Abstract:
A tool for installing connectors on cables includes a base member and a plunger movably mounted on the base member. A lever mechanism on the base member moves the plunger. There is a wheel member that carries a plurality of dog fixtures thereon. A detent mechanism provides engagement between the wheel member and the base member to define a plurality of rotational positions for the wheel member. In each rotational position, a dog fixture is aligned with the plunger. Preferably, each dog fixture on the wheel member is configured to receive a different size cable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a tool for installing end connectors on cables and in particular, to a tool for installing a connector on the end of a coaxial cable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Coaxial cable is widely used to carry radio and television signals, digital data and the like. To make the many connections required for the various kinds of electronic data networks that employ coaxial cables, numerous types and sizes of coaxial cable connectors are required on the ends of the cables. A connector is often secured to the prepared end of a coaxial cable by axially compressing the connector, i.e. by compressing the connector in a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable. Connectors that are applied this way are available for different cable diameters and have heretofore required different tools for compressing them. In addition, some prior art tools for applying connectors to coaxial cables are cumbersome to use and often require two hands. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention resides in one aspect in a tool that comprises a base member and a plunger movably mounted on the base member. There is a lever mechanism on the base member for moving the plunger. There is also a wheel member rotatably mounted on the base member and a plurality of dog fixtures are mounted on the wheel member. There is a detent mechanism that provides engagement between the wheel member and the base member to define a plurality of rotational positions for the wheel member. Each rotational position disposes a dog fixture in alignment with the plunger. The plunger is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position relative to a dog fixture aligned with the plunger. Preferably, each dog fixture on the wheel member is configured to receive a different size cable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, partly broken-away elevation view of an assembly tool according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic elevation view of the detent mechanism of the assembly tool shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along line  2 - 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic elevation view of a dog fixture of the assembly tool shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along line  3 - 3 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, schematic elevation view of the assembly tool shown in  FIG. 1  including a toolbox according to an optional embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a multi-cable connector assembly tool  10  comprises a plunger assembly  12  and a wheel assembly  14 . The plunger assembly  12  comprises a plunger block  18  and a pair of body members  20  (only one shown). The body members  20 , in the illustrated embodiment, are mirror images of one another. The plunger block  18  is positioned between and coupled to the body members  20 . A plunger  22  is slidably mounted in the plunger block  18  for rectilinear movement toward and away from the wheel assembly  14  between an extended and retracted position. The plunger  22  includes a plunger shaft  23  and a plunger tip  24  mounted on a forward end of the plunger shaft  23 . As will be described in greater detail below, the plunger tip  24  is configured to engage a cable connector (not shown) when the plunger  22  is moved toward the advanced position, to secure the cable connector onto the end of a cable. The plunger tip  24  may be removable from the plunger shaft  24 ; for example, the plunger tip may be threaded into the end of the plunger shaft. 
     The assembly tool  10  includes a lever mechanism (unnumbered) for moving the plunger  22  from the retracted position to the extended position. The lever mechanism includes a handle portion  28  pivotally connected to an end  29  of the plunger  22  for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis  31 . The handle portion  28  is also pivotally connected to a first end of a linkage  30  for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis  33 . The linkage  30  is coupled at a second end generally opposite the first end of the linkage to the plunger block  18  for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis  35 . A trigger  32  is pivotably mounted on the lever  28  to releasably engage a pin  34  on the body member  20 . The trigger  32  includes an upper portion of a shape complementary to the pin  34  so that when the trigger is in a locked position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle member  8  is in a retracted position and the upper portion of the trigger grippingly and releasably engages the pin. When the trigger  32  engages the pin  34 , the lever  28  is held in a storage position. The trigger  32  may be disengaged from the pin  34  and moved to an unlocked position by pressing the trigger  32 . This pivots the trigger  32  about the trigger pin  34   a , against the bias of the trigger spring  32   b . The trigger spring  32   b  is mounted to the handle member  28  for urging the trigger towards the locked position. The lever  28  can then move under the impetus of a kick-out spring (not shown) to a first position that corresponds to the retracted position for the plunger  22 . As described elsewhere herein, in use, a user grasps the assembly tool  10  and squeezes the handle member  28  to advance the plunger  22  toward the extended position. 
     The wheel assembly  14  comprises a wheel member  40  that is positioned between and rotatably mounted to the body members  20 . Still referring to  FIG. 1 , and as will be explained in detail below, the wheel includes a pair of dog fixtures  38  mounted thereon generally opposite one another. The wheel member  40  can be rotated to different alignment positions in which one of the dog fixtures  38  is aligned with the plunger  22 . The assembly tool  10  includes one or more detent mechanisms  42  to help retain the wheel member  40  in the alignment positions. A dog fixture  38  that is aligned with the plunger  22  cooperates with the plunger to secure a cable connector on the end of a cable. While a pair of dog fixtures  38  have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited in this regard as any number of different dog fixtures can be mounted on the wheel member without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. 
     One embodiment of a detent mechanism  42  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The detent mechanism  42  comprises two detents  44   a ,  44   b . The detents  44   a ,  44   b  are pivotably mounted on a wheel lock pin  46  that is mounted in the wheel member  40 , and the detents pivot about an axis that is substantially parallel to the sides  40   a ,  40   b  of the wheel member. The detents  44   a ,  44   b  pivot between extended positions and depressed positions. In the extended position, one of the detents  44   a  or  44   b  protrudes beyond the profile of the wheel member  40  (i.e., beyond a side  40   a  or  40   b ) as shown in  FIG. 2 . The detent mechanism  42  includes a wheel lock spring  48  between the two detents  44   a ,  44   b  to bias the detents into the extended positions. Each of the detents  44   a ,  44   b  has a ramped surface  44   c ,  44   d  that extends beyond the sides  40   a ,  40   b  of the wheel member  40 . Each of the detents  44   a ,  44   b  also has a stop surface  44   e ,  44   f  that extends beyond the sides  40   a ,  40   b  of the wheel member  40 . Pressure on the ramped surfaces  44   c ,  44   d  can cause detents  44   a ,  44   b  to compress the wheel lock spring  48  and allow the detents to pivot to the depressed positions by receding into the profile of the wheel member  40 . However, each of the detents  44   a ,  44   b  is configured so that direct pressure on the stop surface  44   e ,  44   f  will not cause the detent to pivot to the depressed position. Each body member includes an aperture  45  into which the detents  44   a  and  44   b  extend when the wheel member  40  is rotated into a position where a dog fixture  38  is aligned with the plunger  24 . The stop surfaces  44   e  and  44   f  each engage a peripheral edge portion  47  that, in part, defines the aperture  45 . 
     The aperture  45  is positioned on the body members so that when torque is applied to turn the wheel member  40  in one rotational direction (the “locked direction” indicated by arrow L), one of the stop surfaces  44   e ,  44   f  will bear against the peripheral edge portion  47  and prevent wheel member  40  from rotating, thereby maintaining the alignment of the dog fixture  38  and the plunger  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the apertures  45  are configured so that if torque is applied to the wheel member  40  in the rotational direction opposite from the locked direction (the “rotatable direction” indicated by arrow R), pressure is applied on the ramped surfaces  44   c ,  44   d , causing the protruding portions of the detents  44   a ,  44   b  to inwardly pivot towards each other. The detents  44  will then pivot into the depressed positions and permit the wheel member  40  to rotate. The apertures  45  can take the form of slots  20   b  ( FIG. 2 ) in body members  20  into which a detent  44   a  or  44   b  protrudes in the extended position. Rotation of the wheel member  40  moves the dog fixtures  38 ,  38 ′ into and out of alignment with the plunger  22  and is used to dispose a desired dog fixture on the wheel member  40  into alignment with the plunger. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a dog fixture  38  comprises two jaws  38   a  and  38   b . The jaws  38   a  and  38   b  are pivotably mounted on dog pin  50  and have closure portions  38   c  and  38   d  distal from the dog pin. Closure portions  38   c ,  38   d  can pivot toward each other into contact with each other at a mutual contact point  38   e . Dog springs  54   a ,  54   b  bear against the jaws  38   a  and  38   b  and the wheel member  40 , and bias the jaws into contact with each other. The jaws  38   a  and  38   b  are configured to define a cable aperture  52  between them. Optionally, each of the dog fixtures  38 ,  38 ′ on the wheel member  40  has a cable aperture  52  that is different in size from the cable aperture of the other dog fixtures on the wheel member. 
     The jaws  38   a  and  38   b  have angled surfaces adjacent the mutual contact point  38   e . By pressing a cable against the angled surfaces, the two closure portions  38   c  and  38   d  can be separated from each other (as indicated by the pivot arrows Pa, Pb) so that the cable can be introduced into, or removed from, the cable aperture  52 . However, the dog springs  54  provide a degree of resistance to hold a cable in the aperture during routine use of the assembly tool  10 . The wheel member  40  is configured to define a wheel cable groove  40   c  between two wheel portions  40   d ,  40   e . The wheel cable groove  40   c  is on the periphery of the wheel member  40 , for receiving a cable that is to be inserted into the cable aperture  52 . In addition, the wheel portions  40   d ,  40   e  are adjacent to the dog fixtures  38 ,  38 ′ on the opposite side of the dog fixtures from the plunger  22 . In this way, the wheel portions  40   d,    40   e  provide support to the dog fixture when the plunger secures a connector onto the cable. 
     To prepare the assembly tool  10  for use, the wheel member  40  is rotated to align one of the dog fixtures  38 ,  38 ′ with the plunger. The aligned dog fixture  38  is sized for applying a connector to a selected cable. Once a selected dog fixture  38  is aligned with the plunger  22 , a connector is placed on the end of a cable and the cable is placed in the wheel cable groove  40   c  and is slid into the cable aperture  52  of the dog fixture. The end of the cable and the cable connector thereon are disposed between the dog fixture and the plunger. The user squeezes the handle  28  toward a second handle portion  20   a  defined by the side plates  20  to move the plunger  22  toward the extended position. In the extended position, the plunger tip  24  is used to press a connector against the dog fixture  38  with sufficient force to deform the connector such that the connector becomes secured to the cable. The wheel portions  40   d ,  40   e  ( FIG. 3 ) and the resistance to rotation in the locking direction provided by the stop surfaces  44   e ,  44   f  ( FIG. 2 ) of the detents  44   a ,  44   b  support the dog fixture  38  and thus prevent the dog fixture from being displaced by the force of the plunger  24 . To install a connector on a cable sized for another dog fixture  38  on the wheel member  40 , the user rotates the wheel member in the rotatable direction to align the desired dog fixture with the plunger. 
     Optionally, dog pin  50  may be part of a wheel lock pin  46 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A wheel lock pin  46  and/or a dog pin  50  may be a set screw that is threaded into the wheel member  40 , or they may be manually removable from the wheel member. A manually removable pin does not mechanically couple with the wheel member  40  by means of a thread. For example, a manually removable dog pin  50  or wheel lock pin  46  may have a circumferential groove thereon that engages a spring pin such as spring pin  56   a  or  56   b , as shown in  FIG. 1 . This will allow a user to easily remove a dog fixture  38  and replace the dog fixture with another. Since the cable aperture  52  in a dog fixture  38  is sized for a specific-sized cable, providing easily removable dog fixtures allows a user to adapt the assembly tool  10  for use with even more different sizes of cables than the number of dog fixtures that are mountable on the wheel member  40  at any given time. Accordingly, the method of using the attachment tool  10  may include installing a dog fixture  38  for a desired cable on the wheel member  40 . 
     To protect the dog pin  50  or wheel lock pin  46  from damage, the assembly tool  10  may include a cover member  58  ( FIG. 1 ) that is installable on the periphery of the wheel member  40  to cover the dog pin or the wheel lock pin and the mechanism thereon. The cover member  58  may be held on the wheel member  40  by a cover pin  60  that may be part of the cover member and that is received in a mounting hole in the wheel member. Optionally, the cover member  58  may carry a wheel lock pin  46  or a dog pin  50  thereon for manual insertion and/or removal with the cover member. The protected mechanism may be adapted to accommodate the cover member  58  and/or the cover pin  60 . For example, the detents  44   a ,  44   b  ( FIG. 2 ) include semi-circular cut-outs  44   g ,  44   h  so the cover member pin  60  can extend between the detents without interfering with the movement of the detents to the depressed position. Where necessary, dog parts  38   a  and  38   b  can also be configured to accommodate a cover pin. 
     In an optional embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , an attachment tool  10  may include a toolbox  70  in the handle portion  20   a . The toolbox  70 , which may be disposed, for example, between the side plates  20 , may contain a sizing tool  72  and a substitute plunger tip. The sizing tool  72  is used to determine the size of a cable so that a properly sized cable connector and dog fixture can be selected. The toolbox  70  may include a magnet clasp assembly  74 , to help keep a pivotable top  72  in a closed position on the tool box bottom  78  during storage and handling. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. In addition, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, upon a reading and understanding of the foregoing disclosure, that numerous variations and alterations to the disclosed embodiments will fall within the spirit and scope of this invention and of the appended claims.