GB2284946A

GB2284946A - Cable stripping tool

Info

Publication number: GB2284946A
Application number: GB9325680A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zdzislaw Bieganski
Original assignee: ZB New Products Ltd
Current assignee: ZB New Products Ltd
Priority date: 1993-12-15
Filing date: 1993-12-15
Publication date: 1995-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-15
Also published as: GB2284946B; GB9325680D0

Abstract

A combination tool with cable cutter and strippers comprises a plier-like tool provided with a cutter blade 50 on one part of the tool and an adjustable cable guide 54 on the other part. The tool has recesses 20 to 26 corresponding to a standard cable size and provided with a cutter 28. In use, a cable is cut to length using the cutter (30 Figure 7), the outer insulation cut on one or both sides in the appropriate recess, a longitudinal cut made using the blade 50 with the appropriate setting of guide 54 (Figures 2 to 5) and the insulation removed by closing the correct aperture of jaws 32 (Figure 6) around the cut and pulling it off. The guide 54 can be set for different thicknesses of cable. <IMAGE>

Description

CABLE STRIPPING TOOLS This invention relates to cable stripping tools.

According to the invention a cable stripping tool comprises a pliers-like tool provided with a cutting blade on one part of the tool and with an adjustable cable guide on another part of the tool, the arrangement being such that the cable guide and cutting are separated when the pliers jaws are opened and are closed together when the jaws are closed, so that a cable supported by the guide may be engaged by the cutter in a position predetermined by the guide.

Preferably the adjustable cable guide is a rotatable turret which is indexed to any one of a plurality of positions affording guides of different dimensions to suit different cables, radially spaced from the axis of rotation of the turret and axially spaced relative to the cutter so that when the jaws are closed each of the different cables is in the correct position relative to the cutter according to the cable parameters.

One embodiment of the present invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein : Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the complete tool; Figures 2-5 are sections taken on the line A-A of Figure 1 showing a part in four different positions; Figure 6 is an end elevation taken in the direction of the Arrow B Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a further fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 1 but showing the parts in a different position.

Turning to the drawings and in particular Figure 1, the tool comprises a pair of lever handles 10 12 pivoted together at the point 16. The handles are formed with extension jaws 18 20 which are generally alike. They are provided with a series of recesses 20,22,24 and 26 therebetween each formed by a shaping of the adjacent jaw edge and these recesses are of the same dimensions as a series of flat electric cables which are an industry standard in dimensions, load factor etc. Moreover, each jaw recess is provided with a cutter such as 28, for a purposes as more particularly explained hereinafter.

Turning next to Figure 7, the lever parts are provided therebetween with a pair of cutting slots 30 which can be aligned in the Figure 7 position and taken out of alignment so as to perform a cutting operation on a cable located in the slots 30 when the jaws are moved to the Figure 1 position.

Each of the jaws is provided with projecting lugs 32 34 only two of which are shown in Figure 6, and it will be appreciated that each pair of lugs 32 34, is closed together to the Figure 6 position when the jaws are in the Figure 1 position, but separated when the jaws are in the Figure 7 position. Each pair of lugs provide a series of apertures 40 therebetween, which are related in size to the standard conductor wires used in the cables of the different dimensions to be received in the recesses 20-26.

Turning now to Figures 2-5 which illustrate the primary subject of the present invention. These show a post-like part 50 which is fixed to the jaw 20 and which carries a radially extending cutter blade 52 of generally pointed configuration. The blade may be trapped between upper and lower parts of the post which are held together by a centre screw, for convenience in manufacture and to enable the blades to be interchanged in the case of wear.

The cutting edge and point of the blade 52 is aligned generally with a line containing the axis of the screw used in the post 50 and the axis of turret 54 which is mounted on the other jaw 18.

The turret comprises a centre post 56 fixed in position and projecting slightly above the upper surface 5S. The turret body 60 is spring-urged to the axial position illustrated that can be lifted against the spring to be indexed between, in this illustrated embodiment, four different positions. The four positions may be indicated by the arabic numerals 1-4 which may be engraved, moulded or otherwise marked on the upper surface 58, as seen in Figure 1.

Below the numeral 1 in the plan view, the body 60 is shaped to provide a groove 62 of relatively small dimensions, and receive a flat mains cable of the same dimensions as can be received in the recess 20. The position of the cutter 52 relative to the width of that recess (i.e. the dimension parallel to the axis of turning of the body 60) is such that, having regard to the cable construction, that cutter can substantially penetrate the outer layer of insulation but not any of the inner layers of insulation of that cable. In general, the cut line is between two of the (usually) three parallel conductors in the flat cable.

The recess under the numeral 2 is shown in Figure 3 and is similar except that it is larger and corresponds in dimensions to that of the recess 22: the recess under the numeral 3, shown in Figure 4 corresponds to the dimensions of the recess 24, and Figure 5 shows the recess corresponding to the recess 26.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the dimension of the recess 62 64 66 68 in the spacing between the base of that recess (nearest the axis of rotation of the turret) and the cutter 52 are appropriate to ensure the correct penetration of the cutter blade into the appropriate insulation sheath at a time after the cable has been located in the recess with the jaws open and the jaws have been closed together so as to reduce the gap between the cutter blade and the recess.

In use, a cable to be stripped will be cut to length in the recesses 30, Figure 7, and will then be inserted in the appropriate one of the recesses 20-26, so that a peripheral cut through the outer layer of insulation only will be made at the appropriate point marking the end of the length of outer insulation which is to be stripped.

The turret is then turned to the appropriate position, and the cable is inserted in the relevant recess. The jaws are closed together again and the cable is pulled through the nip between the cutter blade and turret from the free end up to the peripheral cut, or vice versa.

The cable may then be rotated about its axis thorough 1800, reinserted in the gap (after opening the jaws) and the slitting operation repeated so that there are a pair of slits, one on either side of the cable up to the same peripheral cut. The outer layer may then be stripped off in two pieces.

Subsequently each individual conductor, wiiich is individually sheathed, may be stripped by being placed in the appropriate recess, closing the jaws together to close the die plates together, and pulling the cable through the tool to strip off that outer sheath for the rciuired length.

Claims

1. A cable stripping tool comprising a pliers-lilce tool provided with a cutter blade on one part of the tool and with an adjustable cable guide on another part of the tool, the arrangement being such that the cable guide and cutting tool are separated when the pliers jaws are opened and are closed together when the jaws are closed, so that a cable supported by the guide may be engaged by the cutter in a position predetermined by the guide.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the adjustable cable guide is a rotatable turret indexed to any one of a plurality of positions affording guides of different dimensions to suit different cables, radially spaced from the axis of rotation of the turret and axially spaced relative to the cutter so that when the jaws are closed each of the different cables is in the correct position relative to the cutter according to the cable paraneters.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the turret includes a central post fixed in position and a turret body rotatable on the post and spring urged to an axial indexed position.

4. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the plier jaws are provided with a series of differently di.lensioned recesses located between then when the jaws are closed together, and each recess includes a cutting edge so that by closing the jaws on a cable located in an appropriate one of the recesses a peripheral cut into the insulation sheath may be made.

5. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein each jaw is provided with a projecting lug and the pair of lugs close together when the jaws are closed, and an aperture is provided between the lugs related in size to a standard conductor wire size.

6. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein a pair of cutting slots is provided between lever handles of the tool and can be closed together when the jaws are closed for cutting a cable to length.

7. A stripping tool substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.