Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Plastic band
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-12-25
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Plastic band
C024S0160PB, C024S03050P
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332248
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods for bounding a bundle of electrical cables and to cable ties used in such methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Airplanes often have an on-board gas turbine engine referred to as an auxiliary power unit that provides electrical power and compressed air to various systems throughout the airplane. When the airplane is on the ground, the auxiliary power unit is the main source of power to drive the environmental control systems, air driven hydraulic pumps, and the starters for the engines. Auxiliary power units may also provide pneumatic and electric power during flight.
In the aerospace industry there are specifications that govern the bounding of electrical cable or wires used on such engines. Honeywell International, which manufactures auxiliary power units, has a fairly typical aerospace specification AF 5483, Revision F for bounding the electrical cables of an auxiliary power unit. Referring to
FIG. 1
, this specification requires that a bundle
10
comprising a plurality of wires or cables shall be tied with a lacing material
12
, per FIG.
1
. If the bundle
10
comprises three cables or less, then the first wrap of the cord
12
must be around one of the cables and the second wrap of the cord
12
is around the entire bundle. If the bundle
10
comprises four wires or more, then the first wrap of the cord
12
must be around two adjacent cables and the second wrap of the cord
12
is around the entire bundle. The latter situation is shown in FIG.
1
. Once the second wrap is complete, the ends of the cord
12
are secured by a clove hitch secured in a square knot or an anchor hitch as shown in FIG.
1
. After trimming the loose ends, the ends of the cord
12
are further secured by saturating them with Humi-Seal, Type IB 15 or equivalent cement.
A typical auxiliary power unit requires, on average, about 105 ties. When assembling the harness, this bounding process is performed one hundred five times. The Applicant has found that it typically takes a skilled assembler about 1½ minutes per tie to perform this bounding method using the cord
12
as set forth in the specification.
Accordingly, there is a need for wire bounding method that can be performed considerably faster than the prior art method. There is also a need for a cable tie that can be used in this improved method. Additionally, there is a need to eliminate the use of the Humi-Seal which is caustic and volatile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for bounding a bundle of wires that can be performed considerably faster than the prior art method.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable tie that can be used in this new method.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for bounding a bundle of wires that does not require the use of a caustic and volatile cement.
The present invention meets these objectives by providing a novel wire bundle bounding method that meets the requirements of aerospace specifications and also uses a novel cable tie. The method starts with a bundle of wires and the cable tie. The cable tie has a strap portion and a locking head with first and second strap passages. The first and second strap passages each have a pawl that locks in the same direction. The strap portion is then wrapped around at least one of the wires and then inserted through the first strap passage. Then the remaining strap portion is wrapped around the bundle and then inserted through the second strap passage. The strap portion is then tightened and the residual strap portion clipped.
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Daniggelis Stephen
Martin Ray
Desmond, Esq. Robert
Honeywell International , Inc.
Sandy Robert J.
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