U.S. patent application number 16/204466 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-28 for cable stripper.
The applicant listed for this patent is Southwire Company, LLC. Invention is credited to Lucien C. Ducret.
Application Number | 20190097401 16/204466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47711575 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190097401 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ducret; Lucien C. |
March 28, 2019 |
CABLE STRIPPER
Abstract
A cable stripper having a displaceable blade carriage, which is
normally biased toward a cable support to automatically accommodate
differently dimensioned jacketed cables in a desired position. The
blade carriage supports a blade assembly configured so that the
blade can be displaced among multiple positions, corresponding to
respective axial, radial and a plurality of spiral cuts, while the
cable is engaged in the desired position.
Inventors: |
Ducret; Lucien C.; (Old
Greenwhich, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Southwire Company, LLC |
Carrollton |
GA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47711575 |
Appl. No.: |
16/204466 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15658991 |
Jul 25, 2017 |
10164413 |
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16204466 |
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13136928 |
Aug 16, 2011 |
9748748 |
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15658991 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 1/1229
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02G 1/12 20060101
H02G001/12 |
Claims
1. A cable stripper comprising: a cable support; a blade carriage
biased toward the cable support; and a blade assembly including a
blade and being supported by the blade carriage, the blade being
axially moveable relative to the blade carriage, the blade also
being rotationally moveable between a plurality of positions
relative to the blade carriage, the plurality of positions being
operable for the blade to produce cuts in a jacket of the cable
corresponding to a radial cut, a plurality of spiral cuts and an
axial cut within an angular rotation of the blade of no more than
90 degrees.
2. The cable stripper according to claim 1, wherein the blade
defines a longitudinal axis and the cable support defines a
receiving space having an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis.
3. The cable stripper according to claim 2, wherein the axial
movement of the blade is along the longitudinal axis.
4. The cable stripper according to claim 2, wherein the rotational
movement of the blade is about the longitudinal axis.
5. The cable stripper according to claim 1, wherein the cable
support and the blade carriage are biased towards each other.
6. The cable stripper according to claim 1, further comprising a
blade depth adjustment assembly configured to enable the blade to
penetrate the jacket of the cable at the predetermined depth.
7. The cable stripper according to claim 1, wherein the cable
support has a body configured to engage the jacket of the cable in
at least two locations.
8. The cable stripper according to claim 1, wherein the cable
support and the blade carriage are mechanically coupled together
and moveable relative toward and away from one another.
9. The cable stripper according to claim 1, wherein the blade is
biased away from the cable support.
10. The cable stripper according the claim 1, wherein the blade is
lockable in one of the rotational positions of the blade.
11. The cable stripper according to claim 1, further comprising a
stop cooperating with the blade carriage to displaceably fix the
blade in a desired position corresponding to one of the axial,
radial and spiral cuts.
12. A cable stripper comprising: a cable support; a blade carriage
biased toward the cable support; and a blade assembly supported by
the blade carriage and including a blade, the blade being axially
moveable relative to the blade carriage and being rotationally
moveable between a plurality of positions defining an angular
rotation of 90 degrees.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 15/658,991, filed Jul. 25, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. ______,
which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/136,928,
filed Aug. 16, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,748,748, the entire
contents each of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to cutting tools, and in particular,
to a portable cable stripper automatically adjustable so as to
accommodate differently dimensioned jacketed cables.
2. Background of Technological Field
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,417 (US '417), which is commonly owned
with the present application and incorporated herein by reference,
discloses a cable stripper operative to accommodate a great variety
of differently-dimensioned cables. However, the cable stripper
disclosed in this patent has a complex structure associated with a
relatively high manufacturing cost.
[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0055160 (PA
'160), like US '417, is commonly owned with this application,
herein incorporated by reference and discloses a cable stripper
operative to provide jacket stripping for differently dimensioned
cables. The configuration of the disclosed cable stripper is
relatively simple and allows for an axial cut, i.e., along a cable,
and a radial cut. The configuration further allows for a spiral cut
of cable. However the spiral cut can be realized only by first
dismounting the stripper from the cable to be processed and then
fully disassembling the tool in order to manually displace the
blade in the desired position. The disclosed cable stripper, thus,
is inconvenient for producing a spiral cut and contradicts one of
the advantages of this tool, i.e. its capability of changing the
angular position of the blade without disengaging the cable
stripper from the cable to be processed.
[0005] It is, therefore, desirable to provide a cable stripper
having a simple structure allowing for providing axial, radial and
spiral cuts in a simple and efficient manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The disclosed portable cable stripper has a simple
configuration allowing for a spiral cut in a simple manner which
does not require the disassembly of the entire tool.
[0007] The cable stripper is configured with a blade assembly
slideable along a device axis at a distance corresponding to the
desired depth of penetration of the cable stripper's blade into the
cable to be processed. The blade assembly includes a blade holder
received in a blade housing which, in turn, is surrounded by a
blade cap so that all three components are coaxially disposed.
[0008] The blade housing is structured with a U-shaped guide pocket
having two side channels separated from one another by a third
channel that bridges the side channels. The pocket is traversed by
a lever fixed to the blade holder and guided along all channels by
the operator so as to displace the blade in the desired extreme
positions corresponding to respective axial and radial cuts.
[0009] At least one of the side channels is shaped and dimensioned
to allow the blade to move radially to a position in which the
blade is located between two extreme positions. Such a position
would allow for a spiral cut. Moreover, an angle at which the blade
is angularly displaced can be monitored.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The disclosed tool will become more readily apparent when
reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an isometric
view of the cable stripper in accordance with the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an isometric view a portion of the inventive cable
stripper illustrating cable guide and blade carriage
assemblies.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a blade housing.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a blade holder.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the blade assembly having a
biasing component in a relaxed state.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view of the disclosed cable stripper of
FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates numerous positions of the blade
corresponding to radial, spiral and axial cuts.
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates three isometric views corresponding to
the position of the blade as shown in FIG. 7.
[0018] FIG. 8A is a cross section of recess provided in a blade
assembly for guiding the blade to the desirable angular position
corresponding to one of axial, radial or spiral cut.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a left side view of the blade assembly and a
carriage supporting the former and displaceable along the disclosed
cable stripper at the desired depth of the blade's penetration.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a portable cable stripper 10
includes a V-shaped cable support 12 for receiving a cable to be
stripped, a guide column 14 removably attached to cable support 12,
a blade-holding carriage 16 slideable along guide column 14 and a
guide assembly including a handle 20, which is attached to an outer
side of the cable support.
[0021] The portable cable stripper is a labor-saving tool
adjustable to remove jackets from rigid fiber optic and plastic
jacketed cables having an outer diameter which may vary from about
3/16 of an inch to 2 inches. In operation, the user initially sets
the desired depth at which a blade penetrates the jacket of the
cable. Following it, the blade carriage 16 is pulled outwards from
the V-shaped cable support 12 to form a space sufficient to receive
the cable. Once the cable is placed on the cable support, blade
carriage 16 slides towards and presses against the periphery of the
jacket under the spring force so that the cable is locked between
cable support 12 and blade carriage 16.
[0022] In accordance with the disclosure, a blade may be adjusted
to provide longitudinal, radial and spiral cuts through the jacket
of the clamped cable. Similarly to the cable stripper of PA '160,
commonly owned with the present application, the cable to be
processed remains clamped while, for example, the blade is
displaced from a position corresponding to the axial cut to a
position corresponding to the radial cut. In contrast to PA'160,
the cable may be clamped while the blade is displaced to the
desired angular position corresponding to a spiral cut which can be
realized by a blade assembly 18. (FIG. 9)
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, blade assembly 18 includes,
among others, a hollow blade housing 40 (FIG. 2), a blade holder 60
(FIG. 4) supporting a blade 70 (FIG. 5) which is removably attached
to holder 60 by a screw engaging a threaded recess 46 (FIG. 4) in
the holder. The blade housing 40 (FIG. 2) extends through an
opening formed in blade carriage 16 and has a hollow interior
receiving the blade holder 60 which is sized to controllably rotate
within the blade housing, as will be explained below. The periphery
of the blade housing 40 is threaded to mesh with a threaded inner
surface of a blade cap 100 (FIG. 1), which also acts as a lock.
[0024] A U-shaped guide pocket (FIGS. 2, 3 and 8) formed in the
peripheral wall of the blade housing 40 provides a guide channel
for a lever 28 (FIGS. 1 and 7), which is removably fixed to blade
holder 60 (FIG. 4) by a thumb-screw 52 (FIGS. 1 and 9) engaging a
hole 48 of blade holder 60 (FIG. 4). Displacing lever 28 between
two side channels (FIGS. 3 and 8) causes the blade to turn at 90
degrees from, for example, the axial cut position to the position
of the radial cut. At least one side channel, for instance side
channel 54, is configured so that lever 28 is operative to
angularly move within it at an angle smaller than 90 degrees.
Preferably, channel 54 has a frustoconical shape widening towards
the bottom thereof, which may be curved or flat. The displacement
of the blade may be controllable, i.e., a scale 17 (FIG. 6)
indicates angle at which the blade 70 (FIG. 5) is displaced from
the extreme position. Once the desired angle, for example, 5, 10 or
15 degrees, is established, and with dial 56 pre-adjusted to the
proper blade penetration matching the cable jacket size, cap lock
100 (FIG. 1) is tightened over lever 28 (FIG. 9). As a result,
blade holder 60 (FIG. 5) is adjusted to penetrate the cable's
jacket at the desired angle.
[0025] Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, displacement of the carriage 16
toward the cable to be stripped is caused by a spring 68 mounted on
a central post 66, better shown in FIG. 2, and biasing the blade
carriage towards cable support 12. The post. 66 is removably
mounted on one side of the cable support and traverses a central
hole formed in a flange 22 of carriage 16, which, thus, has an
L-shape. The post further has a thickened outer end configured to
form a seat for the outer end of spring 68, the opposite end of
which urges against flange 22 of the blade guide so as to push the
latter towards the cable placed on the cable support.
[0026] The desired axial position of carriage 16 can be registered
by a carriage lock 26 provided with a screw 84 and washer 86, which
are actuated by a handle 82 so that the screw 84 engages a threaded
portion of locking cylinder 58 (FIG. 1). The desired position is
ensured when the locking cylinder 58 is pulled against the central
post 66.
[0027] The guide recesses 24 formed on the opposite sides of the
flange 22 provide linear displacement of the blade carriage in a
plane perpendicular to a tangent to the periphery of a circular
cable. Preferably, the bottoms of the guide recesses 24 each have a
respective surface extending complementary to a peripheral surface
of the side posts of the guide column 14, which are, as shown in
FIG. 1, are tubular. However, the cross-section of the posts is not
limited to any particular configuration and may be, for example,
polygonal.
[0028] The assembly of the cable stripper 10 is simplified by
attaching inner ends of the side posts of the guide column 14 (FIG.
1) and of the central post 66 (FIG. 2) to a flange 92 of the cable
support 12 by fasteners 90 extending through openings 88, which are
provided on the flange 92. The guide recesses 24, better
illustrated in FIG. 2, are laterally open to facilitate the
installation of the guide column 14, which is U-shaped and, thus,
features a loop easily engageable by the user's fingers during the
transportation of the cable stripper. The bottoms of the guide
recesses and the side holes 88 have a uniform radius and are
aligned with one another to ensure that the guide column 14 extends
substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the cable support
12 lies.
[0029] The carriage 16 carries a blade assembly 18 including a
blade positioning dial ring 56 (FIG. 1), which is rotated by the
user to establish a desired position corresponding to the desired
depth of penetration of the blade into the jacket of the cable to
be stripped. The dial ring 56 is operative to rotate to an initial
position corresponding to a zero penetration of the blade 70 which
is established when the zero "0" mark of the scale formed on the
dial ring is juxtaposed with a top edge of index 38 (FIG. 2). A
releasable ring lock 30, which is mounted on the side of the blade
carriage opposite its flange 22, is operable for locking the dial
ring in a position corresponding to the desired penetration of the
blade. The ring lock 30 is a spring-biased structure, which, in a
normal or locking position, prevents rotation of the dial ring 56,
as will be explained below.
[0030] A resilient element of the ring lock, such as a spring 32
(FIG. 2), urges the ring lock 30 towards the locking position. The
ring lock is substantially a plate-like element having a center
recess 31 (FIG. 2) frictionally engaging the dial ring 56 in the
locking position of the ring lock 30. In response to an external
force, the ring lock 30 can move out of the locking position and
release the dial ring 56, so that the latter can be further rotated
the desired position corresponding to the selected depth of the
blade penetration. Preferably, the index 38 is attached to the ring
lock 30 and extends outwards from the blade carriage 16 to
terminate flush with the scale for the convenience of the user. The
dial ring 56 has a structured surface provided with alternating
ribs and troughs slidably engaging a v-shaped edge of the index 38
to indicate the number of turns corresponding to the desired depth
of the blade penetration into the cable's jacket. After the desired
position has been set, an external force is ceased, and the ring
lock returns to its locking position. The sliding motion of the
ring lock 30 relative to the guide carriage 16 becomes possible due
to a pair of spaced oblong holes 34 (FIG. 2) formed on the ring
lock 30 and traversed by fasteners 36, which are removably attached
to the blade carriage 16. The fasteners 36 are shaped and
dimensioned so as to allow the ring lock's displacement, which is
restricted only by the size of the holes.
[0031] Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner end 102 of the blade
holder 60 is recessed to receive blade 70 removably attached to the
inner end by a fastener and extending substantially flush with the
rest of the blade holder. The outer end 64 of the blade holder
provides a seat for one end of a spring 62, the other end of spring
62 lodges in a recess 63 (FIG. 3) of blade housing 40 which
embraces a flange 44 (FIG. 1) attached to the inner side of the
blade carriage 16 so that the spring 62 biases the blade holder 60
away from the cable support 12. The blade housing 40 (FIG. 2),
thus, is kept secure by retaining ring 41 (FIG. 2) fitted in a
circular groove 43. (FIG. 3) As a consequence, the user applies a
force 104 (FIG. 1) overcoming the spring force and sufficient to
guide the lever 28 along one of the side channels of the U-shaped
guide pocket 54 (FIGS. 3 and 9) and extending beyond a flange 42 of
the blade housing 40 exactly at the desired distance. The blade cap
100 is then screwed in on the blade housing 40 to lock the lever 28
between its inner surface and the opposing surface of the dial ring
56 and remains in this position during the cutting operation. The
spring-biased structure of the blade holder allows the user to
easily change the current cutting position of the blade 70 between
axial and radial cuts without detaching the cable stripper 10.
[0032] If a cable to be processed in not round, a wave spring 108
(FIGS. 1 and 9) keeps the blade support in contact with this cable
for constant blade penetration while the entire blade assembly is
being adjusted. Axially, the blade assembly 18 is guidable by
setting a point screw 57 in an oblong slot 55. Also, V-shaped
support 12 (FIG. 1) has a plurality of guides 50 raising somewhat
above the surface of the support and contributing to a reliable cut
regardless of the imperfect shape of the cable to be processed.
Finally, V-shaped support 12 may have two halves or a single
U-shaped body. Preferably, the body of support 12 include a
memory-shaped material providing certain uniformity for cable with
uniform diameter.
[0033] While this disclosure has described various aspects of the
present invention, the latter is not limited thereto, and is
susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to those
skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the
details shown and described herein, and includes all such changes
and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended
claims.
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