GB2172756A

GB2172756A - Clamping arrangements

Info

Publication number: GB2172756A
Application number: GB08604076A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis John Shepherd; Anthony Charles Smee
Original assignee: Telephone Cables Ltd
Current assignee: Telephone Cables Ltd
Priority date: 1985-02-20
Filing date: 1986-02-19
Publication date: 1986-09-24
Also published as: GB8604076D0

Abstract

A clamping arrangement for cable ducts 1 consists of a pair or rigid plates 4,5 having sandwiched between them a sheet of resilient material 6 the assembly having holes for the passage of the ducts and means 7,8 for drawing the plates together so as to compress the resilient sheet and cause it to grip each of the ducts. The resilient sheet may extend at least to the peripheries of the plates so that it can expand into contact with a larger duct or passage, so holding the complete assembly rigidly within it. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clamping arrangements This invention relates to clamping arrangements for cable ducts of the kind which are arranged to provide passageways for wires or cables. Such cable ducts, which are commonly formed of extruded plastics material may, for example, be arranged to be drawn through larger existing ducts or other forms of channels, passages or openings or to be directly buried.

The present invention provides a means- of clamping a plurality of such cable ducts together to form a rigid assembly.

According to the invention, a clamping arrangement for a plurality of cable ducts comprises a pair of relatively rigid plates having sandwiched between them a sheet of resilient material, the assembly of plates and resilient sheet having holes extending therethrough for the passage of the cable ducts, and incorporating means for drawing the plates together so as to compress the sheet of resilient material and cause it to grip each of the cable ducts.

Where the cable ducts extend through a larger duct, channel, passage or opening or the like, hereinafter referred to simply as a passage, the resilient sheet conveniently extends at least as far as the peripheries of the plates such that when the latter are drawn together the sheet is caused to expand into contact with the surface of the passage, thereby clamping the whole assembly rigidly within the passage.

It will be appreciated that the holes for receiving the cable ducts, and the external shape and dimensions of the plates, can readily be selected to suit the size of the ducts and also the passage within which the cable ducts are to be clamped.

A series of screws or bolts and associated nuts conveniently provide the means for drawing the plates together and are conveniently spaced around the plates near to the edges thereof.

A method of clamping a plurality of extruded cable ducts within an outer duct in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Figure 1 illustates a side view and Figure 2 an end view of the clamping arrangement.

Referring to the drawings, a number of cable ducts 1 of extruded plastics material, in this case eight, are shown supported within an outer duct 2 by means of a clamp 3.

The latter comprises, in accordance with the invention, a pair of relatively rigid plates 4, 5 which are conveniently formed of a hard plastics material and, sandwiched between the plates, a sheet 6 of rubber or like resilient material.

The plates 4, 5 and the sheet 6 are each provided with eight openings which are arranged to register with one another, and are of such dimensions that they fit closely around the respective cable ducts 1.

The peripheral regions of the plates 4, 5 and the sheet 6 are provided with a series of further openings for the passages of screws 7 which, with associated captive nuts 8, enable the plates to be drawn together, therbey compressing the resilient sheet 6 and causing it to grip the cable ducts 1.

The external dimensions of the plates 4, 5 and the sheet 6 are chosen to be such that they just fit within the outer duct 2 so that the action of drawing the plates together causes the edge of the sheet 6 to expand into contact with the surface of the outer duct, thereby securing the whole assembly rigidly in position within the outer duct.

Although all the cable ducts 1 as shown in the drawing all have the same diameter it will be understood that ducts of different diameters could be clamped together in a similar manner, the dimensions of the holes in the elements of the clamp 3 being selected accordingly. Moeover the ducts 1 may be secured within outer duct channels, passages, or other forms of opening of varying shapes and dimensions by utilising clamp elements of the appropriate external configuration.

1. A clamping arrangement for a plurality of cable ducts comprising a pair of relatively rigid plates having sandwiched between them a sheet of resilient material, the assembly of plates and resilient sheet having holes extending therethrough for the passage of the cable ducts, and incorporating means for drawing the plates together so as to compress the sheet of resilient material and cause it to grip each of the cable ducts.

2. A clamping arrangement according to Claim 1 for securing the cable ducts within a passage (as hereinbefore defined) wherein the resilient sheet extends at least as far as the peripheries of the plates such that when the latter are drawn together the sheet is caused to expand into contact with the surface of the passage, thereby clamping the whole assembly rigidly within the passage.

3. A clamping arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the means for drawing the plates together comprises a series of screws or bolts and associated nuts spaced around the plates.

4. A clamping arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein the screws or bolts and associated nuts are spaced uniformly around the -plates adjacent the edges thereof.

5. A clamping arrangement according to any preceding Claim wherein sheet of resilient

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Clamping arrangements This invention relates to clamping arrangements for cable ducts of the kind which are arranged to provide passageways for wires or cables. Such cable ducts, which are commonly formed of extruded plastics material may, for example, be arranged to be drawn through larger existing ducts or other forms of channels, passages or openings or to be directly buried. The present invention provides a means- of clamping a plurality of such cable ducts together to form a rigid assembly. According to the invention, a clamping arrangement for a plurality of cable ducts comprises a pair of relatively rigid plates having sandwiched between them a sheet of resilient material, the assembly of plates and resilient sheet having holes extending therethrough for the passage of the cable ducts, and incorporating means for drawing the plates together so as to compress the sheet of resilient material and cause it to grip each of the cable ducts. Where the cable ducts extend through a larger duct, channel, passage or opening or the like, hereinafter referred to simply as a passage, the resilient sheet conveniently extends at least as far as the peripheries of the plates such that when the latter are drawn together the sheet is caused to expand into contact with the surface of the passage, thereby clamping the whole assembly rigidly within the passage. It will be appreciated that the holes for receiving the cable ducts, and the external shape and dimensions of the plates, can readily be selected to suit the size of the ducts and also the passage within which the cable ducts are to be clamped. A series of screws or bolts and associated nuts conveniently provide the means for drawing the plates together and are conveniently spaced around the plates near to the edges thereof. A method of clamping a plurality of extruded cable ducts within an outer duct in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Figure 1 illustates a side view and Figure 2 an end view of the clamping arrangement. Referring to the drawings, a number of cable ducts 1 of extruded plastics material, in this case eight, are shown supported within an outer duct 2 by means of a clamp 3. The latter comprises, in accordance with the invention, a pair of relatively rigid plates 4, 5 which are conveniently formed of a hard plastics material and, sandwiched between the plates, a sheet 6 of rubber or like resilient material. The plates 4, 5 and the sheet 6 are each provided with eight openings which are arranged to register with one another, and are of such dimensions that they fit closely around the respective cable ducts 1. The peripheral regions of the plates 4, 5 and the sheet 6 are provided with a series of further openings for the passages of screws 7 which, with associated captive nuts 8, enable the plates to be drawn together, therbey compressing the resilient sheet 6 and causing it to grip the cable ducts 1. The external dimensions of the plates 4, 5 and the sheet 6 are chosen to be such that they just fit within the outer duct 2 so that the action of drawing the plates together causes the edge of the sheet 6 to expand into contact with the surface of the outer duct, thereby securing the whole assembly rigidly in position within the outer duct. Although all the cable ducts 1 as shown in the drawing all have the same diameter it will be understood that ducts of different diameters could be clamped together in a similar manner, the dimensions of the holes in the elements of the clamp 3 being selected accordingly. Moeover the ducts 1 may be secured within outer duct channels, passages, or other forms of opening of varying shapes and dimensions by utilising clamp elements of the appropriate external configuration. CLAIMS

5. A clamping arrangement according to any preceding Claim wherein sheet of resilient material is formed of rubber.

6. A clamping arrangement according to any preceding Claim wherein the plates are formed of a hard plastics material.

7. A clamping arrangement for securing a plurality of cable ducts in a larger passage (as hereinbefore defined) substantially as shown in and as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.