Cable stripping tool

A cable stripping tool for stripping the outer jacket of a cable having a length, the tool comprising:

• a tool frame having an elongated opening;
• a cable support disposed on the tool frame, the cable support including at least one support surface for maintaining the cable in a relative position when the tool is in the stripping position;
• a roller assembly including:
• an offset block movable along the elongated opening;
• a roller wheel rotatingly attached to a wheel shaft having a first axis along the wheel shaft length, the wheel shaft extending from one end of the offset block and extending adjacent to the cable support;
• and
• a loading knob rotatably attached to a second end of the offset block opposite the one end;
• and
• a blade having a cutting edge extendable from the cable support surface toward the cable;
• wherein the offset block may wobble when the loading knob is in a loosened position and the offset block is secured along the elongated slot when the loading knob is in a tightened position.

A cable stripping tool for stripping the outer jacket of a cable having a length, the tool comprising:

• a tool frame having an elongated opening;
• a cable support disposed on the tool frame for axially securing the cable to the tool frame;
• a blade having a cutting edge extendable from the cable support surface toward the cable;
• and
• a roller assembly movable along the elongated opening and a roller wheel rotatingly attached to an end of the shaft adjacent the cable support, the roller wheel having:
• first and second conical drums spaced apart and axially aligned, each conical drum having an outer end having an outer diameter and an inner end having an inner diameter smaller than the first outer diameter and a conical roller surface between the first and second end;
• and
• a cylindrical relief surface disposed between the inner end of the first and second conical drum, the cylindrical relief surface having a relief diameter smaller than the second conical surface diameter;
• wherein the relief surface prevents the blade from contacting the roller when the blade is in the extended position;
• and
• wherein a large diameter cable secured in the stripping tool contacts the conical roller surface of the first and second conical drum and a small diameter cable secured in the stripping tool contacts an edge of the first and second conical drum inner end.

A cable stripping tool for stripping the outer jacket of a cable having a length, the tool comprising:

• a tool frame having an elongated opening;
• a cable support disposed on the tool frame, the cable support including at least one support surface for maintaining the cable in a relative position when the tool is in the stripping position;
• a roller assembly movable along the elongated opening, a roller wheel rotatingly attached to an end of a roller block adjacent the cable support;
• and
• a blade having a cutting edge extendable from the cable support surface toward the cable;
• wherein the blade is rotatable to a first position, second position or third position wherein in the first position allows the blade to cut a jacket on the cable in a linear direction along the length of the cable, the second position allows the blade to cut the jacket in a spiral direction and the third position allows the blade to cut the jacket along the diameter of the cable.

A method for stripping the outer jacket from a cable comprising:

• providing a cable stripping tool having a tool frame, an elongated opening on the tool frame, a cable support disposed on the tool frame, the cable support including at least one support surface for maintaining the cable in a relative position when the tool is in the stripping position, a roller assembly having an offset block movable along the elongated opening and a roller wheel rotatingly attached to a wheel shaft having a first axis along the wheel shaft length, the wheel shaft extending from one end of the offset block and extending adjacent to the cable support and a loading knob rotatably attached to a second end of the offset block opposite the one end, the stripping tool including a blade having a cutting edge extendable from the cable support surface toward the cable, wherein the offset block may wobble when the loading knob is in a loosened position and the offset block is secured along the elongated slot when the loading knob is in a tightened position;
• providing a cable for stripping a portion of the outer jacket therefrom;
• ensuring the loading knob is in a loosened position wherein a gap is formed between the loading knob and the tool frame and the roller assembly is movable along the elongated slot;
• urging the loading knob in a direction away from the cable support;
• placing a cable against the cable support;
• releasing the loading knob to allow a compression spring to force the roller assembly against the cable jacket after which the spring continues to urge the offset block to a slightly rotated position;
• tightening the loading knob to rotate the roller assembly back to a perpendicular position with respect to the tool frame, further tightening the roller against the cable;
• extending the blade toward the cable;
• moving the stripping tool with respect to the cable until the desired cut is made in the cable;
• loosening the loading knob to release the roller assembly from the secured position;
• removing the cable from the stripping tool;
• and removing a portion of the outer jacket from the cable.

A method for using a cable stripping tool for stripping a cable comprising:

• providing a cable stripping tool having a tool frame with an elongated opening, a cable support disposed on the tool frame, the cable support including at least one support surface for maintaining the cable in a relative position when the tool is in the stripping position, a roller assembly including a offset block movable along the elongated opening, a roller wheel rotatingly attached to an end of the shaft adjacent the cable support, a loading knob attached to an opposite end of the shaft for securing the roller assembly in a position along the elongated opening and a spring for biasing the roller in an active position against the cable, the roller assembly movable from a rest position to a loading position and to a stripping position and a blade having a cutting edge extendable from the cable support surface toward the cable, the blade cutting edge movable from a first direction parallel to the cable length to a second direction parallel to the cable length and at least one intermediate position between the first and second positions, a position lever to the blade for changing the blade cutting direction, the position lever movable to a first direction whereby the cable is cut along the cable axis, to a second position whereby the cable is cut in a spiral direction along the length of the cable and to a third position whereby the cable is cut along a circumference of the cable, a blade driving knob attached at a first end of the tool frame for moving the blade from a retracted position to a cutting position, a blade height adjustment knob for adjusting the distance the blade extends from the cable support toward the cable and a handle for holding, pulling or rotating the cable stripping tool attached to a second end of the tool frame opposite the first end of the tool frame;
• ensuring the blade is in a proper height position for slitting the cable jacket;
• ensuring the blade is in the retracted position;
• ensuring the loading knob is in a loosened position wherein a gap is formed between the knob and the tool frame and the roller assembly is movable along the elongated slot;
• urging the loading knob in a direction away from the cable support;
• placing a cable in against the cable support;
• releasing the loading knob to allow the spring to force the roller assembly against the cable jacket after which the spring continues to move the offset block to the end of the elongated slot nearest the cable support while maintaining the roller against the cable, slightly rotating the roller assembly;
• tightening the loading knob to rotate the roller assembly back to a perpendicular position with respect to the tool frame, further tightening the roller against the cable;
• ensuring the position lever is in a position to cut the cable jacket in the desired direction;
• rotating or pulling the stripping tool with respect to the cable until the desired cut is made in the cable;
• loosening the loading knob to release the roller assembly from the secured position;
• and
• removing the cable from the stripping tool.