Stinger Cutting Guide for Coax Conductor Trimming

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for trimming the center conductor of a stinger to a precise length for coax device installation are inaccurate, require access to the coax device housing, and result in inconsistent cut angles and shapes, leading to increased installation time and potential errors.

Innovation Solution

A stinger cutting guide that allows for precise trimming of the center conductor to a desired length, independent of the coax device housing, featuring a pre-measured housing with a cylindrical socket and barrel to stabilize and guide the stinger, and an integrated deburrer for consistent conductor shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a technician uses a reference line on the coax device housing to trim the center conductor, then the technician can determine a proper conductor length, but the method leads to inaccurate conductor lengths outside of acceptable tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconductor length accuracyVSAvoidconductor length tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cutting guide as an intermediary tool between the technician and the conductor trimming process. The cutting guide provides precise physical stops and alignment features that ensure accurate and consistent conductor length trimming, eliminating the inaccuracy of visually aligning with a reference line on the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual visual alignment method with a mechanical cutting guide system that uses physical stops, guides, and alignment features to automatically ensure accurate conductor length. This mechanical system provides repeatable precision that cannot be achieved through visual estimation alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the technician accesses the reference line on the coax device housing to trim the conductor, then the proper conductor length can be determined, but the reference line may be inaccessible or require the device to be turned upside down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of reference lineVSAvoidconductor length determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the trimming reference functionality from the coax device housing itself and places it on a separate, portable cutting guide. This allows the technician to perform the trimming operation anywhere, without needing to access or manipulate the housing or its reference line, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting guide serves as an intermediary tool that brings the reference system to the technician rather than requiring the technician to access the housing reference line. This intermediary approach eliminates the accessibility problem while preserving measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the technician trims the center conductor using the reference line method, then the conductor can be cut to length, but the cut angles and conductor shapes are inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidcut angle consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual freehand trimming method with a mechanically guided cutting system. The cutting guide includes features such as guide edges, alignment slots, and physical stops that constrain the cutting tool and conductor to ensure consistent cut angles and uniform conductor shapes, thereby improving manufacturing precision without sacrificing productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Manufacturing precision

If the technician files the cut ends to deburr the conductor, then the conductor shape can be improved, but the filing process results in inconsistent conductor shapes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconductor shape uniformityVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting guide is designed to perform the deburring and shaping function during the initial cutting operation itself, rather than requiring a separate filing step. The guide includes integrated deburring features that automatically clean and shape the conductor end as it is being cut, thereby achieving consistent conductor shapes while eliminating the additional time required for manual filing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8800135B2Stinger cutting guide

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A cutting guide for trimming the center conductor of a stinger. The cutting guide may include a housing that is adapted to receive the stinger conductor and provide a reference plane for trimming the conductor to a desired length. The housing may include a receiving end for receiving a predetermined portion of the stinger and an exit end through which an excess portion of the conductor protrudes beyond the desired cutting plane. The housing may include a socket having a receiving space for receiving the threads of the conductor and a barrel having a bore through which the stinger extends. Alternative embodiments include a length-adjustable housing and a housing with multiple bore lengths.