Axial Compression Tool and method of use

• Main Authors: LEE JOON, BALL DAVID J, ISLAM NAHID
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.02.2006
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; COMBINED OPERATIONS; CURRENT COLLECTORS; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HAND TOOLS; LINE CONNECTORS; MACHINE TOOLS; MANIPULATORS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; OTHER WORKING OF METAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FORFASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING; TRANSPORTING; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS

A connector axial compression tool having a lever end and a cable end, with a body slidably supporting a cradle in a cavity formed in the body. The cradle is slidable via a handle which pivots about the body, linked to the cradle by a lever mechanism. The cradle has a shoulder clamp adapted to mate with a connector body. Operation of the handle moves the cradle towards and away from a cable end of the cavity, against a cable clamp through which the cable may pass but against which a cable clamp sleeve of the connector abuts, axially compressing the connector to couple it to the cable. Because the shoulder clamp holds the connector body rather than pressing against the connector interface, a wide range of different connectors may be used with the same tool, without causing damage to the connector interface of the various connectors.