Cable Stripper Roller and Pivot Blade for Safer Sheath Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of knives to strip the outer sheath of electrical cables poses a risk of injury to installers during electrical installations.

Innovation Solution

A stripping tool with a support structure, a rotatable roller for guiding the cable, and a pivotable cutting element arm with a cutting blade that aligns with the roller surface to cut the cable sheath along its longitudinal extension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a knife is used to strip the outer sheath of a cable, then the sheath can be removed effectively, but the risk of injury to the installer increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheath removal effectivenessVSAvoidinjury risk to installer
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a roller as an intermediary component between the cable and the cutting element. The roller guides the cable through the device and provides a stable surface for the cutting element to engage with the sheath, eliminating the need for the installer to directly manipulate a knife blade while maintaining effective sheath removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed so that the cable itself is fed through the roller and positioned automatically against the cutting element. The installer simply needs to feed the cable through the device, and the mechanical components (roller and cutting element) perform the stripping action automatically, reducing direct human interaction with dangerous cutting edges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If a fixed cutting element is used, then the device structure is simple, but the cable must be precisely positioned for effective cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structure simplicityVSAvoidcable positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting element is mounted on a pivotable arm that can rotate about a pivot axis. This dynamic mounting allows the cutting element to adjust its position relative to the cable during operation, accommodating variations in cable positioning while maintaining effective cutting contact, thus reducing the precision requirements for initial cable placement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the cutting element is aligned with the roller surface, then the cable is properly guided during cutting, but the cutting element must be precisely positioned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable guidance alignmentVSAvoidcutting element positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The roller is pre-configured with a specific surface orientation and position relative to the pivot axis. This preliminary setup establishes the correct geometric relationship between the roller and cutting element, so that when the cutting element is positioned at the predetermined location, automatic alignment with the cable path is achieved, reducing the need for complex adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4568032A1Cable stripper
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 NEXANS SA
  • EP4568032A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4568032A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4568032A1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A stripping tool (100) is provided. The stripping tool (100) comprises a support structure (101). A roller (102) is arranged along an axis (A) in the support structure (101) through the center of the roller (102). The roller (102) comprises a circumferential roller surface (103) transversally to the axis (A) for guiding a cable along its longitudinal extension. A cutting element (104) is arranged on a cutting element arm (106) pivotably connected to the support structure (101). The cutting element (106) being arranged perpendicular to the first axis (A), such that a sheath on the cable may be cut along the longitudinal extension as the cable is displaced along the direction of its longitudinal extension.