Two-Piece Cable Stripper With Segmented Blade Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable strippers are difficult to use for removing the exterior layer of cables, particularly for fiber optic cables, as they require skill and strength, and can cause damage to the core or injury to technicians due to excessive cutting or handling.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece cable stripper with T-shaped handles and rotatable components that securely hold a blade for precise cutting of the cable exterior, designed to accommodate various cable types and dimensions, including flat and round fiber optic cables, with features like acetyl polymer material for reduced friction and visual alignment indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open faced knife or makeshift cable stripper is used to cut through the cable jacket, then the cable jacket can be removed, but the process requires skill and strength and can cause damage to the cable core or injury to the technician
Solution Approach 1:
The cable stripper is divided into two separate components: a first component with a blade for cutting the cable jacket, and a second component with a channel that receives the cable. This segmentation allows the cutting action to be isolated and controlled within the channel, preventing uncontrolled blade movement that could damage the cable core or injure the technician.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel in the second component serves as an intermediary structure that guides and constrains the cable during the stripping process. The channel provides a controlled environment where the blade can safely cut the jacket without risking damage to the internal cable core or causing injury to the operator.
2Productivity
If a knife is used to cut the cable jacket, then the jacket can be removed, but the knife can slip causing injury to the technician
Solution Approach 1:
The channel acts as an intermediary that captures and controls the blade's cutting action. By confining the blade within the channel structure and having the cable pass through this controlled environment, any potential blade slippage is contained within the channel boundaries, preventing injury to the technician while maintaining effective cable jacket removal.
Solution Approach 2:
Separating the blade function from the cable holding function into two distinct components allows for better control and safety. The blade is housed in one component while the cable is secured in another, creating a more controlled and safer operating environment compared to using a loose knife.
3Ease of operation
If a traditional cable stripper is used on flat fiber optic cables, then the jacket can be stripped, but the cable may twist or bend excessively causing damage to the optical fiber
Solution Approach 1:
The two-component design allows the cable to be securely held in the channel of the second component while the blade in the first component performs the cutting action. This segmentation enables precise control over the stripping process, preventing excessive twisting or bending of the cable that could damage the optical fiber.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel serves as an intermediary structure that stabilizes the cable during the stripping operation. By providing a guided path and secure positioning within the channel, the cable is protected from uncontrolled twisting or bending movements that could occur with traditional strippers, thereby preventing damage to the optical fiber.
4Device complexity
If a single-piece cable stripper is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different types and dimensions of cables including flat and round cables
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the cable stripper into two separate components increases versatility without significantly complicating the overall structure. Each component can be independently designed and manufactured, and they can be easily assembled or disassembled. This segmentation allows the device to accommodate different cable types and dimensions while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The two components are designed to be movable relative to each other, allowing the device to adapt to different cable configurations. The first component can be positioned and moved along the cable while the second component remains stationary, providing dynamic adaptability for various cable types and dimensions without requiring a completely different tool for each application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe, precise, and easy penetration of the cable exterior, reducing the risk of core damage and technician injury, while accommodating different cable types and sizes with improved handling and safety features.
Implementation Method 1
The plastic material is preferably an acetyl polymer plastic material which makes it 'slippery' against the jacket of the cable to be cut or scored
Data Source
AI summary
A cable stripper is comprised of two components, each component including a main body portion, a coupling device at one end of the main body portion and a T-shaped handle disposed at an opposite end of the main body portion. The coupling device rotatably couples the two components together. A channel runs along an interior length of each of the main body portions, which provides a path into which the cable to be stripped is inserted. A blade housing on at least one of the components of the main body portion securely holds a utility knife blade with a predetermined amount of the tip or edge of the blade protruding into the channel. The exposed portion of the blade pierces the sheath or covering of the cable by a precise, predetermined amount.