Abstract: A hand tool suitable for cutting the insulation jacket on "Romex"-type cables. The tool is adapted to cut the insulation jacket crosswise and lengthwise so that the cable sheath may be removed with a slight pull. The tool includes a pair of handles which are hinged at one end. The opposite end of one of the handles includes a pair of blades which are spaced apart and which "slice" across the cable sheath and then pass clear the cable when the handles are squeezed together. A pair of slitting blades located within the handles engage the insulation on the remaining opposite sides of the cable. The tool is then drawn down the length of the cable away from the original cut to complete the operation.

Abstract: A hand tool suitable for cutting the insulation jacket on "Romex"-type cables. The tool is adapted to cut the insulation jacket crosswise and lengthwise so that the cable sheath may be removed with a slight pull. The tool includes a pair of handles which are hinged at one end. The opposite end of one of the handles includes a pair of blades which are spaced apart and which "slice" across the cable sheath and then pass clear the cable when the handles are squeezed together. A pair of slitting blades located within the handles engage the insulation on the remaining opposite sides of the cable. The tool is then drawn down the length of the cable away from the original cut to complete the operation.

Abstract: A tool for assembling a plurality of conductors into secured engagement with a mandrel of a multicontact electrical connector includes a plurality of spaced combs which are positioned adjacent a nest to hold the conductors transversely above a mandrel which is supported in the nest. In each cycle of operation, a head of the tool is prepositioned with respect to the nest and moved into engagement with the conductors to cause a forming die of the head to partially form the conductors about the mandrel and cooperate with a blade adjacent the nest to sever excess lengths of free end portions of the conductors. The head is repositioned with respect to the next so that when the head is again moved, in a second step of the cycle, forces are applied which are sufficient to form the conductors completely about the mandrel with each conductor being pressed into secured engagement with an associated recess on each side of the mandrel.

Abstract: A tool for assembling a plurality of conductors into secured engagement with a mandrel of a multicontact electrical connector includes a plurality of spaced combs which are positioned adjacent a nest to hold the conductors transversely above a mandrel which is supported in the nest. In each cycle of operation, a head of the tool is prepositioned with respect to the nest and moved into engagement with the conductors to cause a forming die of the head to partially form the conductors about the mandrel and cooperate with a blade adjacent the nest to sever excess lengths of free end portions of the conductors. The head is repositioned with respect to the nest so that when the head is again moved, in a second step of the cycle, forces are applied which are sufficient to form the conductors completely about the mandrel with each conductor being pressed into secured engagement with an associated recess on each side of the mandrel.

Abstract: A hand-operated tool (50) for assembling stackable elements (52, 53 and 54) of a multicontact electrical connector (51) and for assembling conductors (56 and 57) to the connector includes a head (125) which is automatically positioned for effectively applying forces to the connector at each step of its assembly and to the conductors. An installer causes the head to be moved downwardly through a first incremental distance toward a support (109) into engagement with an element or conductors which are to be moved into secured engagement with an element held on the support. The movement of the head through the first incremental distance and the initiation of its movement through a second incremental distance causes the head to be spaced from the support a predetermined distance which is automatically determined as a function of the number of elements held on the support in that step of the assembly.

Abstract: To prepare insulated conductors of a cable for termination to a connector of the type including a planar member through which a plurality of conductor receiving passageways extend in a predetermined multiplanar array, the conductors are gripped, at a point spaced from the ends thereof, between a pair of conductor holders. The conductor holders each have a plurality of teeth which intermesh when urged together to grip the conductors in an array which spatially corresponds with the predetermined array of the conductor receiving passageways. The conductor holders position the ends of the conductors between a pair of stripping blades each of which has a plurality of insulation cutting teeth which intermesh when urged together to sever the insulation on the conductors at a point between the ends thereof and the conductor holders, and to capture the conductors in the predetermined array.