Punchdown Tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021257796-A1
Application number	US-202117246131-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Aug 19, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A punchdown tool for fitting wires into connectors including a housing with a front side, a back side, a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a leading surface on the front end, and an interior defined between the front and back sides. The punchdown tool also includes a drive mechanism with a hammer, an anvil, and a drive spring. The drive mechanism is positioned in the interior of the housing adjacent the front end. The punchdown tool further includes a circuit board positioned in the interior of the housing adjacent the rear end with a controller. The punchdown tool also includes a light positioned on the leading surface of the housing that is electrically coupled to the controller and at least one battery positioned in the interior of the housing for supplying power to the light and the circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A punchdown tool comprising:
a housing that defines an impact axis that extends through the housing in a longitudinal direction, the housing including a front end and a rear end opposite the front end; a drive mechanism positioned in the housing, the drive mechanism movable between an unloaded position and a loaded position, the drive mechanism including a hammer movable along the impact axis; a biasing element that biases the hammer along the impact axis; and an anvil movable along the impact axis, the anvil including a barrel; wherein, when the drive mechanism is in the loaded position, the barrel of the anvil does not extend pass the front end of the housing.

2 . The punchdown tool of claim 1 , wherein a ratio is defined as a length of the punchdown tool in a direction parallel to the impact axis divided by a length of the drive mechanism in a direction parallel to the impact axis, and wherein the ratio is in a range from 1.5 to 2.0.

3 . The punchdown tool of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a max diameter of the punchdown tool that is within a range from 30 millimeters to 40 millimeters.

4 . The punchdown tool of claim 3 , wherein a length defined between the front end and the rear end of the housing is within a range from 160 millimeters to 170 millimeters.

5 . The punchdown tool of claim 3 , wherein the rear end of the housing includes a lobe that defines the maximum diameter of the housing.

6 . The punchdown tool of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism further includes a switch movable between a first position in which the drive mechanism delivers a first impact force and a second position in which the drive mechanism delivers a second impact force that is greater than the first impact force.

7 . The punchdown tool of claim 6 , wherein the switch further includes a lever that extends out of the housing of the punchdown tool.

8 . The punchdown tool of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the punchdown tool includes a nose cone positioned around the barrel of the anvil that houses a light.

9 . The punchdown tool of claim 1 , further comprising a return spring positioned between the hammer and the anvil that biases the anvil away from the hammer.

10 . The punchdown tool of claim 1 , comprising:
a circuit board positioned in an interior of the housing, the circuit board including a controller; and a light positioned on the front end of the housing that is electrically coupled to the controller.

11 . A punchdown tool comprising:
a housing that defines an impact axis that extends through the housing in a longitudinal direction, the housing including a front end and a rear end opposite the front end; a drive mechanism positioned in the housing, the drive mechanism movable between an unloaded position and a loaded position, the drive mechanism including a hammer movable along the impact axis; a biasing element that biases the hammer along the impact axis; an anvil movable along the impact axis, the anvil including a barrel; and an insert coupled to the barrel; wherein, when the drive mechanism is in the loaded position, the insert partially extends into the front end of the housing.

12 . The punchdown tool of claim 11 , wherein a ratio is defined as a length of the punchdown tool in a direction parallel to the impact axis divided by a length of the drive mechanism in a direction parallel to the impact axis, and wherein the ratio is in a range from 1.5 to 2.0.

13 . The punchdown tool of claim 12 , wherein a length defined between the front end and the rear end of the housing is within a range from 160 millimeters to 170 millimeters.

14 . The punchdown tool of claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism further includes a switch movable between a first position in which the drive mechanism delivers a first impact force and a second position in which the drive mechanism delivers a second impact force that is greater than the first impact force.

15 . The punchdown tool of claim 11 , wherein the housing of the punchdown tool includes a nose cone positioned around the barrel of the anvil that houses a light.

16 . A punchdown tool comprising:
a housing that defines an impact axis that extends through the housing in a longitudinal direction, the housing including a front end and a rear end opposite the front end; a drive mechanism positioned in the housing, the drive mechanism movable between an unloaded position and a loaded position, the drive mechanism including a hammer slideable along the impact axis; a biasing element that biases the hammer along the impact axis; and an anvil movable along the impact axis, the anvil including a barrel; wherein, when the drive mechanism is in the loaded position, the front end of the housing extends past the barrel of the anvil.

17 . The punchdown tool of claim 16 , wherein a ratio is defined as a length of the punchdown tool in a direction parallel to the impact axis divided by a length of the drive mechanism in a direction parallel to the impact axis, and wherein the ratio is in a range from 1.5 to 2.0.

18 . The punchdown tool of claim 16 , wherein the housing defines a max diameter of the punchdown tool that is within a range from 30 millimeters to 40 millimeters.

19 . The punchdown tool of claim 18 , wherein a length defined between the front end and the rear end of the housing is within a range from 160 millimeters to 170 millimeters.

20 . The punchdown tool of claim 16 , comprising:
a circuit board positioned in an interior of the housing, the circuit board including a controller; and a light positioned on the front end of the housing that is electrically coupled to the controller.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Paulsen Alexander J
• Cemke Jr James A
• Williams Eric J

Classifications

• H01R43/01 Primary

  for connecting unstripped conductors to contact members having insulation cutting edges · CPC title

• B25B27/00 Primary

  Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for (machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects B23P19/00) · CPC title

• H01R43/015 Primary

  Handtools · CPC title

• H01R43/28

  for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26 · CPC title