FR3098885A1 - Wire clamps advantageously intended for earthing a metal structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fixing support making it possible to fix one or more preferably elongated elements on a support, more particularly a chute. The support advantageously comprises a screw comprising at one end an oblong head (8), two flanges (2,4) provided with a bore substantially in their middle (21), a clamp (6) with a bore substantially in its middle, the flanges (2,4,) and the clamp (6) being threaded onto the screw by their holes and held by a clamping means (10) screwed on the end opposite the oblong head (8).

Description

Clamps advantageously intended for the earthing of a metallic structure

The invention relates to a clamp intended advantageously for the earthing of a metallic structure.

For this purpose, fixing supports are known, in particular wire clamps for earthing a metal structure comprising a body having a threaded cylindrical cavity opening out at a first end of the body, the other end being closed by a bottom pierced with a hole for the passage of a screw or stud for fixing the body to the metal structure.

The body has on a part of the threaded cavity two slits crossing opposite one another made along two generatrices of the cylindrical cavity and opening out at said first end. A threaded plug having a drive means in rotation is engaged in a helical connection in the thread of the cylindrical cavity to clamp a core of an electric wire against the bottom of the slots.

This structure requires first inserting the screw or stud into the body of the wire clamp, then inserting the body of the screw into a hole in the metal structure, then tightening the screw against the metal structure, using , if necessary, a nut and possibly a washer.

In a second step, an electric wire is inserted into the slots and the clamping cap screwed on top.

The installation of such a clamp requires the handling and assembly of many parts, which constitutes a waste of time for the installer, and increases the risk of losing elements during handling. In addition, it is not suitable for structures made of welded wires which must be mounted with a clip system.

The object of the present invention is intended to improve the handling of the support and to give it a versatile appearance so that it can be used on different types of structures, in particular on solid perforated or mesh trunking made from wires assembled between them.

For this purpose the elements which constitute the fixing support remain in relative position with respect to each other. The manipulation of the support is thus facilitated and the risk of losing the elements which constitute it is practically non-existent.

These supports can be used in general for clamping wires and more particularly for clamping wires suitable for earthing metal structures, for example solid perforated or trellis metal trunking made of metal wires welded together.

Thus the electrical connection wire clamp ensures the linking of a ground wire with the profiles or metal troughs made of stamped sheet metal or welded wires. The wire clamp is fixed in a conductive manner under the action of the screw causing the locking of the support elements towards each other. It thus ensures the immobilization of a ground wire by wedging.

The wire clamp for grounding a profiled structure advantageously comprises 5 parts forming a set whose purpose is to adapt both to stamped profiles and to welded wire profiles making it possible to fix one or more elements preferentially elongated.

This assembly, advantageously called a wire block, is made up of an oblong head or "hammer" head screw which comprises a flat and/or a groove which is used to accommodate all the support elements comprising two flanges preferably made of steel or any other bi-metal materials to avoid electrolytic couples as well as a body advantageously called clamp which is advantageously made of sheet metal, cut and bent obtained by stamping or any other process such as molding, laser cutting etc ... and in which are drilled with a flat and/or lug in order to slide them on the same axis as the hammer screw and lock them in rotation when in use.

This assembly is locked by a helical retaining nut with a hexagonal or butterfly type drive means screwed into the end opposite the slotted head.

According to another aspect, the flanges are angled and are oriented in the direction, or towards an opposite direction of the oblong head, and the clamp which has bends oriented in the direction, or towards an opposite direction of the oblong head.

the clamp advantageously comprises two lateral arms oriented towards the oblong head.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for installing the fixing support or wire block comprising the steps consisting of:

- present the fixing support or wire block to a solid perforated structure with which it is to be connected.

- insert the oblong-head screw or "hammer" perpendicular to the perforation of the profile and position the assembly by rotating it at 90° before inserting a ground wire between the flanges and the clamp and tightening the threaded nut against the wire block using a suitable rotation tool or by hand in the case of a wing nut in order to fix the support or wire block and the ground wire to the structure to be connected.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method for installing the fixing support or wire block having the steps consisting of:

- present the wire support or block to a wire mesh structure with which it is to be connected perpendicularly to the mesh structure.

- insert the two flanges on the top and bottom wires of the trellis structure by a 90° rotation movement

- insert a ground wire between the flanges and the clamp or advantageously elongated elements such as wires, conduits, rigid or flexible sheaths, etc.

-tighten the threaded nut against the mounting bracket or wire block using a suitable rotation tool or by hand in the case of a wing nut in order to secure the mounting bracket or wire block and the ground wire to the structure to be connected

The description of the invention will now be continued with the detailed description of an embodiment, given below by way of non-limiting illustration, with reference to the appended drawings. On these

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a Wire Block according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the Wire Block according to a second embodiment of the invention

- Figures 3 and 4 are two assembled perspective views of the same Wire Block;

- Figure 5 is a side view of the same Wire Block

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the same Wire Block fixed to a section made of welded rods.

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the same Wire Block attached to a bent sheet section

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the same Fixed Wire Block presented for mounting on a section of welded rods.

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of the same Fixed Wire Block mounted on a section of welded rods.

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of the same fixed Wire Block presented for mounting on a profile made of folded sheets

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of the same Fixed Wire Block mounted on a profile made of folded sheets

As shown in Figure 1, the mounting bracket or wire block produced more particularly for the earthing of a metal structure (not shown) comprises 5 parts having an oblong-head screw or "hammer" 8 tapped, two flanges 2 and 4 pierced with a hole, a clamp 6 pierced with a hole and a butterfly nut 10 or hexagonal nut.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the mounting bracket or wire block made more particularly for grounding a metal structure (not shown) comprises 5 parts having an oblong-head screw or "hammer" 8 tapped with a flat 24, of two flanges 2 and 4 pierced with a hole with a flat 22 comprising two bends at their end 30 of a clamp 6 pierced with a hole with a flat 22 comprising a bend at its upper end 26 of a back on its upper part 20 to prevent the wire from slipping upwards when tightening two side arms 18 to allow the wire to find support and a wing nut 10 or hexagonal nut.

As seen more particularly in Figures 3 and 4, the oblong head or "hammer" 8 once inserted into the flanges 2 and 4 and the clamp 6 blocks the rotating parts to facilitate the installation of the mounting bracket or wire block on the particular metal structure (not shown in this figure).

As shown in Figure 5 side view, the flanges 2 and 4 have bends 30 to facilitate the establishment of the mounting bracket or wire block on the truss structure (not shown in this figure) The clamp 6 has a folding at its upper end 26 of a return on its upper part 20 to prevent the wire from slipping upwards when tightening the two lateral arms 18 to allow the wire to find a support and a wing nut 10 or hexagonal nut blocks the wire block set.

The fixing support or wire block can be fixed on the structure by tightening the fixing screw without having to dismantle the support or wire block. Thus, there is no risk of losing a part when installing the mounting bracket or wire block. In addition, the clamp facilitates the guidance of the ground wire before performing the tightening.

The body of the support can be fitted to the structure by a simple quarter turn then by tightening the screw without having to disassemble the parts, which contributes to the reliability of the assembly and to the ease of installation. In practice, the risk of losing an element of the support or wire block according to the invention during its installation is nil, since all the parts are prisoners of the oblong-head screw or "hammer".

According to another advantageous characteristic, the oblong-head or "hammer" screw comprises a flat surface which makes it possible to block all the sheets and the hammer screw in rotation on the same axis.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the hammer screw has a groove in the flat which allows additional locking in rotation of all the sheets and the hammer screw on the same axis.

Thus, advantageously, the hammer screw and all the parts are centered and guided in rotation during its presentation to the sections, as well as during its installation by its 90° rotation and its tightening on the metal structure to be connected.

As shown in Figure 6, the wire block is mounted on a welded wire profile type profile 12 with the ground wire 14 and the assembly is firmly locked by screwing the nut 10.

As shown in Figure 7, the wire block is mounted on a stamped type profile 14 with the ground wire 14 and the assembly is firmly locked by screwing the nut 10.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, to fix the wire block which causes the locking of the support elements towards each other and thus ensures the immobilization of a ground wire by jamming, the wire block must be presented perpendicular to two wires 32 of the profile with welded wires 12 and make a quarter turn with the wire block, taking care to pass the flanges 2 and 4 on each side of the wires 32 then slide the ground wire 14 between the clamp 6 and the flange 2 before locking everything by screwing the nut 10

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, to fix the wire block which causes the locking of the support elements towards each other and thus ensures the immobilization of a ground wire by jamming, the wire block must be presented perpendicular to the slot 34 of the stamped profile 16, taking care to pass the hammer head 8 on the inside of the profile 16 and make a quarter turn with the wire block then slide the ground wire 14 between the clamp 6 and the flange 4 before locking all by screwing the nut 10

Many other variants are possible depending on the circumstances, and it is recalled in this respect that the invention is not limited to the examples described and represented.

Claims (7)

Fixing support allowing one or more preferably elongated elements to be fixed on a support, more particularly a trunking, characterized in that the fixing support comprises a screw comprising at one end an oblong head (8), two flanges (2,4) provided with a bore substantially in their middle (21), of a clamp (6) with a bore substantially in its middle (21), the flanges (2,4) and the clamp (6) being threaded onto the screw and held by a clamping means (10) screwed on the opposite end to the oblong head (8). Fixing support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the screw comprises a flat and/or a groove and the hole in the flanges (2,4) comprises a flat (22) and/or a lug enabling the flanges (2,4) and the clamp (6) to be locked in rotation on the screw. Fixing support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the flanges (2,4) are bent at their ends and in that the bends of the flange 2 are oriented in the direction of the oblong head, the bends of the flange 4 are oriented towards a opposite direction to the oblong head, the elbow of the clamp 6 is also oriented towards a direction opposite to the oblong head. Fixing support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the clamp 6 advantageously comprises a return (26) which is also oriented towards a direction opposite to the oblong head. Fixing support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the clamp (6) advantageously comprises a return (20) on the face opposite the elbow (26) Fixing support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the clamp (6) advantageously comprises two lateral arms (18) oriented towards the oblong head. Use of the support or wire block according to claims 1 to 6 to advantageously support elongated elements such as wires, ground wires, conduits, rigid or flexible sheaths, etc.