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US 2009/0151167 A1Published application
Cable Access Tool and Method of Use
AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorsYu Lu, Mark D. Narum, Paul Suek, Scott Carlson, Bernard Dietzler, Erik Gronvall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable access tool and method provide a means for accurately and efficiently cutting through a jacket of a fiber optic cable at a break-out location. The cable access tool provides a means to securely hold the fiber optic cable. A means of accurately controlling the depth and length of cut(s) are provided. In addition, a means of accurately positioning the cut(s) both in relation to the fiber optic cable and in relation to other cuts is provided.
Claims14
A cable access tool for preparing a break-out location on a jacket of a cable comprising:
- a cable holder including a cable holder channel sized to hold and locate the cable;
- a cable holder cap including a blade access slot and at least one cable locating feature, sized to hold and locate the cable, the cable holder cap being removably mounted to the cable holder, and the blade access slot having a first end and an opposite second end;
- at least one cutting blade fixedly mounted to a cutting handle assembly, the cutting handle assembly fixedly mounting at least one cut depth limiter, the at least one cutting blade slidable along the blade access slot;
- and
- a cut length limiter defining a starting position and an ending position of the at least one cutting blade along the blade access slot;
- wherein the at least one cutting blade is generally parallel with the blade access slot and passes through the blade access slot when in a cutting configuration;
- wherein the at least one cutting blade penetrates a jacket of the cable when in the cutting configuration, the cut depth limiter limiting a depth of the cutting configuration;
- and
- wherein the cut length limiter limits a location of the at least one cutting blade along the blade access slot when in the cutting configuration, the location bounded by the starting position and the ending position.
6 more elements
A method for preparing a break-out location on a jacket of a cable comprising:
- providing a cable including a jacket;
- providing a cable access tool including a cable holder with a cable holder channel sized to hold and locate the cable,
- a cable holder cap including a blade access slot and at least one cable locating feature, sized to hold and locate the cable, the cable holder cap being removably mounted to the cable holder, and the blade access slot having a first end and an opposite second end,
- at least one cutting blade fixedly mounted to a cutting handle assembly, the cutting handle assembly fixedly mounting at least one cut depth limiter,
- the at least one cutting blade slidable along the blade access slot, and an aft stop feature and a fore stop feature fixedly mounted to the cutting handle assembly,
- wherein the at least one cutting blade is generally parallel with the blade access slot and passes through the blade access slot when in a cutting configuration, and
- wherein the at least one cutting blade penetrates a jacket of the cable when in the cutting configuration, the cut depth limiter limiting a depth of the cutting configuration;
- placing the cable within the cable holder channel;
- placing the cable holder cap on the cable holder;
- aligning the at least one cutting blade and the blade access slot;
- sliding the cutting handle assembly along the blade access slot, moving the aft stop feature toward the first end of the blade access slot until they contact;
- plunging the at least one cutting blade through the jacket of the cable;
- sliding the cutting handle assembly along the blade access slot until the fore stop feature contacts the second end of the blade access slot;
- removing the at least one cutting blade from the cable holder cap;
- removing the cable holder cap from the cable holder;
- and
- removing the cable from the cable holder.
14 more elements
A method for preparing a break-out location on a jacket of a cable comprising:
- providing a cable including a jacket;
- providing a cable access tool including a cable holder with a cable holder channel sized to hold and locate the cable,
- a cable holder cap including a blade access slot and at least one cable locating feature, sized to hold and locate the cable, the cable holder cap being removably mounted to the cable holder,
- at least one cutting blade fixedly mounted to a cutting handle assembly, the cutting handle assembly fixedly mounting at least one cut depth limiter,
- the cutting handle assembly pivotally mounted to a cutting head assembly about a pivot, the cutting head assembly slidably mounted to a linear slide rail, the linear slide rail fixedly mounted to the cable holder,
- an aft stop feature and a fore stop feature fixedly mounted to the cutting head assembly,
- a fixed aft bumper, fixedly mounted to the cable holder, and a fore bumper, the aft stop feature engaging the fixed aft bumper when the at least one cutting blade is at a starting position, and the fore stop feature engaging the fore bumper when the at least one cutting blade is at an ending position;
- wherein the at least one cutting blade is generally parallel with the blade access slot and passes through the blade access slot when in a cutting configuration, and
- wherein the at least one cutting blade penetrates a jacket of the cable when in the cutting configuration, the cut depth limiter limiting a depth of the cutting configuration;
- placing the cable within the cable holder channel;
- placing the cable holder cap on the cable holder;
- sliding the cutting head assembly along the slide rail, moving the aft stop feature toward the fixed aft bumper until they contact;
- rotating the cutting handle assembly about the pivot thereby plunging the at least one cutting blade through the jacket of the cable;
- sliding the cutting head assembly along the linear slide rail moving the fore stop feature toward the fore bumper until they contact;
- rotating the cutting handle assembly about the pivot thereby removing the at least one cutting blade from the jacket of the cable;
- removing the cable holder cap from the cable holder;
- and
- removing the cable from the cable holder channel.
15 more elements
A cable access tool for preparing a break-out location on a jacket of a cable comprising:
- a cable holder including a cover defining a blade access slot;
- a guide that extends along the blade access slot;
- a blade holder that holds a cutting blade, the blade holder being slidably connected to a guide;
- the blade holder also being pivotably moveable relative to the guide between a cutting position in which the cutting blade extends through the blade access slot and a non-cutting position in which the cutting blade is positioned above the cutting slot.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.