METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GUIDING A DOUBLE CURVE HOSE COLLAR WITH DOUBLE CURVE

Abstract

Method and double curvature guide system for a hose clamp The invention aims to allow the installation of a hose clamp (50) on a support (56) by passing it through a first passage (60) to cross the support and then a second passage (62) to return to the same side of the support and thus allow the clamp to surround one or more cables (40).The guiding device comprises a gutter (64) having a double-curved guiding surface, a first longitudinal curvature allowing said surface to extend from one of the passages to the other, and a second transverse curvature forming a partial envelope to receive said clamp and guide and retain it in the gutter. The device also comprises at least one appendage (84, 85) having a projecting shimming surface (68, 70) relative to the surface of said gutter, adapted to contact and shimmice with respect to the support to lock the gutter in position relative to the support. (See abstract figure: Figure 14.)

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GUIDING A DOUBLE CURVE CLAMP WITH DOUBLE CURVE

[0001] The present invention relates to the installation of a cable tie for holding cables, particularly electrical cables, in position relative to a given structure. More specifically, it provides a method and a guiding device for said cable tie to facilitate its installation.

[0002] In an aircraft, numerous electrical cables run through its internal structure, often in bundles, and must be secured by fastening devices such as cable ties, which are themselves attached to equipment of the aircraft or even to its structure itself, such as fuselage frames. The purpose of the cable ties is to hold the cables in relation to this equipment or these structural elements. French patent FR2965670, filed by Airbus Operations SAS, discloses such a fastening device. According to [Fig. 1], which reproduces, with slight modifications, [Fig. 1] of this patent, the modifications being intended to improve clarity in the description that follows, the fastening device comprises a first part 12 pressed against a support 14 by means of connecting means 16, and a second C-shaped part 18 with an opening 20 for the insertion of cables 22.The ends of the C-shaped arms include tabs 24 having slots 26. Cables are inserted into the C-shaped form and held by means of a cable tie which passes through the two slots and tends to bring the two tabs 24 together so as to tighten the cables 22.

[0003] To minimize the volume of the electrical installations, as shown in [Fig. 2], it is advantageous to keep the cables 22 as close as possible to the support 14, and in particular against one of its faces 28, called the front face. One solution could be to drill two holes 30, 32 in the support 14 on either side of the cables 22 and to secure them with a cable tie 34, referred to here as a cable clip, passing through the two holes formed to surround and fix the cable(s) against the front surface 28 of the support. In this case, the hose clamp passes through one of the holes, called the first hole 30, on the other side of the support, on the side of its rear face 36 and passes back through the other hole, called the second hole 32, on the side of the front face 28. The hose clamp 34, of the type for example self-locking, is then closed and tightened so as to hold the cable(s) against the front face.However, in implementing this solution, access to the rear face 36 of the support may not be possible: the return of the clamp 34 through the second opening 32 is then not possible without this access or very complex.

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a guide device for a hose clamp allowing the return of the clamp without having access to the rear of the support and the possibility of implementing the described solution regardless of the environment.

[0005] To this end, the present invention relates to a cable tie guidance system comprising a guide device for said cable tie and a support on which it is applied, the guide device being intended to hold at least one cable at the level of a front face of said support oriented towards the cable or cables, the opposite face of said support being called the rear face, said cable tie being intended to pass through the support from the front face to the rear face by a first pass and again from the rear face to the front face by a second pass to surround said cable or cables, the two passes being able to be separate or to form a single one, the guide device comprising a channel having a double-curved guide surface,a first longitudinal curvature allowing said surface to extend from one of the passages to the other and a second transverse curvature forming a partial envelope to receive said clamping collar and guide and hold it in the gutter, the device also comprising at least one appendage having a wedging surface projecting from the surface of said gutter adapted to come into contact and wedging itself against the support to lock the gutter in position relative to the support.

[0006] The device guides the collar along the gutter during its installation, from the first opening to the second opening, through it, and back towards the front face of the support to allow it to be closed. The first curve allows the device to extend between the two openings to guide the collar from one opening to the other, and the second curve prevents the collar from coming out of the gutter as it moves towards the second opening.

[0007] The invention provides at least one of the following optional features, taken individually or in combination.

[0008] The gutter is wraparound, the side walls extending so that when the device is pressed against the back face of the support, the free ends of the side walls of the gutter come into contact with the back face of the support forming a cap.

[0009] In the case where the two passages form a single passage, the side walls of the gutter have a part at which they meet transversely, forming a bridge.

[0010] The bridge protrudes from the X,Y plane of the mounting surface(s) of at least one appendage so that, when the device is installed against the rear face of the support, the bridge fits inside the passage to protrude from the front face of the latter.

[0011] The bridge has a surface forming longitudinally a cavity whose bottom is intended to receive transversely the cable or cables and whose free longitudinal ends are intended to carry the collar so that it passes over the cable or cables.

[0012] The free longitudinal ends of the cavity have a transversely hollow shape.

[0013] The guidance system comprises two appendages arranged at the two longitudinal ends of the gutter.

[0014] The gutter has side walls of identical and equal height over at least part of the length of the gutter as well as a single shimming surface.

[0015] The gutter has an elongated and straight part intended to protrude on either side of the support once the device is installed on the support, the shimming surface being located, when the device is used, on the front face of the support.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a method of guiding a hose clamp consisting of using the guidance system having at least one or more of the preceding characteristics and comprising the following steps: - attaching the shim surface(s) against one of the faces of the support; - guiding said hose clamp along the internal surface of the gutter of the guiding device, the longitudinal curvature allowing the clamp to pass successively through the two passages and the transverse curvature allowing said clamp to be held transversely inside the gutter during its movement.

[0017] The invention provides at least one of the following optional features, taken individually or in combination.

[0018] The method includes a step of removing the gutter once the clamp has passed through the second pass.

[0019] The method includes a step of fixing the shoring surface(s) to the support.

[0020] Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] is a simplified schematic side-sectional view of a device cable fixing according to the prior art;

[0022] [Fig.2] is a simplified schematic side-sectional view of a device cable fixing according to the prior art different from that shown in [Fig.1];

[0023] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of an aircraft in which a fastening device according to the present invention can be used;

[0024] [Fig.4] is a schematic perspective view of equipment in which a a fastening device according to the present invention can be used;

[0025] [Fig.5] is a schematic perspective view of a guiding device according to a first embodiment of a first embodiment;

[0026] [Fig.6] is a schematic partial perspective view from below of a support to which the device according to [Fig.5] is associated to allow a hose clamp to pass through two passages of the support to surround a cable;

[0027] [Fig.7] is a schematic partial perspective top view of the support of [Fig.6] to which the device according to [Fig.5] is associated;

[0028] [Fig.8] is a schematic perspective view of a guiding device according to a second embodiment of a first embodiment;

[0029] [Fig.9] is a schematic partial perspective top view of a support to which the device is associated according to [Fig.8];

[0030] [Fig. 10] is a schematic perspective view of a guiding device according to a second embodiment;

[0031] [Fig. 11] is a schematic top perspective view of a support to which the device is associated according to [Fig. 10];

[0032] [Fig. 12] is a schematic partial perspective and cross-sectional view along a plane parallel to the XZ plane in side view of a support to which the device is associated according to figures 5 to 7 representing a stage of use of said device;

[0033] [Fig. 13] is a view identical to that of [Fig. 12] representing a step in the use of said device which follows that shown in [Fig. 12];

[0034] [Fig. 14] is a view identical to that of [Fig. 12] representing a step in the use of said device which follows that shown in [Fig. 13];

[0035] [Fig. 15] is a view identical to that of [Fig. 12] representing a step in the use of said device which follows that shown in [Fig. 14];

[0036] [Fig. 16] is a schematic perspective view from a certain angle of view from above of a support to which the device is associated according to figures 10 and 11 representing a first stage of use of said device;

[0037] [Fig. 17] is a perspective view identical to that of [Fig. 16] representing a step in the use of said device which follows that shown in [Fig. 16];

[0038] [Fig. 18] is a perspective view identical to that of [Fig. 16] representing a step in the use of said device which follows that shown in [Fig. 17];

[0039] [Fig. 19] is a perspective view identical to that of [Fig. 16] representing a step in the use of said device which follows that shown in [Fig. 18];

[0040] [Fig.20] is a perspective view identical to that of [Fig. 16] representing a step in the use of said device which follows that shown in [Fig. 19];

[0041] [Fig.21] is a perspective view identical to that of [Fig. 16] representing a step in the use of said device which follows that shown in [Fig.20].

[0042] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in an aircraft 38, as in a vehicle such as a train, ship, or other vessel, a building, equipment, or any other environment in which one or more cables 40 extend, it is necessary to hold them in position. In the example of electrical equipment 42 in an aircraft 38, cables 40 are routed in bundles. They may run alongside busbars 44, but preferably should not come within a certain distance of them. However, the cables 40 are sometimes installed at the bottom 46 of a housing without access to the rear of the housing. This is just one example among many in which the rear of the support, as described at the beginning of this text (here, the housing), is very difficult to access, or even inaccessible without lengthy and complex dismantling.

[0043] As illustrated in Figures 5 to 21, the present invention provides a guide device 48 for a cable clamp 50 designed to hold at least one cable 40 against a front face 54 of a support 56 by encircling it or them. In the illustrated form, only one cable is shown for the sake of simplicity. The guide system 51 (reference visible in Figures 6, 9, and 11) designates the device 48 as well as the support 56 to which it is applied. The cable clamp 50 passes through the support 56 from the front face 54 to the rear face 58 by a first through-passage 60 and again from the rear face 58 to the front face 54 by a second through-passage 62 to encircle said cable or cables 40. The guide device 48 comprises an elongated channel 64, the longitudinal direction being the direction along the length of the channel.The longitudinal direction corresponds approximately to the direction taken by the clamp 50 once positioned in the channel. The transverse direction is understood to be a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The transverse direction corresponds approximately to the direction of the cable(s) 40 held by the clamp 50. A reference point shown in [Fig. 5] represents these directions: the X-axis represents the longitudinal direction, the Y-axis the transverse direction, and the Z-axis the height, or the direction perpendicular to the X, Y plane, which in the illustrated example is a plane parallel to the support 56 and more specifically to its front surface 54 and rear surface 58. At the support, the passages 60 and 62 are located on either side of the cable(s) 40 in a longitudinal plane. The front face 54 is the one oriented towards the cable(s) 40.The rear face 58 is in the Z direction the face of the support opposite the front face 54.

[0044] The gutter 64 comprises at least one part 67 having an internal longitudinal and transverse guiding surface 66, the longitudinal guidance being ensured by a longitudinal shape allowing the gutter to fold back on itself longitudinally in order to extend from one passage 60 to the other 62 of the support, and the transverse guidance being ensured by a hollow cross-section forming a cavity of Transverse guidance. In the illustrated form, the surface 66 has at least one portion with a curvature in a longitudinal plane XZ (represented by a double arrow L in [Fig. 7]). In a transverse plane YZ, the gutter 64 has at least one portion with a U-shaped cross-section (represented by a double arrow I in [Fig. 5]). The U-shape constitutes a partial recessed envelope. The collar 50 is guided in its movement at the bottom of this envelope to receive said clamping collar 50 and guide and hold it in the gutter 64. The term "internal" in the expression "internal surface of the gutter" designates the surface on which the clamping collar 50 is guided. Each face 67A, 67B, 67C of the part 67 forms a flat surface. Faces 67A and 67B, as well as 67B and 67C, are connected by a curve, not an angle.Any other shape for surface 66 is possible, such as a V-shape, for example, as long as it provides a guiding cavity. As another example, the U-shaped section could also be formed not from flat surfaces but from curved ones.

[0045] The guide device 48 also includes at least one projecting shimming surface 68, 70 relative to the external surface 72 of said gutter, shaped to contact and shimmify with the support 56 and more particularly with its surface 54 or 58, depending on the embodiment. The term "external" in "external surface" refers to the surface opposite the internal surface 66. In one possible embodiment, the shimming surface 68, 70 is one of the surfaces of an appendage 84, 85 attached to the gutter or is integral with it. In the illustrated embodiment, the surface 68, 70 is flat so as to abut a flat surface (54 or 58) of the support 56 and block the movement of the guide device as shown in Figures 6, 11, 12, and 21.

[0046] Once the cable tie 50 is installed, the cable(s) 40 are surrounded and secured by the cable tie 50, allowing it to be deformed by tightening it, reducing the opening for the cable(s) 40 to pass through. In one embodiment, the material of the cable tie 50 is chosen to be elastic so as to return to its initial shape when the cable tie 50 is loosened. In another embodiment, the material is not elastic but only deformable when, for example, the cable tie 50 is for single use. In a known manner, a cable tie 50, also called a tie-wrap, comprises on the one hand a long, flat body 74 with, on at least one face, a plurality of notches 76 located in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body, and on the other hand a head 78, shown only in [Fig.12] for the sake of simplification, located at a first end 80 of the body 74 having an opening 82 in the form of a slot with a lug capable of cooperating with one of the notches 76 of the body 74 so as to immobilize the body 74 relative to the head 78. Other embodiments are possible in which a part of the body is . A ratchet mechanism that can be locked with a suitable system integrated into the head. In the illustrated form, it is a Serflex-type clamping device (registered trademark). The clamp is self-locking, meaning that when you stop pulling on the body, the clamp remains locked in position or a position close to it.

[0047] The internal surface 66 of the gutter preferably has a surface finish free of friction elements. According to the illustrated form, the surface 66 is smooth. It may also be made of a material that provides such a surface finish or have a coating that enables it. The width of the panel 67B is chosen to ensure satisfactory guidance of the cable(s).

[0048] According to a first embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 to 16, the guide device 48 is fixed to the support 56 and remains in place during use because it is inaccessible, for example, once the support is assembled. In the illustrated embodiment, the gutter 64 is wraparound: the side walls 88, 90 of the gutter 64 extend so that when the device is pressed against the rear face 58 of the support, the free end 92, 94 of the walls 88, 90 comes into contact with the rear face 58 of the support, thus forming a closed cap with the surface of the rear face 58 of the support. In the illustrated example, the entire free end 92, 94 of the gutter 64 lies in a plane. In this way, when applied to the support, the device 48 forming a cap with the support leaves no passage to the outside of the gutter: all the covering walls are solid.In the illustrated form, the gutter has a semi-cylindrical shape. According to one possible example, the section in a central plane of symmetry of the gutter (parallel to the X, Z plane) parallel to its lateral walls 88, 90 is semi-circular and in a plane perpendicular to this, a plane parallel to the X, Y plane has a rectangular section.

[0049] According to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, the device 48 comprises two shimming surfaces 68, 70 arranged at the two longitudinally opposed free ends of the gutter. In the illustrated example, the two appendages 84, 85 form semi-cylindrical lugs. The shimming surfaces lie in the same X, Y plane. In the illustrated form, the appendages 84, 85 are each pierced with a through hole 96, 98 allowing the passage of a fastening system such as, for example, a screw-nut system for fixing to the support. Any other system is possible, such as a rivet system.

[0050] In a particular mode, called the second mode, of the first embodiment and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the lateral walls 88, 90 of the gutter have a portion 100 at which the walls 88, 90 meet transversely, forming a bridge 102 between the lateral walls, providing support for said cable(s) in the case where the two passages 60, 62 of the support form only one passage 63 (visible in [Fig. 9]). The bridge 102 projects from plane X, Y has surfaces of the appendages designed to abut the rear face 58 of the support; in this way, when the device 48 is installed against the face 58 of the support, the bridge 102 is inserted inside the passage 63 to protrude from its front face 54. The bridge 102 has a cavity-forming surface 103, the bottom of which is designed to receive the cable(s) 40 transversely, and whose free longitudinal ends 104, 106 carry the clamp 50 so that it passes over said cable(s). The height of the bridge 102 can be chosen to have a specific distance from the support, for example, to move the cable(s) away from the support. In the illustrated example, the bridge 102 has a V-shaped longitudinal cross-section. The cables are then contained within the V-shaped cross-section, and the free ends of the V carry the clamp 50.According to the illustrated shape, the free ends 104, 106 have a transversely recessed shape 108, 110 to hold the collar at the bottom of the recess. In the illustrated example, the bottom of the recessed part 108, 110 is flat for better retention of a flat collar.

[0051] According to a second embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the guide device 48 is not fixed to the support: it is installed temporarily to allow the collar to be guided through the two openings 60 and 62 and then removed. It therefore does not remain fixed to the support and is used only to allow the installation of the collar 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the device comprises a single appendage 84. The gutter 64 has at least one elongated and straight portion 116 in the longitudinal direction, allowing the gutter to pass through the support at at least one opening 60 and, once wedged, to extend beyond the support on either side of the opening perpendicular to the plane of the support. The portion 116 could be curved, but being straight and perpendicular to the XY plane once the device is installed and wedged facilitates its handling.In this embodiment, the mounting surface 68 of the appendage 84 is located, when the device 48 is in place, on the front face 54 of the support 56. In this embodiment, the gutter 64 therefore has a straight portion 116 and a curved portion 118 longitudinally, allowing guidance between the passages. In addition to having at least the dimensions specified above, the span of the passage 60 must be greater than the greatest distance D between the transverse line L of the gutter's curvature, located at its furthest point in the Z direction once installed on the support, and the plane parallel to the plane of the appendage (parallel to the X, Y plane) located at the free end of the gutter on the side of the curved portion 118. In this way, as shown in [Fig. 18], the gutter can be inserted and pass through the passage 60.In this embodiment, sections 67A and 67C have an identical and equal height over approximately the entire length of the gutter. According to a particular embodiment, the cross-section of gutter 64 has a smaller span. in dimension at passage 62 so that at least part of the gutter can penetrate partially or not into the interior of the passage.

[0052] In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the collar installation method comprises the following steps shown in Figures 12 to 15. The first step, illustrated in [Fig. 12], consists of attaching the device 48 to the rear face 58 of the support. In the illustrated example, through holes 112, 114 are provided in the support 56, positioned so that when the device 48 is pressed against the support 56, the holes 112, 114 and the corresponding openings 96, 98 align. Thus, screws (not shown) can be inserted into the corresponding openings 96, 98 and holes 112, 114 to secure the device 48 to the support 56. Any other fastening system, such as rivets, is possible. The support 56 can then be installed in an environment such as a fuselage; As seen previously, in some cases, access to the rear face 58 of the support is no longer possible. As shown in [Fig.

[12] , a cable 40 is pulled and then all that remains is to insert a cable tie 50 into a passage 62 of the support. As visualized in [Fig. 13], the channel 64 of the device guides the cable tie 50 to the second passage 60, which allows the cable tie to pass through the support again (see [Fig. 14]) to encircle the cable 40. The cable tie ([Fig. 15]) is then closed by any type of means such as those shown above.

[0053] Figures 16 to 21 show the different stages of use of the device 48 according to the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11. The support 56, unlike the previous embodiment, can be installed in its environment of use without having to pre-install the device 48. In a first stage ([Fig. 16]), the device 48 is positioned relative to the support 56 so that the right part 116 of the gutter is approximately parallel with the plane of the support 56. Given the width of the passage 60, the curved part 118 of the gutter can then be inserted into the passage 60 and pass through it as shown in [Fig. 17]. Once the curved part is on the rear face 58 side of the support 56, the operator can straighten the device 48 ([Fig.18]) until the straight part 116 is approximately perpendicular to the plane of the support 56 ([Fig. 19]).The 68 support surface rests against the front face 54 of the support. When the device is positioned, the channel connects the two passages 60 and 62. The clamp 50 is then inserted into the passage 60 ([Fig. 20]). The channel guides the clamp to the passage 62, allowing it to pass through the support 56 and encircle the cable 40 ([Fig. 21]). Once the clamp is tightened around the cable, the device 48 can be removed. Only the clamp 50 remains.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the guiding device is made in one piece by molding or 3D printing. Any other manufacturing process is possible and in for example, there are several parts that are manufactured separately and then attached to each other.

[0055] The advantages of this guidance system are numerous. By removing the device once the cables are installed or by positioning it behind the equipment, the risk of FOD (Foreign Object Debris) is reduced. If a device breaks or is left behind during assembly / maintenance, it can move within the equipment and cause damage. The number of cable installation operations is also reduced. Since the guidance device is suitable for several cable diameters, it is not necessary to provide multiple standards for each cable.

Claims

Demands

1. A guide system for a cable tie (50) comprising a guide device (48) for said cable tie (50) and a support (56) on which it is applied, the guide device being intended to hold at least one cable (40) at a front face (54) of said support (56) oriented towards the cable(s) (40), the opposite face of said support (56) being called the rear face (58), said cable tie being intended to pass through the support from the front face (54) to the rear face (58) by a first pass (60) and again from the rear face to the front face by a second pass (62) to surround said cable(s), the two passes (60) and (62) being able to be separate or to form a single pass (passage 63), the guide device comprising a channel (64) having a double-curved guide surface,a first longitudinal curvature allowing said surface to extend from one of the passages to the other and a second transverse curvature forming a partial envelope to receive said clamp and guide and hold it in the gutter, the device also comprising at least one appendage (84, 85) to the gutter having a wedging surface (68, 70) projecting from the external surface of said gutter, the external surface being the surface opposite the internal surface on which the clamp is guided, the surface being adapted to come into contact and wedging with respect to the support to lock the gutter in position with respect to the support.

2. A guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that the gutter (64) is wraparound, the side walls (88, 90) extending so that when the device (48) is pressed against the rear face (58) of the support, the free ends (92, 94) of the side walls of the gutter come into contact with the rear face of the cap-forming support.

3. A guidance system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that in the case where the two passages (60, 62) form a single passage (63), the side walls (88, 90) of the gutter have a part at which they meet transversely forming a bridge (102).

4. A guidance system according to claim 3, characterized in that the bridge (102) projects from the X,Y plane of the surface(s) (68, 70) of shimming at least one appendage (84, 85) so that, when the device (48) is installed against the rear face (58) of the support, the bridge (102) fits inside the passage (63) to protrude from the front face (54) of the latter.

5. A guidance system according to claim 4, characterized in that the bridge (102) has a surface forming longitudinally a cavity (103) the bottom of which is intended to receive transversely the cable or cables and the free longitudinal ends (104, 106) of which are intended to carry the collar so that it passes over the cable or cables.

6. A guidance system according to claim 5, characterized in that the longitudinal free ends (104, 106) of the cavity (103) have a transversely hollow shape (108, 110).

7. A guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises two appendages (84, 85) arranged at the two longitudinal ends of the gutter.

8. Guiding system according to claim 1, characterized in that the gutter has side walls (88, 90) of identical and equal height over at least part of the length of the gutter as well as a single shimming surface (68).

9. A guidance system according to claim 8, characterized in that the gutter has an elongated and straight part (116) intended to protrude on either side of the support once the device is installed on the support, the shimming surface being located, when the device is used, on the front face of the support.

10. A method for guiding a clamping collar (50) comprising using the guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 comprising the following steps: - attaching the shim surface(s) (68, 70) against one of the faces of the support (56); - guiding said clamping collar along the inner surface of the gutter of the guiding device, the longitudinal curvature allowing the collar to pass successively through the two passages (60, 62; 63, 63) and the transverse curvature allowing said collar (50) to be held transversely inside the gutter during its movement.

11. A guiding method according to claim 10, comprising a step of removing the gutter once the clamp has passed through the second pass.

12. A guiding method according to claim 10, comprising a step of fixing the shim or shim surfaces (68, 70) to the support.