Method of handling parts and structure therefor

• US 5,954,539 A
• Filed: 12/11/1996
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Hornung, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Byrd, Eugene G.
• Application Number:
  US08/763,495
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 439/590, 439/937, 174/67
• US Class Current: 439/590
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/22 End caps, i.e. of insulating or conductive material for covering or maintaining connections between wires entering the cap from the same end
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/937 Plural insulators in strip form

Abstract

A method and structure is disclosed for providing a plurality of parts (34, 80, 110) to a tool (22) in a work station (20) for use in a manufacturing operation. The parts, such as electrical components, wire connectors or connector parts are arranged in a chain (40, 100) or block (112) wherein each part is separably connected to another part in the chain or block without the use of a carrier tape (10) or integral sections (14) that must be broken or removed and discarded. The parts are interconnected by means of first and second features (54, 66) that are formed integral to the parts. The first feature (54) is a projection and the second feature (66) is an opening that conformably receives the projection and, when mated, holds the two parts together. The chain may be stored on a reel and later dereeled to be fed into a tool for performing a manufacturing operation. A single part can easily be removed from the chain or block.

Claims

1. A wire connector for splicing two conductors together, comprising:

an insulating housing having an opening communicating with an internal cavity, and an electrically conductive ferrule inside said cavity for receiving said two conductors, said ferrule being crimpable through said housing for electrically interconnecting said two conductors; and

first and second spaced apart mating features on said wire connector arranged so that said first feature of one said wire connector is adapted for mating engagement with said second feature of another said wire connector, said first mating feature comprising an annular groove in an internal diameter of said ferrule and said second mating feature comprising a torus shaped projection arranged to elastically deform when partially inserted into said annular groove during said mating, and to snap into said mated engagement with said annular groove upon complete insertion thereof,

whereby when said one and another wire connectors are so mated they are separably held together and slightly pivotable.

2. The wire connector according to claim 1 wherein said internal cavity and said ferrule have a common longitudinal axis and wherein said first and second features are arranged so that when said one and another wire connectors are in mated engagement, said longitudinal axis of each connector is in approximate alignment with said longitudinal axis of the other connector.

3. A plurality of wire connectors, each wire connector being arranged for splicing two conductors together including an insulating housing having an opening communicating with an internal cavity, an electrically conductive ferrule inside said cavity for receiving said two conductors, said ferrule being crimped through said housing for electrically interconnecting said two conductors,

first and second spaced apart mating features on each said plurality of wire connectors arranged so that said first feature of one said wire connector is adapted for mating engagement with said second feature of another said wire connector, wherein said second feature is an annular groove in an internal diameter of said ferrule and said first feature is a torus shaped projection arranged to elastically deform when partially inserted into said annular groove during said mating, and to snap into said mated engagement with said annular groove upon complete insertion thereof, so that when said one and another wire connectors are so mated they are separably held together, and

wherein each of said plurality of wire connectors is in said mated engagement with another of said wire connectors thereby forming a chain of said mated wire connectors.

4. The chain of mated wire connectors according to claim 3 wherein each said projection is slightly pivotable within its respective annular groove and wherein said chain is disposed on a reel.

5. A wire connector for splicing two conductors together, comprising:

an insulating housing having an opening communicating with an internal cavity, and an electrically conductive ferrule encircling said longitudinal axis inside said cavity for receiving said two conductors, said housing having a longitudinal axis extending through said ferrule, said ferrule being crimpable through said housing for electrically interconnecting said two conductors; and

first and second spaced apart mating features on said wire connector arranged so that said first feature of one said wire connector is adapted for mating engagement with said second feature of another said wire connector, said first mating feature comprising an elongated first rib on an outer surface of said housing extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, said first rib having a rounded edge along its length and a necked down portion adjacent said housing, said second mating feature comprising a channel formed by a pair of closely spaced elongated second ribs on an outer surface of said housing extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and arranged to elastically deform when said first rib is partially inserted into said channel during said mating, and to snap into said mated engagement with said first rib upon complete insertion thereof,

whereby when said one and another wire connectors are so mated they are separably held together.

6. The wire connector according to claim 5 wherein said first rib and said channel are arranged so that when said one and another wire connectors are mated, they are slightly pivotable while their respective longitudinal axes remain parallel.

7. The wire connector according to claim 5 wherein said first rib and said channel are diametrically opposed.

8. The wire connector according to claim 5 including two said first ribs and two said channels spaced so that each said first rib is diametrically opposed to a respective channel.

9. The wire connector according to claim 8 wherein said two first ribs are spaced 90 degrees apart.

10. A plurality of wire connectors, each wire connector being arranged for splicing two conductors together including an insulating housing having an opening communicating with an internal cavity, an electrically conductive ferrule inside said cavity for receiving said two conductors, said housing having a longitudinal axis extending through said ferrule, said ferrule being crimpable through said housing for electrically interconnecting said two conductors,

first and second spaced apart mating features on each said plurality of wire connectors arranged so that said first feature of one said wire connector is adapted for mating engagement with said second feature of another said wire connector, said first mating feature comprising an elongated first rib on an outer surface of said housing extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, said first rib having a rounded edge along its length and a necked down portion adjacent said housing, said second mating feature comprising a channel formed by a pair of closely spaced elongated second ribs on an outer surface of said housing extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and arranged to elastically deform when said first rib is partially inserted into said channel during said mating, and to snap into said mated engagement with said first rib upon complete insertion thereof, so that when said one and another wire connectors are so mated they are separably held together, and

wherein each of said plurality of wire connectors is in said mated engagement with another of said wire connectors thereby forming a chain of said mated wire connectors.

11. The plurality of wire connectors according to claim 10 wherein each said wire connector includes two said first ribs and two said channels, said first ribs and said channels arranged so that each said wire connector can be concurrently mated with at least two other wire connectors, thereby forming a block of wire connectors.

12. The wire connector according to claim 11 wherein said two first ribs of each wire connector are spaced 90 degrees apart and each said first rib is diametrically opposed to a respective channel.