FR2689604A1 - Universal cable support coverable with thermal and sound insulation for use inside aircraft - uses L=shaped arm secured to aircraft frame by locking lug and internal screw and concave clamp at remote end to hold cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The support (14) is made of semi-rigid plastic material and consists of a main L-shaped piece (18), the longer arm (22) of which is fixed by a bracket (20) to prevent rotation. This arm ends in one or more cable clamps (26) shaped (28) to accept a cable (12). The shorter arm (24) is secured through the frame of the aircraft by a ring (38) which locks into the arm via an internal lug which fits inside the arm. The ring, in turn, is secured by a bolt which screws into it and holds it securely against the aircraft frame (10). USE/ADVANTAGE - Universal cable support for optical and/or electrical conductor cables or fluid carrying pipes. Has simple construction and considerably reduces installation times.

Description

 UNIVERSAL CABLE SUPPORT.

DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to a universal cable support intended to be fixed to a structure possibly covered with a thermal and sound insulation mattress, in order to support one or more cables running along this structure.

 It should be noted that the word "cable" used in the present application must be taken in its broadest sense, that is to say that it indifferently designates an electrical cable, a strand formed from several associated electrical conductors, a mixed cable comprising one or more optical fibers and one or more electrical conductors, an optical fiber or a set of optical fibers, or even a rigid or semi-rigid pipe used to convey a fluid.

 Such a universal cable support finds a preferred application in the maintenance of cables inside aircraft. However, this support can be used in many other fields, taking into account in particular its ease of assembly and disassembly, when the structures allowing the maintenance of the cable or cables are oriented transversely with respect to the cables.

 In the current state of the art, the cables are kept inside the aircraft by means of supports formed by three distinct elements. A first of these elements is constituted by a fixed support, made of light metal, riveted directly to the structure, the latter being for example a frame of the aircraft. The thermal and sound insulation mattress is placed on this fixed support, after which an intermediate L-shaped support constituting the second support element is screwed to the fixed support, through the insulation mattress which is then compressed between the fixed support and the intermediate support. Generally, the latter is also made of light metal. Finally, a third element constituted by a wiring support capable of receiving one or two cables and generally made of rigid plastic material, is fixed by screws on the opposite end of the intermediate support.

 Given their complex structure, these cable supports currently used require three successive assembly operations which considerably lengthen the cable assembly time. In addition, the need to ensure good support between the intermediate support and the fixed support leads to reducing the thickness of the insulation blanket in the area for hanging cables, which leads to a loss of sound and thermal insulating power in these areas. zones. In addition, the materials used to make the fixed support and the intermediate support require surface treatment and painting of these parts before assembly, as well as touch-up of paint after assembly. The cable assembly time is further increased. Finally, the multiplicity of parts constituting the existing supports increases the risks so that the assembly is interrupted due to a lack of supply or production of any of these parts.

 The subject of the invention is precisely a universal cable support having a simplified structure making it possible to considerably reduce the cable assembly time, to preserve the insulating power of the thermal and sound insulation mat in the areas occupied by the supports and to reduce appreciably the risks of stock shortage which can lead to interrupting the assembly of cables

According to the invention, this result is obtained by means of a universal cable support, intended to be fixed to a structure oriented transversely with respect to at least one cable to be supported, this support being characterized in that it comprises - a support member, substantially L-shaped, of which
a first branch ends with at least one
receptacle for said cable and including a second branch
che is able to be fixed on said structure, according to
a longitudinal axis of this second branch, by a
single screwing member; and - an anti-rotation member mounted on the first branch
of the support member by sliding means
non-return allowing only a movement of
the anti-rotation member away from the receptacle,
so that this anti-rotation device can
be applied against one side of the turned structure
towards said cable, to prevent rotation of the gold
support gane around the screwing member.

 With a universal cable support thus designed, it becomes possible to fix the support on the structure by a single screwing operation, then to prohibit its rotation by sliding the anti-rotation member on the support member. It is therefore easy to assemble and disassemble the support. In addition, the very significant reduction in the number of pieces makes it possible to appreciably reduce the risks of stock shortage.

 Advantageously, in order to eliminate the painting and retouching operations of the parts and to reduce the weight, the support member and the anti-rotation member are made of semi-rigid plastic.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the non-return sliding means comprise at least one toothing formed on the first branch of the support member, comprising teeth having a clearance face opposite the receptacle, and at least a pawl carried by the anti-rotation member and engaged on said toothing.

 So that the mounting of the universal cable support according to the invention can be carried out in two different ways, the second branch of the support member comprises a removable ring whose disassembly makes it possible to mount along the axis of the second branch a additional fixing (screw or nut as appropriate) of the screwing member.

 Thus, when the universal cable support is mounted alone on the structure, the fixing member is a nut and the screwing member a screw.

 On the contrary, it is possible to use as a fixing member a screw, when the universal cable support is associated with an opposite, monobloc cable support, also comprising at least one cable receptacle. This opposite cable support then comprises a nut forming the screwing member.

 The universal cable support according to the invention also prevents pinching of the insulation mattress, when such a mattress externally doubles the structure. To this end, the universal cable support comprises a removable ring, advantageously comprising a collar for holding an insulating washer capable of being placed in an opening of the insulation blanket. Thermal and sound insulation is thereby improved.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
- Figure 1 is a side view in partial section schematically illustrating a universal cable support according to the invention
- Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the universal cable support illustrated in Figure 1
- Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the end of the support member of the cable support illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in an alternative embodiment of the invention
- Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the opposite end of the support member when the universal cable support according to the invention is fixed to the structure at the same time as an opposite cable support; and
- Figure 5 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing more precisely the non-return sliding means provided between the support member and the anti-rotation member on the universal cable support according to the invention.

 In FIG. 1, the reference 10 designates a structure such as a frame of an aircraft, used for the attachment of one or more cables 12, by means of a universal cable support 14 produced in accordance with l 'invention.

 More specifically, the structure 10 is constituted by a rigid section, a substantially planar part 10a of which is oriented transversely or perpendicular to the direction of the cable or cables 12 which it is desired to attach. The structure 10 further comprises another substantially planar part 10b forming an L with the part 10a and the outer surface of which faces the cable or cables 12 and is parallel to the latter.

 An insulation mattress 16 is fixed to the structure 10, outside of the latter, so as to completely cover it to ensure thermal and sound insulation of the interior of the aircraft.

 According to the invention, the universal cable support 14 mainly comprises a support member 18 and an anti-rotation member 20 mounted on this support member. These two members 18 and 20 are advantageously made of semi-rigid plastic.

 The support member 18 has substantially the shape of an L, the two branches 22 and 24 of which form a right angle. As illustrated in the figures, the first branch 22 of the support member 18 is rectilinear and has in section substantially the shape of a T. The end of this first branch 22 opposite the branch 24 carries, as the case may be, a single receptacle 26 (FIG. 3) or two receptacles 26 juxtaposed (FIG. 2) on which the cables 12 can be hung.

 More precisely, each of the receptacles 26 comprises, on the side opposite to the branch 24 of the support member 18, a concave bearing surface 28, of V-shaped cross section, against which a cable 12 can be applied. A notch transverse 34 is formed in each receptacle 26 and divides the bearing surface 28 into two equal parts. This notch 34 is crossed by a rod 32 oriented parallel to the branch 24. The width of the notch 34 allows the passage of a fixing collar 30 making it possible to hang the cable 12 on the rod 32.

 The second branch 24 of the support member 18 is shorter than the first branch 22 and it has a cylindrical shape centered on a longitudinal axis. As illustrated more precisely in FIGS. 2 and 4, the end of the branch 24 opposite the branch 22 is terminated by a part 36 of reduced diameter, on which a removable ring 38 is normally mounted. This removable ring 38 has an inner door ment a longitudinal lug 40 which enters a longitudinal notch 42 formed in the part 36. In addition, the lug 40 has an end which projects beyond the end face of the removable ring 38, to close a housing 44 formed on the branch 24 near the part 36 of reduced diameter, and into which the notch 42 opens.

 The assembly formed by the housing 44 and by the notch 42 is such that it makes it possible to mount along the longitudinal axis of the branch 24 either a nut 46 as illustrated in FIG. 2, or a screw 48, as the 'illustrates Figure 4. More specifically, the nut 46 or the head 48a of the screw 48 can be received in the housing 44 so that the nut or the screw is immobilized in rotation inside this housing. Furthermore, the threaded rod 48b of the screw 48 is received in the notch 42.

 Consequently, the removable ring 38 makes it possible to mount along the axis of the branch 24 of the support member 18 either a nut 46 or a screw 48.

 A nut 46 is housed in the branch 24 of the support member 18, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the universal cable support 14 is fixed individually to the structure 10. This fixing is carried out by making a single drilling in the part 10a of the structure 10, by introducing a screw 50 into this hole, from inside the structure 10, then by screwing this screw 50 into the nut 46.

 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the mounting of a screw 48 in the housing 44 and in the slot 42 relates to applications in which the universal cable support 14 is fixed to the structure 10 at the same time as '' an opposite cable support 52, in one piece. One end of this opposite cable support 52 is equipped along its axis with a nut (not shown) capable of being screwed onto the screw 48, and the opposite end of the support 52 comprises one or two receptacles 54 ( figure 1). Each of the receptacles 54 has a structure similar to that of the receptacles 26 and makes it possible to fix, with the aid of clamps 56, one or more cables 58 inside the structure 10, in a direction orthogonal to that of the cables 12 supported by the universal cable holder 18.

 As illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2, the removable ring 38 comprises, at its end closest to the first branch 22 of the support member 18, a flange 60. This flange 60 makes it possible to maintain on the removable ring 38 an insulating washer 62, for example made of plastic foam, which is housed in a circular opening 64 formed beforehand in the insulation blanket 16, when the universal cable support 14 is put in place.

 This arrangement makes it possible to preserve the continuity of the thermal and sound insulation mattress 16 in line with the supports 14.

 As illustrated more precisely in FIGS. 2 and 5, the intermediate branch of the T formed in section by the first branch 22 of the support member 18 has on each of its faces a toothing 66 of which each of the teeth has a clearance face 67 facing the second branch 24 of the support member, that is to say opposite the receptacle 26.

 The anti-rotation member 20 of the universal cable support 14 is mounted on the first branch 22 of the support member 18 by non-return sliding means allowing the movement of this anti-rotation member 20 to the second branch 24 of the support member, while preventing movement in the opposite direction.

 As illustrated more precisely in FIG. 5, these non-return sliding means comprise the teeth 66 formed on the first branch 22 of the support 18 and two flexible elements forming pawls 68 formed on the anti-rotation member 20 and arranged so to be meshed with the teeth 66. More specifically, the pawl elements 68 are in the form of corners inclined towards the teeth 66 and turned towards the end of the branch 22 carrying the receptacle or receptacles 26. Consequently, the ends pawl-forming elements 68 bear against the relief faces 67 of the teeth of the two teeth, so as to prevent the displacement of the anti-rotation member 20 towards the receptacle (s) 26. On the contrary, the opposite faces of the teeth of the teeth 66 form ramps which allow the pawl elements 68 to move apart when the anti-rotation member 20 slides on the branch 22 of the support 18 away of the receptacle (s) 26.

 Furthermore, the guiding and holding of the anti-rotation member 20 on the branch 22 of the support member 18 are ensured by two arms 70 which encircle the lateral edges of the branch 22 and which are terminated by shaped ends hooks 72. Given the semi-rigid nature of the plastic material in which the anti-rotation member 20 is formed, this characteristic makes it possible to mount this member on the branch 22 of the support member 18 by interlocking. The elements 68 forming pawls are then engaged on the teeth 66.

 To perform its anti-rotation function, the member 20 comprises, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially planar part 74 oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the branch 22 of the support member 18. When the universal cable support 14 has been fixed to the structure 10 by the screw 50 or by means of the opposite cable support 52 in the manner described above, the rotation of the universal cable support around the longitudinal axis of the branch 24 is prevented by coming to apply the flat part 74 of the anti-rotation member 20 against the part of the insulation blanket 16 externally lining the part 10b of the structure 10. When this application is carried out (FIG. 1), the anti rotation 20 is held in place by the cooperation of the pawl elements 68 with the teeth 66. The immobilization of the universal cable support 14 is thus ensured.

 The above description shows all the simplicity of mounting the universal cable support according to the invention, which allows one or more cables 12 to be mounted in a particularly short time on a structure 10 such as aircraft frames, possibly doubled by insulation mattresses 16, without significant local reduction in the insulating power of these mattresses. In addition, the small number of parts used greatly simplifies inventory management and significantly reduces the risk of production interruption due to a stock shortage.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described by way of example, but covers all its variants. Thus, as already mentioned, a cable support according to the invention can be used in other technical fields than on aircraft. Furthermore, the support structure can in certain cases be simplified by eliminating the removable ring, when the universal cable support according to the invention is always used in isolation. Finally, various mechanisms equivalent to the non-return sliding means constituted by the pawl elements and by the teeth can be used.

Claims (7)

 1. Universal cable support, intended to be fixed to a structure (10) oriented transversely with respect to at least one cable (12) to be supported, this support being characterized in that it comprises - a support member (18) , substantially L-shaped,  a first branch (22) of which ends with  at least one receptacle (26) for said cable and one of which  second branch (24) is adapted to be fixed on said  structure, along a longitudinal axis of this second  branch, by a single screwing member (50,52); and - an anti-rotation member (20) mounted on the first  branch of the support member by grout means  anti-return (66,68) authorizing only one  displacement of the anti-rotation member away  of the receptacle (26), so that this member  anti-rotation can be applied against one side  of the structure facing said cable, for  prevent rotation of the support member (18) around  of the screwing member (50,52).  2. Universal cable support according to claim 1, characterized in that the support member (18) and the anti-rotation member (20) are made of semi-rigid plastic.  3. Universal cable support according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the non-return sliding means comprise at least one toothing (66) formed on the first branch (22) of the support member , comprising teeth having a clearance face (67) opposite to said receptacle, and at least one pawl (68) carried by the anti-rotation member (20) and engaged on said toothing.  4. Universal cable support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second branch (24) of the support member (18) comprises a removable ring (38), a disassembly of which allows mounting according to the axis of the second branch a fixing member (46,48) complementary to said screwing member (50,52).  5. Universal cable support according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing member is a nut (46) and the screwing member a screw (50).  6. Universal cable support according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing member is a screw (48) and the screwing member a nut mounted in an opposite cable support (52), in one piece, also comprising at least one cable receptacle (54).  7. Universal cable support according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the removable ring (38) comprises a collar (60) for holding an insulating washer (62) capable of being placed in a opening of an insulation mattress (16) externally lining the support.