Cable retention device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cable retention device (1) comprising a reel (2) and a containment body (3), and more particularly to a retention, suspension and anchoring device for fibre-optic cables or cables of various diameters.

Description

CABLE RETENTION DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable retention device, more particularly a device for retaining, suspending and anchoring fiber optic cables, cables of various diameters, shapes and components. Description of the state of the art

[0002] In telecommunications networks, to connect the external network (operator's) to the internal network (customer's), or to perform maintenance on overhead lines, it is necessary to use a retention / anchoring device to retain a cable (such as a network cable or fiber optic cable, known as an optical drop), and take it to its destination.

[0003] There are some prior art devices that enable this type of use. As an example of prior art, patent document PI0400353-5 is cited, which comprises a housing with a tapered internal opening, where a wedge is inserted. The cable to be retained must be looped around the wedge so that it can be clamped when the wedge is inserted into the housing. This construction, however, causes all the tension to be exerted on a single side of the clamp, that is, at a single point on the cable. This point tension causes attenuation of the optical signal in the cable, and can even cause it to break. Objective

[0004] To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, the present innovation aims to provide a cable retention device comprising a reel and a confining body for said reel, wherein the cable to be retained is looped around said reel before confining the reel in the confining body. Thus, after confining the reel in the confining body, the cable remains retained in the reel, which exerts uniform forces along the cable, preventing its displacement. Description of figures

[0005] The present invention will now be described in more detail based on an example of execution represented in the attached drawings.

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cable retention device (1), with the reel (2), confinement body (3), support hook (4) and cable (5).

[0007] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cable retention device (1), with an elongated object (6) inserted into a hole (216) of the disc (21) and extension (37).

[0008] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cable retention device (1), reel (2), containment body (3) and support hook (4).

[0009] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spool (2), with its disc (21) and ring (22) attached.

[0010] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the disc (21) and ring (22) of the spool (2).

[0011] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the reel (2), with the disc (21) cut from the cut line B-B' of figure 5, and the ring (22) cut from the cut line C-C' of figure 5.

[0012] Figure 7 is a perspective sectional view, taken from line A-A' in Figure 4, of the reel (2).

[0013] Figure 8 is a side view of the disengaged disc (21) and ring (22) elements.

[0014] Figure 9 is a side view of the disc (21) and ring (22) elements partially fitted, enabling the cable to be fitted.

[0015] Figure 10 is a side view of the disc (21) and ring (22) elements fully fitted, the position in which the cable would be fixed if it were positioned on the reel (2).

[0016] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the spool (2) inserted into the confinement body (3).

[0017] Figure 12 is a side sectional view, taken from line D-D' in Figure 11, of the spool (2) and confinement body (3) elements.

[0018] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional side view, taken from line E-E' in Figure 11, of the spool (2) and confinement body (3) elements.

[0019] Figure 14 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the spool (2).

[0020] Figure 15 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disk (21).

[0021] Figure 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the ring (22).

[0022] Figure 17 is a front view of the alternative embodiment of the disc (21) with its locking teeth (214).

[0023] Figure 18 is a front view of the alternative embodiment of the ring (22) with its locking teeth (224).

[0024] Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the confinement body (3), extension (37) and an enlarged detail of their safety protrusions (34).

[0025] Figure 20 illustrates two cross-sectional views of the alternative embodiment of the confinement body (3) with the spool (2), on the left being a cross-sectional view of the side of the disc (21) and locking teeth (214) of the disc (21), with an enlarged detail of the safety protrusions (34) and locking teeth (214), and on the right being a cross-sectional view of the side of the ring (22).

[0026] Figure 21 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the confinement body (3) with cable guide retainers (35) and extension (37).

[0027] Figure 22 is a top view of another alternative embodiment of the confinement body (3) and its cable guide retainers (35) with respective openings (36).

[0028] Figure 23 is a perspective view of the further alternative embodiment of the cable retention device with the reel (2), confinement body (3) with its cable guide retainer (35) retaining the cable (5) and support hook (4).

[0029] Figure 24 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment, where the device (1) has a cord (7) with a cylindrical pin (71) at its free end, illustrating the detail of the fixable end (72) of the cord (7).

[0030] Figure 25 are two perspective views of the embodiment illustrated in figure 24, one upper and one lower, where the cylindrical pin (71) is inserted into the reel (2). Detailed description

[0031] The present innovation relates to a cable retention device (1) which basically comprises two elements, a retention reel (2) and a confining body (3) of the reel (2).

[0032] The confinement body (3) is provided with a tapered passage (31) that passes through the confinement body from its wider upper end to its opposite lower tapered end (see figure 3). Said passage (31) has its upper end larger than said retaining spool (2) so as to allow the insertion and confinement of the spool (2), and said spool (2) must be inserted into the confinement body (3) from the wider end of the passage (31), and confined in said passage (31) due to its taper, which prevents the spool (2) from passing through the confinement body (3), remaining retained there.

[0033] Said retention reel (2) is equipped with two concentric attachable parts, a disc (21) and a ring (22) (see figures 4 and 5).

[0034] Said disc (21) is provided with concentric circular portions where, radially from the outside to the inside, there is: a ribbed channel (211) on the internal surface for positioning the cable (5), said ribbed channel (211) facing the ring (22) (see figures 5 and 6); a circular opening (212) following the internal edge of the channel (211); an internal cylindrical projection (213) with connection bridges (217) to said ribbed channel (211) (see figures 3 and 5); and, a central hole (216).

[0035] Said ring (22) is provided radially from the outside to the inside with: a ribbed channel (221) on the internal surface, the concavity of which is mirrored in the channel (211) of the disc (21) when the spool (2) is assembled (see figures 4, 5, 6 and 7); and, a circular wall (222) connected to the internal edge of said channel (221); said opening (212) of the disc (21) receiving said circular wall (222) of the ring (22) when the spool (2) is assembled (see figures 6 and 7).

[0036] The internal diameter of the circular wall (222) of the ring (22) is greater than the external diameter of the internal cylindrical projection (213) of the disc (21), but is smaller than the internal diameter of the ribbed channel (211), so as to enable the coupling of the circular wall (222) to the internal cylindrical projection (213), advancing into the circular opening (212).

[0037] Therefore, to assemble the retaining spool (2), the circular wall (222) of the ring (22) must be positioned in the opening (212) of the disc (21), with the ribbed channel (211) of the disc (21) facing the ribbed channel (221) of the ring (22), and then press the ring (22) against the disc (21), thus having the disc (21) and the ring (22) axially coupled (see figure 7).

[0038] Preferably, to prevent the spool (2) from being accidentally disassembled, the ring (22) is also provided, on the edge of its circular wall (222), with an external annular projection (223), radially facing outwards along the free end of the wall (222), while the disc (21) comprises at least one projection (215) on the side of the upper edge of the ribbed channel (211), said projection (215) facing the opening (212), and, when fitting the ring (22) into the disc (21), said external annular projection (223) interferes with said at least one projection (215), allowing the ring (22) to fit into the disc (21) and preventing accidental loosening between them (see figure 5). Therefore, the external annular projection (223) of the ring (22) interferes with at least one projection (215) of the disc (21), when they are coupled, creating resistance in the assembly and disassembly movement of the reel (2), which prevents the untimely disassembly of said parts of said reel (2).Said resistance is overcome after application of force by the ring (22) against the disc (21) and plastic deformation of the wall (222) of the ring (22), allowing said assembly and disassembly movements of the reel (2) (see figures 8, 9 and 10).

[0039] Furthermore, once the disc (21) and ring (22) have been coupled, the shoulder (215) of the disc (21) acts as a kind of stop for the external annular shoulder (223) of the ring (22) which does not prevent axial movement between such parts, but prevents their separation. In this configuration, it is possible to move the circular wall (222) of the ring (22) along the internal cylindrical projection (213) of the disc (21), between a position of the spool (2) closed (see figure 10) or partially open in which the annular shoulder (223) meets the shoulder (215) (see figure 9).

[0040] To facilitate the installation of the cable retention device (1), the reel (2), when assembled, has a gap (23) between the ribbed channel (211) of the disc (21) and the ribbed channel (221) of the ring (22), and said gap (23) increases in size when the disc (21) is moved away from the ring (22), until the external annular projection (223) of the ring (22) meets the projection (215) of the disc (21) (see figure 9), enabling the easy positioning of a cable (5) in said gap (23) (see figures 8, 9 and 10).

[0041] In order for the confinement body (3) to be retained in any device or support, said body (3) is also provided with a projection provided with a hole (32) near the enlarged end, allowing the reception of a hook (4) that can be hooked to any device or support.

[0042] Therefore, to install the cable retention device (1), a portion of the cable (5) must be inserted into the narrowest end of the tapered passage (31) of the confinement body (3) and positioned around the reel (2), in the gap (23) between the disc (21) and the ring (22), then insert said reel with the cable (5) into the widest end of the passage (31) of the housing body (3). As the passage (31) of said confinement body (3) is tapered, when pulling the cable (5), the reel (2) is pulled against the tapered end of the confinement body (3), the disc (21) and the ring (22) are pressed against each other, bringing them closer together, causing the ribbed channel (211) of the disc and the ribbed channel (221) of the ring to exert pressure distributed along the cable (5), retaining it in the gap (23).

[0043] To provide even more security to the cable retention device (1) and prevent the reel (2) from passing through the passage (31) of the confining body (3), said passage (31) of the confining body (3) is also provided with a narrowing (33) at the narrowest end of the tapered passage (31), so as to reduce the size of said end.

[0044] After installing the cable retention device (1), the cable (5) remains attached to the reel (2), even when applying great force to pull the cable (5). To allow modifications to the positioning of the cable (5), such as adjusting the cable sag or for uninstalling and reusing the device, it is necessary to partially remove the reel (2) from the confinement body (3) at the end where it was inserted, allowing the disc (21) to be moved away from the ring (22) (see figure 9), and allowing adjustments to the positioning of the cable (5).

[0045] To facilitate the removal of the spool (2) from the confinement body (3), the disc (21) is equipped with a central hole (216), as previously mentioned, which allows the insertion of an elongated object (6) into said hole (216), passing through the spool (2), and then the spool (2) can be pulled out of the confinement body (3), totally or partially, according to the user's needs.

[0046] In this configuration, with an elongated object (6) passing through the reel (2), it also allows the adjustment of the cable (5). This occurs because, after the partial removal of the reel (2) from the confinement body (3), said elongated object (6) rests against the walls of the confinement body (3), passing through the reel (2), keeping it in a pulling position (see figure 2), allowing the pulling and adjustment of the cable (5), which in this situation rotates the reel (2) to the position chosen for the cable (5).

[0047] This construction makes it possible to obtain a mechanism to “pull” the cable (5) (traction), leaving the cable (5) stretched as much as possible, before locking it in the confinement body (3), for example, until it reaches the 1% deflection recommended by the cable manufacturers. Or, in the opposite situation, it allows for a “loosening” of the cable (5) if it is necessary to release it to reach the recommended 1% deflection.

[0048] In a particular embodiment (see figures 24 and 25), the device (1) is also provided with an eave (39) projecting outwards from the confinement body (3), preferably at the widest end of the confinement body (3); a cord (7) with one end attached to said eave (39) and an opposite free end provided with a cylindrical pin (71) composed of two consecutive coaxial cylindrical portions, the first proximal portion having a larger diameter (712) and the second portion at the free end having a smaller diameter (711) and a length greater than the width of the passage (31) of the body (3).

[0049] In order for the cord (7) to be fixed to the body (3), preferably, the eave (39) is provided with a hole (391) that receives the fixable end (72) of the cord (7), the fixable end (72) comprising an enlargement (721). Thus, the fixable end (72) of the cord (7) is forced to pass through the hole (391) of the eave (39), and thus remains retained in the eave (39) by the enlargement (721), which prevents its removal.

[0050] Said cylindrical pin (71) can be used instead of an elongated object (6) (see figure 2), to adjust the cable (5), by inserting the free end (711) of the pin (71) into the hole (216) of the reel (2). Thus, the larger diameter portion (712) of the pin (71) serves as a stop to limit the advancement of the pin (71) when it is inserted into the reel (2). In this situation of fitting the pin (71) into the reel (2), with the length of the pin (71) being greater than the width of the passage (31) of the body (3), the ends of said pin (71) rest against the walls of the confinement body (3), keeping the device (1) in a traction position (see figure 25) where the reel is slightly suspended by the pin (71), which allows the movement of the cable (5) according to the needs of the location.

[0051] In an even more particular form of embodiment, said cord (7) comprises a grip portion (713), prior to the larger diameter portion (712), provided with a set of circular rings coaxial to said cord (7). Said grip portion (713) facilitates the removal of the pin (71) from the reel (2) after traction. In this arrangement, therefore, the pin (71) comprises: a grip portion (713), followed by a larger diameter portion (712), followed by a smaller diameter free end portion (711).

[0052] To facilitate installation and better retain the free end portion (711) of the pin (71) in the spool (2), preferably, the end portion (711) is provided with at least one lateral protuberance (714), more preferably two protuberances (714) (see figure 24), the protuberances (714) being spaced from the proximal portion (712) at a distance equal to or greater than the thickness of the spool (2). Thus, to use the traction mode, the free end portion (711) of the pin (71) is inserted into the hole (216) of the spool (2), compressing said protuberances (714) until they pass through the spool (2) and are expanded again to their natural state, and thus, prevent the untimely removal of the pin (7) from the spool (2).

[0053] Another important aspect is the operational ease made possible to unlock the cable (5) and its reapplication without causing damage to the cable (5).

[0054] To facilitate the positioning of the reel (2) when pulling the cable (5) to adjust the tension (see figures 2 and 25), said confinement body (3) is optionally provided with an extension (37) above at least one of the walls of said confinement body (3), preferably two opposite walls, and said extension (37) comprises a recess (38) that allows the elongated object (6) or the pin (71) to be accommodated there, which facilitates the adjustment of the cable (5) that can be pulled until it reaches the desired position.

[0055] Such extension (37) functions as a support structure, so that the elongated object (6), or pin (71), when positioned in the recess of the extension (38), does not slide along the walls of the confinement body (3).

[0056] In an alternative embodiment, said disc (21) and said ring (22) are provided, on their outer circumferential edge, with locking teeth (214, 224), respectively, uniformly distributed and radially projecting outwards (see figures 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18).

[0057] In this embodiment, said confinement body comprises safety protuberances (34) located on the side walls of the lower portion of the tapered passage (31) (see figure 19).

[0058] In this way, when fitting the spool (2) into the confinement body (3) (see figures 19 and 20), such locking teeth (214, 224), of the disc (21) and ring (22), interfere with the safety protrusions (34) of the confinement body (3), better retaining the spool (2) in the confinement body (3).

[0059] This embodiment, with interference between the locking teeth (214, 224) and the safety protrusions (34) is an extra protection, to prevent the reel (2) from advancing in the confinement body (3), even if high loads are applied to the reel (2) against the confinement body (3), avoiding crushing of the cable.

[0060] In another embodiment, said confinement body (3) is provided with at least one cable guide retainer (35) on one of the external sides and close to said projection (32), preferably two opposite cable guide retainers (35), each on one side of the confinement body (3) (see figures 21 and 22). Said guide retainers (35) are in the form of flexible concave claws whose opening (36) is facing the end opposite to said projection (32), said opening (36) being smaller than the diameter of the cable (5).

[0061] Since the opening (36) of the guide retainer (35) is smaller than the diameter of the cable, when inserting the cable (5) into the guide retainer (35), it flexes radially, allowing the passage of the cable (5), which then accommodates itself in the concave portion of the guide retainer (35), and is retained there. In this way, the cable (5) is surrounded by the guide retainer (35), which retains it in that position.

[0062] As can be seen in figure 23, said cable guide retainer (35) is used to keep the cable (5) in the desired direction and sense, by fitting it into said guide retainer (35), thus avoiding its deformation and consequent signal attenuation.

[0063] Having described preferred embodiment examples, it should be understood that the scope of the present innovation is limited only by the content of the attached claims, including possible equivalents.

Claims

CABLE RETENTION DEVICE (1) having basically two elements, a retention reel (2) and a confinement body (3) of the reel (2), characterized by the fact that the confinement body (3) is provided with a tapered passage (31), the wider end being for insertion of the retention reel (2); said retention spool (2) is provided with two concentric attachable parts, a disc (21) and a ring (22), said disc (21) being provided with concentric circular portions where, radially from the outside to the inside, there is: a ribbed channel (211) on the internal surface, facing the ring (22), a circular opening (212) following the internal edge of the channel (211), an internal cylindrical projection (213) with connecting bridges (217) to said channel (211), and a central hole (216);and said ring (22) being provided radially from the outside inwards with a ribbed channel (221) on the inner surface, the concavity of which is mirrored to the channel (211) of the disc (21) when the spool (2) is assembled, and a circular wall (222) connected to the inner edge of said channel (221); said opening (212) of the disc (21) receives said circular wall (222) of the ring (22) when the spool (2) is assembled; and in the vicinity of the enlarged end of the housing body (3) there is a projection provided with a hole (32).; CABLE RETENTION DEVICE (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) is also provided with an eave (39) that projects out of the confinement body (3); a cord (7) with one end attached to said eave (39) and an opposite free end provided with a cylindrical pin (71), composed of two consecutive coaxial cylindrical portions, the first proximal portion of larger diameter (712) and the second portion at the free end has smaller diameter (711) and length greater than the width of the passage (31) of the body (3). CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said eave is located at the widest end of the confinement body (3). CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cord (7) further comprises a handle portion (713), preceding the cylindrical pin (71), provided with a set of circular rings coaxial to said cord (7). CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said free end portion (711) of the pin (71) is provided with at least one lateral protuberance (714). CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the eave (39) is provided with a hole (391) that receives the fixable end (72) of the cord (7), the fixable end (72) comprising an enlargement (721). CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said passage (31) of the confining body (3) is also provided with a narrowing (33) at the tapered end. CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said circular wall (222) of the ring (22) is further provided with an external annular projection (223) radially facing outwards along the free end of the wall (222); and that said ribbed channel (211) of the disc (21) is further provided with at least one projection (215) on the side of the upper edge of the ribbed channel (211) facing the opening (212). CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said disc (21) and said ring (22) are provided, on their outer circumferential edge, with locking teeth (214, 224), respectively, uniformly distributed and radially projecting outwards; and that said confinement body (3) is provided, on the side walls of the lower portion of the tapered passage (31), with safety protuberances (34) that interfere with said locking teeth (214, 224), when fitting the reel (2) into the confinement body (3). CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said confinement body (3) is provided with at least one cable guide retainer (35) in its external portion. CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to claim 10, characterized in that said guide retainers (35) are in the form of flexible concave claws whose opening (36) faces the end opposite to said projection (32), said opening (36) being smaller than the diameter of the cable (5). CABLE RETENTION DEVICE according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said confinement body (3) is provided with an extension (37) above at least one of the walls of said confinement body (3), said extension comprising a recess (38).

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