WO1998056081A1

WO1998056081A1 - Tongs for connecting microplugs by squeezing

Info

Publication number: WO1998056081A1
Application number: PCT/SI1998/000013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Igor Stanic; Bojan Stanic
Original assignee: Fibis D.O.O.
Priority date: 1997-06-06
Filing date: 1998-06-03
Publication date: 1998-12-10
Also published as: AU7464598A

Abstract

Incorporating the possibility of pressing bronze segments of microplug into copper conductors and squeezing isolation on the cables in single tool with the option of fine regulation of penetration depth of bronze contacts, exact and correct positioning of the microplug during the process of pressing bronze contacts and correct squeezing of metal ring around isolation through the use of corresponding exchangeable insert. After desired penetration depth of toothed segment (25) has been regulated by turning the excentric shaft (28) and elements to be crimped have been placed within the lower part of the insert (34) which is elastically connected to upper part (26), where they are exactly and correctly positioned through the existence of positioning screws, springs and balls (31, 32 and 33), actuation of tongs results in correct pressing the bronze contacts of microplug into copper conductors of the cable and achievement of crimped connection. Within the same tool, squeezing of metal ring around cable isolation for securing microplug electrically and mechanically is performed with exchangeable elements (23 and 29) with no need of exchanging the whole crimping insert thus making it possible to perform two operations with a single tool.

Description

TONGS FOR CONNECTING MICROPLUGS BY SQUEEZING

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Technical field

Technical field that embraces the invention - tongs for connecting microplugs by squeezing, can be classificated in accordance with international classification as H 01 R 43/042. Meaning of such classification in accordance with IPC 6 is: "Curent collectors or line connectors; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining or repairing of line connectors or for joining electric conductors, for forming connections by deformations, e.g. crimping tool; Hand tools for crimping. "

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The invention - tongs for connecting microplugs by squeezing, falls into general category of hand tools for installing electric plugs or similar specialized plugs onto the electric conductors - lines themselves. Installing of particular electric plugs of specialized type, such as installing of telephone microplugs by squeezing onto the line itself is not unknown. It is customary that such tongs have specialized insert that is adjustable to different types of microplugs. Technical problem which is resolved by this invention in a new and unique way is special construction of that insert. Every such specialized insert that is presented by this invention, besides its fundamental function to press bronze segments of microplug directly into copper conductors, has an additional possibility to squeeze isolation on the cables of microplugs - operation for which otherwise another special tongs are used. Besides above mentioned, every exchangeable insert possesses possibility of adjusting how deep the bronze contacts will penetrate, as well as the exact positioning of the microplug during the process of connecting bronze contacts (operation 1 ) and squeezing of isolation and corresponding metal ring (operation 2). STATE OF ART

Considering the area of technics and technical problem itself which is quite general, rather large quantity of documents from already classificated area is to be expected. Since telephone industry and similar industries (manufacturers of LAN 'Local Area Network' lately) are using a number of different geometries of electric plugs for connections with corresponding multiple lead cable of shielded or non-shielded type with 4 to 10 conductors depending on the type and purpose, it is necessary for installing and connecting to use more different tools to achieve correct positioning and placement of the conductor into the microplug. It is common procedure to use one type of tool to connect microplug (along with pressing bronze segments) and another type of tool - tongs if microplug is of shielded type to squeeze isolation.

One very simple but useful tool that serves the stated purpose is given by the American patent US 4,713,874 (Cable Electric Product Inc.). With this described device - tongs it is possible to cut the wire and remove isolation and also to connect microplug to corresponding cable.

More complex tongs that carry out single function - pressing the bronze contacts as suggested invention does, are given by the American patent US 4,429,451. Invention that this patent refers to is hand tool that allows attachment of telephone microplugs to the telephone lines by means of squeezing. This action is enabled by exchanging the part of tongs that performs the procedure of connecting to extend possibilities of application on various types of microplugs that are currently available on market.

Unlike the tongs from the patent US 4,429,451, the invention - tongs for connecting microplugs by squeezing besides the possibility to exchange the part that performs squeezing, offers three vital advantages; possibility of fine adjusting the penetration depth of the segment of tongs which pushes bronze contacts into microplug, maintaining the exact position of microplug that is being connected, as well as possibility of adjusting the part for squeezing isolation to certain type of isolation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 presents the tongs with built-in (and not visible in the picture) mechanism for pressing within the body, without the insert which performs the action of connecting microplugs by squeezing. Fig. 2 presents the front view of the insert for connecting microplugs itself, and Fig. 3 the rear view of that same insert. Fig. 4 presents one of the inserts with all of its belonging parts that it consists of separated. Positions on all pictures are identical and designate:

10.) thorn on the tongs' frame, 27.) regulator,

1 1.) part for pressing, 28.) excentrical shaft,

12.) basic pressing regulator, 29.) lower part of the insert,

13.) tongs' handle, 30.) screw for tightening the insert (29)

14.) tightening screw, onto the lower part of the tongs'

15.) tongs' frame, insert (34),

16.) slot for holding the thorn ( 10), 31.) screws,

21.) screw for determining position 32.) springs, of the excentre, 33.) balls, 22.) screw for tightening the excentre, 34.) lower part of the tongs' insert, 23.) insert, 35.) springs, 24.) limitator, 36.) shafts between upper and lower part 25.) toothed segment, of the tongs' insert 26.) upper part of the insert,

Let's study in what way the insert is put together and how are its functional advantages realized.

Basic elements of the tongs' insert are upper part (26) and lower part (34). Both of them serve as a supports and carriers for the rest of the parts. First, the toothed segment (25) is placed into corresponding slot on (26).

Insert (23) and limitator (24) are put into foreseen places on (26). Parts (23), (24) and (25) depend on the type of microcplug being used. Excentrical shaft (28) (essence of the invention) on which the regulator (27) is previously installed, is pulled through body (26), through the hole in (25), (24), and (23) and then the screw (22) is screwed in to prevent the achieved whole to split. Regulator (27) is in a unique way (via small slot) fixed onto the excentre. Screw (21) passes through a whole length of the upper part of the tongs' insert (26) and determines the position of the excentre (28) by entering the toothed part of the regulator (27) which is tightly fixed onto excentre (28) itself. Arrangement of screws (21) and (22) is best viewed on Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

Lower part of the tongs' insert (34), (Fig. 3), is completed with corresponding insert (29) and tightened by screw (30). Then, balls (33) and springs (32) are inserted into holes (34) and tightened with corresponding screws (31). Tops of the balls (33) protrude out of their holes as is depicted on Fig. 2 and can move inwardly into (34) overcoming certain amount of resistance from the springs (32).

Shafts (36) with springs (35) on themselves are fixed in the lower part (34) and upper part (26) is pushed into foreseen places to form functional whole. Connection between upper and lower part is elastic. By exercising force F on the upper part (26), whole set (26) with all of its belonging parts performs movement relative to lower part (34), (Fig. 2). After force is no longer applied, parts (26) and (34) move apart again. Moving closer or further apart of the parts (26) and (34) necessarily moves closer or further apart all of their belonging elements that are firmly attached to them. Which are the basic advantages of so formed insert for tongs for connecting microplugs? First, the whole during squeezing possesses possibility of regulating the penetration depth. If there was no such regulation, once installed, parts (23), (24) and (25) would define the function of the insert in a one particular way. Since not all conductors for microplugs are the same, it is necessary to adjust tool - the insert for optimum performance. By unscrewing (21), turning of regulator (27) in plus (+) or minus (-) direction for corresponding number of teeth is made possible and thereafter (21) is tightened again to secure new position of (27). By turning (27) because of the slot on the regulator himself, the excentric shaft (28) is turned as well and toothed segment (25) only is pushed upward or downward relative to (23). That way the penetration depth of tongs' segment is regulated. It is necessary to point out that now when microplug is inserted, maximal and minimal penetration depth of bronze contacts can be regulated in range of +/- 0.5 mm around certain, previously defined, fixed value, which has proven as optimal in common practice.

It is clear that by constructing larger excentre on shaft (28), the absolute values of maximum and minimum can be varied.

Second, inserts (23) and (29) which are fixed by screws (22) and (30), (Fig. 3), can be changed. Parts (23) and (29) perform squeezing and deformation of metal ring which is placed around cut and prepared cable before connecting it to the microplug. Since these parts are exchangeable, it is made possible to use a whole variety of cables of different types and diameters.

Usually, such metal ring which is deformed by squeezing (23) and (29), ensures microplug, more precisely, it mechanically and electrically protects leads and becomes common ground. Possibility of exchanging (23) and (29) renders the insert for tongs for connecting microplugs widely useful. In so far known solutions, that and such squeezing was performed using other tool and never with the same insert or with the same tongs. Third, another problem that arises in practice during usage of similar tools is positioning of microplug within the tool itself. This invention solves the problem of positioning in a way that set consisting of (31), (32) and (33) serves for determining the position of microplug. Geometry of (34) is slightly bigger in its part where it accommodates microplug, and the difference in dimensions is compensated by the tops of (33) since they enter their nests exactly as much as necessary, additionally holding microplug firmly positioned due to force of springs (32).

All three above mentioned characteristics make this invention new. Beside already stated, every insert, (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), has slots (16) which fit onto thorns (10) placed on the frame (15).

Insert that is set that way is additionally tightened by screw (14). Implementation of the tool is very convenient for practical performing of the task of connecting microplugs since it allows fast exchange of various inserts and it holds the insert in frame (15) as integral part of the tongs themselves. Besides insert, tongs themselves (15), (Fig. 1), have additional regulation (12) for regulating "pulling out" of part (11) which is used to produce force F during squeezing microplug or squeezing of isolation.

The mechanism for pushing which is controlled and actuated by handle members (13), has determined way of lever mechanism in such a way that the ratio between force of pressing and path of handles (13) is optimal and contrary to so far known solutions achieves easy and very reliable usage of tongs.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Industrial application of the invention is at least not-questionable since it is device whose purpose is to efficiently connect telephone or similar microplugs by squeezing. In common practice that is achieved by cutting the cable to a desired length, to strip off the isolation at the end and to free up inner, isolated leads.

In case that it is dealt with shielded type of cable, corresponding metal ring is placed around the cable and it is squeezed by the tongs. Thereafter, every single lead is inserted into foreseen slot in microplug and everything is put into lower part of the insert. Squeezing the tongs causes movement of the toothed segment (25) toward the upper part (26) and penetration of bronze segments into copper leads so that way quality connection is achieved.

It is to notice that same insert can perform two functions.

It is also necessary to mention that only one of the ways in which the invention can be realized is presented. Enclosed pictures do not in any way limit the extents of protection given by patent claims which include any combination of three mentioned news that tool itself possesses.

Claims

2. PATENT CLAIMS

1.) Insert for tongs, (Fig. 4), for connecting microplugs by squeezing, which consists of upper part (26) and lower part (34) elastically connected by shafts (36) firmly inserted into at least one part and springs (35) characterized by having regulation of penetration depth of one or more tongs' segments which press bronze segments of microplug as is (25), in a way that by rotating the shaft (28) with excentrical part with regulator (27) and screw (21) for determining position of excentre, the relative position of one or more segments to the upper part of the insert (26) is regulated.

2.) Insert for tongs for connecting microplugs by squeezing according to claim 1, with possibility of regulation of penetration depth of one or more segments or without it, characterized by having exchangeable insert similar to (23) in the upper part (26) and exchangeable insert similar to (29) in the lower part (34) which serves to squeeze or deform corresponding metal ring around isolation that way securing microplug electrically and mechanically, and to have that same insert squeezing microplug himself at the same time.

3.) Insert for tongs for connecting microplugs by squeezing according to claim 1 and 2, with possibility of regulation of penetration depth of one or more segments or without it, as well as with or without possibility of exchanging the inserts (23) and (29), characterized by having possibility of positioning microplug by securing his position via spring mechanism consisting of screws (31), springs (32) and balls (33) in its lower part which is supporting the microplug.