# US 2008/0301950 A1 · Cable cutter with reciprocating cutting wheel for cutting flexible cable > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0301950 A1 - Document ID: US20080301950A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/131,257 - Filed: 2008-06-02 - Published: 2008-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-06 - Assignees: Greenlee Textron Inc. - Inventors: JAMES ROBERT HARGER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080301950A1 ## CPC - H02G 1/1212: {using wire or cable clamping means} - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A cutting tool includes a frame, a shaft, a cutter and a cam. The shaft is rotatable about an axis. The cutter is coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft about its axis causes rotation of the cutter about the shaft's axis. The cam is positioned around the shaft such that the cam contacts the frame upon rotation of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface which is distanced away from the axis of the shaft a varying amount such that contact of the cam with the frame upon rotation of the shaft causes the shaft, and thus the cutter, to reciprocate in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis of the shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cutting tool comprising: a frame; a shaft which is rotatable about an axis; a cutter which is coupled to said shaft such that rotation of said shaft about said axis causes rotation of said cutter about said axis; and a cam which is positioned around said shaft such that said cam contacts said frame upon rotation of said shaft, said cam having a cam surface which is distanced away from said axis of said shaft a varying amount such that contact of said cam with said frame upon rotation of said shaft causes said shaft, and thus said cutter, to reciprocate in a generally transverse direction relative to said axis of said shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cutting tool as defined in claim 1, further comprising a handle which is coupled to said shaft, said shaft configured to be rotated by manual manipulation of said handle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cutting tool as defined in claim 1, further comprising a motor which is coupled to said shaft, said shaft configured to be automatically rotated by said motor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cutting tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam is positioned within a pocket at least partially formed by two facing walls of said frame, said cam surface of said cam contacts each of said walls simultaneously in order to provide two lines of contact between said cam and said frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cutting tool as defined in claim 1, further comprising a bushing which is positioned around said shaft, said bushing having at least one tooth extending outwardly therefrom, said at least one tooth configured to engage with at least one extending tooth of said frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cutting tool as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second cam which is positioned around said shaft such that said second cam engages said frame upon rotation of said shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cutting tool as defined in claim 6, further comprising a handle which is coupled to said shaft, said shaft configured to be rotated by manual manipulation of said handle, said second cam being integrally formed with said handle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The cutting tool as defined in claim 6, wherein an angular position of said second cam relative to said shaft is identical to an angular position of said first defined cam, where said angular position of said first defined cam is defined by said cam surface being distanced away from said axis of said shaft said varying amount. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The cutting tool as defined in claim 6, wherein said cam is positioned within a first pocket at least partially formed by first and second facing walls of said frame, said cam surface of said cam contacts each of said first and second walls simultaneously in order to provide two lines of contact between said cam and said frame, and wherein said second cam is positioned within a second pocket at least partially formed by third and fourth facing walls of said frame, a cam surface of said second cam contacts each of said third and fourth walls simultaneously in order to provide two lines of contact between said second cam and said frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cutting tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame provides a portion thereof for receiving a cable to be cut by said cutter, and further comprising a clamping mechanism which is configured to be moved between at least first and second positions where in said first position said clamping mechanism is configured to secure the cable in place within said portion of said frame such that the cable can be cut by said cutter, and where in said second position said clamping mechanism is configured to allow the cable to be inserted into or removed from said portion of said frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cutting tool as defined in claim 10, further comprising a thumb knob assembly which is secured to said frame and to said clamping mechanism, said thumb knob assembly configured to move said clamping mechanism between said at least first and second positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cutting tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said cutter is a circular saw member. ### Claim 13 A cutting tool for cutting a workpiece comprising: a frame; a rotating cutter; reciprocating means that is operatively associated with said rotating cutter, said reciprocating means communicates with said frame; and means for driving said rotating cutting member and said reciprocating means, said driving means moves with said rotating cutter and said reciprocating means in order to cause said rotating cutter to cut the workpiece by rotating and reciprocating. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cutting tool as defined in claim 13, wherein said driving means is a single motor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cutting tool as defined in claim 14, wherein said reciprocating means comprises a shaft and said motor is an electric motor that is attached to said shaft and translates with said shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The cutting tool as defined in claim 14, wherein said reciprocating means comprises a shaft and said motor comprises a handle that is manually powered by a user and translates with said shaft. ### Claim 17 A cutting tool for cutting a workpiece comprising: a frame; a shaft that has an axis of rotation and that is attached to said frame, said shaft being free to rotate and to also reciprocate in a direction that is transverse to said axis of rotation; a cutter that is coupled to said shaft and reciprocates therewith; and a driving mechanism that causes said shaft and said cutter to rotate and reciprocate while cutting a workpiece without changing a direction of said driving mechanism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cutting tool as defined in claim 17, wherein said driving mechanism is a motor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The cutting tool as defined in claim 17, wherein said cutter has an axis of rotation that is identical to said axis of rotation of said shaft, said cutter and said shaft reciprocate in a direction that is perpendicular to said axes of rotation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The cutting tool as defined in claim 17, further comprising a cam that is coupled to said shaft, said cam configured to contact said frame during rotation of said shaft in order to cause said shaft and said cutter to reciprocate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The cutting tool as defined in claim 20, further comprising a second cam that is coupled to said shaft, said second cam configured to contact said frame during rotation of said shaft in order to prevent said shaft from wobbling or twisting as said shaft rotates and reciprocates. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The cutting tool as defined in claim 20, wherein said frame has teeth protruding therefrom, and further comprising a bushing that surrounds said shaft, said bushing having teeth protruding outwardly therefrom that are configured to mesh with said teeth of said frame in order to prevent said shaft from wobbling or twisting as said shaft rotates and reciprocates.