Cable splitter
AssigneeAMP Incorporated
InventorsRobert G. Fornwalt, Walter C. Shatto, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A simplified cable splitter for use with flat multi-conductor ribbon cables is disclosed. The disclosed cable splitter has an opposed jaw system which confines and aligns the cable and the conductors therein. A plurality of finger-like splitting blades are moved into the longitudinal axis of the cable thereby separating selected conductors among the plurality of conductors in the ribbon cable. The result is a ribbon cable having a plurality of conductors in a separated condition available for a termination in an insulation displacement contact.
Claims4
An apparatus for separating selected conductors from the plurality of conductors confined in a ribbon cable, comprising
- a cable clamp having upper and lower jaws, said jaws having a plurality of opposed teeth defining a plurality of opposed voids for clamping selected conductors among said plurality of said conductors between said teeth,
- a plurality of splitting blades dimensioned to be received in said voids and having a mean height greater than that of said teeth of said lower jaw, and
- drive means for moving said splitting blades along said voids and separating selected conductors.
An apparatus for separating selected conductors from the plurality of conductors confined in a ribbon cable, comprising:
- a cable clamp having upper and lower jaws, said lower jaw having side walls which define a cable receiving cavity having a nominal width less than the nominal width of said cable and a plurality of teeth which define a plurality of voids, said upper jaw having a width receivable between said side walls and a plurality of second teeth which oppose said teeth and define a pluality of second voids which oppose said voids, for clamping selected conductors among said plurality of said conductors between said opposed teeth,
- a plurality of splitting blades dimensioned to be received in said voids and having a mean height greater than that of said teeth of said lower jaw, and
- drive means for moving said splitting blade along said voids and separating selected conductors.
An apparatus for separating selected conductors among the plurality of conductors in a ribbon cable comprising:
- a base
- a lower jaw mounted on said base, said lower jaw having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion having side walls which define a cable receiving cavity having a nominal width less than the nominal width of said cable and a plurality of teeth which define a plurality of voids, said plurality of teeth and said plurality of voids extending throughout said rearward portion,
- an upper jaw having a width receivable within said side walls, said upper jaw having a plurality of second teeth and second voids which are opposite said teeth and voids of said lower jaw,
- side plates mounted on said base on either side of said rearward portion of said lower jaw,
- rocker arms pivotablly mounted on said side plates, said rocker arms having a forward portion which extends parallel to said upper jaw and a shaft which extends between said rocker arms,
- biasing means for pivoting said rocker arms to bring said shaft into contact with said upper jaw and move said upper jaw toward said lower jaw,
- a plurality of splitting blades dimensioned to be received in said voids and having a mean height greater than that of said teeth of said lower jaw, and
- drive means for moving said splitting blades along said voids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.