Apparatus and method for cutting and stripping an electrical cable

A method for cutting and stripping an electrical cable, the method comprising:

• providing an electrical cable including an outer sheath surrounding at least one electrical conductor covered with individual conductor insulation;
• providing an electrical cable stripping and cutting tool, including
• a first elongated member having a proximal end and a longitudinally opposite distal end,
• a second elongated member having a proximal end and a longitudinally opposite distal end, the second elongated member being joined to the first elongated member such that the first and second elongated members are pivotable about a laterally extending pivot axis relative to each other,
• a first face plate attached to the distal end of the first elongated member, the first face plate being oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first elongated member, the first face plate having a first side and a laterally opposite second side,
• a second face plate attached to the distal end of the second elongated member, the second face plate being oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second elongated member, the second face plate having a first side and a laterally opposite second side, in a closed position of the electrical cable stripping and cutting tool, the first side of the first face plate abutting the first side of the second face plate, the second side of the first face plate abutting the second side of the second face plate, and the first and second face plates collectively forming a single flat face plate,
• a first pair of cutting members formed on the first side of the first and second face plates, each of the first pair of cutting members having a cutting surface presented toward the other cutting surface of the first pair of cutting members, and
• a second pair of cutting members formed on the second side of the first and second face plates, each of the second pair of cutting members having a cutting surface presented toward the other cutting surface of the second pair of cutting members,
• the cutting surfaces of the first pair of cutting members being shaped and dimensioned to cut through an outer sheath of an electrical cable having a first sheath dimension without cutting the individual conductor insulation covering the at least one electrical conductor and without cutting the at least one electrical conductor when at least a portion of the electrical cable having the outer sheath with the first sheath dimension extends longitudinally between the first pair of cutting members, and
• the cutting surfaces of the second pair of cutting members being shaped and dimensioned to cut through an outer sheath of an electrical cable having a second sheath dimension without cutting the individual conductor insulation covering the at least one electrical conductor and without cutting the at least one electrical conductor when at least a portion of the electrical cable having the outer sheath with the second sheath dimension extends longitudinally between the first pair of cutting members, the second sheath dimension being smaller than the first sheath dimension;
• moving the electrical cable stripping and cutting tool to an open position;
• determining whether the electrical cable has the first sheath dimension or the second sheath dimension;
• when it is determined that the electrical cable has the first sheath dimension, removing a cut portion of the outer sheath from the electrical cable to expose a portion of the individual conductor insulation covering the at least one electric conductor by
• placing at least a portion of the electrical cable having the first sheath dimension longitudinally between the first pair of cutting members,
• with the electrical cable having the first sheath dimension longitudinally between the first pair of cutting members, cutting at least partially through a portion of the outer sheath by moving the electrical cable stripping and cutting tool toward the closed position, motion of the electrical cable stripping and cutting tool toward the closed position causing the cutting surfaces of the first pair of cutting members to move together over the electrical cable to cut at least partially through a portion of the outer sheath of the electrical cable, and
• removing the cut portion of the outer sheath;
• and
• when it is determined that the electrical cable has the second sheath dimension, removing a cut portion of the outer sheath from the electrical cable to expose a portion of the individual conductor insulation covering the at least one electric conductor by
• placing at least a portion of the electrical cable having the second sheath dimension longitudinally between the second pair of cutting members,
• with the electrical cable having the first sheath dimension longitudinally between the second pair of cutting members, cutting at least partially through a portion of the outer sheath by moving the electrical cable stripping and cutting tool toward the closed position, motion of the electrical cable stripping and cutting tool toward the closed position causing the cutting surfaces of the second pair of cutting members to move together over the electrical cable to cut at least partially through a portion of the outer sheath of the electrical cable, and
• removing the cut portion of the outer sheath.