Cable splicing vise apparatus

A cable splicing vise stand configured to receive a cable, assist in untwisting a length of the cable, and hold the cable in untwisted condition during the splicing of the cable, the stand comprising:

• a) an elongated base frame;
• b) a first cable-engaging clamp assembly on the base frame;
• c) a second cable-engaging clamp assembly on the base frame;
• d) said first and second cable engaging clamp assemblies disposed a spaced distance from each other and configured to securely and positively grip a cable at two spaced apart points which define between them a cable-splicing length of a cable;
• e) clamp supporting means mounted rotatably on the frame and supporting one of said cable-engaging clamp assemblies to rotate the clamp assembly in a direction opposite the windings of a cable being gripped by the assemblies to untwist a cable and thereby loosen the windings of the individual strands of the cable between the clamp assemblies, the clamp supporting means comprising a mounting base plate secured to the frame, a rotary plate member mounted on the base plate for rotation relative thereto, the base plate and rotary plate member having cable receiving slots therein arranged for mutual registration in one position of rotation of the rotary plate member for insertion of a cable therein, the rotary plate member being rotatable from said slot registration position to a position in which the slot in the rotary plate member extends across the slot in the base plate, whereby to secure a cable within said crossed slots, and
• f) locking means releasably interengaging said rotatable clamp supporting means and base frame for releasably securing said rotatable clamp supporting means in any one of a plurality of positions of rotation relative to the base frame, the locking means configured to releasably secure the clamp assembly against reverse rotation resulting from the inherent tension of the cable being held in untwisted condition by the clamp assemblies.