FR2631423A1 - Support for pipes or electrical cables - includes rail extending perpendicular to pipes with apertures for pipe retaining clips - Google Patents

Abstract

The support includes a profiled section (1) with an L-shaped cross-section. The larger part of the section is a flat plate (3) disposed so that the objects to be retained may pass over the outer surface. A number of rectangular apertures (5) are cut in this plate at intervals. Retaining clips may be fitted around pipes or cables which lie perpendicular to the support, and then the clips themselves are fitted into the rectangular apertures. A locking bar may be fitted inside the L-section, serving both to increase the rigidity of the support, and to prevent the retaining clips being removed. USE - Support of electrical cables, optical fibre cables and hydraulic pipes.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for supporting elongated objects, such as electrical and / or optical cables, hydraulic or pneumatic pipes, and the like, which makes it possible to hold and guide said objects along any structure.

A preferential, although not exclusive, application of the device according to the invention relates to the aeronautical industry. Indeed, the multitude of cables, piping, etc., intended for the transmission of information by fluidic, electrical and optical ways to control and control the various apparatuses of an aircraft requires the use of devices for supporting said cables. and piping to, on the one hand, fix them to the structure of the aircraft, and, on the other hand, guide them appropriately along the structure.

The device according to the invention is obviously not limited to this particular application, but can be used in cases where a considerable number of elongated objects have to be fixed and guided relative to any structure.

A known support device for fixing elongated objects is described in particular in patent FR-A2 496 349 of the Applicant.

This device comprises a cradle, for example made of plastic, consisting of two spaced apart supports having V-shaped notches open towards the outside. A spacer connects the two supports and extends inside the notches to close off the pointed part and serve as a support for a fixing collar allowing the tightening of an electric cable or hydraulic piping placed on the supports. In addition, this support device, which is very widely used, is provided with at least one lug in which a hole is provided for fixing the device to the structure of the aircraft by means of a rivet or the like.

If the attachment of elongated objects to such devices by collar is satisfactory both from the point of view of ease of assembly and of service performance, on the other hand, the immobilization of the device on the structure when it is equipped with said objects, immobilization generally carried out by a single rivet, proves to be unreliable.

Furthermore, these devices make it difficult to achieve a good distribution and distribution of the circuits formed by the cables and / or the pipes and imposed for safety reasons.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and relates to a device for the support of elongated objects making it possible to improve the distribution and the distribution of said elongated objects along for example the structure of an aircraft, as well as its fixing to said structure.

To this end, the device for supporting elongated objects, such as electrical and / or optical cabling or hydraulic piping, is remarkable, according to the invention, in that it is constituted by a section of profile comprising at least one flat wing on which said elongated objects are likely to be arranged transversely and in which space openings intended for the passage of clamping means for said elongated objects are repeatedly made on said wing.

Thus, it is possible to fix to said wing of the section a plurality of elongated objects arranged successively one after the other, transversely to said section, which allows in particular to obtain a rational arrangement and distribution of said elongated objects.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said profile section may have an L-shaped cross section of which at least one of the branches of said L corresponds to said flat wing.

In an alternative embodiment, said profile section may have a U-shaped cross section of which at least one of the lateral branches of said U corresponds to said flat wing.

In another alternative embodiment, said profile section may have a cross section approximately in the shape of a Z, the two opposite and parallel branches of said Z each corresponding to said flat wing.

Advantageously, said section of section is provided with a plurality of orifices distributed over its entire length, allowing it to be joined, by means of fixing means, to a structure.

Thus, one obtains a secure and reliable immobilization of said section carrying the elongated objects to the structure. Said orifices can be formed in said flat wing by being arranged at regular intervals relative to said openings
In a preferred embodiment, said clamping means of said elongated objects on said wing consist of collars. The latter can be, for example, constituted by a notched flexible strip carrying at one end a worm screw system, the other end of the strip then passing through two consecutive openings or not of said wing to then mesh with the worm tightening system, which allows said elongated object to be fixed to the flat wing. In another embodiment, these collars can be elastic deformable clips having an omega shape. The legs of said clip are inserted into an opening of said wing to come to bear elastically against the opposite face of the flat wing to that carrying said elongated object, which is then fixed.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the flat wing of said section of section can have a longitudinal end rim parallel to said section of section, said rim being directed on the side opposite to the face of said wing receiving said elongated objects and forming with it a groove.

In addition, a shutter bar is capable of being fitted against the face of said flat wing, opposite to that receiving said elongated objects. Advantageously, said shutter bar is introduced into said groove, thus being held against the corresponding face of said wing. The bar then makes it possible to stiffen said flat wing carrying said elongated objects. Furthermore, it also allows the locking of the external tabs of the elastically deformable clips against the corresponding face of said flat wing.

According to another characteristic, under each of said openings made in said flat wing can be arranged an orientation member allowing, according to the arrangement thereof, to give an appropriate direction to said elongated objects relative to said section of profile.

In a preferred embodiment, said orientation member is in the form of a polygonal ring pierced with a central orifice, disposed opposite the corresponding opening of said wing and shared along a diameter thereof by a separation tab, said orientation member being disposed under the face of said wing, opposite to that receiving said elongated fingers, by being inserted into said groove formed by the flange extending said wing, while two of said opposite sides of said ring are, respectively, in contact with the bottom of said groove and of the branch of said profile section opposite to said bottom.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

 Figure 1 shows in perspective a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section along the line I.I-II of Figure 1.

FIG. 3 shows in perspective a shutter bar of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 represents an example of application of said device according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

5 shows the details A of Figure 4 showing in section the means for fixing the section of the section to the structure and an embodiment of the clamping means of said elongated object on the flat wing of said section of profile.

6 shows the detail B of Figure 4 showing, in section, another embodiment of the clamping means of said elongated object on the flat wing of said section.

Figure 7 shows in perspective a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a view along arrow F of the device illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively represent two examples of use of said device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Figure 11 shows a cross section of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figure 12 shows in perspective a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 13 is a view along arrow F1 of the device illustrated in FIG. 12.

Figures 114,15, and 16 each represent a particular use of the device shown with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 17 is a bottom view of said flat wing shown in Figure 7 and showing members of orientation of the elongated objects in two distinct positions.

Figure 18 is a sectional view along lines XVIII
XVIII of Figure 17 showing one of said orientable members.

FIG. 19 shows an example of the use of said orientable members mounted on the flat wings of profile sections.

The device according to the invention shown in these figures is intended to allow the support and the fixing of elongated objects, such as electrical and / or optical cables, hydraulic or pneumatic pipes, relative to any structure.

The device shown opposite Figures 1 and 2 is constituted by a section of section 1, partially shown, whose cross section has substantially an L shape. The large branch 2 of said section of section 1 corresponds to a flat wing 3 on which are likely to be arranged, on its external face 4, elongated objects, and, in which are spaced, repeatedly, spaced openings 5 intended, as will be seen later, for the passage of clamping means of the elongated objects on the flat wing 3. These openings 5 have in this embodiment a rectangular section, any other shape or section, for example oblong, circular, etc. of said openings 5 could also be envisaged. In addition, it is provided in said wing 3 a plurality of orifices 6, arranged at regular intervals relative to the openings 5 and intended for the passage of fastening means, not shown in these Figures 1 and 2, allowing the fastening tion of the section of profile 1 to a structure.

Furthermore, the flat wing 3 is extended, on the side opposite to the small branch 7 of the profile section 1, by a flange 8 parallel to the branch 7. This flange 8 is: constituted by two successive flaps 9 and 10, of which the first, 9, extends perpendicularly the flat wing 3 while being turned on the side opposite to the external face 4 of the wing 3, and, the second flap 10 of which extends the first flap 9 perpendicularly while being turned towards the small branch 7 of the section 1. Thus, these two flaps 9 and 10 form, with the flat wing 3, a groove 11.

The profile section 1 shown in Figure 1, as well as the profile sections which will be described later, can be straight and / or curvilinear, and are preferably made of a synthetic material.

A shutter bar 12, shown in Figure 3, is intended to be attached to the section of section 1-. For this, it advantageously has a section corresponding to that defined by the concave part of the section 1, that is to say the part delimited by the internal faces 14, 15, 16 and 17 respectively of the small branch 7, of the large branch or flat wing 3, and successive flaps 9 and 10. The bar 12 then has a tongue 18 over its entire length intended to be introduced into the groove 11, so that said bar is retained in said section.

In addition, the bar 12 is provided with a plurality of orifices 19 or the like intended to be arranged opposite the orifices 6 and / or openings 5 formed in the flat wing 3.

This shutter bar has a dual function on the one hand, to stiffen the profile section, and on the other hand, to block the clamping means of the elongated objects, as will be seen later.

An application of the device according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4. It can be seen that the section of section 1 partially has a curved shape corresponding to that of a frame 21 of an aircraft fuselage. Several sections of straight or curvilinear profile can be placed end to end to follow exactly the shape of the frame. In this FIG. 14, the profile section 1 is arranged so that the external face 14 of the flat wing 3 is not opposite the frame 21. This section is fixed to the frame 21 by fixing means 23, such as those illustrated in FIG. 5 and which will be described later.

A shutter bar 12, appearing more in comparison with FIGS. 5 and 6 which correspond respectively to the details A and B of FIG. 14, is previously introduced into the profile section so as to stiffen it although the presence of such a bar 12 is not essential for certain applications.

However, this is necessary if a large number of cables and pipes are supported by the profile section 1.

On the outer face 14 of the flat wing 3 are arranged, transversely to the latter, elongated objects, such as electric cables and hydraulic pipes 25, of different sections. These are fixed to the flat wing by means of clamping means which can be, for example, either clamps 26 (FIG. 6) of the type known per se, or elastically deformable clips 27 (FIG. 5) in the shape of an omega. These collars 26 or clips 27 are coated with a material which avoids damaging the sheath of the cables and pipes.

 As shown in FIG. 6, in the case of the use of clamps 26, the notched flexible band 28 of said collar passes through two adjacent openings 5 formed in the wing 3 and corresponding orifices 19 formed in the bar 12 to then mesh with its free end in the worm tightening system 28A provided at its other end.

l
In FIG. 5, in the case of the use of elastic clips 27, the tabs 29 of said clip pass through an opening 5 and then come to press, deviating from one another against the internal face 15 of the flat wing 3. The use of elastic clips for fixing the cables and pipes 25 to the wing 3 makes it necessary, for safety reasons, to mount the shutter bar 12 which, as shown in the figure 7, blocks the legs 29 of the clip 27 against the internal face 15 of the flat wing 3.

On the other hand, when using clamps 26, the presence of the shutter bar is not compulsory, except in the case mentioned previously for which the addition of the shutter bar 12 to stiffen the section of section 1 is made necessary because of the number, and therefore of the weight, of said supported objects.

Prior to mounting and holding the elongated objects 25 on said wing 3, the section of section 1 is fixed to the bearing structure, such as the frame 21, by the fixing means 23. The latter, shown in FIG. 5, comprise , for example, a screw 30 passing through the orifices 6 and 19 respectively provided in the wing 3 and in the bar 12, then a corresponding bore 31 made in the frame 21. Between the frame 21 and the bar 12 (or the wing flat 3 in the case where the profile section does not include a bar) a spacer 32 is provided, maintaining a constant distance between the profile and the frame. A riveting nut 33 or the like is then mounted on the screw 30 and ensures the definitive fixing of said profile section to the frame.

Another embodiment of said profile section is shown with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

The section of section 35 has an L-shaped section, but the small branch 36 then corresponds to the previously defined flat wing 3 which comprises the rim 8, forming the groove 10, and the openings 5 and orifices 6, while the large branch 37 of the section has a plurality of aligned holes 38, intended to allow the passage of fastening means for securing the section to a structure.

Two uses of this alternative embodiment of said section 35 are shown, without limitation, in FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 shows a partition 140 which can constitute one of the structural elements of an aircraft and on which an L-shaped angle iron is fixed. The profile section 35 is then fixed to the angle iron by means of screws 42 of so as to present said flat wing 3 (corresponding to the small branch 36) in a plane parallel to that defined by the partition 40. In this way, it is thus easy to guide along the partition 140 cables and pipes 25 which are fixed, in the example shown, by clamps 26 to the wing 3, the shutter bar 12 is not shown in this case.

As for Figure 10, it shows another mounting possibility offered by the profile section 35. The latter is then fixed by its branch 37 to a crosspiece 43 of a frame 1414 by means of fixing screws 145 symbolically illustrated and passing through the orifices 38 of branch 37.

The cables and pipes 25, arranged transversely with respect to the flat wing 3, can thus be guided along several sleepers 143 of successive frames 44. They are held on the flat wing 3 by clamps 26 passing through, for each collar 26, two openings 5 adjacent to the wing 3.

Another alternative embodiment of the profile section is shown with reference to FIG. 11. The section 50 has a cross section substantially in the form of
U, but one, 52, of the lateral branches is for example larger than the opposite branch 51. To this latter corresponds the flat wing 3 previously described with regard to the other embodiments, while the branch 52 has a flat wing 53 the cross section of which comprises two parallel series of openings 5. This wing 53 also includes an end flange 8 forming a groove 11 intended for the possible installation of a shutter bar 12 of appropriate size, said wing 53 presenting the me # my functions as the flat wing 3.

However, this wing 53 offers a greater bearing surface for the elongated objects 25. Furthermore, between the two series of openings 5 are provided orifices 54 arranged in series and intended for the passage of means for fixing the profile section to a structure. Likewise, the base 55 of the profile section has a series of orifices 56 intended for fixing said section to a structure.

This variant embodiment thus offers the possibility of having cables and pipes 25, not shown, on either side of the external faces of the flat wings 3 and 53.

Figures 12 and 13 show yet another alternative embodiment of the profile section. The cross section of the section 60 has approximately a shape of
Z comprising two lateral and parallel branches 61 and 62 separated from each other by a central branch 63 arranged perpendicular to the lateral branches. Ports 64 are also provided in the central branch 63.

The lateral branches 61 and 62 each correspond to a flat wing 3 as described above. Thus, each wing 3 has an end flange 8 defining a groove 11 to allow the possible insertion of a shutter bar 12 stiffening the profile section and blocking the elastic clips. Each wing also has openings 5 and orifices 6 alternately arranged. As shown in FIG. 13, the openings 5 and the orifices 6 of the wing 3 or of the branch 61 are respectively opposite the orifices 6 and the openings 5 provided in the wing 3 or the branch 62.

FIG. 14 shows a first application of the section section 60, in which several sections 60 can be superimposed. For this, from a structure 65 of the aircraft, two tubes 66, one of which is partially shown in section for clarity, are fixed by one of their ends perpendicular to the structure 65.

 Fixing means 67 ensure the locking of the tubes, which are distant parallel to one another, to the structure. Spacers 68 are respectively introduced around the tubes 66, then a section of profile 60 is inserted into the tubes through the through openings 5 provided for example at the ends of the branch 62 or the wing 3 and comes to rest on the spacers 68 Then there are two other spacers 69, respectively around the tubes, which come into contact with the branch 62 of the section 60, then a new section 60 is arranged and so on. One then obtains an overlapping arrangement of profile sections 60 on the two wings 3 of which the cables and pipes 25 are mounted by clamps 26, each passing through two openings 5 consecutive or not.

Another example of mounting this section of profile 60 is illustrated in FIG. 15. In this example, between two partitions 70 and 71 parallel to one another and perpendicularly integral with a floor 72 is arranged a section of profile 60.

The latter is fixed at its ends by means of two gussets 73 each linked to a partition. The ends of the central branch 63 of the profile are connected to the gussets 73 by fixing screws 74 passing through the orifices 614. Cables and pipes 25 can then be placed on each of the wings 3 of the section 60 to be held there, for example ., by means of cable ties 26.

Finally, FIG. 16 shows another possibility of mounting the profile section 60. To this end, one of the wings, for example the flat wing 3 corresponding to the branch 62 in FIG. 12, is placed on the floor 72 then fixed to the latter by means of usual fixing means 76. The cables and pipes 25 are then arranged on the external face 4 of the other wing 3, corresponding to the branch 61, by clamps 26 Here too, it is possible to introduce shutter bars.

In FIGS. 17 and 18, it can be seen that an orientation member 80 can be arranged under each of the openings 5 formed in the flat wing or the flat wings 3 of the various embodiments of sections. These orientation members 80 make it possible, according to their arrangement, to give an appropriate direction to the cables and pipes. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, representing for example the section of profile 35 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the orientation members 80 are each in the form of a polygonal ring 81, preferably octagonal, pierced with 'a central orifice 82 shared in its diameter by a separation tab 83. These members 80 are arranged under the internal face 15 of the flat wing 3 while being previously introduced into the groove 11. Two of the opposite faces 84, 65 of the octagonal ring are then substantially in contact respectively with the bottom 16 of the groove 11 and the internal face 14 of the branch 37. The rings 81, thus being properly maintained, are arranged opposite the openings 5. There is shown in the figure 17 two orientation members 80 having two different positions, one of which allows the cable 25 to be guided parallel to the profile section, and the other of which allows another cable to be oriented in a transverse direction 145o with respect to said flat wing. Each clamp 26 passes through an opening 5 surrounding the separation tab 83 to maintain said cables and / or pipes 25.

An example of arrangement of said orientation members 80 mounted on sections of profile 35 fixed to structures not shown is shown in FIG. 19 which thus highlights the various possibilities offered by these orientation members for the distribution and the distribution of said elongated objects.

 One could obviously envisage other alternative embodiments and mounting of the sections of profiles described on equally different structures. Whatever the use of the device according to the invention, it makes it possible on the one hand to obtain an excellent distribution and distribution of said elongated objects, and on the other hand, effective attachment to the structure. Furthermore, the assembly and disassembly of the device relative to the structure and elongated objects arranged on the device prove to be very easy to carry out. In addition, the fact of having a plurality of types of sections of rectilinear and / or curvilinear sections, having different sections, makes it possible to choose the section of section most suited to the structure to which it is to be fixed.

Claims (11)

1 - Device for supporting elongated objects, such as electrical and / or optical cables or hydraulic pipes, characterized in that it is constituted by a section of profile (1) comprising at least one flat wing (3) on which are likely to be arranged transversely said elongated objects (25) and in which are formed, repeatedly, spaced openings (5) intended for the passage of clamping means (26) of said elongated objects on said wing. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said section of section (1) has a L-shaped cross section of which at least one of the branches of said L corresponds to lad-ite flat wing (3). 3 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said profile section (1) has a U-shaped cross section of which at least one of the lateral branches of said U corresponds to said flat wing (3).  14 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said profile section (i) has a cross section approximately in the shape of a Z, the two opposite and parallel branches of said Z each correspond to said flat wing (3). 5 - Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said profile section (1) is provided with a plurality of orifices (6) allowing it to be joined, by means of fixing means ( 23), to a structure. 6 - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said orifices (6) are formed in said flat wing (3) by being arranged at regular intervals relative to said openings (5). 7 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said clamping means of said elongated objects on said wing are constituted by collars (26 or 27). 8 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the flat wing (3) of said profile section (1) has an end flange (8) longitudinal parallel to said profile section, #ledit flange (8) being directed on the side opposite to the face (4) of said wing receiving said elongated objects and forming therewith a groove (11). 9 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a shutter bar (12) is capable of being attached against the face (15) of said flat wing (3) opposite to that (4 ) receiving said elongated objects. 10 - Device according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that said shutter bar (12) is introduced into said groove (11) while being held against the corresponding face (15) of said flat wing (3). 11 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that under each of said openings (5) is arranged an orientation member (80) allowing, according to the arrangement thereof, to give an appropriate direction to said elongated objects (25) relative to said profile section.  12 - Device according to claims 8 and 11, characterized in that said orientation member (80) is in the form of a polygonal ring (81) pierced with a central orifice (82) disposed opposite the corresponding opening, and shared along a diameter by a separation tab (8 # 3), said orientation member (80) being disposed under the face (15) of said wing (3), opposite to that receiving said elongated objects, by being introduced into said groove (il) formed by the flange (8) extending said wing, while two of said opposite sides (84,85) of said ring are respectively in contact with the bottom (16) of said groove (11) and of the branch of the profile section, opposite said bottom.