Self-supporting cable packaging, preferably a self-supporting cable reel

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-supporting cable assembly (1, 1') comprising a cable (11) wound around a central axis (AA') of the assembly so as to form a winding, the winding comprising a first turn (s1) and a second turn (s2) adjacent to the first turn (s1), the assembly (1, 1') comprising an adhesive (10) disposed on a cable (11) and in contact with the first turn (s1) and the second turn (s2) so as to hold the first turn (s1) fixed relative to the second turn (s2). Figure for the abstract: FIGURE 1

Description

Title of the invention: Self-maintaining packaging of a cable, preferably a self-maintaining cable crown Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the packaging of cables, preferably electrical or optical, for the transport, storage and unwinding of such cables. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Generally speaking, the cables are packaged on a winding support (drum or reel for example) which allows the organized storage of the cable wound in turns in great lengths (a few tens of meters to a few kilometers). There are however variants which consist of arranging the cable wound in a crown, without support but tied to hold the turns during storage and transport, but these have the disadvantage, during unwinding, of not keeping the turns well organized. Statement of the invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to facilitate the handling and storage of cables.

[0004] In this respect, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a self-maintained cable assembly comprising a cable wound around a central axis of the assembly so as to form a winding, the winding comprising a first turn and a second turn adjacent to the first turn (si), the assembly comprising an adhesive disposed on a cable and in contact with the first turn and the second turn so as to keep the first turn fixed relative to the second turn.

[0005] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: - the adhesive comprises a line of adhesive parallel to the axis of the cable, the first turn and the second turn being in contact with the line of adhesive; - the adhesive comprises adhesive dots spaced apart from each other, the first turn and the second turn being in contact via the adhesive dots; - it includes a support around which the cable is wound, for example a reel or a spool; - the second turn is wound with a diameter greater than or equal to that of the first turn; - the winding comprises a third turn wound with a diameter greater than or equal to that of the second turn, the adhesive keeping the third turn fixed relative to the second turn; - the adhesive comprises a physically setting or chemically setting glue configured to withstand a tearing force such that the coils do not detach by themselves.

[0006] The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a self-supporting cable crown consisting solely of an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0007] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a method for packaging a cable comprising winding the cable around a winding axis so as to form a winding, the winding comprising a first turn and a second turn adjacent to the first turn, and during the winding, the method comprises depositing an adhesive on the cable prior to its winding so as to be in contact with the first turn and the second turn in order to keep the first turn fixed relative to the second turn.

[0008] Advantageously, the adhesive is a mechanically or chemically cured glue, the method comprising, after depositing the glue, a waiting step so that the glue crosslinks or cools.

[0009] The advantages of the invention are multiple.

[0010] The cable self-maintains in the wound position until the tearing force is exerted, and eliminates the need for tying.

[0011] The cable wound according to the invention avoids the jamming of the turns during storage, transport and unwinding. This cable can be used with or without a reel. In this case, this eliminates the cost and environmental footprint of supports (such as coils) and reels by winding the cable and maintaining it by itself and not requiring tying, without presenting any risk of detention or jamming of the turns during storage, transport and unwinding.

[0012] Indeed, the use of reels or spools represents an economic and environmental cost: They are often destined to be destroyed after the first use (first unwinding of the cable), this is particularly the case for packaging with reduced dimensions which allows them to be handled or moved manually (without lifting equipment), gross mass typically less than 20kg.

[0013] There is no ligature waste for the installer. The use of a reel is therefore not essential, which limits reel-related waste.

[0014] Unwinding is accelerated and results in time savings for the operator. The self-supporting crown is lighter and does not require packaging. The size is scalable as the cable is unwound. In addition, the cable wound according to the invention allows unwinding when unrolling and unwinding and allows unwinding from the outside and from the inside.

[0015] Also, the invention allows a packaging cost proportional to the length (unlike packaging which provides a fixed cost for a range of lengths). PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

[0016] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0017] - [Fig.l] illustrates an assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] illustrates an assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.3a], [Fig.3b], [Fig.3c] and [Fig.4] illustrate views of a cable which is wound according to the invention; - [Fig.5a], [Fig.5b], [Fig.5c] and [Fig.5d] illustrate several arrangements of a wound cable according to the invention; - [Fig.6] illustrates an implementation of a method of winding a cable to obtain an assembly according to the invention; - [Fig.7] illustrates steps of a method of winding a cable to obtain an assembly according to the invention. In all figures, similar elements have identical references. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Self-retaining cable assembly

[0018] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a self-supporting cable assembly 1, 1' according to a first embodiment and a second embodiment respectively. Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and [Fig.4] illustrate a cable 11 which is wound according to Figures 1 and 2 and 3.

[0019] According to these two embodiments, the assembly 1, 1' self-supporting cable is obtained by winding on itself around a central axis AA' of the assembly so as to form a winding. The winding comprises several turns si, s2. In particular, the winding comprises a first turn si and a second turn s2 adjacent to the first turn si. The first turn si is wound around the axis AA' according to a first diameter and the second turn s2 is wound around the axis AA' according to a second diameter greater than or equal to the first diameter. Therefore, the second turn s2 is wound around the first turn s2 or is superimposed above it. The first turn si is for example in a first plane p1 while the second turn s2 is in a second plane p2. The first and second planes pl, p2 are located at a distance from each other and superimposed.

[0020] A third turn s2 is wound with a diameter greater than or equal to that of the second turn s2 and so on for other turns. For example, the second diameter is the initial diameter of the winding to which is added twice the diameter of the cable 11 and so on when the diameter increases as the turns are wound.

[0021] The assembly 1,1' therefore has a radius R defined by the different turns si, s2 and a height H defined by the stages of turns si, s2 on top of each other.

[0022] To connect the turns si, s2 together, the assembly 1, 1' comprises an adhesive 10 arranged on the cable 11 and which is in contact with the first turn si and the second turn s2 so as to keep the first turn si fixed relative to the second turn s2.

[0023] According to the first embodiment illustrated in [Fig.l], the assembly 1 is in particular a self-supporting cable crown 1 and does not include a reel or spool type support around which the cable 11 is wound. Such a crown 1 has, for example, the appearance of a cylinder that is wider than it is high.

[0024] According to the second embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the assembly 1' comprises a support 20 of the reel or spool type to facilitate the unwinding of the cable 11. It should be noted that in this case, the presence of the support 20 does not serve to keep the cable wound up.

[0025] In relation to [Fig.3a], the wound cable 11 comprises for example an electrical or optical conductor consisting of a conductive core 12 covered with an external sheath 14 made of polymer or polymer-based composite material. The external sheath 14 is for example made of polyethylene. The conductive core 12 is made of copper wires or optical fibers made of silica or polymer.

[0026] The cable 11 is preferably of circular geometry and extends along a longitudinal axis XX'. Alternatively, the cable 11 is of oblong shape.

[0027] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the cable 11 is between 1mm and 35mm, preferably between 1mm and 12mm.

[0028] In order for the assembly 1, 1' to be self-maintained, that is to say that it is maintained without the aid of any external element such as a reel or ligatures, the turns s1, s2, s3 of the assembly are in contact via the adhesive 10 which is arranged on the cable 11.

[0029] According to the embodiment of [Fig.3a], the adhesive 10 comprises a line LA of adhesive parallel to the axis XX' of the cable 11, the first turn s1 and the second turn s2 being in contact by the line LA of adhesive 10. According to the embodiment of [Fig.3b], and alternatively, the adhesive 10 comprises points PA of adhesive spaced from each other and aligned parallel to the axis XX' of the cable 11, the first turn s1 and the second turn s2 being in contact by means of these points of adhesive. According to the embodiment of [Fig.3c], and alternatively alternatively, the adhesive 10 comprises a cloud of diffuse points PA around the axis XX' of the cable 11.

[0030] Advantageously, the adhesive (continuous or discrete) is arranged along contact lines L. The lines L extend for example longitudinally along the cable 11 and the adhesive 10 is arranged along at least one of these contact lines L so as to hold the adjacent turns together. In this way the turns s1, s2 are held together at one or more contact lines L of the turns between them. The contact lines L are defined by the winding of the cable 11.

[0031] [Fig.4] illustrates a front view of a cable 11 on which several contact lines L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 are defined, distributed around the cable 11. In this figure several possibilities are shown for these contact lines which depend on the winding of the cable 11. Two lines L1, L2 are diametrically opposed, a third line L3 is at 90 degrees relative to the two lines L1, L2, a fourth line L4 and a fifth line L5 are at 45° relative to the lines L1, L2 respectively.

[0032] Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d illustrate several winding arrangements. In [Fig.5a], the turns s1, s2, s3, s4 of the cable 11 are well superimposed. One turn s2 can be in contact with up to four turns. In [Fig.5b] the turns s1, s2, s3, s4 are nested, one turn can be in contact with up to six adjacent turns. In [Fig.5c], the turns are offset and one turn can be in contact with up to four adjacent turns. In [Fig.5d], the cable 11 is oblong in shape, and the winding is similar to that of [Fig.5b].

[0033] It is noted that the positioning of the adhesive 10 is such that it can fall between the turns but that there will be enough adhesion points to maintain the assembly.

[0034] Preferably, provision is made to arrange the adhesive at least on two lines LA of adhesive to maximize the adhesion of the turns of the cable 11 (for example diametrically opposite).

[0035] The adhesive 10 is preferably a physically setting glue which, during installation, is heated to become liquid and which will create a bond between the turns as soon as the glue cools and hardens. A tearing force will then be necessary to separate the turns of the cable from the assembly. Alternatively, the adhesive 10 is a chemically setting glue or, more generally, is any means for holding the turns together without damaging the cable 11 and which withstands a minimal tearing force to prevent the turns from detaching themselves when they are wound. In particular, the tearing force is proportional to the surface area of ​​the bonding line created between the turns. A tearing force is, for example, less than 25 N.

[0036] Physical setting glue is a glue in which the polymer already exists in its final form, but before application it must be in a liquid form in a solvent, in water or in the molten form of a HOTMELT (hot melt glue). No chemical reaction occurs. Chemical setting glue is a glue in which a polymer is formed by chemical reaction (polymerization or crosslinking). The chemical reaction is caused by humidity, temperature, UV, hardeners, etc.

[0037] In this way, the cable is held, without tying, and it can be stored, transported, and unwound to its last turns, without the risk of jamming the turns. In addition, this eliminates the environmental footprint of the coils and reels and ties. In addition, the self-holding assembly can be positioned on a reel to facilitate its handling. Packaging process

[0038] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the winding of a cable 11 according to one embodiment.

[0039] As illustrated in these figures, an unwound cable 11 is brought (step E1) onto a removable support (not shown) to be wound around this support. The support is rotated and allows the cable 11 to be wound around this support (step E2). When the cable 11 is wound around the removable support, the adhesive 10 is deposited on the cable 11 and in particular on the sheath 14 which passes between two nozzles 2 allowing the adhesive 10 to be deposited. The passage between these nozzles 2 makes it possible to define lines LA of adhesive or points PA of adhesive along the cable 11 prior to the cable 11 being brought into contact with itself (step E3). The winding of the cable will define the lines of contact between the turns, some of which will correspond to the positions of the adhesive 10.

[0040] The adhesive 10 is preferably constituted by a thermal glue which is first heated (to a temperature above 85°C) to be liquid and to be deposited by the nozzles 2 connected to a reservoir 3 of glue in the liquid state.

[0041] In the case of glue, the wound turns are held for the entire time necessary for the glue to harden (mechanical setting) or to crosslink (chemical setting) and to hold the turns together (step E4). Once the turns are held together, the assembly is removed (step E5) from the removable support. The cable 11 is held together by itself thanks to its turns which are linked to each other.

[0042] For its unwinding, when unrolled, the self-supporting cable assembly 1.1' will be placed on a reel. The operator will only have to pull on the outer end to cause the cable to be torn off and the assembly to rotate.

[0043] In a complementary manner, as many nozzles 2 are provided as there are locations for depositing the adhesive 10. The position of the wound cable 11 relative to the nozzles (or the reverse) will depend on the type of winding sought as illustrated in figures 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d.

Claims

Claims

1. A self-retaining cable assembly (1, 1') comprising a cable (11) wound around a central axis (AA') of the assembly so as to form a winding, the winding comprising a first turn (si) and a second turn (s2) adjacent to the first turn (si), the assembly (1, 1') comprising an adhesive (10) disposed on the cable (11) and in contact with the first turn (si) and the second turn (s2) so as to hold the first turn (si) fixed relative to the second turn (s2), the adhesive consisting of adhesive dots spaced from each other and distributed along the sheath (14) of the cable (11), the adhesive comprising a physically setting or chemically setting glue configured to - withstand a minimal tearing force such that the turns (si, s2) do not detach themselves when the cable is wound while allowing the cable to be unwound when the cable is pulled by an operator.

2. An assembly (1') according to claim 1, comprising a support (20) around which the cable (11) is wound, for example a reel or a spool.

3. Assembly (1, 1') according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the second turn (s2) is wound with a diameter greater than or equal to that of the first turn (si).

4. Assembly (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, the winding comprising a third turn (s3) wound with a diameter greater than or equal to that of the second turn (s2), the adhesive (10) keeping the third turn (s3) fixed relative to the second turn (s2).

5. Self-supporting cable crown (1) consisting solely of an assembly (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A method of packaging a cable (11) comprising winding (E3) the cable (11) around a winding axis (AA') so as to form a winding, the winding comprising a first turn (si) and a second turn (s2) adjacent to the first turn (si), and during the winding, the method comprises depositing (E3) an adhesive (10) on the cable (11) prior to its winding so as to be in contact with the first turn (si)

7. and the second turn (s2) in order to keep the first turn (si) fixed relative to the second turn (s2), the adhesive consisting of adhesive dots spaced from each other, and distributed along the sheath (14) of the cable (11), the adhesive comprising a physically setting or chemically setting glue configured to - withstand a minimum tearing force such that the turns (si, s2) do not detach themselves when the cable is wound while allowing the cable to be unwound when the cable is pulled by an operator. Method according to claim 6, in which the adhesive (10) is a mechanically or chemically setting glue, the method comprising, after the deposition (E3) of the glue, a step (E4) of waiting so that the glue crosslinks or cools.

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