Wire stripping tool

Abstract

A wire stripper includes a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a battery. A motor disposed in the housing. A rotary head is coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis. The rotary head defines a central aperture along the axis. A blade is coupled to the rotary head for rotation with the rotary head and about the axis. The blade extends at least partially into the central aperture to engage insulation of a wire passing through the aperture.

1 . A wire stripper comprising:
 a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a battery;   a motor disposed in the housing;   a rotary head coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis, the rotary head defining a central aperture along the axis; and   a blade coupled to the rotary head for rotation with the rotary head and about the axis, wherein the blade extends at least partially into the central aperture to engage insulation of a wire passing through the aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The wire stripper of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutting head coupled to the rotary head, wherein the blade is supported by the cutting head. 
     
     
         3 . The wire stripper of  claim 2 , wherein the rotary head includes an extension tube and the cutting head is coupled to the extension tube. 
     
     
         4 . The wire stripper of  claim 1 , further comprising a blade assembly including the blade, a block portion, and a pin member. 
     
     
         5 . The wire stripper of  claim 1 , wherein the blade defines an acute pitch angle relative to a plane perpendicular to axis. 
     
     
         6 . The wire stripper of  claim 1 , wherein the blade is slidably coupled to a blade carrier plate. 
     
     
         7 . The wire stripper of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary head includes a retaining nut for securing the blade to an extension tube. 
     
     
         8 . The wire stripper of  claim 1 , further comprising a blade assembly including the blade and a substantially cylindrical body. 
     
     
         9 . The wire stripper of  claim 8 , wherein the blade is coupled to an inner surface of the cylindrical body and extends radially inwardly from the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         10 . The wire stripper of  claim 1 , wherein the blade defines a leading edge and a trailing edge for bi-directional cutting. 
     
     
         11 . A method of stripping insulation from a wire using a wire stripper, the wire stripper including a rotary head, a motor, and a blade coupled to rotary head, the method comprising:
 inserting a wire into the rotary head along an insertion axis;   operating the motor in a forward direction to feed the wire into the rotary head along the insertion axis;   engaging the blade with the insulation to strip the insulation from the wire; and   operating the motor in a reverse direction to drive the wire out of the rotary head along the insertion axis.   
     
     
         12 . The method of stripping insulation from a wire of  claim 11 , further comprising engaging a rotary lock to cause the blade to penetrate the wire insulation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of stripping insulation from a wire of  claim 12 , further comprising releasing the rotary lock after the blade penetrates the wire insulation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of stripping insulation from a wire of  claim 11  further comprising engaging the blade to the insulation at an acute pitch angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the insertion axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of stripping insulation from a wire of  claim 11 , further comprising securing the blade to the rotary head with a retaining nut. 
     
     
         16 . The method of stripping insulation from a wire of  claim 11 , further comprising inserting the blade into a bore of the rotary head. 
     
     
         17 . The method of stripping insulation from a wire of  claim 11 , further comprising cutting a continuous helical path through the insulation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of stripping insulation from a wire of  claim 11 , further comprising rotating the blade substantially synchronously with the rotary head. 
     
     
         19 . A wire stripper comprising:
 a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a battery;   a motor disposed in the housing;   a rotary head coupled to the motor for rotation about an axis, the rotary head defining a central aperture along the axis;   an extension tube coupled to the rotary head, the extension tube having an end portion and defining a counterbore;   a blade mechanism configured to be received in the end portion and seated on the counterbore, the blade mechanism having a body defining a substantially circular bore and a blade member extending radially inwardly from the bore.   
     
     
         20 . The wire stripper of  claim 19 , further comprising a retaining nut configured to engage the extension tube and to thereby secure the blade mechanism within the rotary head.