Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/30—Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings
  • H02G3/32—Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings using mounting clamps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
  • F16L3/08—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
  • F16L3/12—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
  • F16L3/123—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing and extending along the attachment surface
  • F16L3/1233—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing and extending along the attachment surface the member being of metal, with or without an other layer of other material

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an assembly clamp which comprises an elongate head portion which partly surrounds an accommodation space for accommodating the object to be assembled, a first and a second clamping member which are compressible to an assembly position where the accommodation space is substantially closed, engagement means which are disposed to hold the assembly clamp in a fixing position on the object in or in the proximity of the assembly position, the engagement means comprising a projection and a recess in each end region of the assembly clamp.
• the present invention further relates to a method for pre-assembling a prefabricated assembly clamp which comprises a curved head portion with clamping members disposed in its end regions, and engagement means, the head portion of the assembly clamp being applied about the object which is to be assembled, and the clamping members being urged towards one another so that a fixing position in the proximity of a final assembly position is attained.
• the present invention relates to a tool for assembling a prefabricated assembly clamp, the tool comprising a support surface which has centring devices for positioning the assembly clamp, and a vertically movable pressing device.
• Assembly clamps of the type described by way of introduction are previously known in numerous different variations and, for example, are employed within, the automotive industry in enormous numbers for assembling electric cables, cable trunks and leads, etc.
• US PS 5 377 940 discloses an assembly clamp which has a bent head portion, a clamping member at each end of the head portion and engagement means close to the clamping portions.
• the engagement means comprise a catch- shaped device which is intended to be passed through an aperture in the other end of the assembly clamp.
• Assembly clamps are also previously known from, for example, EP 1 022 503 which may be pre-mounted on a cable trunk or the like with the aid of projections which extend out from at least the one clamping portion on the assembly clamp, i.e. that part which is provided with an aperture for screwing the assembly clamp on a substrate.
• this projection On pre-mounting, this projection is folded about the second clamping portion at the same time as the clamping portions are pressed against one another. In other alternatives, the projection may be passed into a recess provided for this purpose in the second clamping portion.
• Assembly clamps of this type have projecting, sharp projections or catches which can injure the assembly line workers. Further, there are projecting edges and flaps in the region around the screw hole of the assembly clamp which may impede the final assembly.
• the present invention has for its object to design the assembly clamp mentioned by way of introduction such that it may be simply pre-mounted or pre-assembled on the object which is to be assembled, for example the cable trunk, in order to remain in place there until such time as the cable trunk is completely assembled in the vehicle.
• the present invention also has for its object to design the assembly clamp such that it will be simple and economical in manufacture and may be applied simply and reliably on the object which is to be assembled.
• the present invention finally has for its object to realise a method for mounting the assembly clamp so that the risk of repetitive strain injuries is minimised.
• the assembly clamp intimated by way of introduction is characterised in that the projection is insertible in the recess and that the projection is disposed to be deformed after insertion.
• At least one centring device is also a deformation device for locking the assembly clamp in a fixing position.
• Fig. 1 shows, by solid lines, a cross section through the assembly clamp in a fixing position, and, by broken lines, the assembly clamp in an unloaded, open state in which it leaves the site of manufacture;
• Fig. 2 shows the assembly clamp of Fig. 1 seen straight from beneath;
• Fig. 3 shows a clamping member included in the assembly clamp, in the planar, open state
• Fig. 4 is a partially cut-away view of tool for fixing the clamp.
• the assembly clamp according to the present invention comprises an elongate, band- shaped main portion 1 which is produced from a substantially configurationally stable but slightly resilient material, for example a suitable metal such as steel.
• the main portion 1 is bent so that, in the state it assumes immediately after manufacture, it partly surrounds an accommodation space 2 for the object which is to be assembled or mounted against a substrate with the aid of the assembly clamp.
• This form of the assembly clamp is shown by broken lines in Fig. 1.
• a first and second clamping member 3 and 4 respectively, connect to the opposing first and second end regions 7 and 8 of the main portion 1, and it should be emphasised that both the main portion 1 and both of the clamping members 3 and 4 are manufactured in one single material piece by punching.
• first refers to a position most proximal the substrate against which the assembly clamp is to be fixed.
• Both of the clamping members 3 and 4 are spaced apart a considerable distance from one another in the open state of the assembly clamp illustrated in Fig. 1, i.e. the position in which it is manufactured. The opening is so large that the assembly clamp may readily be forced over the object which it is intended to mount in place. Possibly, the assembly clamp may need to be widened somewhat from the position illustrated by broken lines in connection with the application on the object.
• the assembly clamp is compressible to an assembly or mounting position where both of the clamping members 3 and 4 are located along one another so that they substantially cover one another and in which the distance between them is zero or at least considerably less than in the manufacturing position, i.e. in the open state.
• Both of the clamping members 3 and 4 each have an aperture 5 and 6, respectively, for the passage of a fixing element, for example a screw, which is employed for securing the assembly clamp on a substrate (not shown on the Drawings).
• the fixing element is naturally also used for closing the assembly clamp and for compressing the two clamping members 3 and 4 against one another.
• the present invention implies that the assembly clamp has locking means which are disposed to retain the assembly clamp in a position which is located between the assembly or mounting position and the open position illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 1.
• the fixed position is shown by solid lines in Fig. 1 and has been selected in such a manner that the assembly clamp engages with the object which is to be assembled or mounted in place and sits in place on it. This implies that the assembly clamp in the fixed position may be pre-mounted on, for example, a cable trunk without the risk of being dislodged.
• the final assembly of the cable trunk with adherent assembly clamps may take place simply without any manual compression of the cable clamp and without the risk that this is dislodged. Furthermore, a fixing element may readily be passed through both of the apertures 5 and 6 since these are in register with each other.
• the fixed position for the assembly clamp is shown by solid lines in Fig. 1 and lies considerably closer to the assembly or mounting position than the open position and can, in one practical embodiment, entail that the distance between the two clamping members 3 and 4 amounts to a few millimetres. It should also be noted that, in the fixed position, the two apertures 5 and 6 are, as was mentioned above, approximately in register with one another so that the passage of the fixing element does not entail any difficulty.
• the main portion 1 In the fixed position and in the assembly position, the main portion 1 is arcuately bent, possibly along a circle of an arc of approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn.
• Substantially straight end regions 7 and 8 connect to the bent portion and are directed along tangents to opposing ends of the bent portion.
• the straight end regions 7 and 8, respectively, each take up approximately 1/4 to 1/8 of a turn in the circumferential direction, for which reason the main portion 1 will substantially entirely surround the accommodation space 2 in the assembly position.
• the above-described design of the main portion 1 implies that the two end regions 7 and 8 will meet at approximately a right angle.
• one of the clamping members must be bent outwards from the accommodation space 2 approximately 90° in relation to the longitudinal direction of the adjacent end region, in this case the clamping member 4 and the end region 8.
• the engagement means are placed in the transitional region between the end regions 7 and 8 of the main portion and each respective clamping member 3 and 4.
• the engagement means include a projection which is provided as a continuation or extension of the second end region 8 of the main portion and whose longitudinal direction is thereby transversely directed in relation to, or approximately at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the first end region 7 and the first clamping member 3.
• the projection 9 extends, in the fixing position, through an aperture 10 in the first end region 7/the first clamping member 3. ( The aperture 10 is most clearly apparent from Fig. 2).
• the projection 9 has been deformed, in this case given a curl 11, which is bent out from the accommodation space 2 and which grasps behind an edge 12 of the aperture 10, namely the edge of this aperture located most distal from the accommodation space 2.
• a curl 11 which is bent out from the accommodation space 2 and which grasps behind an edge 12 of the aperture 10, namely the edge of this aperture located most distal from the accommodation space 2.
• the projection 9 is given a curl 11 only after the projection 9 has been passed through the aperture 10. This is most simply put into effect with the aid of a machine or a tool and one example of such a tool will be described below. Other deformations of the projection 9 are also possible.
• the dimensioning and detailed design are selected in such a manner that a transfer of the assembly clamp from the open position illustrated by broken lines to the fixed position may be put into effect in that the second clamping member 4 is pressed against the first clamping member 3 at the same time as the second end region 8 is urged somewhat radially inwards towards the centre of the accommodation space.
• the end of the projection 9 will readily pass the edge 12 where_ it is deformed and locked in place under the action of the resilient forces in the main portion 1.
• the first clamping member 3 has, in its end located most proximal the first end region 7, an upwardly directed depression 13 in Fig. 1, whose depth is sufficiently great for accommodating a deformed portion 11.
• a corresponding rigidifying depression 14 is disposed on the opposite side of the aperture 10.
• Fig. 3 shows the second clamping member 4 and an adjacent part of the second end region 8 in the opened, planar state. It will be apparent from the Drawing that two through-going grooves 15 and 16 connect to the aperture 6 and have, between them, material forming the projection 9 which is left uncurled when the second clamping member 4 is bent to approximately a right angle in relation to the second end region 8.
• the angle between the second clamping member 4 and the second end region 8 should be substantially a right angle.
• the first clamping member 3 is arranged as an extension of the first end region.
• the angle between the second clamping member 4 and the second end region 8 may be considerably more obtuse and may even approach 180°. Intermediate positions between these two extreme values are also conceivable, where, for example, the longitudinal direction of the space between the two clamping members 3 and 4 would disect the centre 17 in the accommodation space 2.
• the assembly clamp according to the present invention has, at least along the major part of the accommodation space 2, a protective portion 18 produced from resilient, possibly plastic material.
• the protective portion In the fixed position, the protective portion abuts against the object which is to be assembled, and is, at least along certain parts of its periphery, slightly compressed in order thereby to increase the clamping force of the assembly clamp on the object.
• the abutment between the protective portion 18 and the periphery of the object is increased.
• the resilience or elasticity in the material of the protective portion 18 also entails a certain tolerance equilibrium, which is particularly important in the fixed position.
• the projection 9 is straight.
• the projection 9 and the corresponding aperture 10 are disposed substantially centrally, seen in the width direction, of the clamping members 3 and 4 and the end regions 7 and 8.
• the fixing of the assembly clamp on the object which is to be assembled takes place with the aid of a tool.
• the tool is advantageously powered by compressed air, or a hydraulic cylinder, or is also mounted in an eccentric press or a manually driven lever device.
• a tool 19 is shown in the open position.
• the tool 19 consists substantially of an upper portion 20 and a lower portion 21.
• the upper portion 20 and the lower portion 21 are movable in relation to one another in accordance with the double-headed arrow A, which implies that the tool 19 may be moved from the open position illustrated in Fig. 4 to a closed position.
• the upper portion 20 moves in a sliding guide in the lower portion 21.
• the configuration of the upper portion 20 is substantially cuboid with a recess 27 in its front side (the left hand side in Fig. 4).
• the recess 27 is defined upwardly by a projection 23, and laterally by two side walls.
• the width of the recess 27 is only slightly greater than the width of the clamping members 3 and 4 of the assembly clamp.
• the lower portion 21 serves the function of a support surface or die pad on which the assembly clamp rests during the assembly or mounting cycle.
• the upper portion 20 serves the function of a stamp which, on its downwardly directed movement towards the die pad 21, moves the upper clamping member 4 of the assembly clamp in Fig. 4 downwards so that the assembly clamp is thereby closed around the object which is to be assembled.
• a pin 22 extends upwards, substantially in the centre of the lower portion 21.
• the pin 22 is a centring pin which tapers upwards.
• the aperture 5 of the one clamping member 3 may be positioned on the pin 22 so that the projection 23 on the upper portion 20 extends out over the clamping members 3 and 4 of the assembly clamp.
• the recess 27 below the projection 23 is of a width which is so close to the width of the clamping members 3 and 4 that its side walls function as guides for the assembly clamp so that this is reliably held in its intended position in the tool 19.
• the deformation device 25 is provided with a sloping surface 26 of a form which wholly or partly corresponds to the desired deformation of the projection 9.
• the deformation device 25 may be replaceable.
• the clamping members 3 and 4 are moved into the recess 27.
• the clamping member 3 and its associated end region 7 are moved down towards the lower portion 21 and the aperture 5 is moved over the pin 22.
• the deformation device 25 is inserted in the aperture 10.
• the clamping member 3 and the end region 7 will rest on the lower portion 21 of the tool 19.
• the positioning of the two apertures 5 and 10, together with the guiding from the recess 27, result in the clamp not being dislodged to any appreciable degree when fixing takes place.
• the projection 23 will first come into contact with and then entrain downwards the second clamping member 4 so that this will be substantially parallel with the first clamping member 3.
• the aperture 6 in the clamping member 4 will, in such instance, like the aperture 5 in the clamping member 3, be passed on the pin 22. At the same time, it is ensured that the apertures 5 and 6 will lie in register with one another so that the clamp is readily fixable on a substrate by means of a fixing element such as a screw.
• the projection 9 and the second end region 8 accompany the second clamping member 4 downwards.
• the projection 9 is insertible in the aperture 10.
• the projection 9 approaches the aperture 10
• it first comes into contact with the sloping surface 26 on the deformation device 25.
• the forward end of the projection 9 moves downwards under the action of the tool 19, it is forced to follow the sloping surface 26 on the deformation device 25 and thereby also moves a distance in the horizontal direction to the right in Fig. 4.
• the edge 12 of the aperture 10 here functions as a shear edge for the projection 9.
• the deformation, i.e. the curl 11 takes place around the edge 12, while the projection 9 remains substantially straight in the area of the transition to the end region 8.
• the configuration of the projection 9 may be varied considerably. It is, for example, possible to make the projection 9 T-shaped in such a manner that the cross of the T is movable through the aperture 10 in one direction, and that the T is then turned so that the cross of the T assumes a position where it is no longer passable through the aperture 10. Such a deformation locks the assembly clamp in its fixing position.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (6)

• 2000
  • 2000-07-03 SE SE0002501A patent/SE0002501D0/xx unknown
• 2001
  • 2001-03-09 AU AU2001239622A patent/AU2001239622A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-03-09 EP EP01914275A patent/EP1299667A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-03-09 WO PCT/SE2001/000494 patent/WO2002002980A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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