Apparatus for removing insulation from electrical conductors

Claim 2

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor by the use of a thermal element comprising: a shaft; an electric motor coupled to said shaft to rotate it; a thermal element; means mounted on said shaft for supporting said thermal element and causing said thermal element to rotate with said shaft, said means causing said thermal element to move towards and away from the axis of rotation of said shaft in response to rotation and cessation of rotation of said shaft; first coupling means coupled to said thermal element for supplying heating current to said thermal element; second coupling means coupled to said motor for supplying energizing current to said motor; power supply means for providing heating and energization currents; selectively settable timing control means coupled to said power supply means and to said first coupling means for providing heating current thereto and to said second coupling means for providing energization current thereto; said timing control means providing said heating and energization currents for a predetermined period of time; manually operable means coupled to said timing control means to set the duration of said predetermined period; and selectively operable switch means coupled between said power supply means and said timing control means which when operated causes heating current to be supplied to said thermal element and energization current to be supplied to said motor for the predetermined period to which said timing control means is set.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said switch means comprises a manually operable switch; the apparatus further comprising: time delay means coupled to said motor and to said second coupling means for delaying the application of energizing current to said motor when said manual switch is operated to thereby permit said thermal element to receive heating current and heat up prior to the application of energizing current to said motor.

Claim 4

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor comprising: a shaft; means for rotating said shaft coupled to said shaft; a bracket assembly having a first portion mounted on said shaft and a thermal element holding portion spaced therefrom; said bracket assembly first portion having a resilient means coupled to said shaft for urging said thermal element holding portion away from the axis of rotation of said shaft; said bracket assembly further having a mass positioned to urge said thermal element holding portion towards said axis of rotation of said shaft by centrifugal forces when said shaft rotates; a thermal element mounted on said thermal element holding portion; means coupled to said thermal element adapted to receive heating currents and transmit said heating currents to said thermal element to heat it; and a backing member constructed of material which is stable at high temperatures, disposed along a side of said thermal element opposite the axis of rotation of said shaft, said backing member providing support for said thermal element and serving to concentrate and direct the heat of said thermal element towards said shaft.

Claim 5

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor comprising: a shaft; means for rotating said shaft coupled to said shaft; a bracket assembly having a first portion mounted on said shaft and a thermal element holding portion spaced therefrom; said bracket assembly first portion having a resilient means coupled to said shaft for urging said thermal element holding portion away from the axis of rotation of said shaft; said bracket assembly further having a mass positioned to urge said thermal element holding portion towards said axis of rotation of said shaft by centrifugal forces when said shaft rotates; a thermal element mounted on said thermal element holding portion; means coupled to said thermal element adapted to receive heating currents and transmit said heating currents to said thermal element to heat it; and a backing member constructed of material which is stable at high temperatures, disposed along a side of said thermal element opposite the axis of rotation of said shaft, said backing member providing support for said thermal element and serving to concentrate and direct the heat of said thermal element towards said shaft.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein: said shaft has a bore extending along its axis of rotation extending inwardly from a first end thereof; and said apparatus further comprising a stop disposed within said bore; said stop having an outer stop portion positionable adjacent the open end of said shaft to abut the end of a wire to be stripped; adjustment means coupled to said outer stop portion for varying the distance of said outer stop portion from said open end of said shaft.

Claim 7

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor by the use of an elongated thermal element comprising: a shaft; a motor coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft; a bracket pivotally mounted on said shaft with its weight distrIbuted to cause said bracket to pivot in a first direction due to centrifugal forces when said shaft rotates; means coupled to said bracket and to said shaft for biasing said bracket to pivot in a second direction opposite to said first direction; a thermal element having a predetermined length; a pair of tubes mounted on said bracket; said tubes being spaced apart by a distance less than the predetermined length of said thermal element; said tubes extending substantially parallel to each other, and each tube having first and second opposite ends; a pair of pins, each extending through one of said tubes; each pin having a first end portion with an aperture therein; said first end portion of each of said pins projecting beyond said first end of its respective tube; each said aperture in said first end portion of said pin being proportioned to receive therein an end of said thermal element; a pair of springs, one for each of said pins coupled between its associated pin and associated tube to bias its associated one of said pins in a direction to draw said first end portion into its associated tube; and means for carrying currents coupled to a second end portion of each of said pins adapted to be coupled to a source of current to pass current through said thermal element positioned in said apertures and held by said pins.

Claim 8

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor by the use of an elongated thermal element comprising: a shaft; a motor coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft; a bracket pivotally mounted on said shaft with its weight distrIbuted to cause said bracket to pivot in a first direction due to centrifugal forces when said shaft rotates; means coupled to said bracket and to said shaft for biasing said bracket to pivot in a second direction opposite to said first direction; a thermal element having a predetermined length; a pair of tubes mounted on said bracket; said tubes being spaced apart by a distance less than the predetermined length of said thermal element; said tubes extending substantially parallel to each other, and each tube having first and second opposite ends; a pair of pins, each extending through one of said tubes; each pin having a first end portion with an aperture therein; said first end portion of each of said pins projecting beyond said first end of its respective tube; each said aperture in said first end portion of said pin being proportioned to receive therein an end of said thermal element; a pair of springs, one for each of said pins coupled between its associated pin and associated tube to bias its associated one of said pins in a direction to draw said first end portion into its associated tube; and means for carrying currents coupled to a second end portion of each of said pins adapted to be coupled to a source of current to pass current through said thermal element positioned in said apertures and held by said pins.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein: said means for carrying currents comprises a pair of slip rings mounted on said shaft; a pair of flexible conductors, each having a first and a second end; said first end of one of said pair of flexible conductors coupled to one of said pair of said slip rings and said second end of the same conductor coupled to one of said pins; said first end of the second of said pair of flexible conductors coupled to the other of said pair of slip rings and said second end of such conductor coupled to the second of said pins; each of said flexible conductors positioned about the shaft and extending at least 180* about said shaft between their respective first and second ends.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising: a backing member having first and second ends; each of said first and second ends having a recess therein for receiving the associated first ends of said tubes; each of said first and second ends having a slot therein for passing opposite ends of said thermal element therethrough; said backing member being held in position when placed so as to receive said tubes in said recesses and said thermal element has been passed through said slots into said apertures in said pins; said backing member having a center portion for supporting said thermal element against deflection.

Claim 11

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor comprising: a shaft; means coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft; a bracket pivotally mounted on said shaft, said bracket so constructed that it tends to pivot in a first direction with respect to said shaft due to centrifugal forces when said shaft rotates; means coupled to said bracket and said shaft for biasing said bracket to pivot in a second direction opposite to said first direction; a pair of thermal element supports mounted on said bracket each with an outer end for supporting a thermal element which extends between said outer ends of said pair of thermal element supports; said thermal element supports mounted to move a thermal element supported by said thermal element supports towards and away from the axis of rotation of said shaft as said bracket pivots in said first and second directions, respectively; a thermal element coupled to said pair of thermal element supports; said thermal element responsive to the application of heating currents thereto; first and second slip ring means mounted on said shaft for carrying currents; and a pair of conductors, each conductor coupling one of said first and said second slip ring means to one of said pair of thermal element supports; at least one of said pair of conductors being flexible aNd extending at least partially about said shaft.

Claim 12

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor comprising: a shaft; means coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft; a bracket pivotally mounted on said shaft, said bracket so constructed that it tends to pivot in a first direction with respect to said shaft due to centrifugal forces when said shaft rotates; means coupled to said bracket and said shaft for biasing said bracket to pivot in a second direction opposite to said first direction; a pair of thermal element supports mounted on said bracket each with an outer end for supporting a thermal element which extends between said outer ends of said pair of thermal element supports; said thermal element supports mounted to move a thermal element supported by said thermal element supports towards and away from the axis of rotation of said shaft as said bracket pivots in said first and second directions, respectively; a thermal element coupled to said pair of thermal element supports; said thermal element responsive to the application of heating currents thereto; first and second slip ring means mounted on said shaft for carrying currents; and a pair of conductors, each conductor coupling one of said first and said second slip ring means to one of said pair of thermal element supports; at least one of said pair of conductors being flexible aNd extending at least partially about said shaft.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein: said flexible conductor is coupled to one of said thermal element supports at a location with respect to the axis of pivoting of said bracket which permits the centrifugal forces on said flexible conductor to urge said bracket to pivot in said first direction.

Claim 14

The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein: both of the conductors of said pair of conductors are flexible, each conductor having a first and a second end; each of said conductors extending in opposite handed helixes about said shaft from said first ends to said second ends; each of said first ends of said conductors being coupled to one of said first and second slip ring means, and each of said second ends of said conductors being coupled to one of said pair of thermal element supports.

Claim 15

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor by the use of a thermal element comprising: a shaft; a motor coupled to said shaft to rotate it; a thermal element capable of being heated having first and second ends; a pair of thermal element supports, each of said thermal element supports having an aperture therein; said aperture in a first of said pair of thermal element supports receiving said first end of said thermal element and said aperture in a second of said pair of thermal element supports receiving said second end of said thermal element; biasing means, one for each of said pair of thermal element supports for biasing the associated first and second ends of said thermal element into intimate engagement with the walls of said thermal element supports defining said apertures to hold said thermal element in place while enabling some deflection of said thermal element; means for mounting said pair of thermal element supports on said shaft to permit movement of said thermal element on said pair of thermal element supports towards and away from the axis of rotation of said shaft; and means coupled to said thermal element for heating said thermal element.

Claim 16

Apparatus for severing the insulation on an insulated conductor by the use of a thermal element comprising: a shaft; a motor coupled to said shaft to rotate it; a thermal element capable of being heated having first and second ends; a pair of thermal element supports, each of said thermal element supports having an aperture therein; said aperture in a first of said pair of thermal element supports receiving said first end of said thermal element and said aperture in a second of said pair of thermal element supports receiving said second end of said thermal element; biasing means, one for each of said pair of thermal element supports for biasing the associated first and second ends of said thermal element into intimate engagement with the walls of said thermal element supports defining said apertures to hold said thermal element in place while enabling some deflection of said thermal element; means for mounting said pair of thermal element supports on said shaft to permit movement of said thermal element on said pair of thermal element supports towards and away from the axis of rotation of said shaft; and means coupled to said thermal element for heating said thermal element.

Claim 17

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 comprising: a guard disposed about said pair of thermal element supports, said guard having a guide aperture therein through which an insulated conductor can be inserted; and gauge means for indicating the relationship between the depth of insertion of said insulated conductor through said guide aperture and the distance from the end of said insulated conductor to the region of engagement between said thermal element and the insulation of said insulated conductor.

Claim 18

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising: a bore in said shaft extending in the direction of its axis of rotation to receive an end of an insulated conductor and permit said thermal element to contact the insulation of a conductor inserted in said bore when said shaft is rotated to form an annular groove in said conductor insulation near said end; a guard disposed about said thermal element having a longitudinal aperture therein in alignment with said bore to permit an insulated conductor to pass through said aperture into said bore; and slug removing means coupled to said guard and positioned adjacent said bore for gripping the insulation of an insulated conductor inserted through said aperture into said bore on the side of said groove nearest the end of a conductor inserted in said bore prior to withdrawal of such conductor from said guard.