Cable anchoring device

Abstract

The present description relates to a cable anchoring device comprising: a body (1); an openable handle (2); and at least one first mandrel (4) for winding a portion of cable, the outer surface of the first mandrel being made of elastomer.

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE: Cable Anchoring Device This application claims priority from French patent applications number 2207977 filed on 1 er August 2022 and 2209727 filed on September 26, 2022, the respective contents of which are incorporated by reference to the extent permitted by law. Technical field

[0001] This description relates generally to electrical or telecommunications installations and, more particularly, to the anchoring of a cable to a support. Prior art

[0002] Various anchoring devices are known for both electrical and telecommunications cables.

[0003] An example of a known clamp-shaped anchoring device (or anchor clamp) of the type to which the present description applies is described in patent application FR-A-2958461.

[0004] Other cable winding devices are known which do not constitute an anchoring device.

[0005] For example, documents EP 3 035 098 and WO 2007 / 113522 describe devices for branching or installing an optical cable which do not constitute anchoring devices suitable for attachment in the manner of a clamp. Summary of the invention

[0006] There is a need for improvement in cable anchoring devices.

[0007] One embodiment overcomes all or part of the drawbacks of known cable anchoring devices.

[0008] One embodiment provides a cable anchoring device comprising: a body; an openable handle; and at least a first mandrel for winding a portion of cable, the outer surface of the first mandrel being made of elastomer or the like.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the first mandrel comprises an external crown made of elastomer or the like, carried by a ring.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the device comprises a second mandrel on which the first mandrel is mounted.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the second mandrel is integrated into the body.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the body is made of plastic, preferably thermoplastic.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first mandrel is interchangeable depending on the diameter and / or the nature of the cable.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the external surface of the first mandrel has a diameter decreasing towards the bottom of the body.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the body comprises a guide tab at the entrance of a cable.

[0016] According to one embodiment, a bottom of the body has a slope.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the body incorporates a cable clamp at the output.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the body incorporates a cable pinching groove at the outlet. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] These and other features and advantages will be set forth in detail in the following description of particular embodiments given without limitation in relation to the attached figures, among which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective, exploded view of one embodiment of an anchoring device;

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic rear view of the body of the anchoring device of Figure 1;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic front view of the anchoring device of Figure 1 with a coiled cable;

[0023] Figure 4A and Figure 4B are schematic perspective views of one embodiment of an anchoring device;

[0024] Figure 5 shows, partially and schematically, an anchoring device associated with a support; and

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of one embodiment of an anchoring device. Description of the embodiments

[0026] The same elements have been designated by the same references in the different figures. In particular, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments may have the same references and may have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

[0027] For the sake of clarity, only the steps and elements useful for understanding the embodiments described have been shown and are detailed. In particular, the cables for which the anchoring device described is intended, as well as the supports for receiving the anchoring device described, have not been detailed, the embodiments described being compatible with standard cables and supports.

[0028] Unless otherwise specified, when we refer to two elements connected to each other, this means directly connected without intermediate elements, and when we refer to two elements connected (in English "coupled") to each other, this means that these two elements can be connected or be linked by the intermediary of one or more other elements.

[0029] In the following description, when reference is made to absolute position qualifiers, such as the terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", etc., or relative position qualifiers, such as the terms "above", "below", "upper", "lower", etc., or to orientation qualifiers, such as the terms "horizontal", "vertical", etc., reference is made unless otherwise specified to the orientation of the figures or to a housing in a normal position of use.

[0030] Unless otherwise specified, the expressions "about", "approximately", "substantially", and "of the order of" mean to within 10% or 10 degrees, preferably to within 5% or 5 degrees.

[0031] The described embodiments relate to an anchoring device of the type comprising a hub, drum or mandrel around which the cable to be anchored is coiled. According to the described embodiments, the mandrel of the anchoring device comprises an external surface made of elastomer or the like against which the cable bears.

[0032] By elastomeric or similar material is meant a material of the rubber elastomer type, SEBS (Polystyrene Polyethylene-butylene) or other thermoplastic elastomer (TPE - Polystyrene Triblock Copolymer) or TPU (Polyurethane Thermoplastic), or even Silicone, and more generally any material providing the external surface of the mandrel or hub receiving the cable with sufficient adhesion to prevent the cable from slipping on the hub.

[0033] Preferably, the finished mandrel, i.e. with elastomer, has a truncated cone shape to improve the cable's hold in the device. The cone then has a decreasing diameter towards the bottom of the device.

[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective, exploded view of one embodiment of an anchoring device.

[0035] Figure 2 is a schematic rear view of the body of the anchoring device of Figure 1.

[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic front view of the anchoring device of Figure 1 with a coiled cable.

[0037] Figures 4A and 4B are schematic perspective views of one embodiment of an anchoring device.

[0038] The embodiment shown of the anchoring device comprises all or part of the following elements: - a body 1, single-piece made of plastic; - an openable handle 2, preferably integrated into the body (in one piece with the body), lockable outside the winding area; - a fixed mandrel 3, preferably in one piece with the body; - a mandrel 4, preferably interchangeable, the external peripheral surface of which, on which the cable C is coiled, is made of elastomer or the like; - an external wall 5 for holding and protecting the cable; - a guide tab 6 at the entrance of a cable, preferably integrated into the body; - a high cable entry 7; - a low 8 cable outlet; - a cable outlet 9, specific to range adjustment; - fixed internal retaining lugs 10; - manipulable external retaining lugs 11; - a clamp 12, preferably integrated into the body, on the cable outlet side.

[0039] The mandrel 4 is preferably made of two materials and consists of a ring 42 made of rigid plastic material for mounting on the fixed mandrel 3 and carrying a crown 44 made of elastomer. The crown 44 comprises, for example, internal vertical grooves 443 cooperating with corresponding external ribs 423 of the ring 42 to prevent rotation of the crown on the ring 42. Similarly, the ring 42 comprises, for example, internal vertical ribs 424 cooperating with corresponding external ribs 34 of the mandrel 3.

[0040] Preferably, the mandrel 4 is interchangeable depending on the diameter of the cable for which the anchoring device is intended.

[0041] Preferably, the section of the elastomer crown 44 is inclined so as to have an increasing diameter from the bottom of the body to the visible face of the mandrel 4. This contributes to locking the cable in the anchoring device.

[0042] Preferably, the visible face of the fixed mandrel 3 is flat and parallel to the bottom of the body. Similarly, the visible edge of the ring 42 is preferably flat and coplanar with the visible face of the fixed mandrel 3.

[0043] Preferably, the ring 42 has a shoulder in the upper part, masking the top of the elastomer crown 44.

[0044] Figure 5 represents an anchoring device associated with a support S.

[0045] Handle 2 is intended to be engaged in an opening in support S, itself fixed to a wall or a post.

[0046] An advantage of providing an elastomer surface to receive the cable loops is that it makes the anchoring device particularly suitable for fragile cables, particularly those susceptible to crushing, such as fiber optic cables. Another advantage is that the elastomer helps prevent cable slippage.

[0047] As a particular example of embodiment, the adhesion of the material by its nature, combined with its surface appearance, is chosen to prevent the cable from slipping under pressure against the mandrel 4, despite a tensile force of approximately 100 Newtons, preferably of a value comprised, depending on the application, between approximately 100 Newtons and approximately 2000 Newtons.

[0048] In the embodiments shown, the body 1 defines a space 13 for winding the cable around the mandrel 4, itself attached around the mandrel 3 molded in one piece with the body 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the height of the mandrel 4 is chosen as a function of the diameter of the cable C and the desired number of turns of winding of the cable around the mandrel (typically between two and five turns).

[0049] Here we see an advantage of providing an interchangeable mandrel 4. This makes it possible, from the same body 1, to have several versions of the anchoring device depending on the mandrel 4 used. It is then possible to provide mandrels 4 of different diameters and different heights depending on the application.

[0050] Furthermore, providing a mandrel 4 in two parts, namely a ring 42 for mounting the mandrel 4 on the mandrel 3 of body 1 and an elastomer crown 44 attached to ring 42 makes it possible to change only crown 44 to adapt the device to several types of cables.

[0051] According to another embodiment, the elastomer crown 44 is manufactured with the ring 42. In this case, it is the mandrel 4 as a whole which provides modularity to the device by remaining interchangeable on the same base 1.

[0052] Preferably, the ring 42 has a sleeve 421 for receiving the crown 44, surmounted by a disc 422 of greater external diameter. The disc 422 has the particular function of blocking the crown 44 in order to prevent it from coming out of the ring 42, once the assembly is attached to the body.

[0053] The mounting of the assembled mandrel 4 on the body 1 is carried out by engaging the ribs 424 of the ring 42 in the grooves 34 of the mandrel 3. Although this is not visible in the figures, the ribs preferably have one or more lugs or the like cooperating with one or more slots of the mandrel 3 to lock or block the mandrel 4 on the mandrel 3 by rotation (for example in the direction of the arrows illustrated in figure 1). Any other suitable locking system can be provided, for example by clipping the crown 42 into a groove provided on the mandrel 3 of the body 1, by a horizontal screw thread in place of ribs 424 and vertical grooves 34, etc.

[0054] When vertical rib / groove pairs 424 / 34 and / or 423 / 443 are provided, the number of ribs / grooves may vary depending on the application, manufacturing constraints in particular of the elastomer crown 44, the type of locking chosen, etc.

[0055] An advantage of allowing a few turns of cable winding is that it makes the device particularly suitable to fragile cables, such as optical fibers, which cannot withstand excessive tension. In fact, the loops reduce or cushion the direct tension on the cable. The number of turns thus makes it possible to distribute the pressure forces of the cable on the hub or mandrel 4, also increasing the cable length.

[0056] The adhesion of mandrel 4 can be adjusted not only according to the nature of the material constituting it, but also according to its surface condition. It is thus possible to choose to modify the surface condition (grains, grooves, ribs, etc.) of mandrel 4 according to the desired adhesion.

[0057] Preferably, the nature, hardness and surface condition of the mandrel 4 for receiving the cable are chosen according to the nature of the cable, more precisely the material constituting the sheath of the cable.

[0058] In the embodiments shown, the body 1 is a single piece, for example made of molded plastic (preferably thermoplastic). The handle 2 for attaching the anchoring device to a support S (figure 5), for example a pierced metal plate, carried by a post or a wall (not shown), is formed outside the winding zone of the body 2, preferably opposite the cable entry 7. The handle 2 has a fixed end 21, connected to the body 1 (typically molded with the body 1) and a free end 22. The free end 22 ends with a lug 24 intended to cooperate with (engage in) a cavity 14 of opposite shape formed in the body 1, to close the handle 2 after having engaged it in a hole S2 of a support S.

[0059] The hanging device preferably has a single cable inlet 7, but two cable outlets depending on the nature of the on-site installation. A first cable outlet 8 makes an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the cable inlet 7 (the directions of the cable C at the inlet 7 and outlet 8 make an angle of approximately 90° between them as illustrated in Figure 3). A second cable outlet 9 makes an angle of approximately 180 degrees with the cable inlet 7. Each cable inlet or outlet is materialized by a groove open upwards (opposite the bottom of the body 1) opening on the one hand (by one longitudinal end of the groove) into the winding space 13 and on the other hand (by the other longitudinal end of the groove) to the outside of the device.

[0060] When installing the cable C, the operator winds it onto the mandrel 4 (the latter is placed on the body 1 before winding the cable) preferably in a clockwise direction, makes a few turns (for example between 1 and 5 complete turns, preferably two or three complete turns), and directs the cable on the one hand into the entry groove and on the other hand into one of the exit grooves

[0061] The cable inlet 7 is equipped with a tab 6, or lug, in a plane approximately parallel to the bottom of the body 1. The lug 6 allows the cable to be guided and the inlet groove to be partially closed without preventing the cable from sliding therein.

[0062] The outlet groove 8 is also preferably equipped with a lug 82 in a plane approximately parallel to the bottom of the body 1.

[0063] The cable outlet 8 is preferably associated with a collar 12 whose role is to lock the cable in the outlet groove. This collar 12 comprises a tongue, one fixed end of which is secured to the body 1 and one free end 122 of which is intended to be engaged in a locking slot 124. The slot 124 is provided in the body 1 opposite the tongue 12 relative to the outlet groove 8. The tongue bears on one of its faces (in the example, its rear face opposite the opening of the outlet groove, grooves or ribs 126 cooperating with a lug of the light 124 to lock the collar 12. The direction of the tab is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the outlet groove. The collar 12 prevents the cable from leaving the outlet groove 8.

[0064] Such a collar can also, according to an alternative embodiment, equip the cable outlet 9. However, it is less important here because the inlet 7 and the outlet 9 being approximately parallel to each other, there is less risk for the outlet 8 which is perpendicular to the inlet 7 that the cable will become misaligned once in place.

[0065] We can consider, without taking into account the handle 2 and the collar 2, the attachment device is inscribed in a flattened polyhedron defined by two square surfaces (the bottom of the body and the top of the mandrel 4) and by four rectangular lateral surfaces (small sides defining the height of the attachment device). In the example of the figures, the handle 2 and the collar 12 then come out of the same lateral face, opposite the face into which the outlets 7 and 9 open, the outlet 8 coming out of the intermediate face on the collar 12 side.

[0066] Preferably, the bottom of the body has, in the part of its circumference located between the outlet 9 and the inlet 6, an inclined or sloping surface 17 so that the cable can pass from the first turn to the second turn without a step. This avoids any risk of breakage or bending, in particular if the cable contains optical fibers. More generally, the surface of the bottom on which the cable is intended to rest has a slope creating a difference in level, at the level of the inlet 6 to facilitate winding. This difference in level, therefore the slope, is preferably sized according to the diameter of the cable for which the device is intended.

[0067] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of one embodiment of an anchoring device

[0068] This figure illustrates an alternative embodiment according to which the collar 12 is replaced by a groove 15 with a tongue 151 with elastic deformation making it possible to block the cable C by pinching while ensuring a self-tightening function to prevent the cable from returning towards the hub 4.

[0069] Various embodiments and variants have been described. Those skilled in the art will understand that certain features of these various embodiments and variants could be combined, and other variants will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, although an anchoring device has been described in which the mandrel is attached in the form of an elastomer crown carried by a ring, itself engaged on the fixed core of the mandrel, an embodiment may be provided in which the elastomer crown is directly attached around a fixed mandrel, or is even manufactured directly on the fixed mandrel.

[0070] Finally, the practical implementation of the embodiments and variants described is within the reach of those skilled in the art from the functional indications given above.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Cable anchoring device comprising: a body (1); an openable handle (2); and at least a first mandrel (4) for winding a portion of cable, the external surface of the first mandrel being made of elastomer or silicone.

2. Device according to claim 1, in which the first mandrel (4) comprises an external crown (44) made of elastomer or silicone, carried by a ring (42) made of rigid plastic material.

3. Device according to claim 2, comprising a second mandrel (3) on which the first mandrel (4) is mounted.

4. Device according to claim 3, in which the second mandrel (3) is integrated into the body (1).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the body (1) is made of plastic, preferably thermoplastic.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the first mandrel (4) is interchangeable depending on the diameter and / or the nature of the cable.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the external surface of the first mandrel (4) is of decreasing diameter towards the bottom of the body (1).

8. Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, in which the body (1) comprises a guide tab (6) at the entrance of a cable. Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, in which a bottom of the body has a slope (17).

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the body (1) incorporates a collar (12) for tightening the cable at the outlet.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the body (1) incorporates a groove (15) for pinching the cable at the outlet.

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