Ratcheting fastener for electrical cable

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"Cable ties" redirects here. Not to be confused with Cable Ties (band)

Assortment of cable ties

A cable tie (also known as a hose tie, tie wrap, wire tie, zap-straps, or zip tie) is a type of fastener for holding items together, primarily electrical cables and wires. Because of their low cost, ease of use, and binding strength, cable ties are ubiquitous, finding use in a wide range of other applications. Cable ties were first manufactured by Thomas & Betts under the brand name Ty-Rap.

The common cable tie, normally made of nylon, has a flexible tape section with teeth that engage with a pawl in the head to form a ratchet so that as the free end of the tape section is pulled the cable tie tightens and does not come undone. When the mouthpiece is inserted through the grooves and pulled tight, it creates a secure, adjustable loop, which locks in place like a knot. Some ties include a tab that can be depressed to release the ratchet so that the tie can be loosened or removed, and possibly reused. Stainless steel versions, some coated with a rugged plastic, cater for exterior applications and hazardous environments.[1]

Design and use

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The ratchet mechanism on the head of a cable tie Cable ties used to attach shade cloth to scaffolding at a construction site in Singapore

The most common cable tie consists of a flexible nylon tape with an integrated linear ratchet gear rack, and on one end a pawl within a small open case. Once the pointed tip of the cable tie has been pulled through the case and past the ratchet, it is prevented from being pulled back unless a large amount of force is applied; the resulting loop may only be pulled tighter. This allows several cables to be bound together into a cable bundle and/or to form a cable tree.

A cable tie tensioning device or tool may be used to apply a cable tie with a specific degree of tension. The tool may cut off the extra tail flush with the head in order to avoid a sharp edge which might otherwise cause injury. Light-duty tools are operated by squeezing the handle with the fingers, while heavy-duty versions can be powered by compressed air or a solenoid, to prevent repetitive strain injury.

In order to increase resistance to ultraviolet light in outdoor applications, nylon containing a minimum of 2% carbon black is used to protect the polymer chains and extend the cable tie's service life.[citation needed] Blue cable ties are supplied to the food industry and contain a metal additive so they can be detected by industrial metal detectors.[2] Cable ties made of ETFE (Tefzel) are used in radiation-rich environments. Red cable ties made of ECTFE (Halar) are used for plenum cabling.

Stainless steel cable ties are also available for flameproof applications&#;coated stainless ties are available to prevent galvanic attack from dissimilar metals (e.g. zinc-coated cable tray).[1]

Plastic handcuffs are based on the cable tie design and are used by law enforcement to restrain prisoners.[3] Cable ties are also sometimes used to prevent hubcaps (also known as wheel trims) from falling off a moving vehicle, and some are sold specifically for this purpose.[4] The use of cable ties in medicolegal cases is infrequent, being involved in situations of neck compression or restraint.[5]

History

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Cable ties were invented by Thomas & Betts, an electrical company, in under the brand name Ty-Rap. Initially they were designed for airplane wire harnesses. The original design used a metal tooth, and these can still be obtained. Manufacturers later changed to the nylon/plastic design.[6][self-published source]

Over the years the design has been extended and developed into numerous spin-off products. One example was a self-locking loop developed as an alternative to purse-string suture in colon anastomosis.[7]

Ty-Rap cable tie inventor, Maurus C. Logan, worked for Thomas & Betts and finished his career with the company as Vice President of Research and Development. During his tenure at Thomas & Betts, he contributed to the development and marketing of many successful Thomas & Betts products. Logan died on 12 November , at the age of 86.[8]

The idea of the cable tie came to Logan while touring a Boeing aircraft manufacturing facility in . Aircraft wiring was a cumbersome and detailed undertaking, involving thousands of feet of wire organized on sheets of 50-foot-long plywood and held in place with knotted, wax-coated, braided nylon cord. Each knot had to be pulled tight by wrapping the cord around one's finger which sometimes cut the operator's fingers until they developed thick calluses. Logan was convinced there had to be an easier, more forgiving, way to accomplish this critical task.

For the next couple of years, Logan experimented with various tools and materials. On June 24, , a patent for the Ty-Rap cable tie was submitted.[9]

Reuse

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Cable ties are generally designed as single-use devices, however they can be reopened with little or no damage by inserting a small flat object between the ratchet and the pawl, and pulling the pawl out. Some models have a mechanism to release the pawl and allow re-use.

Speciality types

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A cable tie with an in-built security tag

Beaded

Beaded design allows them to be releasable and reusable

Releasable

Reusable cable ties with a releasable ratchet

Ladder style

For intermediate bundling and retail applications

Identification

Built-in flags for written or printed identification

Parallel entry

Tamper-proof, low profile heads

Tear-off

Quick release design requires no cutting tools

Pull-tight seals

Tamper-evident seals

Steggel

Heavy duty, multipurpose ties

Alternatives

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Other methods of bundling cable together securely and semi-permanently include cable lacing, strapping, binding knots such as the surgeon's knot or constrictor knot, Velcro brand hook-and-loop strips, conveyor belt hooks, twist ties, Rapstrap fasteners, or metal buckle.

See also

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References

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The company is the world’s best Nylon Cable Tie supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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A guide to cable ties

What are cable ties used for?

Also known as zip ties, cable ties are fasteners that bundle your cables and wires together to keep them organized and prevent damage. They come in different sizes, lengths, materials and even colors. The different uses of cable ties vary across industries, but what they all have in common is that they&#;re the most effective way to manage your cables.

Who invented cable ties?

Scottish-born Maurus C. Logan, who worked at Thomas & Betts, invented cable ties in . He got the idea while touring an aircraft facility, noticing how difficult and complex the job of wiring was. It involved thousands of feet of cabling manually secured with knotted, wax-coated, braided nylon cord, leaving the workers&#; hands with deep cuts and callouses. This is an example of a simple invention having a profound effect on lives.

Common materials for cable ties

Materials play a large role in determining which solution is right for your application. You'll find durable cable ties in these materials:

Nylon

Nylon produces a high-strength zip tie with good thermal and abrasion resistance. It also resists fuels and most chemicals. Nylon 6/6, the grade most often used for cable ties, meets UL94 V-2 flammability ratings and can operate in temperatures as low as -40°F. Typically, a nylon zip-tie melting point is 185°F.

Nylon cable ties can be heat stabilized for continuous or extended exposure to high temperatures of up to 250°F. The manufacturing process can also produce UV stabilized ties for outdoor use. For example, you can have the same cable tie, but manufactured for different applications.

Example:

Nylon standard cable ties, releasable

Outdoor use

Indoor use

Natural  

&#;

Black UV stabilized

&#;

 

 

Browse nylon cable ties

 

Polypropylene (PE)

If you&#;re looking for chemical resistant cable ties, consider polypropylene (PE). It resists acids, polyhydric alcohols, neutral salts and basic salts, making it a better choice in this instance than nylon. It does have a lower tensile strength than nylon 6/6, but it&#;s also more flexible. Polypropylene can also stand up to UV exposure.

Just as you can get the same cable tie formulated differently, you can get the same cable tie in different materials. For example, beaded cable ties are available in nylon or polypropylene.

View our range of polypropylene cable ties

 

Low density polyethylene (LDPE)

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) has a high-ductile nature and less-than-average tensile strength. As a material for cable ties, it&#;s not commonly used. However, it stretches and conforms well to surfaces and has excellent chemical resistance to dilute and concentrated acids, alcohols, bases and esters, so it has its uses. For these reasons, it&#;s often used for ties that are meant to bundle cables temporarily.

View hook and loop cable ties

 

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel cable ties provide high tensile strength. They can also stand extremely high temperatures, from &#;328°F to °F. There are two types of stainless steel used in cable ties: 304 and 316. Type 304 is used for general purposes, with both indoor and outdoor applications. When corrosion is a threat, it&#;s Type 316 you need.

Browse stainless steel cable ties

 

Learn more about the tensile strength of cable ties in our expert guide.

Cable tie applications

Now that you understand the difference in materials, let&#;s look at applications. It also might help you to read Cable management &#; the design engineer&#;s application guide

How to remove zip ties without cutting

Ties are available as single-use and reusable. You can remove zip ties without cutting if they&#;re single-use, but it will slow down your processes to open them. To open a traditional tie:

• Step 1: Stick a pin or even your fingernail into the locking mechanism.
• Step 2: Depending on the mechanism, you&#;ll either push down or pull it away from the tie&#;s ribs.
• Step 3: Slide the tie out.

We advise you not to re-use a single-use tie too many times. The more you open and retie them, the quicker the ribs, or teeth, will wear down. Another issue is the locking mechanism itself. Its grip loosens over time when you push or pull against it multiple times.

Download free CADs and try before you buy

Free CADs are available for most solutions, which you can download. You can also request free samples to make sure you&#;ve chosen exactly what you need. You might find The ultimate guide to cable management helpful. If you&#;re not quite sure which solution will work best for your application, our experts are always happy to advise you.

Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast despatch. Request your free samples or download free CADs now.

Questions?

us at or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 800-847-.

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