EP1070213A1

EP1070213A1 - Part for installing long thin elements against a wall and tool for placing said part

Info

Publication number: EP1070213A1
Application number: EP99909135A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernard Streit
Original assignee: Sofanou SA
Current assignee: Sofanou SA
Priority date: 1998-04-03
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Also published as: US6398169B1; FR2777061B1; MA24827A1; AR018830A1; TNSN99047A1; JP2002510563A; WO1999051904A1; ES2159499T1; AU2849699A; DE1070213T1; BR9909419A; FR2777061A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a part for installing (4) one or several long thin elements (2) against a wall, comprising a U-shaped link bar (10) whereof the flexible branches (20, 24) have each a series of notches (22, 26) directed outwards. Said part further comprises a base (30) having, matching each branch, an oblique through passage whereof the opening (41) is located in the surface facing the link bar and whereof the outlet (43) is located in a side surface of the base. The base surface opposite to the one facing the link bar is provided with a clip (50) for mounting the base in an orifice of the wall.

Description

INSTALLATION COMPONENT OF LONGILINE ELEMENTS AGAINST A WALL, AND TOOL FOR PLACING THE SAME

The present invention relates to an installation part for one or more elongated cylindrical elements against a wall, such as for example electric wires and / or electric cables and / or tube for protecting said wires or cables against a vehicle wall. More specifically, this invention relates to a part provided for connecting and clamping together several wires or cables and for positioning and maintaining them in a precise location of this wall. The present invention also relates to a tool for placing such a part on a bundle of electric wires or cables or on one or more elongated elements.

We know, for example from documents US 5 131 613 or GM 94 01 448, a part in the form of a lace capable of being wound transversely around the cables to be joined, and one end of which is provided for be passed through a hooking head arranged at the other end. This head has an internal hooking tongue engaging in one of the notches of a series formed at the free end of the lace so as to be able to ensure a tightening of the cables or of the bundle of electric wires whatever their diameter. This lace further comprises, at or near the head, a fastening clip configured to be inserted and hung in an orifice previously formed in the wall, thereby fixing the lace and the bundle to this wall.

However, the establishment of a plurality of such laces at regular intervals along a bundle proves to be long and tedious. In addition, it is usually necessary to cut the unnecessary end of the lace projecting beyond the hooking head, which on the one hand amounts to throwing unused material, and on the other hand risks leaving a new end with sharp edges. In addition, cutting the unexploited material is penalizing in time and requires the use of sharp tools in the workshop.

There are also known, for example documents US 5 189 766, US 5 223 675 or EP 0 433 621, cable installation parts of the U-shaped jumper type spanning the cables and the ends of each branch of which end in a hook. The hooks are intended to be engaged in a pair of orifices or slots previously drilled in the wall. The rider according to the document EP 433 621 presents a plurality of hooking notches on each of the branches making it possible to clamp several electrical wires or to clamp cables of different diameters.

However, the implementation of these jumpers is also difficult since it is necessary to keep the bundle of cables tight against the wall between the two slots before these jumpers can be installed. In addition, the orifices or slots must be made in the wall with very precise dimensions to allow on the one hand an easy engagement of each branch end hook during installation, and on the other hand a reliable retention in the time of these hooks. In addition, this type of part can only be installed in the presence of the wall, because it is impossible to have the cable harness travel with the jumpers in place.

In addition, it can be seen that the fixing of these parts against a wall is often insufficient by presenting a certain harmful movement, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the wires, causing the general positioning of the beam to become imprecise following subsequent vibrations.

The object of the present invention is an installation piece which is easier to place on electric wires or electric cables, or even on a protection tube for said wires or cables with a possibility of tightening, which is also easier to fix against a wall, and whose maintenance remains firm and reliable over time. In addition, the installation part must be able to be placed on the cable harnesses before being transported to an assembly line.

The structure of this part must also allow mass production to reduce the production cost, in particular by injection of plastic material under pressure into a mold.

As far as possible, the design of this part must also allow its implementation by means of a tool actuated manually but capable of being actuated by pneumatic or electric energy for increased comfort of use, and this by eliminating losses of material by cutting surplus so the generation of expensive waste and the use of sharp tools in the workshop. The implementation time must be able to be reduced to a minimum. These goals are achieved by the fact that the installation piece of one or more elongated elements against a wall comprises:

- a U-shaped jumper, the flexible branches of which each have a series of outward-facing notches, - and a base having, in correspondence with each branch, an oblique through passage, the inlet of which is located in the facing the rider and whose outlet mouth is located in a side face of the base, the face of the base opposite to that facing the rider being provided with a staple for fixing the base in a hole in the wall.

One of the great advantages of the part is that the dimensions and the positions of the oblique passages of the base are exact by construction, which facilitates the insertion of the branches of the rider. In addition, these passages direct the ends of the branches at an angle to come to bear against the wall at the edge of the orifice, which confirms the seating of the part. The orientation of the notches outwards avoids any harmful interference of the wires or cables at the level of the hooking of the jumper in the base, and eliminates any aggression on the wall after insertion of the fastening clip in the orifice.

Preferably, the jumper is initially connected to the base by weak points of rupture.

The part can thus be produced and sold in one piece, which facilitates its production process, its intermediate storage and its handling until it is used when installing a cable against a wall.

Preferably, the inlet mouth of each passage of the base has a notch retention hook of the corresponding branch of the rider.

The attachment of the rider is therefore done in a very controlled manner at the level of the face opposite the base, and not at the level of the lateral face where it could undo too easily, for example following friction from the branch against the wall. This significantly increases the reliability over time of the installation part.

Preferably, the rider has on each side of the elongated element to install a pair of branches with notches oriented outward in the direction of the elongated elements. By the orientation of the notches in the lengthwise direction of the wires or cables to be retained, the risk of their interference in the attachment of the jumper's branches to the base is once again reduced. In addition, the ends of branches bearing against the wall create a particularly stable four-point seat for the entire room.

If desired, the clip can be removably attached to the base.

Usefully, the staple for fixing the base in an orifice in the wall is in the form of a central pin provided with oblique tongues oriented towards the base. These tongues can be distributed in several, preferably three or four, longitudinal series distributed regularly around the periphery of the spindle. Alternatively, each tab can completely surround the pin.

This type of staple proves easy to engage in an orifice made in the wall whose diameter is greater than that of the spindle, the width of the tabs ensuring reliable attachment. The plurality of tabs makes it possible to make up for any inaccuracies in positioning, either of the part on the beam, or of the orifices in the wall. This type of clip also allows a variation in wall thickness.

Useful then, the base has, at the junction of its staple, an elastic skirt arched in the direction of the staple.

This skirt ensures that that of the tongues engaged behind the wall is under tension to obtain firm retention of the part against said wall.

A tool specially designed for installing a fixing piece according to the invention over one or more elongated elements, such as a bundle of electric wires or cables, can comprise - a magazine making it possible to store a plurality of pieces ,

- A conveyor frame capable of being moved by a first actuator from a first position at the outlet of the store to grasp the base of a part in a second position to bring said part into the plane of a recess formed in the edge front of the tool where the rider of said piece is caught in a manipulator block located at a first height, then back - a second actuator making it possible to lift the operator unit perpendicular to the base to a second height to separate the rider from the base, then, once the elongated element or elements are presented above the base in the front recess, to lower the block operator at a third height to insert the arms of the rider over the elongated elements in their corresponding base passage, then raise the operator block to the first height to remove the base from the part of the conveyor frame, the part then being able to be disengaged from the operator unit.

Because the installation part can be initially produced and handled in one piece, it is then possible to envisage in a practical way a tool making it possible to arrange this part more easily over a bundle; and implementing power actuators, are electrical, hydraulic, but preferably pneumatic, to close and tighten this part effortlessly on the harness.

Advantageously, the first actuator is a linear pneumatic single-chamber cylinder with spring pushing, at rest, the piston in the position of reduction of the chamber bringing the transport frame integral with the end of the piston rod to its first position. This type of bi-position cylinder with return spring is reliable in practice.

Advantageously, the second actuator is a linear pneumatic single-chamber cylinder with spring pushing, at rest, the piston in the high position for reducing the chamber bringing the operator unit integral with the end of the piston rod to a second position, this block being initially retained in the first position against the effect of the spring by an electromechanical, magnetic, pneumatic or mechanical latch.

Thus, thanks to the addition of a simple electromechanical latch, a reliable movement of the manipulator block is ensured in three different positions by means of a bi-position pneumatic cylinder with return spring appreciated for its reliability.

Advantageously, the conveyor frame is mounted at the end of the actuator rod through a rotation pivot, and the conduit within which the conveyor frame is moved has, from the magazine, a first wide part ending in a projection imparting to the frame provided with a part a quarter-turn rotation, followed by a second guide portion of the end of rotation, followed by a third frame guide channel into the plane of the embrasure of the front face of the tool.

This arrangement makes it possible to optimize the capacity of the store by storing the installation parts there against one another along a line perpendicular to their stirrup plane. Thus, by performing a quarter turn, the conveyor frame brings the part by orienting their stirrup in the plane of the embrasure of the tool.

According to an alternative embodiment, the store opens perpendicular to the duct, where an installation part is grasped parallel to the plane of its jumper by the conveyor frame to be moved in translation towards the doorway by sliding of the transport frame and the part. inside the duct. In this embodiment of the tool, the installation piece performs a first translation in the magazine perpendicular to the plane of its jumper, then a second translation in the conduit parallel to the plane of the jumper.

Advantageously, the outlet outlet of the store is provided with two latches facing electromechanical, magnetic, pneumatic or mechanical engaging in cavities of lateral faces of part base so as to retain that located at this mouth when the conveyor frame is out of its first position.

We thus control by simple electronic means or mechanical displacements the timely release of an installation part in the conveyor frame once empty.

Usefully, the base of the embrasure of the tool is triangular convex, the base of a part being brought and positioned by the conveyor frame at the top of the triangle.

These oblique base embrasure faces effectively guide the ends of stirrup branches protruding from the outlet outlet mouths so as to confirm their function of seating the part.

The invention will be better understood from the study of an embodiment taken without any limitation being implied and illustrated in the appended figures in which: - Figures 1A, 1 B, 1C, 1 D, 1 E and 1 F are plan views of a staple according to the invention respectively from the front, side, from above, from below, in cross section and in section longitudinal,

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are perspective views of the clip of FIGS. 1 respectively in the initial state from the side and below, in the initial state from the front and above and in the mounted state from above,

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of certain parts making up a tool for installing staples according to FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are plan views and in partial section of the tool of FIG. 3 at rest, respectively from the side, from behind, from the front and from above,

- Figures 5A and 5B are plan views and in partial section of the tool of Figure 3 in the intermediate position for receiving a bundle of wires to be connected, respectively from the side, and from above, - Figures 6A and 6B are plan views and partial section of the tool of FIG. 3 when a part is clamped on a bundle of wires, respectively from the side and from the front,

- Figures 7A and 7B illustrate two variants of detachable staples from the base, - Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the tool in a top plan view and in partial section corresponding to the cutting plane of the top views of Figures 4D and 5B,

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a barrel forming a store with several rows of installation parts, and - Figures 10A and 10B show in perspective an installation part provided with pins and assembly holes .

In FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated an installation part 4 of elongate elements 2 that is better visible in a drawn line in FIG. 2B. More particularly according to the invention, this installation part 4 consists of a jumper 10 intended to be inserted in a base 30 whose face opposite to that facing the jumper is equipped with a clip 50 hooking in an orifice previously formed in a wall.

The jumper 10 is in the general shape of an inverted U coming transversely to surround the elongate elements 2, this jumper having on both sides a pair of separate branches. More specifically, the jumper 10 comprises an upper bridge 12, each lateral end of which is extended, orthogonally downward, by a pair of branches, one called "front" 20 and the other called "rear" 24. Each branch has a series of notches 22 respectively for the front branch 20 and 26 for the rear branch 24 which, according to the invention, are oriented towards the outside or inside of the jumper 10, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the elements 2 to be fixed or perpendicular to these elements, the notches 22 being oriented opposite those 26.

Figures 1A-1F and 2A-2C illustrate an embodiment of the rider in which the notches 22 and 26 are carried by the outer faces of each of the branches. As can be seen in the figures, the notches are oriented towards the outside of the rider, pointing parallel to the elongate elements 2. It is provided, according to a variant, to form the notches on the outer edge of each of the branches of the rider. In this case, the notches are oriented towards the outside of the rider, pointing perpendicular to the elongated elements.

It is also planned, according to another variant, to form the notches on the inner face of each branch of the rider, where the notches are oriented inward while pointing parallel to the elongated elements, or else to form the notches on the inner edges branches, where they are oriented inward pointing perpendicular to the elongated elements.

The end of each branch 20, 24 in the direction of the base 30 has a conical narrowing forming a sort of point, this end being initially connected to the base 30 by a bridge of material forming a weak point of rupture 28.

The upper bridge 12 is generally rectangular in shape with its rectilinear lower edge 14 allowing, in relation to a central rectilinear rib 32 of the base, to clamp any type of elongate element 2, whatever its diameter.

Furthermore, the lateral ends of the upper face of the bridge 12 respectively have protrusions 16 more particularly intended to interact with a member of a positioning tool described below. The base 30 consists of a plate 40 substantially parallelepiped apart from the upper face, opposite the rider 10, in a portion of concave cylinder completed with the rib 32. The lower face of this plate 40 is extended by the clip 50.

The lateral faces of the plate 40 respectively have a central cavity 46 in anticipation of retention at the mouth of a store of a tool for implementing the part described later.

More particularly according to the invention, this plate 40 has, facing each branch 20, 22 of the jumper 10, an oblique through passage 42 whose inlet mouth 41 is located in the upper face of the plate and whose outlet mouth 43 appears, in an original manner, in one end of the front vertical face, respectively front and rear.

As best seen in FIG. 1B and FIGS. 2, each inlet mouth 41 of oblique passage 42 is provided with a hook 44 oriented towards the inside of the plate so as to engage firmly with one of the notches 22,26 respectively of branches 20,26 of the jumper 10. An additional hooking of notches can certainly be done at the upper edge of the outlet mouth 43, but is considered in the case of this piece only as a accessory.

It is planned to arrange the hook 44 on an edge of the inlet mouth 41 opposite to that which is illustrated in the figures, when the notches are carried by the inner face of the flexible branches. Similarly, the hook 44 is placed on one or the other of the two lateral edges of the inlet mouth 41 when the notches are carried respectively by one or the other of the edges of the flexible branches.

The fastening clip 50 of the base 30 against a wall is in the form of a central pin 52 furnished with four vertical series of tongues 54 oriented upwards, that is to say in the direction of the base, in combination with an arched skirt 48 situated at the intersection of the central pin 52 and the underside of the plate 40, this skirt being arched in the direction of the tongues 54.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate two variants of staples 50 'and 50 "capable of being detachably fixed by means of a flexible finger 56 10

associated with a frame 58 engaging in a slide (not illustrated) formed in the underside of the base 30.

More particularly, the tongues 54 ′ of the clip 50 ′ each cover one half of the periphery of the pin 52 ′. The arched skirt 48 ′ is rectangular in shape with a very pronounced curvature downwards.

According to the other example of the clip 50 ", the pin 52" has an oblong cross section making it possible to provide on the one hand very wide tongues

54 "on the oblong faces and some narrow tabs 54 '" on the side edges.

The 48 "skirt is then in the form of a longitudinal dome bordering the attachment hole of the part.

The clip described above is more particularly intended to be placed over a bundle of elongated elements, such as electric wires or cables, by means of a tool illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6.

This tool has a general L-shape with, under normal conditions of use, a long horizontal thick branch 62 ending, on the right side as illustrated in the figures, by a shorter vertical branch 64 of smaller diameter, these two branches being connected by an oblique handle 66 fixed by screws 67. The front external face of the intersection of the two branches has a recess 100, that is to say a notch of substantially rectangular section crossing on either side another on each side of the tool and also open on the front face.

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4A and 5A, the long horizontal branch 62 comprises, in its upper part, a magazine 70 intended to contain installation pieces 4 arranged one against the other along a line perpendicular to the plane of their rider. This store is accessible by releasing a cover 71 forming the upper face of the long branch 62, this cover being retained by two fixing tabs 72 of longitudinal lateral edge engaging in slides 73 formed in the upper edge of the lateral faces of this long branch. This cover 71 is retained in position by a pivoting bar 76 pivotally mounted at the lower base of the handle 66 to engage in a notch 75 formed in correspondence at the front end of the cover 71 as best seen on the Figures 3 and 5A. 11

In this magazine 70 slides a pusher 74 being guided on the one hand by its lateral pins 92 engaged in lower guides 63 of the magazine and on the other hand by an upper screw 68 engaged in a longitudinal guide groove 69 formed in the center of the cover 71 as best seen in Figures 3 and 4A. A rear spring, not shown, forces this pusher forward so as to bring the installation pieces 4 towards the outlet of the magazine 70, that is to say at the level of the lower fixing of the handle 66.

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4A and 5A, the lower part of the long horizontal branch 62 of the tool comprises a first pneumatic actuator 85 moving a sliding base 82 on which is pivotally mounted a conveyor frame 80 in one piece installation 4 from the magazine outlet to the doorway 100.

This actuator 85 comprises a piston 88 provided with a seal 89 sliding in a longitudinal cylindrical chamber 86, this piston being extended forward by a rod 84 whose threaded end 83 is engaged in a rear thread of the sliding base 82. As best seen in FIG. 4A, a spring 87 is arranged between the piston 88 and a restriction of the cylindrical chamber 86 located at the outlet of the magazine, this spring 87 pushing, at rest, the piston 88 to the left, that is to say in a direction reducing the volume of the chamber 86.

This base 82 carries a conveyor frame 80 by means of a pivot 81 which is elastic in rotation. For example, the frame may be integral with the pivot 81 which is guided in a central orifice in the base, which pivot is connected to the base by a concentric spiral spring and housed in a circular cavity 81 ′ on the upper face of the 'base. The height of the conveyor frame 80 is located at the extension of the lower part of the magazine 70. More particularly according to the invention, this conveyor frame has a front stop 79 and, just above the pivot 81, a housing 78 of the base 30 of an installation part 4, in particular a central housing for the clip 50 and two lateral notches receiving the skirt 48.

As best seen in Figures 4D, 5B and in the lower right of Figure 3, the base 82 and its conveyor frame 80 are provided to slide within a channel having, from the store 70 to the embrasure 100, first a wide section 104 ending with a projection 105 located only at the level of the conveyor frame 80 to which it prints a rotation of a quarter turn, this rotation being 12

guided by a second section 106 narrowing and ending in an inverted T guide channel, that is to say comprising a lower horizontal guide channel 108 for the sliding base 82 and a narrow vertical guide channel 107 of the conveyor frame 80 up to the embrasure 100 of the tool.

Furthermore, and as best visible in FIGS. 4D, 5B and in the center of FIG. 3, the outlet outlet of the magazine 70 comprises two electromechanical latches 112 arranged opposite one another through the side wall of the large horizontal branch 62 of the tool, these latches retaining the first installation part 4 of the series contained in the magazine 70 and this as long as the conveyor frame 80 has not returned to this outlet mouth.

The upper short branch 64 of the tool contains, for its part, a second pneumatic linear actuator 95 composed of a piston 98 with seal 99 sliding within a vertical cylindrical chamber 96, the underside of this piston 98 being extended by a rod 94, the end of which is integral with an operating block 90. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a spring 97 coaxial with the rod 94 acts between a lower restriction of the chamber 96 and the lower face of the piston 98 to, at rest, push this piston upwards in a direction of reduction of the volume of the chamber 96, that is to say by raising the operator unit 90 upwards.

FIG. 4A illustrates how the operator unit 90 is retained by an electromechanical latch 110 at a first height in which longitudinal hooks 91 lining the underside of said operator unit 90 are found at the upper edge of the vertical guide duct 107 so that to receive the protrusions 16 of the bridge 12 of the jumper 10 of an installation piece 4.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6B, the lower base 102 of the embrasure 100 has a triangular section with apex oriented upwards in the direction of the operator unit 90.

The clip and tool described above are used in the following manner.

The installation piece 4 according to the invention can firstly be used manually in the following manner. A right-handed user begins by grasping a bundle of cables in the left hand, for example by squeezing it between his palm and 13

the last three fingers of his hand, and using his thumb and left index finger to hold a base 30 against this beam. It then suffices, with the right hand, to pass a jumper 10 over the bundle to then engage the branches 20, 24 in their oblique passage 42 in correspondence with the base 30 and push them in until the notches 22, 24 snap into the respective hooks 44.

The installation of the parts 4 on a bundle however proves to be much easier using the tool according to FIGS. 3 to 6 specially provided according to the invention.

For this, the operator installs a plurality of parts 4 inside the magazine 70 having, for this, removed the cover 71 and pulled the pusher 74 back. Once the latter released, it pushes the series of parts 4 until the first is engaged in the conveyor frame 80 located in the first rear position as illustrated in FIG. 4A. The latches 112 are then engaged in the next second clip. The operator then closes the cover 71 and arms the second electromechanical latch 110 so as to retain the operator unit 90 of the second actuator 95 at its first height as illustrated by this same figure 4A. A parts installation cycle can then begin.

By pressing a first trigger (not illustrated) preferably arranged on the handle 66 (or by bringing this trigger in a first position), the operator triggers the first actuator 85, which has the effect of pushing the piston 88 from the left towards the right as illustrated in FIG. 4A to FIG. 5A.

This advance of piston 88 brought with it the sliding base 82, therefore the conveyor frame 80, in the channels 104-107. As can easily be understood from FIG. 5B, the conveyor frame 80 first performs a forward translation in a transverse orientation until it abuts against the projection 105 where it performs a quarter turn around its elastic pivot 81 so as to continue its forward translation while being oriented in the longitudinal direction then guided by the vertical channel 107.

At the end of stroke of the piston 88 as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the sliding base 82 and the conveyor frame 80 then brought the installation part into the plane of the embrasure 100 by then inserting the protrusions 16 of the bridge 12 of jumper 10 in the lower hooks 91 of the operator unit 90 located at its first height. 14

The arrival of the sliding base 82 and of the conveyor frame 80 in the embrasure 100 is then detected, for example by a microswitch, triggering in opening the electromechanical latch 110 authorizing an ascent of the operator unit 90 to its second height under the action of the spring 97 on the piston 98. The weak points of rupture 28 between the jumper 10 and the base 30 are then broken thus separating these two parts as best seen in the right part of FIG. 5A.

In this position, the cable bundle can be engaged in the embrasure 100 above the base 30.

The operator then acts on a second trigger not shown but preferably also provided on the handle 66 (or brings the trigger into a second position) to engage the second linear actuator 95 forcibly lowering ie the operating block 90 to its third height thus bringing the jumper 10 over the beam until its branches penetrate and engage in their passage 42 in correspondence as illustrated in FIG. 6A. We then note the interest of the triangular base of the embrasure 100 confirming the spacing of the ends of the branches 20, 24 of the jumper 10 emerging from the lateral outlet mouths 43 of the base 30.

The arrival in the low position of the operator unit 90 is itself detected, for example by a microswitch then releasing the electromechanical latch 110 when closing.

When the operator releases the second trigger not shown, it releases the pressure prevailing in the chamber 96 allowing the spring 97 to push the piston 98 upwards, that is to say the operator unit at its first height such that illustrated in Figure 4A. This spring 97 is strong enough for the operator unit 90 holding the installation piece 4 by the protrusions 16 of the jumper bridge 12 10 to extract the base 30 from the conveyor frame 80. The installation piece 4 hooked around the beam n 'is more then retained than by the hooks 91 of the operator unit 90 which can simply be disengaged by withdrawing the tool backwards.

By releasing the first trigger, the pressure is then released in the chamber 86 of the first actuator 85 allowing withdrawal of the sliding base 82 and of the conveyor frame 80, now empty, towards the rear under the effect of the spring 87 15

acting on the piston 88. During the passage of the conveyor frame 80 at the level of the projection 105, the elasticity of the pivot 81 applies to the conveyor frame 80 a quarter-turn rotation in the opposite direction, bringing its orientation from a longitudinal return direction towards the transverse direction to return flat to the outlet of the chamber 70.

The arrival of the conveyor frame 80 at this store outlet is detected, for example by micro-switches, triggering a pulse controlling a withdrawal, then a return of the electromechanical latches 112. During this release pulse, the part d 'Next installation 4 contained in the magazine 70 is advanced by the pusher 74 in the conveyor frame 80 until it comes to bear against the stop 79 of this frame, the electromechanical latches 112 then closing on the next second part. We thus find ourselves again in the situation as illustrated in FIG. 4A, that is to say ready for a new cycle.

It is also conceivable that the cycle is only triggered by a single starting pulse, a programmable controller developing the delays and triggering the successive phases.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the tool described above. For reasons of clarity, we will designate in the following description the elements common to the previous embodiment and to the variant using the same references.

In this variant, the tool comprises a third branch 162, horizontal and adjoining perpendicular to the horizontal branch 62. The tool retains from the previous embodiment the arrangement between the horizontal branch 62 and the shorter vertical branch of smaller diameter , these two branches being connected by the oblique handle. It also retains the structure of the vertical branch as it has been described with the aid of FIGS. 3 to 6.

The structure of the third branch 162 is modeled on that of the upper part of the horizontal branch 62 in the previous embodiment. Figure 8, we recognize the store 70 intended to contain installation pieces 4 rows against each other along a line perpendicular to the plane of their rider. This store is accessible by releasing the cover 71 forming an upper face of the third branch 162. The two longitudinal tabs 72 for fixing the edge 16

lateral, the lateral slides 73, and the pivoting bar 76 engaging in the notch 75 are arranged in the manner described in FIGS. 3 and 5A. The same applies to the pusher 74 sliding by its lateral tenons 92 in the lower runners 63 and guided by the upper screw 68 engaged in the longitudinal groove 69 for guiding. A rear spring forces this pusher forward so as to move the installation pieces 4 towards the outlet of the magazine 70, at the level of the fixing at a right angle to the two horizontal branches 62 and 162.

The two electromechanical latches 1 12 are arranged at the outlet of the magazine 70, on either side of the third branch 162 so as to retain the first installation part 4 of the series contained in the magazine 70.

The structure of the horizontal branch 62 is modeled on that which it had in its lower part in the previous embodiment. Thus, the first pneumatic actuator moves the piston 88 provided with the gasket 89 sliding in the longitudinal cylindrical chamber 86. The piston 88 is extended forward by the rod 84 whose threaded end 83 is engaged in a thread rear of the sliding base. The spring 87 arranged between the piston 88 and a restriction of the cylindrical chamber 86 situated at the outlet of the magazine 70 pushes, at rest, the piston 88 in a direction reducing the volume of the chamber 86.

The conveyor frame 80 is mounted fixed on the sliding base to be moved in translation with the latter within a channel parallel to the longitudinal direction of the branch 62. The channel has, even in the embrasure 100 of the tool , an inverted T section comprising a lower horizontal guide channel for the sliding base and a narrow vertical guide channel 107 for the conveyor frame. The conveyor frame 80 is fixed to the base so as to extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the branch 62. It has, as previously, Figure 3, a front stop 79 and a housing 78 of the base of a piece of installation, in particular a central housing for the clip and two lateral notches receiving the skirt.

At the intersection of the two horizontal branches 62 and 162, the magazine 70 opens at a right angle into the channel with inverted T section. 17

The use of the tool, according to the variant embodiment, begins with the same loading operation of the magazine 70 with installation parts 4. Under the action of the rear spring, the pusher 74 moves the parts in translation parallel to the longitudinal direction of the third branch 162 and perpendicular to the planes of the jumpers of the parts. On leaving the store 70, the first part of the series is received by the conveyor frame 80 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the branch 62. The latches 112 are then engaged in the following clip.

The operator arms the second electromechanical latch 110, FIG. 4A, so as to retain the operator block 90 of the second actuator 95 at its first height, then triggers the first actuator 85, to push, by means of the piston 88, FIG. 8, and of the sliding base, the conveyor frame 80 in its guide channel 107. Thus, the installation part 4 received by the conveyor frame 80 performs a second translation parallel to the longitudinal direction of the branch 62, from the exit from the store 70 to the opening 100 of the vertical branch 64, where the protuberances of the jumper's bridge, FIG. 5A, are inserted in the lower hooks of the operator unit located at its first height.

The following phases of the part 4 installation cycle are identical to those described for the previous embodiment of the tool.

According to this variant, the installation part performs a first translation in the store perpendicular to the plane of its rider, then a second translation in the channel housing the conveyor frame, parallel to the plane of the rider. The arrangement at right angles to the magazine and the transport channel allows a direct transition between the two translations. In other words, the installation part does not undergo rotation during its transport between the store and the embrasure of the tool.

This variant embodiment thus provides a simpler design of the tool, insofar as the pivot mounting of the conveyor frame on the base is no longer necessary, and where the guide channel 170 no longer has a projection. Also advantageously, the size of the tool is reduced in the direction perpendicular to the cables, symbolized in FIG. 8 by the letter C. 18

It is expected that the third branch 162 is disposed in a horizontal plane located below the horizontal plane containing the branch 62 housing the guide channel 107. In this case, these two branches are connected by an oblique ramp provided with a channel transport for the translational movement of the installation part, from the outlet of the magazine 70 towards the mouth of the guide channel of the transport frame.

In the variant which has just been described, the magazine arranged in the third branch 162 contains a single row of installation parts 4. The tool is given an additional advantage by providing it with a magazine constituted, FIG. 9, a barrel body 170 having at its periphery several longitudinal grooves 172 in which the installation parts are inserted 4. In this way, the operating autonomy of the tool is increased with respect to the number of parts installation in reserve.

Figure 8, in the tool in service condition, there is shown in dotted lines the position of the barrel or of a protective casing of the barrel. The radial and axial retention of the barrel in the third branch is ensured by spring-loaded ball plungers, while rotation around an axial direction perpendicular to the guide channel 107 is obtained by means of a pneumatic actuator acting on a train reduction gears. A rodless cylinder, fixedly mounted in the tool, makes it possible to move in translation the installation parts inserted in that of the grooves which opens into the guide channel 107 after a rotation of the barrel. The latter is retractable to allow rapid loading of installation parts. A clearance is provided in the second branch 62 to allow access to the electromagnetic latches 112.

It is planned to use the tool attached to a wiring board. The harness is built step by step, by placing the cables under the embrasure of the tool to assemble them by means of the installation part. Several tools can be fixed on the wiring board, a board edge pulse triggering the action of all the tools simultaneously. In this way of proceeding, several installation pieces are simultaneously fixed on the cable harness. We can thus increase the ergonomics of a wiring station and reduce the manufacturing time of a harness.

As we have seen on reading this presentation, the installation part 4 according to the invention is then particularly easy to install over 19

an electric harness by means of the tool specially provided for this purpose using external energy, in particular pneumatic. The operator can therefore comfortably focus on the exact positioning of these parts along the beam.

In addition, the installation part once mounted on the beam, presents not only a simple clip 50 for fixing in the wall, but moreover an elastic skirt 48 and four branch ends as better visible in FIG. 2C, making this part particularly stable once installed against a wall.

As clearly visible in FIGS. 1A-1F, the structure of the installation piece 4 makes it particularly easy to produce by injecting plastic material into a mold, in particular with the jumper 10 initially secured to the base 30 by simple break points 28 facilitating storage and transport.

In addition, it is conceivable to provide on the front face of the base, a pair of pins coming to engage in a pair of orifices formed in correspondence in the rear face in correspondence of the next part. As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, two studs 201 and 202 are fixed on one face of the base, and protrude perpendicular to the plane of the jumper to fit into two orifices 203 and 204 formed on an opposite face of the base. On one side as on the other of the base, the tenon and the orifice 201 and 203, respectively 202 and 204 are coaxial, and the two tenons as well as the two orifices are coplanar in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the rider. This connection by tenons and orifices makes it possible to pre-assemble a plurality of installation parts one behind the other in the form of a bar of parts. Figure 9, the bar 200 is installed in one piece in the grooves 172 of the barrel body 170 forming the magazine of the tool. Then, the electromechanical latches perform a mechanical separation of the part located at the mouth of the magazine while the conveyor frame performs a supply and withdrawal cycle.

Many improvements can be made to this clip and its installation tool within the scope of the claims.

Claims

20 CLAIMS

1. Installation part (4) of one or more elongated elements (2) against a wall characterized in that it comprises: - a U-shaped jumper (10) whose flexible branches (20,24) have each a series of notches (22,26), and

- A base (30) having, in correspondence of each branch, an oblique passage (42) through which the inlet mouth (41) is located in the face opposite the rider and whose mouth outlet (43) is located in a lateral face of the base, the face of the base opposite to that facing the rider being provided with a fastening clip (50) of the base in an orifice in the wall.

2. Installation part according to claim 1, characterized in that the notches are carried on an outer face of the flexible branches where they are oriented towards the outside of the rider.

3. Installation part according to claim 1, characterized in that the notches are carried on an inner face, or on an inner edge, or on an outer edge of the flexible branches.

4. Installation part according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the jumper (10) is initially connected to the base (30) by weak points (28) of rupture.

5. Installation piece according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the inlet mouth (41) of each passage of the base (30) has a retention hook (44) notch (22) of the corresponding branch (20) of the rider.

6. Installation part according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the jumper (10) has on each side of the elongate element to install a pair of branches (20,24) with notches (22 , 26) oriented outward or inward, in the direction of the elongated elements or perpendicular to the elongated elements.

7. Installation part according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clip is removably attached to the base. 21

8. Installation part according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the clip (50) for fixing the base (30) in an orifice in the wall is in the form of a central pin ( 52) provided with oblique tongues (54) oriented towards the base, these tongues being either distributed in several, preferably three or four, longitudinal series distributed regularly around the periphery of the spindle, or each tab surrounding the spindle.

9. Installation part according to claim 8, characterized in that the base (30) has, at the junction of its clip (50), an elastic skirt (48) arched in the direction of the clip.

10. Installation part according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that studs (201, 202) are fixed to the base (30) to assemble the installation part to another first installation part, and in that orifices (203,204) are provided in the base (30) for assembling the part to another second installation part.

11. A bar of installation parts according to claim 10, characterized in that two successive parts are assembled by inserting the pins of one of the two parts into the orifices of the other part.

12. Tool (60) specially designed for installing a fixing piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises - a magazine (70) making it possible to store a plurality of pieces (4),

- A conveyor frame (80) capable of being moved by a first actuator (85) from a first position at the outlet of the store to grip the base (30) of a part (4) at a second position to bring said piece (4) in the plane of a recess (100) formed in the front edge of the tool where the jumper (10) of said piece (4) is taken in an operator unit (90) located at a first height, then back, and

- a second actuator (95) making it possible to lift the operator unit (90) perpendicular to the base to a second height to separate the jumper (10) from the base (30), then, once the elongated element or elements (2) are presented -above the base in the front recess (100), lower the operator unit (90) to a third height to insert the arms (20,24) of the rider over the elongated elements in their passage (42) base (30), then raise the block 22

operator (90) at the first height to remove the base (30) from the part of the conveyor frame (80), the part can then be disengaged from the operator unit.

13. Tool according to claim 12, characterized in that the first actuator (80) is a linear pneumatic single-chamber cylinder (86) with spring (87) pushing, at rest, the piston (88) in the position of reduction of the chamber (86) bringing the conveyor frame (80) integral with the end of the piston rod (84) (88) to its first position.

14. Tool according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the second actuator (95) is a linear pneumatic single-chamber cylinder (96) with spring (97) pushing, at rest, the piston (98) in the high position of reduction of the chamber (96) bringing the operator unit (90) integral with the end of the piston rod (94) (98) to a second position, this unit (90) being initially retained in the first position against the effect of the spring (97) by an electromechanical latch (110).

15. Tool according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the conveyor frame (80) is mounted at the end of the rod (84) of the actuator (85) through a pivot pivot ( 81), and in that the conduit within which the conveyor frame (80) is moved has, from the store, a first wide part (104) ending in a projection (105) printing to the frame (80) provided with a part a quarter turn rotation, followed by a second part (106) for guiding the end of the rotation, followed by a third guide channel (107) from the frame to the plane of the embrasure (100) of the front face of the tool.

16. Tool according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the magazine (70) is provided with a pusher (70) for moving the installation parts (4) in translation in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the jumpers (10), up to a guide channel (107) which extends perpendicular to the pusher (70), where an installation part is gripped parallel to the plane of its jumper (10) by the conveyor frame (80) to be moved in translation towards the embrasure (100) by sliding the transport frame and the part inside the guide channel (107).

17. Tool according to claim 16, characterized in that the magazine comprises a barrel body (170) movable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the guide channel (107) and provided with grooves parallel to the axis, in which pieces 23

installations (4) are inserted to be pushed in translation by an actuator mounted fixed in the tool, when one of the grooves opens into the guide channel (107) after a rotation of the barrel.

18. Tool according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the outlet outlet of the store is provided with two electromechanical latches (112) facing each other engaging in cavities (46) of side faces of the base (30) of part so as to retain that located at this mouth when the conveyor frame (80) is out of its first position.

19. Tool according to one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that the base (102) of the embrasure (100) of the tool is triangular convex, the base (30) of a piece being brought and positioned by the conveyor frame (80) at the top of the triangle.