FR2780556A1 - Cable support for attaching secondary cable parallel to a primary cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The support comprises a first clamp (17A) for clamping onto a primary cable (10A). A second clamp (17B) receives the cylindrical location member (24) of the secondary cable carrier (15). Tightening of the nut (18) closes the jaws clamping the cable support in place.The secondary cable carrier comprises a capped housing to hold the cable (10B) that is secured by a bolt (21)

Description

"Connection accessory for branch cable to be connected to a cable

  main, and branch connector fitted with such a connection accessory "The present invention generally relates to the connection of any cable, hereinafter said simply for convenience bypass cable, to a

  any other cable, hereinafter said simply for convenience main cable.

  It relates more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, on the one hand, to the case where both of these cables are insulated cables, and on the other hand to the case where the main cable is a cable passing at a point

  whatever it is necessary to intervene.

  To date, the connection of a branch cable to a main cable is usually done either using a separate branch branch connector, as 1 0 described for example in the French patent which, filed June 15, 1984 under No 84 09384, was published under No 2 566 191, either using a non-separate derivative bypass connector, as described, for example, in the French addition certificate which, filed on 11 July 1986 under No

  86 10170 and published under No. 2 601 516, is attached to the previous patent.

  The branch connectors with separate branch have the advantage of having separate jaws for clamping one and the other of the cables, thus allowing to intervene if desired on one of them without

  necessarily intervene simultaneously on the other.

  But they are relatively complex, bulky and expensive.

  The branch connectors with non-separate derivative, on the other hand, only have the same jaws for a joint and simultaneous tightening of

both cables.

  If, as a result, they are relatively simpler, more compact and less expensive, they have the disadvantage that any intervention on one of the

  cables necessarily implies an intervention on the other of these.

  It can, in particular, result in unfavorable consequences for the main cable, if repeated interventions are carried out on the branch cable. In European patent No. 0 356 329, a connection accessory has been proposed making it possible to connect, in an isolated and sealed manner, a branched cable to a main cable, and, more particularly, to a passing main cable, by making it possible, at the lowest price, a non-separate bypass branch connector has the advantages of a separate bypass branch connector. This connection accessory, which comprises, overall, on the one hand, a clamping assembly formed of two parts, which are capable of clamping the branch cable between them, and at least one of which is conductive, and, on the other hand, a conductive appendage, which is in electrical connection with the conductive part of the clamping assembly, and by which this clamping assembly is capable of engaging with a branch connector intended to be clamped on the cable

  principal, has given, and can still give, satisfaction.

  However, it itself has the drawback of requiring a certain skill on the part of the operator, insofar as at least where the operator must simultaneously maintain it with respect to the branch connector and maintain this branch connector by relative to the main cable, up to

  final tightening of the branch connector on this main cable.

  The present invention generally relates to a provision which makes it possible to avoid this drawback and which also leads to

other advantages.

  More specifically, it firstly relates to a branching accessory of the kind briefly mentioned above and generally characterized in that it comprises means of engagement suitable for enabling it to be brought back. on a branch connector even before it is tightened on the main cable; it also relates to any branch connector fitted in advance with such a connection accessory. In short, thanks to the engagement means which it comprises for this purpose, the connection accessory according to the invention can advantageously be subject to a bypass connector, thereby forming with it a single unitary assembly , which facilitates the operations to be carried out for

the connection sought.

  For example, the engagement means provided for this purpose on the connection accessory according to the invention are latching means, which need only be specifically provided on this one

connection accessory.

  Thus, the branching accessory according to the invention can advantageously be fitted on demand with branch connectors of the

  trade, which, moreover, can be used in isolation.

  Finally, according to various variant embodiments, the branching accessory according to the invention can advantageously be satisfied both with the engagement of a branch cable whose corresponding end has previously been stripped bare and with the engagement of this derivative cable without prior stripping of this end, and it is also suitable both in the case where only one derived cable is to be used as in the case where two derived cables are to be used in opposite directions, one with respect to it 'other. The characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge, moreover,

  of the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the drawings

  attached diagrams in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a branch connector fitted with a connection accessory according to the invention; Figure 2 is, deduced from Figure 1, an exploded perspective view of this branch connector and this connection accessory; Figure 3 is, along the line 111-111 of Figure 2, a longitudinal sectional view of the connection accessory according to the invention, on which one and the other of the two closure caps that includes this accessory of connection have been shown in the open position; Figure 4 is an exploded view in cross section of this connection accessory, along line IV-IV of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a larger scale, another view in longitudinal section along the line V-V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a partial side view, along arrow VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is deduced from that of Figure 4, a cross-sectional view of one of the parts that includes the clamping assembly of this connection accessory, shown in isolation; Figure 8 shows, on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 3 identified by an insert VIII in this Figure 3; Figure 9 is, on the scale of Figure 8, an axial sectional view of one of the closure caps that includes the connection accessory according to the invention, also shown in isolation; Figure 10 is an axial sectional view of the same closure cap, shown in place on the sheath on which it must be attached; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 7, for an alternative embodiment of the part in question; Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to that of Figure 3, for an alternative embodiment of the connection accessory

according to the invention.

  As shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 1, it is, overall, to ensure the connection to any cable

  1 OA, or main cable, of any other 1 0B cable, or branch cable.

  In the embodiment shown, the main cable 1 OA and the derived cable 10B are both insulated electrical cables, that is to say cables comprising, around a core 11A, 1 1B conductive, one sheath

1 2A, 1 2B in insulating material.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the main cable 1 OA is a passing cable, that is to say a cable on which it is necessary to intervene at the passage, at any point of this cable, without a any

sectioning of it.

  In a manner known per se, and according to provisions of the type of those described in European patent No. 0 356 329, it is used, for the connection of the branch cable 1 OB to the main cable 1 OA, on the one hand, a branch connector 14, and, on the other hand, a connection accessory

15.

  The branch connector 14 is well known in itself, and it does not

  will therefore not be described in full detail here.

  It will suffice to indicate that it comprises, overall, on the one hand, two jaws 16, 16 ', one lower, the other upper, which define between them, and parallel to each other, two channels 17A, 17B, and, on the other hand, clamping means 18, which are capable of bringing these two together

  two jaws 16, 16 ', which, here, are formed by a single clamping axis.

  By the channel 17A, the bypass connector 14 is adapted to be

  engaged on the main cable 1 OA.

  Via channel 17B, it is also suitable for receiving the 1 OB branch cable.

  However, as will appear below, and according to provisions of the type described in European patent No. 0 356 329, it is just as well suited to receive, by this channel 17B, the connection accessory 15 provided , here,

  for the connection of this 1 OB branch cable.

  In the embodiment shown, one of the jaws 16, 16 ', in this case the upper jaw 16', forms a window 19 at each of the

ends of channel 17B.

  The windows 19 thus present at the ends of the channel 17B are parallel to each other, and they are normally provided to allow the installation of a shutter, or plug, at that of these ends opposite to that by which a LOB branch cable is normally engaged in this channel 17B. In the embodiment shown, they have, overall, a U-shaped configuration. Internally, each of the jaws 16, 16 'is equipped with two contact pieces 20, which extend parallel to one another, and transversely relative to the channels 1 7A, 1 7B, being each respectively arranged on either side of the clamping means 18, and which

  each protrude locally in each of these channels 17A, 17B.

  For example, these are simple metal blades.

  The bypass connector 14 thus generally constituted is indeed

heard suitably isolated.

  For a more detailed description of this tap connector 14,

  which is a commercial branch connector, it is possible, for example, to refer to the French addition certificate No 86 10170 previously

1 0 mentioned.

  It should be noted, however, that for reasons which will become apparent

  after, the upper jaw 16 ′ has, at its back, between the windows 19, a wide notch E. In a manner known per se, and as is better visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection accessory 15 comprises, overall, on the one hand, a clamping assembly 21, formed of two parts 22, 22 ', which are capable of clamping any cable between them, and, in this case, the branch cable 10B, and one of which at least, in this case the part 22, is conductive, and, on the other hand, a conductive appendage 23, which is in electrical connection with the conductive part 22 of the clamping assembly 21, and by which, as well as 'It will appear below, this clamping assembly 21 is capable of engaging with the

  branch connector 14 intended to be tightened on the main cable 1 OA.

  According to the invention, the connection accessory 15 also includes engagement means 24 capable of enabling it to be attached to the bypass connector 14 even before it is tightened on the

10OA main cable.

  In the embodiments shown, the conductive part 22 of

  the clamping assembly 21 is generally tubular.

  In other words, it has, internally, a bore 25, of axis A1,

which crosses it right through.

  The clamping assembly 21 thus has, back to back, two inputs 26,

Figures 1 and 3.

  In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 11, the conductive part 22 of the clamping assembly 21 has a single clamping portion 27, which corresponds with one and the other of the two inputs 26 of this assembly of tightening 21, and to the right of which intervenes the other part 22,

  22 'of it, in this case its exhibit 22'.

  For example, and as shown in Figure 4, this part 22 'is a simple clamping screw, the end 28 of the barrel 29 is threaded for its screwing in a threaded bore 30, which, provided for this purpose in the part of

  clamping 27 of the conductive part 22, intersects the bore 25 thereof.

  Let A2 be the axis of this tapped hole 30.

  In practice, it is orthogonal to the axis A1 of the bore 25.

  If desired, and as shown schematically in broken lines in FIG. 4, the head 31 of the clamping screw forming the conductive part 22, and the part 32 of the barrel 29 of this clamping screw which is attached thereto, can be coated in a casing 33, of insulating material, forming, above the head 31, for driving the assembly in rotation, a head 34, which is breakable, and which

  is thus able to yield under a determined tightening torque.

  The corresponding provisions being well known in themselves,

  they will not be described in more detail here.

  When, as shown in FIG. 1, it is provided that the end of the branch cable 10B by which this branch cable 10B must be engaged in the clamping assembly 21 of the connection accessory 15 is stripped, the clamping part 27 of the conductive part 22 of this clamping assembly 21 does not, projecting from its inner surface, in line with the threaded hole

, as simple streaks 35.

  For example, and as shown, these ridges 35 extend

  longitudinally in the bore 25, parallel to the axis A1 thereof.

  In the embodiments shown, the conductive appendage 23 of the clamping assembly 21 is in the general form of a generally cylindrical bar, and it is in one piece with the conductive part 22 of this clamping assembly 21, this conductive appendage 23 and this conductive part 22 belonging, in manufacturing, to a single piece 38

visible in isolation in Figure 7.

  In practice, the conductive appendage 23 extends parallel to the axis A1 of the bore 25 of the conductive part 22, and perpendicular to the axis A2

its tapped hole 30.

  In practice, too, the conductive appendage 23 extends at a distance from the conductive part 22, and it is connected to the latter by a flange 39, which acts substantially at mid-thickness both for the conductive part 22 and for the conductive appendage 23, and whose thickness is slightly less than

that of these.

  When, as is the case in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the conductive part 22 of the clamping assembly 21 has a single clamping part 27, the length of this part

  conductive 22 along the axis A1 of its bore 25 is relatively small.

  It is in any case less than that of the conductive appendage 23, as shown, so that, the flange 39 having itself a width equal to this length, the part 38, taken as a whole, has, in plan, the

general shape of a T, Figure 3.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the conductive part 22 of the clamping assembly 21, at least, is trapped in a sheath 40, of insulating material, which, for the constitution of the two inputs 26 of this clamping assembly 21 forms, back to back, two passages 42, at the rate of one passage 42 per inlet 26, and, each

  of these two passages 42 is associated a closure cap 43.

  In practice, the closure caps 43 are each connected to the sheath by a flexible flange 44, and, with this flexible flange 44, they are in one piece with this sheath 40, the assembly forming, by molding, a single and

same room.

  For example, and as shown, these closure caps 43

are to be screwed.

  In the embodiments shown, the passages 42 of the sheath are each partly obscured internally by at least one annular lip 46, 47. For example, and as shown, two annular lips 46, 47 are

  planned, at a distance from each other.

  The annular lip 46, which is substantially flat, extends to the outlet

passages 42.

  The annular lip 47, which is generally frustoconical, extends back

  in relation to the outlet of the passages 42.

  It goes closer to the annular lip 46 as and when

  that it moves away from the wall from which it came.

  In practice, too, the opening 48 of the annular lip 46 has a

  i 5 diameter greater than that of the opening 49 of the annular lip 47.

  Together, each of the closure caps 43 comprises, axially, a needle 50, by which it is capable of forcibly engaging in the

  annular lips 46, 47, in particular for closing them.

  When, as in the present case, these annular lips 46, 47 have

  openings 48, 49 of different diameters, this needle 50 is stepped.

  In other words, it comprises, successively, from its root, two sections 51, 52, and the section 51 has a diameter greater than that of

section 52.

  In addition, each of these sections 51, 52 is preferably preceded

by an engagement chamfer 53.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiments shown, the conductive appendage 23 of the clamping assembly 21 is

  himself imprisoned in a sheath 54, of insulating material.

  In practice, the sheath 40 of the conductive part 22 and the sheath 54 of the conductive appendage 23 are in one piece, the assembly forming,

molding, one and the same piece.

  It follows from the above that, like the branch connector 14,

  the connection accessory 15 according to the invention is suitably insulated.

  However, to facilitate the grip of the contact pieces 20 of the jaws 16, 16 'of the bypass connector 14 on the conductive appendage 23 of the connection accessory 15, the sheath 54 of this conductive appendage 23 has, at the spacing of these contact parts 20,

  lights 55, 55 'locally leaving this conductive appendage 23 bare.

  In the embodiments shown, the engagement means 24 that comprise the connection accessory 15 according to the invention are, at

  as an example, latching means.

  More specifically, in these embodiments, the conductive appendage 23 of this connection accessory 15 being trapped in a sheath 54 of insulating material, the latching means forming the

  engagement means 24 belong to this sheath 54.

  More precisely, again, the conductive appendage 23 being in the general form of a generally cylindrical bar, these engagement means 24 intervene at one and the other of the transverse ends.

of this conductive appendix 23.

  In other words, the latching means forming the engagement means 24 are formed by the portions 56 of the sleeve 54 which

  cover the transverse ends of the conductive appendage 23.

  In the embodiments shown, for the constitution of the latching means forming the engagement means 24, the portions 56 of the sheath 54 which cover the transverse ends of the conductive appendage 23 each comprise, at least axially projecting, a

  boss 58, which is elastically deformable.

  For example, and as shown, this boss 58 is in the general form of a strip, which extends radially relative to the relevant transverse end of the conductive appendage 23, projecting from the corresponding portion 56 of its sheath 54, and there are thus, crosswise, four bosses 58 at each of the transverse ends of this appendage

driver 23.

  In practice, too, these bosses 58 each have a height which increases from the periphery of the conductive appendage 23 to the axis of this, and they all meet on this axis, at the top point of the assembly. By construction, and as shown schematically in broken lines in FIG. 5, it is made so that the length L1 of the conductive appendage 23, sheath 54 included, is at most equal to the distance L2 separating, internally, one on the other, the two windows 19 of the jaw 16 'of the

  branch connector 14, while being close to this distance L2.

  Thus, the conductive appendage 23 of the connection accessory 15 can, with its sheath 54, find its place in the channel 17B of the branch connector 14, extending longitudinally therein, however, at each of its transverse ends, the bosses 58 project into the corresponding window 19 of the jaw 16 'of this connector

  branch 14, as shown in Figure 5.

  To do this, it suffices that, thanks to the notch E of this jaw 16 ′, this connection accessory 15 is forcibly engaged in the channel 17B of the branch connector 14, at the cost of a temporary elastic deformation bosses 58 of the sheath 54 of its conductive appendage 23,

  these bosses 58 constituting the engagement means 24 provided for this purpose.

  Thanks to the corresponding snap-on, the branch connector 14 can advantageously be fitted in advance with a connection accessory, with the conductive appendage 23 thereof extending, as described, in one of its channels 17A , 17B, in this case its channel 17B, while being engaged, by its engagement means 24, with the windows 19 present at the

ends of this channel 17B.

  The assembly then consisting of the bypass connector 14 and the connection accessory 15 can advantageously be handled as

  as such, which facilitates its installation on the main cable 1 OA.

  It then suffices to engage the branch cable 10OB in the clamping assembly 21 of the connection accessory 15 by one or other of the inputs 26 thereof, until this branch cable stops. 10OB against the needle 50 of the closure cap 43 of the other of these inlets 26 duly left in place for this purpose, then of tightening the clamping means 18. Thus, the needle 50 of the closure caps 43 serves not only for sealing the annular lips 46, 47 of the corresponding passage 42, but also of abutment to the branch cable 10B when the latter is engaged

in the opposite entrance 26.

  As will be noted, moreover, thanks, on the one hand, to the generally cylindrical shape of the conductive appendage 23 and to that of its sheath 54, and, on the other hand, to the generally circular shape of the means 24 corresponding engagement, it results in a hinge effect between the connection accessory 15 according to the invention and the bypass connector 14 when this connection accessory 15 is attached to the latter, which, at least to some extent , is likely to facilitate the installation of the 1 OB derivative cable (s) in the connection accessory

  1 5 before tightening the branch connector 14 on the main cable 1 OA.

  The variant embodiment shown in FIG. 11 relates to the case where, instead of being stripped, the end by which the branch cable 1 OB must be engaged in the clamping assembly 21 of the connection accessory 15 must

be left as is.

  Instead of ridges 35, the clamping part 27 of the conductive part 22 of this clamping assembly 21 then comprises teeth 35 ′, sufficiently sharp, and sufficiently long, to be able to pass through the sheath 12B of this branch cable 1 OB and thus reach its core 11 B. In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the conductive part 22 of the clamping assembly 21 of the connection accessory comprises two clamping parts 27, which each correspond respectively to the two inputs 26 of this clamping assembly 21, and to the right of each of which intervenes, individually, another part 22 'thereof, namely, as before, a clamping screw, not visible on

this figure 1 2.

  In practice, and as shown, the two clamping parts 27 are spaced from one another, so that, taken as a whole, the corresponding part 38 has, in plan, the general shape of a U. Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the two clamping parts 27 of the conductive part 22 of the clamping assembly 21 are then separated from each other by a partition.

in insulating material.

  For the rest, the provisions are of the same type as those

previously described.

  However, with this alternative embodiment, it is possible, if desired, to

  connect to the main cable 1 OA two separate cables 1 OB separate.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant embodiment and / or combination of their various elements, in particular as regards the engagement means allowing the accessory next connection

  the invention to be made integral with a branch connector.

  In particular, when, as more particularly envisaged, these engagement means are latching means, they may have a configuration other than that of the lamella bosses described and shown, and,

  for example, having a simple configuration globally as a spherical cap.

Claims (17)

  1. Connection accessory for branch cable to be connected to a main cable, of the type comprising, on the one hand, a clamping assembly (21) formed by two parts (22, 22 '), which are capable of clamping the derivative cable (10OB), of which at least one is conductive, and, on the other hand, a conductive appendage (23), which is in electrical connection with the conductive part (22) of the clamping assembly (21), and by which this clamping assembly (21) is able to engage with a bypass connector (14) intended to be clamped on the main cable (1 OA), characterized in that it comprises engagement means ( 24) suitable for allowing it to be attached to the connector of   bypass (14) even before tightening it on the main cable (10A).   2. Connection accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement means (24) which it comprises are latching means. 1 5 3. Connection accessory according to claim 2, characterized in that, the conductive appendage (23) being trapped in a sheath (54) of insulating material, the latching means forming the means   engagement (24) belong to this sheath (54).   4. Connection accessory according to any one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conductive appendage (23) is   having the general form of a generally cylindrical bar, the engagement means (24) intervene at both ends   transverse of this conductive appendage (23).   5. Connection accessory according to claims 3 and 4, taken   jointly, characterized in that the latching means forming the engagement means (24) are formed by the portions (56) of the sleeve (54)   which cover the transverse ends of the conductive appendage (23).   6. connection accessory according to claim 5, characterized in that, for the constitution of the latching means forming the engagement means (24), the portions (56) of the sleeve (54) which cover the transverse ends of the 'conductive appendage (23) each have, axially projecting, at least one boss (58) which is elastically deformable. 7. Connection accessory according to claim 6, characterized in that the boss (58) is in the general form of a strip, and there are thus, crosswise, four bosses (58). 8. Connection accessory according to claim 7, characterized in that the bosses (58) each have a height which increases from the periphery of the conductive appendage (23) to the axis thereof, and they are join all on this axis.   9. Connection accessory according to any one of   Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the conductive part (22) of   the clamping assembly (21) is generally tubular, and the clamping assembly   (21) thus presents, back to back, two entrances (26).   1 0. connection accessory according to claim 9, characterized i15 in that the conductive part (22) of the clamping assembly (21) has a single clamping part (27), which corresponds with one and the other of the two inputs (26) of this clamping assembly (21), and to the right of which intervenes the other piece (22 ') of it.   11. Connection accessory according to claim 9, characterized in that the conductive part (22) of the clamping assembly (21) comprises two clamping parts (27), which each correspond respectively with the two inputs (26) of this clamping assembly (21), and to the right of each   which intervenes another part (22 ') thereof.   12. Connection accessory according to claim 11, characterized in that the two clamping parts (27) of the conductive part (22) of the clamping assembly (21) are separated from each other by a partition (60) in insulating material.   13. Connection accessory according to any one of the   Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the conductive part (22) of   the clamping assembly (21) is trapped in a sheath (40), of insulating material, which, for the constitution of the two inlets (26) of this clamping assembly (21), forms, back to back, two passages ( 42) to each of which is   associated with a closure cap (43).   14. Connection accessory according to claim 13, characterized in that the passages (42) of the sheath (40) are each partly obscured internally by at least one annular lip (46, 47), and the closure cap (43 ) associated comprises, axially, a needle (50) by which it is able to engage by force in such an annular lip (46, 47), in particular for the obturation thereof.   15. Connection accessory according to claim 14, characterized in that there are two annular lips (46, 47), and the needle (50) of the cap. closure (43) is stepped.   16. Connection accessory according to any one of   Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the conductive appendage (23) of   the clamping assembly (21) is integral with the conductive piece (22) of this clamping assembly (21), this conductive appendage (23) and this piece   conductive (22) belonging, in manufacturing, to a single piece (38).   17. Connection accessory according to any one of   Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the conductive appendage (23) of   the clamping assembly (21) extends parallel to the axis (A1) of the bore (25)   of the conductive part (22) of this clamping assembly (21).   i18. Connection accessory according to any one of   Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the conductive part (22) of   the clamping assembly (21) being trapped in a sheath (40) of insulating material, and the conductive appendage (23) of this clamping assembly (21) being itself trapped in a sheath (54) of insulating material , this sheath (40) and this sheath (54) are in one piece, the assembly forming, molding, one and the same piece.   19. Connection accessory according to any one of   Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the conductive appendage (23) of   The clamping assembly (21) being trapped in a sheath (54) made of insulating material, this sheath (54) has openings (55, 55 ') leaving locally naked this conductive appendage (23).   20. A branch connector of the kind comprising, on the one hand, two jaws (16, 16 '), which define, between them, and parallel to each other, two channels (17A, 17B), and, d 'other hand, clamping means (18), which are adapted to bring these two jaws (16, 16') closer to each other, characterized in that it is equipped, in advance, with an accessory of connection   (15), which conforms to any one of claims 1 to 19, and of which   the conductive appendage (23) extends in one of its channels (1 7A, 1 7B).   21. A branch connector according to claim 20, characterized in that one of its jaws (16, 16 ') forming a window (19) at each end of the channel (1 7B) in which the conductive appendage (23) of the connection accessory (15), this connection accessory (15) is   engaged with this window (19) by its engagement means (24).   22. branch connector according to claim 21, characterized in that the jaw (16 ') forming a window (19) at each end of the channel (17B) in which extends the conductive appendage (23) of the connection accessory (15) has, on its back, between its windows (19), a notch (E) in favor of which this connection accessory (15) is engaged in this channel (17B).