FR3123464A1 - Lashing pin for cable, in particular for optical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a securing pin (1) for a cable comprising rovings of mechanical reinforcement inside an insulating sheath, in particular for an optical cable. The lashing pin (1) has an elongated body comprising: an upper end (10) forming a gripping part; a lower end (11) comprising elastic snap-fastening means (11a, 11b) to allow anchoring of the securing pin (1) in a corresponding bore of a fixed connection pad, said lower end (11) forming a slot (13) allowing the passage of reinforcing rovings from a stripped end portion of a cable, and an intermediate part (12) forming a winding zone around which the reinforcing rovings introduced into the slot (13 ) can be rolled up. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Lashing pin for cable, in particular for optical cable

The present invention relates to the general field of cables, and more specifically to a securing pin for a cable, in particular a cable comprising one or more optical fibers and mechanical reinforcing rovings.

Technology background

In the non-limiting field of optical telecommunications cables, it is known to provide for the cable to be composed of an electrically insulating sheath surrounding one or more optical fibers as well as mechanical reinforcement elements, typically aramid rovings (for example Kevlar, registered trademark), extending in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

When such a cable is integrated into an electrical network, the problem of the mechanical fixing of the cable arises.

It is known in particular to use a junction box in order to be able to connect one end of one or more optical cables in a telecommunications network. Such a box generally constitutes a small volume that is not easily accessible for an operator, making the fixing operations difficult.

A known solution in securing an optical cable consists in stripping an end portion of the cable (operation consisting of removing the insulating sheath on a given end portion), inserting the end of the cable inside a connection box over a sufficient length to be able to accommodate the stripped portion and a non-stripped portion of cable (comprising the insulating sheath). The cable is then fixed at two points: a first securing is carried out on the unstripped portion of the cable by means of a plastic collar forming a cable clamp around the cable sheath and a T-shape inside the junction box. The aramid rovings accessible on the stripped end portion of the cable are braided manually, and one end of the braid thus obtained is secured inside the connection box by means of a screw. An operator must therefore not only manually make a braid with the aramid fibers, but must also use a tool (typically a screwdriver) to secure the braid to a fixed point of the connection box.

Another solution for securing a fiber optic cable in a junction box, described in document EP 2 288 949 B1 consists of a strain relief device for cables, made in at least two parts and having an outer part and an inner part, the inner part being constructed rotatably relative to the outer part and having a winding region, the strain relief device having a stop for the cable, the inner part having in its upper part a slot for the insertion of at least a part of the cable, in particular Kevlar fibers, the part of the cable inserted into the slot being able to be wound around the winding zone by rotation of the inner part with respect to the outer part.

Such a securing device always requires the use of a screwing tool in order to rotate the inner part into the outer part.

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a securing solution for a cable comprising mechanical reinforcement wicks inside an insulating sheath that does not require the use of a tool such as a screwing tool.

• une extrémité supérieure formant partie de préhension;
• une extrémité inférieure comprenant des moyens élastiques d’encliquetage pour permettre un ancrage du pion d’arrimage dans un alésage correspondant d’un plot fixe de connexion, ladite extrémité inférieure formant une fente permettant le passage de mèches de renfort mécanique d’une portion d’extrémité dénudée d’un câble, et
• une partie intermédiaire formant une zone d’enroulement autour de laquelle les mèches de renfort mécanique introduites dans la fente peuvent être enroulées.

More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a securing pin for a cable comprising mechanical reinforcement rovings inside an insulating sheath, the securing pin comprising an elongated body comprising:

• an upper end forming a gripping part;
• a lower end comprising elastic snap-fastening means to allow anchoring of the securing pin in a corresponding bore of a fixed connection pad, said lower end forming a slot allowing the passage of rovings of mechanical reinforcement of a portion of stripped end of a cable, and
• an intermediate part forming a winding zone around which the mechanical reinforcing rovings introduced into the slot can be wound.

In one possible embodiment, the elastic latching means consist of elastic fixing lugs extending axially and delimiting said slot, each elastic fixing lug being intended, when the securing pin is in the anchoring position, to immobilize the pin on a corresponding shoulder of the fixed connection pad.

The elastic snap-fastening means are for example made up of two elastic fixing lugs located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the securing pin.

The outer surface of the elastic fixing lugs may have a chamfered shape making it possible to reduce the efforts of an operator during an operation of latching or unlatching the securing pin.

In one possible embodiment, the upper end forming the gripping part comprises a flared base.

The pin may further comprise a collar between the intermediate part and the lower end, said collar being intended to rest on the fixed connection stud in the anchoring position of the stowage pin.

In this case, the intermediate part preferably has a smaller cross section than the cross section of the flange and than the cross section of the flared base.

The collar preferably comprises at least one radial notch.

The intermediate part is preferably cylindrical.

The securing pin is preferably made of plastic.

Brief description of figures

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the attached figures:

illustrates two views (a) and (b) of a possible embodiment of a securing pin according to the present invention;

illustrates four views (a) to (d) diagramming the procedure for anchoring the end of a cable to a fixed connection stud 3 by means of the securing pin of the .

Description of embodiment(s)

In the figures, identical or equivalent elements will bear the same reference signs. The various diagrams are not to scale.

• une extrémité supérieure 10;
• une extrémité inférieure 11, et
• une partie intermédiaire 12.

The securing pin 1 in the embodiment illustrated in the figures is intended to allow the anchoring of one end of a cable 2 comprising rovings 20 of mechanical reinforcement inside an insulating sheath 21, typically an optical cable, on a fixed stud 3 of a connection plate (not shown). The connection plate can for example be an element integrated inside a connection box. As visible on the two views (a) and (b) of the , the securing pin 1 comprising an elongated body, preferably made of plastic material, comprising:

• an upper end 10;
• a lower end 11, and
• an intermediate part 12.

The upper end 10 forms a gripping part.

The lower end 11 comprises elastic snap-fastening means to allow anchoring of the securing pin 1 in a corresponding bore 30 of the fixed stud 3 of the connection plate. The lower end 11 forms a slot 13 allowing the passage of rovings 20 for mechanical reinforcement of a stripped end portion of the cable 2.

Finally, the intermediate part 12, preferably cylindrical, forms a winding zone around which the rovings 20 of mechanical reinforcement introduced into the slot 13 can be wound.

The elastic latching means consist of elastic fixing lugs which extend axially (parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin 1) and which delimit the slot 13. Each elastic fixing lug is intended to immobilize the pin 1 on a corresponding shoulder of stud 3 of the connection plate when securing pin 1 is in the anchoring position (see , view (d)).

In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the figures, the elastic snap-fastening means are made up of two elastic fixing lugs 11a, 11b located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the securing pin 1.

The outer surface of the elastic fixing lugs 11a, 11b preferably comprises a chamfered shape 14 making it possible to reduce the efforts of an operator during a latching or unlatching operation of the securing pin 1.

As seen on the , the intermediate part 12 extends between a flared base 15 of the upper end 10 forming the gripping part and a collar 16 between the intermediate part 12 and the lower end 11, the lower base of this collar 16 being intended to take pressing on stud 3 of the connection plate in the anchoring position of stowage pin 1 (see , view (d)), for example on the upper part of the bore 20.

In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, the cross section of the intermediate part 12 is smaller than the cross section of the collar 16 and than the cross section of the flared base 15. This advantageously prevents the locks wound around the area winding can escape axially.

The collar 16 preferably comprises at least one radial notch 17 to facilitate the passage of the rovings from the slot 13 towards the winding zone 12.

1. On dénude une portion d’extrémité du câble 2 à ancrer de manière à rendre accessibles les mèches 20 de renfort mécanique de ce câble 2 (voir vue (a) ) ;
2. On fait un nœud 22 à l’extrémité libre de l’ensemble des mèches 20 de renfort mécanique ;
3. On fait passer les mèches 20 de renfort mécanique dans la fente 13 du pion 1 et on utilise le nœud 22 pour mettre l’ensemble de mèches en butée (voir vue (b) ) ;
4. On enroule l’ensemble de mèches 20 de renfort mécanique autour de la zone d’enroulement de la partie intermédiaire 12 du pion 1 (voir vue (c) ) ; et
5. On place le pion 1 dans la position d’ancrage en introduisant l’extrémité inférieure 11 du pion 1 dans l’alésage 30 correspondant du plot 3 de la platine de connexion, jusqu’à encliquetage des moyens élastiques d’encliquetage (voir vue (d) ).

The procedure for anchoring the end of a cable 2 to a fixed connection stud 3 by means of the securing pin 1 is preferably as follows (see ):

1. An end portion of the cable 2 to be anchored is stripped in such a way as to make the mechanical reinforcement strands 20 of this cable 2 accessible (see view (a) );
2. A knot 22 is made at the free end of all the strands 20 of mechanical reinforcement;
3. The wicks 20 of mechanical reinforcement are passed through the slot 13 of the pin 1 and the knot 22 is used to put the set of wicks in abutment (see view (b) );
4. The set of mechanical reinforcement rovings 20 is wound around the winding zone of the intermediate part 12 of the pin 1 (see view (c) ); and
5. The pin 1 is placed in the anchoring position by introducing the lower end 11 of the pin 1 into the corresponding bore 30 of the stud 3 of the connection plate, until the elastic snap-fastening means engage (see view ( d) ).

An ergonomic shape is advantageously given to the upper end 10 forming the gripping part, so as to facilitate handling for an operator during the implementation of steps c to e above. The operator can thus hold the pin 1 with one hand by this upper end while he introduces with his other hand the set of wicks provided with its stop knot 22 into the slot 13, then guides this set through the notch 17 to wrap it around the winding zone 12, then finally positions the pin 1 in the anchoring position by snapping into the corresponding bore.

The securing pin according to the invention has a number of advantages over known solutions. In particular, the operator no longer has to use a specific tool such as a screwdriver. The operator is also much less constrained since the preparatory operations for anchoring a cable (such as the operations shown schematically on views (a), (b) and (c) of the can be carried out in an open area. This constitutes a real advantage compared to existing solutions in which the operator must carry out the various operations in a very small space, limited to the connection box, especially since it is often necessary to anchor a plurality of cable in the same junction box. The stowage is also completely reversible: any cable can be easily separated by a simple operation of unlatching the stowage pin. It is also no longer necessary to braid the wicks (compulsory in the case of screw fixing). The use of a pin instead of a screw is also advantageous because it avoids any risk of stripping of screws. Furthermore, the screw fastening solutions require the delivery of batches of screws per bag in order to avoid losing screws. When the pin in accordance with the invention is made of plastic material, it is possible to manufacture a cluster, that is to say a set of pins molded at the same time in the same mould, which reduces manufacturing costs and makes the use of sachets unnecessary.

Claims (10)

Lashing pin (1) for a cable (2) comprising rovings (20) for mechanical reinforcement inside an insulating sheath (21), the lashing pin (1) comprising an elongated body comprising:

• an upper end (10) forming a gripping part;
• a lower end (11) comprising elastic snap-fastening means (11a, 11b) to allow the securing pin (1) to be anchored in a corresponding bore (20) of a fixed connection stud (3), said end bottom (11) forming a slot (13) allowing the passage of rovings (20) of mechanical reinforcement of a stripped end portion of a cable (2), and
• an intermediate part (12) forming a winding zone around which the rovings (20) of mechanical reinforcement introduced into the slot (13) can be wound.

Securing pin (1) according to Claim 1, in which the elastic snap-fastening means consist of elastic fastening tabs (11a, 11b) extending axially and delimiting the said slot (13), each elastic tab (11a, 11b) fixing being intended, when the securing pin (1) is in the anchoring position, to immobilize the pin (1) on a corresponding shoulder of the fixed stud (3) connection. Securing pin (1) according to Claim 2, in which the elastic snap-fastening means consist of two elastic fixing lugs (11a, 11b) located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the securing peg (1 ). Securing pin (1) according to any one of Claims 2 or 3, in which the outer surface of the elastic fixing lugs (11a, 11b) has a chamfered shape (16) making it possible to reduce the forces of an operator when an operation of latching or unlatching the securing pin (1). Lashing pin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the upper end (10) forming the gripping part comprises a flared base (15). Securing pin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a collar (16) between the intermediate part (12) and the lower end (11), the said collar (16) being intended to bear on the fixed stud (3) for connection in the anchoring position of the securing pin (1). Lashing pin (1) according to Claims 5 and 6, in which the intermediate part (12) has a smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the flange (16) and than the cross-section of the flared base (15) . Securing pin (1) according to any one of Claims 6 or 7, in which the collar (16) comprises at least one radial notch (17). Lashing pin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate part (12) is cylindrical. Lashing pin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of plastic material.