Crimping die and crimped electrical connection therefrom

• US 4,991,289 A
• Filed: 06/23/1989
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: French, Jay L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Carl E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arbes, Carl J.
• Application Number:
  US07/370,922
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 29/856, 29/861, 29/863, 29/753, 29/519
• US Class Current: 29/863
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/058 Crimping mandrels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49181 by deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49185 of terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49933 After thinning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53235 Means to fasten by deformation

Abstract

A die set 20 for crimping an electrical connection of a contact terminal member to an electrical conductor comprises two hermaphroditic members 22, 22'"'"'. The die members 22, 22'"'"' are positioned in opposing relationship along a crimping axis and are reciprocally movable relative to each other along the axis. Each die member 22 has a base section 24 including an anvil 40 extending from the base section 24 and defining an essentially hemispheric concave crimping surface 42 having a selected desired radius. In operation, the anvils 40, 40'"'"' are opposed so that upon completion of the crimping portion of a stroke, a symmetrical essentially cylindrical recess 60 is defined having an axis orthogonal to the crimping axis. Each die member 22 further includes a bifurcated plate section 46 including edge surfaces 50 defining a slot 52 having an axis parallel to the cylindrical recess axis. A contact terminal member 80 having an outer diameter at least larger than the diameter of the cylindrical recess and having a wire portion 92 inserted therein, is crimped by placing the terminal member 80 between the opposing die members 22, 22'"'"' and parallel to the cylindrical recess axis. As the opposing die members 22, 22'"'"' are urged together, the edge surfaces 50, 50'"'"' of the respective plate sections 46, 46'"'"' initiate bulk deformation of side surfaces 85 of the terminal member 80, and the crimping surfaces of the anvils 40, 40'"'"' define a crimped electrical connection 96 cylindrical in shape and having a diameter equal to the cylindrical recess diameter.

Claims

1. A method for crimping a terminal member whereby an annular recess is formed, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a pair of die members adapted to cooperate with each other member when positioned in opposing relationship therewith along a crimping axis, said two die members being reciprocally movable relative to each other along said axis during a stroke to apply crimping force to said electrical connection, each of said die members having an essentially hemispheric concave crimping surface with a selected desired radius so that upon completion of the crimping portion of a stroke, a symmetrical essentially cylindrical recess is defined having an axis orthogonal to said crimping axis;

each of said die members further including a bifurcated plate section extending integrally from said crimping surface, said plate section having major surfaces facing along said recess axis and said plate section including edge surfaces defining a slot having an axis parallel to said cylindrical recess axis and having a bottom defined by said crimping surface, said edge surfaces extending initially tangentially outwardly from sides of said crimping surface, said plate sections of said opposing die members being parallel to each other and offset from each other along said cylindrical recess axis so that portions thereof pass by each other during a said stroke;

positioning a terminal member having an outer diameter at least larger than the diameter of said cylindrical recess and having a wire inserted therein between said opposing die members and parallel to said cylindrical recess axis; and

urging said opposing die members together along said crimping axis until said crimping stroke is completed and said crimping surfaces define a crimped electrical connection cylindrical in shape and having a diameter equal to said cylindrical recess diameter;

whereby

an annular recess is formed in said crimped terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing said edges of said plate section with curved sections whereby said edge surfaces of said plate sections initiate bulk deformation of side surfaces of said contact terminal member.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing stop means on said die members to stop said crimping stroke upon completion thereof.

4. A die set for crimping an electrical connection of a contact terminal member to an electrical conductor, each said die member being adapted to cooperate with the other die member when positioned in opposing relationship therewith along a crimping axis, said two die members being opposed and being reciprocally movable relative to each other along said axis during a stroke to apply crimping force to said electrical connection, comprising:

each said die member having a base section including an anvil extending from said base section and defining an essentially hemispheric concave crimping surface having a selected desired radius, said anvils being opposed so that upon completion of the crimping portion of a stroke, a symmetrical essentially cylindrical recess is defined having an axis orthogonal to said crimping axis, said cylindrical recess axis having a selected length, and each said anvil having a first portion along a first half of said recess axis and a second portion along a second half thereof;

each said die member further including a bifurcated plate section extending integrally from said first portion of said anvil normal to said recess axis, said plate section having major surfaces facing along said recess axis and said plate section including edge surfaces defining a slot having an axis parallel to said cylindrical recess axis and having a bottom defined by said crimping surface of said anvil, said edge surfaces extending initially tangentially outwardly from sides of said crimping surface, said plate sections of said opposing die members being parallel to each other and offset from each other along said cylindrical recess axis so that portions thereof pass by each other during a said stroke;

each said second anvil portion comprising a pedestal extending to said crimping surface from said base section and having generally vertical side surfaces, and said edge surfaces of said plate section of each said die member being divergent thereby receiving therebetween said second portion of said anvil of the other said die member; and

said die members including cooperating means to stop said crimping stroke upon completion of the crimping portion of said stroke, whereby

when a said contact terminal member with an outer diameter at least larger than the diameter of said cylindrical recess and having a conductor inserted therein, is placed between said opposing die members and parallel to said cylindrical recess axis, and said opposing die members are urged together, said edge surfaces of said plate sections initiate bulk deformation of side surfaces of said contact terminal member, and said crimping surfaces of said anvils define a crimped electrical connection cylindrical in shape and having a diameter equal to said cylindrical recess diameter.

5. The set of die members of claim 4 wherein each of said plate sections includes outwardly facing major surfaces disposed on respective planes orthogonal to said cylindrical recess axis and said crimp recess along said terminal member resulting from crimping includes forward and rearward facing surfaces substantially disposed in respective planes orthogonal to the axis of said contact terminal member.

6. The set of die members of claim 4 wherein said die members are hermaphroditic members.

7. The set of die members of claim 4 wherein said edges of said plate sections are curved.