Tool for processing light wave conductors

{
  "publication_number": "US2010313402A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Tool for processing light wave conductors",
  "abstract": "A hand tool is operable to crimp a tubular metal contact member concentrically about the stripped end portion of an insulated fiber optic light-wave conductor in spaced relation to the free end extremity thereof. A tensioning arrangement tensions the excess portion of the conductor that extends beyond the contact member, whereupon a cutting device engages the tensioned portion of the conductor to sever cleanly the excess extremity from the conductor. The tensioning arrangement serves to deflect the conductor excess end portion obliquely outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the conductor. Tensioning is achieved by a deflecting disk positioned normal to the longitudinal axis of the light-wave conductor, or by a guide bore contained in a conductor guide device attached to the tool body. Preferably, two contact members are simultaneously crimped on a pair of conductors, and the excess ends of the conductors are simultaneously tensioned and severed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A hand tool for processing an insulated fiber optic light-wave conductor (2), comprising: (a) a tool body (5) having a generally horizontal axis; (b) crimping means (8, 9) connected with said tool body for crimping a horizontal tubular contact member (40, 41) arranged normal to said tool body axis concentrically about one end of the light-wave conductor at a location spaced from the end extremity thereof, whereby an excess end portion (2 a) of the light-wave conductor extends beyond the tubular contact member; (c) tensioning means (28; 49) connected with said tool body for tensioning the region of the light-wave conductor end portion that is adjacent said contact member; and (d) cutting means (29) connected with said tool body for engaging the tensioned conductor region and severing the excess end portion from the conductor. 2. A hand tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said cutting means is operable by said crimping means. 3. A hand tool as defined in claim 2, and further including: (e) stripping means (16, 17) connected with said tool body for stripping the insulation layer from the light-wave conductor end portion. 4. A hand tool as defined in claim 2, wherein said crimping means includes: (1) a pair of pivotally connected crimping jaws (8, 9), and (2) handle means (3, 4) for pivoting said crimping jaws between relatively spaced open positions and relatively closed crimping positions, respectively. 5. A hand tool as defined in claim 4, wherein the adjacent faces of said crimping jaws contain a plurality of pairs of opposed corresponding first crimping recesses and crimping projections (20, 21), respectively, thereby to permit the simultaneous crimping of a plurality of contact members upon a plurality of light-wave conductors, respectively. 6. A hand tool as defined in claim 5, wherein the adjacent faces of said crimping jaws contain opposed second crimping recesses (22) for crimping concentrically about the plurality of light wave conductors the tubular strain relief portion (42) of a protective housing (43) arranged concentrically about the crimped contact members. 7. A hand tool as defined in claim 5, wherein said crimping means connects one end portion of each contact member to the associated light-wave conductor; said crimping means further including: (3) contact member support means (23) having a horizontal surface for supporting the body portions of the contact members on said tool body during the crimping of the contact member end portions to the light-wave conductors, respectively. 8. A hand tool as defined in claim 7, wherein said contact member support means includes a vertical stop wall (24) arranged for engagement by the other ends of the contact members, said stop wall containing openings ((25, 26) for receiving the associated light-wave conductor end portions, respectively. 9. A hand tool as defined in claim 8, and further including spring means (46) for biasing said contact members toward said stop wall. 10. A hand tool as defined in claim 8, wherein said tensioning means comprises deflecting means (28; 49) arranged adjacent said stop wall for angularly deflecting the light conductor end portions outwardly from the longitudinal axes of said conductors, respectively. 11. A hand tool as defined in claim 10, wherein said deflecting means comprises a circular deflecting disk (28) connected with said tool body for rotation about a horizontal axis normal to said tool body axis. 12. A hand tool as defined in claim 11, wherein said cutting means is arranged between said circular deflecting disk and said stop wall. 13. A hand tool as defined in claim 9, wherein said deflecting means comprises conductor end guide means (49) mounted on the side of said stop wall remote from said contact member support means, said conductor end guide means containing deflecting guide passages (55, 56) that guide the light wave conductor end portions angularly outwardly relative to the longitudinal axes of said light-wave conductors, respectively. 14. A hand tool as defined in claim 13, wherein said cutting means is arranged adjacent the side of said conductor end guide means that is remote from said stop wall. 15. A hand tool as defined in claim 9, wherein said cutting means comprises a circular cutting disk (29) arranged adjacent said stop wall on the side thereof remote from said contact member support means, and lever means operable by said handle means for displacing said cutting disk between retracted and cutting positions relative to said light-wave conductor deflecting means. 16. A hand tool as defined in claim 15, and further including drive means (37, 38, 44) for rotating said cutting disk during its displacement toward said cutting position. 17. A hand tool as defined in claim 15, and further including a collinearly support disk (128) having an annular collar portion (53) for laterally supporting said cutting disk. 18. A hand tool as defined in claim 3, and further including support means (61, 62, 63) for supporting the light-wave conductors during the stripping of the severed insulation layers from the bare conductor ends."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention A hand tool is operable to crimp a tubular metal contact member concentrically about the stripped end portion of an insulated fiber optic light-wave conductor in spaced relation to the free end extremity thereof. A tensioning arrangement tensions and stresses the excess portion of the conductor that extends beyond the contact member, whereupon a cutting device engages the tensioned portion of the conductor to sever cleanly the excess extremity from the conductor. 2. Description of Related Art This invention relates to a hand tool for the processing and final assembly of an insulated optical fiber light-wave conductor, including at least one crimping die for crimping a tubular contact upon the stripped bare end of at least one light-wave conductor, and mechanical transverse cutting means for severing off the excess length of the stripped bare conductor end. Tools of this kind are known as such, for example, from DE 198 42 122 C2 or DE 100 56 780 A1. The known tools, of course, require further optimization, on the one hand, regarding their handling and, on the other hand, regarding the quality of the cut needed for cutting through the light-wave conductors.\n\nAccordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a hand tool for crimping a tubular metal contact member concentrically about the stripped end portion of an insulated fiber optic light-wave conductor in spaced relation to the free end extremity thereof.",
  "cpc": [
    "G02B 6/25",
    "B25B 27/10",
    "B26D 3/169",
    "G02B 6/245",
    "G02B 6/3802",
    "G02B 6/3857",
    "G02B 6/3879",
    "G02B 6/3888",
    "G02B 6/3898",
    "H01R 43/0421",
    "Y10T 29/5151",
    "Y10T 29/53226",
    "Y10T 29/53996"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23Q 7/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "WEIDMUELLER INTERFACE"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "DIERKS CHRISTOPH",
    "HANNING GUENTHER"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2010-06-07",
  "publication_date": "2010-12-16",
  "priority_date": "2009-06-16",
  "application_number": "US-79506010-A",
  "family_id": "43028904",
  "citations": [
    "US2003113087A1",
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    "US6892460B2",
    "US8006372B2"
  ]
}