Abstract:
A cable bracket and strap assembly includes a cable bracket and a strap secured to the cable bracket. The cable bracket has a plurality of retention elements defining a plurality of conductor openings. The cable bracket also has a mounting flange, which includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The strap is secured to the cable bracket within the first aperture.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/697,221, filed Jul. 7, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to a cable bracket and strap assembly and, more particularly, a two-piece assembly comprising a cable bracket and a cable strap used to manage power conductors and signal wires in aerospace applications.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It would be desirable to provide a cable bracket and strap assembly that optimizes spacing of power conductors to prevent overheating and thermal breakdown of the conductor insulation.  
         [0004]     It would also be desirable to provide a cable bracket and strap assembly that maintains uniform pressure around a wide range of power conductor diameters and therefore assists in preventing axial movement of the power conductors. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front top perspective view of a cable bracket and strap assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a rear top perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a rear top perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 , with the power conductors and signal wires removed;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front bottom perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged front bottom perspective view of a portion of the assembly of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a partial exploded perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 , with the cable strap removed;  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged front bottom perspective view similar to  FIG. 5 , with the cable strap removed;  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the assembly of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the assembly of  FIG. 4 , with the power conductors and signal wires being inserted into the cable bracket;  
         [0015]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the assembly similar to  FIG. 10 , with the cable strap positioned around some of the power conductors;  
         [0016]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the assembly similar to  FIG. 10 , with the cable strap positioned around the power conductors and inserted through the cable strap wedge;  
         [0017]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 14  is a front top perspective view of a cable bracket and strap assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 15  is a rear top perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 14 ; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 16  is a rear top perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 14 , with the power conductors and signal wires removed.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]      FIGS. 1-16  illustrate a cable bracket and strap assembly for managing power conductors and signal wires in aerospace applications, where spacing of the power conductors is critical to prevent overheating and thermal breakdown of the conductor insulation. Specifically,  FIGS. 1-13  are directed to cable bracket and strap assembly  20 , and  FIGS. 14-16  are directed to cable bracket and strap assembly  120 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , assembly  20  comprises cable bracket  22  and cable strap  24 . Preferably, cable bracket  22  and cable strap  24  are made of a high temperature material to withstand the heat generated by power conductors  26 . A soft high temperature material may be injection molded onto the interior of cable strap  24  in certain applications, such as high vibration environments.  
         [0023]     As best seen in  FIG. 6 , cable strap  24  includes a retention tab  28 , which fits within retention tab pocket  30  of cable bracket  22 . Cable strap  24  also includes teeth  32  for engaging cable strap wedge  34  on cable bracket  22 , as best seen in  FIG. 13 . Cable strap  24  may be pre-installed into cable bracket  22 , as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , strap retention barb  36  retains cable strap  24  in retention tab pocket  30 .  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , cable bracket  22  includes a plurality of strap retention clips, such as retention clip  38 . Retention clips  38  temporarily retain power conductors  26  within cable bracket  22  until cable strap  24  is fastened therearound, as shown in  FIGS. 10-12 . Also, retention clips  38  prevent side-to-side movement of cable strap  24 , as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIGS. 10-12 , cable bracket  22  includes signal wire recess  40  within the center of cable bracket  22 . Preferably, recess  40  is a U-shaped slot. However, as shown in  FIGS. 14-16 , the signal wire recess may be various shapes and sizes. Cable tie  42  may be used to secure signal wires  44  within recess  40 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , cable tie  42  is positioned around wires  44  and cable tie retention post  46  to secure wires  44  therein.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , cable bracket  22  includes a mounting flange  48  for mounting assembly  20  to the frame of an aircraft. Mounting flange  48  includes an aperture  50 , and a metal grommet  52  may be inserted into aperture  50  to provide additional strength to mounting flange  48 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 14-16  illustrate cable bracket and strap assembly  120 . Assembly  120  is similar to cable bracket and strap assembly  20  shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , except for the configuration of signal wire recess  40 . As best seen in  FIGS. 10-12 , recess  40  is configured as a U-shaped slot. Alternatively, as best seen in  FIG. 16 , assembly  120  includes signal wire recess  140  configured as an angled slot. Cable bracket and strap assembly  120  is identical to, and functions similarly as, assembly  20  in all other respects.  
         [0028]     In operation, signal wires  44  are placed into signal wire recess  40  and are retained therein preferably with cable tie  42 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , cable tie  42  is secured around cable tie retention post  46 . Power conductors  26  are installed into cable bracket  22  and temporarily retained therein by strap retention clips  38 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Cable strap  24  is then pulled around power conductors  26 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , and routed through cable strap wedge  34 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . As best seen in  FIG. 13 , teeth  32  are external to, or facing away from, power conductors  26  after cable strap  24  is secured around cable bracket  22 . Cable strap wedge  34  engages teeth  32 , and cable strap  24  is tensioned using a cable tie tensioning device (not shown).  
         [0029]     The cable bracket and strap assembly provides uniform pressure to, and tightly retains, a wide range of power conductor diameters and therefore assists in preventing axial movement of the power conductors. It should be noted that the above-described illustrated embodiments and preferred embodiments of the invention are not an exhaustive listing of the form such a cable bracket and strap assembly in accordance with the invention might take; rather, they serve as exemplary and illustrative of embodiments of the invention as presently understood.