Insulated wire termination, method, and machine
First Claim
1. In combination for use in joining at least two insulated metal wires,a metal tubular member having continuous outer and inner surfaces,at least two insulated metal wires within said tubular member,a fusing machine comprising,a frame,first and second fusing electrodes,said first and second electrodes being mounted on said frame for movement of at least one of said first and second electrodes toward and away from the other along a first axis,said first electrode comprising a first surface for engaging only a first part of the tubular member with the axis of said tubular member extending generally perpendicular to said first axis,said second electrode comprising a second surface for engaging only a second part of the tubular member,said first and second parts of the tubular member being portions of said continuous outer surface,moving means for moving at least one of said first and second electrodes toward the other to compress the tubular member between said first and second surfaces and to apply fusing pressure to deform the tubular member and compress the wires within said tubular member whereby each of the insulated wires are compressed only against other insulated wires or other insulated wires and said inner surface, andelectrical power means for applying current to the fusing electrodes so that the first and second electrodes apply fusing heat and current to the deformed tubular member to burn away wire insulation and soften the wire and tubular metals.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, machine and termination for connecting two or more insulated wire ends includes placing them in a metal tube held between fusing electrodes. The electrodes are shaped to deform the tube and wires therein with the application of fusing pressure. During fusing, pressure builds first to press the assembly together, then heat and current are applied as the tube and internal wires are compressed. Fusing current first flows from a longitudinal region of the tube equally in both direction through the tube metal to soften the tube and distribute the fusing heat broadly. As the wire insulation is burned off or flows away, current also passes through the bare wire ends to aid the fusing process. For tinned copper tubes, some of the inside tin layer flows to wet copper surfaces and dissolve copper impurities. Some tin flows to seal small spaces between the fused wires. Some of the tin on the outside surface and inside surface of the tube may vaporize. A fusing machine for carrying out the method is suspended from a standard retractable winch cable so that the electrodes can be easily positioned in free space.
60 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In combination for use in joining at least two insulated metal wires,
a metal tubular member having continuous outer and inner surfaces, at least two insulated metal wires within said tubular member, a fusing machine comprising, a frame, first and second fusing electrodes, said first and second electrodes being mounted on said frame for movement of at least one of said first and second electrodes toward and away from the other along a first axis, said first electrode comprising a first surface for engaging only a first part of the tubular member with the axis of said tubular member extending generally perpendicular to said first axis, said second electrode comprising a second surface for engaging only a second part of the tubular member, said first and second parts of the tubular member being portions of said continuous outer surface, moving means for moving at least one of said first and second electrodes toward the other to compress the tubular member between said first and second surfaces and to apply fusing pressure to deform the tubular member and compress the wires within said tubular member whereby each of the insulated wires are compressed only against other insulated wires or other insulated wires and said inner surface, and electrical power means for applying current to the fusing electrodes so that the first and second electrodes apply fusing heat and current to the deformed tubular member to burn away wire insulation and soften the wire and tubular metals.
Specification