FR3083998A1 - WINCH CABLE CLEANING ACCESSORY - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an accessory 1, 1 ′, 1 "allowing the cable 9 of a winch 3 to be maintained by cleaning it during a rewinding MR9, in particular a rewinding under vacuum. It is split or openable to be mounted on the cable by lateral insertion. A rigid sleeve 11, which can be maintained manually 90 on the cable of an unprepared winch, contains a brush 19 surrounding the cable to brush it and keep it in tension. same accessory 1 "can be used without manual holding, by simple pressing 181 or fitting 182, 34 under the effect of traction, or by fixing 104, 41 1d on a fixed part. This accessory can be temporarily or permanently mounted, even on a winch or an unprepared vehicle, for example by a light and / or improvised fixing. It thus facilitates and secures the recommended precautions for the use of a winch, and encourages them to be better observed.

Description

"Winch cable cleaning accessory"

The invention relates to an accessory making it possible to hold the cable of a winch by cleaning it during an MR9 rewinding, in particular a vacuum rewinding. It is split or openable to be mounted on the cable by lateral insertion. A rigid sleeve, which can be held manually on the cable of an unprepared winch, contains a brush surrounding the cable to brush it and keep it in tension.

The same accessory can be used without manual holding, by simple pressing or fitting under the effect of traction, or by fixing to a fixed part. This accessory can be temporarily or permanently mounted, even on a winch or an unprepared vehicle, for example by a light and / or improvised fixing. It thus facilitates and secures the recommended precautions for the use of a winch, and encourages them to be better observed.

State of the art

When using a winch, it is important to comply with certain recommendations which ensure the service life of the device and its reliable operation during future uses.

Such precautions exist in particular as regards cleanliness and winding of the vacuum cable at the end of work, in particular for a light winch and / or used close to the ground. Such winches exist in particular in the field of vehicles, in particular all-terrain or site vehicles, civil or military. In this context, there is very often provided a traction winch mounted on the vehicle chassis. This winch is used, for example, to haul or even to mister the vehicle, in general by hooking the traction cable to a fixed point or to another vehicle. It must be able to be used reliably and quickly in technically difficult and possibly dangerous environments. The vehicles concerned can be so-called light vehicles such as simple transport vehicles for four people, but which weigh all of

- 2 even about two tonnes. Heavy vehicles are also affected, for example trucks or armored vehicles of the order of 10 to 20 tonnes.

Such winches have historically used steel cables, and exceptionally natural fibers, but are now also provided with synthetic fiber cables since around 1990. These synthetic material cables are for example made of high density polyethylene or aromatic polyamides of the family of aramids. This greatly reduces the weight of all hauling equipment, saving around 20kg on weight in the previous example. These cables, however, have greater or different brittleness, for example abrasion or mold.

At the end of use, it is important that the cable is cleaned before being wound on the drum. This allows for example a more regular winding, and to avoid that foreign bodies are trapped between the turns at the risk for example of damaging the cable by corrosion or during the next tensioning.

For winches with direct traction by the winding drum, as opposed to winches with independent cable reserve called capstan, it is also important that the cable is wound on the drum under a certain tension. This allows for example to avoid overcrowding and to achieve a more regular winding. This also makes it possible, during a next load with partial unwinding, to limit the risks of a turn of an outer layer of the winding coming into contact with being inserted between two turns of a more inner layer of winding, which presents a risk of jamming or damage to the cable.

These various precautions represent time and effort, and are not always observed in a sufficient and / or safe manner during interventions in the field.

Document DE202004007424 presents a winch which incorporates a scraper around the cable, aiming to limit the inclusions of residues within the winding. There are also specific mechanisms that can be integrated into the device, for example to maintain a return voltage.

- 3 windings, but they represent an additional cost, complexity and weight.

To guide and clean on simple devices, it is common for example to guide and clean the cable by holding it in your hand with protective gloves while it is being rolled up empty. This can however remain risky, for example due to heating or when the cable carries pins formed by broken strands which protrude from its surface.

An object of the invention is to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art. In particular, it is sought to provide cleaning and / or maintenance in tension during winding in a simpler, faster and / or better security, while limiting increases in complexity or manufacturing cost as well as weight increases, or by improving the trade-offs between these different factors.

Statement of the invention

The invention provides a cleaning device for a winch cable, which comprises a brush comprising flexible brushing elements which surround, over 360 ° around the axis, a cylindrical central space capable of receiving such a cable by lateral mounting, that is to say without passing through the ends of the said cable. This central space having a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of said cable. Optionally, this central space can also have a zero diameter, if the hairs meet or even cross in its center.

According to the invention, said brush is held integrally, when in the position of use, in a rigid sleeve having an external gripping surface arranged to allow manual gripping by a user, and the entire device is arranged so openable or split to allow lateral introduction of said cable.

Preferably, the brush forms an insert which is removably arranged in a rigid sleeve, and is held there by said sleeve at least in the position of use.

- 4 It is thus possible to easily replace the brush, in the event of wear or to obtain a different configuration with the same sleeve.

Preferably, the walls of which have one or more through radial openings forming at least 10% of the peripheral surface of the central space, thus forming openings for discharging liquid or residues.

According to one feature, the brush forms a ply of flexible elements arranged in at least one helical ply which surrounds by a brushing region the central space, in particular whose turns are sufficiently spaced apart to allow lateral introduction between them of a cable for which it is designed.

This brush thus allows a lateral introduction, by insertion of the cable between two turns then progressive winding of the other turns around the cable.

According to one embodiment, the sleeve is formed by a tube having one or more continuous slots between its two axial ends and on which two slotted plugs fit. It may for example be two half-tubes assembled by link (s) or by split plugs, or a split tube which can optionally but not necessarily be reinforced by link and / or insertion in one or more split plugs. This assembly can be reinforced or locked, for example by screwing or by blocking of the ramp or bayonet type with low angular travel.

According to another embodiment, the sleeve is formed by at least two half-shells hinged longitudinally between them so as to be able to close around the cable, and provided with means for holding or locking in the closed position.

According to a preferred example of embodiment, the brush comprises or is formed by a linear brush comprising a linear profile in which bristles are fixed transversely forming a two-dimensional sheet, said linear profile being curved in a helical shape which surrounds the central space in at least four turns spaced apart from each other by at least twice the thickness of said linear profile. The sleeve presents

- 5 further an inner surface carrying one or more shape accidents arranged to receive the linear profile of the brush, and maintain it axially during use.

Such a conformation is particularly suitable for this use, robust and economical to produce. It facilitates obtaining a certain flexibility, or even elasticity, which facilitates the insertion of the cable inside the helical winding. It also facilitates the evacuation of cable residues, which can thus evacuate between two turns, while keeping the device compact.

According to another embodiment, the brush comprises or is formed by a plurality of bristles inserted a posteriori or embedded in a rigid support which surrounds the central space, and is arranged in an openable or slotted manner to allow lateral insertion of it. a cable. For example, the brush is installed directly in a split or openable support, removably mounted in the sleeve or formed by the sleeve itself.

According to yet another embodiment, the brush may comprise or be formed by flexible elements other than bristles, for example an assembly of fibers agglomerated or forming a braid, or an abrasive foam.

According to one feature, compatible with the various embodiments, the sleeve and / or the brush carries, in solidarity during use, at least one interface part which has at least one axial bearing surface arranged to come resting on a fixed part on either side of the cable axis during a rewinding operation, in particular by flat support on a roller cable guide, or by interlocking with the outer surface of a hawser cable guide.

During rewinding, the retaining force is thus applied mainly by the fixed part and the user can be satisfied with a slight manual maintenance of the device, or even do without it entirely.

Optionally, the support part can also be interfaced by fixing, removable or not, with the winch or its cable guide, directly or

- 6 on an attached part fixed to the winch or the cable guide, or for example in a known manner.

According to another particularity, which can also be combined, the device also comprises axial fixing means, arranged to provide or allow removable fixing with fixed elements even not provided for this purpose, thus allowing the device to be held axially in the direction of rewinding and in the direction of unwinding.

For example, the axial fixing means comprise a plurality of through holes or form accidents arranged to allow one or more flexible links to be fixed there.

It is thus possible to obtain systematic and permanent operation, without manual or additional operations, with a simple and reversible installation, on a winch or an unprepared vehicle and with little or no modifications.

As can be understood, the device according to the invention thus forms a light and economical accessory comprising several functions, the combination of which makes it possible to easily and surely carry out all of the recommended precautions, in a single operation and which is executed in masked time for the rewinding phase.

It allows, at the request and without modification of the winch or the vehicle, to carry out a cleaning at the same time as a tensioning and a manual guide of the cable during its rewinding with vacuum, while ensuring the protection of the the user more effectively than just the gloves and in addition to them.

It can be used in several different ways, punctually or permanently at a fixed position, with little or no modification of the winch or the vehicle.

Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating, according to all of their possible combinations, the different optional characteristics described here.

- 7 List of figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of a mode of implementation which is in no way limitative, and from the appended drawings in which:

- FIGURE 1 is a perspective scale view which illustrates a device according to the invention, in an exemplary embodiment with a brush in a helical strip mounted in a sleeve with two symmetrical half-hulls, in the open position;

- FIGURE 2 is a perspective scale view which illustrates the brush of the example of FIGURE 1;

- FIGURE 3 is a perspective view to scale which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 3, in the closed position around a cable;

- FIGURE 4 is a perspective view to scale which illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, with a sleeve formed by a split tube closed by two split plugs;

- FIGURE 5 is a view in longitudinal section of the helical brush of the device of FIGURE 1;

- FIGURE 6 is a scale view in side view which illustrates a device according to the invention, in a variant with one end provided at one of its ends with a support guide;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective scale view which illustrates the device of FIGURE 6,

- FIGURE 8 is a top view which illustrates a use of the device of FIGURE 1, held by hand when winding a vehicle winch;

- FIGURE 9 is a top view which illustrates a use of the device of FIGURE 6, used in abutment on a guide slot of a vehicle winch during winding;

- FIGURE 10 is a top view which illustrates a use of the device of FIGURE 1 used at a fixed station, mounted lightly between two guide elements of a cable tray of a vehicle winch, during winding.

- 8 Description of an example of embodiment

FIGURE 1, FIGURE 2, FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 5 illustrate a first example of an embodiment of the invention.

The other examples of embodiments or variants will only be described in their differences.

In this exemplary embodiment, the device 1 according to the invention is formed by a rigid sleeve 11 with an internal axis A19, open 100 at its two axial ends, in which a helical brush is disposed. The sleeve 11 is formed by two half-shells 12, 13, hinged together along a longitudinal axis A106, here by means of a bolt 106.

Due to the flexibility of the brush 12, the risks are limited that the device 1 or the cable 9 is damaged or jammed, for example in the event of too rapid movement or of residues on the cable which are too large or too adherent.

In this example, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the brush is of the “strip” type, that is to say a layer of bristles 192 set in a profile 191 curved in the form of a spiral with four turns. It is held in the half-shells 12, 13 by insertion of its profile 191 in helical grooves 119 formed in their interior surface 118.

The installation of the device 1 is carried out according to the following three phases:

- Installation of the spiral brush 19 around its cable 9, for example by inserting the cable between two turns before winding the other turns around the cable one after the other.

Installation of the double shell 11 around the spiral brush 19, adjusting its length so that its profile comes to lodge in the grooves 119.

Closure of the double shell and installation of the holding mechanism, here a flexible link formed by a strap, for example with a loop and a fixing of the return by hook-and-loop fastening.

The brush 19 can be declined in different versions to correspond to the material of the cable. For example with steel bristles

- 9 brass or electro-galvanized; or with polymer bristles such as polyamide 6 (POM6) or polyester, for synthetic cables.

This brush is also available in different diameters of internal passage dl9 to adapt to the different diameters d9 of cable.

In this example, the internal brush 19 of the device 1 is thus removable, which makes it possible to replace it easily.

It is thus possible to replace it when it is worn, or to replace it with a brush of different internal dimensions or of a different material.

Preferably, the brush 19 is available in different versions, of materials and / or of internal dimensions, while retaining an external diameter compatible with the same sleeve 11.

The half-shells 12, 13 are available in different lengths to adapt the effectiveness of brushing and the tension force to the different lengths, diameters and / or materials possible for the cable.

By way of example, a sleeve 11 with a length of approximately 160mm is proposed, the removable brush 19 of which has an outside diameter of approximately 50mm in four turns. This brush has for example an internal diameter dl9 of approximately 5 to 6mm, for use on a cable of diameter d9 from 10 to 20mm.

An equipment kit can thus include a single sleeve, which is compatible with two or three brush sizes, each existing in two different types of bristles.

The half-shells can be made of many known materials, for example polyamide such as PA12 for manufacture by powder sintering, or for example polyurethane for manufacture by injection.

It will be noted that the walls of the sleeve 11 have a plurality of through radial openings 10, which facilitate the evacuation of water or residues detached by the brush 19.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the rigid sleeve 11 'is formed from a split tube 12'

- 10 longitudinally, can be closed at each of its two ends by a split plug 121 'and 122' removable.

Once the brush 19 is mounted around the axis cable A19, the tube 12 'is inserted around the cable. The linear profile 191 of the brush 19 is engaged in the opening 1190 of the helical groove 119 carried by the inner surface 118 of the tube 12 '. The tube is then screwed around the brush 19 over its entire length. Or the split plugs 121 ′ and 122 ′ are inserted around the cable and are assembled on the end of the tube 12 ′, and preferably locked axially, for example by a thread or by a bayonet or quarter-turn assembly. Optionally, one of the split plugs can be fitted beforehand.

FIGURE 6 and FIGURE 7 illustrate a variant 1 of the device of FIGURE 1, in which the rigid sleeve 11 is provided at one of its ends with an interface part 18 with axial support which surrounds the cable 9. In this example , the interface part 18 is integral with one 12 of the half-shells. Here it has an axial end bearing surface 181 of planar shape which can be axially stably pressed against a fixed element, for example a roller cable guide as illustrated in FIGURE 9. This interface part 18 also has a centering axial bearing surface 182, for example a convergent designed to fit together with a fixed element surrounding the cable. In this example, this convergent 182 is a hollow cone which covers the outer surface of a hatching cable guide 34 which surrounds the cable 9 illustrated in FIGURE 6. The cone fits on the hatching, and can thus be left without effort during rewinding MR9.

The interface part 18 here furthermore presents several kinds of fixing means making it possible to fix the device 1 to a fixed part of the winch or of the vehicle. In this example, first fastening means comprise a series of longitudinal through openings 104, through which it is possible to thread flexible links, for example cords; or rigid elements, for example retaining pins carried by the winch support, with or without locking pins.

- 11 Second fixing means here comprise one or more transverse through openings 104 ′, through which it is possible to insert transverse pins also passing through a fixed part, such as the hawser cable guide 34. By adding a simple piece d interface fixed on the winch or the vehicle, or by modifying very little the hatch 34, here simply by two transverse bores, it is then possible to secure the device there without manual maintenance, for example permanently.

In other variants, the sleeve is for example produced in the form of a single split tube; or by two longitudinal half-tubes assembled and held radially by split end caps; the whole being possibly maintained by a link or another strapping device.

In the example presented in FIGURE 8, the accessory 1 is held manually by the user 90, for example on the cable of a winch 3 located on the front face of the vehicle, here comprising a drum 31 actuated by a motor 32 and fixed on a plate 81 secured to the chassis of the vehicle.

The user's hand 90 grasps and holds the device 1 by its grip portion 109. During the movement MR9 for rewinding the cable 9, the user opposes this movement by a force F90 sufficient to apply a certain cable tension; while scraping the cable progressively with the brush 12 of the device 1, over its entire peripheral surface and over its entire length thus wound.

In the case of a winch actuated directly by the drum receiving the cable reserve, the cable 9 is wound up in several superposed layers, here visible in an outer layer 392 on an inner layer 391. By maintaining a certain tension F90 in all layers, we obtain a more orderly winding and with less expansion; and the risks are reduced that the pulling of the winch during a next use does not plunge a turn of an outer layer 392, that is to say that it is inserted between two turns of the inner layer 391.

- 12 Manual use also allows the operator to freely guide the axial position of the cable in its winding on the drum.

FIGURE 9 presents another example of use of variant 1 of FIGURE 6 and FIGURE 7. As can be seen, it is also possible to let the device 1 'rest by its interface part 18 on a fixed part of the winch or of the vehicle, simply under the effect of the rewinding force, here on a roller cable guide 33 fixed on the plate 81 and comprising two parallel rollers delimiting a slot 330 parallel to the axis of the drum to let the cable pass through 9. During a rewinding MR9, the retaining force F90 is thus applied mainly by the retaining mask 33, and the user can be satisfied with a slight maintenance of the device, or even go completely.

In the example presented in FIGURE 10, the same accessory is used as in FIGURE 8, permanently at a fixed station within a cable tray made up of several fixed deflection elements 41, for example for a winch 3 located in the wheelbase of the vehicle, here fixed on a beam 82 of the chassis. Note that the same use can be made with variant 1 'used in FIGURE 9.

Such deflectors 41 are for example formed of low friction annular guides, or sets of pulleys.

The device 1 is mounted around the cable 9, between two deflectors 41. It will be noted that this does not require removing the cable 9 from its cable tray.

The device is then fixed to the cable tray by its fixing means 104 and retaining means, here using distal 411d and proximal 411p cords which pass through the orifices 104 of the half-shells 12, 13 and are hooked to the support. fixed 419 of a deflector 41 located respectively on the distal side and the proximal side of the device 1, here the closest on the cable tray.

As can be seen, these cords hold the device in one direction or the other during movements of the cable 9. In particular during a rewinding MR9, it is the distal cords 41 ld which are

- 13 stretched and apply to the device 1 the retaining force F90. The 41 lp proximal cords can then be slightly relaxed. It is the reverse that occurs during the reverse unwinding movement.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. Device (1, 1 ') for cleaning a winch cable (9) (3), characterized in that it comprises a brush (19) comprising flexible brushing elements which surround, over 360 ° around the axis (A19), a cylindrical central space (E19) capable of receiving such a cable by lateral mounting, said central space having a diameter (dl9) less than or equal to the diameter (d9) of said cable (9) in that said brush (19) is held together, when in the use position, in a rigid sleeve (11) having an external gripping surface (109) arranged to allow manual gripping by a user (90), said device (1 ) being further arranged in an opening or split manner to allow lateral introduction of said cable (9). 2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the brush (19) forms an insert which is removably arranged in a rigid sleeve (11), and is held there by said sleeve at least in the position of use. 3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brush (19) forms a ply of flexible elements (192) arranged in at least one helical ply which surrounds the central space by a brushing region, in particular whose turns are sufficiently spaced apart to allow lateral introduction between them of a cable (9) for which it is designed. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve is formed by a tube having one or more continuous slots between its two axial ends and on which two slotted plugs fit. 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sleeve (11) is formed by at least two half-shells (12, - 15 13) articulated longitudinally together so as to be able to close around the cable (9), and provided with a holding means (17) or locking in the closed position. 6. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the brush (19) comprises or is formed by a linear brush comprising a linear profile (191) in which bristles (192) are fixed transversely forming a two-dimensional sheet, said linear profile being curved into a helical shape which surrounds the central space (E19) in at least four turns spaced apart by at least twice the thickness of said linear profile (191), in that the sleeve (11) has a surface interior (118) carrying one or more shape accidents (119) arranged to receive the linear profile (119) of the brush (19), and hold it axially during use. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brush comprises or is formed by a plurality of bristles inserted a posteriori or embedded in a rigid support which surrounds the central space, and is arranged in a workable manner or split to allow lateral insertion of a cable. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve and / or the brush carries, in solidarity during use, at least one interface part (18) which has at least one surface axial support (181, 182) arranged to come to bear on a fixed part (33) on either side of the axis (A19) of the cable (9) during a rewinding operation (MR .9), in particular by flat support (181) on a roller cable guide (33), or by fitting (182) with the outer surface of an hawser cable guide (34). 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises axial fixing means (104, 104 '), arranged to provide or allow a removable fixing - 16 (411 p, 41 ld) with fixed elements (419) even not provided for this purpose, thus allowing an axial maintenance (A19) of the device (1, 1 ') in the direction of rewinding (MR.9 ) and in the direction of flow. 5 10. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the axial fixing means comprise a plurality of through holes (104) or form accidents arranged to allow the fixing of one or more flexible links (411d, 411p) .