Stripping tools and methods for preparing coaxial cables

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9887522-B2
Application number	US-201514812486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2015
Priority date	Jul 30, 2014
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

A stripping tool includes and body portion and a clamping arm. The stripping tool further includes a stripping blade having a blade edge. The stripping blade extends from the body portion, and the blade edge is offset from the clamping arm at a distance d such that the blade edge enters the insulator layer of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable is positioned between the clamping arm and the body portion. The stripping tool further includes a retention element disposed at the body portion at a position after the stripping blade along a cable insertion direction. The retention element is positioned to contact the outer layer of an end portion of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable is positioned between the clamping arm and the body portion and the stripping tool is in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stripping tool for stripping a coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, an insulator layer surrounding the inner conductor, a braided outer conductor layer surrounding the insulator layer, and an outer layer surrounding the braided outer conductor layer, the stripping tool comprising:
a body portion comprising a stripping end;
a clamping arm rotatably coupled to the body portion such that the clamping arm is biased in a normally closed position with respect to the body portion;
a stripping blade comprising a blade edge, wherein the stripping blade extends from the body portion at the stripping end in a direction toward the clamping arm, and the blade edge is offset from the clamping arm at a distance (d) such that the blade edge enters the insulator layer of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable is positioned between the clamping arm and the body portion and the stripping tool is in a closed position; and
a retention element disposed at the body portion at a position after the stripping blade along a cable insertion direction, wherein:
the retention element and the clamping arm define a channel when the stripping tool is in the closed position; and
the retention element is positioned to contact the outer layer of an end portion of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable is positioned between the clamping arm and the body portion and the stripping tool is in the closed position such that the retention element prevents rotation of the end portion of the coaxial cable within the stripping tool as the stripping tool is rotated about the coaxial cable.

2. The stripping tool of claim 1 , wherein the retention element prevents rotation of the end portion of the coaxial cable such that a bond between the insulator layer and the inner conductor is broken as the stripping tool is rotated about the coaxial cable.

3. The stripping tool of claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a pad.

4. The stripping tool of claim 3 , wherein the pad is curved.

5. The stripping tool of claim 3 , wherein the pad is made of a pliable material.

6. The stripping tool of claim 3 , wherein the pad is made of reinforced silicon.

7. The stripping tool of claim 1 , wherein the retention element is curved and comprises a textured surface.

8. The stripping tool of claim 7 , wherein the textured surface is a knurl pattern.

9. The stripping tool of claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a cleat extending from the body portion toward the clamping arm.

10. The stripping tool of claim 9 , wherein the cleat is configured to pierce at least the outer layer of the coaxial cable.

11. The stripping tool of claim 1 , wherein the clamping arm comprises a groove aligned with the retention element when the stripping tool is in a closed position.

12. The stripping tool of claim 1 , wherein the blade edge of the stripping blade comprises a central notch.

13. The stripping tool of claim 1 , wherein the stripping blade comprises a chamfer feature configured to form a chamfered end face of the coaxial cable as the stripping tool is rotated about the coaxial cable.

14. The stripping tool of claim 13 , wherein the stripping blade further comprises a face, and the chamfer feature comprises an angled portion extending from the face.

15. The stripping tool of claim 1 , further comprising an insert removably coupled to the body portion, wherein the stripping blade and the retention element are disposed within the insert.

16. A stripping tool for stripping a coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, an insulator layer surrounding the inner conductor, a braided outer conductor layer surrounding the insulator layer, and an outer layer surrounding the braided outer conductor layer, the stripping tool comprising:
a body portion comprising a stripping end;
a clamping arm rotatably coupled to the body portion such that the clamping arm is biased in a normally closed position with respect to the body portion; and
an insert removably coupled to the body portion at the stripping end, the insert comprising:
a stripping blade comprising a blade edge, wherein the stripping blade extends toward the clamping arm such that the blade edge is offset from the clamping arm at a distance (d) and the blade edge enters the insulator layer of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable is positioned between the clamping arm and the body portion and the stripping tool is in a closed position; and
a retention pad disposed at the body portion at a position after the stripping blade along a cable insertion direction, wherein:
the retention pad is curved;
the retention pad and the clamping arm define a channel when the stripping tool is in the closed position; and
the retention pad is positioned within the insert to contact the outer layer of an end portion of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable is positioned between the clamping arm and the body portion and the stripping tool is in the closed position such that the retention pad prevents rotation of the end portion of the coaxial cable within the stripping tool and a bond between the insulator layer and the inner conductor is broken as the stripping tool is rotated about the coaxial cable.

17. The stripping tool of claim 16 , wherein the blade edge of the stripping blade comprises a central notch.

18. The stripping tool of claim 16 , wherein the stripping blade comprises a chamfer feature configured to form a chamfered end face of the coaxial cable as the stripping tool is rotated about the coaxial cable.

19. The stripping tool of claim 18 , wherein the stripping blade further comprises a face, and the chamfer feature comprises an angled portion extending from the face.

Assignees

• Corning Optical Comm Rf Llc

Inventors

• Burris Donald Andrew
• Castonguay Guy Joachin
• Miller Thomas Dewey

Classifications

• H02G1/1236

  Features relating to cutting elements · CPC title

• H02G1/1224 Primary

  making a transverse cut · CPC title