GB2293496A

GB2293496A - Device for stripping cable or line

Info

Publication number: GB2293496A
Application number: GB9419303A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rolf Ludolf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-24
Filing date: 1994-09-24
Publication date: 1996-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-24
Also published as: GB9419303D0; GB2293496B

Abstract

A device for stripping encapsulated cable containing a single line comprises a body 1 having an opening 2 and a guide 3 for guiding the line to a blade 4 which is at an angle to the encapsulated line such that a continuous strip of encapsulating material is removed from the line by means of rotation of the body 1 relative to the line. The device also has a fixed edge 5 to complete the removal of the strip which leaves the body 1 through an opening 6 and a second guide hole 7 which is coaxial with the opening 2 so that the stripped line is guided out of the body 1 without being damaged by the blade 4. Alternative guides (100 to 104 Figure 4) corresponding to the size and shape of the line to be stripped may be provided. The device may be rotated by hand or driven. It is applicable to electric or optic cable or hydraulic lines. <IMAGE>

Description

LINE STRIPPING DEVICE The invention relates to a device for stripping the encapsulation from a single encapsulated line or cable. Throughout this specification the term line will be used to mean a cable or conduit comprising one line.

In numerous industrial operations and in particular in the oil industry it is required to use single or multiple encapsulated lines to transmit hydraulic, electric, fixer optic or other signals for example into oil wells from remote location. It is beneficial to encapsulate one line or several lines together in a protecting material to support and protect the lines.

The encapsulation material is typically nylon or polypropylene or other suitable material which can be readily extruded around the lines and provide the required support and protection.

The encapsulating material must be removed to fit and connect the individual lines to the required equipment and to connect to junctions and pressure fittings etc... It is very important that the stripping of the encapsulation is achieved in a precise way without damaging the line and also without exposing too much of it by removing too much encapsulation. This is a particularly difficult operation especially in the typical working conditions of an oil well, for example.

The present invention relates to a device to perform a stripping operation of a single encapsulated line to result in a single line free of encapsulation. The single encapsulated line can be of a square, rectangular or round cross section. It can also be a single line resulting from a split multiple line.

Thus by means of the present invention a device is provided which comprises a body 1. The body defines an entry opening 2 at one end into which an encapsulated line can be inserted and inside the body is a guide 3 for guiding the encapsulated line inside the body 1. A cutting blade 4 is location and secured on an angled surface of the body 1 so that the cutting edge of the blade 4 is presented to the line at an angle. This angle is fixed so that the cutting edge of the cutting blade is able to cut a continuous section of encapsulation from the line by rotation of the body 1 of the device relative to the line.

By means of the guides of the invention the encapsulated line is position at the precise axial position with respect to the angled blade so that the required amount of encapsulation can be removed by continuous peeling by means of rotation of the device.

The cut encapsulating material is peeled off the line by the edge 5 in the body 1 and escapes from the body through the opening 6.

Further inside the body 1 is a hole 7 which guides the stripped line in the centre of the body and prevents damage to the line by the cutting edge of the cutting blade.

The rotation of the device can be achieved by hand using a removable manual handle 8. Alternatively the device comprises a connection at the opening 2 for a motorised drive which is driven by a suitable drive such as an air motor.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a top view with hidden details of the device according to the invention.

- Figure 2 is an end view of the device according to the invention.

- Figure 3 is a plan view of the cutting blade of the device according to the invention.

- Figure 4 shows a number of different types of line cross sections.

Thus by means of the present invention a device is provided which removes the encapsulation from a single encapsulated line of various cross sections.

Figure 4 shows a variety of single line cross sections 100, 101, 102, 103 and 104 which are typical of the types of single encapsulated lines which can be stripped using the device according to the invention. The lines 100 etc. comprises either a hydraulic or electric line. The electrical line may carry power and signals.

The device of the invention is shown in figure 1 and comprises a body 1, a guide insert 3, a cutting blade 4 and a manual handle 8.

The body defines an entry opening 2 at one end. Into this opening the free end of the encapsulated line can be inserted. Inside the body is a guide 3 to centre the encapsulated line in front of the cutting blade 4 such that the required precise positioning of the line with respect to the cutting edge is achieved..

The guide 3 will correspond to the cross section of the line to be stripped and can be interchanged to fit the alternative sizes of lines which are desired to be stripped. The guide will be dimensioned to ensure that the line is positioned in the precise axial orientation with respect to the cutting edge of the cutting blade 4 this being the distance which ensures that the cut is made sufficiently deep so that enough material is removed to expose the required core of the line and yet at the same time not too deep so that contact is made between the cutting blade and the core of the line which would damage the core of the line.

The guides are replaceable so that the device can be used to remove the encapsulation from different sizes and cross sectional types of line.

By means of the use of replaceable guides the variability of use is achieved without the risk of inaccuracy of the location of the line with respect to the cutting blade in the device which would occur if for example the blades or guides were adjustable.

Rotation of the device will cause the cutting blade 4 to catch the encapsulating material and cutting through it. The cutting blade is positioned at an angle and tilted so that the line is pulled forward while the blade is cutting through the encapsulating material.

Further in the body, beyond the cutting blade, is an opening 6 which edge 5 peels the encapsulating material off the line. The length of the opening 6 limits the width of the encapsulating material which can be stripped per rotation of the body. Further inside the body the line is guided by a bore 7 which size is according to the nominal outside diameter of the line.

The bore 7 together with the edge 5 prevents the stripped line from damage by the cutting blade 4. When the end of the desired length of the line for stripping is reached, the device is removed from the line by pulling it backwards over the stripped length.

The stripping device of the invention is preferably hand operated because this results in the device having a low weight which makes it easy to handle and independent from auxiliary power. Alternatively, the device can be operated with a motorised drive such as an air motor.

Claims

1. A device for stripping encapsulated cable containing a single line which may have resulted from the splitting of a plurality of lines into single lines, the device comprising a body 1 comprising an entry opening 2 at one end into which the encapsulated line is inserted, characterised in that inside the body 1 is at least one guide 3 for guiding the encapsulated line inside the body 1 in positional relationship with a blade 4 which is located at a specific angle to the encapsulated line such that a continuous strip of encapsulating material is removed from the encapsulated line by means of rotation of the body 1 relative to the encapsulated line.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the device also comprises a fixed edge 5 just beyond the blade 4 to complete the removal of the encapsulation strip.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the encapsulating strip exits the body 1 through an opening 5.

4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the device also comprises a second guide hole 7 located on the opposite side of the blade 4 to the opening 2 and which is coaxial with the opening 2 such that the stripped line is guided out of the body 1 without being damaged by the blade 4.

5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide 3 may be removed and replaced by an alternative guide 100, 101, 102, 103 or 104 which corresponds in size and shape to that of the encapsulating line being stripped.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device also comprises a manual driving handle 8 to permit rotation of the device by hand.

7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device comprises a connection at the opening 2 for a motorised drive means.