Optical Cable Wire Removal Tool for Clean Single-Wire Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing wires from optical cables often damage the wires or leave the cables with jagged edges, and existing tools are not suitable for extracting a single wire without splitting the entire cable, requiring additional modifications for reuse.
Innovation Solution
A handheld tool with a base, a blade attached at a predetermined angle, and a cable support extension that guides the optical cable to facilitate wire removal without damaging the cable, allowing immediate reuse of the optical cable post-removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual techniques are used to remove a wire from within an optical cable, then the wire removal process is simple and requires no special tools, but the wires may be damaged and/or separated during the removal process, and the remaining optical cable may retain a jagged edge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized handheld tool as an intermediary device between the manual technique and the wire removal task. This tool includes a blade positioned at a predetermined angle within a channel, and a cable support extension with a groove that guides the cable. The intermediary tool enables clean wire removal without direct manual manipulation, thus preventing wire damage and jagged edges while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If known tools such as cable splitters are used to remove a wire from within an optical cable, then the wire can be accessed for removal, but the optical cable is split and requires additional modifications such as re-adding weather protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing a tool that performs a localized cutting action only at the specific point where the wire needs to be removed. The blade is positioned within a channel that exposes only the targeted wire, allowing precise local cutting without affecting the rest of the cable structure. This localized approach eliminates the need for splitting the entire cable or re-applying weather protection, reducing overall device complexity.
3Productivity
If a blade is positioned to cut the wire, then the wire can be removed efficiently, but the cable may be damaged if the blade is not properly positioned or guided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning the blade at a predetermined angle within a channel and providing a cable support extension with a groove that guides the cable into the correct position before cutting occurs. This preliminary setup ensures that when the cutting action is performed, the blade is already optimally positioned to cut the wire efficiently while the guided cable positioning prevents misalignment that could cause cable damage.
Data Source
AI summary
Handheld tools are provided for removing a wire from within an optical cable. For example, the handheld tool may be used to remove a copper wire from a fiber optic drop cable in an efficient manner without damaging other components of the fiber optic drop cable. Advantageously, the optical cable may be used immediately after the wire is removed without further steps by the technician, such as re-applying an outer protective sleeve, as is commonly required with known tools.