The present invention relates to a perfected device for grounding cables, in particular coaxial cables.

The field of the invention relates to devices used for grounding cables, such as, for example, coaxial cables and' the like. For this type of application, devices are used, composed of an internal contact for the connection between the cable and the grounding conductor, a sealing gasket of the device and an outer casing which is shell-closed on the sealing gasket, so as to block the device around the cable. Other functions of the casing of the devices of the type to which the invention relates are guaranteeing the sealing of the connection and creat- ing a contact between the cable and the grounding conductor .

As the installation of the grounding device is ef- ^' fected directly on the cable already functioning, the same must have a structure that can be opened when in- stalled on the cable and must be firmly closed on the latter by means of the outer casing, which is tightened, around the cable, remaining blocked on the same. For this purpose, the outer casing used on the traditional devices of the type under examination, has closing means composed of threaded elements or other auxiliary fixing systems, whose application requires the use of particular tools. The use of these tools, however, is hindered by the difficult operating conditions for this type of application, which must often be effected in a suspended position on pylons and frequently with extremely restricted manoeuvring spaces.

The main objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a perfected device for the grounding of cables which, unlike the known systems of the same type, is easier and more rapid to install, avoiding resort to auxiliary means for closing the outer casing on the cable, and also to specific tools for the purpose.

This and other objectives are achieved by means of the device of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are indicated in the remaining claims.

With respect to the known art mentioned above, the device of the invention offers the advantage of being able to be installed rapidly and simply, thanks to the presence of a clasp which effects the closing of the outer casing on the body of the cable to be grounded, without the need for auxiliary equipment.

These and other objectives, advantages and characteristics appear evident from the following description of some preferred embodiments for producing the device of the invention, illustrated, as non-limiting examples, in the enclosed drawings. In these:

- figure 1 illustrates the device of the invention with the casing equipped with a closing clasp assembled while operating,

- figure 2 illustrates the device of figure 1, with the clasp separated from the body of the outer casing,

- figures 3A and 3B illustrate the clasp of figure 2' in a side view and sectional view respectively; and - figure 4 illustrates an embodiment variant of the device of figure 1.

The device of the invention, indicated as a whole by

1 in figure 1, comprises a sealing gasket 3 of the cable

2 to be grounded, wherein the above-mentioned cable 2 is connected to the grounding conductor 4 by means of a respective contact 5. The gasket 3 is then tightened on the cable 2 and on the respective internal contact (not il- ^' lustrated) by means of an outer casing 6 consisting of a foldable laminar body provided with a longitudinal open- ing 7 delimited by protruding appendages 8a, 8b.

The device 1 is also equipped with a clasp 9, consisting of an approximately "U"-shaped body, suitable for tightening the above-mentioned appendages 8a, 8b of the casing 6, thus closing its opening 7.

The application of this clasp 9 on the casing 6 is effected first by manually moving the protruding append-, ages 8a and 8b towards each other, overcoming the elastic resistance of the "U"-shaped lamina forming the casing 6 and, subsequently, inserting the clasp 9 on the appendag- es now close to each other, either with a movement Fl in a transversal direction, or by means of a longitudinal sliding F2 (Fig. 2) .

Openings 10a, 10b, suitable for being engaged with ribs 11 protruding on the outer surface of the same ap- pendages 8a, 8b (figures 2, 3A, 3B) , are advantageously ^, inserted on the side walls of the clasp 9, in order to make the coupling between the protruding appendages 8a and 8b of the casing 6 and the clasp 9, stable.

In the variant of figure 4, one of the above- mentioned protruding appendages 8a, 8b of the casing 6 (in the example illustrated, the appendage 8a, ) has an anchorage hinge 12 of the clasp 9 to the same casing 6 which, in this way, can be closed by rotating the above- mentioned clasp 9 around the hinge 12 in the direction of- the arrow F3 until it is engaged on the appendages 8a, 8b.

Again with the objective of accelerating and simplifying the grounding operations of the cable 2 with the device of the invention, the latter has the contact 5 di- rectly crimped on the grounding conductor 4.

Modifications can be made to the invention, as de- scribed and illustrated in the figures of the enclosed drawings, in order to create variants which, however, fall within the scope of the following claims. For exam- _, pie, the position of the protruding ribs 11 and openings 10a, 10b can be inverted with respect to that illustrated. Furthermore, the profile of the same ribs 11 and openings 10a, 10b can be different, still remaining within the range of . forms suitable for ensuring a stable engagement of the clasp 9 on the appendages 8a, 8b of the casing 6.