US2213224A

US2213224A - Means for splicing cable

Info

Publication number: US2213224A
Application number: US215458A
Authority: US
Inventors: Phillip E Littlehale
Original assignee: Guardian Manufacturing & Supply Corp
Current assignee: Guardian Manufacturing & Supply Corp
Priority date: 1936-06-22
Filing date: 1938-06-23
Publication date: 1940-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1957-09-03

Description

P 1940- P. E. LITTLEHALE 2,213,224

MEANS FOR SPLIGING CABLE Original Filed June 22, 1936 INVENTOR PwL/P E. LITTLE/VALE.

BY WW7 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1940 PATENT @FHQE MEANS FOR srLioiNG CABLE Phillip E. Littlehale, Middletown, Conn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Guardian Manufacturing & Supply Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application June 22, 1936, Serial No. 86,464, now Patent No. 2,149,814, dated March 7, 1939. Divided and this application June 23,

1938, Serial No. 215,458

6 Claims.

My invention relates to ammunition and to working elements, hammers, pistons or the like adapted for use in explosive operated tools, such as that described in my Patent No. 2,008,362,

granted me July 16, 1935.

As described in said patent, working elements such as hammers or punches are actuated by an explosive charge. When, as I prefer, the same element is used over and over again, it is desirable that it be capable of ready insertion into and removal from the tool. It is also desirable that the working element be properly positioned with respect to the explosive charge,

and the work to be operated upon.

1d more, the type of working element used may vary in size and weight and the form of any depression or deformation produced by the workelement may vary withthe work to be per,- formed.

o In accordance with my invention such changes and variations in the work are made possible by providing a shell or cartridge carrying the explosive charge for actuating the tool and formed to receive and hold the working element. A

:5 working element of the desired character can then be inserted into the shell, and the shell carrying the working element placed in the tool, so that the element is in proper relation or position with respect to both the explosive charge '30 and the work insuring proper performance of the desired operation. After the tool is factuated, the shell may be removed and discarded and the working element removed from the tool and inserted into another shell for performing a 3.3 succeeding operation.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel type of ammunition adapted for use in explosive actuated tools.

Another object of my invention is to provide 40 a novel working element adapted for use in explosive actuated tools.

A further object of my invention is to insure accurate positioning of the working element and an explosive charge for use in actuating an explosive actuated tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a firm bond between a cable or electrical conductor and splicing or terminal members therefor.

50 These and other objects and features of my invention will appear from the following description thereof, in which reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawing where- 5 Fig. l is an elevation of a typical construction Further embodying the present invention with a part thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through a portion of an explosive actuated tool, showing ammunition embodying the present invention positioned '5 therein.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of that portion of an explosive actuated tool, illustrated in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspectives of alternative forms of working elements adapted for use in an explosive actuated tool.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through a cable and splicing member as acted upon by the working elements of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line ll of Fig. 6.

Fig, 8 is a plan view of the construction of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating an alternative construction.

In that form of my invention illustrated in the drawing for the purpose of indicating the nature of my invention, a suitable working element 2 formed of steel or other material and of the desired size, weight, and strength is provided with a reduced portion 4 at one end thereof, and if desise'd, a similarly reduced portion 6 may be provided at the opposite end thereof.

A shell 8 carrying an explosive charge for actuating the tool, is provided with a base l0 and may have the usual detonator' and a charge of powder 42. Wadding It retains the powder in the shell and an extended portion 16 of the shell is suitably formed to retain the wadding in position. As illustrated the extended portion I6 is folded inward-1y upon itself or crimped to prevent displacement of the wadding. In the present invention the portion I6 is extended sulficiently to present a recess beyond the wadding into which the reduced portion 4 of the working 40 elements extends. The extended and folded portion !6 of the shell is'sufiiciently resilient and yieldable to permit ready insertion of the reduced portion 6 and to hold the working element in position so that it will be properly actuated 5 when the explosive charge is fired. The shell may be formed of paper or other suitable material and may be of any desired caliber or bore to fit the tool in which it is to be used.

The working element preferably fits closely 5 within the barrel H or chamber of the tool since it has been found in practice that more satisfactory results are generally obtained when the clearance between the body I8 of the working element and the barrel of the tool does not exceed a few thousandths of an inch. The free end 6 of the working element which as shown may be reduced may be suitably formed to perform the type of work for which it is intended. By forming the opposite ends of the working element with reduced portions 4 and 5, the element may be reversed so that different types of operations may be performed with a single element, simply by reversing the element and positioning either the reduced portion 4 or the reduced portion 6 adjacent the wadding and within the recess formed by the extended portion i6 of the shell. The element will thus be retained in the shell by the resiliency of the extended portion I6.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the form of the reduced

portions

4 and 6 may be quite difierent in character or appearance. The elements illustrated are particularly adapted for use in splicing cable or electrical conductors andfor attaching splicing members, terminal members, and connectors thereto. In the construction of Fig. 4, the reduced portion l is provided with a circularly arranged group to projections 28, which serve to form a depression in a tubular cable splicing member or sleeve 22, such as that illustrated in Fig. 8. The reduced portion 6 of the construction of Fig. 5 is provided with a projection 24% of elongated form, the surface of which may be corrugated or otherwise formed to produce an indentation, such as that illustrated at 26 in Fig. 8.

Each of the working elements shown, when used in splicing cables, serves to crimp or fold the material of the sleeve 22, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby providing a firm bond between the sleeve and the cable or conductor 3i insuring great strength and excellent electrical conductivity. Any tendency for the depressed area to spring away from the conductor or to buckle due to expansion, vibration, or tension is overcome by the folded or corrugated nature of the indentations produced. The construction of Fig. 5 has i the further advantage of producing an indentation, which, as shown in Fig. 7, serves to draw the material of the sleeve inwardly about the conductor overcoming any tendency there might be for the sleeve to flatten or spread outwardly away from the cable at the points 32. At the same time the depression may also serve to corrugate or fold the material of the sleeve to prevent buckling thereof.

When using the construction of Fig. 5, it is desirable that the projection 2 3 be positioned in the tool in a predetermined relation with respect to the work, such as the sleeve to be acted upon in order that the indentation produced will extend lengthwise to the sleeve or in some other desired direction with respect to the work. For this purpose the working element may be provided with a notch or mark 3% and the shell 8 may be provided with. a similar mark, so that the element may be positioned in a known relation with respect to the shell. The base of the shell may be similarly marked for positioning the shell within the tool or as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the base iii of the shell may be formed with a recess or depression 35 to be engaged by a projection 38 on the usual ejector 40, provided for ejecting or removing the shell from the tool.

With this construction the working element may be positioned in the shell with the mark 34 in alignment with the mark on the shell, so that upon placing the shell in the tool with the notch 36 in engagement with the projection 38 on the ejector, the projection 24 on the working element will be accurately aligned or positioned for producing an indentation in the work lying in the desired direction with respect thereto.

Upon operating an explosive actuated tool for splicing cables when using ammunition embodying my invention, the cable 30 is inserted into a tubular sleeve 22, and a working element such as that of Fig. 5 is positioned in a shell with the reduced portion 4 thereof, engaging the projecting portion iii of the shell and extending into the recess beyond the wadding I4. The working element is thus firmly but removably secured in position with respect to the explosive charge. The mark 34 on the working element is positioned in alignment with the mark on the shell and the shell is inserted in the tool with the recess 36 in engagement with the projection 38 on the ejector 40. The sleeve 22 having the cable 36 inserted therein, is placed in position in the tool and the explosive charge is fired for actuating the tool. The working element is thus projected against the sleeve 22 forming a depression therein such as that shown in Figs. 6, 7

and 8, drawing the sleeve tightly about conductor 3E] and corrugating the depressed area. A firm and permanent bond is thereby provided between the sleeve and the cable. After performing the operation, the shell may be ejected and discarded and the working element removed from the tool and inserted in another shell with either the reduced end 4 or the reduced end 6, engaging the extended portion l6 of the shell so that another operation may be performed and, if desired, a different type of depression or deformation formed in the work.

While the shell illustrated may be formed of paper, it will be apparent that it may, if desired, be formed of other material, and the diameter or caliber may be of any suitable size. It will be noted, however, that in order to form a large depression it will be necessary to employ a large working element having a large free end and that the barrel of the tool will have to be proportionately large. ly small depression is needed, smaller metallic shells may be preferred.

As illustrated in Fig. 9 an adapter may be used in order that a relatively large working element may be used while employing only a relatively small cartridge for actuating the tool. With this construction an adapter 42 in the form of a tubular member is inserted in the breach of the tool 44 and is provided with a rim 46 having a recess 58 therein for positioning the adapter with respect to the ejector 50. The adapter is thus positioned also with respect to the tool. The

' adapter is formed on the front thereof with a projection 52 which engages or fits into a complementary recess formed in the working element 55 so that the working element is positioned with respect to the adapter while the adapter is positioned with respect to the tool. The location of a projection on the forward end of the working element is thus fixed so that a depression may be formed in the work at a predetermined angle or direction with respect thereto.

The cartridge 56 shown in Fig. 9 may be relatively small and if desired may be formed of metal with a crimped portion 58 for holding wadding 60 in place and with a projecting portion 62 which may be split at 64 or otherwise formed to frictionally engage the reduced portion 66 of the working element. The reduced portion of the Working element may be provided However, when only a relativewith a recess 68 engaged by the projecting portion 52 of the cartridge, if desired, although this is not essential since frictional engagement of the working element with the cartridge has been found in practice to be sufficient to insure proper positioning and operation of the worlnng element.

In any case, it is desirable that the size and weight of the working element and the size and character of the explosive charge used for actuating the same should be chosen to produce the most eifective operation of the tool. Furthermore, it is usually desirable that the body it of the working element be nearly as large as the barrel of the tool, so that only a small clearance is provided in order that the working element when actuated, will be held against the work for an appreciable length of time, due to theforce of the gases within the barrel and will not be permitted to rebound from the work until the material acted upon has taken a permanent set.

The forms of working elements illustrated in the drawing represent only two of the many possible alternatives that may be used for splicing cables or for performing other work. Furthermore, only one end of the working element need be reduced for engagement with the shell. However, I prefer to reduce both ends of the working element in order that either end may be used and the element reversed for performing different operations or for use in the event that the opposite end thereof should become damaged. It should, therefore, be understood that the forms of my invention illustrated in the drawing and herein described, are intended to be representative of typical embodiments of my invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

This application is a division of the applicants issued Patent No. 2,149,814, dated March 7, 1939.

I claim:

1. In a cable bonding tool having a barrel, means for supporting cable bonding elements in a predetermined position adjacent the muzzle of said barrel and an indenting member movable in said barrel to engage said cable bonding elements, the combination of an adapter formed to receive a cartridge and. support the same adjacent the breech of said barrel, a projection on the end of said indenting member which engages the cable bonding elements and cooperating means on the indenting member and adapter for locating the projection on said indenting member in a predetermined oriented position with respect to said barrel.

2. In a cable bonding tool having a barrel, means for supporting cable bonding elements in predetermined position adjacent the muzzle of said barrel and an indenting member movable in said barrel to engage said cable bonding elements, the combination of an adapter formed to receive a cartridge and support the same adjacent the breech of said barrel, a projection on the end of said indenting member which engages the cable bonding elements and means on the adapter cooperating with both the indenting member and the breech end of said barrel for locating the projection on said indenting member in a predetermined oriented position with respect to barrel.

3. In a cable bonding tool having a barrel, means for supporting cable bonding elements in predetermined positionadjacent the muzzle of said barrel and an indenting member movable in said barrel to engage said cable bonding elements, the combination of an adapter formed to receive a cartridge and support the same adjacent the breech of said barrel, a diametrically extending projection on the end of said indenting member which engages the cable bonding elements and cooperating tongue and recess means on the indenting member and the breech of said barrel for locating the projection on said indenting member in a predetermined oriented position with respect to said barrel.

4. In a cable bonding tool having a barrel, means for supporting cable bonding elements in predetermined position adjacent the muzzle of said barrel and an indenting member movable in said barrel to engage said cable bonding elements, the combination of an adapter formed to e receive a cartridge and support the same adjacent the breech of said barrel, a diametrically extending projection on the 'end of said indenting member which engages the cable bonding elements and cooperating tongues and recesses on said adapter, indenting member and the breech of said barrel for locating the projection on said indenting member in a predetermined oriented position with respect to said barrel.

5. In a cable bonding tool having a barrel with a relatively large bore, an indenting member slidably movable within said barrel. and means for positioning cable bonding elements with respect to the muzzle of said barrel, the combination of an adapter formed to receive a cartridge of substantially smaller bore than said barrel, diametrically extending projecting means on the end of said indenting member which engages cable bonding elements on said support and means on said adapter engaging both said tool,

and said indenting member to locate the projecting means on said indenting member in a predetermined oriented position with respect to said barrel.

6. A cable bonding tool having a barrel, an indenting member slidably fitting the barrel and means for supporting cable bonding elements in a predetermined position with respect to said barrel, in combination with an adapter slidably fitting within the breech of said barrel and formed with an opening therethrough for receiving a cartridge of smaller diameter than said barrel, projecting means on the end of said indenting member which engages the cable bonding elements for forming a predetermined type of indentation in said elements, and means on said adapter engaging both said tool and said indenting member to locate the projecting means on the indenting member in a predetermined oriented position with respect to said barrel.

PHILIP E. LITTLEHALE.