Abstract: An open end wrench includes first and second jaws. The first jaw includes an arcuate sliding groove having two support walls and an arcuate sliding wall between the support walls. A slide is slideably received in the sliding groove and includes an arcuate sliding face slideable along the sliding wall. Two wings respectively extend from top and bottom faces of the slide. Top and bottom extension faces extend from a wrenching face of the slide and are located on inner faces of the wings. When the open end wrench drives a workpiece to rotate, an outer face of each wing is partially in contact with the second jaw. Force imparted from the workpiece to the wings is transmitted to the second jaw.

Abstract: An open end wrench includes first and second jaws. The first jaw includes an arcuate sliding groove having two support walls and an arcuate sliding wall between the support walls. A slide is slideably received in the sliding groove and includes an arcuate sliding face slideable along the sliding wall. Two wings respectively extend from top and bottom faces of the slide. Top and bottom extension faces extend from a wrenching face of the slide and are located on inner faces of the wings. A spacing is formed between an outer face of each wing and one of the support walls to avoid friction, allowing smooth movement of the slide between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in adjusting an endplay of a bearing of a wheel hub assembly includes an outer circumferential surface configured to be received within an annular space around the nut attached to a shaft of the wheel hub assembly and retaining the bearing on the shaft. An engaging surface is coupled to the outer circumferential surface and configured to engage the nut. A stopping surface is coupled to the engaging surface and configured to abut an outer surface of the nut opposite the bearing such that the engaging surface is positioned in an engaging position to engage nut engaging surfaces of the nut. An arm is connected to the stopping surface and extends out of the annular space away from the bearing and substantially parallel to an axis of the shaft when the stopping surface abuts the outer surface of the nut.

Abstract: An open end wrench (10) includes first and second jaws (23, 24) formed on a jaw portion (22). The first jaw (23) includes an arcuate sliding groove (27) having two support walls (272, 273) and an arcuate sliding wall (271) between the support walls (272, 273). A slide (30) is received in the sliding groove (27) and includes an arcuate sliding face (31) slideable along the sliding wall (272). An arcuate guiding slot (35) is formed in the slide (30). A guide (28) is fixed in the sliding groove (27) and received in the guiding slot (35). The guiding slot (35) includes a pressing end (352). An elastic device (40) has two ends respectively abutting the guide (28) and the pressing end (352) of the guiding slot (35) for biasing the slide (30) to a natural position. The slide (30) includes a first wrenching face (32) having two wings (36). A spacing (L) is formed between each wings (36) and one of the support walls (272, 273).

Abstract: A pair of pliers include a shank, a fixed jaw locked onto the shank, and a movable jaw pivotally mounted on the shank and movable relative to the fixed jaw. Thus, the first contact point of the locking teeth of the fixed jaw and the second contact point of the first engaging teeth of the first toothed face of the movable jaw have a larger friction with a workpiece by a special angle design of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw to enhance the clamping force of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw on the workpiece, so that the workpiece is clamped by the fixed jaw and the movable jaw exactly and closely to prevent the workpiece from being slipped from the fixed jaw and the movable jaw during operation of the pliers.

Abstract: A universal wrench includes a handle that is made of flat parts that are connected by pins and are provided with a coating. The flat parts have clamping parts on their ends and have offsets which form a support slot for a clamping body. The clamping body has clamping surfaces and a bearing flange with support slot that has a varying diameter for a swivel axis which can move in recesses of the handle parts against a spring on which the wrench body pivots and is mounted in an adjustable manner in the gripping openings.

Abstract: Wire stripping apparatus includes a block rotatable by either a drill element or a ratchet wrench element relative to wire being stripped includes at least a single bore which extends axially of the block. Communicating with the bore is a slot which holds a cutter blade. The cutter blade extends into the bore which receives the wire a depth sufficient to remove the insulation from the wire, leaving only the conductive core free from or stripped of the insulation. The depth of the bore and the location of the cutter blade determine the maximum length of the wire from which the insulation is stripped. The wire is thus fed into the wire stripping bore of the cylinder as the cylinder is rotated to easily and speedily remove the insulation.

Abstract: A tube slitter for removing the outer metallic cladding of an optical power ground wire includes a channel guide for directing the movement of the tube slitter along the length of the ground wire. The ground wire includes an inner grooved spacer that engages with the channel guide. A cutting wheel is formed within the tube slitter and is free to rotate as the slitter is pulled along the length of the ground wire. The cutting wheel is positioned to provide a depth of cut sufficient to slit open the cladding tube without damaging the underlying optical fibers.

Abstract: A cable slitter for separating side-by-side cables connected by a web of insulating material, particularly coaxial cables, includes a slitting blade for separating the cables and a shaving blade for removing excess web material. The shaving blade is mounted on a hinge member between a pair of guide projections. The hinge member is mounted on the tool body and swings to an open position to receive the cable to be separated, allowing the cable to be positioned on a second pair of guide projections on the tool body. The hinge member swings to a closed position to pierce the web material and trap the cable between the guide projections on the hinge member and the guide projections on the body. The guide projections act relative to the "valleys" defined by the web material and the outer circumferences of the cables to guide the tool as the tool is moved lengthwise along the cables.

Abstract: A wire stripping apparatus for stripping insulation material (48) from an insulated electrical conductor (50) includes a first stripping blade (40) having a first cutting tip configuration (44, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72) and a second stripping blade (42) supported in opposing relation to the first stripping blade (40) having a second set of cutting tip configuration (46, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74) different from the first set of cutting tip configuration (44, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72) encompasses and uniformly strips an insulation slug from a periphery of the insulated conductor (50).

Abstract: A hand tool includes a handle with a tool attached thereto. The handle includes a compartment defined by a bottom wall and two side walls. A press block includes two ends in guided sliding engagement with the side walls to thereby allow the press block to be slidable relative to the side walls of the handle upon manual operation on the press block. A first wire stripping member is provided on the bottom wall of the compartment and includes a number of first notches of different curvatures. A second wire stripping member is provided on the press block and includes a number of second notches of different curvatures for stripping insulation from electrical wires of different gauges when the first notches and the second notches come together in a closed state as a result of manual operation on the press block.

Abstract: A method and kit for stripping the resin matrix on a predetermined length of optical fiber ribbon, allowing access over the length to the optical fibers of the optical fiber ribbon. A solvent is used to weaken the matrix material over the span to which access to the optical fibers is needed. Next the span is pressed onto a pressure sensitive adhesive and then pulled away from the pressure sensitive adhesive, leaving behind some or all of the matrix material. The process is repeated as necessary.

Abstract: A production system (1) has workstations (2), each having a bench (3) with a movable service rail (4). Each service rail (4) is movable to allow very quick configuration of the system (1). Each rail (4) also has an electrical power duct (15) and a pneumatic supply (14) having outlets for production and test apparatus on the bench (3). There is a single switch (17) for each duct 15 and this allows interconnection to an overhead duct system (5). The production apparatus includes tools for stripping cable jackets, for unravelling individual wires (61), for stripping insulation by heating (71) and for applying connectors (104) and for applying a protective sleeve (111). A test system (130) has a controller (132) and a modular test fixture (135) with components which are easily removed and replaced.

Abstract: A multi-purpose electrician pliers tool having an elongate body with a forward end and a rearward end and constructed of a first member and a second member pivotally secured together by a pivot pin. The first and second members include forwardly extending and overlapping jaw portions on a forward side of the pivot pin and define therebetween a plurality of opposing and pivotally interengaging locations corresponding to a plurality of different wire fabricating features located on both forward and rearward sides of the pivot pin.

Abstract: A wire stripper device for stripping insulation from a wire includes a plurality of replacable wire guide inserts for supporting and stripping wire of different sizes. An indented guide surface and a slot are formed in the wire guide insert which permit the user to remove and replace the insert without adjusting the knife.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stripping housing from a cable. The apparatus includes a frame having an interior channel or passage for receiving a cable therethrough and an exterior. The frame has a guide coupled to the frame interior for supporting the cable when the cable is received through the frame and moved axially therethrough. Disposed in the frame is an adjustable shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft is adjustably coupled to the frame so that the first end is disposed in the frame interior opposite the guide and can be quickly and safely adjusted relative to the guide depending on the size of cable disposed therein. The first end also has a blade attached thereto for splitting the housing of the cable when the cable is moved axially through the frame interior while supported by the guide. The guide supports the cable so that the housing on the cable is perforated by the blade when the adjustable shaft is adjusted to press the blade against the cable.

Abstract: A screwdriver has a handle provided with a spring-biased press block secured within a recess of the handle for movement towards and away from a bottom of the recess. The press block and bottom of the recess are each provided with cooperating wire clamping and terminal clamping bodies for respectively stripping insulation from the wire and securing a terminal to a stripped end of the wire.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw attached to a body of the ratchet wrench and having V-shaped nut gripping portions opposing each other. The fixed jaw is pivoted to a forward end portion of the body and biased to rotate toward the movable jaw by a spring. An adjusting nut is provided rotatably about a longitudinal center axis of the body, and an adjusting screw rod is threaded into the adjusting nut so that it is movable back and forth along the longitudinal center axis of the body by rotating the adjusting nut in one direction or the other. The movable jaw is pivoted at a rear end portion thereof to the adjusting screw rod by a guide pin which is guided along a longitudinal slot provided in the body and, the movable jaw is biased to rotate toward the fixed jaw by a spring provided between the movable jaw and the adjusting screw rod.

Abstract: A cutting module and a cutting element which fits within the cutting module are used to remove polymer, e.g. insulation or a conductive polymer composition, from the first and second electrodes of the cable at the end of the cable in order to make electrical connection from the electrodes to the first and second contact members of an electrical plug. Present within the cutting module are first and second electrode-contact sections positioned on the concave arcuate inner surface of the wall of a cavity in the cutting module. The electrode-contact sections can be electrically connected to the first and second contact members. The cutting element comprises a cutting wedge which has (a) a convex arcuate outer surface which complements the inner surface of the wall of the cutting module, and (b) piercing means suitable for penetrating the polymer.

Abstract: To facilitate removal of partly peeled end coating portions W2 of insulated wires W, improve operability so as to make it unlikely to strain an operator, and keep the alignment of the ends of the insulated wires W from which the end coating portions W2 are removed. There is provided a retainer member 23 capable of retaining exposed cores W1 of the insulated wires W. Cut faces of coating portions W3 of the insulated wires W from which the end coating portions W2 are to be removed engage the retainer member 23. There is further provided a removal portion 24, 25 for applying a force to the end coating portions W2 in a removal direction between the retainer member 23 and the removal portion 24, 25. The end coating portions W2 are removed from the cores W1 by retaining the exposed cores W1 of the insulated wires W by retainer member 23 and by applying a force to the end coating portions W2 in the removal direction by the removal portion 24, 25.

Abstract: The self-cleaning wire stripper includes a wire stripping element, such as an RF coil, which burns insulation from a segment of wire. A wire guide, such as a insulating burn tube, positioned within the wire stripping element guides the wire through the wire stripping element. The self-cleaning wire stripper uses a reamer having a wire channel such that the wire passes through the reamer. At the desired time, such as at the end of every burn operation, the reamer cleans the wire guide, resulting in no down time for tube removal/cleaning. The reamer cycle time is transparent to the process and does not slow down throughput because reaming occurs during the coil winding process.

Abstract: A wrench includes a pair of jaws mounted to a handle. A first jaw is mounted for selective actuation by an actuator between a stationary position with respect to a second jaw so that the jaws engage and rotate the workpiece when the wrench handle is rotated, and a movable position with respect to the second jaw so that the jaws disengage and slide over the workpiece (e.g., in a ratchet-like manner) and allow the workpiece to remain stationary when the handle is rotated. The wrench operates in the selected mode of operation (i.e., driving or ratcheting) when the handle is rotated in either direction. Another wrench (which is not bi-directional) features a pair of plates pivotally mounted within cavities in a pair of spaced jaws on the wrench handle. Each plate includes a grasping surface for engaging a face of the workpiece and a curved peripheral surface which slidingly engages a curved bearing surface in the cavity so that the plate can pivot within the cavity.

Abstract: A tool is provided for cutting an outer layer of insulation from an elongated cable or the like. The tool has a cable support or back stop, a knife, a rotatable and adjustable knife holder with a shoulder for contacting and riding over the insulation, and a spring for biasing the holder toward the support. The knife can be positioned to make circumferential and lengthwise cuts through the insulation. An opening may be provided to accommodate a measuring device. A handle may be provided for selectively moving and rotating the knife holder. The handle may be guided by slots in a housing. The knife may be easily positioned in the knife holder and/or replaced.

Abstract: A multipurpose tool may have several tool elements which pivot into storage positions in profiled handles attached to one of a pair of pliers jaws. A wire-cutter portion of each pliers jaw includes a sharp edge and a notch located at the throat of the pair of jaws, adjacent the sharp edge. The notches face toward each other to support and shear wire, but the bottoms of the notches are prevented from passing each other so that bulging material at the bottoms of the notches does not cause the jaws to bind against each other.

Abstract: A tool for preparing a coaxial cable for termination includes a tool holder supporting an axially elongated cylindrical cutter and carrying a guide bushing for maintaining an end portion of a coaxial cable in coaxial alignment with the cutter as the cutter is rotated relative to the cable. A chamfer on the free end of the cutter defines the radially outer extent of a first cutting edge which removes core material contained within the metallic outer sheath of the cable. A coaxial bore extends through the cutter and receives the cable central conductor. A second cutting edge located near the free end of the cutter and partially defined by the cutter bore wall skives core material in close proximity to the surface of the central conductor. A third cutting edge spaced from the first and second edges strips material from the metallic sheath to expose an end portion of the conductor beyond the end of the sheath.

Abstract: A cable stripping and bending device. The device is a tool with no moving parts. The cable is inserted into a rounded recess where the sheath is cut longitudinally of the cable by a cutting blade which is fixed to the tool and projects into the rounded recess. The insulation is cut and stripped by additional cutting blades fixed to the tool and projecting in a V-shaped recess. The ends of the conductors are bent by pivoting the tool with the ends of the conductors inserted into a bore in the tool.

Abstract: A device for cutting sheathing from a tendon extending through an anchor assembly includes a housing adapted to be rotatable about the sheathed tendon and a blade having a cutting edge. The blade cutting edge is oriented in a selected cutting position within the anchor assembly when the housing is mounted on the sheathed tendon and rotated thereabout.

Abstract: A tool for removing insulation from an electrical cable, has a pair of levers pivotally joined at a fulcrum point to each other. Each lever has a handle and a jaw on opposite sides of the fulcrum point. The jaws have a plurality of notches of different curvatures which come together in a closed state for stripping insulation from electrical wires of different gauges. One of the jaws also contains a ripper for cutting away the sheathing from an electrical cable. The ripper is formed by a ripper notch with first and second sides that diverge at an acute angle from a vertex to an opening that faces away from the handles. The first side of the ripper notch has a beveled surface which forms a sharp knife edge that cuts the sheathing and the second side is formed by a cylindrical guide pin. When the tool is used, the guide pin is inserted into the end of the cable and directs the sheathing into the ripper notch while preventing the insulated wires within the cable from being damaged by the knife edge.

Abstract: A reversible/adjustable spanner includes an elongate body having a handle and a fixed jaw, a release button mounted above the body, a movable jaw, and an adjusting member. A substantially U-shaped plate is connected to the release button to move therewith and allows the body to extend therethrough. The adjusting member is securely mounted between the body and the U-shaped member and has an upper side with a plurality of teeth for engaging with a plurality of teeth on a bottom side of the body. The movable jaw has a a first end pivotally connected to one of the U-shaped member and the first end of the adjusting member and a second operative end for holding an object to be tightened or loosened between the second operative end and the fixed jaw, wherein a longitudinal movement of the release button causes a change in a distance between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw.

Abstract: For removing coating material from an end (5) of a fiber ribbon (1) over a length L, while using a chemical softening agent, the end is received and clamped between clamping parts (9, 35) of a holder. The clamping parts form a casing wall of a space in which the fiber ribbon with the end extends inwardly over said length L. Softening agent is supplied into the space via a supply opening (47), and brought into contact with coating material of the end, preferably via a layer of material (49) soakable for the softening agent. Adjacent to the point where the end extends inwardly through the wall formed by the clamping parts, scoring knives (33, 43) are mounted for scoring the coating material. One of the clamping parts is provided with an exhaust opening (51) for exhausting surplus softening agent. After softening the fiber ribbon (1) is withdrawn, with the end clamped, from holder (9).

Abstract: A rotary wire end stripper has a rotatable cutting head which has a cutting blade carrier block that pivots between an operative and an inoperative position. The carrier block is spring-biased to the inoperative position and has a weight that is positioned to move the carrier block to the operative position under the centrifugal force of rotation of the cutting head. The cutting head forms annular slits of predetermined depth in the coverings of the wire which forms annular "slugs" that are removed after the wire end is withdrawn from the device.

Abstract: A pliers-like tool for twisting the partly stripped end of the multiple-strand core of an insulated conductor, characterized by projections 41 and 42 extending out of the free end of each jaw 121 & 131 and toward the other jaw into the space between them, whereby the projections follow the arc described by the opening and closing jaws, the projections are not coplanar, and space is accordingly left between them, one of the projections is long enough to overlap the other to a limited extent when the jaws are separated, and the surfaces of the jaws that demarcate the space between them are high-friction. The conductor is cut to length, insulation is stripped from the end of the core to a limited extent, the end of the core is twisted between the high-friction surfaces, and a connector is extracted from a belt and crimped around the twisted end, all by the same tool.

Abstract: A power tool including a machine base, a fixed jaw fixedly secured to the machine base, a movable jaw turned about a pivot on the fixed jaw, a spring supported between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw to force the movable jaw into the closed position on the fixed jaw, a motor mounted within the machine base, a speed reducer, an eccentric shaft coupled to the motor through the speed reducer, and a link reciprocated by the eccentric shaft to turn the movable jaw about the pivot, causing the movable jaw to act against the fixed jaw in processing the workpiece put between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw.

Abstract: The method of processing wire to cut the wire into sections and to strip sheathing from the wire to expose wire ends at opposite ends of the sections, and by operation of wire feed means and cutter means, the steps that include operating the feed means and cutter means to displace the wire endwise along an axis to a first position; sever the wire thereby to form wire forward and rearward sections, the forward section having a rearward end portion; and, the rearward section having a forward end portion, and; stripping sheathing from the forward section rearward portion and from the rearward section forward portion thereby to expose wire ends at the portions; the cutter means including three blade pairs, each pair including two blades located at opposite sides of the axis, both blades of one pair being displaced toward the wire to sever the wire, and both blades of the remaining two pairs being displaced toward the wire sections to strip sheathing from the rearward and forward portions during controlled endwise

Abstract: A tool and associated method facilitates removal of a residue of dielectric material from the inside surface of a tubular outer conductor of coaxial cable and strips a portion of the outer plastic jacket from the outer conductor in preparation for splicing or terminating the cable. The core finish tool includes a housing having a bore therethrough and an elongate metal body positioned in the bore. The elongate metal body has a hollow and enlarged frusto-conical front portion that defines a cutting member. The front portion is divided by four longitudinal slots which define four cutting member segments and respective adjacent arcuate segments that flex radially inward as the elongate body is inserted into the outer conductor to provide an outward radial bias to the cutting member. The residue is removed from the inside surface of the outer conductor as the tool is retracted from the cable. A cutting blade carried by the housing removes the outer plastic jacket as the tool is rotated about the cable.

Abstract: A first portion of an optical fiber encapsulant is selectively removed by softening it; i.e., converting the first portion from a solid state to a partly fluid state, as by exposure to an appropriate chemical. The first portion (12) is then penetrated with at least first and second knife edges (14, 15), the penetration being on opposite sides of the optical fiber (10). The first portion of the encapsulant is removed from the optical fiber by providing relative movement between the knife edges and the optical fiber, the movement being in the direction of the central axis of the fiber, thereby to gather at least part of the first portion of the encapsulant on the knife edges. In a preferred embodiment, third and fourth knife edges (16, 17) the also included on opposite sides of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An insulation stripping tool of the present invention removes insulation from the free ends of a substantially rigid electrical conductor. The tool has a barrel at one end and a handle at the other end. The barrel is generally tubular in shape and longitudinally receives a free end of the substantially rigid insulated electrical conductor. An insulation cutter is captivated within the barrel for cutting off a predetermined length of insulation from the free end of the conductor.

Abstract: In order to allow conductors or wires having different cross sections to be easily and reliably stripped, the swivelling axis pin of a stripper is designed as a double axis pin whose first substantially cylindrical pivot is arranged in a first leg and whose second substantially cylindrical pivot is arranged in a second leg. Both pivots are held and guided in an intermediate element. This sliding hinge allows both legs with their cutting tool parts to be held as forceps and to be pressed against each other and slid in one direction with respect to each other by actuating guiding elements arranged on the legs.

Abstract: A method of midspan or end entry accessing of one or more selected optical fibers carried by an optical ribbon fiber. The top and bottom surfaces of a first selected span of the optical ribbon fiber are friction abraded to initiate delamination of the bond between the optical fibers and the matrix encapsulant. The delamination is completed by applying a rolling force to the circumference of the first selected span, and the delamination is then propagated by introducing the first selected span into the bore of a die element and urging the die element along a relatively longer second selected span of the optical ribbon fiber. With the delamination completed, the tip of an elongated tool is inserted through the encapsulant within the second selected span and between one or more selected optical fibers and the remaining optical fibers within the optical ribbon fiber.

Abstract: A tube slitting tool for cutting a buffer tube and allowing access to one or more individual optical fibers or ribbons containing optical fibers encased therein, includes a first holder and a second holder in slidable contact with one another, each holder having a channel which when said holders engage forms a passageway therebetween to receive the buffer tube. Cutting blades are mounted to the holders and extend into the passageway such that when the fully-engaged tube slitting tool moves relative to the buffer tube, the tube is cut longitudinally, facilitating access to the optical fibers or the ribbons within the buffer tube.

Abstract: A low cost wire stripping tool is presented which comprises a section to remove a portion of the outer insulation jacket covering two, three or four pairs of a new telephonic cable and a second section of the wire stripping tool which is capable of straightening (or flattening) a twisted pair and then capable of separating the straightened, flattened pair by cutting the webbed section of the individual pair.

Abstract: For use in apparatus for processing wire to cut the wire into sections and to expose section wire ends, the wire having an inner core and sheathing about the core, the apparatus including structure for displacing the wire axially endwise, comprising multiple blade structures, including at least two of the structures that mutually interfit as the two structures move relatively oppositely toward and away from the axis in directions generally normal to the axis; at least one of the two structures defining first shoulders elongated in the directions and forming a space between which the other of the two structures extends during the relative movement, each of the two structures having an associated concave cutting edge, the cutting edge or edges located between the first shoulders.

Abstract: A tool for stripping insulation from a live high voltage power line comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws adapted in a support head attached to the distal end of an non-conducting shaft. The jaws each have C-shaped blades and a longitudinally directed blade for the cutting of the insulation upon the capture of a power line between the jaws.

Abstract: A jacket layer of a jacketed optical fiber is cut by a cutting method and apparatus in which (A) a terminal portion of a jacketed optical fiber is straightened and grasped by a fiber holder, and (B) a blade device having (a) a pair of cutting blades and (b) a blade holder in which device cutting edges of the blades are arranged in such a manner that the edges are opposite to each other through a gap left therebetween and are on one and the same plane, the straightened portion of the jacketed optical fiber extends at a substantially right angle to the plane, and a center line of the gap between the cutting edges intersects an axis of the straightened portion of the jacketed optical fiber, and is moved in at least one direction at a substantially right angle to the axis of the straightened portion of the jacketed optical fiber to cut the secondary coating layer at a depth equal to or larger than the thickness of the secondary coating layer but smaller than the total thickness of the primary and secondary coatin

Abstract: A tool according to the invention for stripping a conductor contains a handle element, a cutter piece, which is in the form of a rod, is supported on the handle element side and has a tip, in the form of a blade, which can be moved around a rotation axis at a distance, and an opposing bearing, which is arranged on the handle element, for holding the conductor. A supporting body is supported on the handle element, which supporting body can rotate about the rotation axis and in which the cutter piece extends with its longitudinal direction inclined with respect to the rotation axis.

Abstract: A tool structure is arranged to include cooperating pivoted first and second lever plates having handles mounted at their first ends, with the second ends defining facing jaws arranged to receive a cable therethrough, wherein the cable is arranged for capture relative to an abutment plate cooperative with a receiving flange on the second jaw as the abutment plate is mounted relative to the first jaw.

Abstract: Tongs for thermally stripping or baring wires of electric cables comprises two handles (2,4) on which are mounted two pairs of rods (6,8) and (10,12). Each of the pairs is connected to an electrode (7,11) able to come into contact with the cable to be stripped. The rods (10,12) are articulated at an articulation or joint (16), so as to ensure that the application force of the electrode (11) to the cable is independent of the force applied by the operator to the handles of the tongs. Spring blade (22) and abutments (24,26) ensure the calibration of the application force of the electrode (11) to the cable.

Abstract: An optical fiber stripper is formed with an interior cylindrical elongate passage for housing a fiber length and for containing stripper fluid. To assure ample room for expansion of the fiber coating during stripping, the passage has a greater volume than that of the coated fiber after the coating expands from contact with the fluid. The passage has a fluid inlet at its interior end for introducing stripping fluid. A relatively sharp shoulder disposed at the interior end of the passage and formed by a short cylindrical neck section coaxial with the passage has a diameter only marginally greater than the diameter of the coated fiber. Once the coating in the passage is softened by the stripper fluid, the fiber is withdrawn allowing the shoulder to cleanly strip away the coating. Advantageously, the stripper is made from graphite, so that any incidental contact with the fiber during the draw-stripping operation has no deleterious effect on the fiber surface.

Abstract: A novel blade design for a tool which strips the buffer layer and protective coating away from a ribbon having a plurality of optical fibers. The blade design includes two generally identical blade halves, each having a cutting edge. Each cutting edge has side borders, and semicircular cutouts between the borders, forming tips between adjacent cutouts. The tips are smoothly rounded, and also recessed whereby, when the blades are brought together in a closed, cutting position, the tips are still separated by a gap. The cutouts have an effective diameter which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the fiber cladding. The rounded tips minimize damage to the fibers during the stripping operation by providing a self-centering effect as the tips graze the buffer coating of the fibers in a misaligned ribbon, and by further reducing the effective force applied by the tips to the fibers. The larger cutouts and gap between opposing tips further minimize any possible damage to the fibers.

Abstract: A tool for facilitating removal of electrical high voltage insulation cladding in strips by having cutters positioned in spaced parallel cutting positions, cutter guards adjustably positionable to allow more or less exposure of the cutters to adapt to thickness of the cladding or insulation on the cable, and an element on the handle of the tool for stripping insulation by rolling the cut insulation strip to effect its removal.