GB2048364A

GB2048364A - A cable clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2048364A
Application number: GB8010118A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Cableform Ltd
Current assignee: Cableform Ltd
Priority date: 1979-04-11
Filing date: 1980-03-26
Publication date: 1980-12-10
Also published as: DE3012158A1; FR2454197A1; IT8021326A0; SE8002559L; IT1141419B

Abstract

A cable clamp comprising two clamping elements, Figs. 2 and 5, which are interengageable so as to define opposite sides of at least one opening through which a cable to be clamped is inserted, the positions of the said two elements relative to one another being adjustable so as to adjust the size of the said at least one opening. The two elements comprise abutting serrated surfaces 13, 22 which are slideable over one another as the two elements are brought together to define the said at least one opening. The said abutting surfaces may be clamped together to maintain their relative positions by means of a nut and bolt at holes 14, 23. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cable clamp The present invention relates to a cable clamp for securing cables to prevent them from pulling out of for example a connector.

In a cable clamp described in German Patent Specification No. 76 21 175 a connector casing is provided with an extended end in which grooves are provided to accommodate two main cables and a subsidiary cable of lesser diameter situated between the main cables. The main cables are clamped between a compression piece and the casing. A screw in the compression piece can be turned to clamp the subsidiary cable between itself and the case.

Disadvantages with this known clamp are that the connector casing is inconveniently long and that the clamping pressure is determined by a screw connection and is therefore difficult to accurately set without special tools.

Particularly in the case of the subsidiary cable the screw can overtightened and thereby damage the cable.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a cable clamp comprising two clamping elements which are inter-engageable so as to define opposite sides of at least one opening through which a cable to be clamped is inserted, the positions of the said two elements relative to one another being adjustable so as to adjust the size of said at least one opening, characterised in that two elements comprise abutting surfaces which are slidable over one another as the two elements are brought together to define the said at least one opening, and means are provided whereby the said abutting surfaces may be clamped together to maintain their relative positions.

Preferably one of the said elements comprises a recess and the other of the said elements comprises a tongue which may be inserted into the recess, the adjacent surfaces of the said recess and tongue defining the said abutting surface.

The abutting surfaces may be provided with interengageable saw toothed projections which resist separation of the two elements.

Preferably one of the said clamp element comprises a cavity and the other of the said clamp elements comprises a pin which may be inserted into the said cavity, the said pin and cavity facilitating the interengagement of the two elements.

The cavity may have an enlarged section through which the pin passes to define at least one hole through which a secondary cable may pass. The edges of the said at least one opening defined by the two elements comprise cable gripping projections.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of an assembled clamp according to the present invention mounted on a connector; Figures 2, 3 and 4 are top, side and sectional views respectively of the male element of the clamp; and Figures 5, 6 and 7 are top, side and sectional views respectively of the female element of the clamp.

Referring to Fig. 1, the illustrated assembled clamp secures two main cables 1 and a subsidiary cable 2 to a connector 3. The clamp comprises a male element 4 and female element 5 secured together by a bolt 6 which engages with a nut (not shown) retained in a hexagonal recess in the connector casing.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the male element 4 is substantially T shaped comprising two limbs 7 and a pin 8 symmetrical about axis IV-IV. The male element 4 is made from a moulded plastics material and there are the usual surface indentations 9 characteristic of moulded manufacture. The sides of the limbs adjacent the pin have V-shaped notches 10 provided with teeth 11 for gripping a main cable 1 (shown in Fig. 1) when the two elements of the clamp are assembled.

A central rectangular recessed portion 12 of the male element is symmetrical about the axis IV-IV. The depth of this portion is approximately half that of the rest of the limbs.

The floor of the recessed portion is serrated to form a rack gear-like formation 13 in which, as best shown in Fig. 4 which is a section on axis IV-IV, the serrated formations extend perpendicular to axis IV-IV. The recessed portion 12 has an elongate countersunk hole 14 extending through it whose major axis is coincident with axis IV-IV.

The top surface of the pin 8 is substantially at the same level as the floor of the recessed portion 12 and has a depth about half the depth of the recessed portion 12. The section of the pin is generally rectangular but is provided with triangular shoulders 15 (Fig. 3) so that the top surface is wider than the bottom surface. The walls of the pin meet at a flattened point.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the female element of the clamp is also generally T shaped with two limbs 7 symmetrical about a tongue 16. Parts common to the male and female elements have been labelled with the same reference numerals. The main differences between the male and female elements are described below.

An approximately T shaped cavity 17 extends through the lower part such that its axis lies on axis VII-VII. Fig. 7 is a section on this axis. The cavity 17 extends from the side remote from the tongue 16 and opens out in the middle of the female element. The ends 18 and 19 of the cavity 17 have half cylindrical walls which support cable gripping projections 20 for gripping a subsidiary cable 2 (Fig. 1).

The tongue 16 is rectangular in section and about half the depth of the rest of the female element. The bottom surface of the tongue 16 is substantially at the same level as the bottom of the rest of the female element and so there is a step 21 (Fig. 7) between the top surface 22 of the tongue and the limbs. The top surface 22 of the tongue is serrated to form a rack gear-like formation in which the serrated formations are perpendicular to the axis Vll-Vll. An elongate hole 23 with semicircular ends whose major axis is aligned with axis VII-VII extends through the tongue 16.

An aperture 24 having substantially the same section as the pin 8 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) extends through the step 21 parallel and symmetrical with axis VII-VII to connect with cavity 17.

In operation, the two elements 4 and 5 are brought together so that the pin 8 is inserted into the aperture 24. A bolt is passed through elongate holes 14, 23 to loosely engage a nut (not shown) lodged in a hexagonal recess on the end of the connector. The two main cables 1 are inserted in openings formed by corresponding notches 10 of the elements and the subsidiary cable 2 is inserted in one of the ends 18 or 19 of the cavity 17.

The two elements 4 and 5 of the clamp are manually pressed together so the rack gear like formations 13 and 22 mesh. The teeth 11 on the walls of the notches bite into the covering of the main cables and the subsidiary cable is gripped between the edges of the pin 8 and the adjacent projection 20 on the wall of the cavity 17, when the pressure on the cables is sufficient to give the required clamping force the bolt passed through elongate holes 14 and 23 is tightened. Tightening the bolt secures the clamp to the connector and the two elements of the clamp together. The projections 25 on the female member mate with the connector body to prevent rotation.

Only one subsidiary cable 2 is shown in Fig. 1. It will be appreciated that if two subsidiary cables were to be accommodated they could be inserted on either of the pin 8.

Claims

1. A cable clamp comprising two clamping elements which are interengageable so as to define opposite side of at least one opening through which a cable to clamped is inserted, the positions of the said two elements relative to one another being adjustable so as to asdjust the size of the said at least one opening, characterised in that the two elements comprise abutting surfaces which are slidable over one another as the two elements are brought together to define the said at least one opening, and means are provided whereby the said abutting surfaces may be clamped together to maintain their relative positions.

2. A cable clamp according to claim 1, characterised in that one of the said elements comprises a recess and the other of the said elements comprises a tongue which may be inserted into the recess, the adjacent surfaces of the said recess and tongue defining the said abutting surfaces.

3. A cable clamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the said abutting surfaces are provided with interengageable saw tooth projections which resist separation of the two elements.

4. A cable clamp according to claim 3, characterised in that the means whereby the said abutting surfaces are clamped together to maintain their relative positions comprises a bolt which passes through elongated holes in the said recess and tongue.

5. A cable clamp according to claim 4, characterised in that the bolt is engaged with a nut secured in a connector casing.

6. A cable clamp according to any preceding claim, characterised in that one of the said clamp elements comprises a cavity and the other of the said clamp elements comprises a pin which may be inserted into the said cavity facilitating the interengagement of the two elements.

7. A cable clamp according to claim 6, characterised in that the cavity has an enlarged section though which a secondary cable may pass.

8. A cable clamp according to claim 7, characterised in that the said at least one hole is provided with cable gripping projections around its edge.

9. A cable according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the edges of the said at least one opening defined by the two elements comprise cable gripping projections.

10. A cable clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.