Core finish tool for coaxial cable and associated method

A core finish tool for removing a residue of dielectric material from an inside surface of a tubular outer conductor of a coaxial cable and for also removing an outer jacket portion from the outer conductor in preparation for splicing or terminating the coaxial cable, said tool comprising:

• a housing having a bore therethrough;
• an elongate body positioned in said bore and connected to said housing, said elongate body having a substantially cylindrical and hollow front portion, an outermost portion of said hollow front portion of said body being of a larger diameter than a longitudinally adjacent portion and defining a cutting member, said cutting member having a cutting edge, said hollow front portion having a plurality of longitudinal slots therein dividing said cutting member into cutting member segments and also defining a plurality of arcuate segments connected to and extending rearwardly from the cutting member segments, each of said arcuate segments being of such resiliency as to be flexed radially inwardly by the tubular outer conductor of the cable when the elongate body is inserted therein so as to thereby impart an outward bias to the cutting member segments and apply a desired force for removal of residue from the inside surface of the outer conductor when the tool is retracted from the tubular outer conductor;
• and
• a cutting blade connected to said housing and having a cutting edge for removing the outer jacket portion from the tubular outer conductor upon rotation of said tool when said elongate body is inserted within said tubular outer conductor.

A method for preparing a coaxial cable end, the coaxial cable being of the type including an elongate center conductor, a tubular outer conductor surrounding the center conductor, and dielectric material between the center and outer conductors, the method comprising the steps of:

• removing a portion of the dielectric material from an interior portion of the coaxial cable end and having an effect of leaving a residue of dielectric material on an inner surface of the outer conductor;
• inserting into the interior of the coaxial cable end an elongate body having a substantially cylindrical and hollow front portion for receiving a portion of the center conductor wherein an outermost portion of the hollow front portion of the elongate body has a larger diameter then a longitudinally adjacent portion of the elongate body to thereby define a cutting member, wherein the hollow front portion of the elongate body is divided by a plurality of longitudinal slots which also divide the cutting member into cutting member segments and which define a plurality of arcuate segments connected to and extending rearwardly from the cutting member segments such that said inserting step comprises the step of flexing the arcuate segments radially inwardly as the elongate body is inserted into the interior of the coaxial cable end to thereby radially outwardly bias the cutting member segments;
• and
• withdrawing the elongate body from the coaxial cable end such that the radially outwardly biased cutting member segments sever and remove the residue of dielectric material left on the inner surface of the outer conductor during said removing step.