Connector fitting test tool
A compact and easy to use female connector testing tool includes an outer housing containing a movable plunger. A male connection end is attached to one end of the movable plunger. A predetermined resistive force is provided between the outer housing and the plunger to provide adequate resistance against movement between them. As the tool is pulled away from the female connector, in which the male connection end is inserted, the plunger moves with respect to the outer housing. An indicator indicates if the female connector has passed (and is good) or has failed. The indicator may be used to provide measurements of the pullout or push-in force required to remove or insert the male connector from the female connector. The indicator may include a pass/fail indicator, a graded scale, an electronic display or audible display. A mechanical pullout mechanism may be used to provide a fast test of the holding resistance of the female connector.
1. A connector testing tool comprising:
a housing having a hollow body;
a plunger contained in the hollow body and being movable within said hollow body;
a male connector end connected to the plunger to be inserted in a female connector to be tested;
an alignment sleeve having a shape for mounting the tool on to the female connector, wherein the alignment sleeve conceals a portion of the male connector end when the male connector end is in a home position, and wherein the shape of the alignment sleeve corresponds to a shape of the female connector for guiding, during operation, an insertion and removal of the male connector from the female connector; and
a resistance mechanism which provides a predetermined amount of force resisting movement between said housing and said plunger,
wherein the housing pulls away from the female connector when the male connector is inserted in the female connector, and the resistance mechanism resists movement of said plunger in the housing when said male connector is being pulled out of the female connector being tested.
2. The connector testing tool of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator which indicates a pass or fail condition of said female connector being tested.
3. The connector testing tool of claim 2 , wherein said indicator includes a pass band on said plunger.
4. The connector testing tool of claim 2 , wherein said indicator includes a scale band on said plunger.
5. The connector testing tool of claim 4 , wherein said indicator includes a movable measurement band which is to be moved by a key on said plunger.
6. The connector testing tool of claim 2 , wherein said indicator includes an LED on said plunger.
7. The connector testing tool of claim 2 , wherein said indicator includes an electronic device configured to make an audible noise.
8. The connector testing tool of claim 1 , wherein said resistance mechanism includes resistance bands on said plunger.
9. The connector testing tool of claim 1 , wherein said resistance mechanism includes a spring.
10. The connector testing tool of claim 1 , wherein said resistance mechanism is configured to resist movement of said plunger while pulling said male connector end out of said female connector, and said resistance mechanism is configured to resist movement of said plunger while pushing said male connector end into said female connector.
11. The connector testing tool of claim 10 , further including an indicator which indicates an amount of pullout resistance and an amount of push-in resistance.
12. A method of testing a connector comprising:
aligning the connector for mounting on to a female connector via an alignment sleeve, wherein the alignment sleeve conceals a portion of a male connector end when the male connector end is in a home position, and wherein a shape of the alignment sleeve corresponds to a shape of the female connector for guiding, during operation, an insertion and removal of the male connector from the female connector;
inserting the male connector end of a testing tool into the female connector, the testing tool having an outer housing holding a movable inner plunger, the male connector end being mounted on the inner plunger, wherein the housing pulls away from the female connector when the male connector is inserted in the female connector;
providing an indication of movement of said plunger within said outer housing, said movement of said plunger within said housing being resisted between said outer housing by a resistance mechanism;
determining if said connector has passed based on an amount of movement of said plunger with respect to said outer housing.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein providing an indication of movement of said plunger includes proving an indication of a minimum plunger movement distance for a pass designation.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein providing an indication of movement of said plunger includes proving an indication of an amount of force exerted to move said plunger.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said female connector is determined to pass if movement of said plunger indicates a predetermined pullout force is needed to remove said male connector from said female connector.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein said female connector is determined to pass if movement of said plunger indicates a predetermined push-in force is needed to insert said male connector into said female connector.