Device for rapidly fixing a tubular element in an apparatus housing, and a terminal block for optical fibers including such a device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention therefore provides a device for rapidly fixing a tubular element in an apparatus housing into which the tubular element penetrates via a fixed inlet duct which positions it in the housing, and in which it is fixed by the action of a slotted moving membe which overlaps it in such a manner as to wedge it inside the slot when said moving member is displaced within a guide which passes through the inlet duct from an initial position enabling the tubular element to slide along the inlet duct to a final position in which the tubular element is fixed inside the housing by being clamped in the slot which is oriented transversely to the inlet duct.
According to a characteristic of the invention, the fixing device includes an arrangement for displacing the moving member in translation along its guide under the effect of partial axial rotation of the blade of a tool of the screwdriver type having a rectangular cross-section, said arrangement including two ducts for passing the blade of the tool, said ducts being referred to as "first" and as "second" operating ducts, with the second duct being provided through the moving member which is of the slide type and with the first duct being provided through the housing from an external orifice enabling said tool blade to be inserted through both operating ducts which enable the tool blade to press sideways against different portions of the inside wall of each of them as a function of the axial rotation position of the blade, in such a manner that the sideways thrust of the blade on an internal wall portion of each of the two operating ducts causes the two wall portions concerned to move apart and thereby gives rise to translation of the moving member in one direction or the other whenever an axial rotaary torque is applied to the tool blade, and in the same direction as said torque.