# US 6,293,171 B1 · Apparatus and method for stripping wire

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- Number: US 6,293,171 B1
- Document ID: US6293171B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/177,209
- Filed: 1998-10-22
- Granted: 2001-09-25
- Earliest claimed: 1998-10-22
- Assignees: Avaya Technology Corp.
- Inventors: Jack V. Faren
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293171B1

## CPC

- H02G 1/1285: {by friction, e.g. abrading, grinding, brushing}
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

An apparatus for, and method of, stripping insulation from an electrical wire. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a stripping member having a curved, irregular surface thereon that is frictionally engageable with the insulation to apply a stripping force thereto and (2) a handle, coupled to an end of the stripping member, that allows a stripping force to be applied to the stripping member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for stripping an insulation from conductors within an electrical wire, comprising:
a cylindrically shaped stripping member having a convex outer surface;
a plurality of protrusions on said outer surface, said protrusions having a height sufficient to penetrate into said insulation of said electrical wire without damage to said electrical wire; and
a handle, coupled to an end of said stripping member, configured to allow a stripping force to be applied to said stripping member through said handle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein a radius of curvature of said convex, outer surface is less than about 0.0625 inch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said stripping member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of:
metal,
ceramic, and
plastic.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle is separable from said stripping member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said stripping member is laterally moveable with respect to said insulation to apply said stripping force.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said stripping member urges said insulation against a compliant surface to apply said stripping force.

### Claim 7

A method of stripping an insulation from conductors within an electrical wire, comprising:
frictionally engaging said insulation with a convex outer surface of a cylindrically shaped stripping member, said outer surface having a plurality of protrusions thereon, said protrusions having a height sufficient to penetrate into said insulation of said electrical wire without damage to said electrical wire;
applying a stripping force to a handle coupled to an end of said stripping member, said handle allowing said stripping force to be applied to said stripping member, and
removing said insulation from said conductors with said stripping member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method as recited in claim 7 wherein a radius of curvature of said convex, outer surface is less than about 0.0625 inch.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said stripping member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of:
metal,
ceramic, and
plastic.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said handle is separable from said stripping member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising laterally moving said stripping member with respect to said insulation to apply said stripping force.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising urging, with said stripping member, said insulation against a compliant surface to apply said stripping force.

### Claim 13

An apparatus for stripping insulation from a thermocouple cable having first and second wires surrounded by a first and a second inner insulation and outer insulation, comprising:
a cylindrically shaped stripping member having a convex outer surface;
a plurality of protrusions on said outer surface, said protrusions having a height sufficient to penetrate into said insulation of said electrical wire without damage to said electrical wire; and
a handle, coupled to an end of said stripping member, configured to allow a stripping force to be applied to said stripping member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein a radius of curvature of said convex, outer surface is less than about 0.0625 inch.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said stripping member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of:
metal,
ceramic, and
plastic.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said handle is separable from said stripping member.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said stripping member is laterally moveable with respect to said first and second inner insulation and outer insulation to apply said stripping force.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said stripping member urges said outer insulation against a compliant surface to apply said stripping force.