WO2002047227A1

WO2002047227A1 - Improved tool for cable stripping

Info

Publication number: WO2002047227A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/003553
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Michel Doche
Original assignee: Facom
Priority date: 2000-12-08
Filing date: 2001-11-13
Publication date: 2002-06-13
Also published as: FR2818035B1; FR2818035A1; AU2002218363A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a stripping tool comprising a body (2) bearing a blade (3) for clipping the cable sheath, and a member (17) for clamping the cable mounted mobile in translation on the body opposite the blade. The clamping member (7) comprises mechanical means (35) whereof the direct action on a support (64A) independent of the user's hand which holds the body (2) enables, from a first position of the clamping member (7) closest to the body, to bring said clamping member into a second position away from the cutting blade.

Description

Or _t i _l improved for stripping cables.

The present invention relates to a tool for stripping electrical cables, of the type described in the preamble to claim 1.

In known stripping tools of this type (see for example DE-A-893 672 or EP-A-0 704 951), the opening of the clamping member to allow the insertion into the tool of the cable to be stripped requires the use of two hands.

The invention aims to facilitate the use of the tool and, for this purpose, it relates to a stripping tool of the aforementioned type, characterized by the characterizing part of claim 1.

The stripping tool according to the invention may include one or more of the characteristics described in claims 2 to 9.

Examples of embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section an electric cable stripping tool;

- Figure 2 shows in longitudinal section, on a larger scale, a detail of this tool;

- Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the knife holder and its adjustment device; - The Figure is a partial view taken in section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the clamping member in the open position;

- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the clamping member recalled on a cable to be stripped;

- Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, illustrating the circumferential incision of the cable sheath; ' - Figure 8 is a view similar to .la. Figure 7, illustrating the longitudinal incision of the cable sheath;

- Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating the cutting blade during output; - Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, illustrating the cutting blade fully extended;

- Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 5 of a variant;

- Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 of another variant;

- Figure 13 is a sectional view along line XIII-XIII of Figure 12;

- Figure 14 shows in external view the tool of Figure 12, with the clamping member in the closed position;

- Figure 15 is a view taken on arrow XV of Figure 14; and

-. Figure 16 is a view taken along arrow XVI of Figure 11. The cable stripping tool 1 shown in the

Figures 1 to .4, particularly ergonomic and compact, essentially comprises: a body 2 of elongated shape; a cable sheath incision knife 3, mounted in a knife holder 4; a sleeve 5 for adjusting the knife 3, biased by a weak spring • 6; a cable tightening member 7, biased by two tightening or approximation springs 8 at high stiffness; a member 9 for holding and releasing the member 7; an auxiliary cutting blade 10, articulated on an axis 11 secured to the body 2; and a member 12 for opening the blade 10, articulated on another axis ^" 13 secured to the body 2.

“Cable stripping tool” is understood to mean a cutting tool intended for stripping or stripping, that is to say remove the insulating coating from a conductor, in particular an electric cable.

In what follows, we will assume the body 2 oriented as shown in Figures 1 and 5 to 16, that is to say substantially vertically, with the clamping member 7 at the top, the axis 11 at the end lower body and blade

10 right.

In this position, the lower part of the body forms a handle for gripping the tool, over approximately two thirds of the length of the body.

The knife holder 4, better visible in FIG. 3, is a part formed from two parts: an externally cylindrical lower part 14 with a lateral flat 15, and an externally cylindrical upper part 16 of smaller diameter. Internally, the part 14 has a central passage 17 of small diameter, while the part 16 has a central passage. 18 of larger diameter. The part 4 is mounted from below in a recess 19 of the conjugate body of the part 14, this recess opening on the upper face of this body. The recess 19 is bounded above by an overhanging shoulder 20 intended to cooperate with the horizontal annular shoulder 21 which connects the parts 14 and 16 of the knife holder. The knife 3 comprises a straight barrel 22 whose upper end is bent in S and carries an eccentric incision blade 23, pointed upwards. The barrel 22 passes freely, right through, the knife holder 4, and comprises approximately halfway a circular groove 24. It is held in the knife holder with limited freedom of axial movement by a split ring elastically 25, of length 1 less than the length L of the groove 24 (Figure 2), which is received in the groove 24. This ring 25, forming a retaining means, is mounted first in the circular groove of the cutting blade and, after elastic contraction, is introduced into the passage 17 then comes to be applied elastically with friction against the wall of the latter. The underside of the knife holder 4 also carries three pins 26 at 120 ° from one another, located on a same circle centered on the axis of the knife ^holder.

The adjusting member 5 has the form of an inverted cylindrical cup with a flat upper plate 27. In this plate 27 are formed, on the same circle as above, three groups of recesses located at 120 ° from each other. Each group successively comprises a recess 28 of shallow depth, a recess 29 of intermediate depth, and a recess 30 of greater depth.

The member 5 is received with sliding and rotation in a blind cylindrical recess 31 of the body 2 located under the recess 19. It is urged upwards by the spring 6, which is compressed between the bottom of the cup 5 and that of the recess 31. Thus, the upper face of the member 5 is constantly in abutment on the three pins 26 of the knife holder and normally maintains the latter in abutment against the upper shoulder 20 of the recess 19. In addition , the lower end of the. barrel 22 of the knife 3 is constantly in abutment, by gravity, at the center of the upper face 27 of the member 5.

The common axis of parts 4 and 5 of barrel 22 has been designated by X-X.

The member 5 can be rotated around the axis XX by means of a lateral tab 32 which extends the face 27 and which projects from the body 2 through a window 33 provided to the right of the latter. Thus, the height of the tip of the blade 23 above the flat end edge 34 of the knife holder 4 can be adjusted to three values different, depending on whether the pins 26 are at the bottom of the recesses 28, 29 or 30. These three projection heights correspond to the three standardized thicknesses of electric cables with a maximum diameter substantially equal to 20 mm, namely 1.8 mm, 1, 6 mm and 1.2 mm respectively. The passage from one height to another takes place instantaneously by a simple lateral push, on the tab 32 with the thumb of the user who holds the body 2 in full hand. Three lateral recesses can be provided in the surface of the part 5, these recesses cooperating with a ball loaded by a spring carried by the body, in order to clearly define the three useful positions of the tab 32.

The clamping member 7 forms an inverted V situated above the knife 3 and centered on the axis X-X. The branch of the V opposite the window 33, that is to say the left branch, is extended downwards by a guide rod 35 of non-circular section, which slides in a conjugate passage 36 of the body 2.. left side of this rod has two notches,

^• lower 37 and upper 38, and an overhanging shoulder 39 is provided at the top of the left side of the rod 35.

The two inner sides of the V 7 are equipped with rollers 40, as are those of a fixed cradle 41 in V, provided at the top of the body 2, open upwards and also centered on the axis X-X. This cradle 41 consists of two identical halves located on either side of the knife holder 4, that is to say in front and behind the plane of Figure 1..

The strong springs 8 are helical tension springs. Their upper ends are attached to a stud 42 integral with the lower end of the rod

35, and their lower ends are hooked to the lower axis 11. Thus, the member 7 is permanently biased downward. It can be opened, that is to say lifted, manually against the spring 8, and be maintained temporarily in one of two predetermined positions by means of the member 9. The latter is a piece of Y-shaped elastic material whose fork is compressed between the left side of the rod 35 and an overhanging wall 42A of the body 2. The lower stem of the Y projects into a lateral window of the body situated under this wall 42, and forms an actuation trigger 43 accessible by the index finger of the user holding the body 2.

When the organ 7 is raised, the inner branch of the Y rubs on the rod 35, and successively enters the upper notch 38 and the lower notch 37. This makes it possible to maintain the organ. 7 in one or more another of two predetermined positions while the cable to be stripped is introduced into the space separating the two V. The release of the upper V is then carried out by a simple pressure of the index finger on the trigger 43.

At its upper end and on the left side, the member .7 carries a projection for oral use 45 of cylindrical shape with horizontal axis connected to the member 7 by a connecting part 46 forming a constriction, crossed by a hooking passage 47.

The projection 45 allows the user to hold the tool between the teeth to temporarily free his hands, for example when working at height, in particular at the top of a telegraph pole or the like.

The passage 47 allows the tool to be hung on a peg or the like, as shown in FIG.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the operation of the tool 1. First, the body 2 being fully grasped, the user adjusts the height of projection of the knife 3 by actuating the tab 32 with his thumb. Then he raises with the other hand the member 7 (Figure 5, arrow FI) to one of its two stable positions (Figure 5). Then he puts on. place the cable 48 in the lower V 41, and it squeezes the trigger 43 with its index finger (Figure 6, arrow F2) to release the member 5.

The latter, pulled by the spring 8, then falls suddenly (Figure 6, arrow F3) on the cable, the sheath 49 of which plugs into the blade 23, and the knife-knife-holder-adjusting assembly 5 descends by compressing the spring 6, until the cable 6 is positioned on the cradle 41. The V-shaped clamping member and the fixed V-shaped cradle then center the conductor in a suitable position stable for cutting operations .

The operator then proceeds to the circular incision of the sheath 49, pushing the lower end of the body to the right (arrow F4 in Figure 7). It should be noted that this direction of thrust is that which tends to close on the cable the space located between the two V.

This movement causes, under the effect of the spring 6, the progressive rise of the knife 3, until the upper end edge 34 of the knife holder abuts against the cable (Figure 7). The sheath is then incised exactly to the depth preset by the member 5, whatever the diameter of the cable in a wide range of values, and an additional rotation of the tool over a full revolution ensures the circular cut of the end of sheath to be removed. Then, by turning his hand a quarter of a turn, the operator again grasps the body 2 with full hand, and he pulls it perpendicular to the plane of Figure 7. A longitudinal incision of the end of the sheath to be removed is then made by blade 23 (Figure 8). During this movement, the friction is reduced to a minimum thanks to the presence of the rollers 40 on the two Vs for positioning the cable, which rollers have their axes perpendicular to the axis of the cable. It should be noted that the rotary and eccentric mounting of the knife 3 allows it to orient itself either circumferentially (Figure 7) or axially

(Figure 8) relative to the cable in the direction of the force exerted on the body 2.

The auxiliary blade 10 is used for other cutting work more commonly carried out by the user, for example to cut the cable to length before carrying out the operations described above. Its end articulated at 11 has a cam surface 50 and a notch 51.

The opening member 12 is articulated at 13 approximately at mid-length. Its lower end has a hook 52 directed towards the axis 11, and its upper end a hook 53 directed towards the left. This upper end further comprises a projection 54 directed to the right, which serves to center a helical compression spring 55 oriented approximately horizontally. This. spring bears against the bottom of a cavity 56 of the body 2 located below the cavity 31. At rest, the blade 10 is fully retracted into a slot 57 of the body 2, the back 58 of the blade flush with the right surface from the body. Under the effect of the spring 55, the end of the hook 52 is supported in a recess 59 in the cam surface 50 (Figure 8). This, on the one hand, prevents any inadvertent opening of the blade 10 and, on the other hand, keeps the hook 53 away from the stroke of the stud 42 of the rod 35. In addition, in this position, the upper end of the blade 10 is in contact with the right side of the member 12, in the upper region thereof. To remove the blade 10, first press the upper end of the member 12, which projects from the left side of the body 2 (arrow F5 in Figure 9). A projection 57A for gripping the blade 10 then presents itself on the right side of the body, which allows the operator to make rotate the blade (Figure 9) until fully open (Figure 10).

This position is defined by the hooking of the hook 52 in the notch 51. The depth of the latter is such that the upper hook 53 comes into engagement with the stud 42.

Thus, it is not possible to open the upper V 7 when the blade 10 is out, which constitutes security for the operator. Figure 11 shows a variant which has additional security. It differs from the previous one only in that the trigger 43 has a lower extension 59 curved downwards while the left side of the member 12 has a tongue 60 which extends it upwards as far as the extension 59 .

Thus, the actuation F5 of the member 12 also causes the actuation of the trigger 43, which guarantees that the V. upper will be in the retracted or lower position when the blade 10 is out. Figures 12 to 16 show a variant of tool 1 which differs from the previous one only in the following points.

On the one hand, the member 9 is rectilinear, and its elastic return towards the rod 35 is ensured by a helical spring 61 capped with a cup 62 secured to the body.

On the other hand and above all, the rod 35 passes through the body 2 right through, over its entire length, and protrudes below it. It therefore has a central slot 63 which allows the free passage of the member 12. In addition, the elastic return of the V 7 downwards is ensured by two helical springs 8A and 8B stretched between an upper pin 142, which protrudes on each side of the rod 35, above the stud 42, and the respective bosses 64 of the body 2 located substantially at the axis 13. The pin 42 is used only for the safety hooking of the hook 53 of the member 12 in the retracted position of the V when the blade 10 is out.

The essential advantage of this variant lies in the fact that the opening of the upper V is carried out with one hand, by placing the lower end of the rod 35 on a sufficiently rigid surface 64A (FIG. 14), which can be a part of the user's body, and pushing body 2 towards this surface (arrow F6). ^• Figures 14 to 16 show the particularly ergonomic shape of the body 2.

In view along the axis of the cable as shown in Figure 14, the right side of the body is curved and convex at 65 over most of its height, and extended upwards by a concave area 66 where the window 33 is located . on the opposite side, there is upwardly convex area 67 and three successive concave zones 68-70 are separated by two shorter convex areas, lower and upper 71 ^'72. the upper end of the member 12 protrudes into zone 69, and trigger 43 in zone 70.

The body 2 is therefore positioned very well in the hand, with the area 65 in the palm, the thumb facing the area 66, the middle finger facing the area 69 and the index finger facing the area 70. The area concave 68 makes it easy to exert the thrust F4 of FIG. 7.

In side view (Figure 15), there is on one side (to the left of the Figure), a 73-concave convex profile 74 similar to the profile. 65-66, and on the other side a concave 75-convex profile 76 which is substantially parallel thereto. From this angle of view, the body 2 thus has a general S shape, which ensures very good grip with the full hand to make the longitudinal incision of the cable sheath. In each embodiment described above, the body 2 is produced in two half-shells assembled by any known means such as snap-fastening, screw-nut, etc.

As shown in Figure 16, a recess 80 is formed on the outer part of the body with a substantially elongated shape, adapted to form a housing receiving a spare incision knife. A throttle 81, in particular formed integrally with the body, partially closes the opening of the recess in order to keep the spare knife in position in the recess. A lateral recess 82 of the recess allows the insertion of a small object to remove the spare knife from its housing.

It is understood that it is not necessary for the user to separate the two half-shells and to open the body to replace the incision knife. Indeed, the knife 3 is extracted from the knife holder 4 by simple traction in the direction of the clamping member 7 when the latter is in a stable position away from the body.

Claims

CLAIMS -.

1. Tool for stripping electrical cables, of the type comprising a body (2) which carries a knife (3) for incising the sheath (49) of the cable (48), and a member (7) for clamping the cable to the knife mounted movable in translation on the body opposite the knife, characterized in that the clamping member comprises mechanical means (35) whose direct action on a support (64A) independent of the hand of the user which holds the body (2) allows, from a first position of the clamping member (7) closest to the body, to bring said clamping member into a second position remote from the knife.

2. Stripping tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping member (7) is guided in translation by a rod (35) which passes through the body (2) right through and which protrudes substantially from this body when the clamping member (7) is in its position closest to the incision knife (3).

3. Stripping tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping member (7) is biased towards the knife (3) by a clamping spring (8), and in that the body (2) carries a temporary locking member of the clamping member (9) in the waiting position against the clamping spring.

4. Stripping tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping member (7) comprises at least one predetermined stable opening position.

5. Stripping tool according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamping member (7) comprises two to four, and preferably two, stable opening positions.

6. Stripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the clamping member (7) is biased towards the body (2) by a spring approximation (8), and in that the knife. (3) protrudes into a fixed V-shaped cradle (4) integral with the body (2) and opposite the clamping member (7) and is elastically urged towards this member by a second spring (6) whose stiffness is less to that of the approximation spring (8).

7. Stripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamping member (7) is biased towards the body (2) by a reconciliation spring (8), in that the clamping member (7) has a small number of predetermined stable open positions, and in that the body (2) is provided with a member (9) for holding the clamping member in any one of these positions and release of the clamping member.

8. Stripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the

• tightening (7) is guided by only one of its sides relative to the body,. and in that, seen in the direction of passage of the cable to be stripped, the body (2) has at least a first concave zone (68) on said side.

9. Stripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it includes a projection for oral use (45) adapted to be held by the teeth of the user.