KNOT-TYING HEAD

Abstract

A knot-tying head adapted to form a knot with a filament around a cylindrical part, and wherein the knot-tying head includes a first body and a second body, wherein both bodies are configured such that when they are attached they form a hollow space between one another for receiving the part; wherein the first body and the second body include at least one conduit forming a path substantially around the hollow space, and the conduit being adapted to receive the filament, and at least one groove communicating the conduit with the hollow space along all or part of its path, the width of the groove being less than the width of the conduit and greater than the width of the filament used to form the knot.

Claims

1. A knot-tying head adapted to form a knot with a filament around a part, which part having a cylindrical or prismatic portion, and wherein the knot-tying head comprises: at least one first body, and at least one second body, complementary with the at least one first body, wherein the at least one first body and the at least one second body are configured such that a hollow space is formed between the first and second bodies when the bodies are attached together, and wherein the hollow space is configured to receive the part; wherein the first body and the second body each comprise: at least one conduit in the first body and the second body, the at least one conduit forming a path substantially around the hollow space, and the at least one conduit being adapted to receive the filament, and at least one groove communicating the at least one conduit with the hollow space along all or part of a path of the at least one groove, wherein a width of the at least one groove is less than a width of the conduit and is greater than a width of the filament.

2. The knot-tying head according to claim 1, wherein the filament is a tape.

3. The knot-tying head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first body and the at least one second body are attached in a hinged manner.

4. The knot-tying head according to claim 1, wherein the path of the conduit is configured for making a double capstan knot.

5. The knot-tying head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first body and the at least one second body comprise at least one opening configured for the filament to enter or exit the conduit.

6. The knot-tying head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is arranged substantially in the portion in which the at least one first body and the at least one second body are hinged.

7. The knot-tying head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first body and the at least one second body comprise two openings which communicate with each other.

8. A knot-tying system comprising the knot-tying head according to claim 1, a filament feed device, and a filament pulling device.

9. The knot-tying system according to claim 8, further comprising a filament cutting device and a filament tautening device.

10. The knot-tying system according to claim 8, further comprising an electronic control module configure to control the devices of the system, and an actuator for the filament pulling device.

11. The knot-tying system according to claim 8, further comprising a power source.

12. The knot-tying system according to claim 8, wherein the system is a portable system.

13. A method for forming a knot with a filament around a part comprising the following steps: providing a knot-tying system according to claim 8, placing the part in the knot-tying head, closing the first body and the second body, threading a guide for the filament into the conduit, attaching one end of the filament to the guide, threading the filament along the entire conduit of the knot-tying head by pulling the guide, separating the end of the filament from the guide, tautening the filament around the part, and cutting the end of the filament attached to the filament feed device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the threading is done with a pulling device.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the tautening is done with the help of a pulling device.

16. A knot-tying head comprising: first body having a front face and an channel in the front face extending from one side of the first body to an opposite side of the first body; a second body having a front face and an channel in the front face extending from one side of the second body to an opposite side of the first body, wherein the front face of the second body is configured to seat against the front face of the first body such that the channels of the first and second bodies form an opening configured to receive a piece; a conduit extending along a serpentine path through both of the first and second bodies and around the opening, wherein the conduit is continuous from an entrance opening to an exit opening, wherein each of the entrance and exit openings are on an outwardly facing surface of the first or second bodies; a groove extending along the serpentine path through both of the first and second bodies, wherein the groove extends from the conduit to the opening along the lengths of the groove and conduit, wherein a width of the conduit is greater than a width of the groove, and the width of the groove is greater than a width of a filament intended to move through the conduit.

17. The knot-tying head of claim 16 wherein the serpentine path is configured to cause the filament to form a knot around the piece after the filament slides from the conduit, through the groove and onto the piece.

18. The knot-tying head of claim 16 wherein the serpentine path encircles the opening at least twice.

19. The knot-tying head of claim 16 wherein the serpentine path forms a loop within at least one of the first or second bodies, and the serpentine path extends through the loop.

20. The knot typing head of claim 16 wherein a radial distance from a centerline of the opening to the serpentine path varies along the length of the path.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly shown based on the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given solely by way of illustrative and non-limiting example in reference to the attached drawings.

[0064] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a perspective and side view, respectively, of a knot-tying head closed.

[0065] FIG. 2A shows the knot-tying head bodies opened.

[0066] FIG. 2B show the two bodies of the knot-tying head in an open position.

[0067] FIGS. 3a to 3b show a perspective view of the knot-tying head and of the path of the filament.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0068] The present invention describes a knot-tying device (10), a knot-tying system and a knot-tying method adapted to make a knot with a filament (6), for example a tape, around an approximately cylindrical part, particularly around a bundle of electrical cables in the electrical installation of an aircraft. The use of a tape tied in a knot for clustering together a set of cables, and possibly for fixing them to the structure of the aircraft, has a number of advantages over other options, the two main advantages probably being the lightweight feature and resistance to vibrations, factors that directly affect safety.

[0069] The head (10) has a series of conduits (3) in each of the bodies (1, 2) forming it; said conduits (3) are communicated with one another and together form a path corresponding to the trajectory the end of a cord would follow to form a given knot. The most favorable way to build said bodies (1, 2) consists of making a three-dimensional impression thereof, leaving the conduits (3) empty. Furthermore, the conduits (3) must be communicated with the central cavity by means of grooves (4) so that when the filament (6) is tautened, it slides out of the conduit (3), moves through the groove (4) and when the filament (6) reaches the hollow space (5), the knot is tightened on the part.

[0070] Each head (10) will be valid for only one type of knot, although it could be valid for parts having different diameters, which entails a logistic advantage because generally only one type of knot is used in installations of this type. The fact that the head (10) has very few moving parts is also advantageous both due to the simplicity in the operation and due to cost reduction and manageability.

[0071] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an embodiment of the knot-tying head (10) with two bodies (1, 2) in the closed position. In this view it is easy to see that when the two bodies (1, 2) are closed they leave a cylindrical hollow space (5) between them, intended for housing the part to be tied up with a knot. In the closed position, the conduits (3) (not visible in FIGS. 1A and 1B) of the first body (1) are aligned with the conduits of the second body (2) such that a filament (6) is capable of going from one body to another (1, 2) and thereby completing its path; in this embodiment, the chosen path is the one corresponding to that a double capstan knot. The openings of the grooves (4) inside the hollow space (5), and the two openings (8) for the entry and/or exit of the filament (6) in one of the sides of the head (10) can also be seen in FIGS. 3A, 2A and 2B. The openings (8) are communicated with one another such that when the ends of the filament (6) are tautened, they can move freely and close the knot on the part. Finally, the hinged attachment (7) of the two bodies (1, 2) is visible in the upper part of the head (10).

[0072] It is also possible to build the bodies (1, 2) with recesses in those parts in which there are no conduits (3) for the purpose of reducing the weight of the head (10), reducing costs and making it more manageable.

[0073] FIG. 2a shows the same embodiment but with the two bodies (1, 2) separated from one another, whereas in FIG. 2b they are shown open. In this view it is possible to see the openings of the conduits (3) at the edges of both bodies (1, 2).

[0074] FIG. 3a again shows the head (10) closed, but it is possible to see the filament (6) exiting through the openings (8); furthermore, FIG. 3b shows the path of the conduit (3) which allows forming the knot and which is usually not visible in its entirety.

[0075] A particular embodiment of the knot-tying system comprises, in addition to the knot-tying head (10), a filament feed device, a filament pulling device and a cutting device. The function of the feed device is to provide the filament required to make the knot; a simple example of a feed device is a reel containing the tape mounted on a support. The filament pulling device is in charge of pulling out one or both of the ends of the filament projecting from the openings (8) in order for the knot to remain tight around the part. Finally, the cutting device separates the filament (6) already tied in a knot from the reel by cutting it with a blade, for example.

[0076] It is possible to incorporate an actuator into the feed device, for example with a stepper motor in the support, such that said feed device can tauten the filament (6) once the knot is tightened. In this case, a filament tautening device holding or pulling out the other end of the filament (6) must be incorporated.

[0077] Following the same principle, the system can be automated by adding actuators for each device (cutting device, tautening device, etc.) and an electronic control module controlling the process. This control module can be a computer, for example, capable of emitting control signals to the actuators depending on the signals received from a plurality of sensors detecting magnitudes such as the length of the filament (6), position of the cutting device, tautness in the filament (6), etc.

[0078] In order to use the head (10) at the site where the electrical installation is located, it is convenient to mount the head (10) on a portable system, which can be comfortably handled by an operator, for example in a pistol-like assembly. Furthermore, a power source, such as a battery, is particularly useful for a portable knot-tying system.

[0079] Regardless of if the system is operated by hand or automatically, the knot-tying method comprises the following steps:

[0080] Placing the part in the knot-tying head (10), usually by hand. This can also be interpreted in the sense that the head is closed around an electric bundle.

[0081] Closing the first body (1) and the second body (2) such that the part is located inside the hollow space (5), and such that the conduits (3) of the two bodies (1, 2) are communicated with one another.

[0082] Threading a guide (9) for the filament (6) into the conduit (3): although in principle it would be possible to thread the filament (6) into the conduit (3) of the head (10), it is simpler to first thread a guide with greater compressive strength than it is to thread the filament (6) and then pull on the guide (9) attached to the filament (6).

[0083] Attaching one end of the filament (6) to the guide (9), for example by means of a hook, clamp, knot or the like. It is important for the section of the guide (9) to be greater than the width of the groove (4) to prevent it from coming out of the conduit (3) during threading.

[0084] Threading the filament (6) along the entire conduit (3) of the knot-tying head (10) by means of pulling the guide (9). Once the guide (9) and filament (6) are attached, simply pulling out the free end of the guide (9) is enough for it to drag the filament (6) until it is completely introduced.

[0085] Separating the end of the filament (6) from the guide (9).

[0086] Tautening the filament (6) around the part by means of the same filament pulling device or by means of the tautening device.

[0087] Cutting the end of the filament (6) attached to the reel and removing the part tied up with a knot.

[0088] In a particular embodiment, the step corresponding to separating the end of the filament (6) from the guide (9) can be carried out in a different order, for example after the step of tautening the filament (6), or after cutting the end of the filament (6).

[0089] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a or one do not exclude a plural number, and the term or means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.