Abstract:
A tool cartridge for seating and cutting a communication wire in a terminal block. The cartridge includes a tool end and a base end. A wire seating blade and a wire cutting blade extend outwardly from the cartridge and are mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the cartridge and to each other. A spring bias detent assembly forces the wire seating and wire cutting blades into contact with each other for longitudinal movement together relative to the cartridge. A compression spring resists longitudinal movement of the wire seating and wire cutting blades in the direction of the base of the cartridge by seating pressure applied to the cartridge. A cam is positioned to release the detent assembly thereby disengaging the wire seating and wire cutting blades from movement together after a predetermined compression of the compression spring. The release of the blades from movement together permitting the compression spring to drive the cutting blade to its cutting position to cut the wire.

Description:
Applicant claims priority of U.S. application Ser. No. 60/224,914, filed Aug. 11, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to an impact tool cartridge for use by telecommunication personnel for the insertion of conductor wires into terminal blocks. In particular, the invention is directed to a self-contained cartridge having seating and cutting blades which can be installed in a conventional or ergonomic tool handle. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a blade assembly having a seating blade and a cutting blade and to an impact tool cartridge which sequentially actuates the seating blade and then the cutting blade upon a continuous application of pressure to the impact tool by a user pushing it against a terminal block. 
     An object of this invention is an impact tool cartridge having a blade assembly which seats and terminates a wire in a single continuous application of force by the user against the wire and the terminal block. 
     Another object of this invention is a wire termination impact tool cartridge having a blade assembly in which the cutting blade is formed separately from the seating blade to allow all of the impact energy to be transmitted directly to the cutting blade of the blade assembly. 
     An additional object of this invention is a wire termination impact tool cartridge having a wire seating blade and a wire cutting blade which are spring biased into sliding engagement with each other in a direction longitudinal of the cartridge until the cutting blade is impelled in a wire cutting direction by the release of energy in a charged spring. 
     Yet another object of this invention is a wire termination impact tool cartridge in which the wire seating blade is retracted during the final application of force to the impact tool to allow the cutting blade to engage and cut the wire. 
     Still another object of this invention is a blade assembly of a seating blade and a cutting blade which are held in closely engaging contact during actuation of the cutting blade. 
     A further object of this invention is an impact tool cartridge adaptable to 66-type or 110-type blades. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinally extending transverse cross sectional view taken through one embodiment of the impact tool cartridge of this invention and showing the tool in its locked position; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 1 but showing the tool cartridge cap in its unlocked actuating position with the wire seating and the wire cutting blades in longitudinally retracted positions as would occur when the seating tool is being forcibly engaged with a communication wire in a terminal block; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 2 but showing the wire seating and wire cutting blades in their fully retracted positions which occur simultaneously with the release of the seating and cutting blades for relative movement and before the forward cutting movement of the cutting blade; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 3 but showing the cutting blade in its fully extended forward cutting position; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 1 but showing a 66-type blade assembly; 
     FIG. 6 is an end view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is a longitudinally extending transverse cross sectional view taken through another embodiment of the impact tool cartridge of the invention and showing the tool in its locked position; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 1 but showing the tool cartridge cap in its unlocked actuating position with wire seating and wire cutting blades in longitudinally retracted positions as would occur when the seating tool is being forcibly engaged with a communication wire in a terminal block; 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 9 but showing the wire seating and wire cutting blades in their fully retracted positions which occur simultaneously with the release of the seating and cutting blades for relative movement and before the forward cutting movement of the cutting blade; 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 10 but showing the cutting blade in its fully extended forward cutting position; 
     FIG. 12 is an end view taken along line  12 — 12  of FIG. 8; and 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a wire cutting blade; 
     FIG. 15 is an orthogonal view of a compressional ring; and 
     FIG. 16 is an enlarged, partial view of the cap indexing mechanism of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 to  7  show a first embodiment of the invention which utilizes “66-type” and “110-type” blades for seating and connecting communications wire to a terminal block. Such blades are used in impact hand tools, many of which have somewhat rectangular transverse cross section handles or are ergonomically shaped in more recent tool handles. An advantage of this invention is that the blades can be installed in a cartridge which can be adapted to either type of tool handles with partitions formed in the handles of the tools to receive and support the cartridges. Usually the handles will be made in two longitudinal sections with the cartridge sandwiched between the sections. 
     The embodiment of FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings is somewhat prototypical in design but clearly depicts the structural and operational aspects of the invention and is intended to be used by itself or may be incorporated in a hand tool handle. This embodiment includes an elongated cylindrical cartridge  13  having a cap end  15  and a base end  17 . A bore  19  extends from the cap end of the cartridge to the base end and the bore is enclosed by a thin tubular wall  21 . An outwardly facing annular groove  23  is formed in the wall  21  adjacent the cap end  15 . A cap  25 , preferably formed of a suitable plastic or metal, is rotatably mounted on the cartridge by the means of an inwardly extending annular rib  27  which fits into the groove  23 . An opening or passage  29  extends through the front wall of the cap as shown in FIG. 6. A protrusion  31  is located on the front end of the cap and a thinner annular end wall  33  extends around the remainder of the opening. 
     The conventional impact tool utilizes either a 66 type or 110 type blade that has both seating and cutting functions at one end and only seating functions at the opposite end. In contrast, this invention provides independent seating and cutting blades at one end of the tool. A seating blade assembly  41  includes a seating blade  43 . A seating notch  45  is provided at the tip of the blade separating wire contacting surfaces  47 . A notch  49  is formed in the side of the seating blade which notch receives the protrusion  31  on the cap  25  in the manner shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and also receives the thinner annular wall  33  of the cap as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. A generally rectangular base  51  is formed as part of the blade and a seating pin  53  extends from the base in the direction of the cartridge base  17 . A seating blade holder  55  includes a socket  57  for receiving the blade seating pin  53 . A spring and shoe pocket  59  is formed in one side of the seating blade holder. On the opposite side, a headed limit pin  61  fits into a threaded passage in the holder  55  with the head of the pin riding in an elongated slot  63  formed in the thin tubular wall  21  of the cartridge  13 . A sear pin socket  65  opens through one side of the seating blade holder. A seating blade return spring  67  fits into the spring pocket  59 . 
     The cutting blade assembly  71  includes a cutting blade  73  having a sloped surface ending in a cutting tip  75 . The blade is received in a notch  79  of a cutting blade holder  81 . A screw  82  extends through an opening in the wall  21  of the cartridge  13 , is fastened to the cutting blade holder  81  and extends into the cutting blade  73  to secure the blade  73  to the holder  81 . An arcuate base  83  is formed on the end of the cutting blade holder opposite to the cutting tip  75 . A shoe  85  extends laterally from the base of the cutting blade holder and engages the seating blade return spring  67  in the pocket  59  of the seating blade holder. 
     A sear pin holder  91  has an arcuate surface  93  at its end adjacent the cutting blade holder. This arcuate surface seats in the arcuate base  83  of the cutting blade holder. The sear pin holder includes a sear pin  95  projecting from a side and fitting into the sear pin socket  65  of the seating blade holder  55 . The sear pin is formed as a separate piece extending from a hole in a side of the sear pin holder. On the opposite side of the sear pin holder an outwardly opening socket  97  receives a ball  99  biased outwardly by a spring  101 . A base  103  is formed at the end of the sear pin holder distal from the cutting blade holder and includes a cam follower edge  105 . A cam  107  mounted in the base  17  of the cartridge  13  engages the cam follower edge  105 . A drive spring  109  also mounted in the base  17  of the cartridge  13  adjacent the cam  107  has a drive spring plunger  111  which engages the base  103  of the sear pin holder  91 . 
     A second embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 8-15 of the drawings. This embodiment is intended for use by itself or may be incorporated in a hand tool handle. It includes an elongated cylindrical cartridge tool  203  having an enlarged cylindrical base  205 , a cap end  207  and a base end  209 . A bore  211  extends from the cap end to the base end of the cartridge and the bore is enclosed by a thin tubular wall  213 . An outwardly facing annular groove  215  is formed in the wall  213  adjacent the cap end  207 . A cap  217 , preferably formed of a suitable plastic or metal, is rotatably mounted on the cartridge by means of a thin, monofilament thread or spring  219  which fits into the groove  215 . An annular opening or passage  221  extends through the front end of the cap. A protrusion  223  is formed on the front end of the cap and a thinner annular web  225  extends around the remainder of the opening  221 . Four longitudinally extending notches  227  are formed in the bottom wall of the cap and are located 90° apart around the periphery thereof. A ball detent  229  extends from a collar  235  mounted on the cartridge near the cap end  207  of the cartridge. The ball detent  229  seats into a selected one of the notches  227  to lock the cap in one of four positions. These positions include locked and unlocked positions for movement of the blades to be described as welt as positions in which the seating and cutting blade assemblies are either removable or not removable through the opening  221  of the cap. A tangential opening  231  extends through the cap to align with the annular groove  215  in the cylindrical wall. This tangential opening receives the monofilament thread or spring  219 . A collar  235  is mounted over the cartridge near the cap end  207  thereof to engage the cap  217 . The collar  235  may be grasped by a user to lift and rotate the cartridge relative to a tool handle having posts (not shown) which fit in one of four locking slots  237  formed 90° apart in the base  209 . The collar is lifted against a spring mechanism in a tool handle to permit a ratcheting rotation of the cartridge. 
     A seating blade assembly  241  includes a seating blade  243 . A seating notch  245  is provided at the tip of the blade separating wire contacting surfaces  247 . A notch  249  is formed in the side of the seating blade which notch receives the protrusion  223  on the cap in the manner shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings and also receives the thinner annular web  225  of the cap as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings. A generally rectangular base  251  is formed as part of the blade and a seating pin  253  extends from the base in the direction of the cartridge base  205 . A seating blade holder  261  includes a socket  263  for receiving the base seating pin  253 . A spring and shoe pocket  265  is formed in one side of the seating blade holder. On the opposite side, a headed limit pin  267  fits into a threaded passage in the seating blade holder  261  with the head of the pin riding in an elongated slot  269  formed in the thin tubular wall  213  of the cartridge  203 . A sear pin socket  271  opens through one side of the seating blade holder. A seating blade return spring  273  fits into the spring and shoe pocket  265 . 
     The cutting blade assembly  281  includes a cutting blade  283  having a sloped surface ending in a cutting tip  285  and a base  286 . A seating pin  287  of the blade is seated in a socket  288  of a cutting blade holder  289 . An arcuate base  291  is formed on the end of the cutting blade holder opposite to the cutting tip  285 . A shoe  295  extends laterally from the base of the cutting blade holder and engages the seating blade return spring  273  in the pocket  265  of the seating blade holder. As shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings, the cutting blade  283  has a side  296  which is positioned contiguous to an adjacent side  297  of seating blade as shown in FIG.  8 . The side  296  is undercut by a groove  298  approximately 0.010″ deep extending a portion of the distance between the cutting tip  285  and the base  286  of the blade. The compression ring  299  shown in detail in FIG. 15 engages the seating blade  243  and the cutting blade  283  near their respective bases to securely hold the remaining portion of the wall side  296  adjacent the cutting tip  285  against the side  297  of the seating blade without the need to form said blades to close tolerances. 
     A sear pin holder  301  has an arcuate surface  303  at its end adjacent the cutting blade holder. This arcuate surface seats in the arcuate base  291  of the cutting blade holder. The sear pin holder includes a sear pin  305  projecting from a side and fitting into the sear pin socket  271  of the seat blade holder  261 . On the opposite side of the sear pin holder, an outwardly facing opening socket  307  receives a ball  309  biased outwardly by a spring  313 . A base  315  is formed at the end of the sear pin holder distal from the cutting blade holder and includes a cam follower edge  317 . A cam  321  mounted in the base  209  of the cartridge  203  engages the cam follower edge  317 . A drive spring  323  also mounted in the base in  209  of the cartridge adjacent the cam  321  has a drive spring plunger  325  which engages the base  315  of the sear pin holder  301 . 
     Use, Operation and Function of This Invention 
     The operation of the cylindrical cartridges  13  and  203  are essentially the same and will be described simultaneously. Any difference in operation due to their slightly different construction will be noted. FIGS. 1 and 8 of the drawings show the cartridges  13 ,  203  in positions in which their seating blade assemblies,  41 ,  241  and cutting blade assemblies  71 ,  281  are in locked positions in which neither the seating blades nor the cutting blades can be moved longitudinally relative to their respective cartridges. These locked positions are appropriate when the cartridges are carried by a worker or when the cartridges are intended to be used to only seat and not cut wires in a terminal block. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the seating blades  43 ,  243  are locked against longitudinal movement relative to the cartridges  13 ,  203  by a protrusion  31 ,  223  on the rotatably mounted cap  25 ,  217  which protrusion seats in a notch  49 ,  249  in the seating blade  43 ,  243 . 
     To change the cartridge  13 ,  203  to a cutting mode, the rotatably mounted cap  25 ,  217  is rotated from its position shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. In this position of rotation of the cap, the thinner annular end wall  33 ,  225  of the cap is now positioned in the notch  49 ,  249  in the side of the seating blade  43 ,  243  thus allowing longitudinal movement of the seating blade relative to the cartridge. With the seating blade  43 ,  243  in a position in which it can move longitudinally relative to the cartridge  13 ,  203 , the seating blade  43 ,  243  is placed against a terminal board and wires and a seating force is applied against the base end  17 ,  209  of the cartridge  13 ,  203 . The seating blade  43 ,  243  moves longitudinally towards the base end  17 ,  209  of the cartridge  13 ,  203  carrying with it the seating blade holder  55 ,  261 , the cutting blade assembly  71 ,  281  and the sear pin holder  91 ,  301  which are moved until the cam follower edge  105 ,  317  engages the cam  107 ,  321  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 of the drawings. During this movement of the seating blade  43 ,  243  towards the base end  17 ,  209  of the cartridge  13 ,  203 , the base  103 ,  315  of the sear pin holder  91 ,  301  has been engaging the plunger  111 ,  325  of the drive spring  109 ,  323  compressing it against the base end  17 ,  209  of the cartridge. 
     Continued movement of the seating blade  43 ,  243  in the direction of the base end  17 ,  209  of the cartridge  13 ,  203  causes the cam  107 ,  321  to tilt the sear pin holder  91 ,  301  to the right as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 10 of the drawings against the biasing pressure of its bias member  97 ,  307  to release the sear pin  95 ,  305  from the sear pin socket  65 ,  271  in the seating blade holder  55 ,  261 . This action releases the cutting blade assembly  71 ,  281  from longitudinal movement with the seating blade assembly  41 ,  241  thereby allowing the drive spring  109 ,  323  through its drive plunger  111 ,  325  to move the sear pin holder  91 ,  301  in a longitudinal direction towards the cap end  15 ,  207  of the cylindrical housing  13 ,  203 . This movement of the sear pin holder  91 ,  301  also moves the cutting blade holder  81 ,  289  and the cutting blade  73 ,  283  longitudinally relative to the cartridge  13 ,  203  in the direction of the cap end  15 ,  207  of the cartridge to move the cutting blade  73 ,  283  and its cutting tip  75 ,  285  relative to the seating blade assembly  41 ,  241  to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 11 of the drawings in which the cutting tip  75 ,  285  will cut the wire seated against the terminal block. The movement of the cutting blade holder  81 ,  289  to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 11 of the drawings compresses the seat blade return spring  67 ,  273  due to engagement of the shoe  85 ,  295  of the cutting blade holder  81 ,  289  with the spring. Upon withdrawal of the cartridge  13 ,  203  from engagement with the terminal board, the seat blade return spring  67 ,  273  will return the seating blade assembly  41 ,  241  and cutting blade assemblies  71  and  281  to the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.