Device for tensioning a cable belt

Abstract

An apparatus for tensioning, terminating, and cutting a cable strap includes a housing, a shaft having a first end and a second end, a sliding worm gear coupled proximate the first end of the shaft, and a motor coupled proximate the second end of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft. The device further includes a biasing element coupled to the shaft between the sliding worm gear and the motor to exert a biasing force on the sliding worm gear, and a winch rotatably engaged to the sliding worm gear. Further, the apparatus includes a cutting mechanism configured to cut the strap when a predetermined torque on the winch is exceeded. The biasing force is configured to prevent translation of the sliding worm gear until a predetermined torque on the winch is exceeded, and translation of the sliding worm gear actuates the cutting mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the installation of cable ties and, more particularly, to apparatus for tensioning, terminating and cutting cable ties. Background Art

[0002] Cable ties are used in a variety of applications. Modern cable ties are typically thin, relatively flat, woven or braided cords, often referred to as "ties," having filaments that may be made of materials such as nylon, polyester, or aramid fibers, and which may be impregnated with coatings to enhance specific performance characteristics. However, a disadvantage of cable ties is that they are typically tied by hand in an expensive, labor-intensive, and time-consuming process. Due to these problems, several attempts have been made to automate the cable tying, tensioning, terminating, and cutting processes.

[0003] One such device for automatic knotting is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,648,378. The device described includes an automatic knotting device for tying discrete knots around a workpiece, such as a bundle of wires. The device works by pulling a band laterally around the workpiece and wrapping the filaments around the workpiece. A shuttle moves the filaments along the workpiece between carrier rings in appropriate steps, and a plurality of hooks pull the filaments away from the workpiece in appropriate steps. The operation is completed by tightening, cutting, and reloading so that the knots produced are discrete and secure. At least one disadvantage of the device is that it requires a complex mechanism to wrap and tie a knot around the workpiece.

[0004] In yet another example, International Application No. PCT / US2012 / 044413 describes a handheld tool for tensioning and cutting a cable tie. The device includes a reciprocating tensioning mechanism (e.g., a ratchet linkage) for tensioning the tail of the cable tie, a locking mechanism that prevents further tensioning when the tail of the tie reaches a preselected tension level, and a cutting device that cuts the tail of the cable tie from the head of the cable tie once installed.

[0005] Another example is U.S. Patent No. 9,701,428, which discloses a device for tensioning, the device including a housing, a positive wheel shaft reciprocally connected to the housing, a trigger operably connected to the housing and the positive wheel shaft to achieve translation of the positive wheel shaft when the trigger is operably moved, a tensioning device mounted to the housing and operably connected to the positive wheel shaft so that translation of the positive wheel shaft causes operation of the tensioning device, and a channel having an inlet and an outlet, the channel operably connecting the inlet and the outlet to the tensioning device. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention discloses a device for tensioning, terminating and cutting a cable tie. The device includes: a housing; a shaft having a first end and a second end; a sliding worm gear, the sliding worm gear being coupled near the first end of the shaft; and a motor, the motor being coupled near the second end of the shaft and being configured to rotate the shaft. The device also includes: a biasing element, the biasing element being coupled to the shaft between the sliding worm gear and the motor to apply a biasing force on the sliding worm gear; and a capstan, the capstan being rotatably engaged to the sliding worm gear and being configured to receive the cable tie. In addition, the device includes: a cutting mechanism, the cutting mechanism being configured to cut the tie when a predetermined torque on the capstan is exceeded. The biasing force of the biasing element is configured to prevent translation of the sliding worm gear until the predetermined torque on the capstan is exceeded.

[0007] In certain aspects, translation of the sliding worm gear activates the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism may include an operating lever and a cutting head, wherein the operating lever is configured to rotate the cutting head to cut the band when the operating lever is engaged by translation of the sliding worm gear. The cutting head may include a blade configured to cut the band.

[0008] The capstan may include a gear coupled to a sliding worm gear, wherein the sliding worm gear may be configured to translate relative to the gear when a biasing force of the biasing element is exceeded.

[0009] The biasing element may include a spring, and the motor may be an electric motor or a pneumatic motor.The device may include a trigger in communication with the motor, wherein the trigger is configured to activate the motor by tensioning, terminating and cutting of the cable tie. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for tensioning, terminating and cutting a cable tie in which various aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A front view of the device;

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A front view of the nose of the device and the capstan;

[0013] Figure 4 It is a bottom view of the nose and capstan;

[0014] Figure 5 is a detailed view of the left side of the nose and capstan internals;

[0015] Figure 6 is a detailed view of the right side of the nose and capstan internals;

[0016] Figure 7 It is a top-down detailed view of the nose and capstan internals;

[0017] Figure 8 is a front perspective detailed view of the nose and capstan internals;

[0018] Fig. 9 is a rear perspective detail view of the nose and capstan internals; and

[0019] Fig.10 Here is a detailed bottom view of the nose and capstan internals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown. However, the present invention may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make this disclosure comprehensive and complete and to fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Throughout the text, the same reference numerals represent the same elements.

[0021] U.S. Patent Application No. 2015 / 0267844 and U.S. Patent No. 9,682,806, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, both generally disclose a cable tie for holding multiple objects together. The disclosed cable tie generally includes a head assembly and a length of cable tie that can be held by the head assembly when a retainer of the head assembly is activated. In the disclosed exemplary cable tie, a free end of the cable tie is passed (usually by hand) through an opening in the head assembly surrounding the retainer, and the retainer can be actuated from an unlocked position to a locked position by pulling the free end of the cable tie with sufficient force.

[0022] In at least some cases, the cable tie includes a length of braided aramid fiber tape having a synthetic rubber coating attached to a polymer fastener. Although the free end must be activated with sufficient force to actuate the retainer, this tape material can be difficult to grasp by hand and can be difficult to grasp mechanically using the standard cam action of existing cable tie guns due to the coating acting as a dry lubricant and the abrasive nature of the aramid fiber.

[0023] It has been found that the change of direction, wrapping and / or folding of the cable tie aids in gripping, allowing the tool to build tension in the cable tie. This tension is needed to activate the retainer in the head assembly and activate the cutting action in the tool linkage (if applicable).

[0024] Now refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2, shows an example device 100 for tensioning and cutting a cable tie. As described herein, the example device 100 tensions the cable tie to an appropriate predetermined tension, then activates a retainer, and once the predetermined tension is reached, cuts the free end of the cable tie.

[0025] The device 100 includes a generally pistol or gun-shaped housing 102 having a grip 104 , a trigger 114 , and a barrel 106 , the forward end of which includes an exposed capstan 108 in this example.

[0026] The device 100 may include a battery 112 to provide power for operation. In operation, the cable tie is loaded into the capstan 108 and the trigger 114 is depressed, so that the motor 120 rotates the sliding worm gear 126, which is held in an initial position by the spring 124, as discussed in more detail below. The sliding worm gear 126 engages a gear 130 connected to the capstan 108 to rotate the capstan 108, thereby tightening the cable tie. After a predetermined torque is reached on the capstan 108 and the retainer of the tie head assembly (not shown) is activated, the spring tension is overcome to push the sliding worm gear 126 axially rearward about the rotation axis of the sliding worm gear 126, and then the sliding worm gear 126 engages the cutting mechanism 110 to cut the cable tie while maintaining appropriate tension to prevent it from breaking.

[0027] The cutting mechanism 110 is located at one end of the barrel 106. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the cable tie is configured for insertion. For example, the cable tie can be fed into the slit of the capstan 108 through or under the cutting mechanism 110, and the trigger 114 is actuated to rotate the capstan 108. The capstan 108 continues to rotate, causing the cable tie to wrap around the outside of the capstan 108 until the nose of the cutting mechanism 110 is seated against the head assembly of the cable tie. As discussed above, this action causes tension in the cable tie. Once a predetermined tension is reached in the cable tie, the retainer of the head assembly is actuated into a locked position.

[0028] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the side wall of the housing 102 is cut away to show the internal components of the device 100. In particular, the motor 120 driving the shaft 122 and the sliding worm gear 126 is shown. The shaft 122 has a first end and a second end, wherein the sliding worm gear 126 is coupled proximate the first end of the shaft 122, and the motor is coupled proximate the second end of the shaft 122. A biasing element 124 is coupled to the shaft 122 between the sliding worm gear 126 and the motor 122 to apply a biasing force on the sliding worm gear 126. The biasing element 124 may include a spring, and the motor 120 may be, for example, an electric motor or a pneumatic motor.

[0029] The capstan 108 is rotatably coupled to a sliding worm gear 126 that drives the capstan 108 to tighten and tension the cable tie. The cutting mechanism 110 is configured to cut the tie when a predetermined torque on the capstan 108 (or tension on the cable tie) is exceeded. The biasing force of the biasing element 124 is configured to prevent the sliding worm gear 126 from translating until the predetermined torque on the capstan 108 (or tension on the cable tie) is exceeded. The translation of the sliding worm gear 126 is what activates the cutting mechanism 110.

[0030] The cutting mechanism 110 may include an operating rod 140 and a cutting head 118. Figure 7 and 8 As best shown, the operating rod 140 is fixed by a pin 142 that allows the operating rod to rotate. When the first end of the rod 140 is engaged by the translation of the sliding worm gear 126, the opposite second end of the operating rod 140 rotates about the axis defined by the pin 142. The second end of the operating rod 140, in turn, engages and rotates the cutting head 118 through the connector 136 to cut the band when the operating rod 140 is engaged by the translation of the sliding worm gear 126. The cutting head 118 rotates about the axis 134, which can be perpendicular to the pin 142. The cutting head 118 includes a blade 116, which is configured to cut the band. The cutting head spring 132 of the connector 136 holds the cutting head 118 and the blade 116 in the barrel 106 until actuated. The bolt 144 coupled to the operating rod 140 can be adjusted to calibrate the distance between the operating rod 140 and the connector 136 for proper operation of the device 100.

[0031] Now refer to Fig. 9 and Fig.10 , translation of the sliding worm gear 126 is achieved by engagement with a gear 130 coupled to the capstan 108, for example, the sliding worm gear 126 can be configured to translate relative to the gear 130 when the biasing force of the biasing element 124 is exceeded. Otherwise, the sliding worm gear 126 rotates in a stationary position as the capstan 108 also rotates. Once the cable tie is tightened and the capstan 108 can no longer rotate, the teeth 138 on the gear 130 engage the threads 128 on the sliding worm gear 126, forcing the sliding worm gear 126 to translate relative to the gear 130 toward the motor 120, which is no longer rotating. Once the cutting mechanism 110 is activated as described above, and the cable tie is cut, the capstan 108 (and the gear 130) can rotate again, and the sliding worm gear 126 is translated back to its initial position and ready to tighten another cable tie.

[0032] Many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art having benefit of the teachings provided in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for tightening, terminating and cutting a cable tie, the device comprising: case; a shaft having a first end and a second end; a sliding worm gear coupled proximate the first end of the shaft; a motor coupled proximate the second end of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft; a biasing element coupled to the shaft between the sliding worm gear and the motor to apply a biasing force on the sliding worm gear; a capstan rotatably coupled to the sliding worm gear and configured to receive the cable tie; and A cutting mechanism is configured to cut the cable tie when a predetermined torque on the winch is exceeded.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The biasing force is configured to resist translation of the sliding worm gear until the predetermined torque on the capstan is exceeded.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein: Translation of the sliding worm gear activates the cutting mechanism.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The cutting mechanism includes an operating lever and a cutting head, and the operating lever is configured to rotate the cutting head to cut the band when engaged due to translation of the sliding worm gear.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein: The cutting head includes a blade configured to cut the cable tie.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein: The capstan includes a gear coupled to the sliding worm gear.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein: The sliding worm gear is configured to translate relative to the gear when a biasing force of the biasing element is exceeded.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The biasing element includes a spring.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The motor is an electric motor or a pneumatic motor.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a trigger in communication with the motor, and the trigger is configured to activate the motor by tensioning and cutting the cable tie.

11. A device for tensioning, terminating and cutting a cable tie, the device comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end; a sliding worm gear coupled proximate the first end of the shaft; a motor coupled proximate the second end of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft; a trigger in communication with the motor, the trigger being configured to activate the motor by tightening and cutting the cable tie; a spring coupled to the shaft between the sliding worm gear and the motor to apply a biasing force on the sliding worm gear; a capstan having a first side configured to engage the cable tie and a second side having a gear rotatably engaged to the sliding worm gear; and A cutting mechanism is configured to cut the belt when a predetermined torque on the capstan is exceeded, thereby causing translation of the sliding worm gear to activate the cutting mechanism.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein The cutting mechanism includes an operating lever and a cutting head, and the operating lever is configured to rotate the cutting head to cut the band when engaged due to translation of the sliding worm gear.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein: The sliding worm gear is configured to translate relative to the gear when a biasing force of the biasing element is exceeded.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein: The motor is an electric motor or a pneumatic motor.

15. A device for tensioning, terminating and cutting a cable tie, the device comprising: Sliding worm gear; a motor coupled to the sliding worm gear and configured to rotate the sliding worm gear; a biasing element for applying a biasing force on the sliding worm gear; a capstan rotatably coupled to the sliding worm gear and configured to receive the cable tie; and A cutting mechanism is configured to cut the cable tie when a predetermined torque on the winch is exceeded.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the biasing element is located between the sliding worm gear and the motor.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein: The biasing force is configured to resist translation of the sliding worm gear until the predetermined torque on the capstan is exceeded.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein: Translation of the sliding worm gear activates the cutting mechanism.

19. The device according to claim 15, wherein: The cutting mechanism includes an operating lever and a cutting head, and the operating lever is configured to rotate the cutting head to cut the cable tie when engaged due to translation of the sliding worm gear.

20. The device according to claim 15, wherein: The capstan includes a gear coupled to the sliding worm gear.

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