Angled Crimping Opening for Confined Space Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional crimping tools are difficult to use in hard-to-reach areas due to their design, which requires sufficient clearance for the handles and crimping surfaces that extend perpendicular to the tool's axis, limiting their versatility and leverage.
Innovation Solution
A crimping tool with crimping openings located at an angle relative to the axial direction of the jaws, allowing for crimping at various angles and reducing jaw size while enhancing leverage by positioning crimpers closer to the handles' connection point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If crimping surfaces extend perpendicular to the tool axis, then the crimping force is effectively applied, but the tool requires sufficient clearance and becomes difficult to use in hard-to-reach areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by reorienting the crimping surfaces from a perpendicular arrangement to an angled arrangement relative to the tool axis. This spatial reconfiguration allows the tool to access confined spaces while maintaining effective crimping capability, directly resolving the contradiction between accessibility and clearance requirements
2Force
If crimpers are positioned closer to the connection point of handles, then leverage is improved, but the jaw size must be reduced to accommodate the angled opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry by creating a non-uniform jaw structure with an angled opening rather than a symmetric perpendicular arrangement. This asymmetric design allows the crimpers to be positioned closer to the pivot point for improved leverage while accommodating the reduced jaw size through the angled geometry that optimizes space utilization
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables crimping of wire connectors at different angles, improves leverage, and allows for more compact tool design, making it easier to use in confined spaces.
Implementation Method 1
crimping or plastically deforming the connector to compress an electrically conductive material inside of the connector (e.g., a metal) against a bare, terminal portion of the wire being connected
Implementation Method 2
compress an electrically conductive material inside of the connector against a bare, terminal portion of the wire
Implementation Method 3
improved leverage on the crimpers due to their proximity to the connection point of the first and second handles of the tool
Data Source
AI summary
A crimping tool with a crimping opening extending at an angle to the axial direction of the tool. The tool can include jaws with multiple crimping openings cooperatively defined thereby at different angles relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the tool. For example, the crimping openings can begin at a respective faces of the jaw and such faces can extend at different angles relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the tool. In this manner, the tool can allow crimping of connectors at a variety of different angles, reduce jaw length and width, and improve the leverage of the crimpers.