Patent ID: 7735228

Claim:
A tool for stripping the outer insulation sheath ( 29 ) from a flat cable containing a plurality of parallel generally-coplanar insulated conductors ( 30 ) enclosed by said sheath, said cable having a generally elliptical cross-sectional configuration with the outer insulation sheath defining a pair of parallel flat outer side surfaces joined by a pair of curved outer edge surfaces, said cable having a longitudinal axis parallel to the length of the conductors, comprising: (a) a knife blade ( 6 ) having a cutting edge ( 6 a ); (b) knife holder means ( 5 ) having a first end carrying said knife blade ( 6 ) with said cutting edge extending therefrom, (c) knife holder guide means ( 2 ) including a linear guide edge ( 12 a ; 13 a ); (d) clamping means ( 3 ; 4 ) for clamping said guide means onto the cable with said linear guide edge arranged adjacent one of the insulation sheath flat outer surfaces with said linear guide edge extending transversely relative to the cable longitudinal axis; (e) said knife blade cutting edge extending from said knife holder means such a distance as to cut the outer insulation sheath transversely of the cable when said knife holder means is displaced in guided relation relative to said linear guide edge; and (f) knife cut depth control means for linearly adjusting the position of said knife blade relative to said knife holder means, thereby to control the depth of cut produced by said knife cutting edge in said outer insulation sheath; g) said knife holder means including: (1) a hollow sectional tool holder housing ( 5 a , 5 b ); (2) a tubular support body ( 19 ) arranged for rotation within said housing; (3) a bifurcated sliding member ( 18 ) arranged for sliding displacement within one end of said support body; (4) means ( 33 , 34 ) connecting one end of said knife blade with said sliding member with said the knife cutting edge extending outwardly from said sliding member; (5) spiral cam and follower means ( 22 , 23 ) responsive to rotation of said tubular support body within said housing for axially displacing said support body relative to said housing; and (6) safety pin means ( 21 ) extending through a lateral opening contained in said housing for engaging a circumferential groove ( 20 ) contained in said tubular support body, thereby to prevent axial displacement of said tubular support body relative to said housing.