U.S. patent application number 13/624391 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-28 for wire stripping tool.
This patent application is currently assigned to MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. Invention is credited to Wong Wai For, Jonathan A. Zick.
Application Number | 20130074345 13/624391 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47909640 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130074345 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zick; Jonathan A. ; et
al. |
March 28, 2013 |
WIRE STRIPPING TOOL
Abstract
A wire stripper includes a housing defining a receptacle for
receiving a battery. A motor disposed in the housing. A rotary head
is coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis. The rotary head
defines a central aperture along the axis. A blade is coupled to
the rotary head for rotation with the rotary head and about the
axis. The blade extends at least partially into the central
aperture to engage insulation of a wire passing through the
aperture.
Inventors: |
Zick; Jonathan A.;
(Waukesha, WI) ; For; Wong Wai; (Hong Kong,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation; |
Brookfield |
WI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL
CORPORATION
Brookfield
WI
|
Family ID: |
47909640 |
Appl. No.: |
13/624391 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61537692 |
Sep 22, 2011 |
|
|
|
61546614 |
Oct 13, 2011 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/90.1 ;
83/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 1/1265 20130101;
Y10T 83/04 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
30/90.1 ;
83/13 |
International
Class: |
H02G 1/12 20060101
H02G001/12 |
Claims
1. A wire stripper comprising: a housing defining a receptacle for
receiving a battery; a motor disposed in the housing; a rotary head
coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis, the rotary head
defining a central aperture along the axis; and a blade coupled to
the rotary head for rotation with the rotary head and about the
axis, wherein the blade extends at least partially into the central
aperture to engage insulation of a wire passing through the
aperture.
2. The wire stripper of claim 1, further comprising a cutting head
coupled to the rotary head, wherein the blade is supported by the
cutting head.
3. The wire stripper of claim 2, wherein the rotary head includes
an extension tube and the cutting head is coupled to the extension
tube.
4. The wire stripper of claim 1, further comprising a blade
assembly including the blade, a block portion, and a pin
member.
5. The wire stripper of claim 1, wherein the blade defines an acute
pitch angle relative to a plane perpendicular to axis.
6. The wire stripper of claim 1, wherein the blade is slidably
coupled to a blade carrier plate.
7. The wire stripper of claim 1, wherein the rotary head includes a
retaining nut for securing the blade to an extension tube.
8. The wire stripper of claim 1, further comprising a blade
assembly including the blade and a substantially cylindrical
body.
9. The wire stripper of claim 8, wherein the blade is coupled to an
inner surface of the cylindrical body and extends radially inwardly
from the cylindrical body.
10. The wire stripper of claim 1, wherein the blade defines a
leading edge and a trailing edge for bi-directional cutting.
11. A method of stripping insulation from a wire using a wire
stripper, the wire stripper including a rotary head, a motor, and a
blade coupled to rotary head, the method comprising: inserting a
wire into the rotary head along an insertion axis; operating the
motor in a forward direction to feed the wire into the rotary head
along the insertion axis; engaging the blade with the insulation to
strip the insulation from the wire; and operating the motor in a
reverse direction to drive the wire out of the rotary head along
the insertion axis.
12. The method of stripping insulation from a wire of claim 11,
further comprising engaging a rotary lock to cause the blade to
penetrate the wire insulation.
13. The method of stripping insulation from a wire of claim 12,
further comprising releasing the rotary lock after the blade
penetrates the wire insulation.
14. The method of stripping insulation from a wire of claim 11
further comprising engaging the blade to the insulation at an acute
pitch angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the insertion
axis.
15. The method of stripping insulation from a wire of claim 11,
further comprising securing the blade to the rotary head with a
retaining nut.
16. The method of stripping insulation from a wire of claim 11,
further comprising inserting the blade into a bore of the rotary
head.
17. The method of stripping insulation from a wire of claim 11,
further comprising cutting a continuous helical path through the
insulation.
18. The method of stripping insulation from a wire of claim 11,
further comprising rotating the blade substantially synchronously
with the rotary head.
19. A wire stripper comprising: a housing defining a receptacle for
receiving a battery; a motor disposed in the housing; a rotary head
coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis, the rotary head
defining a central aperture along the axis; an extension tube
coupled to the rotary head, the extension tube having an end
portion and defining a counterbore; a blade mechanism configured to
be received in the end portion and seated on the counterbore, the
blade mechanism having a body defining a substantially circular
bore and a blade member extending radially inwardly from the
bore.
20. The wire stripper of claim 19, further comprising a retaining
nut configured to engage the extension tube and to thereby secure
the blade mechanism within the rotary head.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/537,692, filed Sep. 22, 2011, and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/546,614, filed Oct. 13, 2011,
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to power tools, and in
particular, the invention relates to a wire stripper.
[0003] Wire strippers are used by electricians and other
professionals to separate a short segment of insulation from a
wire. Separating the insulation exposes the underlying conductor
for making connections. For small gauge wires, a wire stripping
pliers, utility knife, or other hand tool is typically used. For
larger gauge wires, the insulation layer is typically thicker, more
rigid, and more difficult to remove with hand tools. Furthermore,
damage may be caused to the underlying conductor when penetrating
the insulation layer with a manual cutting tool due to imprecise
cutting depth control.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one embodiment, the invention provides a wire stripper
including a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a battery.
A motor disposed in the housing. A rotary head is coupled to the
motor for rotation about an axis. The rotary head defines a central
aperture along the axis. A blade is coupled to the rotary head for
rotation with the rotary head and about the axis. The blade extends
at least partially into the central aperture to engage insulation
of a wire passing through the aperture.
[0005] In another embodiment the invention provides a method of
stripping insulation from a wire using a wire stripper, where the
wire stripper including a rotary head, a motor, and a blade coupled
to the rotary head. A wire is inserted into the rotary head along
an insertion axis. The motor is operated in a forward direction to
feed the wire into the rotary head along the insertion axis. The
blade is engaged with the insulation to strip the insulation from
the wire. The motor is operated in a reverse direction to drive the
wire out of the rotary head along the insertion axis.
[0006] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a wire
stripper having a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a
battery. A motor is disposed in the housing. A rotary head is
coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis. The rotary head
defines a central aperture along the axis. An extension tube is
coupled to the rotary head. The extension tube has an end portion
and defines a counterbore. A blade mechanism is configured to be
received in the end portion and seated on the counterbore. The
blade mechanism has a body defining a substantially circular bore
and a blade member extending radially inwardly from the bore.
[0007] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by
consideration of the detailed description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire stripper according to
one construction of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line 2-2 of the wire
stripper of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective of an extension tube of the
wire stripper of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cutting head assembly of
the wire stripper of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of the cutting
head assembly of FIG. 4.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sectional portion of the
cutting head assembly of FIG. 4.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a battery for use with the
wire stripper of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a wire stripper
according to another construction of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a head portion of the wire
stripper of FIG. 8.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the head portion of the
wire stripper of FIG. 9 with a retaining nut detached.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the head portion of the
wire stripper of FIG. 10 with a blade assembly and the retaining
nut detached.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the blade assembly of FIG.
11.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the retaining nut of FIG.
10.
[0021] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a power tool, more specifically, a wire
stripper 10. The wire stripper 10 includes a housing assembly 12
having a handle portion 14, a drive train portion 18, and a head
portion 22. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the handle portion 14
defines a battery receptacle 26 for receiving a battery or battery
pack along an insertion axis 28. The battery receptacle 26 may be
configured to receive, for example, a 12 volt, lithium-ion
rechargeable battery 30 such as that illustrated in FIG. 7. The
handle portion 14 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 defines battery
latch apertures 34 for receiving resilient battery latch members 38
of the battery 30, thereby securing the battery 30 to the handle
portion 14. The battery 30 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a base
portion 42 contoured to matingly engage corresponding contours of
an end portion 46 of the housing handle portion 14 of FIGS.
1-2.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 2, a motor 50 is disposed within the
drive train portion 18 and positioned adjacent the battery
receptacle 26. In the illustrated construction, the motor 50 is
selectively powered by the battery 30 via a switch 54 (FIGS. 1-2)
coupled to the handle portion 14 and positioned adjacent the drive
train portion 18. The switch 54 may be a three position switch,
with an OFF position, a FORWARD ON position, and a REVERSE ON
position, where FORWARD and REVERSE refer to relative directions of
rotation of a motor shaft 58 (FIG. 2) of the motor 50.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, the motor shaft 58 extends into a
gearbox 62, whereby the gearbox 62 is also disposed within the
drive train portion 18 of the housing assembly 12. In the
illustrated construction, the gearbox 62 includes a two-stage
planetary gear arrangement. The planetary gear arrangement is
coupled to a bevel gear 66. The motor shaft 58, gearbox 62, and
bevel gear 66 are disposed along a common driveline axis 70. In the
illustrated construction, the driveline axis 70 is substantially
aligned with the battery insertion axis 28, though in other
constructions separate axes may exist.
[0025] The bevel gear 66 is drivingly coupled to a rotary head 74
disposed within the head portion 22 of the housing assembly 12.
More specifically, the bevel gear 66 is meshingly coupled with a
gear plate 78 of the rotary head 74 for drivingly rotating the
rotary head 74 about a wire insertion axis 82. The rotary head 74
is rotatably coupled to the housing assembly 12 about the wire
insertion axis 82 by a bearing assembly 86. In the illustrated
construction, the wire insertion axis 82 is substantially
perpendicular to the driveline axis 70. In other constructions of
the invention, the wire insertion axis may be aligned with the
driveline axis 70, or positioned at other angles.
[0026] The rotary head 74 further includes an extension tube 90. A
first end 94 of the extension tube 90 is coupled to the gear plate
78. A second end 98 of the extension tube 90 is coupled to a
cutting head 102. The extension tube 90 defines a central,
cylindrical aperture 104 disposed along the wire insertion axis 82
for receiving a length of a wire or cable to be stripped.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second end 98 of the
extension tube 90. The second end 98 of the extension tube 90
defines three circumferentially spaced, radially aligned primary
slots 108. A secondary slot 112 is defined in a sidewall 116 of
each primary slot 108. The second end 98 further defines a ratchet
pawl pivot aperture 120.
[0028] With reference to FIG. 4, the cutting head 102 includes
three blade assemblies 124 arranged circumferentially about the
wire insertion axis 82. Each blade assembly 124 includes a blade
portion 128, a block portion 132, and, as shown in FIG. 6, a pin
member 136. Each block portion includes a guide extension 140. Each
blade assembly 124 may be unitarily formed as a single component,
or the blade portion 128, block portion 132, and pin member 136 may
be separately formed.
[0029] The cutting head 102 further comprises a blade carrier plate
144, a cutting head cover 148, and a ratchet pawl 152. The blade
carrier plate 144 defines a central aperture 156 that is
substantially aligned with the cylindrical aperture 104 of the
extension tube 90, as shown in FIG. 2, along the wire insertion
axis 82. The blade carrier plate 144 defines three elongate slots
160. Each slot 160 is oriented non-radially relative to the wire
insertion axis 82 and substantially tangential to the central
aperture 156. The elongate slots 160 are dimensioned to slidably
receive the pin member 136 of the respective blade assembly 124.
Thus, each blade assembly 124 is slidably coupled to the blade
carrier plate 144. The blade carrier plate 144 further defines an
arcuate slot 164 and gear teeth 168 disposed adjacent the arcuate
slot 164.
[0030] With reference to FIG. 5, each blade portion 128 has a pitch
angle .THETA. defined relative to a plane 172 that is perpendicular
to the wire insertion axis 82.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 4, the ratchet pawl 152 includes a pawl
finger 176, a cross pin 180, and an actuating extension 184. The
pawl finger 176 is configured for selective, one-way locking
engagement within the gear teeth 168 of the blade carrier plate
144. The cross pin 180 is dimensioned for sliding engagement within
the arcuate slot 164 of the blade carrier plate 144 and pivotal
engagement with the ratchet pawl pivot aperture 120 (FIG. 3).
Therefore, the ratchet pawl 152 maintains a circumferential
position relative to the extension tube 90 and is circumferentially
movable relative to the blade carrier plate 144. The actuating
extension 184 is provided for user actuation of the ratchet pawl
152 to selectively disengage the pawl finger 176 from the gear
teeth 168.
[0032] With continued reference to FIG. 4, the cutting head cover
148 is coupled to the blade carrier plate 144 and surrounds the
circumference of the blade carrier plate 144. A slot 188 is defined
in an outer circumferential wall 192 of the blade carrier plate,
which serves as a pass-through for the actuating extension 184 of
the ratchet pawl 152.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, a rotary lock 196 is provided on the
head portion 22 of the housing assembly 12. The rotary lock 196
includes a plunger 200 that is user-engageable with the rotary head
74. When a user pushes the plunger 200 into engagement with a
portion of the rotary head 74, such as the gear plate 78, rotation
of the rotary head 74 relative to the housing assembly 12 is
inhibited. The rotary lock 196 facilitates rotation of the cutting
head 102 relative to the extension tube 90.
[0034] A combination of features described with respect to the
cutting head 102 and extension tube 90 provide for radial position
adjustment of the blade assemblies 124 relative to the wire
insertion axis 82, thereby allowing for stripping wire or cable in
a range of sizes or gauges. With simultaneous reference to FIGS. 2
and 3, the block portions 132 of each blade assembly 124 are
circumferentially captured and radially slidable within the
radially aligned primary slots 108 of the extension tube 90. The
guide extension 140 of each block portion 132 is slidably disposed
within the secondary slots 112 of the extension tube 90. Thus, each
blade assembly 124 is radially slidable within the extension tube
90 and with respect to the axis 82.
[0035] Simultaneously, and with reference to FIG. 4, each blade
assembly 124 is slidably coupled to the respective elongate slot
160 of the blade carrier plate 144 within the cutting head 102.
When the cutting head 102 is user-rotated about the wire insertion
axis 82 relative to the extension tube 90 (i.e., with the user
holding the extension tube 90 in position with the rotary lock
196), the blade assemblies 124 slide within the respective elongate
slots 160 while repositioning radially within the primary and
secondary slots 108, 112 of the extension tube 90. When the cutting
head 102 is rotated in a first direction 204, the elongate slots
160 cause the blade assemblies 124 to reposition radially outward.
When the cutting head 102 is rotated in a second direction 208, the
elongate slots 160 cause the blade assemblies 124 to reposition
radially inward. Due to the non-radial orientation of the elongate
slots 160, the radial position of the blade assemblies 124 is
maintained so long as the circumferential position of the blade
carrier plate 144 is maintained relative to the extension tube
90.
[0036] A selected circumferential position of the blade carrier
plate 144 relative to the extension tube 90 (and therefore a
selected radial position of the blade assemblies 124) is maintained
by the ratchet pawl 152 engaging the gear teeth 168 of the blade
carrier plate 144. When the cutting head 102 is rotated relative to
the extension tube 90 in the first direction 204, the ratchet pawl
finger 176 is indexed to the next gear tooth 168 without user
actuation of the actuating extension 184. In order to rotate the
cutting head 102 in the second direction 208, a user releases the
pawl finger 176 from the gear teeth 168 with the actuating
extension 184.
[0037] During operation, a user inserts a wire into the rotary head
74 along the wire insertion axis 82. With the rotary lock 196
engaged, the user rotates the cutting head 102 until the blade
portions 128 penetrate the wire insulation. After releasing the
rotary lock 196, the user moves the power switch 54 to the FORWARD
ON position. Power supplied by the battery 30 (FIG. 7) causes the
motor 50 to rotate in the forward direction, resulting in rotation
of the entire rotary head 74. The pitch angle .THETA. of the blade
portions 128 causes the wire to be fed into rotary head 74 along
the wire insertion axis 82, while the blade portions 128 cut a
continuous, helical path through the insulation. When the user
determines that a sufficient portion of the wire insulation has
been cut, the switch 54 is moved to the OFF position. To remove the
wire, the switch 54 is moved to the REVERSE ON position, thereby
driving the wire out of the rotary head 74 along the wire insertion
axis 82. Alternatively, the wire may be manually removed by first
engaging the rotary lock 196, actuating the ratchet actuating
extension 184, and rotating the cutting head 102 to move the blade
portions 128 outwardly radially out of engagement with the
wire.
[0038] In one construction, the wire stripper 10 described herein
may accommodate wire diameters of between approximately 19
millimeters and approximately 24 millimeters.
[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates a power tool, and more specifically a
wire stripper 210 according to another construction of the
invention. The wire stripper 210 includes a housing assembly 212
having a handle portion 214, a drive train portion 218, and a head
portion 222. The handle portion 214 defines a battery receptacle
226 for receiving a battery or battery pack along an insertion axis
228. The battery receptacle 226 may be configured to receive, for
example, a 12 volt, lithium-ion rechargeable battery 30 such as
that illustrated in FIG. 7. The handle portion 214 illustrated in
FIG. 8 defines battery latch apertures 234 for receiving resilient
battery latch members 38 of the battery 30, thereby securing the
battery 30 to the handle portion 214. The battery 30 illustrated in
FIG. 7 includes the base portion 42 that is contoured to matingly
engage corresponding contours of an end portion 246 of the housing
handle portion 214 of FIG. 8.
[0040] A motor 250 is disposed within the drive train portion 218
and positioned adjacent the battery receptacle 226. In the
illustrated construction, the motor 250 is selectively powered by
the battery 230 via a switch 254 coupled to the handle portion 214
and positioned adjacent the drive train portion 218. The switch 254
may be a three position switch, with an OFF position, a FORWARD ON
position, and a REVERSE ON position, where FORWARD and REVERSE
refer to relative directions of rotation of a motor shaft 258 of
the motor 250.
[0041] The motor shaft 258 extends into a gearbox 262, whereby the
gearbox 262 is also disposed within the drive train portion 218 of
the housing assembly 212. In the illustrated construction, the
gearbox 262 includes a two-stage planetary gear arrangement. The
planetary gear arrangement is coupled to a bevel gear 266. The
motor shaft 258, gearbox 262, and bevel gear 266 are disposed along
a common driveline axis 270. In the illustrated construction, the
driveline axis 270 is substantially aligned with the battery
insertion axis 228, though in other constructions separate axes may
exist.
[0042] The bevel gear 266 is drivingly coupled to a rotary head 274
disposed within the head portion 222 of the housing assembly 212.
More specifically, the bevel gear 266 is meshingly coupled to a
gear plate 278 of the rotary head 274 for drivingly rotating the
rotary head 274 about a wire insertion axis 282. The rotary head
274 is rotatably coupled to the housing assembly 212 about the wire
insertion axis 282 by a bearing assembly 286. In the illustrated
construction, the wire insertion axis 282 is substantially
perpendicular to the driveline axis 270. In other constructions of
the invention, the wire insertion axis 282 may be aligned with the
driveline axis 270 or positions at another angle.
[0043] With reference to FIGS. 8-13, the rotary head 274 further
includes an extension tube 290, an interchangeable blade assembly
294, and a retaining nut 298. The extension tube 290 is coupled to
the gear plate 278. With reference to FIG. 11 an end portion 302 of
the extension tube 290 is configured to receive the blade assembly
294. The extension tube 290 includes a cylindrical wall 306 having
an inner surface 310 defining a bore 312 and an outer surface 314.
A pair of circumferentially-opposed notches 318 are defined in the
wall 306, extending radially outward from the inner surface 310.
The end portion 302 of the extension tube 290 further defines a
counterbore 322. Adjacent the end portion 302, the outer surface
314 defines external threads 326.
[0044] With reference to FIG. 12, the blade assembly 294 includes a
substantially cylindrical body 330, with a first end 334, a second
end 338, an inner surface 342 and an outer surface 346. The inner
surface 342 defines a bore 350 with a bore diameter 354 (FIG. 8).
Referring to FIG. 8, the outer surface 346 defines a lip 358
disposed at the first end 334, and a pair of
circumferentially-opposed, radially-extending teeth 362. The teeth
362 are dimensioned to mate with the notches 318 (FIG. 11) of the
extension tube 290, such that the blade assembly 294 rotates
substantially synchronously with extension tube 290 when disposed
within the inner surface 310 of the extension tube 290. Similarly,
and as illustrated in FIG. 10, the lip 358 is dimensioned to sit
within the counterbore 322 of the extension tube 290, such that the
first end 334 of the blade assembly 294 is substantially flush
with, or extends slightly beyond, the end portion 302 of the
extension tube 290.
[0045] As also illustrated in FIG. 10, four inwardly radially
extending blade members 366 are coupled to the inner surface 342 of
the cylindrical body 330, adjacent the first end 334. The four
blade members 366 are circumferentially arranged such that a
cutting minimum cutting diameter 370 is defined. Each of the blade
members 366 has a rounded leading edge 372 and a trailing edge 374,
in order to facilitate bi-directional cutting. As shown in FIG. 8,
each blade member 366 has a pitch angle .THETA. defined relative to
a plane 376 that is generally perpendicular to the wire insertion
axis 282. The blade members 366 may be integrally formed as one
with the blade assembly body 330, or formed separately.
[0046] Blade assemblies 294 may be offered in a variety of sizes
based upon bore diameter and minimum cutting diameters for
stripping wires and cables of various gauges and insulation types.
A user may select a specific blade assembly 294 for a particular
wire stripping application. In other embodiments, the blade members
may be adjustably mounted within the cylindrical body, such that a
single blade assembly can accommodate a wider range of wire gauges
and insulation configurations.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 13, the retaining nut 298 has a ring-like
body 378, with a first end 380, a second end 384, an inner surface
388 and an outer surface 392. The outer surface 392 defines a
plurality of circumferentially arranged lands 396 and grooves 398.
The lands 396 and grooves 398 provide a gripping surface for
tool-free removal and tightening of the retaining nut 298 when
exchanging blade assemblies 294. The inner surface 388 defines a
wire aperture 402, a counterbore 406, and internal threads 410
disposed within the counterbore 406. The internal threads 410 are
configured to engage the external threads 326 of the extension tube
290. A base wall 414 of the counterbore 406 is configured to engage
the first end 334 of the blade assembly 294 when the retaining nut
298 is coupled to the extension tube 290.
[0048] During operation, a user selects a blade assembly 294 of the
desired size. The retaining nut 298 is loosen and removed from the
extension tube 290. The blade assembly 294 is inserted into the
bore 312 of the extension tube 290, with the teeth 362 aligned with
the notches 318. With the blade assembly 294 seated in the
extension tube 290, the retaining nut 290 is coupled to the
extension tube 290, thereby retaining the blade assembly 294 in the
tool 210.
[0049] A user inserts a wire into the rotary head 274 along the
wire insertion axis 282. Power supplied by the battery 230 causes
the motor 250 to rotate in the forward direction, resulting in
rotation of the entire rotary head 274. The pitch angle .THETA. of
the blade members 366 causes the wire to be fed into rotary head
274 along the wire insertion axis 282, while the blade members 366
cut a continuous, helical path through the insulation. When the
user determines that a sufficient portion of the wire insulation
has been cut, the switch 254 is moved to the OFF position. To
remove the wire, the switch 254 is moved to the REVERSE ON
position, thereby driving the wire out of the rotary head 274 along
the wire insertion axis 282.
[0050] In order to remove and exchange the blade assembly 294, the
retaining nut 298 is loosened and removed from the extension tube
290. The blade assembly 294 is withdrawn from the bore 312 of the
extension tube 290, and a different blade assembly 294 may be
inserted in its place. During periods of non-use, the retaining nut
298 may be coupled to the extension tube 290 without a blade
assembly 294, thereby disabling the wire stripper 212.
[0051] In one construction, the wire stripper 210 described herein
may accommodate wire diameters of between approximately 19
millimeters and approximately 24 millimeters.
[0052] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and
modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more
independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features
and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *