GB2111634A

GB2111634A - Cable handling means

Info

Publication number: GB2111634A
Application number: GB08135376A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Beet
Original assignee: Mansign Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Mansign Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 1981-11-24
Filing date: 1981-11-24
Publication date: 1983-07-06

Abstract

Cable handing means including an elongate flexible support member and a plurality of cable anchorage means 14 axially spaced along the support member for anchoring cables 20, 21 to said support member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cable handling means The present invention relates to cable handling means, in particular handling means which holds cables such as power or supply cables side by side in a bundle and protect the bundle when the bundle is looped upon itself or dragged along a surface. Such cable handling means are particularly suitable for use in handling power and supply cables running along a coal face for supplying electrical power and water to a coal curring machine which tranversesthe coal face.

According to one aspect of the present invention there iprnvided cable handling means including an elongaterflexible support member and a plurality of cable anchorage means axially spaced along the support member for anchoring cables to said support member.

The flexible support member is preferably articulated in order to provide flexibility coupled with tensile strength. Advantageously the support member may comprise an articulated chain, the chain links being preferably of a suitable metal.

Each of the cable anchorage means preferably is preferably channel shaped in cross-section, the channel being defined by a lower wall and and upper wall joined together by a side wall, the side wall being secured to the elongate support member.

Preferably the anchorage means are each formed from a suitable plastics material and are conveniently secured to the elongate support member by being moulded therearound so that the support member extends through the side wall.

Advantageously the side wall is positioned inbetween the side edges of the upper and lower walls so as to define either side of the side wall two channels Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa sectional view of an embodiment according to the present invention taken along line l-l- in Figure 2; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 taken along Line ll-It in Figure 1.

Cable handling means according to the present invention are generally shown at 10 and include a flexible elongate support member 11 in the form of an articulated chain composed of chain links 12 and cable aachorage means 14 spaced along the support member 11.

Theanchorage means 14 each include a lowerwall 15,an upper wall 16 and a sidewall 17 which joins the upper and lower walls together. As seen in Figure 1, the upper, lower and side walls 15, 16 and 17 respectively define a pair of side by side channels 18, 19 in which cables 20, 21 may be received. The end edges 23, 24 of both the upper and lower walls are turned inwardly of the channels 18, so as to provide chamfered edges for facilitating sliding movement of the anchorage means either along a surface or over one another in the event the cables are looped upon themselves. To cater for looping of the cables, the spacing between adjacent anchorage means is chosen to be less than the width of the anchorage means as defined between opposed end edges of the upper or lower walls.

The upper and lower walls are preferably provided with clip retaining apertures 30,31 which serve to retain a U-shaped clip 32 as seen in Figure 1.

The spacing of apertures 30 and 31 from the side wall 17 is such as to enable the same clip to be introduced from either channel to retain cables within that channel. Accordingly, retention of cables within either channel is simply achieved by placing the cable within one of the channels and feeding the U-shaped clip 32 into the channel so that its legs 32a pass through apertures 33 formed in the side wall 17 so that the detent formations 34 on the terminal end of legs 32a engage in apertures 30 or 31. The U shaped clip 32 is formed of spring metal, the legs being biased outwardly when received in the anchorage means so that the detent formations are resiliently held in the apertures 30 or 31.

The anchorage means 14 are each preferably formed of a suitable plastics material such as a polyamide and are moulded about the chain links 12 as seen in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly the chain links 12 are therefore embedded with the side wall of the anchorage means.

As seen in Figure 2, recesses 36 are provided so that the chain link 1 2a positioned between adjacent anchorage means is free to articulate in any direction. If desired, recess 36 may be replaced by projections 36a (shown in dotted lines) which serve to restrain articulation of chain link 12c so that adjacent anchorage means are permitted to pivot relative to one another only in a plane extending longitudinally of the support member 11 and in an upwards or downwards direction as viewed in Figure 2.

Conveniently, the cable handling means according to the present invention is produced in discrete lengths wherein discrete lengths chain are fed to an injection moulding machine and onto which several anchorage means are moulded. The discrete lengths of cable handling means may then be joined by individual chain links 12 produce cable handling means of a desired length.

7. Cable handling means including an etongate flexible support member and a plurality of cable anchorage means axially spaced along the support member for anchoring cables to said support member.

2. Cable handling means according to Claim 1 wherein the support member is an articulated chain.

3. Cable handling means according to Claim 2 wherein each cable handling means is channel shaped in cross-section, the channel being defined by a lower wall and an upper wall joined together by a sidewall, the side wall being secured to the elongate support member.

4. Cable handling means according to Claim 3

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

SPECIFICATION Cable handling means The present invention relates to cable handling means, in particular handling means which holds cables such as power or supply cables side by side in a bundle and protect the bundle when the bundle is looped upon itself or dragged along a surface. Such cable handling means are particularly suitable for use in handling power and supply cables running along a coal face for supplying electrical power and water to a coal curring machine which tranversesthe coal face.

According to one aspect of the present invention there iprnvided cable handling means including an elongaterflexible support member and a plurality of cable anchorage means axially spaced along the support member for anchoring cables to said support member.

The flexible support member is preferably articulated in order to provide flexibility coupled with tensile strength. Advantageously the support member may comprise an articulated chain, the chain links being preferably of a suitable metal.

Each of the cable anchorage means preferably is preferably channel shaped in cross-section, the channel being defined by a lower wall and and upper wall joined together by a side wall, the side wall being secured to the elongate support member.

Preferably the anchorage means are each formed from a suitable plastics material and are conveniently secured to the elongate support member by being moulded therearound so that the support member extends through the side wall.

Advantageously the side wall is positioned inbetween the side edges of the upper and lower walls so as to define either side of the side wall two channels Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa sectional view of an embodiment according to the present invention taken along line l-l- in Figure 2; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 taken along Line ll-It in Figure 1.

Cable handling means according to the present invention are generally shown at 10 and include a flexible elongate support member 11 in the form of an articulated chain composed of chain links 12 and cable aachorage means 14 spaced along the support member 11.

Theanchorage means 14 each include a lowerwall 15,an upper wall 16 and a sidewall 17 which joins the upper and lower walls together. As seen in Figure 1, the upper, lower and side walls 15, 16 and 17 respectively define a pair of side by side channels 18, 19 in which cables 20, 21 may be received. The end edges 23, 24 of both the upper and lower walls are turned inwardly of the channels 18, so as to provide chamfered edges for facilitating sliding movement of the anchorage means either along a surface or over one another in the event the cables are looped upon themselves. To cater for looping of the cables, the spacing between adjacent anchorage means is chosen to be less than the width of the anchorage means as defined between opposed end edges of the upper or lower walls.

The upper and lower walls are preferably provided with clip retaining apertures 30,31 which serve to retain a U-shaped clip 32 as seen in Figure 1.

The spacing of apertures 30 and 31 from the side wall 17 is such as to enable the same clip to be introduced from either channel to retain cables within that channel. Accordingly, retention of cables within either channel is simply achieved by placing the cable within one of the channels and feeding the U-shaped clip 32 into the channel so that its legs 32a pass through apertures 33 formed in the side wall 17 so that the detent formations 34 on the terminal end of legs 32a engage in apertures 30 or 31. The U shaped clip 32 is formed of spring metal, the legs being biased outwardly when received in the anchorage means so that the detent formations are resiliently held in the apertures 30 or 31.

The anchorage means 14 are each preferably formed of a suitable plastics material such as a polyamide and are moulded about the chain links 12 as seen in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly the chain links 12 are therefore embedded with the side wall of the anchorage means.

As seen in Figure 2, recesses 36 are provided so that the chain link 1 2a positioned between adjacent anchorage means is free to articulate in any direction. If desired, recess 36 may be replaced by projections 36a (shown in dotted lines) which serve to restrain articulation of chain link 12c so that adjacent anchorage means are permitted to pivot relative to one another only in a plane extending longitudinally of the support member 11 and in an upwards or downwards direction as viewed in Figure 2.

Conveniently, the cable handling means according to the present invention is produced in discrete lengths wherein discrete lengths chain are fed to an injection moulding machine and onto which several anchorage means are moulded. The discrete lengths of cable handling means may then be joined by individual chain links 12 produce cable handling means of a desired length.

7. Cable handling means including an etongate flexible support member and a plurality of cable anchorage means axially spaced along the support member for anchoring cables to said support member.
2. Cable handling means according to Claim 1 wherein the support member is an articulated chain.
3. Cable handling means according to Claim 2 wherein each cable handling means is channel shaped in cross-section, the channel being defined by a lower wall and an upper wall joined together by a sidewall, the side wall being secured to the elongate support member.
4. Cable handling means according to Claim 3 wherein the side wall is positioned between the side edges of the upper and lower walls so as to define either side of the side wall two channels.
5. Cable handling means according to any preceding claim wherein each anchorage means is a moulding and is secured to the support member by being moulded therearound.
6. Cable handling means substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.