US3023416A - Wrap-around splicing tool and clips - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1962 T. E. YTRELAND 3,023,416

' WRAP-AROUND SPLICING TOOL AND CLIPS Filed Jan. 2l, 1960 F/q. Z

United grate This invention relates to clip constructions for splicing electrical conductors together and to tools for applying the clip constructions to the electrical conductors.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel clip structure, of simple and inexpensive construction, for splicing electrical conductors together.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel closeable clip structure for splicing electrical conductors together and including curved end portions arranged and constructed to be rolled into clamping relation with the electrical conductor when pressure is applied thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel tool for readily applying clips to electrical conductors to be spliced.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel tool for applying clips to electrical conductors to be spliced and including a clamping means arranged and constructed to cause a clip to be rolled into clamping relation with a plurality of electrical conductors.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved tool for applying clips to electrical conductors to be spliced and including a clip dispensing maga- .zine for readily disposing the clips in position for clatnplng action.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of my novel clip structure;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the open end of the novel clip construction;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the novel clip construction shown in clamping relation with a pair of electrical conductors;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a novel tool for use in applying clips to electrical conductors;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the tool illustrated in FIG. 4 and on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a top plan View of a different embodiment of the tool with parts thereof broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 with certain concealed portions thereof indicated by dotted line configuration.

One feature of my invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 includes a novel clip construction, generally designated 10, for use in splicing electrical conductors or cables together. Clip 10 may be formed of a malleable brass material or the like and is especially adaptable in the splicing of smaller sized electrical conductors ordinarily referred to as building wire. It is to be understood, of course, that the clip is also adaptable for splicing electrical conductors used in communication systems, vehicles or the like.

Clip 10 includes an arcuate central portion or body 11 having a pair of legs 12 integrally formed therewith and extending divergently therefrom as best seen in FIG. 1. Legs 12 terminate in inwardly curved end portions 13 which are axially spaced apart when the clip is in the open position. The outer curved surfaces of curved ends 13 define camming surfaces 14, the function of which will be described hereinbelow. Curved end portions 13, as

arent seen in FIG. 2, terminate in beveled ends to thereby define oppositely facing complementary surfaces 15.

When a plurality of electrical conductors, such as wires C, are to be spliced, the ends of the wires are positioned within the recess 10a defined by the central portion, legs and curved end portions of the clip 10. Pressure is exerted against the camming surfaces 14 of curved end portions 13 and the inner curved surfaces 14a of the end portions will slide or roll along the outer circumferential surfaces of the wires C. The clip will therefore be rolled into clamping relation with the wires C, as best shown in FIG. 3, and the oppositely facing beveled surfaces 15 will then be disposed in abutting relation so that the clip assumes a ring-shaped configuration. During this movement of the clip, a wiping and rolling action is effected upon the outer circumferential surfaces of the conductors so that not only are the wires securely spliced together but a positive electrical connection is attained even if the wires have not been previously cleaned.

It will bepnoted that the progressive gripping and clamping effect exerted against the wire C is distributed equally over the gripped circumferential surfaces of the wires so that the danger in damaging the cable is practically precluded. Thus substantially the entire inner circumferential surface of the clip 10 is in clamping relation with the wires so that the wires are securely connected in spliced relation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another important feature of my invention is shown and includes a novel tool 16 used for applying the clips 10 to the wire C to be spliced. The novel tool 16 includes a frame in the form of an elongate clip-dispensing magazine 17 having peripheral walls including opposed side walls 1S, bottom wall 19 and top wall 20. Magazine 17 may be loaded through the rear portion thereof with a plurality of clips 10 arranged in end-to-end relation and the front end of magazine 17 is provided With a clip outlet 21 through which the clips 10 are urged in singular fashion. Bottom wall 19 is provided with an elongate slot 19a extending longitudinally thereof from the clip outlet 21 as best seen in FIG. 5.

A pair of camming members 22 in the form of vertically disposed plates are integrally formed with side walls 18 and extend longitudinally forwardly thereof. It will be noted that the inner opposed faces of camming members 22 are tapered vertically downwardly to thereby define camming surfaces 23, the function of which will be described hereinbelow.

A guide element 24 is integrally formed with each of the camming members and includes a transverse or web portion 25 disposed in co-planar relation with its respective camming member. Each of the web portions 25 are provided with longitudinally spaced inturned ears 26 which are integrally formed with the web portion.

It will be seen that tool 16 is provided with an elongate actuating lever or handle 27 including a substantially straight rear portion 27a which is offset downwardly and forwardly as at 27b and terminates in a substantially straight forward portion 27C. It will be noted that actuating lever 27 is of channel-shaped cross sectional configuration and includes a web portion 28 and side iianges 23a. The front portion 27e of actuating lever 27 is provided with a pair of downwardly struck tabs 29 which are disposed in laterally spaced relation and each of which is provided with an aperture formed therein. An apertured lug 30 is secured to and extends upwardly from the median portion of top wall 20 and is positioned between tabs 29 so that the respective openings thereof are in registering relation and a pin 31 is passed through the openings to thereby pivotally secure the actuating lever 27 to magazine 17. It will be seen that actuating lever 27 is mounted on magazine 17 for pivoting about an axis substantially parallel to a line extending between and substantially normal to the camming members 22. A leaf spring 32 is secured to top wall 20 by any conventional securing means such as rivets 33 or the like and also engages the under side of the rearmost or hand grip portion 27a of actuating lever 27. Spring 32, of course, urges front portion 27c of lever 27 downwardly with respect to magazine 17 so that the side anges 28a of the front portion are in straddling relation with the magazine 17 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The front portion 27C of actuating lever 27 is provided with a reduced forwardly extending portion 34 which supports a bracket attachment 35 as best seen in FIG. 6.

Bracket attachment 35 is comprised of a U-shaped member 36 which is positioned above and secured to another U-shaped or channel member 37. A pair of pins 3S extend between the flange portions of channel member 37 and provide a pivotal support for a pair of jaws 39. It will be noted that arcuate jaw elements 39 are disposed in laterally spaced relation and are pivotable about longitudinal axes extending normal to the axis of pivot of the actuating lever 2.7. The arcuate jaw elements 39 are positioned between camming members 22 and are normally positioned in co-axial relation with the clip outlet 21 when the front portion of actuating lever 27 is urged downwardly.

Each of the arcuate jaw elements 39 includes a leg portion 40 terminating in an inwardly curved end portion 41 formed integrally therewith. It will be noted that leg portions diverge outwardly and downwardly with respect to each other and the outer curved surface 42 of the curved end portions 41 bear against one of the respective cam surfaces 23. The inner surfaces of each of the jaw elements 39 deline opposed arcuate jaw faces 43 shaped to conform generally to the outer surfaces of the clip 10. Each of the jaw elements 39 is also provided with an inwardly extending lip 44, as best seen in FIG. 6, which serves to limit longitudinal movement of the clip when urged into engaging relation with jaw elements 35. The spring clip 45 is secured to channel member 37 and engages the jaw faces 43 to normally urge the jaw elements 39 away from each other. The elongate guide element 46 is secured to the inner surface of topwall 20 and engages channel member 37 to limit upward movement of the clip 10 with respect to the jaw elements 39 and also functions to guide the clips into engaging relation with the jaw elements.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that magazine 17 is provided with a closure member 47 for closing the rear end thereof and which may be opened to permit loading of the clip elements therein. A coil spring 48 is carried by the inner side of closure member 47 and has a plunger 49 affixed to the other end thereof which serves to urge the clips longitudinally of the magazine 17 through the clip outlet 21 and into engagement with arcuate liaw elements 39.

When tool 16 is used to splice a plurality of electrical conductors together, the front end portion 27 of actuating lever 27 will be urged downwardly by the spring 32 so that the arcuate jaw elements 39 are positioned in coaxial relation with feed outlet 21. A clip 10, of course, will be urged through clip outlet 21 into engaging relation with jaw elements 39 and the ends of a plurality of electrical conductors may be positioned within the recess 10a of the clip. The slot 19a in bottom 19 permits the tool to be positioned in straddled relation with respect to some of the conductors to be spliced thus facilitating the splicing operation. The rear end portions 27a of actuating lever 27 is then pivoted downwardly to thereby urge the front end of actuating lever 27 upwardly whereby the jaw elements 39 will be moved vertically into camming relation with camming surfaces 23. As the jaw elements 39 move upwardly, the cam surfaces 23 being in bearing engagement with the cam engaging surfaces 43 of the jaw elements 39 will urge or pivot the jaw elements towards each other thus causing the clip 10 to be rolled into clamping relation with the electrical conductors. When actuating lever 27 is released, the front end portion 27C thereof will thereafter be urged downwardly by tension spring 32 and the clip will therefore be released.

Another important feature of my invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, includes a different embodiment of a tool for applying clips to electrical conductors to be spliced and is generally designated by the reference numeral S0. Tool 50 includes a frame 51 which is comprised of a pair of flat plate members 52 disposed in substantially opposed, spaced relation. Plate members 52, as best seen in FIG. 7, are of substantially rectangular shape and a pair of arcuate jaw elements 53 are positioned therebetween and are pivotally secured to the plate mem- -bers 52 by pivot pins 53a. The inner opposed surfaces of jaw elements 53 define opposed arcuate jaw faces 54 for receiving a clip therein as seen in FIG. 7. It will also be noted that jaw elements 53 are pivotally mounted on the frame S1 intermediate their extremities to permit the jaw elements to pivot arcuately about substantially parallel axes.

Tool 50 also includes a pair of actuating levers 55 positioned between plate members 52 and each is comprised of a handle portion 56 and a shank portion 56a. Each of the actuating levers is also provided with an elongated slot 57 intermediate the ends thereof and through which extends a pivot pin S8 which in turn is secured to plate members 52.

Referring now to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the free end portions of shank portions 56a are bifurcated as at 59. The rear extermities of arcuate jaw elements 53 are each positioned Within one of the bifurcated recesses 59 and are secured thereto by a pivot pin 60. It will be noted that when the jaw elements are disposed in the open position, the actuating levers 55 diverge outwardly from the jaw elements 53.

To operate the tool 50, a clip 10 embracing a pair of electrical conductors C is positioned between the arcuate jaw faces 54 and the handle portions 56 of actuating levers 55 are pivoted towards each other. This movement of actuating levers 55 causes arcuate jaw elements 53 to be moved arcuately towards each other to thereby progressively roll the clip 10 into clamping relation with the electrical conductor C. Since the arcuate jaw elements 53 are pivoted in an arcuate manner, the actuating levers 55 are simultaneously shifted longitudinally with respect to frame 51. The slot and pin arrangement between the actuating lever and frame, of course, define a lost motion connection and which permits both pivoting and longitglinal shifting of the levers.

It vihll therefore be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel clip construction for splicing electrical conductors together and which is arranged and constructed to be rolled into camming relation with the electrical conductors. It will also be noted that my novel clip is uniquely constructed to effect a wiping action with respect to the electrical conductors durthe splicing operation to there by operation to thereby provide a positive electrical connection.

It will also be seen that I have provided a novel tool for applying my unique clip construction to electrical conductors to be spliced. My novel tool, as noted from the preceding paragraphs, is arranged and constructed for quickly and efficiently splicing electrical wires to thereby effect a saving in time and labor.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of this invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

-A tool for applying splicing clips to electrical conductors to be spliced comprising a frame having a pair of camming members axed thereto, said camming members being disposed in spaced apart relation and having opposed inolined camming surfaces, an elongate actuating lever being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to said frame for swinging movement about an axis disposed parallel to a line extending between said camming surfaces and substantially normal thereto, a pair of jaw elements pivotally mounted `to one end of said handle for pivoting movement towards and away from each other about axes disposed normal to the axis of pvot of said actuating lever, said jaw elements being disposed between said camming surfaces and having outer portions bearing thereagaiust, and pivoting movement of said actuating lever causing said jaw elements to be moved into and out of camming relation with said camming surfaces.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 550,879 Golling n Dec. 3, 1895 689,721 Holland Dec. 24, 1901 948,574 Conn Feb. 8, 1910 1,066,801 Diamond July 8, 1913 1,220,298 Vanderveld Mar. 27, 1917 1,257,061 Yetton Feb. 19, 1918 2,756,427 Van Zante July 31, 1956

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