready-to-fire condition, and means for disabling the power device when the power ram is disengaged from the connector leaving the connector unfinished.