Device for guiding and holding a cable within a pipe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9488306-B2
Application number	US-201113992124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2011
Priority date	Dec 16, 2010
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

The invention provides a device ( 2 ) for guiding a cable ( 8 a, 8 b ) in a duct ( 4 ), the device ( 2 ) being characterized in that it comprises at least one guide tube ( 12 ) receiving the cable ( 8 a, 8 b ) and at least one expandable clamp ( 13 ) secured to one end ( 12 a ) of the tube ( 12 ), the expandable clamp ( 13 ) being deployed so as to be blocked against the inside wall of the duct ( 4 ) in order to hold the tube ( 12 ) in the duct ( 4 ). The device serves to guide and hold the cable in the duct without damaging the duct.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device ( 2 ) for guiding a cable ( 8 a , 8 b ) in a duct ( 4 ), the device ( 2 ) comprising:
at least one guide tube ( 12 ) adapted to receive the cable ( 8 a , 8 b ), and
at least one expandable clamp ( 13 ) attached to one end ( 12 a ) of the guide tube ( 12 ), the at least one expandable clamp ( 13 ) being adapted to be deployed so as to be blocked against an inside wall of the duct ( 4 ) in order to hold the guide tube ( 12 ) in the duct ( 4 ),
wherein the at least one expandable clamp ( 13 ) comprises a rigid frame ( 18 ) on which is attached the guide tube ( 12 ), and at least one pad ( 20 ) that is fastened on the rigid frame ( 18 ), at least one of said at least one pad is a movable pad ( 20 ) which is arranged on the rigid frame ( 18 ) so as to be movable relative to the rigid frame ( 18 ) and so as to exert a force on the inside wall of the duct ( 4 ),
wherein the guide tube ( 12 ), the rigid frame ( 18 ) and the movable pad ( 20 ) are mechanical parts which are assembled together to form the at least one expandable clamp ( 13 ),
wherein the rigid frame ( 18 ) has a closed shape that delimits a surrounded space forming a central opening ( 25 ) of the rigid frame, and
wherein the guide tube ( 12 ) is attached to the rigid frame ( 18 ) so as to be arranged substantially against the inside wall of the duct ( 4 ) and so that the device ( 2 ) allows access of a hand to the inside of the duct ( 4 ) through said central opening ( 25 ).

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein each one of said at least one pad ( 20 ) has a sole ( 21 ) made of elastomer and is adapted to bear against the inside wall of the duct ( 4 ).

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable clamp ( 13 ) includes blocking means ( 28 , 33 ) for blocking the cable ( 8 a , 8 b ) relative to the guide tube ( 12 ).

4. An aircraft landing gear including a duct ( 4 ) and a device according to claim 1 , wherein the clamp ( 13 ) is expanded so as to be blocked against the inside wall of the duct ( 4 ).

5. A method of guiding a cable ( 8 a , 8 b ) in a duct ( 4 ) having an entry and an outlet orifice ( 10 ) for the cable, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a guide tube ( 12 ) in the duct ( 4 ) in such a manner that an upstream end of the guide tube ( 12 a ) is arranged at the entry of the duct ( 4 ) and a downstream end ( 12 b ) is arranged facing the outlet orifice ( 10 );
inserting in the duct ( 4 ) an expandable clamp ( 13 ) which comprises a rigid frame ( 18 ) and at least one movable pad ( 20 ), the rigid frame having a closed shape that delimits a surrounded space forming a central opening ( 25 ) of the rigid frame and said at least one movable pad ( 20 ) being arranged on the rigid frame ( 18 ) so as to be moveable relative to the rigid frame ( 18 ) in order to expand the clamp ( 13 );
attaching the guide tube ( 12 ) to the rigid frame 18 ) of the expandable clamp ( 13 ) in such a way to allow access of a hand to the inside of the duct ( 4 ) through the central opening ( 25 );
moving said at least one movable pad ( 20 ) relative to the rigid frame ( 18 ) so as to expand the clamp ( 13 ) and block it against an inside wall of the duct ( 4 ) in order to hold the guide tube ( 12 ) in the duct ( 4 );
inserting the cable ( 8 a , 8 b ) in the guide tube ( 12 ); and
blocking the cable ( 8 a , 8 b ) on the device with the help of blocking means ( 28 , 33 ).

Assignees

• Blanpain Thierry
• Chauvet Dominique
• Messier Bugatti Dowty

Inventors

• Blanpain Thierry
• Chauvet Dominique

Classifications

• F16L55/07 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining (apparatus for draining F16T) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B64C25/02

  Undercarriages · CPC title

• H02G3/28 Primary

  Installations of cables, lines, or separate protective tubing therefor in conduits or ducts pre-established in walls, ceilings or floors · CPC title

• H02G3/32

  using mounting clamps · CPC title