Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02490555 2004-12-20
APPARATUS FOR SECURING WIRE CONNECTORS
Field of the Invention
. This invention relates to an apparatus for securing wire connectors.
Backs d of the Invention
Wire connectors are typically plastic cone shaped devices that are open at one
end to receive electrical wires. The interior of such cone shaped devices are
or
contain a helical coil spring that they may be twisted onto the ends of
electrically conductive
wires. The ends of the wires are stripped of their insulation and twisted
together. The
connector is twisted on the ends of the wires to secure the electrical
connection between the
wires.
Devices for attaching wire connectors are available and known in the art. For
example, United States Patent No. 4,365,527 describes an automatic wire
connector attaching
apparatus which includes an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving
the connectors
and an outlet for discharging the connectors. The connectors are received in a
rotatable but
axially fixed hollow drive shaft. A concentric sleeve, which surrounds the
drive shaft, is
axially movable towards the outlet by manually operated cam means. Such axial
movement
causes a plurality of fingers sto one end of the sleeve to grip a connector
located
adja~t the outlet. An electric motor rotates the drive shaft and the sleeve,
causing wires
inserted through the outlet to twistably engage to one another and secure to
the threaded inner
surface ofthe connector.
Having to obtain a separate tool that can only perform a single function,
namely, automatically attaching wire connectors, is costly and unnecessary
when other
existing tools may be adapted to perform the same function. Therefore, it is
an object to
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CA 02490555 2004-12-20
provide an apparatus that is capable of being attached to any rotating means,
such as a drill or
a rotary tool, for securing wire connectors onto electric wires.
Summarx,of the Invention
The apparatus for securing wire connectors accordiag to the present invention
eliminates the need for a separate tool to secure wire connectors by providing
an attachment
capable of being mounted on a conventional rotating means, such as a hand
drill or rotary tool,
to secure wire connectors onto ends of wires. The apparatus is therefore a
more cost effective
option as it is, an attachment having flexible securing means so that the
apparatus may be
mounted onto any rotating means, which is a common tool that a user typically
owns.
Furthermore, the operation of the apparatus is based on a simple spring
mechanism, which
requires less maintenance compared to a conventional apparatus having a
plurality of complex
mechanical parts cooperating with each other.
The apparatus for securing wire connectors according to the present invention
thus includes a mtatable cylindrical member defining at least one chamber, the
chamber
configured to store at least one wire connector. A frame supporting the
rotatable cylindrical
member is detachably mountable on a rotating means. A dispensing member
mounted on the
frame defines a wire connector channel to receive the wire connector from the
chamber. The
dispensing member further defines an outlet wherein the wire connector exits
the apparatus: A
rotator, which is selectively rotatable by actuating the rotating means,
engages the wire
connector when the wire is inserted thmugh the outlet into the wire connector,
thereby urging
the wire connector to engage the rotator. Ach~ation of the rotating means
rotates the rotator to
twistably engage and secure the wire onto the wire connector.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable cylindrical member
defines a plurality of chambers wherein each chamber defines an aperture at a
first end to
releaseably receive a plurality of wire connectors. A first spring disposed
within each of the
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plurality of chambers at a second end urge the plurality of wire connectors
from the chamber
through the aperture and into the wire connector channel of the dispensing
member. The wire
connector channel widens towards the outlet such that the wire connectors may
be aligned to
receive the wire and engage the rotator prior to the wire connectors exiting
through the outlet.
The cylindrical member is selectively rotatable with respect to an axle
extending centrally through the cylindrical member such that an aperhu~e of
any one of the
plurality of chambers may be positioned to urge the plurality of wire
connectors into the wire
connector channel. The axle is pivotally coupled with a rear plate of the
frame at a first end
and detachably coupled with an axle receiving recess defined by the dispensing
member at a
second end. A second spring encompassing the axle is attached to the rear
plate at a first end
and attached to a first side of a disc at a second end. The axle journals
through the disc such
that a second side of the disc is firmly biased against a rear surface of the
rotatable cylindrical
member when the second spring is expanded, the second spring thereby exerting
force against
the rotatable cylindrical member. A plurality of bearings positioned on the
rear surface of the
rotatable cylindrical member frictionally engage a plurality of corresponding
receiving
recesses positioned on the second side of the disc until the plurality of
bearings are displaced
from the plurality of corresponding receiving recesses when force is applied
to rotate the
rotatable cylindrical member. The plurality of bearings frictionally re-
engages the plurality of
corresponding receiving recesses when an aperture of one of the plurality of
chambers is
aligned with the wire connector channel.
When the second spring is expanded, the force exerted by the second spring
secures the second end of the axle within the axle receiving recess such that
the aperture of one
of the plurality of chambers is aligned with the wire connector channel to
receive the plurality
of wire connectors. When the second spring compresses, the second end of the
axle is released
from the axle receiving recess, thereby enabling the axle to pivot about the
first end of the axle
such that rotatable cylindrical member may be displaced to enable the
insertion of the wire
connectors into the plurality of chambers. A retractable shutter positioned
over each aperture
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of the plurality of chambers retains the plurality of wire connectors within
the plurality of
chambers when the rotatable cylindrical member is displaced. The retractable
shutter retracts
when the axle re-engages the axle receiving recess thereby enabling the first
spring to urge the
plurality of wire connectors into the wire connector channel.
The frame includes a cylinder support for supporting the rotatable cylindrical
member and a first and a second securing means. The cylinder support is
connected with the
rear plate at a first end and a face plate at a second end such that the frame
may be detachably
mountable on the rotating means by the first and second securing irieans. In
an embodiment of
the invention, the first and second securing means include adjustable clamps
for securing the
frame onto a drill. The drill includes a drill bit insertable in a drill bit
keyhole defined by the
face plate. The rotator, which is preferably a cap configured to encase and
frictionally engage
a closed end of the wire connector such that the rotator may rotate the wire
connector to secure
the wire, is connected with the face plate. When the drilling means is
actuated, rotation of the
drill bit inserted in the drill bit keyhole rotates a first gear, the first
gear causing a second gear
to rotate. The rotator, which is mounted on the second gear, thereby rotates
at a lower rate,
that is a lower rpm, than the drill bit. The face plate may also include a
wire stripper which is
slidably mountable on a bottom end of the face plate to strip the end of the
wire.
brief Description of the Drawings
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present
invention will become filly appreciated as the same becomes better understood
when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the apparatus for securing wire
connectors according to the present invention;
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Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus for securing wire connectors shown in
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus for securing wire connectors shown
in
Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a rear view of the apparatus for securing wire connectors shown in
Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the apparatus for securing wire connectors shown in
Figure l;
Figure 6 is a bottom view of the apparatus for securing wire connectors shown
in Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the apparatus for securing wire
connectors shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the wire connector twisting mechanism
of
the apparatus for securing wire connectors.
petailed Descriplyn of Embodimr,~ts of the Invention
With reference to Figures 1 to 8 wherein similar characters of reference
denote
corresponding parts in each view, an apparatus 5 according to the present
invention includes a
rotatable cylindrical member 10 supported by a frame 20 wherein frame 20 is
mountable on a
rotating means such as a drill 30. A dispensing housing 40 defining a wire
connector .channel
42 receives a wire connector 16 from rotatable cylindrical member 10.
Dispensing housing 40
further defines an outlet 46 wherein the ends of wires are inserted into a
downstream-most
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wire connector 16', urging wire connector 16' to engage a rotator 49. Rotator
49 is selectively
rotatable by drill 30 rotating drill bit 30a to twistably engage and secure
the ends of wires to
wire connector 16.
Rotatable cylindrical member 10 defines at least one chamber 12 having an
aperture 14 at a first end of ch~anaber 12 to receive and dispense wire
connector 16.
Chamberl2 is adapted to store a plurality of wire connectors 16 disposed end-
to-end within
chamber 12 until they are released into wire connector channel 42. A spring 13
disposed
within chamber 12 at a second end of chamber 12 urges wire connectors 16 out
through
aperture 14 at the first end of the chamber and into wire connector 42 of
dispensing housing
40.
Rotatable cylindrical member 10 is selectively rotatable with respect to an
axle
18. Axle 18 extends through the centre of rotatable cylindrical member 10 and
is pivotally
coupled at a first end with a rear plate 22. At a second end, axle 18 is
detachably coupled with
an axle receiving recess defined by dispensing housing 40. Encompassing the
first end of axle
18 is a spring 19 which is coupled with rear plate 22 at a first end and
coupled with a rear
surface 23 of rotatable cylindrical member 10 at a second end. In an
embodiment of the
present invention, second end of spring 19 is coupled with a first side of a
disc 25 wherein axle
18 journals through the centre of disc 25. Rear surface 23 defines a recess
configured to mate
with a second side of disc 25 as described below. When expanded, spring 19
exerts force on
rear surface 23 of rotatable cylindrical member 10 in direction A such that
the second side of
disc 25 is firmly biased against rear surface 23, thereby securing aad
maintaining the
connection between the second end of axle 18 within the axle receiving recess.
By
maintaining such connection, aperture 14 of chamber 12 may be aligned with
wire connector
channel ~42 such that wire connectors 16 may be , urged from chamber 12 and
released into
dispensing housing 40. In an embodiment of the invention wherein rotatable
cylindrical
member 10 includes a plurality of chambers 12, when all the wire connectors 15
disposed in a
first chamber 12a have been released into dispensing housing 40, rotatable
cylindrical member
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may be.rotated in direction B to align aperture 14 of a second chamber 12b
with wire
connector channel 42 such that wire connectors 16 in second chamber 12b may be
released
into wire connector channel 42. To ensure and maintain the alignment of
aperture 14 of
chamber 12 with wire connector channel 42, a plurality of bearings (not shown)
may be
5 positioned on rear surface 23 so as to fractionally engage a plurality of
corresponding receiving
recesses defined by the second side of disc 25. For example, to rotate
rotatable cylindrical
member 10 to align wire connector channel 42 with one of the plurality of
chambers 12,
sufficient force must be applied to rotate rotatable cylindrical member 10 in
direction B
relative to disc 25 to overcome the frictional engagement between the bearings
and their
10 con~esponding receiving recesses defined by disc 25. Once the bearings have
been displaced,
rotatable cylindrical member 10 may be rotated relative to disc 25 to align
aperture 14 of
chamber 12 with wire connector channel 42. When aperhwe 14 is aligned with
wire connector
channel 42, the bearings re-engage with their corresponding receiving
recesses. The plurality
of bearings and receiving recesses are positioned on rear surface 23 and disc
25, respectively,
such that when aperture 14 of any one of the plurality of chambers 12 is
aligned with wire
connector channel 42, the bearings re-engage with the corresponding receiving
recesses and
prevent further rotation unless sufficient force is applied to further rotate
rotatable cylindrical
member 10.
When spring 19 is compressed by retracting rotatable cylindrical member 10
towards rear plate 22 in direction C, the second end of axle 18 detaches from
the axle receiving
recess defined by dispensing housing 40, thereby allowing rotatable
cylindrical member 10 to
be displaced vertically in direction D by pivoting about the first end of axle
18. In such
displaced position, aperture 14 of the plurality of chambers 12 are exposed so
that wire
connectors 16 may be inserted into the plurality of chambers 12. A retractable
spring actuated
shutter which covers aperture 14 when rotatable cylindrical member 10 is in
the raised position
retains wire connectors .16 within chamber 12 as wire connectors 16 are being
inserted into the
plurality of chambers 12. When first chamber 12a receives the maximum number
of wire
connectors 16, rotatable cylindrical member 10 may be rotated to position
aperture 14 of
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second chamber 12b to receive and retain wire connectors 16. When the second
end of axle
18 re-attaches to the axle receiving recess, a projection mounted on
dispensing housing 40 and
positioned above wire connector channel 42 engages the spring that actuates
the shutter
through an aperture defined by rotatable cylindrical member 10 such that the
shutter retracts
and enables wire connectors 16 to be urged thmugh aperture 14 and into wire
connector
channel 42.
Wire connectors 16 are disposed in chamber 12 such that the closed end of wire
connectors 16 is inserted into chamber 12 first. In an embodiment of the
present invention,
wire connectors 16 disposed in chamber 12 are the conventional plastic cone-
shaped wire
connectors that are open at a first end to receive electrical wires, closed at
their opposite
second end, and have a threaded interior that may twistably engage and secure
the ends of
wires together.
Frame 20 comprises rear plate 22, a cylinder support 24, a first and a second
securing means 26 and 28, and face plate 50. Preferably, cylinder support 24
is a trough
adapted to receive and hold rotatable cylindrical member 10. A first end of
cylinder support
24 is connected with rear plate 22 and a second end of cylinder support 24 is
connected with
face plate 50. Rear plate 22 is connected with a first end of frame 20 and
face plate 50 -is
connected with a second end of frame 20 such that frame 20 may be detachably
mountable on
rotating means 30 as a unit by way of first and second securing means 26 arid
28. In an
embodiment of the invention, first and second securing means 26 and 28 may be
slidably
adjustable along frame 20 at a first end of each securing means 26 and 28 by
way of set screws
positioned to accommodate the particular dimensions of rotating means 30.
First and second
securing means 26 and 28 may also be detachably mountable on frame 20. At a
second end,
first and s~;ond securing means 26 and 28 may include a clamp member or any
other
mounting means known in the art. Preferably, first and second seauing means 26
and 28
forms clamps at a second end to secure frame 20 around the body of rotating
means 30.
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Rotating means 30 may be any means capable of facilitating the rotation of a
rotator 49. Because first and second securing means 26 and 28 are adjustable,
fi~ame 20 may
be secured to any rotating means available in the art, such as a rotary tool.
In an embodiment
of the present invention, rotating means 30 is a conventional hand held drill
having a drill bit
32 that may be inserted into a drill bit keyhole 52 defined by face plate 50.
When rotating
means 30 is actuated, drill bit 32 inserted in drill bit keyhole 52 rotates a
pair of gears
described below, thereby causing rotator 49 to rotate. Rotator 49 engages the
closed end of
wire connector 16 and when rotated, rotator 49 twistably engages wires
inserted through an
outlet 46 defined by dispensing housing 40 together and secures such ends to
the threaded
inner surface of wire connector 16.
Dispensing housing 40, which is connected to face plate 50, defines wire
connector channel 42 for receiving wire connectors 16 from chamber 12 through
aperture 14.
Wire connector channel 42 provides a passageway whereby wire connectors 16
move towards
connection chamber 44 where wires are inserted through outlet 46 and into wire
connector 16
where they are stogether in wire connector 16. Spring 13 urges wire connectors
16 into
wire connector channel 42 and the exciting of wire connectors 16 through
outlet .46 urges the
wire connectors to advance along wire connector channel 42. In an embodiment
of the
invention, wire connector channel 42 gradually widens towards outlet 46 such
that the closed
end of wire connectors 16 may align with rotator 49 and the open end of wire
connectors 16
may align with outlet 46. Connection chamber 44 includes rotator 49 which
grips and rotates
the closed end of wire connector 16 to twistably engage and secure the ends of
the wires
inserted into wire connector 16. In an embodiment of the present invention,
rotator 49 is a cap
configured to encase and frictionally engage the closed end of wire connector
16 such that
rotator 49 may rotate connector 16 when rotating means 30 is actuated.
When wire connector 16 is positioned adjacent to outlet 46, retaining means 47
such as flaps which are biased against the open end of wire connector 16
prevent wire
connector 16 from exiting through outlet 46 unless sufficient force is applied
to overcome the
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CA 02490555 2004-12-20
retaining force of retaining means 47. Retaining means 47 are positioned on
the interior side
walls of outlet 46. Similar retaining means 45 positioned outside of
connection chamber 44
are biased against the closed end of wire connector 16 to prevent wire
connector I6 from
entering connection chamber 44 and engaging rotator 49 until sufficient force
is applied to
overcome the retaining force of retaining means 45.
Face plate 50 includes drill bit keyhole 52, rotator 49, a first gear 54 and a
second gear 56. When drill bit 32 is inserted in drill bit keyhole 52 and
drill 30 is actuated,
rotation of drill bit 32 in drill bit keyhole 52 causes first gear 54 to
rotate. Rotation of first
gear 54 causes second gear 56 to rotate, thereby rotating rotator 49, which is
mounted on
second gear 56.
In an embodiment of the present invention, face plate 50 includes a wire
stripper 58 which strips the ends of wires prior to being inserted into outlet
46 so that they may
be secured by wire connector 16: Wire stripper 58 may be slidably mountable to
a bottom end
of face plate 50.
In interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be
interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In
particular, the terms
"comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted .as referring to elements,
components, or
steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements,
components, or steps
may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or
steps that are not
expressly referenced.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in. the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of
the invention is
to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following
claims.
