DE102008005983A1 - End cap for drive cable in sun protection blind of motor vehicle, has connection section cold-formed on drive cable, and end section made of plastic, where connection section comprises opening, and end section partially engaged into opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The cap (2) has a connection section (4), which is cold-formed, on a drive cable, and an end section (6) made of plastic. The connection section has an opening (8), which is pointed towards the end section, and the end section is partially engaged into the opening. The connection section consists of metal or a cold-deformable plastic e.g. cold-deformable thermoplastic, and the end section consists of a thermoplastic e.g. polyoxymethylene, polyamide or polypropelene. The end section comprises a rear region with a diameter, which is larger than a diameter of the opening. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for manufacturing a end cap for use in a motor vehicle (2) a method for manufacturing a drive cable for a lifting roof or a sliding roof or a sun protection blind of a motor vehicle.

Description

Technical area

The The invention relates to a termination cap for a drive cable, which in particular in motor vehicles, for example lifting and / or sunroofs or blinds, for example Sun blinds, is used. The invention further relates a drive cable with such a cap and a Method of making a cap and method for producing a drive cable.

State of the art

Drive or pitch cable of the aforementioned type are for example from the EP 0 409 103 A2 or the EP 0 181 995 A2 known. Such drive cables are preferably used in lifting and / or sliding roofs of motor vehicles, wherein the drive cables are usually axially adjustable by means of a motor-driven worm and wherein the drive cables are attached to a component to be adjusted, for example, the sunroof.

drive cable are usually made of multi-strand metal cables with applied pitch helices produced as an endless product and must then cut to the required length become. The resulting drive cable ends tend due to the loose strands of the cable for splicing.

One Another problem of the known drive cable is that they are mounted in Condition at the ends tend to rattle.

to Solution to these problems is known in the art, the drive cables at their drive cable end with a metal sleeve to provide. This metal sleeve is usually swaged in place. It has been shown that with this solution Although a splicing of the drive cable end is effective can be prevented, however, the drive cable tends to his End due to the metal used in the built-in Condition to rattle.

to Elimination of the rattle problem with metal sleeves became alternative thought, instead of a metal sleeve, a sleeve to provide plastic. Since such prefabricated plastic sleeves usually bad by mechanical processes on the drive cable ends have been fixed, was considered, the plastic sleeves To be sprayed directly to the drive cable end. It turned out, however Find out that the drive cable ends when cutting sharp burrs Forming can damage the molded sleeve can. Therefore, it is necessary to grind the drive cable, to remove the burr. This additional step more expensive a corresponding drive cable.

Farther has been found to be a directly sprayed plastic sleeve often badly adheres to the drive cable of the Production often attach oil residue. Therefore, must ensure that at least the drive cable ends are free of oils are what caused by changes in the rope production process or done by additional steps for degreasing can.

One Another problem of sprayed terminators Plastic is that the sprayed plastic material through the required high injection pressure tends along the or The applied gradient helix to migrate and harden there. The plastic material on the gradient helix can spread and the splayed material then again cause for Be rattling noises.

task

task the invention is thus, an end cap for a drive cable, a drive cable, a method of making a termination cap and to provide a method of manufacturing a drive cable, which enable a drive cable end to be effective protect it from splitting and at the same time Effectively reduce the rattle of drive cables In addition, the end cap and the drive cable cost should be produced.

Presentation of the invention

The Invention is achieved by a cap for a drive cable according to claim 1, a drive cable according to the independent claim 12, a method for producing a closure cap according to independent claim 13 and a method for producing a drive cable according to the independent claim 16th

According to the The first idea of the invention is an end cap for a drive cable provided which can be used in particular in motor vehicles is, especially in lifting and / or sliding roofs or Roller blinds, in particular sunscreen blinds. The end cap points two sections, namely a cold-formed connection section for connecting the end cap to the drive cable and a to connect to the terminal section end section made of plastic. The end portion and the terminal portion form so together the end cap.

A Such end cap allows a drive cable at the same time effective against splitting and rattling secure, with the cold-deformable connection section on the one hand a very good connection of the end cap to the drive cable is achieved because the end cap a positive and frictional Connection with the drive cable is received. The connection can to Example hammered, soldered or crushed. On the other hand, the drive cable protrudes through the end portion Plastic has a slight clattering tendency, as plastic turns out to be good sound isolator has been found.

A Such end cap is also particular according to the invention described later Method inexpensive to produce. Another advantage the end cap according to the invention is that a pretreatment of the drive cable end resulting from cutting to length, such as grinding or degreasing, is not necessary since the End cap without difficulty over the unprocessed Drive cable end can be slipped.

in the According to the invention, it is still possible, instead of a Plastic as a material for the end of another to take known in the prior art materials which a have low tendency to clatter, such as natural materials, such as cork or rubber or the like, or other materials, z. As foams, elastomers and the like.

One particularly preferred material for the connection section the end cap is metal. Metal is special easy to process, z. B. by deep drawing, and is about also cheap. Furthermore, metal can be hammered deform, which facilitates the installation of the end cap.

A Further advantageous embodiment provides that the end portion consists of a thermoplastic, for example POM, PA or PP. thermoplastics can be processed very well by spraying.

Farther it is preferred that the end cap is substantially radially symmetric is trained. This can be the connection section as well the end portion be radially symmetrical and along be attached to each other a common axis of symmetry. This facilitates the installation of the end cap on the drive cable, in particular by hammering.

alternative the connection section, in particular the end section, can be radial have distributed webs. This may be the clatter of the drive cables reduce and facilitate the installation of the drive cables.

One Another advantage arises when the connection section to a Having end portion facing opening. The opening is preferably formed radially symmetrical and arranged. With Help of such an opening will attach the End portion facilitates at the connection portion, in particular when the end portion is preferably partially through the opening penetrates into the connection section and so a form-fitting Connection between terminal portion and end portion allows.

To A further advantageous embodiment provides that the end portion is molded onto the connection section. On this way, the end cap is particularly easy and produce cost-effective, with a safe and dimensionally accurate Production of the end cap can be ensured.

Farther can be provided with advantage that the connection section is tapered towards the end portion. this makes possible on the one hand the attachment or application of the end portion to the connection portion, without the end portion circumferentially substantially over the diameter of the connection section protrudes and the end cap thereby assuming an impractically large diameter and on the other hand, a particularly secure connection between terminal section and end portion also in deformations of the connection section for fastening the connection section to the drive cable end.

Prefers can be provided that the end cap on one of the End section pioneering end of the connection section extended is trained. This will introduce the drive cable end relieved in the end cap.

To a further advantageous embodiment of the invention is the End portion formed in two pieces and is in the assembly the connection cap cohesively to a one-piece End section connected. This facilitates the assembly of the end portion.

A further embodiment of the end cap according to the invention advantageously provides that the end section is slotted toward the connection section. Thus, the end portion can be particularly easily attached to the terminal portion by the end portion is inserted into the terminal portion and the slotted portion of the end portion is bent and permanently deformed such that a shape conclusion arises between the end portion and connecting portion.

One further independent subject matter of the invention a drive cable that has an end cap according to having the above-described invention. Such drive cables are inexpensive to produce and combine high quality with a slight clattering tendency.

One further independent subject matter of the invention a method for producing a closure cap, in particular an end cap according to the above Invention. The inventive method sees the provision of a terminal portion and the fixing of an end portion to the connection section. A manufactured by this method End cap is very stable, can be easily and safely attach to the drive cable end, does not tend to rattle and is also inexpensive to produce.

Especially Advantageously, the end portion by introducing, ultrasonic welding, thermal upsetting, plastic cold forming, driving or attached by direct injection molding on the connection section. These Procedures enable a particularly cost-effective Manufacture the end caps while maintaining high quality.

Farther can be provided with advantage that the end portion and connecting portion be made separately and clipped together. By doing so leaves to accomplish a particularly easy installation.

To a final independent idea of the invention a method for producing a drive cable is provided, which is used in particular in motor vehicles, in particular in lifting and / or sliding roofs or blinds, z. B. Sun blinds. In the inventive Method, a cable section is provided and an end cap, designed according to the invention described above is attached to a drive cable end of the drive cable. This Method is particularly easy to perform and enables the production of particularly high quality drive cables.

A advantageous embodiment of the invention Procedure provides that attaching the end cap the drive cable end is made by hammering. Hammering towards other possible types of fastening very easy to perform and guaranteed a reliable connection of the connection cap to the Drive cable end.

advantageously, the terminal portion is attached to the drive cable end and the end portion molded on the already attached terminal portion. This allows a production with a particularly low scrap, because the connection section already has its final shape assumed before the end portion is injected. Otherwise It may be rare due to the deformation of the terminal section Cases come to a chipping of the end portion, especially if the end cap is not clean when hammering into the device is inserted for hammering.

Further Objectives, advantages, features and applications of the The present invention will become apparent from the following description of a Exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. Make up all described and / or illustrated features for itself or in any meaningful combination the object of present invention, also independent of their summary in the claims or their dependency.

Summary the drawings

It show schematically:

1 an end cap according to the invention;

2 a cross section through the end cap 1 according to the section line AA;

3 a cross-section through an alternative embodiment of an end cap according to the invention;

4 an end portion of an end cap according to the invention;

5 a third embodiment of an end cap according to the invention;

6A to 6C a drive cable with a conventional metal sleeve in a plan view ( 6A ), a cross section ( 6B ) by a drive cable and a cross section through a known sleeve ( 6C ) such as

7 a drive cable according to the prior art with a molded end portion.

embodiments

1 shows an end cap according to the invention 2 with a connection section 4 and an end section 6 , The end cap according to the invention 2 is configured substantially rotationally symmetrical and gradually tapers towards the side facing away from the drive cable side.

The connection section 4 is made of metal, which can be cold worked well. The connection section 4 used to insert a drive cable end, not shown in the end cap 2 and for attaching the end cap 2 at the drive cable end. The visible part of the connection section 4 is designed predominantly cylindrical, resulting in the connection section 4 good z. B. can be fixed by hammering on the drive cable end.

The end section 6 is made of plastic and is conically tapered in the front end with a round tip, allowing the assembly of a drive cable, with such a connection cap 2 is facilitated.

In 2 is a cross section through an end cap according to the invention 2 according to the section line AA 1 shown.

The connection section 4 points to the end section 6 out an opening 8th which is arranged substantially circular and axially symmetrical. The connection section 4 has a front area 10 on the opposite to the diameter of a substantially cylindrical rear portion 12 rejuvenated to the front. With the opening 8th and the tapered front area 10 can be achieved that the end section 6 when hammering the connection area 4 for fastening the connection cap 2 only bent to the drive cable and not sheared. The deformation of the connection area 4 namely, sits over the entire connection area 4 continues and leads to a compression of the front, not hammered area 10 , This allows the reject rate when attaching the end caps 2 on the cables decrease because of the plastic of the termination area 6 shear tends to burst rather than deformation.

The connection section 4 has an extension on the cable end 14 on which the insertion of the drive cable into the connection section 4 facilitated.

The connection section 4 and the end section 6 can in the in the 1 and 2 represented embodiments are interconnected by various methods. One possibility is the direct injection of the plastic to the finished, z. B. made by deep drawing Anschusselement 4 , This is the connection element 4 put on a stamp and from the top through the opening 8th sprayed with the thermoplastic material, so that this in the Urformung the shape of the end portion 6 assumes and at the same time independent of possible tolerances of the connection section 4 always gives a secure positive connection.

Other options are in connection with separately prefabricated plastic or the like existing end portions 6 in connection with 4 explained.

3 shows an alternative embodiment to that in the 1 and 2 illustrated embodiment in a cross-sectional view. The graduation cap 22 has a connection section 24 and an end portion 26 on, with the connecting section 24 in the region facing the end portion is not tapered toward the front, as the first described embodiment, but continuously cylindrical with a collar which in the end portion 26 protrudes and a circular opening 28 having. The end section 26 gets directly to the connection section 24 molded.

4 shows a possible embodiment of the end portion 6 as he did for the first variant ( 1 . 2 ) can be used when the end section 6 should be prefabricated separately.

The end section 6 has a front conical area 16 and a rear cylindrical portion 18 on. The front area 16 expands to a diameter larger than the diameter of the rear area 18 and goes with an undercut 20 in the back area 18 above. The undercut 20 essentially has the contour of the tapered area 10 of the associated connection element 4 on. The end section 6 can then into the opening 8th of the connection element are used and then permanently deformed to enter into a positive connection with the connection section. Deforming the back area 18 can be done by ultrasonic welding, thermal upsetting, riveting or by cold stamping.

5 shows a further alternative of an end cap according to the invention 52 , Unlike in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment is a front end portion 56 which is connected to a connection section 54 molded by means of a slotted and deformed rear area 58 fixed in a form-fitting manner. In this embodiment, the end portion can be 56 by clips with the connection section 54 connect.

The 6a to 6c show a known from the prior art drive cable 32 , In 6a is a side view of the drive cable 32 shown. The drive cable 32 is at its front end with a sleeve 34 completed to splice the drive cable end 36 to ver prevent. The known sleeve 34 is made of metal and is made by hammering on the drive cable end 36 attached.

In 6b is a cross section through the cable 6a shown. The drive cable end 32 protrudes to the conically tapered area of the end cap 34 in the end cap 34 into it.

6c shows the known from the prior art end cap 34 in cross section. The graduation cap 34 is designed conically tapering towards the front. Such end caps can be produced for example by deep drawing.

7 shows another possibility known from the prior art for completing a drive cable. To the drive cable end 42 is a plastic cap 44 injected directly. For this the drive cable end must 42 be pretreated, in particular deburred; if necessary, cleaning and / or degreasing may also be necessary.

2

end cap

4

connecting section

6

end

8th

opening

10

Front area of the connection section 4

12

Rear area of the connection section 4

14

extension

16

Front area of the end section 6

18

Rear area of the end section 6

20

undercut

22

end cap

24

connecting section

26

end

28

opening

32

drive cable

34

shell

36

Drive cable end

40

drive cable

42

Drive cable end

44

Plastic cap

52

end cap

54

connecting section

56

end

58

slotted the backstage area

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 0409103 A2 [0002]
• EP 0181995 A2 [0002]

Claims (18)

End cap for a drive cable, in particular for use in motor vehicles, in particular for lifting and / or sliding roofs or sun blinds, with a cold-formed connecting section ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) to the drive cable and an end section ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) made of plastic. End cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting portion ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) made of metal or of a cold-formable plastic, for. B. a cold-formable thermoplastic. End cap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end portion ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) consists of a thermoplastic, for example POM, PA or PP. End cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that they are substantially radially symmetrical is trained. End cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting portion ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) one to the end section ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) facing opening ( 8th ; 28 ), which is preferably designed and arranged radially symmetrical. End cap according to claim 5, characterized in that the end portion ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) partially into the opening ( 8th ; 28 ) intervenes. End cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end portion ( 6 ) to the connection section ( 4 ) is injected. End cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting portion ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) to the end section ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) is tapered towards. End cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting portion ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) at the end of the section ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) pioneering end is formed extended. End cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end portion ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) is formed in two pieces. End cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end portion ( 56 ) a slotted area ( 58 ) having. Drive cable, comprising an end cap ( 2 ; 22 ; 52 ) according to any one of the preceding claims. Method for producing a closure cap ( 2 ; 22 ; 52 ), in particular an end cap according to one of claims 1 to 11, in particular for use in motor vehicles, in particular for lifting and / or sliding roofs or sun blinds, by having a connection section ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) and attaching an end portion ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) to the connection section ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ). Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the end section ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) by introducing, ultrasonic welding, thermal upsetting, plastic cold forming, driving or direct injection molding on the connection section ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) is attached. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the end section ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) and the connection section ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) are manufactured separately and end section ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) and connecting section ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) are clipped together. Method for producing a drive cable, in particular for use in motor vehicles, in particular for lifting and / or sliding roofs or sun blinds, in which a cable section is kept ready and an end cap ( 2 ; 22 ; 52 ) according to one of claims 1 to 11 is attached to a drive cable end. The method of claim 16, wherein the attachment of the end cap ( 2 ; 22 ; 52 ) is made at the drive cable end by hammering. Method according to Claim 16 or 17, in which the connecting section ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) is attached to the drive cable end and the end portion ( 6 ; 26 ; 56 ) on the already attached connection section ( 4 ; 24 ; 54 ) is injected.