FR3002601A1 - Device for holding and positioning e.g. tubes, in e.g. tunnels, has cradles for receiving elongated elements and being placed on main body so that central axes of clamping collars are parallel and constitute tops of equilateral triangle - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a main body (1) comprising a fixing unit (2) to fix the body on a support, and cradles (3a-3c) to receive elongated elements (A). Each cradle has a clamping unit formed by semi-jaws (4) to cooperate with the cradle to define a clamping collar enclosing the elements. The cradles are placed on the body so that central axes of the collars are parallel and constitute tops of a triangle i.e. equilateral triangle. The clamping unit is a flange whose ends in form of wing are fixed near ends of the cradle by an assembly unit (5) formed by bolts (51) and nuts (52).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for holding and positioning elongated elements, such as tubes or ducts, as well as cables, in particular high-voltage electrical cables. This device makes it possible to maintain and position these elongate elements in tunnels, tunnels, technical gutters or other structures. Already known in the state of the art, a clamp, adapted to be fixed on the wall or the metal structure of one of the aforementioned works and retain a high-voltage electrical cable. Indeed, when the latter is subjected to a short-circuit phenomenon, it can be animated by a ripple movement. It must therefore be held firmly and at regular intervals. However, this clamp does not fix many of these cables. To do this, it is necessary to multiply the clamps and 15 arrange side by side, which does not allow to maintain these elongated elements or cables in a small footprint. It is also known from document FR 2 904 084, a clamping device that can clamp three cables simultaneously. However, such a device does not allow to tighten independently. The invention therefore aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks of the state of the art. It aims in particular to provide a device that allows the maintenance and positioning of at least three of these elongated elements in a small footprint. The invention also aims to allow the clamping and handling of each of these cables, independently, because they are extremely heavy and that their simultaneous handling is difficult. To this end, the invention relates to a device for holding and positioning elongated elements, such as cables including electrical, tubes or ducts. According to the invention, this device comprises a main body, which comprises means for fixing on a support and three receiving cradles of said elongated elements, each cradle being equipped with a clamping means which cooperates with it to define a collar of tightening enclosing the one or more elongated elements, the three cradles being arranged on the main body so that the central axes of the three clamps are parallel and constitute the vertices of a triangle.

According to other advantageous and nonlimiting features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: the triangle is an equilateral triangle; said clamping means is a flange whose two wing-shaped ends are fixed near the two ends of the corresponding cradle, and this by means of assembly; said clamping means is constituted by two flanges, each flange being fixed at one of its ends to the other flange and at its opposite end, close to one of the ends of the corresponding cradle, and by means assembly; said clamping means is a single jaw, this single jaw being articulated at one of its ends near one of the ends of the corresponding cradle, via a hinge, so that it is movable between a position called " open ", in which it is possible to introduce said elongate member into or out of the cradle and a so-called" closed "position, wherein the cradle and the jaw enclose said elongate member, said jaw being retained in the position closed, on the corresponding cradle, by means of assembly; said clamping means is constituted by two half-jaws, each half-jaw being articulated at one of its ends near one of the ends of the corresponding cradle, via a hinge, so that these two half-jaws are movable between a so-called "open" position, in which they are spaced apart from the cradle and in which it is possible to introduce said elongate member into this cradle or to extract it and a so-called "closed" position, in which they are brought closer to each other and said cradle and wherein this cradle and the two half-jaws enclose said elongated member, the two half-jaws being retained in the closed position by assembly means; the hinge is equipped with a return spring which constantly tends to keep the jaw or the jaw half in the open position, the movement of this or these jaws being against the restoring force of the spring; said connecting means are a bolt and a nut; said clamping means is a clamping strap, in that the corresponding cradle is provided close to each of its two ends, respectively to an axis of attachment of said strap and a clamping axis thereof, these two axes being parallel, the clamping axis being pierced with a passage opening and receiving said strap, this clamping axis being rotatably anti-return; said clamping axis is equipped with a ratchet wheel cooperating with a non-return catch; said cradles, the flange, the jaw and / or the half-jaw have a contact surface with the elongated element, of curved shape whose cross section is in the form of an arc of a circle. Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which will now be made, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of indication but not limitation, several possible embodiments. In these drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the lower right part of FIG. 4, FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of the device of FIG. 1, in which the half-jaws making it possible to clamp the elongated elements are represented respectively in the closed position and in the open position, FIG. for fixing the device on a support, different from that of FIG. 1, - FIGS. 5 and 6 are front views of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, on which the clamping flanges are 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of FIG. n of the device according to the invention, using clamping straps, - Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the line IX-IX in Figure 8, and - Figure 10 is a partial view of the 9 shows the clamping straps in the jamming position. In the rest of the description and the claims, the references to the terms "superior", "lower", "front", "back", "left" and "right" are taken into consideration with respect to the position of the different devices as shown in the figures. A first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. It allows to maintain and position three elongated elements A, as mentioned above, shown in dashed lines for simplification purposes. The device comprises a main body 1, which itself comprises means 2 for fixing on a support and three cradles 3 for receiving said elongate elements A. The support is not shown in the figures, it is generally a wall, floor, ceiling or metal structure. Each cradle 3 is further provided with a clamping means 4 which co-operates with it to define a clamp. This clamp surrounds and encloses the outer periphery of the elongate member A. The main body 1 has approximately the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped taller than wide and thick, its height, its width and its thickness being referenced respectively H , L and E, (see Figures 1 and 3). Preferably, this main body 1 is slightly flared at its upper part as can be seen in Figure 3. This main body 1 has a front face 10, an opposite rear face (not visible in the figures and therefore not referenced), two longitudinal left and right lateral faces 12, an upper face 13 and a lower face 14.

The main body 1 comprises fixing means 2 which are preferably monoblock with it. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, these fastening means comprise two tabs 20 that are integral with the main body 1. These tabs extend perpendicularly from the front face 10 and to the rear face of the body principal 1, at the base of the latter. Each fixing lug 20 is pierced with at least one orifice 21 or a notch (not shown in the figures), which allows the passage of a fastener, such as a bolt or a screw for example. The main body 1 can thus be fixed to a wall, a floor, a ceiling, a frame or a metal structure. Fixing can also be done by means of extensions, spacers, or bases to adapt the device to the configuration of the place of installation. In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 3, these fixing means bear the reference 2 '. This is a threaded rod adapted to be received in a threaded support. This threaded rod 2 'extends along the central longitudinal axis YY' of the main body 1. This axis is perpendicular to the lower face 14 of the main body 1. It will also be noted that this longitudinal axis YY 'is included in the plane symmetry P of the device of the invention perpendicular to the face 10, this plane P being shown in Figure 1. The main body 1 further comprises three receiving cradles of said elongated elements A. Each cradle has the shape of a Curved chute whose cross section is in arc-circle portion. These cradles are integral with the main body 1. They are formed in the left longitudinal side faces 11 and right 12 and in the upper face 13 of the main body 1 and are respectively referenced 3a, 3b and 3c. In other words, the concavity of the cradles 3a, 3b and 3c is oriented respectively to the left, the right and the top, see FIG. 3. According to a first variant of embodiment which appears better in FIG. 1, the cradles 3a , 3b and 3c may be longer than the thickness E of the main body 1. In this case, they protrude from the front faces 10 and rear. According to another variant embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, these cradles 3a, 3b and 3c may be of the same length as the thickness E of the main body 1.

Their radius of curvature is adapted to the diameter of the elongated element A to receive. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the clamping means are constituted by two half-jaws 4 which cooperate 5 between them. Each half-jaw 4 has the shape of a chute section extending over an arc-of-circle portion, for example slightly greater than a quarter circle. The radius of curvature of this half-jaw 4 corresponds to that of the cradle 3a, 3b or 3c in front of which it is mounted. The two half-jaws 4 and the cradle 3a, 3b, 3c with which they are associated jointly define a clamping collar whose central longitudinal axes, respectively referenced Xa-X'a, Xb-X'b and Xc-X'c, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the Y-Y 'axis. These central longitudinal axes Xa-X'a, Xb-X'b and Xc-X'c also pass through the three vertices of a triangle T. Preferably, this triangle T is equilateral. Preferably, each of the half-jaws 4 is as thick as the thickness El of the cradle on which it is mounted. Each half-jaw 4 is articulated at one of its ends 40, called the "articulation end", near one of the two ends 30 of the corresponding cradle. More specifically, the hinge end 40 is provided with two cheeks 41 of a yoke which encircle a projecting portion 15 of the main body 1 located near the end 30 of the cradle. These two cheeks 41 and the projecting portion 15 are pierced with a longitudinal orifice, of axis X-X ', which allows the passage of a pin 42. The axis XX' is parallel to the axes Xa-X'a , XbX'b and Xc-X'c. The cheeks 41, the protruding portion 15 and the pin 42 define a hinge 400. In addition, each half-jaw 4 extends at its end 43, so-called "assembly", (opposite the hinge end). 40), by a longitudinal wing 44, that is to say which extends over its entire thickness. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the two half-jaws 4 are held in the closed position by means of assembly means 5. These assembly means 5 are, for example, bolts 51 and nuts 52. For this purpose , the wings 44 of each half-jaw 4 are provided with at least one orifice, here two, allowing the passage of these assembly means. The bolts 51 can also be replaced by a threaded rod integral with the wing 44.

Advantageously, and as it appears better in FIG. 2 in partial section, the hinges 400 are equipped with a torsion spring 47. This torsion spring 47 is inserted between the cheeks 41 of the yoke and the projecting portion 15. The torsion spring 47 continuously tends to hold the half jaw 4 in the open position shown in FIG. 4. In this open position, the operator can easily introduce the elongated element A into the cradle 3a, 3b, Corresponding 3c or extract it. The half-jaws 4 being integral with the main body 1 and the latter being fixed on a support, for example a wall, the operator thus only has to worry about moving, lifting and coming to install the elongated element A in the cradle. It can then easily manipulate the two half-jaws 4, in order to bring them closer and bring them into the closed position, illustrated in FIG. 3, in which these two half-jaws 4 and the corresponding cradle enclose the elongate element A. With the aid of the assembly means 5, 51, 52, it can then lock the two half-jaws 4 in this closed position. It can then do the same for another elongated element A, installed independently in another cradle. The passage in the closed position is against the restoring force of the torsion spring 47. The torsion spring 47 may also be replaced by a leaf spring or a compression spring or an elastic polymer element producing an opening force on the half-jaw. According to an alternative embodiment of the clamping means, not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the two half-jaws 4 can be replaced by a single jaw having the shape of a chute extending over an arc portion of larger circle, for example slightly larger than a semicircle. This single jaw comprises at its articulation end 40, a hinge 400 and at its assembly end 43, a wing 44.

The main body 1 is then shaped to present near one of the ends 30 of the corresponding cradle, a wing adapted to cooperate with the wing 44 to receive the assembly means 5 above. Another embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. This embodiment differs from the previous one in the nature of the clamping means. The main body 1, the means 2 for fixing on a support and the cradles 3a, 3b, 3c are identical and will not be described again. The clamping means 6 are here constituted by two flanges 61 assembled together and also assembled to a corresponding cradle 3a, 3b, 3c, so as to define a clamping collar. As previously described, the central longitudinal axes XaX'a, Xb-X'b and Xc-X'c of these clamps are parallel and pass through the vertices of a triangle T, preferably equilateral. Each flange 61 is in the form of a chute section whose cross-section is in an arc-of-circle portion, for example as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, slightly greater than a quarter of an arc-circle. Each flange is provided at its two ends with two flanges 62. Moreover, the two ends of the central upper cradle 3c are also provided with wings 31. The flanges 31 and 62 are pierced with coaxial orifices allowing the passage of the means assembly 5 previously described, such as bolts and nuts. In addition, the areas of the main body 1, located near the two ends of the side cradles 3a and 3b, are shaped so as to have a flat area 32, adapted to cooperate with the flanges 62 of the flanges 61. These flat areas 32 are furthermore pierced with a tapped bore, suitable for receiving a bolt 51. The pairs of flanges 61 are shown in the disassembled position in FIG. 6 and in the assembled position in FIG. 5. According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the two flanges 61 are replaced by a single flange 63 having for example the shape of a semicircular trough which delimits the half of the clamp.

Each flange 63 has at both ends a flange 64. Each flange 64 is pierced with orifices permitting the passage of the assembly means 5. The cradles 3a, 3b, 3c are deeper than in the previously described embodiments and have a hemicylindrical form. The clamping means have the general reference 6 '. The device for holding and positioning the elongated element A shown in FIG. 7 also differs from the previous ones in the structure of these fixing means on a support. In this case, the lower face 14 of the main body 1 is not flat but has a groove 16 whose longitudinal axis is parallel to the axes Xa-X'a, Xb-X'b and Xc-X'c of clamps. The fastening means on a support, referenced herein 2 ", comprise two fastening tabs 22 formed on either side of this groove 16, each of them being provided with at least one orifice (here two), referenced 23, allowing the passage of screws or bolts attachment.Another embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. It differs from the previous embodiments by the structure of the means of The other elements 20 remain unchanged and bear the same numerical references.These clamping means 8 consist of a tensioning strap 80, adjustable in tension, and a clamping axis 81, mounted to rotate anti-return. clamping device 80 defines with its cradle 25 corresponding 3a, 3b, 3c, a central axis clamping collar, respectively Xa-X'a, Xb-X'b and Xc-X'c.This clamping strap 80 is mounted on an attachment pin 82, parallel to the axis of ser rage 81, these two axes being themselves parallel to the aforementioned axes Xa-X'a, Xb-X'b and Xc-X'c. The axis 82 is fixed at each of its ends to cheeks 17 of a flange formed on the main body 1, in the vicinity of the end 30 of the corresponding cradle. The tightening strap 80 is folded in half and passed around the fastening axis 82.

The shaft 81 is held between two cheeks 18 of a flange formed on the main body 1 near the end of the cradle opposite that bearing the axis 82. As can be seen in Figures 9 and 10, Clamping shaft 81 is provided with a passage 810, preferably diametral, which allows the introduction of the two strands of the strap 80. The clamping axis 81 extends outside one of the cheeks. 18, by a head 811, adapted to be rotated by a tool (see Figure 8). The clamping shaft 81 is further provided at its opposite end with a ratchet wheel 812 provided with teeth 813. These teeth 813 cooperate with a non-return catch 83 which is in the form of a lever mounted pivoting about an axis 84 and returned to the non-return position by a spring 85. The axle 84 is advantageously a screw which is not screwed down until the strap 80 is completely tightened around the elongated elements A. These clamping means 8 allow the maintenance of a single elongate element A or several, for example three, clamped against each other, as shown in Figure 8. Once these elongate elements A positioned on one of the cradles 3a, 3b, 3c, the corresponding tightening strap 80 is tightened by the rotation of the head 811. The end of the pawl 83 jumps from one tooth to the other. The rotation of the axle 81 in the counterclockwise direction causes the clamping strap 80 to be wound up to the position shown in FIG. 10, in which the strap 80 is completely folded back on itself at the level of a zone 86 for covering portions of the strap, which makes it possible to trap it. Once the tightening position is reached, the pawl 83 prevents the rotation of the ratchet wheel 812. In addition, the screw 84 can be screwed down to block the pawl 83 on the main body 1.

Conversely, the loosening of the strap 80 is obtained by the release of the lever 83. In all the embodiments that have just been described, the positioning of the pins 42, wings 31 or axes 81 and 82 of the upper cradle 3c on the main body 1, with respect to these same elements which are in the vicinity of the upper end of the side cradles 3a and 3b, so as to minimize the overall bulk of the device according to the invention, while allowing easy and independent manipulation of each of the clamping means. The equilateral character of the aforementioned triangle T also contributes to these effects. It is thus possible to successively and independently fix each of the elongated elements A. The various components of the device according to the invention, with the exception of the straps, are advantageously made of metal, for example aluminum alloy . The various embodiments of the clamping means 4, 6, 6 ', 8 can hold each, an elongated element A or three. In addition, the different main bodies 1, equipped with the various clamping means 4, 6, 6 ', 8 which have just been described, may be provided, optionally, with one or the other of the fastening means 2 on a medium, previously described.

Finally, although the cradles 3a, 3b, 3c preferably have a cross-sectional area of an arc-of-circle, they could also have a section consisting of a plurality of successive cut edges.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for holding and positioning elongated elements (A), such as cables especially electrical, tubes or ducts, characterized in that it comprises a main body (1), which comprises means (2) for fixing on a support and three cradles (3a, 3b, 3c) for receiving said elongated elements, each cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) being equipped with a clamping means (4, 6, 6 ', 8) which cooperates with it to define a clamping collar enclosing the at least one elongated element (A), the three cradles being arranged on the main body (1) so that the central axes (Xa-X'a, XbX'b, Xc-X'c ) of the three clamps are parallel and are the vertices of a triangle (T). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the triangle is an equilateral triangle. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said clamping means (6 ') is a flange (63) whose two wing-shaped ends (64) are fixed near the two ends (30). of the cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) corresponding, and this, by means of assembly (5, 51, 52). 4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said clamping means (6) consists of two flanges (61), each flange (61) being fixed at one of its ends (62) to the another flange (61) and at its opposite end, near one of the ends (30) of the cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) corresponding, and that by means of screening (5, 51, 52). 5. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said clamping means is a single jaw, this single jaw being articulated at one of its ends (40) near one of the ends (30). the cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) corresponding, via a hinge (400), so that it is movable between a so-called "open" position, in which it is possible to introduce said elongate member (A) in the cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) or to extract it and a so-called "closed" position, in which the cradle and the jaw enclose said elongated element (A), said jaw being retained in the closed position, on the cradle (3a , 3b, 3c) corresponding, by means of assembly (5, 51, 52). 6. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said clamping means consists of two half-jaws (4), each half-jaw (4) being articulated at one of its ends (40) in the vicinity one of the ends (30) of the cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) corresponding, via a hinge (400), so that these two half-jaws are movable between a position called "open", in which they are discarded cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) and in which it is possible to introduce said elongated member (A) into or out of said cradle and a so-called "closed" position, in which they are brought closer to each other. the other and said cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) and in which this cradle and the two half-jaws (4) enclose said elongated element, the two half-jaws being retained in the closed position by assembly means ( 5, 51, 52). 7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the hinge (400) is equipped with a return spring (47) which tends permanently to keep the jaw or the jaw (4) in the open position, the displacement of this or these jaws (4) being against the restoring force of the spring. 8. Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said connecting means (5) are a bolt (51) and a nut (52). 9. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said clamping means (8) is a clamping strap (80), in that the corresponding cradle (3a, 3b, 3c) is provided near each of its two ends (30), respectively an attachment pin (82) of said strap and a clamping axis (81) thereof, these two axes (81, 82) being parallel, the axis of tightening (81) being pierced with a hole (810) for passage and reception of said strap, the clamping axis (81) being mounted rotationally anti-return. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said clamping axis (81) is equipped with a ratchet wheel (812) cooperating with a non-return ratchet (83). 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cradles (3a, 3b, 3c), the flange (61, 63), the jaw and / or the half-jaw (4) have a contact surface. with the elongated element (A), of curved shape whose cross section is in the form of an arc of a circle.