Abstract: This tool permits rapid and easy stripping of the outer insulation from cxial cables or the like. The end of the cable to be stripped is first inserted into a gauging hole in a block of insulating material. A pair of blade-shaped electrical heating elements are clamped against opposite sides of the cable at the mouth of the hole and the cable rotated to form a thermal circumferential cut in the outer insulation. The cable end is then placed in another jig with a V-shaped groove therein and a blade-shaped heating element at the bottom of the groove. A second similar heating element is arranged above the groove and the cable. These two heating elements produce diametrically opposed longitudinal cuts in the insulation, after which two pieces of the insulation can be easily removed.

Abstract: A tool for trimming coaxial cable comprises a cable-holding member and a cutter-holding member. Sections of the cable-holding member and cutter-holding member are matable for movement relative to each other and they are initially secured together so that stop surfaces of these members are spaced from one another based on the amount of trimming that must be done to trim a cable to a precise electrical length. The end of the cable is secured in the cable-holding member with the end to be trimmed disposed against a cutter member secured to the cutter-holding member. The matable sections are unsecured, the cutter-holding member is rotated relative to the cable-holding member so that the cutter member trims the cable end until the stop surfaces engage.

Abstract: A blade for cutting and stripping insulation from insulated electrical conductors has two blade angles leading to the cutting edge. The first angle is a gathering angle which opens onto the leading surface of the blade and provides a wide opening for gathering offset insulated conductors. The gathering angle converges toward the interior of the blade and intersects the second blade angle, which also converges toward the blade interior. The second blade angle, the cutting angle, terminates in a radius cutting edge adapted to slice the insulation. The blade walls defining the cutting angle are tangent to the cutting edge radius. The cutting angle is minimized so that the radius cutting edge provides a maximum circumferential contact with the conductor. The blade may include a stop for positively controlling the cutting stroke to avoid nicking the conductor.

Abstract: A tool for trimming coaxial cable comprises a cable-holding member and a cutter-holding member. Sections of the cable-holding member and cutter-holding member are matable for movement relative to each other and they are initially secured together so that stop surfaces of these members are spaced from one another based on the amount of trimming that must be done to trim a cable to a precise electrical length. The end of the cable is secured in the cable-holding member with the end to be trimmed disposed against a cutter member secured to the cutter-holding member. The matable sections are unsecured, the cutter-holding member is rotated relative to the cable-holding member so that the cutter member trims the cable end until the stop surfaces engage.

Abstract: A wire stripper provides for one-hand thermal-stripping of thermoplastic insulation from wire in a substantial range of wire sizes without need for adjustment or alternation in manipulation of the wire relative to the stripper or of the stripper relative to the wire. The stripping operation requires merely insertion of a free-end of thermoplastic-insulated wire in the larger end of a teardrop-shaped slot in a flat conductive strip tensioned between electrodes passing current through the strip, then withdrawing the free end of wire out of the slot in a direction wedging the insulation in the smaller end of the slot as the wire is withdrawn from it, either with or without a twist of the free end. A novel electrode mount both maintains tension on the flat conductive strip when it is heated and serves as closure of a box that holds the current transformer supplying the electrodes.

Abstract: The tool includes a pair of handles which combine to form a hand grip for manipulation of the tool. When the handles are closed, a support element is displaced from its illustrated home position within the head portion, engages a connector and displaces it forwardly against a die to crimp the connector element to the multi-conductor wire positioned in the connector and effect electrical contact between individual contact elements in the connector and the conductors in the multi-conductor wire. The tool also provides for stripping the end of the wire to fit within the connector. Guide elements with upwardly open yokes on one handle accommodate the wire, and blade elements on the other handle provide a slicing action on opposite sides of the sheath of the wire as the blades engage the sheath as the handles are closed so that the sheath may be stripped to expose the conductors for insertion into the connector.

Abstract: A cable splitter is disclosed for splitting the outside sheath of a cable containing one or more inner conductors. The cable splitter comprises an elongated member having a trough disposed along the entire longitudinal length thereof. A handle is connected to the distal end of the elongated member. A cutting element is positioned through a boss connected to the proximal end of the elongated member such that the cutting edge of the cutting element extends into the trough. The amount by which the cutting edge extends into the trough is made adjustable by means of set screws threadably disposed through the boss to engage the cutting element. Preferably the trough comprises a cross-sectional configuration substantially identical to the cross-sectional configuration of the cable to be slit. This enables the cable splitter of this invention to slit the sheath of the cable along the edge thereof, rather than along the flat, mid-portion of the cable.

Abstract: A tool for removing insulation from electrical conductors includes an apparatus body, a knife head defining a separate unit and attachable to the body, and a support for a treated conductor located at one end of the head. At least one insulation-cutting knife is arranged in the support and a holder stirrup is provided to press the cable against the support and the knife or knives.

Abstract: A recoverable arrangement for stripping insulation from an elongate conductor comprises two stripping members each of which has a cut out portion. The cut out portions are arranged to overlap so as to form an aperture to receive the insulated conductor. The arrangement is recoverable such that the stripping members move both laterally of the conductor, to pierce the insulation, and longitudinally of the conductor, to strip the insulation. Preferably the stripping members of a further member in association with the stripping members comprise a heat-recoverable metal which recovers to move the stripping members relative to the conductor.