[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63/208,789, filed on June 9, 2021.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of cable processing, and more specifically, to a fixture for aiding in cable stripping operations.

[0003] Prior to installing an electrical connector onto a cable (e.g., a coaxial cable) or wire, one or more stripping operations must be performed to selectively expose various layers or components of the cable. These processes typically include cutting circumferentially about an exposed surface of the cable to a predetermined depth, and removing one or more layers of the cable freed by the cut. Performing these operations without damaging the underlying layers of the cable can be critical to cable integrity and performance. Thus, the cutting steps are required to be performed with a relatively high degree of precision and accuracy. While fully-automated cable processing systems may be capable of performing the above-described operations effectively, such systems are costly and time-consuming to implement. Accordingly, the use of these systems may not be of sufficient value, particularly for low- volume or development applications. As a result, accurate manual cable processing systems and methods are still of significant value to the industry.

[0004] A cable stripping fixture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a depth gauge block having a first plurality of cable openings formed therein. Each of the first plurality of cable openings is sized to receive at least a portion of a first type of cable. A guide plate is fixed to the depth gauge block and includes of a second plurality of cable openings formed therethrough. Each of the second plurality of cable openings is coaxially aligned with one of the first cable openings. A blade holder of the fixture is movably connected to one of the gauge block or the guide plate, and is movable between a cutting position and a wire-insertion position. A blade is fixed to the blade holder for cutting an exterior surface of a cable inserted through the wire guide plate and into the depth gauge block.

[0005] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:

[0006] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a wire stripping fixture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0007] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the wire stripping fixture of Figure 1 in a partially assembled state with a wire guide plate thereof removed;

[0008] Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the wire stripping fixture of Figure 1 in an assembled state;

[0009] Figure 4 is side perspective view of the wire stripping fixture of Figure 3 in an open or wire-insertion position;

[0010] Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the wire stripping fixture of Figure 3 in a cutting or stripping position;

[0011] Figure 6A is a top view of an exemplary cable after an outer insulation layer thereof has been partially stripped or removed using the wire stripping fixture according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 6B is a top view of the cable of Figure 6A after a shielding layer thereof has been partially stripped or removed using the wire stripping fixture according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0013] Figure 6C is a top view of the cable of Figures 6A and 6B after an inner insulation layer thereof has been partially stripped or removed using the wire stripping fixture according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] As set forth above, embodiments of the present disclosure include an improved cable or wire stripping fixture aiding the performance of multiple cutting and/or stripping operations on wires or cables of several predetermined sizes or types. In one embodiment, a cable stripping fixture includes a depth gauge block having a first plurality of cable openings formed therein. A first subset of the first plurality of cable openings are sized to receive at least a portion of a first type of cable in various stages of processing, and a second subset of the first plurality of cable openings are sized to receive at least a portion of a second type of cable, distinct from the first type, in various stages of processing. A wire or cable guide plate is fixed to the depth gauge block and includes a second plurality of cable openings formed therethrough. Each of the second cable openings is coaxially aligned with one of the first cable openings and is sized to accept at least portions of the first or second cable types in various stages of processing. A blade holder of the fixture is movably connected to one of the gauge block or the guide plate, and is movable between a cutting position and an open or cable-insertion position. A blade is fixed to the blade holder for engaging with a cable or wire inserted through the cable guide plate and into the depth gauge block.

[0015] Referring generally to Figures 1-5, a wire or cable stripping fixture 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a depth gauge block 12, a wire or cable guide plate 14, a blade holder 16 and a blade 18. The guide plate 14 may be selectively fixed to a front face of the depth gauge block 12 via a plurality of fasteners 13. The depth gauge block 12 includes a recess 22 formed in a face that opposes the guide plate 14 in an assembled state. In this way, the depth gauge block 12 and the guide plate 14 define a slot therebetween via the recess 22 for receiving the blade 18. A bottom surface 24 of the recess 22 forms a positive stop for setting the maximum cutting depth of the blade 18, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

[0016] The blade holder 16 is movably mounted to the depth gauge block 12 via, for example, a plurality of sliding pins or shouldered fasteners 15. In one embodiment, the sliding pins 15 are inserted through corresponding apertures in the blade holder 16, and threadedly connected to the depth gauge block 12. A pair of openings 27 formed in the blade holder 16 receiving the sliding pins 15 may be counter sunk or counter bored for receiving a head of the pin or fastener and provide a generally planar top surface onto which force may be applied by a user. The length of the corresponding interfacing sliding surfaces of the sliding pins 15 and the blade holder 16 are selected such that vertical movement of the blade holder 16 and the blade 18 relative to the depth gauge block 12 is enabled.

[0017] A pair of springs 17 are arranged between the depth gauge block 12 and the blade holder 16. The springs 17 are operative to bias the blade holder 16 vertically upward into an open position away from the depth gauge block 12. In this way, downward pressure on the blade holder 16 (i.e., by a user) is operative to bias the blade holder 16 and the blade 18 in a cutting direction C against the return or biasing force of the springs 17 and into a cutting position as shown in Figure 5. At least a portion of each spring 17 may be received in an aperture or counterbore 29 formed in the depth gauge block 12 for supporting the spring throughout its travel or compression. In some embodiments, corresponding apertures or counterbores may be formed in an underside of the blade holder 16 for receiving an opposite end of each spring 17. In still other embodiments, each spring 17 may be arranged coaxially over, and thus supported by, a respective one of the sliding pins 15, and between the blade holder 16 and the depth gauge block 12. [0018] The blade holder 16 includes a slot 30 sized to receive the blade 18. The blade 18 may be mounted to the blade holder 16 via, for example, a plurality of fixation pins 19 arranged through corresponding coaxial openings or holes 21 formed through the holder and the blade. Spring pins 23 may be inserted through a second set of openings 25 in the depth gauge block 12. The spring pins 23 may be positioned to abut against the blade 18 for preventing its unintended deflection and/or articulation during cutting operations.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each of the depth gauge block 12 and the guide plate 14 define at least one set of holes or openings of differing diameters corresponding to the diameters of a plurality of various layers of a wire or cable to be stripped. In the exemplary embodiment, the fixture 10 includes two sets of openings corresponding to the layers of two different standardized cables (i.e., RTK 031 and RG 174, by way of example). In this way, the single fixture 10 may be used to strip two types of cable. In other embodiments, fewer or additional sets of openings may be provided for processing a corresponding number of cable types.

[0020] More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the depth gauge block 12 defines a first plurality of holes or openings 40,41,42, and a second plurality of holes or openings 43,44,45, formed therein in a direction transverse to the cutting direction C of the blade 18. Likewise, the guide plate 14 defines a corresponding first plurality of holes 50,51,52 coaxially aligned with respective ones of the first plurality of holes 40,41,42 of the depth gauge block 12, and a second plurality of holes 53,54,55 coaxially aligned with respective ones of the second plurality of holes 43,44,45. Each pair of aligned holes of the first plurality of holes have diameters which correspond to various dimensions of a cable to be processed thereby.

[0021] For example, each hole of the pair of holes 40,50 may be sized to accept an outer insulation layer or jacket of an RTK 031 cable 100 in an insertion direction I (see Figure 4). See also Figure 6A. Similarly, the pair of holes 41,51 may be sized to accept a folded back portion of an outer conductor of the RTK 031 cable 100 and a reminder of the cable (e.g., including a shielding layer thereof), respectively. See also Figure 6B. The pair of holes 42,52 may be sized to accept the folded back portion of the outer conductor of the RTK 031 cable 100, and an exposed inner insulation layer thereof, respectively. See Figure 6C. Likewise, the second plurality of holes of the depth gauge block 12 and the guide plate 14 may be sized to accept corresponding portions of an RG 174 cable, by way of non-limiting example only. [0022] As shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 5, the bottom surface 24 of the recess 22 intersects each of the first and second plurality of holes of the gauge block 12 in a radially- inward direction, and to a depth corresponding to a thickness of the associated cable layer to be cut and/or stripped. The first and second plurality of holes 40-45 of the guide plate 14 are positioned such that the stop surface 24 is arranged at a common radial distance from the center of each opening. This radial distance corresponds to an inner diameter, or marginally less than an inner diameter, of the layer of the cable desired to be cut and/or stripped in the associated holes. In this way, the centers of each of the first plurality of holes 40,41,42 (as well as the second plurality of openings 43,44,45) are offset from one another in a vertical direction in order to position the blade 18 at a desired depth during cutting, as shown in Figure 5.

[0023] With particular reference to Figure 4, the RTK 031 cable 100 is shown inserted into the holes 40,50 of the fixture 10 in the insertion direction I, with the blade 18 in an open or insertion position. In use, downward pressure on the blade holder 16 is operative to lower the blade 18 into an outer insulation layer or jacket 110 of the cable 100, as shown in Figure 5. The holes 40,50 are positioned such that the bottom wall or surface 24 of the recess 22 stops the blade 18 at, or just before, a position corresponding to the inner diameter of the jacket 110. After the initial depression of the blade holder 16 and the initial cutting of the jacket 110 via the blade 18, a user may rotate the cable 100 while maintaining pressure on the blade holder for completing the cut about the circumference of the jacket 110. In one embodiment, the jacket 110 may be removed from a remainder of the cable 100 by removing the cable in a direction opposite the insertion direction I while maintaining pressure on the blade holder 16. In this way, the blade 18 will retain and strip-away the cut portion of the jacket 110 from a remainder of the cable 100. [0024] Referring generally to Figures 6A-6C, a stripping process for preparing the RTK 031 (or RG 174) cable 100 for connectorization will be described in reference to the exemplary fixture 10 described in the preceding figures. As set forth above, the cable 100 includes an outer insulation layer or jacket 110, a multi-strand or braided outer conductor 115, a foil shield 120, an inner insulation layer 125 and a central conductor 130. In a first stripping step, the jacket 110 may be removed, as shown in Figure 6A. This is achieved by fully inserting an end of the cable 100 into the openings 40,50 of the fixture 10, depressing the blade 18 via the blade holder 16 until it abuts the bottom surface 24 of the recess 22, and rotating the cable to cut the jacket 110 about its circumference. [0025] Once the outer jacket 110 has been removed, a portion of the outer conductor 115 may be folded rearwardly (or removed entirely) for exposing a portion of the foil shield 120. In a subsequent second stripping step or operation, the exposed portion of the foil shield 120 is removed from a portion of the inner insulation layer 125, as shown in Figure 6B. This is achieved by fully inserting the end of the cable 100 into the openings 41,51, depressing the blade 18, and rotating the cable to cut the foil shield 120 about its circumference.

[0026] Referring to Figure 6C, in a third and/or final stripping step, the inner insulation layer 125 is removed from a portion of the central conductor 130. Specifically, the end of the cable 100 shown in Figure 6B is fully inserted into the openings 42,52, the blade holder and blade 16,18 depressed, and the cable rotated for cutting the insulation layer 125 about its circumference. In each of the second and third stripping steps, insertion of the remaining portion of the cable 100 into the fixture 100 may fold back the layer exposed by the previous stripping operation, as shown in the figures. Specifically, the holes formed in the guide plate 14 may be sized so as to abut a face (i.e., an axially-facing surface) of these layers in the axial or insertion direction. In other embodiments, the holes of the guide plate 14 are sized in a clearance manner, such that no interference with the previously exposed layer is realized.