PATENT ABSTRACT
A cutting and crimping device comprising a frame with a front end and a back end, the frame comprising a protrusion on the front end, the protrusion having a first crimping portion and a first cutting portion on opposed sides thereof, a cutting arm with a front end and a back end, the cutting arm pivotally coupled to the frame on one side thereof, the cutting arm comprising a second cutting portion on its front end, a crimping arm with a front end and a back end, the crimping arm pivotally coupled to the frame on an opposite side thereof, the crimping arm comprising a second crimping portion on its front end, an actuator coupled to the back ends of the cutting and crimping arms, the actuator operable to move the cutting and crimping device between an open position wherein the front ends of the arms are separated from the protrusion by a maximum distance, and a closed position wherein the front ends of the cutting and crimping arms are separated from the protrusion by a lesser distance.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to devices for cutting and crimping cables, and more particularly to devices which can make straight cuts and proper crimps at a work site.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    In many situations where cables, also known as “wire ropes”, are used, the cables must be cut at a work site, and two or more sections of cable must be crimped together. Crimping is generally accomplished by inserting the ends of two or more cables into a deformable cylindrical housing known as a “sleeve”. The sleeve is then crimped by crushing the sleeve tightly against the cables contained therein. A large amount of force is required both to cut the cables and to crimp the sleeve around two or more cable sections to join them together.  
           [0003]    There exist prior art devices that can be used to both cut cables and crimp two or more sections of cable together. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,584 discloses a combination cable crimper and cutter with a pair of crimping jaws that are urged together by a piston. A cutter is mounted on one of the crimping jaws opposite a cutter anvil on the side of the frame.  
           [0004]    One problem with such prior art devices is that in both cutting and crimping operations, particularly in applications such as logging where the cables are wrapped around an irregularly shaped bundle of logs, the cables must be cut or crimped at a point where they are flush against a surface. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, a device similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,584 that has the cutter on the side is not well suited for cutting cables that are flush against a surface.  
           [0005]    Another problem with prior art cutting and crimping devices is that it can be difficult to keep the device properly oriented with respect to the cable during cutting and crimping. In order to achieve a straight cut the cutting blades of a cutter must be placed, by the user, in the correct position relative to the cable. Likewise, in order to achieve a proper crimp the crimping portions of a crimper must be placed, by the user, in the correct position relative to the sleeve and cables therein.  
           [0006]    There exists a need for cutting and crimping devices which are well suited for cutting cables that are flush against a surface, and which facilitate proper orientation with respect to the cable during cutting and crimping.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention provides a cutting and crimping device comprising a frame with a front end and a back end, the frame comprising a protrusion on the front end, the protrusion having a first crimping portion and a first cutting portion on opposed sides thereof, a cutting arm with a front end and a back end, the cutting arm pivotally coupled to the frame on one side thereof, the cutting arm comprising a second cutting portion on its front end, a crimping arm with a front end and a back end, the crimping arm pivotally coupled to the frame on an opposite side thereof, the crimping arm comprising a second crimping portion on its front end, and, an actuator coupled to the back ends of the cutting and crimping arms, the actuator operable to move the cutting and crimping device between an open position wherein the front ends of the arms are separated from the protrusion by a maximum distance, and a closed position wherein the front ends of the cutting and crimping arms are separated from the protrusion by a lesser distance.  
           [0008]    The actuator may comprise a push rod having a front end and a back end, and a block, with the block attached to the front end of the push rod. The actuator may be coupled to the back end of the cutting arm by a cutting arm link, with a back end of the cutting arm link being pivotally attached to the block, and a front end of the cutting arm link being pivotally attached to the back end of the cutting arm. The actuator may be coupled to the back end of the crimping arm by a crimping arm link, with a back end of the crimping arm link being pivotally attached to the block, and a front end of the crimping arm link being pivotally attached to the back end of the crimping arm. The cutting arm link may be longer than the crimping arm link.  
           [0009]    The second cutting portion may comprise a reversible cutting blade. The protrusion may comprise a recess sized slightly larger than the first cutting portion, and the first cutting portion comprises a cutting edge opposite a rounded edge, with the rounded edge positioned in the recess.  
           [0010]    The first and second crimping portions may comprise rounded notches.  
           [0011]    The cutting and crimping device may further comprise a drive means connected to the back end of the push rod, the drive means operable to urge the push rod forward.  
           [0012]    The cutting and crimping device may further comprise a handlebar attached to the frame.  
           [0013]    The cutting and crimping device may further comprise a grip attached to the frame. The grip may comprise a control button operable to control the drive means.  
           [0014]    The actuator may further comprise a plate attached to the back end of the push rod, and may even further comprise a spring between the plate and the frame, the spring biasing the cutting and crimping device to the open position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a cutting and crimping device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in an open position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 shows the cutting and crimping device of FIG. 1 in a closed position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the cutting and crimping device of FIG. 1 coupled to a drive means.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of the frame of the cutting and crimping device of FIG. 1 with a grip attached thereto. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 shows a cutting and crimping device  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Cutting and crimping device  10  comprises frame  12  with front end  14  and back end  16 . Frame  12  is tapered towards front end  14 , and defines window  13  near front end  14 , in order to reduce the overall weight of cutting and crimping device  10 . Frame  12  further defines square windows  15  near back end  16 . Square windows  15  not only serve to reduce the overall weight of cutting and crimping device  10 , but also facilitate maintenance and servicing of cutting and crimping device  10 , as described below. Frame  12  may further comprise threaded holes  66  on flat portion  68 , as described below with reference to FIG. 4.  
         [0021]    Frame  12  comprises protrusion  20  at front end  14 . Protrusion  20  comprises cutting portion  22  on one side thereof, and crimping portion  24  on an opposite side thereof. An actuator  30  is operably connected to back end  16 .  
         [0022]    Throughout the description “forward” means the direction from actuator  30  is connected, towards protrusion  20 . The “cutting side” means the side of cutting and crimping device  10  on which cutting portion  22  of protrusion  20  is located, and the “crimping side” means the side of cutting and crimping device  10  on which crimping portion  24  of protrusion  20  is located.  
         [0023]    Cutting arm  40  is pivotally attached to frame  12  on the cutting side at a position between front end  14  and back end  16  by pivot bolt  17 . The precise position at which cutting arm  40  is attached to frame  12  will depend on the expected primary use of cutting and crimping device  10 . The larger the diameter of a typical cable which cutting and crimping device  10  will be expected to be used to cut, the farther back the position at which cutting arm  40  is attached to frame  12  should be.  
         [0024]    Cutting arm  40  comprises cutting portion  42  on front end  44  thereof. Cutting recess  26  is defined between cutting portion  42  on front end  44  of cutting arm  40  and cutting portion  22  on protrusion  20 . Cutting arm  40  may optionally comprise lubrication channel  45  for lubricating its pivotal coupling with frame  12 . Back end  46  of cutting arm  40  is coupled to be driven by actuator  30 , as described below.  
         [0025]    Cutting portions  22  and  42  preferably comprise cutting blades  23  and  43 , respectively. Cutting blade  23  preferably comprises cutting edge  21  and rounded edge  25 . Cutting blade  23  is secured to protrusion  20  by pin  27 , and is located within recess  29 . Recess  29  is sized larger than cutting blade  23  to provide room for cutting blade  23  to pivot slightly about pin  27 , which allows for improved cutting of cables, as described below. Cutting blade  43  is attached to front end  44  of cutting arm  40  by pin  47 . Cutting blade  43  is preferably reversible so that when one cutting edge is worn out the user can flip cutting blade  43  over and use a fresh cutting edge.  
         [0026]    Crimping arm  50  is pivotally attached to frame  12  on the crimping side at a position between front end  14  and back end  16  by pivot bolt  19 . The precise position at which crimping arm  50  is attached to frame  12  will depend on the expected primary use of cutting and crimping device  10 . The larger the diameter of a typical sleeve which cutting and crimping device  10  will be used to crimp, the farther back the position where crimping arm  50  is attached to frame  12  should be. Crimping arm  50  comprises crimping portion  52  on front end  54  thereof. Crimping recess  28  is defined between crimping portion  52  on front end  54  of crimping arm  50  and crimping portion  24  on protrusion  20 . Crimping arm  50  may optionally comprise lubrication channel  55  for lubricating its pivotal coupling with frame  12 . Back end  56  of crimping arm  50  is coupled to be driven by actuator  30 , as described below.  
         [0027]    Crimping portions  24  and  52  preferably comprise rounded notches. Preferably the notches have a curvature which is similar to the curvature of a sleeve of the size expected to be crimped.  
         [0028]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, actuator  30  comprises push rod  32  with block  34  attached to the front thereof. Frame  12  defines aperture  18  in the back thereof, through which push rod  32  is slidably inserted. Aperture  18  is not large enough to allow block  34  to pass therethrough, so that push rod  32  and block  34  are retained within frame  12 . Frame  12  has stop bolt  36  through a central portion thereof. Stop bolt  36  is located directly in front of aperture  18 , so that when push rod  32  is pushed forward, block  34  will abut stop bolt  36 . The range of motion of actuator  30  is thereby constrained between a rearward or “open” position (FIG. 1) wherein block  34  abuts the back of frame  12  adjacent aperture  18 , and a forward or “closed” position (FIG. 2) wherein block  34  abuts stop bolt  36 . In the FIG. 1 embodiment, actuator  30  further comprises plate  38  attached to the back of push rod  32 . Spring  39  is positioned between frame  12  and plate  38  to bias cutting and crimping device  10  towards the open position.  
         [0029]    Cutting arm  40  is coupled to actuator  30  by cutting arm link  48 . One end of cutting arm link  48  is pivotally attached to the cutting side of block  34  by first cutting link pin  47 , and the other end of cutting arm link  48  is pivotally attached to the back end  46  of cutting arm  40  by second cutting link pin  49 . Likewise, crimping arm  50  is coupled to actuator  30  by crimping arm link  58 . One end of crimping arm link  58  is pivotally attached to the crimping side of block  34  by first crimping link pin  57 , and the other end of crimping arm link  58  is pivotally attached to the back end  56  of crimping arm  50  by second crimping link pin  59 . In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cutting arm link  48  is longer than crimping arm link  58 , in order to allow crimping recess  28  to be directly in front of push rod  32 . Crimping recess  28  is preferably in line with push rod  32  to provide added force and stability while crimping, as crimping generally requires more force than cutting.  
         [0030]    Preferably, both cutting arm  40  and crimping arm  50  may be removed or replaced without fully dismantling cutting and crimping device  10 . To remove cutting arm  40 , a user removes pivot bolt  17  which extends through frame  12 . Second cutting link pin  49  may be removed by positioning cutting arm link  48  appropriately with respect to square window  15  on the cutting side of cutting and crimping device. To remove crimping arm  50 , a user removes pivot bolt  19  which extends through frame  12 . Second crimping link pin  59  may be removed by positioning crimping arm link  58  appropriately with respect to square window  15  on the crimping side of cutting and crimping device.  
         [0031]    In operation, cutting and crimping device  10  begins in an open position, as shown in FIG. 1. In the open position, actuator  30  is in its rearward position, with block  34  abutting the back of frame  12  adjacent aperture  18 . In the open position, back ends  46  and  56  of cutting arm  40  and crimping arm  50  are held, by cutting arm link  48  and crimping arm link  58 , respectively, at a position wherein their separation from stop bolt  36  is at a minimum. Accordingly, in the open position, the separation between cutting portion  42  on front end  44  of cutting arm  40  and cutting portion  22  on protrusion  20 , and the separation between crimping portion  52  on front end  54  of crimping arm  50  and crimping portion  24  on protrusion  20  are at a maximum.  
         [0032]    When cutting and crimping device  10  is in the open position, cutting recess  26  may be positioned to cut a cable by placing cutting portion  22  of protrusion  20  against the cable, or crimping recess  28  may be positioned to crimp a sleeve containing two or more sections of cable by placing crimping portion  24  of protrusion  20  against the sleeve, or both. Once the cable or sleeve or both are in place, cutting and crimping device  10  may be moved toward a closed position as shown in FIG. 2 by urging push rod  32  forward with a suitable drive means  60  (see FIG. 3).  
         [0033]    If a cable is positioned in cutting recess  26  as cutting and crimping device  10  moves toward the closed position shown in FIG. 2, cutting blades  23  and  43  will cut the cable. Cutting blade  23  has room to pivot slightly in recess  29 , as described above, so that cutting blades  23  and  43  may be parallel at the end of the cutting stroke. This reduces unraveling of the cut ends of the cable, which can make it difficult for the ends to be fit into a sleeve. Preferably, once the cutting stroke is complete and cutting and crimping device  10  is in the closed position, cutting blades  23  and  43  will be separated by a distance of less then 1 mm, and more preferably by a distance of approximately 0.2 mm.  
         [0034]    As one skilled in the art will appreciate, since cutting portion  22  and crimping portion  24  on protrusion  20  remain stationary as push rod  32  is urged forward, there is less potential for user error than in prior art cutting and crimping devices where there are two moving parts which must be aligned with the cables. Stationary protrusion  20  makes it possible for a user to simply rest the appropriate portion (cutting or crimping) of protrusion  20  against the cable or cables to be cut or crimped, and activate the drive means. There is no need to balance the device so that the cable or cables are separated from each of two moving parts by an equal distance. This makes it easier for a user to achieve even crimping, wherein a single sleeve is crimped at a number of evenly spaced locations, which results in a stronger joining of the sections of cables within the sleeve.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 shows cutting and crimping device  10  with drive means  60  coupled to the back thereof. Handlebar  62  may be attached to cutting and crimping device  10  to facilitate operation of cutting and crimping device  10  by a user. Drive means  60  may comprise a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder coupled to an air compressor, or any other apparatus capable of urging push rod  32  forward with sufficient force.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 shows frame  12  of cutting and crimping device  10  with grip  64  attached to flat portion  68 , and drive means  60  coupled to back end  16 . Frame  12  comprises threaded holes  66  in flat portion  68  to facilitate attachment of grip  64  to frame  12  by screws  69  or the like. Preferably, there are four threaded holes  66  on each side of frame  12 , so that grip  64  may be attached to either side of frame  12 . Grip  64  may comprise control button  70  which is connected by control wire  72  to control the operation of drive means  60 .  
         [0037]    As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.