Abstract:
A cable preparation tool for use in removing insulation from an insulated cable. The cable preparation tool includes a tool body, a blade and a number of cut guides that permit different types of cuts to be made by the tool.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to devices and methods for ring cutting, scoring and penciling insulated and/or jacketed cables. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Insulated or jacketed cables often need to be spliced with other components, prepared for assembly or repaired from a defect. To do this, the insulation must be cut or removed in order to prepare the cable. In many fields, safety concerns have brought about prohibitions on the use of open knives or blades to perform this work. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention provides a cable preparation tool that is useful of forming annular ring cuts, axial scoring cuts and angled shave-type cuts in the insulation surrounding the conductor of a cable. In preferred embodiments, the cable preparation tool provides a cutting blade that is recessed so that chance of injury to workers is minimized. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The advantages and further aspects of the invention will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or similar elements throughout the several figures of the drawing and wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary cable preparation tool constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the exemplary cable preparation tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the tool shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a transparent side view of portions of the tool shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate an exemplary cable preparation tool  10  in accordance with the present invention. The exemplary cable preparation tool  10  includes an elongated tool body  12  having a handle portion  14  by which the tool  10  can be easily gripped and manipulated. Opposite the handle portion  14  is a working end  16  which contains the blade member  24  and presents various guide grooves. In preferred embodiments, the tool body  12  is made up of separable body halves  18 ,  20  which are releasably secured to each other by connector screws  22 . The tool body  12  has a longitudinal axis  23 . 
         [0013]    A blade member  24  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ) is retained within the tool body  12  by retaining pins  26  and presents a cutting edge  28  that is recessed within the body  12 . 
         [0014]    A ring cut guide groove  30  (see  FIG. 4 ) is formed within the lower portion of the tool body  12 . The ring cut guide groove  30  is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis  23  of the tool body  12  and preferably has a generally semicircular cross-section that is shaped and sized to accept a desired cable. When a cable (not shown) is disposed within the ring cut guide groove  30 , the cutting blade member  24  will make a radial cut within the insulation or jacketing of the cable. Using the handle  14 , the tool body  12  can then be rotated about the circumference of the cable in order to make an annular cut through the insulation or jacketing. 
         [0015]    A scoring cut guide  32  is also formed within the lower portion of the tool body  12 . The scoring cut guide  32  preferably has a generally semicircular cross-section (see  FIG. 2 ) which is shaped and sized to receive a desired cable. As can be seen from reference to  FIG. 4 , the scoring cut guide  32  is preferably angled with respect to the axis  23  of the tool body  12 . Drawing a cable along the scoring cut guide  32  will bring the cable into engagement with the cutting edge  28  of the blade member  24 . This will create an axial cut along the cable through the insulation of the cable. 
         [0016]    At least one penciling guide  34  is preferably formed within the tool body  12 . In the depicted embodiment, there are two penciling guides  34 —one on each lateral side of the tool body  12 . The penciling guides  34  are angled inwardly from the top to the bottom of the tool body  12  so that an acute angle is formed with the blade  24 . As a result, cable that is drawn through a penciling guide  34  is slit along the insulation by the blade member  24  at an angle to the central axis of the cable.  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4  and depicts cable  40  being drawn through a penciling guide  34 . The cable  40  includes a central conductor  42  which is radially surrounded by insulation  44 . As the cable  40  is drawn through the penciling guide  34  in the direction of arrow  46 , the cutting edge  28  of the blade member  24  cuts into the insulation  44  at an angle “r” to the longitudinal axis  46  of the cable  40 . In preferred embodiments, the angle “r” is an acute angle. This is a penciling cut which may be used to strip portions of the insulation  44  from the conductor  42 . 
         [0017]    In preferred embodiments, a viewing window  48  is formed within the upper surface of the tool body  12  so that a user can view a cable  40  that is disposed within the scoring cut guide  32 . The viewing window  48  helps a user to ensure that the cutting edge  28  of the blade member  24  will engage the cable  40  at a desired location. 
         [0018]    The inventors have found that the cable preparation tool  10  is effective to remove insulation and sheathing from a variety of cables  40  using ring cuts, scoring cuts and/or penciling cuts to remove and strip the insulation  44  away from the conductor  42 . 
         [0019]    Although the terms “cable” and “insulation” are specifically mentioned in the previous description, it should be understood that these terms should be interpreted broadly so as to apply to any type of linear conductor or conduit that is jacketed or coaxially surrounded by one of various forms of insulation or jacketing. The foregoing description is directed to particular embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the embodiment set forth above are possible without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention.