Patent ID: 12244127

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. In addition, in the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details.

A cutting arm100according to an embodiment is shown inFIGS.1-3. The cutting arm100includes a base110, a cutting assembly130attached to the base110, a sliding plate140attached to and movable with respect to the base110, and a biasing member150disposed within the base110.

The base110, as shown inFIGS.1-3, has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape in the shown embodiment with a front side112and a rear side114opposite to the front side112in a longitudinal direction L. The base110has a first lateral side116and a second lateral side118opposite to the first lateral side116in a width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and a top end120and a bottom end122opposite to the top end120in a height direction H perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W.

The longitudinal direction L, the width direction W, and the height direction H referenced throughout the specification and the drawings are only an exemplary orientation of the cutting arm100used for explanation of the elements of the cutting arm100and are not intended to limit the orientation of the cutting arm100to that shown inFIG.1. The cutting arm100may be rotated into other orientations in the L, W, H coordinate system, for example, as shown inFIGS.4and5.

As shown inFIGS.1-3, the base110has a post receiving passageway124extending through the base110from the front side112to the rear side114in the longitudinal direction L. The post receiving passageway124is positioned proximal to the bottom end122and distal from the top end120in the shown embodiment.

The base110, as shown inFIGS.1-3, has a follower slot126extending into the rear side114in the longitudinal direction L. The follower slot126extends partially into the base110from the rear side114and does not extend through to the front side112. In the shown embodiment, the follower slot126extends approximately halfway into a thickness of the base110from the rear side114in the longitudinal direction L. In the height direction H, the follower slot126extends into the top end120and partially into the base110, and does not extend through to the bottom end122. In the shown embodiment, the follower slot126extends approximately halfway into a height of the base110from the top end120in the height direction H. In the shown embodiment, the follower slot126is U-shaped, with a curved end opposite the top end120.

As shown inFIGS.1-3, the base110has a biasing member recess128extending into the front side112in the longitudinal direction L. The biasing member recess128extends partially into the base110from the front side112and does not extend through to the rear side114in the longitudinal direction L. In the height direction H, the biasing member recess128is positioned proximal to the top end120, but is closed to the top end120, and is distal from the bottom end122.

In the shown embodiment, the base110is monolithically formed in a single piece. In other embodiments, the base110can be formed from separate elements and assembled together to form the arrangement of the base110shown inFIGS.1-3.

The cutting assembly130, as shown inFIGS.1and2, includes a cutting wheel131, a wheel retaining portion133attached to the cutting wheel131, and a cutting blade134. The cutting wheel131has an outer edge132extending circumferentially around the cutting wheel131. The outer edge132is formed as a sharp point. The wheel retaining portion133in the shown embodiment is approximately J-shaped. The cutting blade134extends from a first end135to a second end136opposite the first end135. The second end136has a contour edge138on one side of the cutting blade134. The contour edge138is formed as a sharp point.

The sliding plate140, as shown inFIGS.1-3, has a plurality of sliding slots142, a plurality of plate retainers146extending into the sliding slots142, an engaging end147, and a bearing member149.

The sliding slots142, as shown inFIGS.1-3, extend through the sliding plate140in the longitudinal direction L and extend from an upper end143to a lower end144in the height direction H. The upper end143and lower end144are only labeled for one of the sliding slots142inFIGS.3and4for clarity of the drawings but apply equally to each of the shown sliding slots142. In the shown embodiment, the sliding plate140has three sliding slots142. In other embodiments, the sliding plate140may have two sliding slots142or more than three sliding slots142.

Each of the plate retainers146is a fastener, such as a screw, a bolt, or any other type of fastener, and extends into one of the sliding slots142. In the shown embodiment, the sliding plate140has three plate retainers146. In other embodiments, the sliding plate140may have any other number of plate retainers146, provided at least one plate retainer146is positioned in each of the sliding slots142.

The engaging end147, as shown inFIGS.1-3, is disposed at an end of the sliding plate140in the height direction H. The engaging end147has a protrusion148extending from the engaging end147in the height direction H. In the shown embodiment, the engaging end147has a semicircular shape, such a half circle, and the protrusion148has a contoured shape that follows a shape of the inner surface of the engaging end147. A thickness of the protrusion148in the longitudinal direction L is less than a thickness of the engaging end147in the longitudinal direction L.

The bearing member149, as shown inFIGS.1-3, extends from the sliding plate140in the longitudinal direction L. The bearing member149is a pin in the shown embodiment that is attachable to the sliding plate140. In other embodiments, the bearing member149may be a flat plate that is attachable to the sliding plate140, or may be any other shape that extends from the sliding plate140and provides a bearing surface facing in the height direction H. In other embodiments, the bearing member149of any shape may be monolithically formed with the sliding plate140in a single piece. In the shown embodiment, the bearing member149extends from the sliding plate140from a position approximately central on the sliding plate140in the height direction H. In other embodiments, the bearing member149could be positioned anywhere else along the height direction H along the sliding plate140.

The biasing member150, as shown inFIGS.2and3, is a spring that extends from a first end152to a second end154along the height direction H. The spring is a coil spring in the shown embodiment but, in other embodiments, could be any other type of elastic member that provides a biasing force when compressed between the ends152,154.

The assembly of the cutting arm100will now be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS.1-3. A plurality of the fasteners160of the cutting arm100are shown inFIGS.1-3and used to assemble the cutting arm100. The fasteners160may each be a screw, a bolt, or any other type of fastener.

The cutting assembly130is attached to the front side112of the base110. As shown inFIGS.1and2, the wheel retaining portion133is attached to the front side112of the base110adjacent to the first lateral side116by one of the fasteners160. The cutting wheel131is attached to the base110by the wheel retaining portion133and is held between the wheel retaining portion133and the base110. The cutting wheel131is rotatable with respect to the wheel retaining portion133and the base110. The cutting wheel131, in the fully assembled state of the cutting arm100shown inFIG.1, extends beyond the bottom end122of the base110in the height direction H and extends beyond the first lateral side116of the base110in the width direction W.

The cutting blade134, as shown inFIGS.1and2, is attached to the front side112of the base110adjacent to the second lateral side118by one of the fasteners160. The first end135of the cutting blade134is attached to the base110and the second end136extends from the base110. The second end135of the cutting blade134extends beyond the bottom end122of the base110in the height direction H and extends beyond the second lateral side118of the base110in the width direction W.

The sliding plate140, as shown inFIGS.1-3, is attached to the front side112of the base110. Each of the plate retainers146positioned in one of the sliding slots142engages the base110to secure the sliding plate140to the front side112. The engaging end147is positioned in alignment with the post receiving passageway124along the height direction H. The bearing member149extends into the biasing member recess128, as shown inFIG.3.

The biasing member150, as shown inFIGS.2and3, is disposed in the biasing member recess128of the base110. The first end152of the biasing member150abuts the base110at an inner side of the top end120and the second end154of the biasing member150abuts the bearing member149.

The fully assembled state of the cutting arm100is shown inFIG.1. In the fully assembled state, the sliding plate140is movable with respect to the base110between an engaging position E, shown inFIGS.1and6B, and a releasing position R, shown inFIG.6A. In the engaging position E, the plate retainers146each abut against the upper end143of the sliding slot142in which they disposed and the protrusion148overlaps an end of the post receiving passageway124. In the releasing position R, the sliding plate140is moved in the height direction H and the plate retainers146are positioned closer to or in abutment with the lower end144of the sliding slot142. The protrusion148no longer overlaps the end of the post receiving passageway124in the releasing position R.

As shown inFIGS.6A and6B, the biasing member150is compressed between the base110and the bearing member149in the releasing position R and provides a biasing force F in the height direction H biasing the sliding plate140toward the engaging position E. In an embodiment, the biasing member150is designed to also provide a force in the height direction H in the engaging position E that is less than the biasing force F to secure the sliding plate140in the engaging position E.

The cutting arm100, as shown inFIGS.4,5,6A, and6B, in an embodiment is part of a cable preparation machine10. The cable preparation machine10includes a plurality of cutting arms100as described in detail above, a first wheel200, a second wheel300rotatable with respect to the first wheel200, a separation plate400disposed between the first wheel200and the plurality of cutting arms100, a support500to which the wheels200,300are attached, and a cable bore600extending through the wheels200,300and the support500. In the shown embodiment, the cable preparation machine10includes three cutting arms100. In other embodiments, the cable preparation machine10could include one cutting arm100, two cutting arms100, or more than three cutting arms100.

The first wheel200, as shown inFIGS.4and5, has a plurality of cam slots210extending through the first wheel200and a plurality of posts220extending from the first wheel200. The cam slots210each extend through the first wheel200along the longitudinal direction L and extend circumferentially along a portion of the first wheel200in a plane defined by the height direction H and the width direction W. The posts220are fixed to and extend from the first wheel200along the longitudinal direction L, and have a groove222extending into the post220and around the post220at an end opposite the first wheel200. The posts220are positioned closer to a center of the first wheel200than the cutting arms100.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.4and5, the first wheel200has three cam slots210and three posts220, with each set of elements spaced equally from each other in a circumferential direction of the first wheel200. Each of the cam slots210and each of the posts220corresponds to one of the cutting arms100. In other embodiments, the number of cam slots210and the number of posts220could be different provided that they each correspond to the number of cutting arms100in the cable preparation machine10.

The second wheel300, as shown inFIGS.4and5, has a plurality of cams310fixed to and extending from the second wheel300along the longitudinal direction L and a roller320disposed on an end of each of the cams310. The roller320is rotatable with respect to the cam310. Only one of the cams310with a roller320is shown inFIG.5for clarity of the drawings, however, the second wheel300has one cam310with one roller320corresponding to each of the cutting arms100shown inFIGS.4and5.

In the shown embodiment, the second wheel300has three cams310with three rollers320spaced equally from each other in a circumferential direction of the second wheel300. In other embodiments, the number of cams310each having a roller320could be different provided they correspond to the number of cutting arms100in the cable preparation machine10.

As shown inFIGS.4and5, the cable bore600extends through the support500along the longitudinal direction L. The first wheel200and the second wheel300are positioned around the cable bore600. The second wheel300is adjacent to the support500and the first wheel200is adjacent to the second wheel300; the second wheel300is positioned between the first wheel200and the support500along the longitudinal direction L. The second wheel300is positioned with each of the cams310extending through and positioned in one of the cam slots210. The separation plate400is positioned between the first wheel200and the plurality of cutting arms100along the longitudinal direction L, exposing the plurality of posts220.

The attachment of each of the cutting arms100to one of the posts220will now be described in greater detail with the post220exposed and the cam310extending through the cam slot210as shown in the top portion ofFIG.5. InFIGS.6A and6B, the wheels200,300, except for the posts220, are omitted for clarity of the drawings but are positioned as shown inFIGS.4and5.

With the cutting arm100off the post220, the cutting arm100is moved to the releasing position R shown inFIG.6Aby sliding the sliding plate140until the plate retainers146are disposed near or in abutment with the lower ends144of the slots142. The sliding plate140is held in the releasing position R against the biasing force F while the cutting arm100is moved toward the first wheel200to insert the post220into the post receiving passageway124along the longitudinal direction L, for example manually by a user or automatically by a machine.

The post220is inserted into the post receiving passageway124until the groove222is positioned outside of the post receiving passageway124and aligned with the front side112, as shown inFIG.6A. The sliding plate140is then released, and the biasing force F of the biasing member150moves the sliding plate140back to the engaging position E shown inFIG.6B. In the engaging position E, as shown inFIGS.1and6B, the sliding plate140engages the post220disposed in the post receiving passageway124to releasably secure the cutting arm100to the post220. The protrusion148at the engaging end147is positioned in and engages the groove222of the post220, securing against movement of the cutting arm100along the longitudinal direction L with respect to the post220.

To remove the cutting arm100from the post220, the sliding plate140is moved from the engaging position E inFIG.6Bback to the releasing position R inFIG.6A. The protrusion148is disengaged from the groove222and spaced apart from the groove222in the height direction H in the releasing position R. The sliding plate140is held in the releasing position R against the biasing force F while the cutting arm100is moved off of the post220along the longitudinal direction L. The sliding plate140is in the releasing position R both when the post220is inserted into the post receiving passageway124to install the cutting arm100and when the post220is removed from the post receiving passageway124to remove the cutting arm100.

During use of the cable preparation machine10, the cutting arms100are each in the engaging position E on one of the posts220, as shown inFIG.4. The cutting arms100are each pivotable about the posts220in the engaging position E along a pivot direction P shown inFIG.4. In the engaging position E of the cutting arm100, the cam310extending through the cam slot210as shown inFIG.5extends into the follower slot126of the cutting arm100.

With a cable disposed in the cable bore600, the first wheel200and the second wheel300are rotatable with respect to each other about the cable bore600in a rotation direction R shown inFIG.4by, for example, a pulley or any other drive element. As the wheels200,300rotate with respect to one another about the rotation direction R, the cam310moves along the cam slot210, and the roller320on the end of the cam310rolls along the base110in the follower slot126shown inFIG.5, pivoting the cutting arm100in the pivot direction P about the post220.

Pivoting the cutting arm100one way in the pivot direction P moves the contour edge138of the cutting bade134into engagement with the cable, for example to remove an outer or an inner insulation layer of the cable. Pivoting the cutting arm100the opposite way in the pivot direction P moves the cutting wheel131into engagement with the cable, for example to flare and cut a braid of the cable. The wheels200,300can be controlled to rotate with respect to each other and pivot the cutting arms100either way along the pivot direction P to prepare the cable as needed.

The cutting arm100according to the embodiments described herein is releasably securable to the post220by movement of the sliding plate140between the releasing position R and the engaging position E. No extra tools are required to move the cutting arm100between the releasing position R and the engaging position E, easing the difficulty and reducing the time necessary in exchanging the cutting arm100for wear or for use with cables of different size. The ease of moving the cutting arm100between the releasing position R and the engaging position E could also allow the cutting arm100to be manipulated by machines in automation of necessary changeover for wear or size.