Connector demate tools

A tool for demating multi-pin connectors includes a first fork including an inner fork member and an outer fork member operatively connected for relative movement parallel to a longitudinal fork axis. A second fork is spaced apart from the first fork wherein the second fork includes an inner fork member and an outer fork member operatively connected for relative movement parallel to the longitudinal fork axis. A handle connects the first fork to the second fork. The handle includes an outer handle member fixedly connecting the outer fork members of the first and second forks, and the handle includes an inner handle member fixedly connecting the inner fork members of the first and second forks. Relative movement of the inner and outer handle members causes relative movement of the inner and outer fork members of the first and second forks for demating multi-pin electrical connectors from sockets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to connectors such as used in multi-pin electrical connectors, and more particularly to demating or disconnecting multi-pin electrical connectors.

2. Description of Related Art

Large, multi-pin electrical connectors, such as those having fifty or more pins, are difficult to demate from their sockets. Extensive force is typically required when removing the connectors by hand, and it is possible to damage individual connector pins during the process. This damage can render the connector unusable.

The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved ways of demating connectors. This disclosure provides a solution for this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tool for demating multi-pin connectors includes a first fork including an inner fork member and an outer fork member operatively connected for relative movement parallel to a longitudinal fork axis. A second fork is spaced apart from the first fork wherein the second fork includes an inner fork member and an outer fork member operatively connected for relative movement parallel to the longitudinal fork axis. A handle connects the first fork to the second fork. The handle includes an outer handle member fixedly connecting the outer fork members of the first and second forks, and the handle includes an inner handle member fixedly connecting the inner fork members of the first and second forks. Relative movement of the inner and outer handle members causes relative movement of the inner and outer fork members of the first and second forks for demating multi-pin electrical connectors from sockets.

The longitudinal fork axis is equidistant from the first and second forks. The inner fork members of the first and second forks face inwardly toward one another and toward the longitudinal fork axis. The outer fork members of the first and second forks face outwardly away from the longitudinal fork axis. Each of the inner fork members includes a gripping flange extending inwardly toward the longitudinal fork axis at an end of the inner fork members opposite the handle. The gripping flanges are configured to grip a multi-pin connector for demating. Each gripping flange includes an inwardly pointed wedge for facilitating engagement of the gripping flanges to a multi-pin connector. Each gripping flange includes an inwardly opening channel for clearing a fastener used to secure a multi-pin connector to a socket.

The inner handle member includes a pair of parallel prongs extending therefrom. The outer handle member includes a pair of parallel prong receptacles receiving the pair of parallel prongs for maintaining alignment of the inner and outer handle members during relative movement of the inner and outer handle members. A biasing member is seated in each of the prong receptacles to bias the inner and outer handle members away from one another. The biasing member and the inner and outer fork members are configured so that the biasing member biases the inner fork members to extend away from the handle beyond ends of the outer fork members.

Each inner fork member includes a longitudinally extending slot. Each outer fork member includes a pair of fasteners extending through the slot to maintain axially aligned relative motion of the inner fork members relative to the outer fork members. The first and second forks are flexible for closing a gap between ends of the first and second forks opposite the handle to squeeze a multi-pin connector between the first and second forks.

A method of demating a multi-pin connector from a socket includes spanning a multi-pin connector mated in a socket with spaced apart forks of a demate tool, securing inner fork members of the spaced apart forks to the multi-pin connector, securing outer fork members of the spaced apart forks to a surface stationary relative to the socket, and moving the inner fork members away from the socket while maintaining the outer fork members stationary relative to the socket to pull the multi-pin connector out of the socket.

The method can include squeezing the first and second forks together to bring the inner fork members into engagement with the multi-pin connector prior to moving the inner fork members away from the socket. Securing inner fork members to the multi-pin connector includes engaging inwardly extending gripping flanges of the inner fork members to the multi-pin connector. Engaging inwardly extending gripping flanges of the inner fork members includes clearing fasteners used to secure the multi-pin connector to the socket with inwardly opening channels in the gripping flanges.

A cable connected to the multi-pin connector can be de-energized prior to spanning the multi-pin connector. The cable can be positioned to be clear of movement of the forks prior to pulling the multi-pin connector out of the socket. Any fasteners securing the multi-pin connector to the socket can be released prior to spanning the multi-pin connector.

Securing the inner fork members to the multi-pin connector can include initially pressing the inner fork members against the surface stationary relative to the socket. The method can include squeezing the forks together and moving the inner and outer fork members relative to one another while maintaining the outer fork members pressed against the surface stationary relative to the socket. The multi-pin connector is removed by moving the inner fork members without pulling the entire tool away from the socket and without rocking the entire tool back and forth.

A tool for demating multi-pin connectors includes a first fork having a first tine and a second tine connected to each other by a first yoke and a second fork having a third tine and a fourth tine connected to each other by a second yoke. The second fork is movably engaged with the first fork such moving the first yoke toward the second yoke causes an end of the first tine to move away from an end of the third tine and an end of the second tine to move away from an end of the fourth tine. The first tine and the second tine are sized and configured to engage a multi-pin connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a tool in accordance with the disclosure is shown inFIG. 1and is designated generally by reference character100. Other embodiments of tools in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided inFIGS. 2-5, as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can be used to demate multi-pin connectors from sockets.

The tool100for demating multi-pin connectors includes a first fork102including an inner fork member104and an outer fork member106operatively connected for relative movement parallel to a longitudinal fork axis A, i.e. in the direction of the large arrow inFIG. 1. A second fork108is spaced apart from the first fork102. The second fork108similarly includes an inner fork member110and an outer fork member112operatively connected for relative movement parallel to the longitudinal fork axis A. Each inner fork member104and110includes a longitudinally extending slot114. Each outer fork member102and112includes a pair of fasteners116extending through the slot114to maintain axially aligned relative motion of the inner fork members104and110relative to the outer fork members106and112.

The longitudinal fork axis A is equidistant from the first and second forks102and108. The inner fork members104and110face inwardly toward one another and toward the longitudinal fork axis A. The outer fork members106and112face outwardly away from the longitudinal fork axis A.

Each of the inner fork members104and110includes a gripping flange118extending inwardly toward the longitudinal fork axis A at an end of the inner fork members opposite the handle120. The gripping flanges118are configured to grip a multi-pin connector122, as shown inFIGS. 2-4for demating. Each gripping flange118includes an inwardly pointed wedge124for facilitating engagement of the gripping flanges118to the multi-pin connector122. Each gripping flange118also includes an inwardly opening channel126for clearing a fastener128used to secure the multi-pin connector122to a socket130as shown inFIGS. 2 and 5.

The handle120connects the first fork102to the second fork108. The handle120includes an outer handle member132fixedly connecting the outer fork members106and112. The handle120also includes an inner handle member134fixedly connecting the inner fork members104and110. Relative movement of the inner and outer handle members134and132causes movement of the inner fork members104and110relative to the outer fork members106and112for demating multi-pin electrical connectors from sockets.

The inner handle member134includes a pair of parallel prongs136extending therefrom. The outer handle member132includes a pair of parallel prong receptacles138receiving the pair of parallel prongs136for maintaining alignment of the inner and outer handle members134and132during relative movement of the inner and outer handle members134and132. A biasing member140is seated in each of the prong receptacles138to bias the inner and outer handle members134and132away from one another to place the tool100in the first position shown inFIG. 1. This biasing can be overcome by squeezing the inner and outer handle members134and132toward one another to place the tool100in the second position shown inFIG. 4. The biasing members140and the inner and outer fork members104,110,106, and112are configured so that the biasing member140biases the inner fork members104and110to extend away from the handle beyond ends142of the outer fork members106and112to facilitate the initial engagement of the tool100when demating a multi-pin connector as described below. The first and second forks102and108are flexible for closing a gap G between ends of the first and second forks opposite the handle120to squeeze a multi-pin connector122between the first and second forks102and108. More specifically, the gap G is shown inFIG. 2as being between one of the forks102and the multi-pin connector122when the other fork108is engaged to the multi-pin connector. This flexibility accommodates a variety of sizes of multi-pin connectors.

With reference now toFIGS. 2-5, a method of demating a multi-pin connector, e.g. multi-pin connector122, from a socket, e.g., socket130, is described. A cable144connected to the multi-pin connector122can be de-energized prior to spanning the multi-pin connector122with the forks102and108. The cable144can be positioned to be clear of movement of the forks102and108prior to pulling the multi-pin connector122out of the socket130, as shown inFIG. 2. Any fasteners128securing the multi-pin connector122to the socket130can be released prior to spanning the multi-pin connector122.

The multi-pin connector122mated in the socket130can then be spanned with the spaced apart forks102and108of the demate tool100. The inner fork members104and110can then be secured to the multi-pin connector122, which can include initially securing the inner fork members104and110against a surface146that is stationary relative to the socket130by pressing the inner fork members104and110against the surface146. The method can include squeezing the forks102and108together, as indicated by the large arrows inFIG. 3, to secure the inwardly extending gripping flanges118(shown inFIG. 1) into engagement with the multi-pin connector122. The channels126, shown inFIG. 1, allow gripping flanges118to clear any fasteners or portions thereof used to secure the multi-pin connector122to the socket130

With reference toFIG. 4, squeezing inner and outer handle members134and132together moves the inner fork members104and110relative to the outer fork members106and112in the direction indicated by the large arrow inFIG. 1, while maintaining the outer fork members106and112pressed against the surface146that is stationary relative to the socket130. This moves the inner fork members104and110away from the socket130while maintaining the outer fork members106and112stationary relative to the socket130to pull the multi-pin connector122out of the socket130. This motion is accomplished without pulling the entire tool100away from the socket and without rocking the entire tool100back and forth. Finally, as shown inFIG. 5, the multi-pin connector122can be released from the tool100by relaxing forks102and108and handle120.

A tool, e.g., tool100, for demating multi-pin connectors includes a first two-tined fork having a first tine, e.g., inner fork member104, and a second tine, e.g., inner fork member110, connected to each other by a first yoke, e.g., inner handle member134, and a two-tined fork second fork having a third tine, e.g., outer fork member106, and a fourth tine, e.g., outer fork member112, connected to each other by a second yoke, e.g., outer handle member132. The second fork is movably engaged with the first fork such moving the first yoke toward the second yoke causes an end of the first tine to move away from an end of the third tine and an end of the second tine to move away from an end of the fourth tine. The first tine and the second tine are sized and configured to engage a multi-pin connector, e.g., multi-pin connector122.

The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for demating multi-pin connectors from sockets with superior properties including improved maintenance of pin alignment during demating to reduce and prevent damaging the pins. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.