WO2018104648A1

WO2018104648A1 - Harness assembly frame comprising cable securing fingers which are intended to be retractable

Info

Publication number: WO2018104648A1
Application number: PCT/FR2017/053389
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohamed EL KHYARI
Original assignee: Safran Electrical & Power
Priority date: 2016-12-06
Filing date: 2017-12-05
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Also published as: FR3059844B1; FR3059844A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a securing finger (4), intended to be fitted to a support wall (2) for supporting a cable harness assembly frame, for holding harness cables in position for the purpose of gathering them together. This finger comprises a rod (37) which slides between a deployed position and a retracted position in which it is retracted into a base (38). The rod (37) is immobilized in the base (38) by a first rod end (39) having a shoulder (41) which constitutes an end-stop and a second rod end (43) including an immobilizing hole (44) that is intended to receive an immobilizing pin (46).

Description

HARNESS ASSEMBLY BENCH COMPRISING CABLE HOLDING FINGERS

WHICH ARE PROVIDED ESCAMOTABLE

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the assembly of electrical harnesses intended to be installed in an aircraft to constitute all or part of an electrical distribution network and / or data transfer.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

The assembly of a harness is to have several cables to secure them to each other with collars, according to a given routing plan, to form a portion of an electrical network. An assembled harness is thus a set of cables forming a whole, comprising different branches and branches ending in as many ends.

This assembly is performed by an operator on a bench having a support wall carrying different cable holding fingers, also called nails, between which the operator positions the cables one after the other, according to the plan. When enough cables are in position, the operator attaches them to each other by means of collars each surrounding several cables.

In practice, given the density of cables encountered around certain branches and their rigidity, it is necessary to use an additional operator to help the first operator to maintain the cables and allow them to be attached to each other.

The object of the invention is to provide a solution to overcome this drawback.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a holding finger comprising means for attaching to a support wall of an electrical harness assembly bench, for holding in position harness cables for securing these cables to each other, characterized in that said holding finger has a base, a rod carried by said base and having a first end, and in that the rod is movable relative to the base to be movable between a deployed position of its first end relative to the support wall and a flush position of its first end relative to the support wall.

The introduction of the cables is facilitated with such holding fingers because the operator can first position and maintain a set of cables and then deploy the fingers to block the set of cables in position without soliciting another operator.

The invention also relates to a holding finger thus defined, wherein the rod is slidably mounted in the base to be movable relative to this base between the deployed position and a retracted position.

The invention also relates to a holding finger thus defined, wherein the rod comprises a first end having a shoulder forming a stop preventing the passage of this first end through the base, and a second smooth end comprising a radial hole in which is mounted a pin protruding radially from the rod to oppose the passage of this second end through the base.

The invention also relates to a holding finger thus defined, wherein the rod comprises at its first end a radial gripping hole.

The invention also relates to a holding finger thus defined, wherein the rod and the base comprise ball indexing means for retaining in the base the rod in the deployed position.

The invention also relates to a holding finger thus defined, wherein the indexing means comprise an indexing hole ball radially crossing the base to open into an inner face of the base against which the rod slides, this hole indexing ball receiving a ball and a spring maintaining the ball bearing against the rod, the rod being provided with an indexing groove circumferential near its second end, the ball bearing in the groove to lock the rod in the deployed position.

The invention also relates to a harness assembly bench comprising a support wall carrying at least one holding finger thus defined. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a partial view of a bench comprising a support wall carrying a plurality of holding fingers which hold cables during the assembly of a portion of harness;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a holding finger according to the invention in its expanded state;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a holding finger according to the invention partially retracted;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a holding finger according to the invention in its retracted state;

Figure 5 is a side view of a hook for maneuvering the holding finger according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a partial view of a bench according to the invention da ns a harness assembly phase for which some of the holding fingers are retracted;

Figure 7 is a partial view of a bench according to the invention da ns a harness assembly phase showing the deployment of a holding finger with a hook.

DETAILED PRESENTATION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen in FIG. 1, a harness assembly bench 1 comprises a support wall 2 also called a template, comprising a functional face 3 carrying a plurality of holding fingers 4 protruding from this face for receiving and holding cables 6 arranged in accordance with FIG. a wiring plan marked on the functional side 3. In In practice, an operator positions the cables 6 on the bench 1 between the holding fingers and he secures these cables 6 to each other with collars 10, such as notched plastic collars, to assemble the cables at a level of small portion 8 of a harness, this harness extending well beyond what is shown in Figure 1. In the example of Figure 1, the harness comprises a first a second and a third cable harnesses spotted respectively by 11, 12 and 13 parallel and distinct. Each of these three beams is supported on the support wall 2 of the bank 1, and part of the cables that compose each beam is deflected, to jointly form a fourth beam 14 extending perpendicular to the three parallel beams 11, 12 and 13.

The first beam 11 from the left in Figure 1 and rests on a holding finger 16, also called holding nail, and other non-visible holding fingers. Once the finger 16 has passed, this first beam 11 branched into two sets of cables, marked respectively by 15 and 17. The first set of cables 15 is held between holding fingers 18 and 19 being bent to join the fourth beam 14. The second set of cables 17 continues parallel to the second and third beams 12 and 13 being held by a holding finger 21 and by other holding fingers not visible in the figure.

The second beam 12 starts from the right in FIG. 1 and rests on a holding finger 22 as well as on other non-visible holding fingers. After passing another holding finger 23, this second beam 12 branched into two sets of cables marked 24 and 26. The first set 24 is held curved by fingers 23 and 21 to join the fourth beam 14 being superimposed on the first bundle 11. The other set of cables 26 continues parallel to the first and third bundles 11 and 13 while being supported on a holding finger 27. Once the finger 27 has passed this set of cables 26 is joined by a set of cables 28 from a branch of the fourth beam 14 which is curved around the finger 16 and another holding finger 29. The third beam 13 has a distribution similar to that of the second beam 12. This third beam 13 starts from the left in Figure 1 and rests on a non-visible holding finger. Once a holding finger 31 has been passed, this third beam 13 branches into two sets of cables marked 32 and 34. The first assembly 32 is held curved by the holding finger 21 and a holding finger 33 to join the fourth beam 14 being superimposed on the second beam 12. The other set of cables 34 of this third beam continues parallel to the first and second beams 11 and 12 being held by a non-visible holding finger. Once a holding finger 36 has passed, this set of cables 34 retrieves a set of cables 37 coming from a branch of the fourth beam 14 which is curved around the holding fingers 27 and 36.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, a retaining finger according to the invention comprises a rectilinear rod 37 and a base 38 for attachment to the support wall of the bench 1, with elements preventing the rod from being removed from the base, this sliding rod 37 in the base to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position in the base.

The rod 37, which extends in a longitudinal direction AX has a first end 39 having a shoulder 41 giving it a larger diameter than the diameter of the current section of the rod 37, so that the first end 39 constitutes a stop. Complementarily, this first end 39 comprises a gripping hole 42 which is a radial hole intended to receive a hook-type gripping tool for maneuvering this rod 37. This rod 37 has a second end 43 having the same diameter as the diameter of the current section of this rod 37, and having a locking hole 44 which is a radial through hole for receiving a locking pin 46 having its ends protruding from the cylindrical outer face of this rod. This rod 37 further comprises in the vicinity of its second end 43 an indexing groove 45, which is a circumferential groove visible in Figures 3 and 4 for locking the rod in the base in the deployed position.

The base 38 comprises a plate 47 with two planar and rectangular faces 48 and 51, and a bushing 48 protruding from the plate 47 of the face 51, this face 51 being the face of attachment of the base 38 to the wall support of the bench 1. This base 38 has a central hole extending along the axis AX through the plate 47 and the sleeve 48, and delimiting a cylindrical inner face forming a sliding bearing for the rod 37.

The plate 47 which protrudes laterally from the sleeve 48 comprises fastening means comprising here two fixing holes 52 which are through and which extend parallel to the axis AX being radially offset relative to this axis AX to be located from on both sides of bushing 48.

The plate 47 further comprises a ball indexing hole 53, a hole oriented radially relative to the axis AX to open into the cylindrical inner face and into the cylindrical outer face or slice of the plate 47. Ball 53 is a threaded hole in which is housed a ball held flush with the cylindrical inner face by a spring which is also held in this hole against this ball. In practice, the ball and the spring can be carried by a ball screw-type element which comprises a screw in which are housed the ball and the spring, and which is simply screwed into the ball indexing hole 53.

When the rod 37 is deployed as in Figure 2, the indexing groove 45 is located at the plate 47 vis-à-vis the ball indexing hole 53, so that the ball bears in the bottom of the groove 45 being pressed by the spring, which maintains the rod 37 in its extended position. The assembly of a retaining finger according to the invention, such as the finger 4 visible in FIG. 1, consists first of all in comparing the second end 43 of the rod 37 with the face 49 of the plate 47 The end 43 of the rod 37 is then engaged in the sliding bearing formed by the central hole which passes through the base 38. Once the second end 43 protrudes from the sleeve 48, a locking pin 46 having a length greater than the diameter of the rod is mounted in the locking hole 44 so as to protrude from either side of this hole to prevent the rod 37 from being pulled out of the base 38 by this end 43.

When the rod is deployed as in FIG. 2, the first end 39 of this rod 37 is at a maximum distance from the face 49. In this situation, the pin 46 has its ends bearing against a free edge of the bushing 48 as visible in Figure 2 to ensure that the rod can not be extracted from the base 38, and moreover, this rod 37 is blocked by the indexing ball in the base 38 to ensure a stable holding of the rod deployed position.

This rod 37 can then be driven into the base 38, against the indexing ball, to retract by sliding in this base 38 as shown in Figure 3.

When the rod 37 is fully retracted as in FIG. 4, the first end 39 has its shoulder 41 which abuts against the face 49 of the plate, this first end 39 then being at a minimum distance from the face 49, to be substantially flush with this face and the support wall 2. In other words, in this situation, the rod is flush with respect to the support wall 2, having only its first end 39 which protrudes from the functional face 3.

To mount a holding finger on the support wall 2 of the bench 1, an operator pierces a hole in the support wall 2 of a diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the bushing 48, and positions the holding finger vis-à-vis of the functional face 3 of the support wall 2 by placing the sleeve 48 facing the hole to engage the sleeve 48 in this hole. Then, the operator plates the face 51 of the plate 47 against the functional face 3 of this wall 2 and fixes the base 38 to this wall 2 by screws passing through the fixing holes 52 to be screwed into the wall 2, the holding finger then extending perpendicularly to the support wall 2. In FIG. 1, the step of branching the bundle 11 into two sets of cables 15 and 17 illustrates the gain in simplicity provided by the use of the holding fingers according to the invention. Indeed, after placing the beam 11 on the holding fingers 16 and 21, the operator deploys the rod of the holding finger 18, originally advantageously retracted, to form a bearing abutment for bending the assembly of cables 15 perpendicular to the direction of the beam 11. Once the cable assembly 15 is in position, the operator deploys the rod of the holding finger 19 to hold and lock the cable assembly 15 in a vertical position.

Similarly, the operator deploys one after another the holding fingers 23 and 29, originally advantageously retracted, to form support abutments for bending with greater ease, one after the other. the other, the cable assemblies 28 and 24 to position and lock them in a vertical position.

In the example of Figure 1, the maintenance of these cables 28 and 24 is also provided by the holding fingers 16, 18 and 21 previously deployed to maintain the beam 11 or bend the cable assembly 15. The operator is then free to advantageously partially retract these holding fingers 18 and 21 to dispose more easily the cable assembly 28 once it curved with the holding finger 16.

Finally, the cable assemblies 32 and 35 are also arranged on the wall 2 of the bench advantageously playing on the rod length of the holding fingers 16 and 27 previously deployed and by deploying the rods of the holding fingers 31, 33 and 36 to the origin advantageously retracted.

The holding fingers are operated using a hook 56 which has a rod 57 having an angled gripping end 58 which extends in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of this rod 57, and another end carried by a handle 59 for the operator, as shown in FIG. This hook 56 allows the operator to have easy access to a holding finger even if it is surrounded by many cables making handling difficult with the hands, as in the example of Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 shows two holding fingers 61 and 62 carried by the support wall 2 which are advantageously retracted so that the operator can bend a set of cables without obstacles. Once the set of cables 6 is positioned, the operator engages the bent end 58 of the hook 56 in the gripping hole 42 of the holding finger 61 to deploy its rod 37 forming a stop for holding the cable assembly 63, as shown in Figure 7. It then proceeds in the same manner with the retaining finger 62.

In general, the idea underlying the invention is to provide a rod movable relative to the base, between an extended position and a flush position. In the example of the figures, the rod is sliding relative to the base, between its deployed position and its flush position in which it is retracted, but the rod can also be provided articulated on the base to be folded against the support wall when in its outcropping position.

In general, the invention makes it easy to perform the operations of joining the bundles by the collars, allowing the operator to retract the rods of the fingers when necessary, to facilitate the introduction of the cables before deploying these fingers to hold these cables in position.

Claims

1. Holding finger (4) comprising fixing means (52) for a support wall (2) of an electrical harness assembly bench (1), for holding in position cables (6) of harnesses for fixing these cables (6) to each other, characterized in that this retaining finger (4) comprises a base (38), a rod (37) carried by this base (38) and having a first end (39), and in that the rod

(37) is movable relative to the base (38) to be movable between a deployed position of its first end (39) relative to the support wall (2) and a flush position of its first end (39) relative to the support wall (2).

2. Finger holding according to claim 1, wherein the rod (37) is slidably mounted in the base (38) to be movable relative to this base

(38) between the deployed position and a retracted position. 3. holding finger according to claim 2, wherein the rod (37) comprises a first end (39) having a shoulder (41) forming a stop preventing the passage of this first end (39) through the base (38). and a second end (43) comprising a radial hole (44) in which is mounted a pin (46) protruding radially from the shank (37) to prevent passage of said second end (43) through the base.

4. Holding finger according to claim 2, wherein the rod (37) has at its first end (39) a radial gripping hole. 5. Holding finger according to claim 2, wherein the rod (37) and the base (38) comprise ball indexing means for retaining in the base (38) the rod (37) in the deployed position . 6. Holding finger according to claim 5, wherein the indexing means comprises a ball indexing hole (53) radially crossing the base (38) to open into an inner face of the base (38) forming sliding bearing of the rod (37), this hole (53) receiving a ball and a spring maintaining the ball bearing against the rod (37), the rod being provided with a circumferential indexing groove (45) in the vicinity its second end (43), the ball bearing in the groove (45) for locking the rod (37) in the deployed position.

7. Harness assembly bench characterized in that it comprises a support wall (2) carrying at least one retaining finger according to one of the preceding claims.