Pressure check apparatus for electrical connector contacts
United States Patent Mann 1 1 Apr. 29, 1975 [5 4] PRESSURE CHECK APPARATUS FOR 3,292,430 12/1966 Collier et a1. 73/88 B ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CONTACTS 3,425,271 2/1969 Hendry 73/141 AB Primary Examiner-Charles A. Ruehl Attorney, Agent, or FirmLawren-ce A. Neureither; Jack W. Voigt; Charles R. Carter [57] ABSTRACT A pressure apparatus to simultaneously check a multicontact electrical connector to discover if any of the contacts are improperly installed from a mechanical viewpoint. The apparatus applies an air pressure force on a plurality of pistons which in turn applies this force on the individual contacts being tested. If the contacts are improperly installed the contacts will be forced out of their proper position.  
 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PRESSURE CHECK APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CONTACTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of pressure checking apparatus. Many missile failures are due to improperly mechanically installed electrical connector contacts. Present check probing is cumbersome in that an operator must locate, probe and check each contact. This method of check probing can cause damage to wiring since each contact must be manually probed with no assurance that all contacts have been checked to the correct pressure.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has provided a solution to these problems by using an apparatus to simultaneously check numerous contacts at the same time to a precise probe pressure. Electrical wiring will not be damaged as probe pressure is self-contained in the connector body and probe apparatus.  
  This invention may be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the check apparatus connected to an electrical connector.  
  FIG. 2 is a rear view of the check apparatus with connector not shown.  
 FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial section of FIG. 1.  
 FIG. 4 is a side view looking into the manifold plate.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1 reference numeral generally indicates a pressure check apparatus connected to an electrical connector 12 having contacts 13. The apparatus includes a cylinder block 14 having an opening 16 for entrance of the electrical connector. Two opposing slots 18 are located in the cylinder block for receiving a removable two prong pin 20. The pin, when inserted in slots 18, engages a connector flange 22 and thereby secures the connector to the cylinder block. A plurality of cylinders 24 are located in block 14 and house pressure operated pistons 26 having O-rings 27. The pistons themselves do not touch the contacts of the connector, but rather have special adapted tips 28A or 288 depending upon whether male or female contacts are being tested. A cover 30 is attached to one side of the cylinder block by means 31 and includes a plurality of piston passageways 32. The cover also acts as a means 33 for limiting piston travel. On the other side of the cylinder block is a manifold plate 34 secured to the block by means 36. The manifold plate is provided with a mounting offset 38 which allows the check apparatus to be mounted on a cart, bench or harness fixture. As seen in FIG. 4, the manifold plate has a hi-pressure air inlet 40 that supplies air pressure, from a source not shown, through air passageways 42 to actuate pistons 26. A groove 44 is provided in the manifold plate 34 for housing an O-ring 46 to prevent air pressure leakage. The cylinder block is provided with a slot or window 48 for viewing the pistons 26 and the connector 12.  
  The pressure check apparatus of this invention is not limited to any particular geometric shape of connector contacts. In the embodiment shown a connector having 55 pin contacts can be checked by the device. As seen in FIG. 4, 28 separate pistons are operated simultaneously after an electrical connector has been secured to the device. Thus after the push out test on 28 contacts the connector under test is manually removed from the device, rotated and then reinserted and secured to the apparatus so that the second half of the contacts 13 are exposed to the push out test. In this geometric pattern the center contact is tested twice and if any contact is improperly installed it will be pushed out of the connector body approximately one-fourth inch.  
 I claim:  
  1. An apparatus for checking contact installation in an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising: a cylinder block provided with a plurality of cylinders therein; a plurality of pistons mounted for movement in said cylinders; said pistons being provided with 0&#34; rings; a cover disposed adjacent one side of said cylinder block, said cover being provided with a plurality of piston passageways and disposed to limit piston travel; a manifold plate disposed on the opposite side of said cylinder block and including a hi-pressure air supply inlet, said manifold plate including a plurality of air passageways for conducting hi-pressure air from said inlet to said cylinders to actuate said pistons therein; said pistons being provided with adaptor tips for contacting either male or female contacts; and said cylinder block being provided with opposing slots and a two prong pin to engage said slots and secure said connector to said cylinder block.