RU54122U1 - CONNECTOR OF CROSSING ROPES OF AN AIR-SUPPORT STRUCTURE - Google Patents

Abstract

Usage: elements of the fastening of intersecting cables of the network covering the shell of air-supporting building structures. Purpose: to connect crossing cables whose ends are not available, simplify installation and disassembly, reduce the cost of connecting elements. The essence of the utility model: The connector is made in the form of an oval cross-section sleeve and has a transverse cutout in the middle part for laying one of the cables, directed along the larger axis of the oval, and the sleeve wall, for laying the second of the cables, is made open on the side with minimal curvature. The cutout depth is set so that there is a gap between the first of the cables laid in it and the inner wall of the sleeve. Moreover, the gap is in the range from 0.05 to 0.25 of the diameter of the cable, and the wall thickness of the sleeve is in the range from 0.4 to 0.6 of the diameter of the connected cables. A longitudinal protrusion is made on the inside of the sleeve opposite the cut of the connector. Effect: increase the reliability of the connection.

Description

The proposal relates to structural elements of air-bearing (inflatable) building structures, more precisely, to elements for fastening intersecting cables of a network covering the shell of such structures.

Airborne structures consist of an inflatable shell covered with an external flexible frame made in the form of a grid formed by a system of intersecting cables fastened by the ends to the base of the structure. To ensure the stability of the shape of the mesh cells and to prevent the cables from slipping on the surface of the sheath, they must be rigidly fastened together at the intersection points.

A device for fastening intersecting rod elements, containing two plates, each of which is made with a profile mounting pad at the end under one of the fixed rods, and a threaded coupling element made in the form of a bracket, capturing one of the rod elements and passing through holes in one of plates (AS USSR No. 1739071 according to class F 16 B 1/00 dated 01/02/1990). The device provides rigid fixation of cables laid at an angle to each other, but it is expensive and difficult to install, since it contains three parts and two nuts with Grover washers. Installing such a device at a height on the shell of the structure requires a lot of time and effort. If the installer loses one of the elements, which is likely, since the cable network of the air support structure contains hundreds of crosshairs, damage to the lower part of the shell by the falling element occurs. Protruding threaded ends can damage the shell. In addition, the device strongly presses the cable bracket. Despite the use of protective coatings, during the service life of the structure, the threaded connections of the device located in the open air corrode, which complicates the current repair and dismantling of the structure. Protruding parts of the device may damage the shell.

A clip for intersecting cables is also known, consisting of two identical L-shaped loops with nuts. To clamp the cables, the threaded ends of each loop are inserted into the eye of the other loop and tightened with nuts (N.V.

Lachinov. Installation and repair of equipment of boiler rooms of large power plants. M .: "Higher School", 1970, p.18). The clamp provides a rigid fixation of the cables, laid at an angle to each other, but when used to fasten the cables of an air support structure, it has the same disadvantages as the previous analogue.

A device for attaching intersecting rod elements is also known, comprising two interchangeable plates connected to one another by means of a threaded clamping element, having profiled mounting surfaces under one of the rod elements on mutually reversed surfaces, as well as open grooves for installing the second of the fixed elements (a. S. USSR No. 1504385 according to class F 16 B 1/00 dated 10.07.87). The device is simpler than the analogues described above, but still contains a threaded element, with the disadvantages arising from this, and is difficult to install. In addition, when it is tightened, it is possible to capture an inflated shell with the edges of converging plates.

A device for fastening crossing cables of an air support structure is also known, made in the form of an ingot of fusible metal or plastic, covering the crosshair, cast directly at the installation site of the cable network (US patent No. 4511279 for class F 16 B 1/00 with priority from 08.31.82 ) The device does not contain protrusions hazardous to the shell and provides rigid fixation of the cables. To install the device, it is necessary to bring a mold under both cables, insert both cables into the grooves of the mold, which is not always easy, since in different parts of the shell the cables cross at different angles, install the upper mold cover, fasten it, cast the device, disassemble and remove the cast form. The described actions are very difficult and long to perform at a height which is the main disadvantage of the known device. In addition, it has a high cost, since available quick-hardening plastics do not provide the necessary bond strength at acceptable dimensions, and fusible metal alloys are expensive.

The closest to the proposed technical essence and the achieved result is a device for connecting superimposed on one end of a flexible rod of wire, made in the form of a sleeve of oval cross section, covering both cables and crimped around them in several places along the cross section of the sleeve (A.S. USSR No. 590532 according to class F 16 G 11/00 from 07.10.75).

However, to install the device through it, it is necessary to thread both fastened cables, which is impossible at air-supporting structures where the ends of the cables are fixed. In addition, it is unsuitable for fastening cables that cross at an angle close to a straight line.

The technical objectives of the proposed connector are to provide the possibility of its use for connecting crossed cables, the ends of which are not available, simplifying its installation and disassembling, reducing the cost of the connector itself as a product.

These problems are solved in that the known connector, made in the form of an oval-shaped sleeve, has a transverse cutout in the middle part for laying one of the cables, directed along the larger axis of the oval, and the wall of the sleeve for laying the second of the cables is made open on the side having minimal curvature

In addition, the depth of the cutout is set so that a gap remains between the first of the cables laid in it and the inner wall of the sleeve.

In addition, the gap is in the range from 0.05 to 0.25 of the cable diameter.

In addition, the wall thickness of the sleeve is in the range from 0.4 to 0.6 of the diameter of the connected cables.

In addition, the connector further has a longitudinal protrusion on the inside of the sleeve opposite the cut.

Due to the presence of a transverse cutout in the middle part of the sleeve, as well as the fact that its wall is open, the connector can be installed on cables without access to their ends.

Due to the fact that the cutout is directed across the sleeve, it is possible to connect cables that cross at an angle.

Due to the fact that the oval cross-section sleeve is used as a connector, the versatility of the connector is increased, which can connect not only crossing, but also parallel cables.

Due to the gap between the cable embedded in the cutout and the inner wall of the sleeve located beneath it, the reliability of the connection increases, since the gap provides the possibility of elastic bending of the cable during compression of the sleeve and thereby maintaining a constant force in the connection. The declared gap value is optimal for achieving this result.

The specified ratio between the wall thickness of the sleeve and the diameter of the cables provides sufficient strength of the connection and an acceptable force for crimping the sleeve during its installation.

A longitudinal protrusion from the inside of the sleeve opposite the cut facilitates the installation of the connector and, fixing the second cable, increases the reliability of the connection when the cables are exposed to a variable load.

The essence of the proposal is illustrated by drawings.

In Fig 1 shows a side view from the side of the cut on the proposed connector before installing and crimping.

In Fig.2 shows a view of the end part of the proposed connector before installation and compression.

In Fig 3 shows a section of the proposed connector by a plane passing through its middle and perpendicular to the axis of the oval channel of the sleeve.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the connection of two cables.

Figure 5 shows a view of the connection of two cables from the side of the end of the sleeve.

The proposed connector consists of a thick-walled metal sleeve 1 having an internal channel of oval cross-section. The width of the channel q along the smallest axis of the oval is equal to or slightly greater than the diameter D of the connected cables. The best connection characteristics are obtained if the channel width along the minor axis is from 1.0 to 1.2 diameters of the connected cables.

The width of the channel Q along the largest of the axes of the oval is at least equal to three times the diameter D of the connected cables. The best connection characteristics are obtained if the channel width along the indicated axis is from 3.0 to 3.4 diameters of the connected cables.

For laying the first cable 2 in the middle of the sleeve 1 there is a transverse cut 3 directed along the larger axis of the oval. Here, the direction of the notch refers to the direction from the open beginning of the notch to its blind end. The width of the cutout B is preferably in the range from 1.0 to 1.1 of the diameter D of the first cable. On the shell of the air support structure, the cables can cross not only strictly at right angles. Therefore, relative to the axis of the sleeve 1, the direction of the cutout 3 may be an angle different from the straight line. With a width B exceeding the diameter D of the first cable 2, it becomes possible to vary the angle of fixation of the cables in

small limits. If the angle between the cables is significantly different from the straight line, then the direction of the cut should be an angle close to the desired one. The practice of mounting grids of air support structures shows that it is enough to have two sizes of connectors with a width of B = 1.1D: with a cutout directed at a right angle and with a cutout directed at an angle of about 60 ° to the axis of the sleeve.

The wall of the sleeve 1 opposite the middle of the major axis of the oval, that is, on the side having minimal curvature, is made open, so that the sleeve in cross section has a C-shape. The width G between the edges of the lumen is from 1.4 to 1.7 diameters of the connected cables. With a smaller width, it is impossible to lay a second cable 4 in the sleeve, and with a larger width, it is not possible to completely compress the cables due to the premature closing of the lumen edges. Upper with respect to the first cable 2, the edge of the lumen on the inside can have a longitudinal bevel 5 facilitating sliding of the sleeve wall 1 along the second cable 4 during compression.

The sleeve 1 has approximately the same wall thickness t, ranging from 0.4 to 0.6 of the diameter of the D. cables. With a smaller thickness, the joint strength is insufficient, and with a larger thickness, the required compression force becomes so large that it complicates the installation of the connector at a height. In addition, with a greater thickness during compression, not so much a sleeve is deformed as cables, which is undesirable. Due to the openness of the walls of the sleeve, the reliability of the proposed connector is not absolute. Therefore, it cannot be recommended for securing load-carrying cables. But for cable networks of air support structures, where breakage or extension of the connector does not cause serious consequences, its reliability is quite sufficient.

The installation of the connector is facilitated, and the reliability of the connection is increased if they have a longitudinal protrusion 6 on the inner side of the sleeve opposite the middle of the lumen of the open part of the wall of the sleeve. The protrusion facilitates the positioning of the second cable 4 before crimping and contributes to a more even distribution of the compressive force around the circumference of the cable. The most technologically advanced method of creating a protrusion is to strike with a punch in the form of a rib with an angle of about 90 ° against the liner in the place where it has the least curvature. The support matrix located on the opposite side of the sleeve wall has a clearance opposite the punch rib and the material

the sleeve extrudes into it, forming a protrusion. This method of forming a protrusion is not only technologically advanced, but also creates a protrusion whose shape is close to optimal for the best coverage of the second cable.

To prevent damage to the shell of the structure, the lower part of the connector adjacent to it has rounded corners, as shown in figures 1 and 4.

The proposed connector is installed as follows.

On a cable mesh, previously laid out on the surface of a slightly puffed shell, the places of crossing the cables are marked. The connector is inserted under the bottom, or the first cable 2 of the mesh so that the cable falls into the cutout 3. After that, the upper or the second cable 4 is inserted into the clearance of the sleeve wall, the position of the cables is verified and the connector is crimped with special pliers. The bevel 5 slides along the surface of the cable 4, preventing biting of the edge of the sleeve on the strands of the cable. As a result of the compression, the cables are partially bent one into another, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the lower or first cable 2, in addition, also bends into the gap between it and the inner wall, as shown in Fig. 5.

The drawings show, as an example, the connection of two cables of the same diameter, as the most common in the technology of cable networks of air support structures. The proposed connector is also suitable for connecting cables that differ in diameter. In this case, the inner section of the channel of the sleeve acquires a pear-shaped shape (figure eight in the presence of a longitudinal protrusion), a cable of larger diameter is laid first in the cross-section of the sleeve, and a second cable of smaller diameter is wound on top of it.

The proposed connector has a low weight and low cost, technologically advanced to manufacture and consists of only one part. Its installation on both inflated and deflated shell is not difficult. Removing an improperly installed connector is also straightforward and does not damage the cables.

Claims (5)

1. A connector of intersecting cables of an air support structure made in the form of an oval cross-section sleeve, characterized in that it has a transverse cutout in the middle part for laying one of the cables, directed along the major axis of the oval, and the wall of the sleeve for laying the second of the cables is made open along side having minimal curvature. 2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the depth of the cutout is set so that a gap remains between the first of the cables laid in it and the inner wall of the sleeve. 3. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the gap is in the range from 0.05 to 0.25 of the cable diameter. 4. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall thickness of the sleeve is in the range from 0.4 to 0.6 of the diameter of the connected cables. 5. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it further has a longitudinal protrusion on the inside of the sleeve opposite the cut.