Patent US3664016A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3664016A
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Apparatus and method for aligning a plurality of connector mounted pins by deformation and reformation thereof
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-24
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-03-24
Abstract
Abstract An alignment apparatus and method for aligning a plurality of connector mounted pins is shown having a work table for mounting a connector thereon which is capable of linear displacements in four directions along X and Y axes. A fixture engages the ends of the connector mounted pins for retaining these pins in the desired aligned position while the connector is displaced with respect to that position. The mounting frame is displaced in one direction along the X-axis beyond the elastic limit of the pins for permanently deforming them and then displaced in a second direction beyond the elastic limit for again deforming the pins. The mounting frame is finally displaced in the first direction passed the center position a distance sufficient to remove the deformation caused by the last displacement and then returned to the center position for aligning the pins with respect to the center position along the X-axis. These same steps are repeated along the Y-axis for aligning the plurality of pins with the desired center position along that axis, thus aligning the pins with the center position located at the intersection of the X and Y axes.
Inventors
- 👤 John M Sevc
- 👤 Howard E Pierce Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:57
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/0061; H05K13/0076; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49764; Y10T29/49778; Y10T29/4978; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
395 words
A method for aligning a plurality of unaligned connector mounted pins with respect to each other and to a true center position by deformation and reformation thereof comprising the steps of: placing the ends of said pins within a fixture located on the center position and holding said pins in conformity with the desired true center position; moving said fixture with respect to said connector off said center position in a first linear direction along a first axis for flexing said pins beyond the elastic limit of most of said pins thereby permanently deforming most of said pins in said first linear direction; moving said fixture with respect to said connector in a second linear direction along said first axis, opposite said first direction, and beyond said center position for flexing said pins beyond the elastic limit of all of said pins thereby permanently deforming all of said pins in said second direction; moving said fixture with respect to said connector in said first linear direction beyond said center position for flexing said pins and removing said permanent deformation, caused by said movement in said second direction, to align said pins along said first axis with respect to said center position as said fixture is moved with respect to said connector back to said center position; moving said fixture with respect to said connector off said center position in a third linear direction along a second axis for flexing said pins beyond the elastic limit of most of said pins thereby permanently deforming most of said pins in said third linear direction; moving said fixture with respect to said connector in a fourth linear direction along said second axis, opposite said third direction, and beyond said center position for flexing said pins beyond the elastic limit of all of said pins thereby permanently deforming all of said pins in said fourth direction; and moving said fixture with respect to said connector in said third linear direction beyond said center position for flexing said pins and removing said permanent deformation, caused by said movement in said fourth direction, to align said pins along said second axis with respect to said center position as said fixture is moved with respect to said connector back to said center position, thus aligning said pins with said true center position located at the intersection of said first and second axes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
395 words
A method for aligning a plurality of unaligned connector mounted pins with respect to each other and to a true center position by deformation and reformation thereof comprising the steps of: placing the ends of said pins within a fixture located on the center position and holding said pins in conformity with the desired true center position; moving said fixture with respect to said connector off said center position in a first linear direction along a first axis for flexing said pins beyond the elastic limit of most of said pins thereby permanently deforming most of said pins in said first linear direction; moving said fixture with respect to said connector in a second linear direction along said first axis, opposite said first direction, and beyond said center position for flexing said pins beyond the elastic limit of all of said pins thereby permanently deforming all of said pins in said second direction; moving said fixture with respect to said connector in said first linear direction beyond said center position for flexing said pins and removing said permanent deformation, caused by said movement in said second direction, to align said pins along said first axis with respect to said center position as said fixture is moved with respect to said connector back to said center position; moving said fixture with respect to said connector off said center position in a third linear direction along a second axis for flexing said pins beyond the elastic limit of most of said pins thereby permanently deforming most of said pins in said third linear direction; moving said fixture with respect to said connector in a fourth linear direction along said second axis, opposite said third direction, and beyond said center position for flexing said pins beyond the elastic limit of all of said pins thereby permanently deforming all of said pins in said fourth direction; and moving said fixture with respect to said connector in said third linear direction beyond said center position for flexing said pins and removing said permanent deformation, caused by said movement in said fourth direction, to align said pins along said second axis with respect to said center position as said fixture is moved with respect to said connector back to said center position, thus aligning said pins with said true center position located at the intersection of said first and second axes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
244 words
Apparatus for aligning a plurality of unaligned connector mounted pins with respect to each other and to a true center position by deformation and reformation thereof, comprising: frame means for mounting said connector; fixture means having aligned apertures therein for receiving the ends of said pins to be aligned on said center position; first displacement means for linearly displacing said fixture means with respect to said frame means in a first direction from said center position along a first axis, in a second opposite direction beyond said center position along said first axis, in said first direction beyond said center position, and back thereto; second displacement means for linearly displacing said fixture means with respect to said frame means in a third direction from said center position along a second axis, in a fourth opposite direction beyond said center position along said second axis, in said third direction beyond said center position, and back thereto; said displacement means causing said displacements in said first, second, third and fourth directions to exceed the elastic limit of said pins for permanently deforming said pins in said directions; and said displacement means further causing said last displacements in said first and third directions to overcome said permanent deformations in said second and fourth directions for permanently deforming said pins in alignment with said center positions along said first and second axes and thereby aligning said pins with said true center position at the intersection of said axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
244 words
Apparatus for aligning a plurality of unaligned connector mounted pins with respect to each other and to a true center position by deformation and reformation thereof, comprising: frame means for mounting said connector; fixture means having aligned apertures therein for receiving the ends of said pins to be aligned on said center position; first displacement means for linearly displacing said fixture means with respect to said frame means in a first direction from said center position along a first axis, in a second opposite direction beyond said center position along said first axis, in said first direction beyond said center position, and back thereto; second displacement means for linearly displacing said fixture means with respect to said frame means in a third direction from said center position along a second axis, in a fourth opposite direction beyond said center position along said second axis, in said third direction beyond said center position, and back thereto; said displacement means causing said displacements in said first, second, third and fourth directions to exceed the elastic limit of said pins for permanently deforming said pins in said directions; and said displacement means further causing said last displacements in said first and third directions to overcome said permanent deformations in said second and fourth directions for permanently deforming said pins in alignment with said center positions along said first and second axes and thereby aligning said pins with said true center position at the intersection of said axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
273 words
Alignment apparatus for aligning a plurality of connector mounted pins with respect to a true center position by deformation and refoRmation thereof, comprising: mounting means for mounting said connector; pin holding means for receiving said plurality of pins and initially displacing said pins into the center position desired; said mounting means and said pin holding means including means for allowing displacement therebetween along first and second axes; first displacement means for linearly displacing said mounting means and said pin holding means in a first and then a second opposite direction along said first axis beyond the elastic limit of said plurality of pins thus deforming said pins respectively in said first and second directions, said first displacing means further displacing said pins in said first direction passed said center position and back thereto for removing said last deformation in said second direction and aligning said pins with said center position along said first axis; and second displacement means for linearly displacing said mounting means and said pin holding means in a third and then a fourth opposite direction along said second axis beyond the elastic limit of said plurality of pins thus deforming said pins respectively in said third and fourth directions, said second displacement means further displacing said pins in said third direction passed said center position and back thereto for removing said last deformation in said fourth direction and aligning said pins with said center position along said second axis; whereby said pins are permanently aligned with said center position along said first and second axes and are thereby aligned with said true center position at the intersection of said axes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
273 words
Alignment apparatus for aligning a plurality of connector mounted pins with respect to a true center position by deformation and refoRmation thereof, comprising: mounting means for mounting said connector; pin holding means for receiving said plurality of pins and initially displacing said pins into the center position desired; said mounting means and said pin holding means including means for allowing displacement therebetween along first and second axes; first displacement means for linearly displacing said mounting means and said pin holding means in a first and then a second opposite direction along said first axis beyond the elastic limit of said plurality of pins thus deforming said pins respectively in said first and second directions, said first displacing means further displacing said pins in said first direction passed said center position and back thereto for removing said last deformation in said second direction and aligning said pins with said center position along said first axis; and second displacement means for linearly displacing said mounting means and said pin holding means in a third and then a fourth opposite direction along said second axis beyond the elastic limit of said plurality of pins thus deforming said pins respectively in said third and fourth directions, said second displacement means further displacing said pins in said third direction passed said center position and back thereto for removing said last deformation in said fourth direction and aligning said pins with said center position along said second axis; whereby said pins are permanently aligned with said center position along said first and second axes and are thereby aligned with said true center position at the intersection of said axes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
Alignment apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said first and second axes are X and Y axes; said first displacement means first displaces said pins in a positive first direction and back to zero, secondly displaces said pins in a negative second direction and back to zero, and thirdly displaces said pins in said positive first direction and back to zero along said X-axis; and said second displacement means first displaces said pins in a positive third direction and back to zero, secondly displaces said pins in a negative fourth direction and back to zero, and thirdly displaces said pins in said positive third direction and back to zero along said Y-axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
Alignment apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said first and second displacement means are adjustable for adjusting the length of said third displacements along said axes; and said first and second displacements along said axes are substantially twice said third displacements along said axes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
Alignment apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said pin holding means is capable of movement along X and Y axes; and said mounting means is fixed with respect to said X and Y axes while being moveable along a Z-axis to engage said pins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Alignment apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said first and second displacement means include driven cam means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
Alignment apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said mounting means includes work table means capable of movement along X and Y axes; and said pin holding means is fixed with respect to said X and Y axes while being moveable along a Z-axis to engage said pins.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
Alignment apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said first and second displacement means include driven screw thread means for imparting motion along said axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
Alignment apparatus as claimed in claim 9, additionally comprising: electrical motor means for driving said screw thread means; and adjustable control means for controlling said electrical moor means and thereby controlling the displacement of said work table means along said axes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2970370A
Cited
US3566464A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |