Cable stripper

Abstract

A cable stripper having a displaceable blade carriage, which is normally biased toward a cable support to automatically accommodate differently dimensioned jacketed cables in a desired position. The blade carriage supports a blade assembly configured so that the blade can be displaced among multiple positions, corresponding to respective axial, radial and a plurality of spiral cuts, while the cable is engaged in the desired position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cable stripper comprising:
 a cable support;   a blade carriage biased toward the cable support; and   a blade assembly including a blade and being supported by the blade carriage, the blade being axially moveable relative to the blade carriage, the blade also being rotationally moveable between a plurality of positions relative to the blade carriage, the plurality of positions being operable for the blade to produce cuts in a jacket of the cable corresponding to a radial cut, a plurality of spiral cuts and an axial cut within an angular rotation of the blade of no more than 90 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The cable stripper according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade defines a longitudinal axis and the cable support defines a receiving space having an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The cable stripper according to  claim 2 , wherein the axial movement of the blade is along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The cable stripper according to  claim 2 , wherein the rotational movement of the blade is about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The cable stripper according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable support and the blade carriage are biased towards each other. 
     
     
         6 . The cable stripper according to  claim 1 , further comprising a blade depth adjustment assembly configured to enable the blade to penetrate the jacket of the cable at the predetermined depth. 
     
     
         7 . The cable stripper according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable support has a body configured to engage the jacket of the cable in at least two locations. 
     
     
         8 . The cable stripper according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable support and the blade carriage are mechanically coupled together and moveable relative toward and away from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The cable stripper according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade is biased away from the cable support. 
     
     
         10 . The cable stripper according the  claim 1 , wherein the blade is lockable in one of the rotational positions of the blade. 
     
     
         11 . The cable stripper according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stop cooperating with the blade carriage to displaceably fix the blade in a desired position corresponding to one of the axial, radial and spiral cuts. 
     
     
         12 . A cable stripper comprising:
 a cable support;   a blade carriage biased toward the cable support; and   a blade assembly supported by the blade carriage and including a blade, the blade being axially moveable relative to the blade carriage and being rotationally moveable between a plurality of positions defining an angular rotation of 90 degrees.