Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/22—Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fairlead assembly for passing and guiding a cable, also headed, in an opening, for example of a container, such as an electrical cabinet, so that the cable is retained and sealed, preventing fluids and/or gases and/or dusts from entering or exiting from said container and at the same time preventing the cable from being torn or mistakenly moved from its predefined position during installation.
• the present invention relates to assemblies which are used when a secure connection between machinery and equipment is required, and which are robust and reliable, even in applications where there is abundant presence of water, dust, vibrations or extreme temperatures.
• the present invention relates to fairlead assemblies which allow carrying out a fast and safe passage of headed cables, particularly useful also in the maintenance and overhaul of installations and machinery.
• Fairlead assemblies allow passing, retaining and tightening headed cables and cables without connectors from one environment to another which must be separated from each other for reasons of safety or hydraulic or mechanical seal.
• the main features of these assemblies are the provision of a frame or strip, preferably divisible, and of cable gripping elements, or grommets, which are preferably openable and allow the fitting of the grommet on a cable quickly, easily and cost-effectively.
• the divisible strip and the openable grommets prevent the cutting and wiring of already headed cables. In this way, the guarantee of shielding and sealing of cables is preserved, not only electrical cables but also sheaths of various diameters, is preserved .
• the grommets have their own housing in the frame which guides them on opposite sides and are securely fixed to the frame even during assembly.
• connecting elements indicated with V
• ribs indicated with 5
• cables for example, headed electrical cables, as well as cables without connectors, can be quickly inserted into electrical equipment, electrical panels or machines. At the same time, the cables are sealed with a high degree of tightness.
• FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a closed fairlead assembly
• figure 2 is a front view of the fairlead assembly of figure 1;
• FIG. 3 is a cross section, according to the line III-
• FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section, according to the line IV-IV of figure 2, of the assembly of figure 1;
• FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of a half-frame adapted to constitute a frame of the assembly of figure 1;
• FIG. 6 is an axonometric view from the opposite side with respect to what is shown in figure 5, of the half-frame of figure 5;
• FIG. 7 is an axonometric view of a cable gripping element ;
• FIG. 8 is an axonometric view of three assembly steps, according to a first method, of a cable gripping element to a half-frame, in which the cable gripping element is coupled to the frame with a transverse movement to the frame itself;
• FIG. 11 shows a further step of a method of assembling an assembly in which a second cable gripping element is connected to the half-frame of figures 8, 9 and 10;
• FIG. 12 is axonometric views of four assembly steps, according to a second method, of a cable gripping element to a half-frame, in which the cable gripping element is coupled to the half-frame with a sliding movement in axis or parallel to the half-frame itself;
• FIG. 16 is an axonometric view of the final insertion step of two more cable gripping elements in the assembly of figure 15;
• - figures 17 and 18 are axonometric views of two connection and closing steps of two half-frames to form a fairlead assembly
• FIG. 19 is a local section view of a detail of the coupling between a cable gripping element and the frame;
• FIG. 20 and figure 21 are two axonometric views of a further embodiment of the cable gripping element, where hooking elements are provided on opposite sides of the cable gripping element, for connecting said cable gripping element to two opposite sides of the frame, for example to both the first half-frame and the second half-frame when coupled together and connected in the operating position;
• FIG. 22 is a front view of four different cable gripping elements, of different sizes and with cable openings of different width and in some cases in different numbers for each cable gripping element;
• . - figures 23 and 24 are lateral views of 30 fairlead assemblies of different sizes, with a different number of cable gripping elements for each frame and different sizes and/or different numbers of cable openings for each cable gripping element;
• - figures 25 and 26 are axonometric views in separate parts of a frame and a frame seal thereof during a step of assembly of the frame seal to the frame;
• FIG. 27 is an axonometric view in separate parts of a frame, connecting screws and bolts for connecting the half-frames, as well as the means for fastening the frame to a wall;
• FIG. 28 is an axonometric view of an assembly according to an embodiment in which the half-frames house a single gripping element and a threaded tubular frame body protrudes from the frame for connecting the frame to a wall;
• FIG. 29 is an axonometric view of the assembly of figure 28 in which the closest half-frame has been removed to better visualize the parts of the assembly;
• FIG. 30 is an axonometric view of an assembly according to an embodiment in which the half-frames house four gripping elements and a threaded tubular frame body protrudes from the frame for connecting the frame to a wall;
• FIG. 31 is an axonometric view of the assembly of figure 30 in which the closest half-frame has been removed to better visualize the parts of the assembly;
• . - figures 32 and 33 are axonometric views from different angles of a cable gripping element in which at least a portion of the peripheral grommet surface is a flat grommet surface;
• FIG. 34 is an axonometric view of a snap-hooking counter-frame adapted to be fixed to a wall and to receive with snap-hooking assembly a fairlead assembly according to the invention
• FIG. 35 is an axonometric view and in separate parts of a fairlead assembly in which two half-frames are about to be connected with their connecting screws and bolts, provided with snap-hooking frame seats adapted to receive elastic counter-frame hooks for the snap-hooking in a counter-frame;
• FIG. 36 is an axonometric view of a closed fairlead assembly according to a still further embodiment, in which four headed cables are inserted and retained;
• FIG. 37 is an axonometric view partially in separate parts of the fairlead assembly of figure 35 in a partially open configuration
• FIG. 38 is an axonometric view partially in separate parts of the frame of the fairlead assembly of figure 35 closed with a seal and a tightening nut;
• FIG. 39 is an axonometric view in separate parts of the open frame of the fairlead assembly of figure 35;
• FIG. 40 illustrates a sectional axonometry of the frame of the fairlead assembly of figure 35;
• FIG. 41 is a sectional axonometry of a frame of the fairlead assembly according to a still further embodiment
• FIG. 42 is an axonometric view in separate parts of the open frame of figure 41.
• a fairlead assembly 1 for passing and guiding a cable in an opening so that the cable is retained and sealed;
• said assembly 1 comprises a frame 2 which forms a rim 3 delimiting a central opening 4;
• said frame 2 comprises a frame seat 7; said frame seat 7 comprises at least one undercut portion 8;
• said assembly 1 comprises at least one cable gripping element 9;
• said cable gripping element 9 comprises at least one hooking element 14; said at least one hooking element 14 comprises at least one undercut hooking extension 15;
• said hooking element 14, when it is inserted into said frame seat 7, is accommodated with clearance in said frame seat 7, so that a clearance 16 is provided between said hooking element 14 and said frame seat 7.
• said hooking element 14, when it is inserted into said frame seat 7, is accommodated with clearance in said frame seat 7, so that a clearance 16 is provided between said hooking element 14 and said frame seat 7 so that when said cable gripping element 9 is not yet strongly coupled to said frame 2 or when said central opening 4 is not completely surrounded by said frame 2 or when said central opening 4 is not completely occluded by said at least one cable gripping element 9, cable gripping element 9 can slide in said frame seat 7.
• said cable gripping element 9 comprises at least one cable opening 11, or at least one pierceable membrane which forms said cable opening 11.
• said hooking element 14 when it is inserted into said frame seat 7, is accommodated with clearance in said frame seat 7, so that, also under operating conditions, a clearance 16 is provided between said hooking element 14 and said frame seat 7.
• said frame 2 comprises at least one frame side 5.
• said frame side 5 has a longitudinal extension.
• said frame side 5 comprises at least one peripheral frame surface 6 facing said central opening 4.
• said frame side 5 comprises said frame seat 7 which extends longitudinally over at least one stretch of the longitudinal extension of said frame side 5.
• said frame seat 7 is obtained in said frame side 5 and comprises said at least one undercut portion 8 placed in an undercut position with respect to said peripheral frame surface 6.
• said cable gripping element 9 comprises a peripheral grommet surface 10 which externally surrounds said cable gripping element 9.
• said cable gripping element 9 comprises at least one cable opening 11 adapted to receive a cable portion 12 with force coupling.
• said cable gripping element 9 comprises a slot 13.
• said slot 13 connects said cable opening 11 to said peripheral grommet surface 10 thus allowing spreading said cable gripping element 9 elastically for fitting it either over or astride said cable portion 12.
• peripheral grommet surface 10 cooperates with said peripheral frame surface 6 or with an adjacent cable gripping element 9 to form a force coupling between said cable gripping element 9 and said frame 2 or an adjacent cable gripping element 9.
• At least one portion of said peripheral grommet surface 10 cooperates with said peripheral frame surface 6 to form a geometric and force coupling between said cable gripping element 9 and said frame 2 when said central opening 4 is completely surrounded by said frame 2 and under operating conditions, and said central opening 4 is completely obstructed by said at least one cable gripping element 9.
• said hooking element 14 overhangingly extends from said peripheral grommet surface 10.
• said hooking element 14 comprises at least one undercut hooking extension 15.
• said hooking element 14 is inserted into said frame seat 7 so as to allow said peripheral grommet surface 10 to be coupled to said peripheral frame surface 6.
• said undercut hooking extension 15 of said hooking element 14 fits in an undercut position in said undercut portion 8.
• said undercut hooking extension 15 of said hooking element 14, when it is inserted in an undercut position into said undercut portion 8, is accommodated with clearance in said undercut portion 8, so that said cable gripping element 9, when it is not force-coupled to said frame 2 yet, can slide in said frame seat 7.
• said hooking element 14 is elastic, and said hooking element 14 has a dimension which also allows inserting said hooking element 14 snappingly into said frame seat 7 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of said frame seat 7.
• said frame 2 comprises a plurality of half-frames 17, 18 adapted to be mutually connected to form said rim 3 which encircles said central opening 4 when mutually connected .
• a first half-frame 17 comprises a first side 19 of first half-frame and a second side 20 of first half-frame, wherein said second side 20 of first half-frame is orthogonal to said first side 19 of first half-frame.
• a second half-frame 21 comprises a first side 22 of second half-frame and a second side 23 of second half-frame, wherein said second side 23 of second half frame is orthogonal to said first side 22 of second half-frame.
• said first and second half frames 17, 21 are connected to each other thus forming said rim 3.
• At least either said first or second half-frame 17, 21 comprises at least one frame tenon 26.
• At least either said first or second half-frame 17, 21 comprises at least one frame tenon seat 27 adapted to receive the at least one frame tenon 26 for a geometric stiffening coupling of said frame 2.
• said first and second half frames 17, 21 comprise at least one screw seat 28 adapted to face a screw seat 28 of the half-frame 21, 17 to be connected.
• said first and second half frame 17, 21 comprise at least one bolt seat 30. [0095] .
• said assembly 1 comprises at least one threaded bolt 30.
• said assembly 1 comprises at least one connecting screw 29.
• said connecting screw 29 is accommodated in said screw seat 28 of a first of either said first or second half-frame 17, 21 and is inserted into the facing screw seat 28 of a second of either said first or second half-frame 17, 21 and is inserted into said bolt 30 placed in an undercut position with respect to said screw seat 28 of a first of either said first or second half-frame 17, 21, thus sandwiching said first of either said first or second half-frame 17, 21 to said second of either said first or second half-frame 17, 21.
• said first and second sides 19, 22; 20, 23 of said first and second half-frames 17, 21 are rectilinear sides.
• said frame seat 7 opens outside the half-frame so as to insert said hooking element 14 into said frame seat 7 by virtue of the clearance 16 provided between said hooking element 14 and said frame seat 7.
• said central opening 4 is a single central opening 4 surrounded by said rim 3.
• said frame seat 7 extends along the entire portion of one frame side 5 facing said central opening 4.
• said undercut portion 8 is a pair of opposite undercut portions 8.
• said hooking element 14 comprises a pair of opposite undercut hooking extensions 15.
• said hooking element 14 comprises an elastic hooking element body.
• said cable gripping element 9, or grommet is a plurality of cable gripping elements 9 which are available being adjacent to one another.
• said plurality of cable gripping elements 9 is arranged side by side and with the peripheral grommet surfaces 10 thereof in contact with one another or with said peripheral frame surface 6.
• said plurality of cable gripping elements 9 is force-coupled to one another and to said frame 2 while applying a compression action to the cable 12 or the cables 12 accommodated in said cable openings 11, thus sealing the cable 12 and forcedly retaining the cable 12 itself.
• said cable gripping element 9 comprises at least one grommet ridge 24 which protrudes from at least one said peripheral grommet surface 10 and is adapted to be geometrically coupled to at least one grommet seat 25 provided in an adjacent cable gripping element 9 and/or in at least one frame side 5; 19, 20, 22, 23.
• said cable gripping element 9 comprises at least one grommet ridge 24 which protrudes from at least one said peripheral grommet surface 10 and is adapted to be geometrically and intimately coupled to at least one grommet seat 25 provided in an adjacent cable gripping element 9 and/or in at least one frame side 5; 19, 20, 22, 23.
• said at least one grommet ridge 24 comprises tapered or conical flanks.
• said grommet seat 25 comprises tapered or conical flanks which are complementary to said tapered or conical flanks of at least one grommet ridge 24.
• said cable gripping element 9 comprises at least one of said peripheral grommet surfaces 10 which is a flat grommet surface 45 and is adapted to rest on a flat surface of an adjacent cable gripping element 9 or at least one frame side 5; 19, 20, 22, 23.
• said assembly comprises a plurality of cable gripping elements 9 and at least one of the cable gripping elements 9 is free from said cable opening 11 and is used as an element for closing a portion of said central opening 4.
• said assembly comprises a plurality of cable gripping elements 9 and at least one of the cable gripping elements 9 is free from said gripping element 14.
• said central opening 4 having a predetermined extension evaluated with respect to said rim 3 and said predetermined extension of said central opening 4 corresponds to an extension multiple of a cable gripping element 9, so that this multiplicity of cable gripping elements 9 when placed side by side completely obstructs said central opening 4 and is forcedly coupled to said frame 2 when it is closed and under operating conditions.
• said frame 2 comprises at least one frame side 5; 19, 22 of predominant extension with respect to the other frame sides and wherein said frame seat is provided in said one frame side 5; 19, 22.
• said frame 2 comprises a resting surface 31 for resting said frame 2 on a wall 32 in which a cable passage opening 34 is provided.
• said assembly comprises at least one frame seal 35 arranged on said resting surface 31 and adapted to be interposed between said frame 2 and said wall 32 for a sealed coupling.
• said frame seal 35 is a plurality of frame seals 35, each adapted to be coupled to a half frame 17, 18.
• said frame seal 35 comprises at least one seal hooking element 39 adapted to be inserted into at least one seal hooking seat 40 provided in said frame 2.
• said frame 2 comprises at least one fastening seat 36 forming a through hole adapted to accommodate means 38 for fixing frame 2 to a wall 32, e.g. of a container 33 in which a cable passage opening 34 is obtained, which opening is completely obstructed by said assembly 1 when it is closed under operating conditions and resting against the wall 32 in the edge portion thereof which is adjacent to said container cable passage opening 34.
• said frame 2 comprises at least one snap-hooking seat 41.
• Said assembly further comprises a snap-hooking counter-frame 42 adapted to be connected to a wall 32, for example of a container 33.
• said snap-hooking counter frame 42 comprises at least one elastic counter-frame hook 43 adapted to be snappingly connected into said frame snap-hooking seat
• a counter-frame seal 44 is provided between said frame 2 and said snap-hooking counter-frame 42 to ensure at least one fluid-tight sealing between said frame 2 and said sealed counter-frame 42 for a cable passage opening 34 provided in a wall 32.
• a tubular frame body 46 protrudes from said frame 2, which is adapted to be inserted into a cable passage opening 34 of a wall 32.
• tubular frame body 46 is externally threaded and adapted to cooperate with a threaded fastening flange 47 to lock said frame 2 firmly to the wall 32.
• the tubular frame body 46 comprises a resting flange 48 adapted to cooperate with said wall
• said tubular frame body 46 comprises a plurality of half-frame bodies 49, each protruding from a respective half-frame 17, 18 to form a tubular frame 46 when the half-frames 17, 18 are mutually assembled and connected.
• a frame seal 35 is provided between said resting flange 48 and said wall 32.
• a method for connecting a cable gripping element 9 to a frame 2 to form an assembly 1 for passing and guiding a cable into an opening so that the cable is retained and sealed comprising the steps of:
• said hooking element 14 is a pair of hooking elements 14 which extend parallel to each other.
• said frame seat 7 is a pair of frame seats 7 which extend parallel to each other.
• frame 2 has elastic frame portions 36 adapted to preload the coupling with the cable gripping elements 9 when the frame is closed.
• said elastic frame portions 36 are separated from the resistant and encircling portion of the frame by grooves 37.
• a hooking gripping element 9 comprises at least two hooking elements 14 provided on opposite sides of the cable gripping element 9, for connecting said cable gripping element 9 to two opposite sides of frame 2.
• said hooking elements 14 are four in number, for example two for each opposite side of the cable gripping element 9.
• said opposite hooking elements 14 engage both the first half-frame 17 and the second half-frame 18, when said half-frames 17, 18 are mutually coupled and connected in the operating position.
• said cable gripping elements 9 comprise different dimensions, meaning different extensions or widths and/or lengths.
• said cable gripping elements 9 comprise at least one cable opening 11 which between one cable gripping element 9 and another cable gripping element 9 present in the same fairlead assembly 1 have different widths, for example different diameter.
• said cable gripping elements 9 comprise more than one cable opening 11, for example two or three or four cable openings 11.
• each cable gripping element 9 comprises two and/or four cable openings 11.
• each fairlead assembly 1 comprises from 1 to 10 cable gripping elements 9.
• each fairlead assembly 1 comprises from 1 to 30 cable openings 11.
• each fairlead assembly 1 comprises a plurality of cable gripping elements 9 arranged on at least two mutually superimposed rows.
• each fairlead assembly 1 comprises a plurality of cable gripping elements 9 which connect on at least two opposite sides to frame 2.
• At least one of said hooking elements 14 is in a single piece with said cable gripping element 9 or with a part of said cable gripping element 9.
• said frame 2 comprises a plurality of half-frames 17, 18 adapted to be mutually connected to form said rim 3 which encircles said central opening 4 when said plurality of half-frames 17, 18 is mutually connected.
• At least one of said half frames 17, 21 comprises at least one snap-hooking tab 60.
• At least one of said half frames 21, 17 comprises a snap-hooking recess 63 adapted to receive a portion of said snap-hooking tab 60 for a firm coupling of said first and second half-frames 17 and 21.
• each half-frame 17, 21 comprises in one first side a snap-hooking tab 60 and in a second side a snap-hooking recess 63 adapted to receive a portion of said snap-hooking tab 60.
• each snap-hooking tab 60 comprises a snap-hooking undercut hook 61 adapted to couple with said snap-hooking recess 63.
• each snap-hooking tab 60 comprises a gripping end 62 adapted to guide said tab by lifting said snap-hooking undercut hook 61 to make it during the coupling of said half-frames 17, 21 snap inside said snap-hooking recess 63.
• each snap-hooking tab 60 comprises a gripping end 62 adapted to lift said snap-hooking undercut hook 61 to extract it from said snap-hooking recess 63 and decouple said half-frames 17, 21.
• said plurality of cable gripping elements 9 are of different sizes from each other and the absence of obstacles in said central opening 4 allows a free arrangement of cable gripping elements 9 inside said central opening 4.
• the larger cable in some cases even with a diameter of 34mm, will enter the cabinet in a position even close to, for example, the corner of the cabinet itself and will therefore have to make a less difficult bend so as not to crash into the plates of the cabinet itself.
• the operator or the installer can freely decide to mount the large cable gripping element 9 wherever he wants inside frame 2, for example it could be positioned totally close to a corner of the cabinet, facilitating the wiring of even large cables .

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
• Details Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)

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Citations (5)

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• 2019
  • 2019-01-03 IT IT102019000000034A patent/IT201900000034A1/it unknown
  • 2019-12-16 WO PCT/IB2019/060856 patent/WO2020141382A1/en unknown
  • 2019-12-16 EP EP19835757.6A patent/EP3906600A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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