Patent Application
20130055571
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to preparation tools for coaxial cables. More particularly, this invention provides for an adjustable preparation tool for coaxial cables of various diameters, and method of use thereof.
Coaxial cables are used as a transmission line for radio frequency signals for applications including but not limited to various communications networks. Many different types of coaxial cables exist having varying impedances and diameters. Coaxial cables may be, for example, 50 ohm impedance cables or 75 ohm impedance cables. These coaxial cables typically include an outer plastic jacket surrounding at least one outer conductor, both of which further surround a dielectric insulator. Housed within these three components is typically a center conductor for transmitting the transmission of signals.
To attach coaxial cables to communications systems, coaxial cables must generally be fitted with end connectors. Various types of end connectors exist for attaching the cables to various types of ports. To attach a connector to a coaxial cable, a preparation process must first be performed whereby a length of the outer jacket is first stripped. Further, the outer metallic conductor may also required to be cut, and a portion of the dielectric insulator may need to be removed. Preparation jacket cutting tools may be utilized to accomplish these functions. These cutting tools are configured to make a cut at a precise depth around the circumference of the coaxial cable so that the correct components of the coaxial cables are cut. However, because of the precision required, cutting tools are only capable of properly cutting a coaxial cable having an extremely small range of outer diameters. Unfortunately, variations in cable diameter may result from large tolerances or the fact that cables may be provided by different manufacturers. These coaxial cable diameter variations may result in the cable being: (1) too small to be properly stripped by a cutting tool; or (2) too large to fit within the dimensions of a cutting tool.
Accordingly, an adjustable preparation tool for a coaxial cable, and a method of use thereof, would be well received in the art.
According to one aspect, a coaxial cable preparation tool comprises: a main body; a cavity extending into the main body configured to accommodate insertion of a coaxial cable therein, the cavity including a first center axis; and a first blade extending into the cavity, the first blade rotatable about the cavity eccentric about the first center axis, the first blade variably securable in a fixed position with respect to the cavity, the first blade configured to cut the coaxial cable when the main body is rotated with respect to the coaxial cable.
According to another aspect, a coaxial cable preparation tool comprises: a main body; a cavity extending into the main body configured to accommodate insertion of a coaxial cable therein, the cavity including a first center axis; a collar surrounding the cavity, the collar having a second center axis that is eccentric with the first center axis, the collar securably rotatable about the cavity; and a blade housed within the collar and extending into the cavity, the blade configured to cut the coaxial cable when the main body is rotated with respect to the coaxial cable.
According to another aspect, a method of preparing a coaxial cable comprises: providing a coaxial cable preparation tool having a main body and a cavity, the cavity having a first center axis; rotating a blade within a cavity of a main body about a second center axis that is eccentric to the first center axis; retaining the blade in a position about the second center axis; inserting the coaxial cable into the cavity of the main body of a the coaxial cable preparation tool; rotating the main body around the coaxial cable; and cutting the coaxial cable with the blade.
According to another aspect, a coaxial cable preparation tool comprises: a main body; a cavity extending into the main body configured to accommodate insertion of a coaxial cable therein, the cavity including a first center axis; and a first blade extending into the cavity, the first blade rotatable about the cavity eccentric about the first center axis, the first blade variably securable in a fixed position with respect to the cavity, the first blade configured to cut the coaxial cable when the main body is rotated with respect to the coaxial cable.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
a depicts a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a coaxial cable following preparation;
b depicts a side view of the coaxial cable of
c depicts a perspective view of the coaxial cable of
a depicts a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a coaxial cable following preparation after a deeper cut than the embodiment shown in
b depicts a side view of the coaxial cable of
c depicts a perspective view of the coaxial cable of
A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
The main body 12 of the adjustable preparation tool 10 may be substantially cylindrical in shape. However, the main body 12 may also take any shape operable to appropriately prepare a coaxial cable. Extending from a first end 28 of the adjustment preparation tool 10 may be a post 30 so that the adjustment preparation tool 10 may be attached with a handle (not shown) for ease of manual rotation. The post 30 may have a hexagonal or square cross section or the like. The post 30 may also be a drive bit for attachment to a drive socket of an automatic drilling machine. A number of posts 30 may be attachable to the main body 12 for attachment to different drive sockets or handles. It should be understood that the main body 12 may be made of a metallic material, such as steel. Alternately, the main body 12 may be made of a plastic, or a composite or the like. Any material or combination of materials that would offer a sufficient product life may be appropriate. The main body 12 is shown as a single piece of material, such as a fashioned rod. However, in other embodiments contemplated, the main body 12 may be formed of multiple component elements joined or coupled together.
At a second end 34 of the adjustable preparation tool 10 may be the cavity 16. The cavity 16 may also be a hole, bore, gap, opening or the like. The cavity 16 may extend from the second end 34 along a central axis of the main body 12. The cavity 16 may extend an adequate length such that the coaxial cable 14 is insertable a sufficient distance past the collar 22 and the blade 18. Thus, the eventual cut of the blade 18 may be configured to remove the proper length of the outer plastic jacket for preparation of the coaxial cable 14. Furthermore, it should be understood that coaxial cables have many various thicknesses depending on the application. Different embodiments contemplated may have cavities 16 specifically sized to accommodate different types of coaxial cables. However, each embodiment is adjustable such that a range of dimensional tolerances of coaxial cables are receivable in the cavity 16 for proper jacket stripping. Furthermore, embodiments may include multiple cavities.
The adjustable preparation tool 10 may further include the collar 22 that houses the blade 18. The collar 22 may also be a ring, loop, hoop, band or other structure. Whatever the embodiment, the collar 22 is configured to surround the main body of the adjustable preparation tool 10. The collar 22 may be variably securable in a fixed position with respect to the cavity 16. Thus, the blade 18 may also be variably securable in a fixed position with respect to the cavity 16. The collar 22 may include two separate semi-cylindrical components 42, 44, as shown in the cross sectional view of
The collar 22 may fit around the connecting portion 38 such that any rotation between the two components would be opposed with sliding friction due to a close dimensional fit. However, there may further be a securing mechanism 46 to secure the collar 22 into a position about the connecting portion 38 and prevent rotation of the collar 22 with respect to the connecting portion 38. The securing mechanism 46 may, for example, be a spring loaded plunger mechanism 54, shown in
Furthermore, the collar 22 may include an engaging mechanism 62 that is in communication with the blade 18. The engaging mechanism 62 may be utilized to disengage or engage the blade 18 from a cutting position. This may allow the coaxial cables 14, 15 to be inserted into the cavity 16 without interference from the blade 18. Once the coaxial cables 14, 15 are positioned within the cavity 16, the engaging mechanism 62 may be used to actually engage the blade 18 with the coaxial cable 14, 15 during the cut. In other embodiments, there is no mechanism to move the blade with respect to the collar 22. Instead, the blade 18 may be fixed with respect to the collar 22. In this embodiment, the coaxial cable 14, 15 may be cut by insertion into the cavity 16 and then rotation until the coaxial cable 14, 15 once the coaxial cable 14, 15 is in contact with the blade 18. The coaxial cable 14, 15 may then continue to be inserted during the rotational cutting 18 by the blade until the coaxial cable 14, 15 reaches the end of the cavity 16. Thus, the cavity 16 may be of a particular length to ensure a proper cutting length of the coaxial cable 14, 15.
Referring now specifically to
In contrast to
Referring now to
This may provide for the capability of the adjustable preparation tool 100 to more precisely cut different lengths in the coaxial cables 14, 15. For example, depending on the cable, it may be desirable to remove a greater or lesser length of the outer jacket. By moving the blade 118 to the left and right along the first and second axis, a user can change this cutting length of the coaxial cable 14, 15 without changing the amount that the coaxial cable 14, 15 is inserted into the cavity 116. Thus, the user may achieve different cutting lengths even though the coaxial cable is always fully inserted into the cavity 116 until it reaches the end of the cavity 116.
Referring now to
While the smaller diameter coaxial cable 14 shown in the Figures has a spiral walled outer conductor, it should be understood that the adjustable preparation tool 10 described herein may be applicable for preparing any types of coaxial cables. For example, a smooth walled outer conductor cable, an annular corrugated cable, or a braided outer cable may be prepared. It should be understood that some coaxial cables 14, 15 may include a plurality of outer conductors. The adjustable preparation tool 10 described herein would be useful in gripping and holding the jacket of any coaxial cable during preparation. It should be understood that preparation of the coaxial cable 14 may include removing a length of the outer jacket 20 and a lesser length of the outer conductor 48. Further, the preparation may include coring the dielectric insulator 50. Still further, preparation may include chamfering the tip of the center conductor 52. These preparation steps may be accomplished with the blades 42, 44, 46 within the cavity 16.
a-10c show another smaller diameter coaxial cable 114 substantially similar to the smaller diameter coaxial cable 14. Thus, the smaller diameter coaxial cable 114 may include an outer jacket 120, an outer conductor 148, a dielectric 150, and a center conductor 152. However, unlike the smaller diameter coaxial cable 14 described hereinabove and shown in
Referring now to
While the embodiment shows a single collar 222 that houses both blades 218, 264, other embodiments are contemplated. For example, each blade 218, 264 may be housed in a different collar. Thus, the adjustable preparation tool 200 may include two or more rotatable collars. These collars may each be configured to separately rotate about the main body to move to the left and right independently, as described in the embodiment shown in
Referring now to
A method of preparing a coaxial cable, such as the smaller diameter coaxial cable 14, is also contemplated. The method may first include providing a coaxial cable preparation tool, such as the coaxial cable preparation tool 10, having a main body and a cavity, such as the main body 12 and the cavity 16, the cavity having a first center axis such as the first center axis 26. The method may then include rotating a blade, such as the blade 18, within the cavity of the main body about a second center axis, such as the second center axis 24, that is eccentric to the first center axis. The method may include retaining the blade in a rotational position about the second center axis. The method may further include inserting the coaxial cable into the cavity of the main body of the adjustable preparation tool. The method may then include rotating the main body around the coaxial cable and cutting the coaxial cable with the blade. Still further, the method may include rotating a collar, such as the collar 22, having the second center axis about the main body, where the blade is fixedly housed within the collar.
Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” and their derivatives are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The conjunction “or” when used with a list of at least two terms is intended to mean any term or combination of terms. The terms “first” and “second” are used to distinguish elements and are not used to denote a particular order.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
