GB2526803A

GB2526803A - Tool and method for cutting a cable tie

Info

Publication number: GB2526803A
Application number: GB1409794.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Fraser Lee
Original assignee: Airbus Operations Ltd
Current assignee: Airbus Operations Ltd
Priority date: 2014-06-02
Filing date: 2014-06-02
Publication date: 2015-12-09
Also published as: GB201409794D0

Abstract

A tool 10 is used to remove a harpoon cable tie 30 that is fixed to a cable raceway 32. The tool has a first end 12 comprising a blade 14 accommodated within a blade surround 16. A cutting action may be caused by action at a second end 18 remote from the first end. At the second end there may be a control mechanism for effecting the cutting; preferably the control mechanism is a blade pusher 24 for moving the blade relative to the tool. Preferably the handle has first and second portions and the control mechanism and handle are configured for use by an operator pushing the control mechanism with the thumb of one hand while holding the first and second portions of the handle with fingers of the same hand. The tool allows cable ties to be cut where there is restricted access. The blade surround reduces the risk of accidental contact of the cutting blade with the cable raceway or other objects.

Description

TOOL AND METHOD FOR CUTTING A CABLE TiE

FIELD OF TUE INVENTION

100011 The present invention concerns a cable tie cutting tool and a method for cutting a cable tie, More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns tool for removing a harpoon cable tie that is fixed to a cable raceway. The invention also concerns method of removing a harpoon cable tie that is fixed to a cable raceway. The present invention has particular application in relation to removal of harpoon cable ties from a cable raceway in an aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

10002] Cable raceways are known in the aerospace sector and are generally used for routing cables from one point to another within the aircraft, Cable raceways are typically made from aluminium alloy and typically comprise one or more individual U-shaped channels in which cables are held. Cable ties may be used to secure cables in position and the cable raceway may have a number of discrete small holes formed in the base of the channels for that purpose, One such form of cable tie is a harpoon cable tie, which is held in place by a head on one side of a channel wall and splayed retaining legs on the opposite side of the channel wall. The head of the harpoon cable tie may be attached to straps for securing cables in the raceway. Harpoon cable ties have other applications of course.

10003] There is a need, on occasion, to remove a harpoon cable tie that has previously been fixed to an aircraft cable raceway. The harpoon cable tie may for example be damaged and/or the cable which it is tying needs to be moved / replaced.

There however difficulties associated with effecting the removal of such cable ties. The legs of the harpoon cable tie may need to be removed to facilitate removal of the tie. A side cutter may be used to cut the legs off, but use of a side cutter poses various problems. Access is often restricted making it difficult to use such a side cutter without risk of accidental damage to the cable raceway, parts thereof or to surrounding structure, due to limited visibility and access behind the raceway assembly. Also, when the legs are cut ofL there is a risk that the legs will, under the action of cutting, fly off in an uncontrolled manner, Such foreign objects must normally be found and disposed of (such foreign objects can pose unacceptable risks in an aircraft environment) and finding the cut-off parts from a harpoon cable tie may be a time-consuming task if their exact location is unknown.

100041 The present invention seeks to mitigate one or more of the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved cable tie cutting tool andlor an improved method for cutting a cable tie,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

100051 The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a tool for removing a harpoon cable tie that is fixed to a cable raceway, the tool comprising (a) a first end comprising a blade accommodated within a blade surround, and (b) a second end from which a cutting action by the blade may be operated, the second end being remote from the first end. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may provide a dedicated cable-tie cutting tool, which facilitates the cutting of cable ties in locations with restricted access (by virtue of an operator being able to operate the blade -e.g. initiate, activate or otherwise cause the cutting of the cable tie by the blade -from an end of the tool remote from the blade). Also, embodiments of the present invention may provide a cuffing tool which reduces the risk of accidental contact of the blade with other objects by virtue of the blade being accommodated within a blade surround -a risk that might otherwise be increased when providing a tool that is for use in difficult to access locations.

100061 The first end of the tool may define an aperture for receiving an end of a harpoon cable-tie. The aperture may be sized so as to urge together the legs of the harpoon cable-tie when the tool is located onto the tie. The aperture at the first end of the tool may be provided in the blade surround. The aperture at the first end of the tool may have a diameter greater than 2.5mm. The aperture at the first end of the tool may have a diameter less than 10mm, optionally less than 7.5mm. The region of the tool immediately surrounding the aperture is preferably relatively flat and smooth. This allows an operator to guide the tool so as to receive the end of the cable tie by the sense of touch, which can be especially useful when there is no easy way in which the end of the cable tie can be viewed directly by the operator.

100071 The blade may be substantially encased by the first end. The encasing of the blade may prevent accidental contact of the blade of the cutting tool by virtue of the blade not being able to make contact with an object unless or until it enters the space within and surrounded by the blade surround. It will of course be appreciated that the blade is not wholly enclosed by the first end of the tool (or at least it is not always wholly enclosed by the first end of the tool), as otherwise the blade would not be able to perform its function.

The blade surround may additionally reduce the risk of uncontrolled high-speed release of cut parts by means of physically limiting the movement of such cut parts. Tt will be appreciated that the blade surround, does not necessarily need to be solid. The blade surround could for example comprise a protective mesh. The blade surround preferably is so shaped that the blade, when in its cutting position, is protected from unintentional contact with a solid object located in the plane of the blade but otherwise outside of the interior space defined within the blade surround.

10008] The blade may be moveable to a fully stowed position in which the cutting edge is positioned out of the space within and surrounded by the blade surround. The blade may be moveable from a partially deployed position, in which at least a part of the cutting edge is positioned in said space, to a fully deployed position in which the cutting edge is positioned out of said space. When the blade is cutting the cable tie, the tie may be supported by structure of the tool that is positioned out of the plane of the blade. For example, the tie may be supported by structure of the tool that is positioned above and below the plane of the blade so that the blade may cut entirely through the cable tie whilst it is supported by that stiucture, without the structure interfering with passage of the blade.

100091 The tool may, even in the case where the blade surround physically limits the flying-off of cut parts, allow cut parts to fall once cut, under the action of gravity, beneath the cutting blade. The tool may be configured to allow such cut parts to fall from the tool. lii certain embodiments, the tool is arranged to retain such cut parts (or "cuttings").

The first end may comprise a receptacle for collecting cuttings. The cuttings may include one or more legs, or one or more parts thereof; of the harpoon cable tie. The receptacle may be bowl-shaped. The receptacle may be positioned directly adjacent to the blade so that in use one or more cuttings are held by the receptacle, for example dropping into the receptacle once cut.

100101 The tool may be elongate in shape. The first end of the tool may be separated from the second end of the tool by means of a tool body that is substantially straight along its length. There may be a readily identifiable longitudinal axis of the tool. The tool may be relatively slim-line, It may for example have a thickness that is no greater than 20mm. The majority of the thickness may be less than 10mm, The first end of the tool may be slightly thicker than the middle of the tool, but may in certain embodiments have substantially the same thickness (for example where access is very restricted). The tool may have a length of between 100mm and 200mm, and optionally of between 120mm and 180mm, A relatively long tool would be difficult to use in areas of restricted access. It is preferably however for the tool to have sufficient length that it can reach across the width of a typical cable raceway.

[0011] The second end may define a handle by which the tool may be held, The handle may include one or more grip portions. The second end may include a control mechanism by means of which cutting may be effected, The handle and the control mechanism, in a case where both are provided, may be integrated. The handle and the control mechanism, in a case where both are provided, are preferably so arranged that the tool may be operated one-handedly.

100121 The blade may be fixed in position relative to the main body of the tool. The blade may be arranged to move relative to the main body of the tool. The blade may have a straight cutting edge. The blade may have a curved cutting edge. Particularly, in the case of a fixed blade, the blade may have a curved cutting edge that is shaped to have the same shape, at least in pail, as the blade surround. The blade may be integrated into the blade surround.

100131 The blade, whether fixed or movable, may be arranged to be replaceable, for example with a new blade.

100141 The tool may be configured such that the cutting action is effected, at least partially, by means of pushing the cable tie onto the blade. The tool may be configured such that the cutting action is effected, at least partially, by means of pulling the cable tie onto the blade, Such configurations may be appropriate for a fixed blade for example.

100151 The tool may be configured such that the cutting action is effected, at least partially, by means of pushing the blade onto the cable tie, The tool may be configured such that the cutting action is effected, at least partially, by means of pulling the blade onto the cable tie. Such configurations may be appropriate for a moveable blade for

example.

10016] The tool may have a blade mover, for example a blade puller or a blade pusher (when performing the cutting action), for moving the blade relative to the tool.

The blade mover may extend from the blade at the first end all the way to the second end, The blade mover may be so arranged that its movement and the movement of the blade are in the form of translational movement, preferably in the same direction. The blade mover may be arranged to slide relative to the body of the tool, The blade mover may be flat and elongate in shape, The blade mover may have a thickness of less than about 6mm, The blade mover may have a thickness of more than about 3mm (in order that it has sufficient structural strength to carry the loads required of it). The blade mover may have a width of greater than 10mm, 100171 The cuffing action may be trigger-operated, The blade may be arranged so that it can be spring-loaded, 100181 The tool may be configured such that the cutting action may be performed one-handedly.

100191 At least a part of the control mechanism (by means of which cutting may be effected) may be located centrally at the second end of the tool. The handle may have first and second portions disposed to either side of the central position at the second end of the tool. The control mechanism and the handle may be configured for use by an operator pushing the control mechanism with the thumb of one hand whilst holding the first and second portions of the handle with fingers of the same hand. The cutting action of the tool may thus be effected by means of an operator urging the fingers of one hand against the thumb of the same hand, in a squeezing action, for example like that employed when operating a plunger in a syringe.

100201 The present invention provides, according to a second aspect, a method of removing a harpoon cable tie that is fixed to a cable raceway. The method employs the use of a cutting tool having at a first end a blade surround which houses a cutting blade.

The method includes a step of an operator holding the cutting tool at a second end of the cutting tool, the second end being remote from the first end, The method may include a step of an operator locating the blade surround over the end of the harpoon cable tie, for example by feel rather than by sight. The method includes a step of an operator urging together, with the use of the cutting tool, legs of the harpoon cable tie. The legs of the harpoon cable may be urged together, at least partially, by means of the blade surround being located over the end of the harpoon cable tie, particularly if the blade surround is appropriately sized. The method may include a step of an operator cutting the harpoon cable tie by means of effecting movement of the blade relative to the harpoon cable tie, the relative movement being effected by the operator at the second end of the cutting tool.

The method includes a step of an operator removing the harpoon caNe tie from the cable raceway, which when the harpoon cable tie is cut will include removing the cut parts of the harpoon cable tie and the remaining part of the harpoon cable tie from the cable raceway. The legs of the harpoon cable tie may be cut off, but retained within the cutting tool. The step of cutting the harpoon cable tie may be effected by means of the operator using a one-handed squeezing action (at the second end of the cutting tool), which causes relative translational movement of the blade relative to the harpoon cable tie (for example in an action much like that effected when operating a plunger in a syringe), The cable raceway may be an aircraft cable raceway, The method may be performed on an aircraft. The method may be performed on an aircraft wing, an aircraft fuselage or on another aircraft part.

100211 It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

DESCRIPTTON OF THE DRAWINGS

100221 Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: 100231 Figure 1 shows a plan view of a harpoon cable tie removal tool according to a first embodiment of the invention; 100241 Figure 2 is a sectional side view of part of the tool of Figure 1; and [0025] Figures 3 and 4 are sectional side views showing the tool of Figure 1 in use in a method of removing a harpoon cable tie from a cable raceway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure I shows a cutting tool 10 for cuffing and removing a harpoon cable tie, for example one that has previously been fixed to a cable raceway in an aircraft. The tool is generally elongate with a slim profile. It has a first end 12 which houses a moveable blade 14 within a casing 16 that surrounds and encases the blade. The tool has a second end 18 at which there are a handle 20 and a thumb ring 22. It will be seen that the handle has first and second portions disposed to either side of the centrally located thumb ring 22. The thumb ring 22 is rigidly connected to the blade 14 via a rigid elongate member in the form of a bar 24. The bar 24 is accommodated within a channel inside the body of the tool 10 and is able to slide back and forth thus enabling the blade 16 to be refracted and/or used to effect a cutting action in dependence of the position of the thumb ring 22, In Figure 1 the blade 16 is shown in a partially deployed position. The casing 16 is generally ring-shaped in cross-section and defines an inner aperture 26 shaped and sized to accommodate the legs of a harpoon cable tie, of the type with which the culling tool is designed for use. In this case the inner aperture 26 has a diameter of about 5mm, which is only very slightly wider than the diameter of the end of the harpoon including the legs, when the legs are held tight against the harpoon body.

100271 Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the first end 12 of the tool. The first end 12 also includes a collection compartment defined by a bowl-shaped cover 28.

100281 The tool is about 150mm long and has a thickness that varies from about 6mm to a maximum of 10mm (in the region of the cover 28). Raceways typically have a width of less than 100mm, so the tool being 150mm long makes it long enough to access the entire width of a raceway without being so long as to reduce the ability to use the tool in spaces with restricted access.

100291 The blade of the tool is metal, The tool is made mostly from metal -for reasons of strength. The outer surfaces of the tool are, where possible coated in plastic so as to reduce the risk of the tool causing accidental scratching of surfaces. A low-friction outer surface is preferred, as it facilitates sliding of the tool over the end of the cable tie when seeking to located it, as will be explained in further detail below.

100301 Figures 3 and 4 show the tool 10 in use during a method of cutting and removing a cable tie 30 from an aperture in a cable raceway 32 in an aircraft, The cable tie 30 is of the harpoon type and therefore has legs 34 which splay outwardly so as to prevent inadvertent removal of the cable tie from the raceway 32. The operator holds the second end 18 by inserting a thumb of one hand into the thumb ring 22 and grasping the handle portions 20 with fingers of the same hand. The operator then moves the tool 10 to locate the tool over the harpoon tie 30, pressing the tool 10 onto the tie, thereby urging the harpoon legs 34 together as shown in Figure 4, (It may not be necessary for the operator to see the harpoon tie to remove it, as it may be possible to locate the tool 10 on the end of the harpoon tie by feel -by sliding the tool over the end of the cable tie until the user feels it locate correctly by being accommodated within the aperture 26.) The harpoon -with its legs urged together -may be removed without cutting at this stage, if the aperture in the raceway 32 is large enough for the harpoon to be extracted therethrough with its legs 32 intact, It may however be necessary to cut and remove the legs 32 from the tie to facilitate its easy removal from the raceway 32. The operator then pushes the thumb ring towards the first end 12 of the tool whilst holding the tool in place with the use of the handle (effectively by squeezing his/her thumb and fingers together).

This causes the bar 24 to slide within the tool pushing the blade 16 against and then through the harpoon legs 32. The harpoon legs when cut are restrained from flying off by means of the blade casing 16 which surrounds the legs 32 when being cut. Thus, any loose parts should remain in the local area of the tool and be readily found and retrieved, if that is such loose parts are not retained within the tool. It will be seen that the cuffing action is caused by operator action at the second end 18 of the tool (where the handle is), remote from the first end at which the blade 12 is disposed.

100311 There is also a reduced risk of damage to the raceway or surrounding structure by virtue of the blade 14 being encased in its own housing. The coflection compartment 28 on the back of the tool 10 retains the part or parts cut off from the rest of the harpoon body. The rest of the harpoon body may then be retrieved out from the aperture in the cable raceway 32. The rest of the harpoon body and the part or parts cut from it may then be disposed of so that no foreign objects remain either in the raceway 32 or the tool 10, [0032] It will be seen that operation of the tool by the operator is similar to the action of using a syringe, in that the blade, at one end of the tool, is moved towards the cable tie by means of a one-handed squeezing action at the other end of the tool which causes a plunger (the bar 24) to slide within the tool 10.

[0033] Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein, By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

[0034] Instead of the blade being moved by the user by means of a pushing force, the cutting action could be provided by means of pushing the harpoon tie onto a blade in the tool. The blade may be pulled onto the harpoon tie. A spring loaded cutting mechanism could be provided such that, once primed, a trigger at the second end of the tool activates the cutting mechanism, 100351 The tool could be shaped differently to provide access around corners or other difficult to reach locations. For example the tool could be L-shaped.

-10 - 100361 The tool could be made yet more slim-line by not providing the collection compartment on the back of the tool.

100371 The inner surface of the aperture (labelled 26 in the accompanying Figures) may be lined with a rubber material or other relatively high friction coating so as to improve the ability of the tool to retain cuttings 100381 Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

-ii -CLAIMSI A tool for removing a harpoon cable tie that is fixed to a cable raceway, the tool comprising: a first end comprising a blade accommodated within a blade surround, and a second end from which a cutting action by the blade may be operated, the second end being remote from the first end.
2. A tool according to claim I, wherein the first end defines an aperture for receiving an end of a harpoon cable-tie.
3. A tool according to claim 2, wherein the aperture is provided in the blade surround and the blade is encased by the first end.
4, A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the first end comprises a receptacle for collecting cuttings.
5. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the tool is elongate in shape.
6. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the second end defines a handle by which the tool may be held.
7. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein at the second end there is a control mechanism by means of which cutting may be effected.

8, A tool according to claim 7, wherein the control mechanism is a blade pusher for moving the blade relative to the tool, the blade pusher extending from the blade at the first end to the second end, -12 - 9. A tool according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the control mechanism is configured such that the tool may be operated one-handedly.10. A tool according to claim 9 when dependent on claims 6 and 8, wherein the contro' mechanism is located centrally at the second end of the tool, the handle has first and second portions disposed to either side of the control mechanism, and the control mechanism and handle are configured for use by an operator pushing the control mechanism with the thumb of one hand whilst holding the first and second portions of the handle with fingers of the same hand.11. A method of removing a harpoon cable tie that is fixed to a cable raceway, with the use of a cuffing tool having at a first end a blade surround which houses a cutting blade, wherein the method includes an operator carrying out the following steps: holding the cutting tool at a second end of the cutting tool, the second end being remote from the first end, locating the blade surround over the end of the harpoon cable tie, urging together, with the use of the cutting tool, legs of the harpoon cable tie, cutting the harpoon cable tie by means of effecting movement of the blade relative to the harpoon cable tie, the rehitive movement being effected by the operator at the second end of the cuffing tool, and removing the cut parts of the harpoon cable tie and the remaining part of the harpoon cable tie from the cable raceway.12. A method according to claim ii, wherein legs of the harpoon cable tie are cut off but retained within the cutting tool.13 A method according to claim 11 or claims 12, wherein legs of the harpoon cable are urged together, at least partially, by means of the blade surround during the step of locating the blade surround over the end of the harpoon cable tie.-13 - 14. A method according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the step of cutting the harpoon cable tie is effected by means of the operator using a one-handed squeezing action at the second end of the cutting tool which causes relative translational movement of the blade relative to the harpoon cable tie.15. A method according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the cutting tool is in the form of a cutting tool according to any of claims 1 to 1 0.16. A method of removing a harpoon cable tie substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figs 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.1 7, A cable tie cutting tool substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figs. I, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.