Perforation Apparatus for Cable Jackets and Related Systems and Methods

• US 20130139393A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RSCC Wire & Cable LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rockbestos Surprenant Cable Corp. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dulac, Dustin, Westwood, Cliff
• Granted Patent: US 9,979,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/363
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 17/006 having cutting edges parallel to a pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/36 Punching or perforating pliers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/12 for removing insulation or armouring from cables, e.g. from the end thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/1209 making a transverse cut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/02 Other than completely through work thickness

Abstract

A perforation apparatus for use with cable jackets and related systems and methods thereof is provided. The tool includes a pliers assembly having at least a first jaw member positioned opposing a second jaw member, wherein relative movement of the first and second jaw members is controlled with at least a first handle and a second handle. A first knife edge is on the first jaw member and a second knife edge is on the second jaw member. Each of the first and second knife edges are oriented substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to a length of first and second handles. The first and second knife edges are movable towards one another. A spacing device is connected to the pliers assembly, wherein the spacing device controls a closing distance between the first knife edge and the second knife edge.

Claims

1. A perforation apparatus comprising:

a pliers assembly having at least a first jaw member positioned opposing a second jaw member, wherein relative movement of the first and second jaw members is controlled with at least a first handle and a second handle;

a first knife edge on the first jaw member and a second knife edge on the second jaw member, each of the first and second knife edges oriented substantially parallel to one another, wherein each of the first and second knife edges are oriented substantially to perpendicular to a length of first and second handles, wherein the first and second knife edges are movable towards one another; and

a spacing device connected to the pliers assembly, wherein the spacing device controls a closing distance between the first knife edge and the second knife edge.

2. The perforation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing device is adjustable to vary the closing distance between the first knife edge and the second knife edge.

3. The perforation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closing distance is a predetermined distance determined by a configuration of the spacing device.

4. The perforation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing device further comprises a threaded tensioner.

5. The perforation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw members further comprise a first and second jaw tip, respectively, wherein each of the first and second jaw tips are positioned at a distal end of the first and second jaw members, respectively.

6. The perforation apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw tips is oriented angularly with respect to the length of first and second handles.

7. The perforation apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw tips further comprises a pointed oval shape having two pointed edges, one of the two pointed edges positioned at a first end of the pointed oval shape and another of the two pointed edges positioned at a second end of the pointed oval shape, wherein one of the two pointed edges is one of the first and second knife edges.

8. The perforation apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first end of the pointed oval shape is positioned opposite the second end of the pointed oval shape.

9. The perforation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second jaw tips each have a width dimension that is larger than a width dimension of the first and second jaw members, respectively.

11. The perforation system of claim 9, further comprising a spacing device connected to the perforation apparatus, wherein the spacing device controls a closing distance between the first knife edge and the second knife edge when the movable jaw is moved towards the closed position.

12. The perforation system of claim 11, wherein the closing distance between the first and second knife edges corresponds to a predetermined perforation segment depth within the cable jacket.

13. The perforation system of claim 9, wherein the two perforation segments are formed through at least 50% of a thickness of the cable jacket.

14. The perforation system of claim 13, wherein the two perforation segments are formed through at least 75% of the thickness of the cable jacket.

10. A perforation system comprising:

a cable having at least a conductor and a cable jacket positioned radially about the conductor;

a perforation apparatus having an elongated handle connected to a movable jaw having at least two jaw tips, wherein a first knife edge is formed on a first of the at least two jaw tips and a second knife edge is formed on a second of the at least two jaw tips, wherein each of the first and second knife edges is oriented substantially parallel to one another, and wherein each of the first and second knife edges are oriented substantially perpendicular to a length of the elongated handle; and

two perforations segments formed within the cable jacket of the cable by the perforation apparatus when the perforation apparatus is placed in contact with the cable jacket and the movable jaw is moved towards a closed position.

15. A method for creating a perforation within a cable jacket of a cable, the method comprising the steps of:

contacting the cable jacket of the cable with a first jaw member and second jaw member of a perforation apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the cable jacket is positioned between the first and second jaw members; and

closing a distance between the first and second jaw members, thereby positioning a first knife edge on the first jaw member and a second knife edge on the second jaw member at least partially within the cable jacket to form at least two perforation segments, wherein each of the first and second knife edges are oriented substantially perpendicular to an elongated length of the perforation apparatus, and wherein each of the first and second knife edges are oriented substantially parallel to an elongated length of the cable.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of controlling the closing distance between the first and second jaw members with a spacing device connected to the perforation apparatus.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of selecting a predetermined closing distance with the spacing device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein closing the distance between the first and second jaw members further comprises the step of piercing the cable jacket with the first knife edge and the second knife edge to form the perforation segments, wherein the perforation segments are formed through at least 50% of a thickness of the cable jacket.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the perforation segments are formed through at least 75% of the thickness of the cable jacket.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of pulling the perforation apparatus away from the cable jacket after the step of closing the distance between the first and second jaw members and without opening the first and second jaw members, wherein a portion of the cable jacket formed between the at least two perforation segments is removed from the cable.