A grounding clamp includes a safety lock-out which locks the operation of the clamp in the absence of a cooperating hot-stick. The lock-out employs a clutch which prevents the translation of the clamping members relative to one another until the clutch is disengaged. The cooperating hot-stick is required for the disengagement of the clutch.

A grounding clamp includes a safety lock-out which locks the operation of the clamp in the absence of a hot-stick. A clamping member cooperates with a frame having an arm, and is selectively biasable by a user to translate the clamping member relative to the frame to clamp a conductor between the clamping member and arm. The lock-out cooperates with the clamping member to prevent the translation of the clamping member unless in the presence of an insulating tool such as a hot-stick.

A grounding clamp includes a safety lock-out which locks the operation of the clamp in the absence of a hot-stick. A clamping member cooperates with a frame having an arm, and is selectively biasable by a user to translate the clamping member relative to the frame to clamp a conductor between the clamping member and arm. The lock-out cooperates with the clamping member to prevent the translation of the clamping member unless in the presence of an insulating tool such as a hot-stick.

A contact is provided with an engaging portion for engaging with a housing. The housing is provided with an insertion end portion for insertion of the contact, a connection end portion for connection to a partner connection target, a contact insertion hole, and an engagement arm extending in a cantilevered manner from the connection end portion toward the insertion end portion. The engagement arm includes an engaged portion for engaging with the engaging portion, and an extension arm portion extending from the engaged portion toward the insertion end portion. The extension arm portion faces an inner wall defining the contact insertion hole with a space therebetween, and restricts the flexing amount of the engagement arm by the tip side of the extension arm portion abutting against the inner wall when the engagement arm flexes.

An electrical connector system including a connector having a terminal cavity within. The cavity has a rigid floor with a lock nib extending into the cavity, a first flexible beam extending into a rearward portion of the cavity and a second flexible beam extending into a forward portion. The first and second beams both overlie the floor. The system further includes a terminal having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a rigid lock edge. The terminal is received in the cavity such that the first beam engages a rearward portion of the top surface of the terminal and the second beam engages a forward portion of the top surface, thereby biasing the terminal towards the floor. The lock edge engages the lock nib, thereby preventing the terminal from being inadvertently withdrawn from the terminal receiving cavity. The connector may be formed by an additive manufacturing process.

An electrical connector system including a connector having a terminal cavity within. The cavity has a rigid floor with a lock nib extending into the cavity, a first flexible beam extending into a rearward portion of the cavity and a second flexible beam extending into a forward portion. The first and second beams both overlie the floor. The system further includes a terminal having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a rigid lock edge. The terminal is received in the cavity such that the first beam engages a rearward portion of the top surface of the terminal and the second beam engages a forward portion of the top surface, thereby biasing the terminal towards the floor. The lock edge engages the lock nib, thereby preventing the terminal from being inadvertently withdrawn from the terminal receiving cavity. The connector may be formed by an additive manufacturing process.

A tool is provided for shaping contact tab interconnects at a circuit card edge. The tool includes a base member with a slot to receive a circuit card edge. The slot is sized such that the edge of the circuit card is slidable lengthwise within the slot. The tool further includes shaping dowels disposed within the base member, including at least two shaping dowels that define a set of adjacent shaping dowels extending at an angle relative to each other. The set of adjacent shaping dowels are exposed, at least in part, within the slot so that with lengthwise sliding of the edge of the circuit card within the slot, the edge of the circuit card contacts and slides across the set of adjacent shaping dowels rounding off, at least in part, ends of the contact tab interconnects at the edge of the circuit card.

A tool is provided for shaping contact tab interconnects at a circuit card edge. The tool includes a base member with a slot to receive a circuit card edge. The slot is sized such that the edge of the circuit card is slidable lengthwise within the slot. The tool further includes shaping dowels disposed within the base member, including at least two shaping dowels that define a set of adjacent shaping dowels extending at an angle relative to each other. The set of adjacent shaping dowels are exposed, at least in part, within the slot so that with lengthwise sliding of the edge of the circuit card within the slot, the edge of the circuit card contacts and slides across the set of adjacent shaping dowels rounding off, at least in part, ends of the contact tab interconnects at the edge of the circuit card.

A connector replacement method in a network element chassis includes obtaining physical access to a backplane in the network element chassis, while the network element chassis is deployed; powering down backplane connectors for replacement while other backplane connectors remained powered; removing the powered down backplane connectors with a connector removal tool; inserting a new set of backplane connectors in place of the removed, powered down backplane connectors with a connector insertion tool; and powering up the new set of backplane connectors.

A pin extractor is disclosed. The pin extractor can comprise a press to act against a clip securing a pin to be extracted. The press can have a clip interface feature at an end of the press configured to compress the clip radially inward upon application of a force against the clip. The pin extractor can also comprise a puller having a claw to engage the pin. The puller can be movable relative to the press to extract the pin as the press compresses the clip radially inward.