Insulated Wire Gripping Tool with Curved Tip and Sliding Blade
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical workers face hazards while handling high voltage electrical components due to accidental contact and miswiring, which can lead to shock, arc faults, and electrical fires, as they often need to manipulate components with their hands or metal tools, increasing the risk of exposure to live circuits.
Innovation Solution
A wire gripping and stripping tool with a curved tip and a closing mechanism that allows for safe handling and stripping of electrical wires, featuring a sliding elongated member and a cutting blade, constructed from non-conductive materials to reduce the risk of electrical hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrical workers use their hands or metal tools to manipulate electrical components, then they can directly handle and manipulate components, but the risk of accidental contact with live circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insulated tool as an intermediary device between the electrical worker's hand and the electrical components. The tool features a non-conductive body with a gripping mechanism that allows workers to manipulate wires and components without direct skin contact, thereby eliminating the risk of electrical shock while maintaining full operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is segmented into distinct functional zones: a non-conductive body portion for safe handling, a gripping mechanism portion for manipulating components, and an insulated elongated member connecting them. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while maintaining overall safety
2Strength
If electrical workers use metal tools to manipulate components, then they can effectively grip and manipulate wires, but the risk of arc faults and electrical fires increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool employs composite material construction, combining non-conductive materials for the body and gripping surfaces with metal cutting blades enclosed within the insulated structure. This allows the tool to provide strong gripping force where needed while maintaining electrical insulation to prevent arc faults and electrical fires
3Productivity
If electrical workers manually handle wires without insulation stripping, then they can quickly install components, but miswiring can occur leading to exposure to live circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The tool merges multiple functions into a single device: wire gripping, insulation stripping, and wire cutting are all integrated into one tool. The insulated body houses both the gripping mechanism and the cutting blade, allowing workers to perform all wire preparation tasks without switching tools, thereby maintaining high productivity while ensuring wiring accuracy through proper insulation removal
4Reliability
If electrical workers take precautions to turn off circuits, then they can reduce risk of shock, but mislabeling or miswiring can still cause exposure to live circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The insulated tool provides a continuous protective barrier between the worker and electrical components throughout the entire installation process. This beforehand protection ensures that even if precautions like circuit shutdown are mistakenly overlooked or if miswiring occurs, the worker remains protected from electrical shock by the non-conductive tool
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein include devices and methods for gripping and stripping an electrical wire. The tool may include a body, having a first portion with a curved tip, and a second portion. The tool may also include a closing mechanism mounted on the body, and an elongated member having a protruding tip and coupled to the closing mechanism. The elongated member can slidably move towards the second portion, causing the protruding tip to move away from to the curved tip, with respect to movement of the closing mechanism for receiving at least a portion of an electrical wire inserted into the opening, or move towards the first portion, causing the protruding tip to move toward the curved tip, with respect to another movement of the closing mechanism for gripping the received portion of the electrical wire.