SECURING SYSTEM INTENDED TO SECURE A CABLE TO A TUBE

Abstract

A securing system intended to secure a cable to a tube for a tubular column for oil & gas, energy, or storage applications, the securing system includes a first ring configured to bear against the tube, a second ring configured to bear against the tube, and a central body arranged and blocked in relative displacement along a longitudinal axis between the first ring and the second ring. The securing system includes a cable securing mechanism having an outside housing for securing the cable, said outside housing having an opening for receiving through said opening the cable in the outside housing, said opening of the outside housing being arranged on an outside surface of the securing system, said outside surface being turned outwardly relative to an inside housing of the securing system, said inside housing being configured to house the tube.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A securing system intended to secure a cable to a tube for a tubular column for oil & gas, energy, or storage applications, said securing system comprising: a first ring, a second ring, a central body arranged between the first ring and the second ring along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first ring has a lifting surface turned toward the second ring, the lifting surface extending radially, said lifting surface being configured to bear against the tube so as to lift the tube and block the displacement of the first ring along the longitudinal axis toward the second ring, the second ring has an abutment surface turned toward the first ring, the abutment surface extending radially, said abutment surface being configured to bear against the tube so as to block the displacement of the second ring along the longitudinal axis toward the first ring, the central body has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end of the central body having a first blocking mechanism configured to link said first end to the first ring so as to block the displacement of said first ring relative to the central body along the longitudinal axis away from the second ring, the second longitudinal end of the central body having a second blocking mechanism configured to link said second end to the second ring so as to block the displacement of said second ring relative to the central body along the longitudinal axis away from the first ring, the securing system further comprising a cable securing mechanism having an outside housing for securing the cable, said outside housing having an opening for receiving through said opening the cable in the outside housing, said opening of the outside housing being arranged on an outside surface of the securing system, said outside surface being turned outwardly relative to an inside housing of the securing system, said inside housing being configured to house the tube and wherein the outside surface is arranged on the central body.

14. The securing system according to claim 13, wherein the second ring comprises a guiding surface, said guiding surface being turned opposed to the first ring, said guiding surface being tapered relative to the longitudinal axis so as to have a first longitudinal end of said guiding surface having a large diameter and a second longitudinal end of said guiding surface having a small diameter, the second longitudinal end of the guiding surface being arranged between the first end of the guiding surface and the first ring along the longitudinal axis, the small diameter being configured to be radially outwardly offset relative to an inner diameter of the tube.

15. The securing system according to claim 13, wherein the first ring has a first inner surface, said first inner surface being intended to surround a first portion of the tube, the second ring has a second inner surface, said second inner surface being intended to surround a second portion of the tube, the central body has a third inner surface, said third inner surface being intended to be turned toward a third portion of the tube, the third portion of the tube being arranged between the first portion of the tube and the second portion of the tube along a longitudinal axis of the tube, said first inner surface, second inner surface and third inner surface forming the inside housing for the tube.

16. The securing system according to claim 15, wherein the second ring comprises an inner shoulder, said shoulder forming the abutment surface, said inner shoulder extending radially inwardly from the second inner surface.

17. The securing system according to claim 16, wherein the second ring comprises a central inner surface arranged between the second inner surface and the guiding surface along the longitudinal axis, said central inner surface being parallel to the longitudinal axis and joining the inner shoulder and the guiding surface, and wherein the second ring comprises a guiding surface, said guiding surface being turned opposed to the first ring, said guiding surface being tapered relative to the longitudinal axis so as to have a first longitudinal end of said guiding surface having a large diameter and a second longitudinal end of said guiding surface having a small diameter, the second longitudinal end of the guiding surface being arranged between the first end of the guiding surface and the first ring along the longitudinal axis, the small diameter being configured to be radially outwardly offset relative to an inner diameter of the tube.

18. The securing system according to claim 15, wherein the third inner surface is radially offset outwardly relative to an inner diameter of the lifting surface.

19. The securing system according to claim 13, comprising a tube fixing mechanism having an open state and a closed state, the tube fixing mechanism being configured to fix the securing system on the tube in the closed state of the fixing mechanism, the tube being housed in the inside housing of the securing system in said closed state of the tube fixing mechanism, said fixing mechanism being mobile relative to the tube in the open state of the fixing mechanism.

20. The securing system according to claim 13, wherein the tube fixing mechanism comprises a band, said band extending circumferentially around the longitudinal axis, said band having an inner surface forming a bearing surface intended to bear against the tube, the band having a first terminal end and a second terminal end mobile relative one to each other so as to modify the inside diameter of said band.

21. The securing system according to claim 13, wherein the first ring comprises a first outside groove, the second ring comprises a second outside groove, the first blocking mechanism comprising a first hook housed in the first outside groove, the second blocking mechanism comprising a second hook housed in the second outside groove.

22. The securing system according to claim 21, wherein the first outside groove comprises a first primary abutment surface and a second primary abutment surface, the first primary abutment surface circumferentially facing the second primary abutment surface, the first hook being circumferentially arranged between the first primary abutment surface and the second primary abutment surface, and wherein the second outside groove comprises a first secondary abutment surface and a second secondary abutment surface, the first secondary abutment surface circumferentially facing the second secondary abutment surface, the second hook being circumferentially arranged between the first secondary abutment surface and the second secondary abutment surface.

23. A column portion set comprising a pipe and a securing system according to claim 13, wherein the tube is housed in the inside housing of the securing system, the tube fixing mechanism being in a closed state and the cable securing mechanism being fixed to the tube.

Description

BRIEF FIGURES DESCRIPTION

[0121] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following description of a number of particular modes of embodiment of the invention which are given solely by way of nonlimiting illustration with reference to the appended drawings.

[0122] FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of a securing system intended to be mounted on a tube.

[0123] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the securing system of FIG. 1 mounted on the tube in a closed state of a fixing mechanism of the securing system.

[0124] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the securing system of FIG. 1 mounted on the tube from a different angle of view compared to FIG. 2.

[0125] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the securing system mounted on the tube of FIG. 2 or 3 in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

[0126] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of FIG. 4 showing the cooperation between a first longitudinal end of a central body of the securing system, a first ring of the securing system and the tube.

[0127] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of FIG. 4 showing the cooperation between a second longitudinal end of the central body of the securing system, a second ring of the securing system and the tube.

[0128] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a securing system mounted on a tube in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube and in an opened state of the fixing mechanism.

[0129] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a securing system mounted on a tube in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube and in a closed state of the fixing mechanism.

[0130] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a holding lever of the securing system of FIG. 2 or 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0131] In the following description, the terms “longitudinal, “transversal”, “vertical”, “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right” are defined according to a usual orthogonal benchmark as shown on the drawings, which includes: [0132] a longitudinal axis X, horizontal and left to the right of front views; [0133] a transversal axis Y, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and extending from the rear to the front of front views; and [0134] a vertical axis Z, orthogonal to the longitudinal and transversal axis X and Y.

[0135] Moreover, in the description and claims, the terms “outside” or and “inside” and the orientations “axial” and “radial” shall be used to designate, according to the definitions given in the description, elements of the securing system or the tube. The longitudinal axis X determines the “axial” orientation. The “radial” orientation is directed orthogonally to the longitudinal axis X. The “circumferential” orientation is directed orthogonal to the axis X of rotation and orthogonal to the radial direction, i.e. orthoradially. The terms “outside” or “inside” are used to define the orientation or the relative position of one component with respect to another, with reference to the longitudinal axis X. A component close or facing said axis is referred to as inside or inner as opposed to an outside or outer component located radially at the periphery or facing away the longitudinal axis X.

[0136] FIG. 1 shows a securing system 1 intended to secure a cable 5 to a tube 2. The tube 2 has a longitudinal axis A1 parallel to the longitudinal axis X as previously defined and as shown in FIG. 1.

[0137] The securing system 1 comprises a tube fixing mechanism 6, a bearing surface 3, a cable securing mechanism 9, a first 12 ring and a second 13 ring (detailed furtherly in the description).

[0138] The tube fixing mechanism 6 comprises a band 101 extending orthoradially so as to surround, partially on the shown embodiment, the tube 2. This band 101 also extends radially around the tube 2, defining the thickness of the band 101. The band 101 also extends longitudinally parallel to axis Al thus defining the width of the band 101. This band 101 partially forms the bearing surface 3 of the securing system 1.

[0139] Said band 101 can be deformable and allows an overextension of said band 101, and consequently of the bearing surface 3, around a tube 2. Thanks to the overextension, the band 101 can house different sizes of tubes 2, thus the securing system 1 can be used and reused on different sized tubes 2 if needed.

[0140] The band 101 further comprises a first terminal end 103 and a second terminal end 105, which are facing an opposed direction as the band 101 surround circumferentially the tube 2. These terminal ends 103 and 105 comprise respectively a first terminal sleeve 104 and a second terminal sleeve 106. Each sleeve 104 and 106 can be either continuous, which means the sleeve doesn't comprise any kind of interruption, or discontinuous, which means the sleeve can admit an interruption such as a hole between two terminal extremities of a same sleeve. In the case of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the first terminal sleeve 104 and the second terminal sleeve 106 are discontinuous. A sleeve can be made by many embodiments, for example in FIG. 1 the sleeve 104 and 106 consist on loops.

[0141] The securing system 1 comprises a central body 102 which completes the surrounding of the tube 2 such as an open belt. The central body 102 comprises a first terminal sleeve 108 parallel to the longitudinal axis A1.

[0142] The first terminal sleeve 104 of the band 101 and the first terminal sleeve 108 of the central body 102 both house a first shaft 111. This configuration enables the band 101 and the central body 102 to be bonded one to each other while still admitting a certain level of mobility. Indeed, the central body 102 remains mobile relatively to the band 101 thanks to the first shaft 111 which is pivotable when housed inside the sleeves 104 and 108 of the band 101 and the central body 102.

[0143] A second shaft 112 parallel to the longitudinal axis Al is housed in the second terminal sleeve 106 of the second terminal end 105 of the band 101. The second shaft 112 comprises a through hole 116.

[0144] The tube fixing mechanism 6 comprises a locking mechanism 110 that is configured to bring the second terminal end 105 of said band 101 and the central body 102 closer to each other in a closed state of the locking mechanism 110.

[0145] The locking mechanism 110 comprise a locking lever 109 such as in FIG. 1. The locking lever 109 is pivotably mounted on the central body 102 and configured to rotate between an open state in which said locking lever 109 is radially away from the central body and a closed state. More specifically, the locking lever 109 is pivotably mounted on a rotational shaft 114 which comprise a hollowed cavity 117. Both the locking lever 109 and the rotational shaft 114 are housed on the central body 102. Such a hollowed cavity can be for instance a through bore, as shown on figures, or a blind slot.

[0146] The rotational shaft 114 present its own rotational axis A2 which is parallel to the longitudinal axis A1. The rotation shaft is mounted mobile in translation relative to the central body, as explained below.

[0147] The locking mechanism 110 comprises a pretention screw 115 which can get across the through hole 116 of the second shaft 112 and the hollowed cavity 117 of the rotational shaft 114, thus locking the rotational shaft 114 and the second shaft 112 together in a closed state.

[0148] The locking lever 109 has a curved portion 141, hereafter described, which is an off-centred portion compared to the rotational axis A2, such that when rotating the locking lever 109 around the longitudinal rotational axis A2 of the rotational shaft 114, the rotational shaft 114 is moved relative to the central body 102. The pretension screw 115, which is connected to said shafts 112 and 114 as it is slid in the corresponding hollowed cavity 117 and through hole 116, thereby bringing the second terminal end of the band towards the second free end (T2) of the central body 102. This is also explained in the FIGS. 7 and 8 hereafter.

[0149] Thanks to the locking mechanism 110, the securing system 1 can be easily removed if necessary, by opening the locking lever 109 manually or remotely.

[0150] Thanks to the locking mechanism 110, the securing system 1 can be closed in order to prevent any longitudinal or rotational movement of said securing system 1 relative to the tube.

[0151] Thanks to the locking lever 109, the second terminal end 105 of the band 101 which is a free end can be brought closer to the other free end of the central body thanks to a cam mechanism as described below.

[0152] In a closing operation, the cam mechanism provided by the locking lever 109 will increase the tension on the band 101 by pulling said band 101 against the tube 2 through the contact of the bearing surface 3, thus enabling that the whole securing system 1 is solidly fixed to the tube 2 and preventing all rotational movement of said securing system 1.

[0153] In an opening operation, the cam mechanism provided by the locking lever 109 will release said tension of the band 101, thus enabling to create a gap, said gap allowing the manual rotation of the securing system 1 around the tube 2, for example to adjust it in a desired position.

[0154] Thanks to the pretention screw 115, the second terminal end 105 of the band 101 is locked to the central body 102. Said pretention screw 115 enables the band 101 to be pulled toward the central body 102 thanks to the cam mechanism in a closing operation.

[0155] The cable securing mechanism 9 comprises an outside housing 8 which comprises at least one longitudinal groove 120 parallel to the longitudinal axis A1, said longitudinal groove 120 being able to house at least one cable 5.

[0156] Thanks to a cable securing mechanism 9 according to the invention, it is now conceivable to preinstall the whole securing system 1 on a tube 2 before arriving to the rig field of operation. Indeed, the invention get rid of all the difficulties of predicting where the cable securing mechanism will be facing the area of the cable will end as it only requires to untighten the tube fixing mechanism 6, to adjust it in the right direction toward the cable 5 and close it easily. Such preinstallation saves a significant amount of time thus reducing drastically the critical path activity.

[0157] The locking lever 109 comprises an inner surface 133 facing the central body 102 and the outside surface of the tube 2 in a closed state, said inner surface 133 comprising a grabbing surface 134 designed to clamp the cable 5.

[0158] Thanks to grabbing surface 134, it is easier to clamp the cable 5 in a closing operation of the locking lever 109, preventing said cable 5 to slip away and enables to accompany the cable 5 directly inside longitudinal groove. For example, a grabbing surface 134 can be a plurality of tooth.

[0159] Thanks to the tube fixing mechanism 6 and the cable securing mechanism 9, no tool is needed to fix said securing system 1 on the tube 1, and no tool is needed to clamp the cable 5, such that the critical path activity or installation time of a tube 2 is significantly reduced, for example around 3 seconds to 5 seconds, which leads to a considerable cost reduction of the installation operations.

[0160] Thanks to these features, the invention enables to assemble different functions in the same securing system 1, with a tube fixing mechanism 6 being able to fix the securing system on the tube 2 and a cable securing mechanism 9 being able to clamp the cable 5, wherein both functions can be used alone or in combination.

[0161] Thanks to these features, the invention also provides a protection to the tube 2 when installed on said tube 2. Indeed, such securing system 1 provides a function of isolating, for example, a male or female end threaded tubular element from the external environment and to protect the tube 2 in order to prevent impact damages if they fall down.

[0162] FIG. 2 shows the securing system 1 of FIG. 1 in an assembled view and in a closed stated. In this chosen angle of view, is illustrated the layout between the second terminal end 105 of the band 101 and the second free end (T2) of the central body 102 which are fixed together thanks to the pretention screw 115. The pretention screw 115 locks the second terminal sleeve 106 through the though hole 116 and the rotational shaft 114 though the hollowed cavity 117 together. Thus, the second terminal sleeve 106 and the rotational shaft 114 are fixed remotely together as there is no direct contact between them.

[0163] FIG. 3 shows another angle of view of the securing system 1 of FIG. 2. In this chosen angle of view, is illustrated the layout between the first terminal sleeve 104 of the band 101 and the first terminal sleeve 108 of the central body 102 which both house the same first shaft 111. Thus, said shaft 111 is slid inside both the first terminal sleeve 104 of the band 101 and the first terminal sleeve 108 of the central body. In this configuration there is no distance separating the band 101 and the central body 102 as they are closely bonded together.

[0164] Is also shown the holding mechanism 118 which is housed on the central body 102. Said holding mechanism 118 comprises a holding lever 119 which provides reinforcement to maintain the locking lever 109 in a closed state. More details on the holding mechanism 118 are furtherly described in view of FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0165] The cooperation between the central body 102, the first ring 12, the second ring 13 and the tube is described below in view of FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0166] As shown on FIG. 4 or 5, an outside surface 22 of the tube 2 comprises an outside shoulder 23. This outside shoulder 23 extends radially such that the tube 2 has a main outside diameter D1 for a main portion 24 of the tube 2 and a terminal outside diameter D2 for an end portion 25 of the tube 2, said end portion 25 of the tube 2 comprising an inner threaded portion for receiving an outer threaded portion of another tube. The main outside diameter D1 of the tube 2 is smaller than the terminal outside diameter D2 of the tube 2.

[0167] The first ring 12 has an inner surface 14 extending circumferentially. The diameter D3 of the inner surface 14 is larger than the main outside diameter D1 of the tube 1 and smaller than the terminal outside of the tube D2. Therefore, the first ring 12 can be mounted on the main portion 24 of the tube 2 such that the inner surface 14 surround said main portion 24 of the tube 2.

[0168] The first ring 12 further comprises a lifting surface 26 extending radially outward from the inner surface 14. This lifting surface 26 is facing the outside shoulder 23 of the tube 2 in a mounted state of the first ring 12 such that said lifting surface 26 can bear against the outside shoulder 23 of the tube 2. The first ring 12 can therefore be used to lift the tube 2, or even a complete string comprising a plurality of tubes screwed together, by abutment of the lifting surface 26 on the outside shoulder 23 of the tube 2. Especially, the same first ring 12 can be mounted on different tubes having different main outside diameters D1 smaller than the diameter D3 of the inner surface 14, as long as the terminal outside diameter D2 remains larger than said diameter D3 of the inner surface 14 such that the lifting surface 26 can bear against the outside shoulder 23 of the tube 2.

[0169] As shown on FIGS. 1 to 3, the first ring 12 further comprises a first blocking wall 27 and a second blocking wall 28 extending radially outward. Each of the first blocking wall 27 and second blocking wall 28 comprises a longitudinal portion and a circumferential portion. The longitudinal portion forms a longitudinal blocking surface 29 extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1 and turned opposed to the second ring 13. The circumferential portion forms a circumferential blocking surface 30 extending radially outward and parallel to the longitudinal axis A1. The lateral blocking surface 30 of the first blocking wall 27 and the circumferential blocking surface 30 of the second blocking wall 28 are circumferentially facing each other.

[0170] The second ring 13 comprises an inner surface 15 extending circumferentially. The diameter of said inner surface 15 is larger than the terminal outside dimeter D2 of the tube 2. The second ring 13 comprises an inner shoulder 31. Said inner shoulder 31 extends radially from the inner surface 15 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1. A radially inner extremity of the inner shoulder 31 has a smaller diameter than the terminal outside diameter D2 such that said inner shoulder 31 bear against the terminal end of the tube 2. Moreover, said radially inner extremity of the inner shoulder 31 has a larger diameter than an inside diameter D4 of the end portion 25 of the tube 2 such that said inner shoulder 31 do not extends radially inwardly beyond the inside surface of the end portion 25 of the tube 2 and do not blocks the insertion of another tube inside the end portion 25 of the tube 2. Similarly to the first ring 12, the second ring 13 can be mounted on different tubes 2 having different terminal outer diameter D2 and inside diameter D4, as long as the inner surface 15 diameter remains larger than terminal outside dimeter D2 and the radially inner extremity of the inner shoulder 31 has a larger diameter than an inside diameter D4. It is therefore possible to use standards dimensions for the diameter of the first and second rings 12, 13 in order to install the securing mechanism 1 on different tube having different dimensions.

[0171] The second ring 13 comprises a guiding surface 32. The guiding surface 32 is tapered relative to the longitudinal axis A1 with a small diameter arranged closer from the tube 2 than a large diameter of said guiding surface 32. A central inner surface 33 of the second ring 13 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 to join the radially inner extremity of the inner shoulder 31 to the small diameter of the guiding surface 32. Thanks to these features, the second ring 13 can be used as a stabbing guide for the insertion of another tube in the end portion 25 of the tube 2.

[0172] The second ring 13 comprises a first blocking wall 34 and a second blocking wall 35 similar to, respectively, the first blocking wall 27 and a second blocking wall 28 of the first ring 12 as described above. The first blocking wall 34 and the second blocking wall 35 differs from the first blocking wall 27 and the second blocking wall 28 in that the longitudinal blocking surfaces 29 of the first ring 12 and the longitudinal blocking surface 29 of the second ring 13 have opposed orientation along the longitudinal axis A1, the longitudinal blocking surface 29 of the first ring 12 being turned away from the second ring 13 and the longitudinal blocking surface 29 of the second ring 13 being turned away from the first ring 12.

[0173] The central body 102 comprises a main portion 36 and two pairs of legs 37. The main portion 36 as described above cooperate with the band 101 to fix said central body 102 on the tube 2. Each leg 37 of a pair of legs 37 extends longitudinally from of the main portion 36 of the central body 102, from a circumferential side in the embodiment shown on the figures. The legs 37 of a first pair of legs 37 extends longitudinally from the main portion 36 towards the first ring 12 and beyond a respective longitudinal blocking surface 29 of the first ring 12. The legs 37 of a second pair of legs 37 extends longitudinally from the main portion 36 towards the second ring 13 and beyond a respective longitudinal blocking surface 29 of the second ring 13.

[0174] A longitudinal end of the legs 37 opposed to the main portion 36 of the central body 102 comprises a lug 38. Said lug 38 extends radially inwardly so as to be facing, along the longitudinal axis A1, a corresponding longitudinal blocking surface 29.

[0175] As shown on FIGS. 5, the legs 37 of the first pair of legs 37 cooperate in abutment with the longitudinal blocking surface 29 of the first ring 12 so as to block the movement of the central body 102 along the longitudinal axis A1 towards the second ring 13. Similarly, and as shown on FIG. 6, the legs 37 of the second pair of legs 37 cooperate in abutment with the longitudinal blocking surface 29 of the second ring 13 so as to block the movement of the central body 102 along the longitudinal axis A1 towards the first ring 12.

[0176] In other words, the legs 37 form hook which cooperate with the rings 12 and 13 to maintain the central body 102 and the rings 12 and 13 together along the longitudinal axis A1. Furthermore, as the first ring 13 is blocked in displacement towards the second ring 13, the lifting surface 26 bearing against the outside shoulder 23 of the tube 2, and the second ring 13 is also blocked in displacement towards the first ring 12, the inner shoulder 31 bearing against the terminal portion of the tube 2, the whole securing device 1 is blocked in displacement along the longitudinal axis A1 when said securing system 1 is mounted on the tube 2. It is therefore possible to pre-install the securing system 1, for instance during manufacturing process, and the securing system 1 will remain installed on the tube 2 during all steps of transportation to the installation site. Moreover, the second ring 13 provides a protection to the terminal end of the tube 2, for instance during transportation or stockage. Furthermore, as the second ring 13 comprises the guiding surface 32, there is no need for installation of guiding means for insertion of another tube on the rig if the securing system 1 is pre-installed, saving the corresponding installation time on the rig.

[0177] As shown on FIGS. 1 to 3, the lugs 38 of the legs 37 each circumferentially faces a respective circumferential blocking surface 30. As the circumferential blocking surfaces 30 of each ring 12 and 13 are circumferentially facing, the rings 12 and 13 and the central body 102 are blocked in relative rotation around the longitudinal axis A1 thanks to the abutment of the lugs 38 on the corresponding circumferential blocking surface 30 of the first ring 12 and second ring 13.

[0178] The longitudinal blocking surface 29 and the circumferential blocking surfaces 30 should be made according to other embodiments. For instance, the first blocking walls 27, 34 and the second blocking walls 28, 35 could be replaced by grooves or holes extending radially in the radial thickness of the rings 12, 13. The longitudinal blocking surface 29 and the circumferential blocking surfaces 30 would therefore be formed by the walls defining said grooves or holes in the thickness of the rings 12, 13. Moreover, the lugs 38 would extend radially inwardly inside said grooves or holes to cooperate with the longitudinal blocking surface 29 and the circumferential blocking surfaces 30.

[0179] Using a first ring 12 for lifting the tube 2, or the string, a second ring 13 for guiding the insertion of another tube in the terminal end of the tube 2, and a central body 102 comprising the cable securing mechanism 9 for securing the cable 5 to the tube 2 as explained above allows manufacturing said rings 12, 13 and central body 102 using materials adapted to the associated function. For instance, the first ring 12 is manufactured in a material having enough mechanical resistance to resist to the weight of the tube 2, or the string. Such a material for the first ring 12 is, for instance metal with high yield strength, for instance above 110 ksi. As the second ring 13 main functions are to protect the terminal end of the tube 2 and guide the insertion of another tube, the chosen material for manufacturing said second ring 13 can be lighter than the material used for the first ring 12. Such a material for the second ring 13 is, for instance 316 stainless steel or other stainless steels. Similarly, the material for manufacturing the central body 102 can be selected according to its functions, mainly securing the cable 5, support the weight of the cable 5 and maintain together the rings 12,13 and the central body 102, and therefore can be for instance made of 316 stainless steel or other stainless steels or corrosion resistant metal.

[0180] The tube fixing mechanism 6 is now described in detail in view of FIGS. 7 to 8. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the securing system 6 respectively in an opened state and a closed state of the fixing mechanism 6.

[0181] As shown in FIG. 7, the band 101 circumferentially surround the tube 2, from the first terminal end 103 to the second terminal end 105. As explained above, the first shaft 111 is housed both in the first terminal sleeve 104 of the first terminal end 103 of the band 101 and in the first terminal sleeve 108 of the central body 102 such that the first terminal end 103 of the band 101 end is pivotably mounted on the central body 102 and is fixed to the central body 102 along a circumferential direction and a radial direction.

[0182] The second terminal end 105 of the band 101 is linked to the locking lever 109 thanks to the pretention screw 115 and the rotational shaft on which is mounted the locking lever 109. A first end 136 of the pretention screw 115 passes between the two portions of the second terminal sleeve 106 of the band 101 and through the through hole 116 in the second shaft 112 housed in the second terminal sleeve 106. A head 137 of this pretention though 115 is arranged on a side of the second shaft 112 which is opposed to the central body 102. This head 137 has larger dimensions than the through hole 116 in the second shaft 112 such that said head 137 of the pretention screw 115 bears against the second shaft 112 when the pretention screw 115 is pulled towards the central body 102. The pretention screw 115 passes through a passage 138 in the central body 102. A second end 139 of the pretention screw 115 opposed to the head 137 is threaded. The hollowed cavity 117 of the rotational shaft 114 is also threaded. The second end 139 of the pretention screw 115 is screwed in the threaded hollowed cavity 117 of the rotational shaft 114 housed in the locking lever 109. Thus, by screwing more or less the pretention screw 115 in the rotational shaft 114, the head 137 of the pretention screw 115 and therefore the second terminal end 105 of the band 101 can be adjusted in a closed or away position relative to the central body 102.

[0183] Moreover, as explained above, the fixing mechanism 9 comprises a cam mechanism. This cam mechanism comprises a first cam surface 121 arranged on the locking lever 109 and a second cam surface 122 arranged on the central body 102.

[0184] The first cam surface 121 has a plane portion 140 and a curved portion 141. The curved portion as a curvature configured such that the rotational axis A2 of the rotational shaft 114 on which is mounted the locking lever 109 is therefore closer from the plane portion 140 than from the curved portion 141. In other words, the shortest distance between the curved portion 141 and said rotational axis A2 is located at the joining portion between the plane portion 140 and the curved portion 141.

[0185] The second cam surface 122 is plane and extends radially. On the embodiment shown on FIGS. 7 and 8, the central body 102 comprises a flange 142 extending radially outward and along the longitudinal axis A1. This flange 142 comprises the passage 138 for the pretention screw 115 and forms the second cam surface 122.

[0186] As shown on FIG. 7, in the open state of the fixing mechanism 6, the locking lever 109 is opened and the plane portion 140 of the first cam surface 121 is bearing against the second cam surface 122. Consequently, the rotational shaft 114 is close from the flange 142 and the head 137 of the pretention screw 115 is away from the central body 102. As the head 137 is away from the central body 102, the band 101 is loose and the central body 102 can be turned around the tube 2. Moreover, in this opened state of the locking lever 109, the locking lever 109 mainly extends radially such that said locking lever 109 is away from an opening 10 of the outside housing 8 of the cable securing mechanism 9, said opening 10 being free such that the cable 5 can be pulled inside the outside housing 8.

[0187] In order to switch the fixing mechanism 6 from the opened state shown on FIG. 7 to the closed state shown on FIG. 8, the locking lever 109 is turned around its rotation axis towards the opening 10 of the outside housing 8. During this rotation, the first cam surface 121 and the second cam surface 122 cooperate by switching the portion of the first cam surface 121 bearing against the second cam surface 122 from the plane portion 140 of the first cam surface 121 to the curved portion 141 of the first cam surface 121. As the curved portion 141 of the first cam surface 121 is brought in cooperation with the second cam surface 122, the rotational shaft 114 is moved away from the flange 142 of the central body 102. By moving away the rotational shaft 114 from the flange 142, the head 137 of the pretention screw 115, and consequently the second terminal end 105 of the band 101, is pulled closer to the central body 102. This displacement of the second terminal end 105 of the band 101, while said band 101 surrounds circumferentially the tube 2 and the first terminal end 103 of the band 101 is circumferentially fixed on the central body 102, tightens the band 101 on the tube 2 such that said band 101 bear against the tube 2 and applies a force on the tube 2 blocking the rotation of the band 101 and the central body 102 on the tube 2. In other words, closing the locking lever 109 bring the second terminal end 105 of the band 101 closer to the central body 102 and tighten the band 101 around the tube 2 so as to fix the securing system 1 on the tube.

[0188] Thanks to such a fixing mechanism 6, the securing system 1 can be lock or unlock in rotation around the tube 2 easily. Indeed, switching the fixing mechanism 6 from the closed state in which the securing system 1 is fixed to the tube 2 to the opened state in which the securing mechanism 1 can be turned around the tube 2 can be easily done just by opening the locking lever 109. Moreover, as in the opened state the securing system 1 still surround the tube 2, thanks to the band 101 with the two terminal ends 103, 105 linked to opposed sides of the central body 102, the securing system 1 can only be turned around the tube 2 and cannot be radially moved away from the tube 2. As explained above, as the central body 102 is blocked along the longitudinal axis A1 thanks to the first and second rings 12 and 13, said securing system 1 is also blocked along the longitudinal axis A1. Consequently, the securing system 1 can easily be turned around the tube 2 in order to change the orientation of the opening 10 of the outside housing 8 while the securing system 1 remains on the tube 2.

[0189] Moreover, during this rotation from the opened position to the closed position, the locking lever 109 is turned down so as to cover the opening 10 of the outside housing 8, the locking lever 109 forming a lid for said outside housing 8 in order to block the cable 5 inside the outside housing 8. In the closed state of the fixing mechanism 6, the locking lever 109 mainly extends circumferentially and cover the central body 102 and the outside housing 8.

[0190] During the installation of the pretention screw 115, the pretention screw 115 screwed in the hollowed cavity 117 such that the distance around the tube 2, which is defined by the circumferential length of the band 101 and the pretention screw 115, between the first shaft 111 and the first cam surface 121 is shortest than the distance around the same portion of the tube 2 between the first shaft 111 and the radial outward extremity of the second cam surface 122, said distance comprising a circumferential and a radial components. Thanks to these features, the locking lever 109 cannot be moved radially away from the central body and the first cam surface 121 remains in contact with the second cam surface 122 even during a rotation of the locking lever 109. In order to further maintaining the locking lever 109 radially linked to the central body, the second cam surface could be slightly tapered towards the locking lever 109, thus increasing the difference between the above-mentioned distances. In another embodiment, the passage 138 in the flange 142 is a window, the pretention screw 115 passing through said widow and therefore being blocked radially away by abutment on an upper portion of the flange 142 delimiting said window. In another embodiment, the central body could have slotted housing for housing and guiding in displacement two longitudinally opposed end of the rotation shaft 114.

[0191] In the embodiment shown on FIGS. 7 and 8, the outside housing 8 of the cable securing mechanism 9 comprises two grooves 39. Said grooves 39 are arranged on an outer surface 4 of the central body 102 and can each house one or a plurality of cables 5. Each groove 39 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis A1. Each groove 39 comprises an opening having a first longitudinal side portion 40, a central portion 41 and a second longitudinal side portion 42. The central portion 41 extend longitudinally from the first longitudinal side portion 40 to the second longitudinal side portion 42. Said opening of the grooves 39 form the opening 10 of the outside housing 8. In other words, each groove 39 has a “U” shape cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1 with a bottom formed by the outer surface 4 of the central body 102 and the two sides formed each one by lateral walls 43. These lateral walls 43 are mainly extending radially outward and parallel to the longitudinal axis A1. The lateral walls 43 can be continuous or discontinuous. In the embodiment shown on FIGS. 7 and 8, the central body 102 comprises a rib 44 extending continuously and longitudinally from the outer surface 4. This ribs 44 forms a respective first lateral wall 39 for each of the two grooves 39, said rib 44 separating said two grooves 39. This rib 44 comprise an outer recess 45 for receiving the locking lever 109 without blocking its rotation. The others lateral walls 43 are discontinuous and formed by the legs 38 and the locking lever 109.

[0192] An outside housing 8 formed by one or a plurality of such grooves 39 has an opening 10 which is radially reachable for one or a plurality of cables 5 which would be pulled into the outside housing 8. Moreover, such grooves 39 having a opened first longitudinal side portion 40 and second longitudinal side portion 42 can house long cables 5, the cables 5 being pulled in the groove 39 through the central portion 41 of the opening and said long cables 5 extending through the first longitudinal side portion 40 and the second longitudinal side portion 42. Thus, when the locking lever 109 is turned down for switching le tube fixing mechanism 6 in the closed state, said locking lever 109 block the long cables 5 in the groove 39 by covering the central portion 41 of the opening 10 while the cable 5 still passes through the first longitudinal side portion 40 and second longitudinal side portion 42.

[0193] The grooves 39 can have a radial depth shortest than the diameter of the cables 5 such that the locking lever 109 clamps the cables 5 in the grooves 39, thus maintaining the cables 5 in position in both the radial direction and the longitudinal direction. The groove 39 and/or the locking lever 109 could also have grabbing surfaces, such as teeth or ribs, clamping the cables 5 in the grooves 39. The outside housing 8 could also have deformable clips (not shown) for clamping the cables 5 in the outside housing 8.

[0194] The cable securing mechanism 9 can have different embodiments for blocking the cable 5 in the outside housing 8. For instance, the lid could be separate from the locking lever 109 such that the locking lever 109 main function would be to tighten the band 101 on the tube while an independent lid (not shown) mounted in rotation on the central body 102 could be used for closing the outside housing 8.

[0195] In the embodiment shown on FIGS. 7 and 8, the securing system comprises a holding lever 119. The holding lever 119 is pivotably mounted on the central body 102 on the same lateral side than the first terminal end 103 of the band 101. The holding lever 119 is mobile in rotation around an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1. The holding lever 119 is switchable between a first position in which said holding lever 119 does not interfere with the rotation of the locking lever 109 and a second position in which said holding lever 119 covers an end 46 of the locking lever 109 opposed to the rotational shaft 114. The holding lever 119 extends mainly orthoradially in the open position shown on FIG. 7 and is parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 in the closed position shown on FIG. 8.

[0196] The end 46 of the locking lever 109 comprises a recess 47 which is, when the locking lever is covering the opening 10, radially inwardly offset relative to a main portion of said locking lever 109, said main portion of the locking lever forming the lid for the outside housing 8. The holding lever 119 covers said recess 47 in the closed position of the locking lever 109 and the closed position of the holding lever 119 such that the locking lever 109 cannot be opened without firstly opening the holding lever 119. Thanks to this holding lever 119, the locking lever 109 can therefore be maintained in the closed position easily.

[0197] As shown on FIG. 8 or 9, an inner surface 48 of the holding lever 119 is curved. The curvature of this inner surface 48 is such that the holding lever 119 has a thin radial thickness towards the locking lever 109 and a large thickness opposed to the locking lever 109. When the holding lever 119 is turned from its opened position to the closed position, the inner surface 48 with the thin portion of the holding lever 119 is firstly bring in contact with the outer surface of the recess 47 of the locking lever 109. Then, by further closing the holding lever 119, the recess 47 of the locking lever 109 is radially pulled towards the central body 102 by the inner surface 48 as the thickness of the holding lever raise due to the curvature of the inner surface 48 while the holding lever 119 is brought to the closed position. Such a curved inner surface 48 provides an easy manner to close the locking lever 109 as closing the holding lever 119 applies an increasing force on the recess 47 of the locking lever 109 pulling said locking lever 109 towards the central body 102. In order to maintain the cooperation of the holding lever 119 and the locking lever 109 in the closed position, the holding lever have a locking surface 49 which extends, when the holding lever 119 covers the recess 47, parallel to the outer surface of the recess 47 of the locking lever 109 so as to bear against the recess without applying force having a circumferential component.

[0198] According to an embodiment, the holding lever 119 can be pivotably mounted on the central body 102 using a slotted hole 50. In the closed state of the holding lever 119, such a slotted hole 50 extends in parallel with the longitudinal axis A1 in the closed position of the holding lever 119. Therefore, in said closed position of the holding lever 119, the holding lever 119 can be translated along the longitudinal axis A1 from a first closed position, in which the holding lever 119 can freely rotate around its rotation axis for moving from the closed position to the open position, to a locked position in which the holding lever 119 is locked in rotation around its rotation axis and maintained in the closed position, i.e. cannot be switched to the opened position. In said locked position, the holding lever 119 can be blocked in rotation thanks to, for instance, the abutment of a locking surface of the holding lever 119 on a corresponding locking surface on the central body 102, said locking surface being offset along the longitudinal axis A1 in the first closed position to allow the rotation of the holding lever 119.

[0199] The use of the verb “to have”, “to comprise” or “to include” and any of its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” for an element or a step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps unless otherwise specified.

[0200] In the claims, any reference symbol in brackets is not to be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.