Device for locking and unlocking an elongate tubular element

Abstract

The present invention provides a device (1) for locking and unlocking an elongate tubular element (2), the device comprising: a. A braided or knitted tubular locking sleeve (3) that has a first end (3a) and a second end (3b), and that has an inlet orifice (4) for allowing said elongate tubular element (2) into it, and an outlet orifice (5) for allowing said elongate tubular element (2) out of it; b. Fastener means (6) for fastening said locking sleeve (3) to a support (7); and c. Tensioner means (8) for tensioning said locking sleeve (3) along a substantially rectilinear path (L) making it possible to lock said elongate tubular element (2) inside said locking sleeve (3) between said inlet orifice (4) and said outlet orifice (5), said tensioner means (8) being deactivatable manually, and/or by using deactivation means (9), for unlocking said elongate tubular element (2) to enable it to slide inside the internal volume of the locking sleeve (3) and through said inlet orifice (4) and said outlet orifice (5).

Claims

1. A device for locking and unlocking an elongate tubular element, the device comprising: a braided or knitted tubular locking sleeve that has an internal volume and a first end and a second end, and that has an inlet orifice for allowing said elongate tubular element into its internal volume, and an outlet orifice for allowing said elongate tubular element out of its internal volume; a fastener for fastening said locking sleeve to a support; and a tensioner for tensioning said locking sleeve along a substantially rectilinear path making it possible to lock said elongate tubular element in the internal volume of said locking sleeve between said inlet orifice and said outlet orifice, said tensioner being deactivatable by using a deactivation device for unlocking said elongate tubular element to enable it to slide inside the internal volume of the locking sleeve and through said inlet orifice and said outlet orifice; wherein said deactivation device comprises a pull cable having a first end and a second end, the second end of said pull cable is secured at the periphery of the outlet orifice to the locking sleeve, so that, by applying traction, to a portion of said pull cable towards said inlet orifice, the outlet orifice and the inlet orifice are moved closer together, enabling the elongate tubular element to be unlocked, and enabling it to slide through said inlet orifice and said outlet orifice when traction is exerted on said elongate tubular element; and wherein the distance between the inlet and outlet orifices of said locking sleeve is greater than or equal to 15 times the outside diameter of said elongate element to be locked.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the inlet and outlet orifices of said locking sleeve is greater than or equal to twenty times, the outside diameter of said elongate element to be locked.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the locking sleeve has a first end and a second end that are open, the first open end corresponding to said inlet orifice, and the second open end corresponding to said outlet orifice.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet orifice or the outlet orifice opens out transversely from the locking sleeve.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the locking sleeve comprises multi-filament yarns and/or single-filament yarns.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner comprises a spring mounted on the locking sleeve, said spring having stiffness determined so as to impart a substantially rectilinear path to said locking sleeve.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner comprises an elastic tensioning cable suitable for being secured to said support, and secured to the second end of the locking sleeve.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner comprises a composite reinforcing rod, suitable for being curved, having first and second ends that are secured to respective ones of the first and second ends of the locking sleeve.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner comprises at least three single-filament yarns disposed in the braided structure of the locking sleeve.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the single-filament yarns are disposed in the structure of the locking sleeve so as to be equidistant, mutually parallel, and parallel to the longitudinal direction of said sleeve.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the single-filament yarns are selected from among the following polymers, alone or in combination: polyether ether ketone (PEEK); polyether ketone ketone (PEKK); polyacetals, polyoxymethylene (POM); polyether-ester block copolymer; and polyether block amide (PEBA) copolymer.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner exerts a tension of at least 1.5 kg.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the locking sleeve comprises multi-filament yarns braided in one up, one down or two down mode so as to form inside and outside faces in relief.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fastener for fastening the locking sleeve to a support comprises a base to which a cylindrical first hollow part is secured that has an inside diameter, and a moving second hollow part that is frustoconical, that has a slope of less than 10, and that has its largest outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said first part, said first part and said second part being arranged so that the locking sleeve is suitable for passing inside said first part and for sheathing said second part, and so that the second part, as sheathed by said locking sleeve, being engaged in interfitting manner into said first part makes it possible to secure the locking sleeve to said base.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet orifice opens out transversely from the locking sleeve, and the fastener comprises a plate, provided with an attachment for attaching the first end of the locking sleeve, and with a guide for guiding said elongate tubular element.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes an elongate element to be locked, the outside surface of which element includes multi-filament yarns braided in a one up, one down or two down mode.

17. The device according to claim 5 wherein the multi-filament yarns and/or single filament yarns are selected among the following materials alone or in combination: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); polybenzobisoxazole (PBO); aramid: meta-aramid and/or para-aramid; 6-6 or 4-6 polyamide (PA); ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE); polypropylene (PP); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyether ether ketone (PEEK); polyether ketone ketone (PEKK); polyacetals; polyoxymethylene (POM); polybenzobisoxazole (PBO) and aramid: meta-aramid and/or para-aramid.

18. The device according to claim 7, wherein the second end of the locking sleeve has a backsplice forming an attachment loop to which said tensioning cable is secured.

19. The device according to claim 9, wherein said single filament yarns have an outside diameter greater than or equal to 1 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The present disclosure can be better understood on reading the following description of three exemplary embodiments of locking and unlocking devices according to the disclosure that are given by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the following accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a first embodiment of a locking and unlocking device of the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the means for fastening the locking sleeve that are shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a second embodiment of a locking and unlocking device of the disclosure; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a third embodiment of a locking and unlocking device of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The locking and unlocking device 1, shown in FIG. 1, for locking and unlocking an elongate tubular element 2 comprises a tubular locking sleeve 3 that has an internal volume and braided or knitted first and second ends 3a, 3b, and that has an inlet orifice 4 for allowing said elongate tubular element 2 into its internal volume, and an outlet orifice 5 for allowing said elongate tubular element 2 out of its internal volume.

(7) The device 1 is further provided with fastener means 6 for fastening the locking sleeve 3 to the support 7, such as the deck of a sailboat.

(8) The device 1 is also provided with tensioner means 8 for tensioning the locking sleeve 3 along a substantially rectilinear path (L) making it possible to lock said longitudinal tubular element 2 in the internal volume of the locking sleeve 3 between said inlet orifice 4 and said outlet orifice 5. Said tensioner means 8 are deactivatable manually, using deactivation means 9, for unlocking said elongate tubular element 2 and then for enabling it to slide in the internal volume of the locking sleeve 3 and through said inlet orifice 4 and through said outlet orifice 5.

(9) In this first example, the locking sleeve 3 has open first and second ends 3a, 3b corresponding to respective ones of said inlet and outlet orifices 4, 5.

(10) In this precise example, the locking sleeve 3 is obtained by braiding multi-filament yarns, preferably based on meta-aramid and/or para-aramid.

(11) The tensioner means 8 comprise an elastic tensioning cable 10 that is suitable for being secured to the support 7 at a first end 10a, and secured at its second end 10b to the second end 3b of the locking sleeve 3, e.g. by means of a backsplice forming a loop passing through the yarns of the second end 3b of the locking sleeve 3.

(12) The first end 10a may also be secured to the second end 3b merely by a knot.

(13) According to some embodiments (not shown), the second end 3b of the locking sleeve 3 may have a backsplice to which the backsplice of the second end 10b of the cable 10 is secured.

(14) The deactivation means 9 comprise a pull cable 11 having first and second ends 11a and 11b, the second end 11b of the pull cable 11 is secured to the periphery of the outlet orifice 5, in particular downstream from said outlet orifice 5 of the locking sleeve 3.

(15) The fastener means 6 for fastening the locking sleeve 3 to the support 7 are shown in FIG. 2.

(16) The fastener means 6 thus comprise a base 12 to which there are secured a first hollow cylindrical part 13 having an inside diameter (D) and a moving second hollow part 14 that is frustoconical and that has a slope () less than 10, and, in this precise example, equal to 3. Said second part 14 has its largest outside diameter (d) less than the inside diameter (D) of the first part 13.

(17) Said first and second parts 13, 14 are arranged so that the locking sleeve 3 is suitable for passing inside the first part 13 and for sheathing the second part 14. Thus, the second part 14 as sheathed by the locking sleeve 3 engaging in interfitting manner with the first part 13 makes it possible to secure the locking sleeve 3 to the base 12.

(18) In this precise example, the base 12 is provided with two holes 12a and 12b through which known fastener means, of the screw type, can pass, enabling the base 12 to be fastened to the support.

(19) Advantageously, the first and second parts 13 and 14 act as guide means for guiding the elongate tubular element 2 inside the internal volume of the locking sleeve 3. In operation, FIG. 1 shows the elongate tubular element 2 in the locked position in which it is locked in the locking sleeve 3. In order to unlock the elongate tubular element 2, the operator exerts traction on the end 11a of the pull cable 11 so as to move the outlet orifice 3b closer to the inlet orifice 3a, thereby releasing the tension exerted by the locking sleeve 3 on said elongate tubular element 2.

(20) If the elongate tubular element 2 was in a tensioned state, it then slides freely in the internal volume of the locking sleeve 3 until the operator locks said elongate tubular element 2 again by releasing the traction exerted on the end 11a of the pull cable 11.

(21) If the elongate tubular element 2 was not in a tensioned state, the operator then applies traction to a free portion of the elongate tubular element 2 so as to adjust the length thereof, and, once the length of the elongate tubular element has been adjusted to the desired extent, the operator releases the end 11a of the pull cable 11 so as to cause the counter-tension exerted to cease, and so as to lock the elongate tubular element 2 again in the locking sleeve 3.

(22) In FIG. 1, the distance (D1) between the inlet orifice 3a and the outlet orifice 3b of the locking sleeve 3 is greater than or equal to 15 times the outside diameter (d1) of the elongate element 2.

(23) Table 1 below gives the results of the tests that were conducted on locking sleeves and on an elongate element to be locked that are described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. For each test, the locking sleeves and the elongate element for locking were new. Each value indicated in Table 1 is the result of the mean of three tests. The locking sleeves had the same braided structure but the materials of the multi-filament yarns that were used were different. The locking sleeves were thus braided on a braiding loom having 24 spindles each supporting two multi-filament yarns with weight of about 1500 decitex (dtex), and the pitch was 46 mm. The elongate element to be locked included, at its core, 3 multi-filament yarns having three strands of 1100 dtex each made of polyethylene terephthalate and a braided covering with seven multi-filament yarns made of polyethylene terephthalate of 1100 dtex each, the braiding pitch being 38 mm. The elongate element to be locked was inserted into the internal volume of the locking sleeve between its inlet and outlet orifices, and was tensioned using the elastic cable 10 so as to reach 2 kg of load. Once the locking and unlocking device 1 of the disclosure had been fastened via the fastener means 6 to a stationary support, such as the floor, the end of the elongate element to be locked leading out from the outlet orifice in the locking sleeve was then disposed in the jaws of a traction bench, such as an Instron bench, and then traction was exerted on said end at a speed of about 100 millimeters per minute (mm/min), the force as from which the elongate element started to slip being noted in Table 1 below as being the slippage resistance (in daN). The outside diameters of the locking sleeves and of the elongate element to be locked were about 10 mm.

(24) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Distance between the Measured slippage resistance (daN) inlet orifice Locking and the sleeve, made Locking outlet of aramid, sleeve, made Locking orifice of and in Locking of sleeve, made the locking particular of sleeve, made polyethylene of 6-6 sleeve (cm) para-aramid of PBO terephthalate polyamide 5 4 8 2 1 10 6 11 5 4 15 38 56 24 36 20 123 169 114 153 30 550 900 370 330 40 1500 2400 660 665 50 2560 2550 1190 1010 (breakage of the elongate element to be locked)

(25) It can be observed that when the distance between the inlet and the outlet orifices was in range ten times the outside diameter of the elongate element to five times the outside diameter of said elongate element, the slippage resistance of the locking sleeves made of aramid or of PBO was increased 1.5 times only. In equivalent manner, the slippage resistance of the locking sleeves made of polyester and of polyamide increased about twice only, whereas a distance between the inlet and outlet orifices fifteen times greater than the outside diameter of the elongate element multiplied by seven the slippage resistance of the sleeves based on aramid or on PBO, and multiplied the slippage resistance of the locking sleeves made of polyester or of polyamide by eleven or by thirty-six. Surprisingly, instead of working on the tenacity of the yarns and on the number of yarns to braid in order to improve the slippage resistance imparted by the locking sleeve, it is possible to improve said slippage resistance without modifying the structure of the locking sleeve but rather by increasing the distance between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice.

(26) Thus, a distance between the orifices of 40 cm, i.e., in this example, equal to forty times the outside diameter of the elongate element to lock, made it possible to improve the slippage resistance by about forty times for a sleeve based on aramid or on PBO, and, respectively, by about twenty-seven times and about eighteen times for a sleeve based on PET or on 6-6 PA, compared with a distance between the orifices of 15 cm.

(27) Table 2 below gives the various slippage resistance values obtained under the same conditions as those described for Table 1, for the same locking sleeves and for the same elongate elements to be locked. The only differences are that the locking sleeve had a distance between the inlet and outlet orifices of 40 cm, and that the tension applied by the elastic cable 10 varied.

(28) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Tension applied by Measured slippage resistance (daN) the elastic Locking cable 10 Locking sleeve, made Locking (kg) to the sleeve, made Locking of sleeve, made locking of para- sleeve, made polyethylene of 6-6 sleeve aramid of PBO terephthalate polyamide 0.25 544 1120 70 50 0.5 697 1430 100 90 1 854 1780 270 235 1.5 1180 1932 450 400 2 1450 2056 660 665 2.5 1519 2233 885 849 3 1598 2460 950 982

(29) The results show clearly that the tension applied by the elastic cable to the locking sleeve, that, in this precise example, constituted the tensioner means, had an impact on slippage resistance. Thus, a tension greater than or equal to 1.5 kg made it possible to achieve slippage resistance of at least 1000 daN for a locking sleeve based on aramid or PBO, and of more than 400 daN for a locking sleeve based on PET or on 6-6 PA, said locking sleeves having an outside diameter of only 10 mm. These values are particularly advantageous for replacing cam locks that are known in the boating field as being limited to locking tensions of about 500 daN. Beyond that force, the elongate element to be locked slips in the cam lock and ultimately tears.

(30) Table 3 below shows the results of the behavior on letting go observed on the locking sleeves and on the elongate element to be locked that are described above for tables 1 and 2, the structure of the tested sleeves and elongate elements being identical, only the material and the distance between the inlet and outlet orifices of the locking sleeve changing, that distance being 50 times the outside diameter of the elongate element to be locked. The tension exerted by the tensioner means, and in particular by the elastic cable 10 was 2 kg. A tension of 1000 daN was exerted on the free end of the elongate element coming out through the outlet orifice 3b of the locking sleeve by clamping jaws of a traction bench, e.g. of the Instron type, and then the locked elongate element was let go by deactivating the tensioner means by exerting counter tension on the pull cable 11, the elongate element then slipping inside the locking sleeve. This operation was repeated 10 times. The letting go tension was a tension that is usual in the boating field, in particular for sailboats that are more than 10 meters (m) long, in particular racing sailboats.

(31) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Behavior of locking sleeve and of Locking elongate sleeve made Locking Locking element to of para- sleeve made Locking sleeve sleeve made be locked aramid of PBO made of PET of 6-6 PA After one Locking Locking The elongate Locking letting sleeve and sleeve and element to be sleeve and go elongate elongate locked and the elongate release element to element to locking sleeve element to be locked in be locked in were fused be locked in good states good states together over good states a portion of their lengths extending over several centimeters. After 10 Locking Locking Test The locking letting sleeve and sleeve and impossible sleeve was go elongate elongate because fusion highly releases element to element to occurred at degraded in be locked in be locked in the first the presence good states, good states, attempt of spots of but a few but a few fusion fibers fibers between the appeared on appeared on locking the locking the locking sleeve and sleeve sleeve the elongate element to be locked.

(32) It can be observed that the aramid and PBO locking sleeves were intact even after 10 letting go releases even though the elongate element to be locked was made of polyethylene terephthalate. This feature is particularly advantageous because, in the boating field, over one half of the elongate elements used are made of polyethylene terephthalate.

(33) In addition, it was observed that the fibrils that developed on the locking sleeves, in particular their internal volumes, further improved their slippage resistance. A non-exhaustive interpretation of this phenomenon would be that such fibrils increase the coefficient of friction between the locking sleeve and the elongate element to be locked.

(34) Conversely, it can also be observed that the locking sleeves made of PET or of PA fused with the elongate element to be locked respectively after one letting go release and after ten letting go releases.

(35) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a locking and unlocking device 15 that differs from the first embodiment of the locking and unlocking device 1 in that the tensioner means 16 comprise a spring 17 mounted on the locking sleeve 18, the spring 17 having stiffness determined so as to impart a substantially rectilinear path (L) to the locking sleeve 18.

(36) In this embodiment, the first and second ends 18a and 18b of the locking sleeve 18 are open and correspond to respective ones of the inlet and outlet orifices 19, 20.

(37) The fastener means 21 for fastening the first end 18a of the locking sleeve 18 are identical to the fastener means 6 described in FIG. 2.

(38) The deactivation means 22 are identical to the deactivation means 9 shown in FIG. 1 in that they comprise a pull cable 23 having its end 23a fastened to the outlet orifice 20 while the end 23b is free to be operated by an operator.

(39) The third embodiment of the locking and unlocking device 24 that is shown in FIG. 4 differs from the devices 1 and 15 in that the fastener means 25 for fastening the locking sleeve 26 to a support 27 comprise a plate 28 having attachment means 29 in the form of two recesses 29a and 29b. The recess 29a enables known fastener means, such as screws, to pass through for fastening the plate 25 to the support 27. The recess 29b is provided with two openings 28a in register with each other and enabling a pin 29c to pass through the first end 26a provided with a backsplice. The recess 29b forms an open U-shape having its opening facing towards the front of the plate 29 so as to guide the locking sleeve 26.

(40) The fastener means 25 further comprise a ring 30 mounted on the plate 28 and acting as guide means for guiding the elongate tubular element 31.

(41) In this embodiment, the inlet orifice 32 is different from the first end 26a of the locking sleeve 26. The first end 26a of the locking sleeve 26 may be open or closed, and it is preferably closed by a backsplice. The inlet orifice 32 thus opens out transversely from the locking sleeve 26. The outlet orifice 33 of the elongate tubular element 31 of the locking sleeve 26 corresponds to the open second end 26b of the locking sleeve 26.

(42) In this example, the tensioner means 34 are identical to the tensioner means 8 described in FIG. 1, and the deactivation means 35 are identical to the deactivation means 9 and 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

(43) In FIGS. 3 and 4, the distances (D2, D3) between the inlet orifices (18a, 26a) and the outlet orifices (18b, 26b) of the locking sleeves (18, 26) are greater than or equal to 15 times the outside diameters (d2, d3) of the elongate elements 2 to be locked.