A device for anchoring a cable to a support such as a pole.

Abstract

Cable anchoring device for a support such as a pole. The anchoring device (1) forms a housing for receiving the cable (100) and comprises: - a body (10) having means for attaching it (11) to a support and a clamping wedge (30) having a shape converging downstream; - a sleeve (40) having a shape converging downstream, mounted around the clamping wedge in a longitudinal sliding manner; - a plate (50) mounted between the clamping wedge and the sleeve, having a projecting tab (60) provided with a notch (61) that engages with the sleeve following a pull exerted on the cable upstream; - means for separating an upstream portion of the cable from the support, activated when a pull exerted on the cable upstream exceeds a predefined threshold. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Device for anchoring a cable to a support such as a pole

[0001] The invention relates to a device for anchoring a cable to a support such as a pole.

[0002] The cables of a power or data distribution network may follow an overhead route, supported at intervals by poles or other supports. Furthermore, it is necessary to anchor the cable to some of these supports.

[0003] For this purpose, it is known to use an anchoring device of the type comprising a body equipped with means for attaching to the support and comprising a clamping wedge around which a converging sleeve is mounted. The cable is placed between the bottom of the sleeve, a plate, and the clamping wedge. The upstream movement of the sleeve (i.e., away from the pole) relative to the body leads to the clamping wedge and the bottom of the sleeve coming closer together, and thus to the tightening of the cable in the anchoring device.

[0004] In accidental situations such as a tree falling on the cable, the tension that the cable exerts on the pole can be such that the pole or its ground anchoring may be very severely damaged.

[0005] To limit the consequences of such an accidental situation on the integrity of the network, the distribution of energy or data, and the safety of property and persons, a system for cutting the cable beyond a certain tension may be provided, in order to preserve the support.

[0006] The proper functioning of the cutting system requires that the cable remains securely held in the anchoring device.

[0007] In practical terms, the plate can be designed to grip the cable and be provided with protruding tabs. Thus, pulling the cable upstream relative to the body of the anchoring device results in the plate moving upstream until the tabs come to a stop against the sheath, at which point the cable can no longer move relative to the sheath.

[0008] However, the magnitude of the tension exerted on the cable, and therefore on the anchor plate, can be so great that the tabs of the anchor plate, instead of coming to rest against the sheath, deform upon contact with the sheath. They therefore no longer act as stops, so that the cable is then free to move upstream inside the anchoring device, without being cut. The cable can then fall to the ground, with the associated risks.

[0009] The invention aims to remedy this problem.

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a device for anchoring a cable to a support, such as a pole, the device defining a longitudinal direction, a downstream side located on the side of the support in the mounted position, and an upstream side opposite the downstream side, the device comprising:

[0011] - a body comprising:

[0012] — on the downstream side, means for attaching to the support;

[0013] — on the upstream side, a clamping wedge having a shape that converges in the direction means of attachment;

[0014] - a sheath having a U-shaped cross-section and comprising a base and two wings, the sheath having a shape converging downstream and being mounted around the clamping wedge in a sliding longitudinal manner, the movement of the sheath upstream relative to the body causing a rapprochement between the clamping wedge and the bottom of the sheath;

[0015] - a plate mounted between the clamping wedge and the sleeve, the plate including:

[0016] — a generally flat base which, in the mounted position, is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom of the sheath so that a cable receiving housing is defined between the base of the plate and the bottom of the sheath, said housing extending longitudinally, the base of the plate having retaining means configured to cooperate with a cable disposed in the housing to hold the cable in position relative to the plate at least in the longitudinal direction;

[0017] — at least at its extreme downstream part, at least one tab projecting outwards from at the base, the tongue extending outside the sheath;

[0018] - separation means configured to cause, in the raised position, the separation from the support of an upstream portion of a cable placed in the housing of the device, said separation means being configured to be activated when a pull exerted on the cable upstream exceeds a predefined threshold.

[0019] According to a general definition of the invention, the tab of the plate includes a notch which, in the mounted position, is able to engage with the sheath following a pull exerted on the cable upstream, below said predefined threshold, so that the plate comes to hook onto the sheath.

[0020] Thanks to the notches formed on the tongue, the tongue does not simply rest against the sheath, but rather hooks onto it. Specifically, a portion of the sheath—typically an area of ​​a sheath wall located on the downstream side of the sheath—fits into the notch. Thus, the tongue is held in relation to the sheath not only along the longitudinal direction, but also in a direction that is generally orthogonal to the two opposite edges of the notch, that is, on either side of the aforementioned portion of the sheath that is fitted into it. in the notch. This prevents the tab from folding back towards the base of the plate when the cable is pulled upstream, which would result in the tab no longer being held by the sheath.

[0021] Thus, thanks to the invention, the tongue cannot be detached from the sheath by an upstream pull exerted on it, via the cable received in the housing.

[0022] Once a portion of the sheath wall is received in the notch of the tab, the cable itself being fixed to the plate—in the longitudinal direction—by means of the retaining means, the cable cannot slide upstream relative to the sheath. In other words, in this configuration, the cable, the plate, and the sheath are fixed together with respect to their upstream translational movement relative to the body. Consequently, if the upstream tensile force on the cable continues, since the body is fixed to the support, it is the wedge that slides downstream relative to the sheath, until it becomes relatively stuck. Then, beyond the predefined tensile threshold, the separation means are activated. The support is then no longer subjected to the upstream tension exerted on the cable and is protected from its effects.

[0023] The sleeve may have a shape complementary to that of the clamping wedge, particularly to the external shape of the clamping wedge.

[0024] The cable retention means can be designed to grip the cable. They include, for example, at least one raised feature projecting towards the cable and having a free edge that is at least partially pointed, capable of penetrating the material of the cable.

[0025] According to one possible embodiment, at its downstream end, the plate comprises two tabs projecting from the base, each tab extending outside the sheath and at least one of them comprising a notch. Preferably, each of these two tabs comprises a notch. This improves the attachment of the plate to the sheath. These tabs are, for example, symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal plane of the plate.

[0026] According to one possible embodiment, the plate comprises, at its upstream end, at least one tab projecting from the base, extending outside the sleeve, and including a notch. Preferably, the plate comprises two such notched tabs at its upstream end. With this configuration, a plate can be obtained that has no mounting orientation relative to the upstream / downstream direction, which facilitates field installation by an operator and avoids assembly errors that could render the separation means inoperative. These upstream tabs can be symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal plane of the plate. Furthermore, they can be symmetrical to the downstream tabs with respect to a median transverse plane of the plate.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the tongue is located substantially in the same plane as the base of the plate and extends laterally with respect to the base, the notch provided in the tongue being able to engage with a wing of the sheath.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the tongue extends substantially orthogonally to the base of the plate, opposite the clamping corner, the notch provided in the tongue being able to engage with the bottom of the sheath.

[0029] According to one possible embodiment, the separation means include a zone of least resistance, for example a zone of smallest cross-section, provided on a portion of the body which links the clamping wedge and the hooking means.

[0030] According to one possible embodiment, the separation means comprise a cutting blade which is mounted on the insert between:

[0031] - an inactive position in which the cutting blade is located at a distance from the cable receiving housing;

[0032] - and an active position in which the cutting blade protrudes inside the housing over a sufficient distance to cut a cable located in the housing;

[0033] the passage of the cutting blade from its inactive position to its active position being caused by the movement of the clamping wedge downstream relative to the insert.

[0034] For example, the insert comprises a lug mounted pivoting relative to the base about a substantially transverse axis, the cutting blade being provided on the lug at a distance from said axis, the insert having an opening opposite said lug, the lug being able to pivot between:

[0035] - an inactive position in which the leg extends obliquely towards the corner tightening;

[0036] - and an active position in which the leg is substantially folded into the plane of the base of the plate and the cutting blade pass through the opening.

[0037] According to one possible embodiment, the clamping wedge comprises a cavity open downwards in which the leg and the cutting blade are received in the inactive position, an upstream face of the cavity forming a ramp which is inclined downstream and opposite to the bottom of the sleeve and which is configured to come into contact with the leg and cause it to pivot towards its active position when the clamping wedge moves downstream relative to the insert.

[0038] The anchoring device may be provided with means for positioning, for example centering means, the cable. This is particularly useful when a cutting blade is provided; indeed, it is then important that the cable be correctly positioned with respect to the cutting blade, which is not automatically the case if the cable and the cutting blade are narrower than the housing.

[0039] For example, the plate is assembled on the clamping wedge in a movable manner in longitudinal translation, the plate comprising an upstream stop wall limiting The downstream translation of the insert relative to the clamping wedge is achieved by configuring the anchoring device so that, when the upstream wall of the stop is in contact with the upstream face of the clamping wedge, the tab and cutting blade are received in the cavity and are in an inactive position. This allows the initial position of the insert relative to the clamping wedge to be defined, ensuring correct relative positioning and guaranteeing the desired operation of the assembly.

[0040] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising an anchoring device as previously described and a cable extending longitudinally in the housing provided between the base of the plate and the bottom of the sheath.

[0041] Several possible embodiments of the invention are now described by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached figures:

[0042] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of an anchoring device according to a mode of realization of the invention, in mounted position, ensuring the anchoring of a cable to a support;

[0043] [Fig.2] is an exploded perspective view of an anchoring device according to a first embodiment, showing a body, a sheath, a plate and a cable;

[0044] [Fig.3] is a partial side view of the anchoring device of [Fig.2], showing the sheath and part of the body;

[0045] [Fig.4] is a partial top view of the anchoring device of [Fig.2] showing the sheath and part of the body;

[0046] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the plate of [Fig.2];

[0047] [Fig.6] is a top view of the plate of [Fig.2];

[0048] [Fig.7] is a cross-section of the anchoring device of [Fig.2] in position ascent;

[0049] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of the anchoring device of [Fig.2] in the mounted position, with an upstream pull being applied to the cable;

[0050] [Fig.9] is an exploded perspective view of an anchoring device according to a second embodiment;

[0051] [Fig. 10] is an exploded perspective view of the anchoring device of [Fig.9], showing a body, a sheath, a plate and a cable;

[0052] [Fig. 11] is a perspective view of the plate of [Fig. 10];

[0053] [Fig. 12] is a perspective view of the plate of [Fig. 10], under another corner ;

[0054] [Fig. 13] is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the anchoring device of the [Fig.9] in the mounted position;

[0055] [Fig. 14] is a view similar to [Fig. 13], following the application to the cable of an upstream traction force greater than a predefined threshold.

[0056] Figure 1 shows a cable 100 anchored to a support 150 by means of an anchoring device 1 according to the invention. The support 150 is here a post to which a cross member 151 with holes 152 is attached. However, other types of supports are possible, such as a building facade.

[0057] The anchoring device 1 defines a longitudinal direction X which, in the mounted position, can be globally horizontal, by means of the sag of the cable 100. The term "downstream" designates elements located on the side of the support 150 or directed towards the support 150 in the mounted position, as opposed to the term "upstream".

[0058] The transverse direction Y and the Z direction are further defined as being orthogonal to each other and to the longitudinal direction X. In the mounted position, the Y direction can be globally horizontal and the Z direction globally vertical. The terms "lateral" and "transverse" are used with reference to the Y direction. The terms "height," "upper," "lower," and similar terms are used with reference to the Z direction.

[0059] The anchoring device 1 comprises a body 10, generally one-piece, which may be made of plastic or metal. The body 10 has a longitudinal axis A10.

[0060] The body 10 comprises, on its downstream side, attachment means 11 to the support 150. In the example shown, these attachment means 11 comprise a block 12 including a cavity 13 which is open laterally and which is extended downstream by a smaller channel 14, the channel 14 being substantially longitudinal and open downstream. The attachment means 11 further comprise a U-shaped band 15, a first arm 16 of which extends downstream from the block 12 to an angled portion 17, which is extended by a second arm 18 extending upstream. The second arm 18 is provided at its end with a projection 19. In the open position, the band 15 forms an open U, the projection 19 being free. The second branch 18 of the band 15 can be passed into an orifice 152 of the crossbar 151, after which the outgrowth 19 is placed in the cavity 13, the extreme part of the second branch 18 passing into the channel 14.The band 15 then forms a closed loop, or loop, and the body 10 is attached to the support 150, as seen in [Fig. 1].

[0061] The body 10 also includes an arm 20 which extends upstream from the attachment means 11, more precisely from the block 12.

[0062] The body 10 further includes a clamping wedge 30 which is arranged on the upstream side and linked to the hooking means 11 by the arm 20.

[0063] The clamping wedge 30 has a shape which converges towards the hooking means 11, i.e. downstream.

[0064] The clamping wedge 30 has a lower face 31 substantially flat and located in a plane (X,Y) and an upper face 32, as well as an upstream face 33 and a downstream face 34 which are for example substantially orthogonal to the axis A10.

[0065] The clamping wedge 30 also has two lateral faces 35 that extend generally parallel to a plane (X,Z) but are inclined with respect to that plane. More precisely, the lateral faces 35 can be slightly inclined towards each other in the direction of the lower face 31, as shown in [Fig. 7]. Each of the lateral faces 35 can be inclined with respect to the plane PI at an angle of less than 5°, for example, on the order of 3°.

[0066] Furthermore, the clamping wedge 30 comprises two longitudinally extending ribs 36, each projecting from the upper face 32 opposite the lower face 31 and in line with the corresponding lateral face 35. As can be seen in [Fig. 4], the upper edge 37 of the ribs 36 is inclined downwards and downstream at an angle α between 4 and 10°, for example close to 5.5°. Preferably, the upper face 32 is parallel to the upper edges 37 of the ribs 36, so that the ribs 36 have a constant height along the Z direction.

[0067] The anchoring device 1 also includes a sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 has a U-shaped cross-section. It can be made of plastic or metal.

[0068] The sheath 40 comprises a base 41 and two wings 45. Each wing 45 is extended at its end opposite the base 41 by a return 46 directed towards the interior of the sheath 40 and towards the base 41, the return 46 being connected to the corresponding wing 45 by a bent wall 47. A groove 48 is thus formed between each wing 45 and the corresponding return 46. The base 41 may have transverse projections 42 directed towards the interior of the sheath 40 and intended to limit the longitudinal displacement of the cable 100. Furthermore, the sheath 40 has an upstream end 43 and a downstream end 44.

[0069] The sleeve 40 has a shape converging downstream and is intended to be mounted around the corner in a sliding longitudinal manner.

[0070] To this end, the shape of the sleeve 40 is preferably complementary to the shape of the clamping wedge 30. More specifically, as can be seen in [Fig. 7]: - each of the angled walls 47 is intended to rest on the upper edge 37 of the corresponding rib 36, the rib 36 being received in the corresponding groove 48. The angled walls 47 are inclined downwards and downstream at an angle α between 4 and 10°, for example close to 5.5°; - and each of the wings 45 is situated adjacent to and substantially parallel to one of the lateral faces 35. Thus, the wings 45 can be slightly inclined towards each other in the direction of the lower face 31, each of the wings 45 can be inclined relative to the plane PI by an angle less than 5° for example of the order of 3° (see [Fig.7]).

[0071] In the mounted position, the movement of the sleeve 40 upstream relative to the body 10 causes a rapprochement between the clamping wedge 30 and the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40, and therefore a tightening of the cable 100.

[0072] The anchoring device 1 further includes a plate 50 intended to be mounted between the clamping wedge 30 and the sleeve 40. The plate 50 is made of metal.

[0073] As can be seen particularly in Figures 5 and 6, the plate 50 has a generally flat base 51, preferably with a substantially rectangular shape. In the mounted position, the base 51 is positioned substantially parallel to, and at a distance from, the bottom 41 of the sheath 40. Thus, as can be seen in [Fig. 7], a housing 105 for receiving the cable 100 is defined between the base 51 of the plate 50 and the bottom 41 of the sheath 40. The housing 105 extends longitudinally and has an axis A105 with which the axis A100 of the cable 100 locally coincides.

[0074] As can be seen in [Fig.6], the base 51 has a median longitudinal plane PI and a median transverse plane P2.

[0075] The base 51 comprises an upper face 52 and a lower face 53. Raised features 54 project downwards from the lower face 53. These features 54 are, for example, generally in the form of downward-converging, truncated cylinders or cones, and define a substantially circular free edge 55. The free edge 55 may advantageously be thin or even pointed, so as to be able to grip the cable 100 or even penetrate the material of the cable 100 disposed in the housing 105. The features 54 thus form means of holding the cable 100 in position relative to the plate 50, at least along the longitudinal direction X.

[0076] According to one possible embodiment, the reliefs 54 are distributed over the entire lower face 53, preferably regularly. For example, they are arranged in two longitudinal lines of ten to twenty reliefs.

[0077] The plate 50 further comprises, at at least one of its extreme longitudinal portions, two tabs 60 projecting from the base 51 and extending, in the mounted position, outside the sleeve 40. Preferably, these two tabs 60 are symmetrical to each other with respect to the median longitudinal plane PL

[0078] In addition, the tabs 60 each include a notch 61 which is open in the direction of the median transverse plane P2, at the level of an edge 64 of the tab 60. The notch 61 has a bottom 62, preferably extending in the transverse direction Y, and two lateral edges 63 which are opposite each other and which can converge towards each other in the direction of the bottom 62.

[0079] An embodiment with a single tab 60, although less efficient, could be considered. The same applies to an embodiment with two tabs 60, only one of which would have a notch 61.

[0080] In the mounted position, when a pull F is exerted on the cable 100 upstream, the notches 61 can engage with the sleeve 40, so that the plate 50 hooks onto the sleeve 40.

[0081] Furthermore, the anchoring device 1 includes separation means configured to cause the separation of an upstream portion 101 of the cable 100 from the support 150 when the upstream tension F exerted on the cable 100 exceeds a predefined threshold. For example, this threshold may be in the range of 1200 to 2000 N. In this way, the cable 100 is prevented from pulling on the support 150 with such a force that it could damage the support 150.

[0082] A first embodiment of the invention is described in more detail with reference to figures 1 to 7.

[0083] According to this embodiment, the tabs 60 of the plate 50 are located substantially in the same plane as the base 51. It is noted however that the or each of the extreme parts of the plate 50 may include, beyond a line 58 such as a fold line, a portion 59 inclined downwards with respect to the general plane of the base 51 of the plate 50.

[0084] The tabs 60 extend laterally with respect to the base 51, that is to say transversely, outwards and opposite each other.

[0085] Furthermore, the plate 50 has two tabs 60 at each of its extreme longitudinal parts. Preferably, the two sets of tabs 60 are symmetrical to each other with respect to the median transverse plane P2.

[0086] Furthermore, the arm 20 may have an area with a smaller cross-section than the rest of the arm 20, in a plane perpendicular to the axis A10, for example, a thinner section. The thickness is the dimension of the arm 20 in a direction perpendicular to the axis A10, here along the Z direction. This area therefore forms a zone of least resistance 21. It is, for example, located in the central part of the arm 20, along the axis A10.

[0087] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the mounting of the anchoring device 1 is carried out as follows.

[0088] First, the cable 100 is placed longitudinally against the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40, then the plate 50 is mounted in the sleeve 40 over the cable 100, the ridges 54 being directed towards the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40.

[0089] The base 51 of the plate 50 has a width less than that of the sleeve 40 at the upper ends of the wings 45, but less than that of the sleeve 40 at the bottom 41, so that, in the mounted position, the plate 50 is located at a distance from the bottom 41, as seen in [Fig.7]. The base 51 may also include lateral appendages 56 allowing the plate 50 to be centered in the sleeve 40 along the transverse direction Y.

[0090] Furthermore, the length of the plate 50 and the distance (along the longitudinal direction X) between the edges 64 of the tabs 60 located on either side of the median transverse plane P2 are provided, with respect to the longitudinal distance between the upstream end 43 and the downstream end 44 of the sleeve 40, so that the plate 50 can be inserted into the sleeve 40, if necessary by bending it slightly, the plate 50 then resuming its substantially flat configuration.

[0091] In the mounted position, the tabs 60 extend outside the sleeve 40, each notch 61 being opposite - along the longitudinal direction X - a wing 45 of the sleeve 40. Each wing 45 can be located at a distance from the edge 64 of the corresponding tab 60 or penetrate at least partially the corresponding notch 61.

[0092] Since the plate 50 has two tabs 60 at each of its longitudinal ends, arranged symmetrically with respect to plane P2, the plate 50 does not have an upstream / downstream mounting direction to observe, which simplifies the operator's work and avoids assembly errors that could prevent the proper functioning of the assembly. In an embodiment where tabs 60 are present only at one of the longitudinal ends of the plate 50, these tabs 60 should be positioned on the downstream end 44 side of the sleeve 40.

[0093] The sleeve 40, which receives the cable 100 and the plate 50, is then placed on the clamping wedge 30. As shown in [Fig. 2], the sleeve 40 is oriented with its smaller cross-section facing downstream, its upstream end 43 being positioned opposite the downstream face 34 of the clamping wedge 30. The ribs 36 of the clamping wedge 30 are then engaged in the grooves 48 of the sleeve 40, and the sleeve 40 is then slid upstream relative to the clamping wedge 30 until the two parts are relatively clamped. Simultaneously, the operator pulls the cable 100 downstream, i.e., towards the support 150, to give it the desired tension and sag.

[0094] Due to the converging shapes of the clamping wedge 30 and the sleeve 40, the upstream sliding of the sleeve 40 relative to the clamping wedge 30, illustrated by the arrows in Figures 3 and 4, results in the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40 moving closer to the clamping wedge 30. The cable 100 is thus clamped in the housing 105, between the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40 and the base 51 of the plate 50, as seen in [Fig. 7]. The ridges 54 of the plate 50 cooperate with the cable 100 to grip it and hold it against longitudinal sliding relative to the plate 50.

[0095] In the raised position, when sufficient tension F is exerted on the cable 100 upstream, the cable 100 and the plate 50 relative to which it is held The 54 ridges are displaced upstream until the bottom 63 of the notches 61 located on the downstream side abuts against the downstream end 44 of the sleeve 40. Each of the notches 61 then receives a portion of a wing 45 of the sleeve 40, and is therefore engaged with this wing 45, as seen in [Fig. 8]. The tabs 60 are therefore not simply abutted against the sleeve 40, but hooked onto the sleeve 40.

[0096] From this configuration, the tension F tends to displace the following parts together upstream: - cable 100 and plate 50, these two parts being held together by means of the reliefs 54; - and the sheath 40, due to the cooperation between the notches 61 of the tabs 60 on the downstream side with the wings 45 of the sheath 40.

[0097] If the tension F exceeds a predefined threshold, which could cause damage to the support 150, the anchoring device 1 is designed to cause the separation from the support 150 of an upstream portion 101 of the cable 100. This threshold can be in the order of 1200 to 2000 N.

[0098] According to this first embodiment, the means for separating the anchoring device 1 comprise or are formed by the zone of least resistance 21 provided on the arm 20. This zone of least resistance 21 is dimensioned to break when it is subjected to a tensile force corresponding to the predefined threshold.

[0099] It follows that the cable 100 is no longer attached to the support 150 by the attachment means 11, and therefore can no longer exert a tensile force on the support 150. If the upstream portion 101 of the cable 100 is thus separated from the support 150, a downstream portion of the cable 100 can remain attached to the support 150 via an adjacent anchoring device 1. However, due to the rupture of the zone of least resistance 21, the cable 100 is less taut, and the force it can exert on said adjacent anchoring device 1 is much less.

[0100] Reference is now made to figures 9 to 14 which illustrate a second embodiment of the invention.

[0101] According to this embodiment, as illustrated more particularly in Figures 11 and 12, the plate 50 comprises tabs 60 having notches 61 only at its downstream extreme portion. Furthermore, the tabs 60 extend substantially orthogonally downwards to the base 51 of the plate 50 (i.e., opposite the clamping wedge 30 in the mounted position). Each tab 60 thus extends substantially in a plane (X,Z), on either side of the median longitudinal plane PI.

[0102] Furthermore, the plate 50 includes a tab 70 which is pivotally mounted relative to the base 51 about a substantially transverse axis A70. The axis A70 and the tab 70 are preferably located in the upstream half of the plate 50. The axis A70 is here situated near the upstream edge of the tab 70.

[0103] A cutting blade 71 is provided on the leg at a distance from the axis A70, here in the vicinity of the downstream edge of the leg 70. In addition, the plate 50 has an opening 72 opposite the leg 70.

[0104] The leg 70 can occupy an inactive position in which the leg 70 extends obliquely from the axis A70 downstream and away from the base 51. The cutting blade 71 is then also in an inactive position, in which it is located above the lower face 53 of the base 51.

[0105] From this active position, illustrated in Figures 11, 12 and 13, the tab 70 can pivot, relative to the axis A70, to an active position illustrated in [Fig. 14]. In this active position, the tab 70 is substantially folded down into the plane of the base 51 of the insert 50. The cutting blade 71 is then also in an active position, in which the opening 72 passes through and protrudes below the lower face 53 of the base 51.

[0106] The plate 50 may further comprise lateral tabs 74 facing each other along the transverse direction Y, the lateral tabs 74 extending upwards from a longitudinal edge of the base 51, preferably being slightly inclined towards each other. Two sets of lateral tabs 74 may be provided, the sets being spaced apart along the longitudinal direction X.

[0107] The plate 50 may also include mutually opposite centering lugs 75 along the transverse direction Y, the centering lugs 75 extending downwards from a longitudinal edge of the base 51, substantially orthogonally to the base 51. In the mounted position, the centering lugs 75 allow the cable 100 to be centered, preventing its transverse movement, so that it is aligned with the cutting blade 71 and can be cut by it, as will be seen later. For this purpose, the centering lugs 75 are preferably arranged upstream of the axis A70.

[0108] The plate 50 may also include an upstream abutment wall 76 extending from the upstream edge of the base 51, substantially orthogonally to the base 51, upwards.

[0109] Finally, the plate 50 may include two upstream tabs 77 which extend substantially in the plane of the base 51, laterally and opposite each other. These upstream tabs 77 are, for example, located along the longitudinal direction X between the centering tabs 75 and the opening 72. They serve as upstream stops for the sleeve 40, as can be seen in [Fig. 9].

[0110] Furthermore, as can be seen in [Fig. 13], the clamping wedge 30 includes a cavity 80 which is open downwards and which has an upstream face 81 inclined downstream and upwards. In addition, as illustrated in [Fig. 10], the lateral faces 35 of the clamping wedge 30 each comprise: - an upper band 35a which extends from the upper edge 37 of the ribs 36 and which is slightly inclined downwards and towards the median longitudinal plane PI, in a manner similar to the first embodiment; - a lower band 35b which extends the upper band 35a and which is slightly inclined downwards and in the direction of the away from the median longitudinal plane PI, up to the lower face 31 of the clamping wedge 30.

[0111] As illustrated in [Fig.10], the mounting of the anchoring device 1 is carried out as follows.

[0112] The plate 50 is mounted under the clamping wedge 30, with the upper face 52 of the base 51 substantially against the lower face 31 of the clamping wedge 30, and the tabs 60 on the downstream side. To achieve this, the plate 50 is positioned under the clamping wedge 30 so that the lateral tabs 74 are each aligned with one of the recesses 38 formed in the lateral face 35 of the clamping wedge 30, more precisely in the lower band 35b. This facilitates the installation of the plate 50. Then the plate 50 is moved longitudinally downstream relative to the clamping wedge 30, until the upstream wall of the stop 76 comes into contact with the upstream face 33 of the clamping wedge 30. The lateral tabs 74 are then offset relative to the recesses 38.Thus, due to the slight inclination of the lateral tabs 74 towards each other and the trapezoidal shape of the clamping wedge 30 at the level of the lower bands 35b, the clamping tabs 74 grip the clamping wedge 30, thus preventing the plate 50 from unintentionally detaching. However, some relative sliding of the plate 50 relative to the clamping wedge 30 is possible.

[0113] As can be seen in [Fig. 13], the anchoring device 1 is configured so that, when the upstream wall of the stop 76 is in contact with the upstream face 33 of the clamping wedge 30, the tab 70 and the cutting blade 71 are received in the cavity 80 and are in the inactive position. The axis A70 is then at a distance and downstream of the upstream face 81 of the cavity 80. The upstream wall of the stop 76 thus forms a reference for the relative positioning of the parts in the mounted position.

[0114] The cable 100 is placed longitudinally against the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40, and then the sleeve 40 is positioned around the clamping wedge 30, similarly to what was described for the first embodiment. During this step, the operator ensures that the cable 100 is properly received between the centering tabs 75 of the plate 50. It should be noted that the arrangement of the tabs 60 does not interfere with the positioning of the sleeve 40 around the clamping wedge 30.

[0115] The assembled position is illustrated in [Fig. 13]. The sleeve 40 and the clamping wedge 30 are in a relative clamping position. The cable 100 is in place longitudinally in the housing 105, clamped between the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40 and the base 51 of the plate. 50, held in relation to plate 50 by means of reliefs 54. The tension of cable 100 was adjusted appropriately during assembly.

[0116] The tabs 60 extend outside the sleeve 40, each notch 61 being opposite - along the longitudinal direction X - the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40. The edges 64 of the tabs 60 can be at a distance from the downstream end 44 of the sleeve 40, i.e. that the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40 does not penetrate the notches 61.

[0117] The lug 70 and the cutting blade 71, which are in the inactive position, are housed in the cavity 80. The lug 70 extends obliquely towards the clamping corner 30, and the cutting blade 71 is located at a distance from the housing 105 for receiving the cable 100.

[0118] In the mounted position, when sufficient tension F is exerted on the cable 100 upstream, the cable 100 and the plate 50 relative to which it is held by the ridges 54 are displaced upstream until the bottom 63 of the notches 61 located on the downstream side abuts against the downstream end 44 of the sleeve 40. Each of the notches 61 then receives a portion of the bottom 41 of the sleeve 40, and is therefore engaged with this bottom 41, as can be seen in [Fig. 14]. The tabs 60 are therefore not simply abutted against the sleeve 40, but hooked onto the sleeve 40.

[0119] If the tension F exceeds a predefined threshold, which could cause damage to the support 150, the anchoring device 1 is designed to cause the separation from the support 150 of an upstream portion 101 of the cable 100. This threshold can be in the order of 1200 to 2000 N.

[0120] According to this second embodiment, the means for separating the anchoring device 1 comprise or are formed by the cutting blade 71.

[0121] In practical terms, the plate 50 is gripped to the cable 100 by the ridges 54 and attached to the sleeve 40 by the notches 61 of the tabs 60, so that the upstream pull exerted on the cable 100 causes these three parts (cable 100, sleeve 40, plate 50) to move together as a single unit. Due to the tensile force F exerted on the cable 100, the clamping wedge 30, attached to the support 150, therefore moves downstream relative to this assembly of three parts.

[0122] Due to this movement of the clamping wedge 30, the upstream face 81 of the cavity 80 comes into contact with the tab 70 and causes it to pivot into its active position. The lower face 31 of the wedge 30 then comes into contact with the tab 70 and folds it substantially into the plane of the base 51 of the plate 50. The cutting blade 71 then protrudes into the housing 105, over a sufficient distance to cut the cable 100 located in the housing 105.

[0123] Consequently, the upstream portion 101 of the cable, on which the tension F is exerted, is no longer attached to the support 150 and falls. The support 150 is thus protected from damage that the strong tension F could have caused.

[0124] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example but includes all technical equivalents and variants of the means described as well as their combinations.

[0125] For example, in the first embodiment, it could be provided that the tabs with notches are designed to engage with the bottom of the sheath and not its wings.

Claims

1. Demands Anchoring device (1) for a cable (100) to a support (150), such as a pole, the device defining a longitudinal direction (X), a downstream side located on the side of the support (150) in the mounted position, and an upstream side opposite the downstream side, the device comprising: - a body (10) comprising: — on the downstream side, means of attachment (11) to the support (150); — on the upstream side, a clamping wedge (30) having a shape which converges in the direction of the fastening means (11); - a sheath (40) having a U-shaped cross-section and comprising a bottom (41) and two wings (45), the sheath (40) having a shape converging downstream and being mounted around the clamping wedge (30) in a longitudinal sliding manner, the upstream movement of the sheath (40) relative to the body (10) causing a rapprochement between the clamping wedge (30) and the bottom (41) of the sheath (40); - a plate (50) mounted between the clamping wedge (30) and the sleeve (40), the plate (50) comprising: — a generally flat base (51) which, in the mounted position, is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom (41) of the sleeve (40) so that a housing (105) for receiving a cable (100) is defined between the base (51) of the plate (50) and the bottom (41) of the sleeve (40), said housing (105) extending longitudinally, the base (51) of the plate (50) having retaining means (54) configured to cooperate with a cable (100) disposed in the housing (105) to hold the cable (100) in position relative to the plate (50) at least in the longitudinal direction (X); — at least at its downstream extreme part, at least one tab (60) projecting from the base (51), the tab (60) extending outside the sleeve (40); - separation means (21,71) configured to cause, in the mounted position, the separation from the support (150) of an upstream portion (101) of a cable (100) placed in the housing (105) of the anchoring device (1), said separation means (21, 71) being configured to be activated when a pull exerted on the cable (100) upstream exceeds a predefined threshold; the anchoring device (1) being characterized in that the tongue (60) of the plate (50) includes a notch (61) which, in the mounted position, is able to engage with the sleeve (40) following a pull exerted on the cable (100) upstream, below said predefined threshold, so that the plate (50) comes to hook onto the sleeve (40).

2. Anchoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, at its downstream end, the plate (50) comprises two tabs (60) projecting from the base (51), each of the tabs (60) extending outside the sleeve (40) and at least one of them comprising a notch (61).

3. Anchoring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plate (50) comprises at its upstream extreme part at least one tab (60) projecting from the base (51), extending outside the sleeve (40) and comprising a notch (61).

4. Anchoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tongue (60) is located substantially in the same plane as the base (51) of the plate (50) and extends laterally with respect to the base (51), and in that the notch (61) formed in the tongue (60) is able to engage with a wing (45) of the sheath (40).

5. Anchoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tongue (60) extends substantially orthogonally to the base (51) of the plate (50), opposite the clamping wedge (30), and in that the notch (61) formed in the tongue (60) is able to engage with the bottom (41) of the sleeve (40).

6. Anchoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the separation means comprise a zone of least resistance (21), for example a zone of lesser cross-section, provided on a portion (20) of the body (10) which links the clamping wedge (30) and the hooking means (11).

7. Anchoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the separation means comprise a cutting blade (71) which is mounted on the plate (50) between: - an inactive position in which the cutting blade (71) is located at a distance from the housing (105) for receiving the cable (100); - and an active position in which the cutting blade (71) protrudes inside the housing (105) over a sufficient distance to cut a cable (100) located in the housing (105); the passage of the cutting blade (71) from its inactive position to its active position being caused by the movement of the clamping wedge (30) downstream relative to the plate (50).

8. Anchoring device of claim 7, characterized in that the plate (50) comprises a tab (70) mounted pivotally relative to the base (51) about a substantially transverse axis (A70), the cutting blade (71) being provided on the tab (70) at a distance from said axis (A70), the plate (50) having an opening (72) opposite said tab (70), the tab (70) being able to pivot between: - an inactive position in which the tab (70) extends obliquely towards the clamping wedge (30); - and an active position in which the tab (70) is substantially folded into the plane of the base (51) of the plate (50) and the cutting blade (71) passes through the opening (72).

9. Anchoring device according to claim 8, characterized in that the clamping wedge (30) comprises a cavity (80) open downwards in which the tab (70) and the cutting blade (71) are received in the inactive position, an upstream face (81) of the cavity (80) forming a ramp which is inclined downstream and opposite to the bottom (41) of the sleeve (40) and which is configured to come into contact with the tab (70) and cause it to pivot towards its active position when the clamping wedge (30) moves downstream relative to the plate (50).

10. Anchoring device according to claim 9, in which the clamping wedge (30) has an upstream face (33), characterized in that the plate (50) is assembled on the clamping wedge (30) in a movable manner in longitudinal translation, the plate (50) having an upstream stop wall (76) limiting the downstream translation of the plate (50) relative to the clamping wedge (30), the anchoring device (1) being configured such that, when the upstream stop wall (76) is in contact with the upstream face (33) of the clamping wedge (30), the tab (70) and the cutting blade (71) are received in the cavity (80) and are in an inactive position.

11. Assembly comprising an anchoring device according to any one of the preceding claims and a cable (100) extending longitudinally in the housing (105) provided between the base (51) of the plate (50) and the bottom (41) of the sheath (40).

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