GB2406226A

GB2406226A - A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap

Info

Publication number: GB2406226A
Application number: GB0322070A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Andrews
Original assignee: New Chapel Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: TT Electronics Fairford Ltd
Priority date: 2003-09-20
Filing date: 2003-09-20
Publication date: 2005-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2023-09-20
Also published as: GB2406226B; GB0322070D0

Abstract

An anti-abrasion wrap 10 for a cable bundle 30 held in a channel of a multi-section raceway, comprises, an elongate body of thin flexible material, which may be a foil, of a width that spans a gap between two adjacent sections of raceway, and means for connecting opposite ends of the body together, which may take the form of a hole 20 at one end 16 and at least one barb 18 at the other 14. A notch may be provided in the barbed end 14 co-operable with a tool, which may have a handle and U-shaped prong, used to insert the body under a cable bundle 30. A plurality of barbs 18 may allow a selective degree of tightening of the wrap around the cable bundle. A method of using the anti-abrasion wrap may comprise identifying a gap between adjacent raceway sections, positioning the wrap so it spans the gap, and connecting the ends of the wrap together.

Description

2406226 CABLE RACEWAY ANTI-ABRASION WRAP, TOOL,

AND METHOD OF USE

This invention relates to an anti-abrasion wrap for a cable raceway particularly, but not exclusively, when used in aircraft, a tool for insertion of the wrap, and to a method of using the wrap and tool.

Raceways are preformed conduits which are used in aircraft, other large vehicles, and factories, in particular, and which are intended to house and guide bundles of cables. A raceway is typically sectional, so that it can be assembled to meet requirements. The sections can be straight or curved and can be connected together to form junctions. Each section is typically formed from extruded aluminium, and has one or more channels. Sections having four channels are common.

It has been found that the cable bundles held by the raceway are subject to abrasion by the ends of the sections of the raceway. This is due to the rough or sharp edges generated when forming the sections of the raceway. The problem is exacerbated when the raceway and cable bundle or bundles are subjected to vibration, such as when used in aircraft. Once abrasion occurs, the cable has to be replaced, which can be particularly awkward, time consuming and costly. This is especially so where, for example, the raceway extends down the wing of an aircraft.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap for preventing or inhibiting abrasion of a cable bundle held in a channel of a multi-section raceway, the antiabrasion wrap comprising an elongate body which is formed of a thin flexible material and which is of sufficient width to, in use, span a gap between two adjacent sections of the raceway, and means for connecting the two ends of the elongate body together.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 9, inclusive. ]O

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool for use with a cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the tool comprising a grip or handle, and a guide prong for guiding the elongate body of the anti-abrasion wrap around a cable bundle held in a channel of a multi-section raceway.

Preferable and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 12 and 13.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using a cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: a) locating a gap between adjacent sections of a multi-section raceway; b) feeding one end of the anti-abrasion wrap under a cable bundle held in a channel of the raceway; c) positioning the wrap so that it spans the gap between the adjacent sections of the raceway; d) connecting the ends of the wrap together using the connecting means, so that the wrap, by overlapping the opposing ends of the adjacent sections of the raceway, protects the cable bundle from abrasion by the edges of the raceway.

Preferable and/or optional features of the third aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 16 to 20, inclusive.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of protecting cable bundles contained in a multi-section raceway from abrasion at a joint between sections of the raceway, the method comprising the steps of: a) placing a U-shaped guide of an insertion tool into a channel of the raceway, adjacent to an edge of the raceway, so as to contain the bundle of wires within the channel, b) inserting an elongate anti-abrasion film into the channel around the bundle of wires therein using the insertion tool as a guide, and c) connecting the two ends of the elongate film together.

Preferably, the raceway is a multi-channel raceway and the method further comprises a step (d) between steps (b) and (c) of repeating steps (a) and (b) for the remaining channels.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi- section raceway having a channel in which a cable bundle is held and an anti-abrasion wrap, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, which spans a gap between I adjacent sections of the raceway, so as to protect the cable bundle from abrasion.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 10Figure l is a plan view of one embodiment of a cable raceway anti- abrasion wrap, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the anti-abrasion wrap of Figure 1, in use, and an insertion tool in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; Figures 3 to 5 show the insertion tool being used to feed the anti-abrasion wrap under multiple cable bundles; Figure 6 is a plan schematic view showing the overlap of the anti-abrasion wrap with the ends of adjacent raceway sections; and Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the anti-abrasion wrap in position and with its ends connected.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown an anti-abrasion wrap 10 which comprises an elongate body 12 having a tapered leading end 14 and a rounded trailing I end 16. The tapered leading end 14 is formed with a plurality of barbs, teeth or serrations (hereinafter referred to simply as 'barbs 18'), and a through-hole 20 is formed on, or substantially on, the longitudinal axis of the elongate body 12, at the trailing end 16. The diameter of the through-hole 20 is slightly smaller than the distance between tips of opposing barbs 18. The barbs 18 and the through-hole 20 thus form connecting means by which the two ends 14 and 16 of the wrap 10 can be connected together.

The wrap 10 is formed of a thin flexible material, such as PTFE, and exhibits a reasonable degree of compressive rigidity in a lengthwise direction, reasons for which will become apparent. The width of the wrap 10 is suitable for spanning a gap 22 (see Figure 6) between adjacent sections 24 of a raceway 26.

A selection of the wraps 10 may be provided, each having a different width to accommodate the spanning of different sized gaps 22. The wraps 10 may also vary in length, depending on the number of channels 28 the raceway 26 has, and the number of cable bundles 30 (see Figure 3) the wrap 10 is intended to pass around.

The tip of the tapered leading end 14 of the elongate body 12 is formed with a guide element 32. The guide element 32 is a V-shaped notch, but could be any other suitable shape, such as U-shaped.

Referring now to the remaining figures, a wrap-insertion tool 34 is shown which is used to aid feeding of the anti-abrasion wrap 10 under a cable bundle 30. The l tool 34 comprises a grip or handle 36, and a single, generally U-shaped, guide prong 38. The U-shaped portion 40 of the guide prong 38 is dimensioned to be able to receive a cable bundle 30 running in the channel 28 of the raceway 26. The prong 38 is typically formed of metal, but may be formed of resilient plastics.

The cable raceway 26 is formed of multiple sections 24, each section 24 having one or more channels 28. Figures 3 to 5 show a cross-section of the raceway 26 having four channels 28, each channel 28 having a cable bundle 30 disposed therein. When assembling the raceway 26, gaps 22 are included between the sections 24 to allow for expansion. Straps (not shown) are used to prevent the cable bundles 30 from leaving the respective channels 28. However, the straps are a serious hindrance when trying to pass anything beneath the cable bundle 30.

In use, therefore, gap 22 between raceway sections 24, such as depicted in Figure 6, is first located. The width of the wrap 10 to be used is first checked against the size of the gap 22 to ensure that the wrap]0, once in position, will overlap the opposing ends 26a,26b of the adjacent raceway sections 24. The insertion tool 34 is then positioned in the gap 22, transversely to the longitudinal extent of the raceway 26 and beneath one outside cable bundle 30a. The tool 34 is raised upwardly, so that the cable bundle 30a is gathered and held in the U-shaped portion 40 of the tool 34 whilst still remaining in the channel 28 of the raceway 26 (see Figure 3), and the tool 34 is slid along the longitudinal extent of the cable bundle 30a into the channel 28. The tool 34 can then be released by the user, since it is fully independently supported in the I channel 28 between the cable bundle 30a and the section 24 of the raceway 26.

The notch guide element 32 of the anti-abrasion wrap 10 is located on the guide prong 38, near the handle of the tool 34, and the wrap 10 is manually push-fed around the U-shaped portion 40 of the tool 34. The wrap 10 does not wander, or substantially wander, due to the notch guide element 32 co-operating with the guide prong 38, and the rigidity of the material limits the tendency of the wrap 10 to crumple or buckle along the longitudinal extent.

The wrap 10 thus passes down the near side 42 of the channel interior (see arrow A in Figures 3 and 4), across the bottom 44 of the channel 28 (see arrow B in Figure 4), and up the far side 46 of the channel interior. Once visible, the user pulls the leading end 14-of the wrap 10 until the trailing end 16 approaches the first cable bundle 30a. The tool 34 is slid back to the gap 22, to separate it from the wrap 10, and is then lowered to withdraw the U-shaped guide prong 38 from the cable bundle 30a.

The process is then repeated for the next cable bundle 30b. The tool 34 is first turned parallel to the second cable bundle job, so that the Ushaped guide prong 38 can be inserted between the first and second cable bundles 30a and 30b in the gap 22 between the adjacent raceway sections 24. The tool 34 is then turned transversely to the second cable bundle 30b and raised to gather and hold the second cable bundle 30b. The tool 34 is slid longitudinally into the channel 28, so as to be supported between the raceway 26 and the cable bundle Job. The leading end 14 of the wrap 10 is then located on the guide prong 38, as before, and push-fed down the near side 50 of the second channel interior (see arrow C in Figure 4) and under the cable bundle 30b. The leading end 14 of the wrap 10, when emerging from the far side of the second channel 28 is pulled through to take up any slack.

This process is repeated for the third and fourth channels 28 (see Figure 4).

Once the wrap 10 has been fed under all the cable bundles 30, the leading end 14 is folded back across the cable bundles 30 and the barbs 18 on the tapered leading end 14 are inserted into the hole 20 formed in the trailing end 16 (see Figures 5 to 7).

The wrap 10 is initially kept slack. The user then slides the wrap 10 along the cable bundles 30 so that it fully overlaps the opposing edges 52 of t'ne adjacent raceway sections 24. Once positioned, the wrap 10 is tightened around the cable bundles 30 by pulling the leading end 14 further through the hole 20 in the trailing end 16. The multiple sets of barbs 18 prevent the leading end 14 and trailing end 16 from separating of their own accord.

Any excess wrap material, such as the notch guide element 32, is then removed, for example by cutting.

It is, of course, possible to position the wrap, so that it fully overlaps the opposing ends of the adjacent raceway sections, prior to interconnecting the leading and trailing ends. However, this would increase the chance that one end of the wrap could be drawn back under one or more cable bundles by mistake.

Although the anti-abrasion wrap is a film, it could equally be a foil.

5The gap between adjacent raceway sections may constitute a joint in the raceway, and the use of the term 'gap' throughout is intended to cover this.

The connecting means, instead of being in the form of barbs and a hole, may be of any other suitable type. However, it is preferable that the connecting means permits a selective degree of tightening of the wrap, thereby allowing re-positioning of the wrap before final tightening.

It is thus possible to provide an anti-abrasion wrap which protects a cable bundle from abrasion by a cable raceway. It is also possible to provide a tool by which the wrap can be easily inserted and fed under the cable bundle, without the problem of having to first remove or lift the cable bundle from the raceway. It is further possible to provide a single anti-abrasion wrap which can protect a plurality of cable bundles from abrasion by a cable raceway, thus reducing the number of wraps required, and decreasing costs and fitting time.

The embodiments described above are given by way of examples only, and other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, although the connecting means is formed unitarily as part of the elongate body of the wrap, the connecting means could be separate of, or separately applied to, the elongate body.

Claims

1. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap for preventing or inhibiting abrasion of a cable bundle held in a channel of a multi-section raceway, the anti-abrasion wrap comprising an elongate body which is formed of a thin flexible material and which is of sufficient width to, in use, span a gap between two adjacent sections of the raceway, and means for connecting the two ends of the elongate body together.

2. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide element at one end of the elongate body, the guide element being co operable with a wrap insertion tool to simplify feeding of the elongate body under a cable bundle.

3. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one end of the elongate body is tapered to, in use, aid positioning of the wrap around a cable bundle.

4. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the guide element is formed on the tapered end of the elongate body and is in the form of a notch.

5. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in any one of claims I to 4, wherein the connecting means includes at least one barb formed at or adjacent to one end of the elongate body and a hole for receiving the at least one barb formed adjacent to the other end of the elongate body.

6. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connecting means includes a plurality of barbs to enable a selective degree of ]2 tightening of the elongate body around a cable body.

7. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in claim S. when dependent on claim 4 which in turn is dependent on claim 3, or claim 6, wherein the barb or barbs is/are formed on the tapered end of the elongate body.

8. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thin flexible material of the elongate body is a film.

9. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in any one of claims I to 7, wherein the thin flexible material of the elongate body is a foil.

10. A cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A tool for use with a cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the tool comprising a grip or handle, and a guide prong for guiding the elongate body of the anti-abrasion wrap around a cable bundle held in a channel of a multi-section raceway.

l 5

12. A tool as claimed in claim 11, wherein the guide prong is generally U-shaped.

13. A tool as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the guide prong, when oriented transversely to, or substantially to, the longitudinal extent of the raceway, is dimensioned to be able to hold a cable bundle while disposed in the channel of the raceway.

14. A tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

IS. A method of using a cable raceway anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, the method comprising the steps of: a) locating a gap between adjacent sections of a multi-section raceway; b) feeding one end of the anti-abrasion wrap under a cable bundle held in a channel of the raceway; c) positioning the wrap so that it spans the gap between the adjacent sections of the raceway; d) connecting the ends of the wrap together using the connecting means, -I so that the wrap, by overlapping the opposing ends of the adjacent sections of the raceway, protects the cable bundle from abrasion by the edges of the raceway.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein step (d) follows step (c).

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein step (d) is performed prior to step (c), the ends of the wrap being loosely connected while the wrap is positioned along the cable bundle, and further comprising a step (e) subsequent to step (c) of, once the wrap is correctly positioned, tightening the wrap around the cable bundle using the connecting means.

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein, in step (b), a tool as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 is utilised to feed the one end of the wrap under the cable bundle.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the guide prong of the tool is slid into the channel from the gap.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein, in step (b), the raceway includes a plurality of channels, each channel holding a cable bundle, and the wrap is fed under each cable bundle.

21. A method of protecting cable bundles contained in a multi-section raceway from abrasion at a joint between sections of the raceway, the method I comprising the steps of: a) placing a U-shaped guide of an insertion tool into a channel of the raceway, adjacent to an edge of the raceway, so as to contain the bundle of wires within the channel, b) inserting an elongate anti-abrasion film into the channel around the bundle of wires therein using the insertion tool as a guide, and I c) connecting the two ends of the elongate film together. I

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the raceway is a multi- channel raceway and the method further comprises a step (d) between steps (b) and (c) of repeating steps (a) and (b) for the remaining channels.

23. A multi-section raceway having a channel in which a cable bundle is held and an anti-abrasion wrap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 which spans a gap between adjacent sections of the raceway, so as to protect the cable bundle from abrasion.