GB2439604A

GB2439604A - Armoured cable stripping device.

Info

Publication number: GB2439604A
Application number: GB0612653A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Joseph John Barrett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-27
Filing date: 2006-06-27
Publication date: 2008-01-02
Also published as: GB0612653D0

Abstract

A tubular device for cutting into the covering of an armoured cable has two cutters positioned at opposite ends of the device and pointing radially inwardly of the device. The depth at which the cutters may protrude into the tubular device can be adjusted via a rotating cog 12, cog 8 with an internal thread and a rod 7 having an external thread 10. When a cable 25 is inserted into the device and the cutters have been brought into contact with the cover of the cable 25, the device may be rotated around the cable 25 to cause a circumferential cut in the cover of the cable 25. This may be achieved by a handle 3 which drives the device around the cable 25 via a ratchet.

Description

Armoured Cable Stripper Steel armoured cable stripping to facilitate

the attachment of a gland prior to termination or other of the cable presently requires the use of a hacksaw and sharp knife. A position is determined on the cable for location of the gland. A circumferential cut is made with the hacksaw through the outer insulation and into the steel or metal strands that protect the inner cores. A sharp knife is then used to strip away the outer insulation. This is done by holding the blade at an angle to the cable and slicing the insulation towards the cable end. The steel or metal strands are then unwound off the inner cores and broken off at the cut point by manipulation. A plastic or rubber shroud and gland top are then fed onto the cable to a point distal to the exposed inner tubes cores. Another circumferential cut is made using the knife approx three inches above the exposed inner cores distal from the cable end and that portion of outer insulation is cut away. The uncovered metal strands are splayed out from the inner cores to approx 45 by flexion of the inner cores in a rotating manner.

The bottom part of the gland is then fed onto the cable and up to the strands the top of the gland is then screwed down onto the bottom part trapping the strands between them in a compressive manner this process presents numerous potential problems hand or other injuries are an obvious hazard due to the use of sharp tools.

Over cutting with the hacksaw can damage the inner cores. Undercutting can make it difficult to remove the strands.

An inaccurate cut can result in unequal strands lengths making the compressive joint of the gland unsafe.

Cable vibration is problematic when the cable passes through delicate structures such as suspended ceiling tiles.

Confined spaces also hinder this process. It is labour intensive.

To overcome these problems this invention proposes a tubular device with two sets of moveable cutters that when engaged to the cable will cut and strip the cables outer insulation and protective strands. The device having a ratcheted handle located centrally around the body to enable rotation of the device.

By using this device the dangers of injury are removed, that is from sharp tools.

This device by using preferably two or more cutters in each housing will give an accurate cut that is repeatable.

Limiting rollers on either side of the cutters prevent over cutting.

Cable vibration will be reduced this is due to more than one point of the cable being cut simultaneously.

This device will be usable in a more confined space.

This is device will b able to perform two cutting actions simultaneously which will make it quicker.

It should make it less strenuous.

This device will produce equal strand lengths which is preferable for the gland application.

An example of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG 1

Shows the main body of the invention with a ringed ratchet mechanism located centrally having a handled attached. Either end of the body having support studs over which slide rolling sleeves, these studs are used to hold the housing rings in place. FIG 2

Shows a cutter mechanism housing ring with support studs through. It also shows a moveable cutter rod with rotating cog and a cutter support. In design there would be two or more of these cutters on each housing ring FIG3 Shows a moveable cutter rod with thread that interacts with a rotating cog with internal thread to move the rod in or out. The lower part of the rod has an internal spring to maintain pressure on the cutters when in contact with the cable FIG 4 Shows a rotating control cog and lever. There would be one of these in each housing ring FIG 5 Shows an insulation cutter support with a positional locking device. Also shown are compression springs for maintaining pressure on the cutter when active and to allow the cutter support to be pulled down and rotated. FIG 6

Shows a typical insulation roller with cutting blade. FIG 7

Shows an insulation roller and blade method of mounting on a support FIG 8 Shows a metal strand cutter blade with support rod and compression spring for maintaining pressure on the cutter when active. The rollers are spring loaded to allow movement as the blade cuts deeper. FIG 9

Shows an insulation cutting blade and roller in relation to a cable for the first cut.

FIG 10 Shows as previous but rotated for the second cut.

FIG 11 Shows a method of locking the rotating control cog lever. It also shows a spring to allow the handle to be raised FIG 12 An elaboration of the above.

FIG 13 Shows a cross section side view of the device. It includes a support ring which is detachable that has fins that engage the cable strands to lift them up.

FIG 14 Shows a typical arrangement and shape of strand splaying ring An armoured cable 25 is passed through the device. The device is positioned at a point where a gland is determined to placed. Whilst holding the ratcheted handle 3 in one hand rotating control cog levers 13 are raised so as to disengaged them from the cutter mechanism housing rings 6 and rotated clockwise or anti clockwise. This can be done first with either lever. Moving lever 13 causes rotating control cog 12 to move which engages rotating cog with internal thread 8 causing it to rotate.

The moveable cutter rods 7 react due to the internal and external thread 10 causing the rods to move inwards. The cutter rollers 17/18 and 22 and cutting blades 16 and 24 engage the cable. Once engaged springs 11 maintain compression on the cutters 16 and 24. The ratcheted handle 3 is then rotated in either direction so as to cause the device to rotate around the cable. The handle 3 should be able to cause movement in one direction but be free moving in the opposite. This allows the user to be able to rotate the device with only pushing the handle 3 at a quarter of a turn. Blades 16 may move independently or be fixed in relation to rollers 17/1 8.

The blades 16 and 24 are prevented from cutting any deeper than needed by their relation to respective rollers 17/18 and 22 once satisfied that the outer insulation and metal strands are cut as required. The insulation cutters 16 are retracted by reversal of the lever 13 position. By pulling down on the cutter supports 9 they can be rotated to approx 90 and re engaged. This rotation may be achieved by use of an internal pin that runs through the moveable cutter rods 7.

The exact degree of rotation will be determined by the cutter position locking device 15.. Strand cutters 24 are then retracted by moving lever 13 to its start position.

Holding handle 3 the device is drawn down the cable 25 to the end. By engaging in the grove created by the strands the cutter 16 will cause the device to rotate in a spiral motion according to the formation of the strands. The shape of the rollers 17/18 allows the cutter 16 to cut deeper thus stripping the insulation. Once the outer insulation and metal strands have been removed a shroud and gland top are placed onto the cable distal to the cut point. The steel strand splaying ring 29 is attached to the device and run back up the cable. The steel strand splaying fens 28 are lowered to engage the inner cores of the cable 25. They are then forced up under the strands to lift them upwards to an angle of approx 452 this is repeated until all the strands are raised. The bottom part of the gland is then placed onto the cable and joined with its upper part as required.

Claims

Claims I. An Armoured cable stripping device having a tubular design

with a ratchet mechanism located centrally and two types of cutters positioned at either end with mechanism to achieve deployment of cutters to a cable.

2. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim I that is rotateable about a cable by means of a handle or handles that engage in the ratchet mechanism.

3. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 2 in which the handle or handles are ergonomically designed and detachable.

4. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim I where the ratchet mechanism is lockable in either rotation or free moving in the same.

5. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 1 where the mechanism is fixed to the body by bolts or the like but such that it is removable.

6. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 1 where the mechanism for deploying the cutters are attached to the body on support rods and contained in housing rings and are removable.

7. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 6 where the deploying mechanism converts rotational force into radial movement by means of cogs, springs, rods or other, by movement of a lever.

8. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 7 where radial movement shall move two or more cutting devices inwards or outwards simultaneously.

9. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 7 where the lever shall be capable of being locked in a position on the housing ring 10. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 8 where such cutting devices are removable for the purposes of inspection or replacement.

11. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 8 where one cutter blade is designed for cutting outer insulation only, the other is designed for cutting outer insulation and metal strands.

12. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 11 in that the depth of cut is determined by the blades relation to its rollers that restrict overcutting.

13. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 12 where a compressive force is maintained on the cutting blades by springs built into the moveable rods on other means.

14. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 11 where the insulation only cutters and rollers can be rotated to approx 90 by some method by design.

15. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 12 where the rollers shall have a rough surface externally by scoring or dimpling to increase grip on the cable.

16. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 6 where two or more cutting blades are housed in each housing.

17. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 1 in which a support ring with strand splaying fins can be attached by a quick release and lock mechanism.

18. An armoured cable stripping device according to claim 17 where the splaying fins will be shaped so as to lift up the cable strands to approx An armoured cable stripping device according to claim I a method of identifying the correct way to place the device on the cable shall be made obvious.