EP1677318B1 - Method and device for manufaturing an electrical harness - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing electric harnesses, to a device adapted to this manufacture, and to the electric harnesses and bundles thus obtained.

The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of electrical harnesses of rotary wing aircraft.

A helicopter is usually equipped with one or more than one hundred electric harnesses, all of which may be different.

An electrical harness is usually comprised of sections of electrically conductive (insulated) sheathed wires that are gathered and / or mutually bonded to form separate portions - or branches - of the harness; the harness furthermore generally comprises one (or more) electrical connector (s) arranged at a free end of at least one of the branches; each connector is mechanically secured to one end of at least one of the sections of wire forming the branch in question; the connector comprises at least one member (or terminal) male or female electrical connection which is in electrical contact with an end of one of these wire sections, for example crimping, if necessary after stripping of this end.

The manufacture of a harness essentially consists of joining and / or securing portions of sections of wire to form the branches of the harness, and to equip if necessary the ends of the branches of the harness of the appropriate connectors.

The manufacture of a helicopter electrical harness also generally comprises an operation of electromagnetic or mechanical protection of the branches by a braided sheath.

This protection gives the harness a rigidity which then impairs the progress. To reduce this nuisance and leave to the harness some flexibility, it is necessary to twist the cables that constitute it before the braiding of the sheath.

For the manufacture of a harness, a planar harness support is usually used, such as a table; the table may be equipped with a template on which is shown a representation of the routing of the son or cables of the harness, as described in particular in the patent application FR 2 808 374 ; an operator sets up the sections of wire on the template, according to this representation, and then makes the electrical connections to the ends of the branches of the harness.

A disadvantage of this technique is that it requires the use of a table and a jig of shape and dimensions corresponding to the complete harness and deployed ("flattened").

To help set up and maintain sections of wire on the support or template, it can be equipped with guide pins for forming elbows or bifurcations deployed harness; it is furthermore possible to use tongs to hold each end of a section of wire, as described in particular in the patent US 5,205,329 .

US-A-2,768,428 also shows the state of the art.

Such devices for manufacturing electrical harnesses are complex and bulky; they are not suitable for the manufacture of helicopter electrical harnesses, which may have a dozen or more branches, and may extend over ten meters in length, and more.

These devices also do not facilitate twisting son of the harness.

An object of the invention is to propose a method and a device for manufacturing electrical harnesses, which are improved and / or which remedy, in part at least, the disadvantages and / or deficiencies of the known methods and devices for manufacturing electrical harnesses. .

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for manufacturing electrical harnesses which comprises a harness support - such as a table - elongated (e) along a longitudinal axis of harness support, a connector support arranged at a first longitudinal end of the harness support, and a connector fixing member on the connector support, and preferably a graduated ruler secured to the harness support and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. support.

The connector support and the connector fastener associated therewith are suitable for attaching to the harness support a harness having one end of a branch equipped with a connector; the lengths of wire extending from the connector can then be lengthened on the harness support, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the harness support.

• on fixe au support de connecteur (préalablement solidarisé à la table) un connecteur équipant une extrémité d'une première branche du harnais comportant sensiblement le plus grand nombre de tronçons de fil (par rapport aux autres branches de ce même harnais) ;
• on étend ensuite sur la table les tronçons de fil formant cette première branche le long de l'axe longitudinal de la table, et on solidarise entre eux - de préférence par cerclage à l'aide d'une ou plusieurs frette(s) (collier, ruban adhésif ou « tee-rap » par exemple) - ces tronçons de fil ;
• on solidarise à la table un outil de maintien de tronçons de fil destinés à former une seconde branche, et on étend sur la table, dans le prolongement de la première branche, des tronçons de fil faisant partie d'une troisième branche ; à cet effet, l'outil de maintien de tronçons de fil en attente est disposé sensiblement à une distance du support de connecteur correspondant à la longueur de la première branche ;
• on solidarise ensuite entre eux - comme décrit ci avant - les tronçons de fil formant la troisième branche ;
• on libère ensuite de l'outil de maintien les tronçons de fil de la seconde branche, et on étend ces tronçons de fil dans le prolongement de la première branche, c'est-à-dire le long de la troisième branche et de l'axe longitudinal du support de harnais ;
• on solidarise ensuite entre eux ces tronçons pour former la seconde branche.

According to a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention:

• fixed to the connector support (previously secured to the table) a connector equipping an end of a first branch of the harness with substantially the largest number of sections of wire (relative to the other branches of the same harness);
• the sections of wire forming this first branch are then spread on the table along the longitudinal axis of the table, and they are joined together - preferably by strapping with one or more frets (collar). , tape or "tee-rap" for example) - these sections of wire;
• a tool for holding sections of wire intended to form a second branch is secured to the table, and stretches of wire forming part of a third branch are extended on the table, in the extension of the first branch; for this purpose, the holding tool of waiting wire sections is disposed substantially at a distance from the connector support corresponding to the length of the first branch;
• the sections of wire forming the third leg are then secured to each other as previously described;
• the wire sections of the second leg are then released from the holding tool, and these wire sections are extended in the extension of the first branch, that is to say along the third branch and the longitudinal axis of the harness support;
• these sections are then joined together to form the second branch.

When the harness has only three branches, one can then equip if necessary the ends of the second and third branches of lug (s) or connector (s) appropriate.

Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, the connector equipping the first branch is used as a reference for forming branches of predetermined lengths; the setting to desired length is preferably carried out with the rule integral with the support whose origin of the distances corresponds to this connector.

More preferably, a predetermined point or face of the connector, the connector support, and / or a bearing abutment of the connector is used as the distance reference (of branch length).

For this purpose, a stop or reference surface of the length of the branches is secured to the harness support, and disposed near the connector support, and / or integrated with the connector support.

In the case of a "straight" connector whose predetermined point or face serving as a reference extends substantially perpendicularly to the extension of the axis along which the integral lengths of wire of the connector extend and at a free end of the connector , the abutment or reference surface fitted to the harness support table extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the table, the longitudinal end thereof, against (and facing) the predetermined face of the connector previously mounted on its support.

In the opposite case, especially in the case of a "curve" or complex connector whose free end has a different orientation, and / or whose point or the reference face does not extend to the end of the connector said stop equipping the table can be retracted (by pivoting for example) in favor of a second stop which is preferably incorporated in the connector support fixed at the longitudinal end of the table receiving the harness.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a substantially flat support for the preparation of electrical harnesses which has a longitudinal axis, a width, a length preferably greater than or equal to five times the width of the support, a longitudinal slide capable of receiving tools or tool supports for forming and / or holding the limb (s) of the harness, and a longitudinal ruler for positioning the tools and tool holders at predetermined (longitudinal) positions along the longitudinal axis of the harness support.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for manufacturing electrical harnesses which comprises a harness preparation support, a support for holding an electrical connector, a support for holding one or more sections (s). ) of wire in a direction oblique or transverse to the longitudinal axis of the preparation support, and a turning tool (180 °) of an electrical harness, which support and tool holders are arranged to cooperate with a longitudinal slide of the harness support.

When the length of the harness to be made is greater than that of the harness support, there is available at the second end of the harness support, a (first) guide tool (or flipping) harness that can bend the harness about 180 ° .

It is then possible to continue manufacturing the harness, in the same manner as described above, by extending the portion of the harness remaining to be produced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the harness support, which extends a short distance (a few centimeters for example) of this axis of harness support.

When the length of the harness exceeds twice the length of the harness support, a second harness guide member is attached to the first end of the harness support, in the vicinity of said connector support, which is identical or similar to said first harness support member. harness guidance.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device for manufacturing electrical harnesses comprises a twisting tool (stranding or twisting) substantially regular sections of electrically conductive wire.

Twisting gives the harness increased flexibility (or deformability) which reduces the mechanical stresses on the wire strings when they are bent or curved; each section of twisted wire adopts a spiral shape, substantially without being twisted along the longitudinal axis of the wire section.

The branches of wire forming a branch can be twisted by means of a twisting tool, by moving this tool along the harness support while causing the rotation of this tool and by controlling the length of the twisted portion extending from the connector attached to the harness support, thanks to the ruler.

When a predetermined length of the harness corresponding to the length of the branch equipped with the connector (referred to as the first branch) has been twisted, then the sections of wire intended to form a second branch of the sections of wire intended to form a third part are separated. plugged ; the sections of wire intended to form the second branch are fixed temporarily to the harness support; we extend the stretches of wire from the third branch in the prolongation of the first branch, and the threads of this third branch are twisted; then, if necessary, a connector is attached at least to the free end of this third branch and then proceeds to the same manner for the second branch, after having disconnected from the harness support the wire sections of this branch.

Thus, the manufacture of the various branches of the twisted harness is substantially along a single axis, that is to say substantially along the longitudinal axis of the harness support, which is preferably horizontal, and which has an elongation (ratio its length to its width), for example of the order of 10 to about 15.

Preferably, each branch of the electrical harness is successively twisted; for this purpose, a twisting tool comprising (at least) two cavities is preferably used, each cavity being associated with retaining means making it possible to retain at least a portion of a section of wire in the cavity, as well as release means for extracting said wire portion portion from the cavity, and opening means for introducing said wire portion portion into the cavity.

The twisting tool preferably further comprises a body having substantially a symmetry of revolution along an axis (of symmetry), in particular a body having a general shape of sphere, cylinder or disc; the tool body has cavities or notches forming said cavities, which extend substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry of the body, and which each open to the outer surface of the body through a peripheral opening, the body thus having approximately one barrel shape.

These notches or cells are preferably substantially evenly distributed along the periphery of the body.

The body preferably has at least four cavities or cavities, in particular at least eight cavities or cavities, of shape and size substantially identical, which are able to receive (each) several sections of wire.

Twisting the son previously engaged and distributed in the cells of the tool and whose end is (temporarily) attached to a support forming part of the device according to the invention, is obtained by a rotation of the tool along its axis of symmetry this rotation can be performed manually by an operator.

To enable the operator to estimate or measure the tool rotation angle and / or the number of laps performed by the tool, it preferably has a visual rotation mark disposed near the periphery. of the tool body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means for retaining, releasing, and opening the twisting tool comprises a ring or ring pivotally mounted around the tool body along said axis of symmetry; the ring or ring is interrupted (open) on a portion substantially corresponding to one dimension of the peripheral opening of a cell; the ring or ring is mounted on the body so as to close the openings of the cells of the tool with the exception of at most one cell whose peripheral opening is opposite the opening or portion of interruption of the crown or ring; in this case, preferably, the fraction of the periphery of the body associated with each cell, has a dimension (or arc length of outer surface of the tool body) which is greater than or equal to the arc length in which extends the interruption or opening provided in the ring or crown; thus, whatever the angular position of the latter relative to the tool body, at most one cell can be open at a time; in particular, the interruption length of each ring is substantially equal to the arc length which extends each cell opening.

More preferably, the tool comprises two such rings or rings selectively opening one of the cells, which are pivotally mounted coaxially with respect to the tool body, the pivoting of a first of the two rings being independent of the pivoting of a second of the two rings.

This allows successively placing one - then the other - two respective interruptions of the two rings in front of a peripheral opening of a predetermined cell, to release the wire sections extending through the cell ; thanks to the presence of these two independent interrupted rings, the passage of the interruption of only one of the two rotating rings in front of an opening of a cell does not allow the release of the sections of wire engaged in this cell; this thus makes it possible to avoid the unexpected release of a batch of sections of wire during the passage of an interruption of only one of the two rings facing the opening of the cell receiving this batch of wire sections.

Preferably, the device according to the invention comprises a plurality of slides or slides extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the harness support, and a sliding tool support for twisting the son of the harness.

The twisting tool holder can thus slide along the axis of the harness support; the device preferably further comprises locking means for locking in position each tool or tool support - such as the twisting tool holder - at any point of one of the slides or slides.

The twisting tool holder has a configuration adapted to receive and hold in place the twisting tool; the tool support may in particular have a bow-shaped portion or cradle shape complementary to the outer shape of the tool.

Other features and advantages of the invention appear in the following description, which refers to the accompanying drawings and which illustrates, without any limiting character, preferred embodiments of the invention.

Unless otherwise indicated, identical references designate identical or similar elements in their structures and / or functions.

The figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a connector support of a device according to the invention.

The figure 2 is a schematic perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a longitudinal end of a harness support according to the invention, which is also illustrated figure 7 .

The Figures 3 and 4 illustrate, in side view, the attachment of a connector of a harness to the end of the support table of figures 2 and 7 , using the removable connector attachment tool shown figure 1 ; the figure 3 corresponds to a harness equipped with a connector whose end flat face serves as a reference length; the figure 4 corresponds to a harness equipped with a curved connector whose intermediate flat face serves as reference length (for the length of branches).

The figure 5 is a schematic cross sectional view of a harness support according to the invention.

The figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a twisting tool holder disposed on a harness support according to an aspect of the invention.

The figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a harness support of a device according to the invention.

The figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a twisting tool of a device according to the invention.

The Figures 9 and 10 are respective schematic perspective views of a wire holding tool and a branch turning tool of a device according to the invention.

By reference to the figure 7 the harness-making device comprises a table 60 extending substantially horizontally and having a longitudinal axis 61.

The table comprises three parallel longitudinal slideways 62, extending substantially over the entire length of the table.

Each of these slides allows the attachment of tools on the table in positions (measured along the axis 61) predetermined, and allows the sliding of these tools along this axis.

These tools consist essentially of an illustrated connector support 100 figure 1 , a twisting tool support 70 illustrated figure 6 a standby wire maintenance tool 120 which is illustrated figure 9 as well as a tool 140 for turning harness which is illustrated figure 10 .

By reference to the figure 5 , the table top 60 comprises six identical metal profiles 64 juxtaposed and assembled, which extend perpendicularly to the plane of the figure 5 , parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table.

The upper part of each of these profiles comprises two longitudinal grooves 62; shut-off profiles 68 are engaged in some of the grooves to close them, with the exception of the grooves (two grooves 62 figure 5 ) used for attachment of tool on the upper face 77 of the table.

Along one of the two longitudinal edges of the table extends a gutter or trough 67 defined by walls 66, extending under the work surface to receive branches of a harness during treatment.

By reference to the figure 2 , at a longitudinal end 63 of the table 60 is provided a connector support 100 adapted to a connector equipping a harness to manufacture.

By reference to the figure 6 , the twisting tool support 70 comprises a plate 78 by the lower face of which it rests on the table 60.

An axle screw 75 having a knurled head 71 extends through a hole pierced in the plate; the other end (not seen figure 6 ) of the screw comprises a shaped connecting member adapted to the transverse profile of the recessed groove 62 forming a slideway, so as to allow a temporary (reversible) connection of the twisting tool support 70 to a predetermined position along the table.

For this purpose, a plurality of graduations 76 are formed on the upper face 77 of the table 60, to constitute a rule 65.

The twist tool support 70 further comprises a cradle 72 provided to receive - according to the arrow 74 - a twisting tool in which were engaged sections of wire of a twist harness; the cradle is integral with the plate 78 and has a half-collar shape and a groove 79 of profile adapted to that of the tool 20 to receive in the groove of the cradle.

The tool 100 connector support, the tool 120 for maintaining the son of a bypass waiting treatment, and the tool 140 for turning each have a base identical or similar to that of the support 70 of twisting tool ; each comprises a support plate 78 on the working surface 77 of the table, and a screw passing through the plate and cooperating with a nut (such as figure 9 ) extending under the plate and having a complementary shape (in section) to that of the profile of each groove 62 of the table; this makes it possible to engage the nut in a groove 62 then, by tightening with the aid of the screw 71, 71a, to fasten the tool to the table by its base 78.

By reference to the figure 1 , the tool 100 comprises two jaws 101, 102 respectively traversed by an axle screw 106, 108 having a knurled head 105, 107 and cooperating with a nut (not seen figure 1 ) engaged in a slideway 103 integral with the plate 78.

The nut allows the locking of the corresponding jaw in a determined position along the axis 104 of the slide 103.

Both jaws have two V-shaped faces facing each other; two mutually inclined deformable buffers 109 project on the V-faces of the jaws; the spacing of the jaws along the axis 104 can thus be adjusted to enclose a connector (160 Figures 3 and 4 ) between the bearing faces 110 of the buffers 109 fitted to the jaws.

By reference to Figures 2 to 4 , the tool 100 is engaged by the nut 111 fitted to the screw 71, as well as by a pin 112 projecting under the plate 78, in a groove 62 of a profile 64 of the table.

A connector 160, 161 is clamped between the jaws (such as 101) of the tool 100, and is thus secured to the table by this tool.

In the illustrated configuration figure 3 where the connector 160 has a plane end face 160a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 61 of the table and grooves, this face 160a bears against a retractable stop 69 having a plane reference face 69a which corresponds to the origin ("0") graduations of rule 65 equipping the table, which is schematically represented Figures 3 and 4 .

The abutment 69 can pivot along the axis 150 orthogonal to the axis 61 and the plane of Figures 3 and 4 to move from a vertical position ( figure 3 ) where the face 69a serves as a reference, at a retracted position ( figure 4 ); in this position of the stop 69, the reference for measuring the lengths can be given by a face of the jaws 101, 102 of the tool 100 against which a face 161b of the connector 161 whose end 161a is inclined and / or curved.

By reference to the figure 8 in particular, the twisting tool 20 comprises a body 21 in the general shape of a thick disc having an axis of symmetry 23, in which are formed a peripheral groove as well as eight peripheral cells 31 to 38 of identical shape and regularly spaced (in a symmetry axis 23).

Each of these cells opens at the periphery of the body, in particular in said groove, through a respective peripheral opening.

The tool further comprises two substantially identical rings 43, 44 which are partially housed in the groove, each having a protruding portion relative to the flanges of the body, and which can slide in rotation along the axis 23, around the body 21.

Each of these rings has a slot or interruption 46 whose "width" or length of arc exceeds the "width" or arc length of the opening of a cell; the length of the interruption 46 remains however less than the arc length corresponding to the fraction (in this case an eighth) of the body associated with each cell; this facilitates the "peripheral" introduction of section (s) of wire into the cell (such as 31) placed opposite the interruption of each of the rings, as well as the extraction of the wires extending into this cell, in this same configuration of release sections extending through this cell, by passing through the peripheral opening of the cell, and through the slot in the two contiguous rings.

By reference to the figure 8 a visual sign 99 such as a colored task, a number or a letter makes it possible to locate the angular position of the tool 20 along the axis 23.

Moreover, the independent rotation of the two rings 43, 44 makes it possible to obtain an illustrated tool configuration figure 8 , in which a portion 43a of the ring 43 extends along the interruption 46 of the ring 44; in this configuration, the two rings can undergo simultaneous pivoting along the axis 23 around the tool body, of any amplitude, without any of the sections of wire 170 extending through one of the cells can escape from it.

By reference to the figure 9 , the tool 120 for holding the wire sections of a waiting branch has a plate 78 receiving a guide pin 112, a screw and a locking nut 111, and a slide 121 of axis 122 parallel to the plane platinum; when the pin and the nut are engaged in a slide of the harness support table, the axis 122 is parallel to the axis of the slide.

The slide 121 receives two blocks 123, 124 respectively integral with two blades 125, 126 curved in the shape of an inverted U; these blades ensure the tightening of a packet of son; for this purpose, the spacing of the blocks along the axis 122 of the slideway 121 is adjustable by a system (not shown) of screw and nut similar to the system 71, 111.

Each of the blades 125, 126 is elastically deformable so that sections 170 of wires of a bifurcation may be force-fitted into the gap 127 between the blades, and are held tight between them, until they are extracted from this interval 127.

Meanwhile, the portion of the waiting wire sections extending beyond the edge of the table is supported by the receiving trough 67.

By reference to the figure 10 , the tool 140 for bending the branch (s) in progress comprises a plate 78 equipped with a first screw 71a for fixing in a first slide of the table, and a second screw 71b for fixing (by via a second nut 111b identical or similar to the aforementioned nut 111) of the tool 140 in a second slide of the table.

The plate is integral with a hoop 141 of substantially semicircular shape, the external lateral face 142 has a groove 143.

When the tool 140 is attached to the end ( figure 7 ) of the table which is opposite the end 63 receiving the support 100 of the connector, the plate of the tool is fixed so that the two ends of the groove 143 extend substantially parallel to two rails of the table , and are separated by a distance 144 corresponding to the center distance of the slides of the table; the groove has a predetermined groove length so that a second rule parallel to the first makes it possible to measure the length of the portion 170b of the wire sections extending downstream of the tool 140; the groove of the arch makes it possible to maintain the portion of the sections of wire extending in this groove, and makes it possible to provisionally bend the branch or branches constituted by these sections by an angle of approximately 180 °, and thus allows to make harnesses of almost twice the length of the table.

1. a) insérer dans un connecteur principal 160, 161 tous les fils 170 constituant le harnais, ségrégés en paquets correspondant respectivement aux branches du harnais ;
2. b) fixer à l'extrémité 63 de la table 60 le connecteur principal 160, 161 sur son support 100 verrouillé dans une première rainure 62 ;
3. c) positionner dans la rainure 62 des outillages 120 de maintien de dérivations à des emplacements prédéterminés correspondant aux bifurcations du harnais en cours de traitement, ces emplacements pouvant être stockés dans une base de données et affichés à l'opérateur ;
4. d) engager les fils dans les alvéoles de l'outillage de vrillage 20, à raison d'un paquet de fils par alvéole ; s'il y a peu de branches, on peut aussi répartir les tronçons de fil d'une branche du harnais dans plusieurs alvéoles, par exemple deux alvéoles diamétralement opposées ;
5. e) pour le vrillage d'une branche :
   1. e1) faire tourner l'outillage de vrillage 20 sur lui-même (selon son axe 23 disposé sensiblement parallèle à l'axe 61) de trois tours environ tout en progressant d'à peu près un mètre ;
   2. e2) poser l'outil 20 sur son support 70 ;
   3. e3) séparer (peigner) manuellement l'ensemble des fils de la partie de harnais qui n'est pas encore passée au travers de l'outil 20 pour éviter la formation de « noeuds » ;
   4. e4) positionner au moins une frette (collier, ruban adhésif ou « tee-rap » par exemple) sur la partie vrillée de harnais qui est passée au travers de l'outil 20 ;
   5. e5) répéter les étapes e1) à e4) jusqu'à ce que l'opérateur arrive à une bifurcation ;
6. f) pour chaque bifurcation du harnais :
   1. f1) dégager de l'outil de vrillage 20 le paquet de tronçons de fil correspondant à la branche à traiter ultérieurement (bifurcation) ;
   2. f2) verrouiller le paquet de fils en attente ainsi libéré par un serre câble 125, 126 équipant l'outil 120 de maintien correspondant qui a été pré positionné à l'étape c) ;
   3. f3) reprendre l'étape e) jusqu'à ce que l'opérateur arrive en extrémité libre d'une branche (d'un paquet) ;
7. g) traitement des extrémités de branche :
   1. g1) dégager de l'outil 20 l'extrémité libre du paquet ;
   2. g2) couper les fils à la longueur définie grâce à la mesure sur la règle (par référence au connecteur principal 160, 161) en fonction des informations de longueur de branches mises à la disposition de l'opérateur ;
   3. g3) éventuellement insérer des fils dans un connecteur d'extrémité ; pour libérer la table, l'opérateur pourra assembler les connecteurs d'extrémité des branches secondaires sur un autre poste de travail, après réalisation complète du vrillage du harnais ;
8. h) tant qu'il reste une branche à vriller, l'opérateur extrait le paquet de fils concerné par la branche à vriller de l'outillage 120 de maintien de fils en attente, dégage de la rainure 62 la partie déjà vrillée pour aligner la branche à vriller le long de la rainure et de la règle, puis il reprend la procédure à l'étape c) ci-dessus.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the manufacture of a harness comprises the following successive operations:

1. a) insert in a main connector 160, 161 all the son 170 constituting the harness, segregated into packets respectively corresponding to the branches of the harness;
2. b) fix at the end 63 of the table 60 the main connector 160, 161 on its support 100 locked in a first groove 62;
3. c) positioning in the groove 62 of the derivation maintenance tools 120 at predetermined locations corresponding to the bifurcations of the harness being processed, these locations being able to be stored in a database and displayed to the operator;
4. d) engaging the threads in the cells of twisting tool 20, one packet of son per cell; if there are few branches, we can also distribute the wire sections of a branch of the harness in several cells, for example two diametrically opposed cells;
5. e) for twisting a branch:
   1. e1) rotating the twisting tool 20 on itself (along its axis 23 disposed substantially parallel to the axis 61) of about three turns while progressing by about one meter;
   2. e2) placing the tool 20 on its support 70;
   3. e3) manually separating (combing) all the threads of the harness portion that has not yet passed through the tool 20 to avoid the formation of "knots";
   4. e4) positioning at least one hoop (necklace, tape or "tee-rap" for example) on the twisted portion of harness that has passed through the tool 20;
   5. e5) repeating steps e1) to e4) until the operator arrives at a bifurcation;
6. f) for each bifurcation of the harness:
   1. f1) releasing from the twisting tool 20 the packet of sections of wire corresponding to the branch to be treated later (bifurcation);
   2. f2) lock the packet of son waiting thus released by a cable clamp 125, 126 equipping the corresponding tool 120 for holding which was pre-positioned in step c);
   3. f3) resume step e) until the operator arrives at the free end of a branch (of a packet);
7. g) treatment of branch ends:
   1. g1) freeing the tool 20 from the free end of the package;
   2. g2) cutting the threads to the defined length by the measurement on the ruler (with reference to the main connector 160, 161) according to the length information of branches made available to the operator;
   3. g3) optionally inserting wires into an end connector; to release the table, the operator can assemble the end connectors of the secondary branches on another workstation, after complete completion of the twisting of the harness;
8. h) as long as there remains a twisting branch, the operator extracts the son packet concerned by the twisting branch of the tool 120 holding the son waiting, disengages the groove 62 the part already twisted to align the branch to twist along the groove and the ruler, and then resumes the procedure in step c) above.

It goes without saying that various additions, omissions, or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the various embodiments described above, both in their structural elements and in their functional components, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. Apparatus for manufacturing a harness of electrically conductive wire segments (170) comprising a connector (160, 161), which comprises a harness support (60), characterised in that it comprises a connector support (100) fitted with members (101, 102, 109) for fastening the connector to the connector support, and in that the harness support (60) is elongate along an axis (61) and comprises a longitudinal slideway (62).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, which further comprises a graduated rule (65, 76) secured to the harness support (60) and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (61).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, which further comprises an abutment (69) serving as a reference for measuring the length of the branches of the harness.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, in which the abutment (69) is retractable.
5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, which further comprises a tool (120) for holding one or more wire segments in a direction that extends transversely or obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis (61) of the support (60).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the holding tool comprises elastically-deformable blades (125, 126) arranged to clamp onto wire segments that are to be held in readiness.
7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, which further comprises a gutter (67) extending along a longitudinal edge of the support (60) and arranged to receive a portion of wire segments extending beyond the support (60).
8. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, which further comprises a tool (140) for reversing wire segments (170).
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, which comprises means (71, 111) for fastening the connector support (100) to a first longitudinal end (63) of the support (60), and means (71a, 71b, 111a) for fastening the reversing tool (140) to a second longitudinal end (160) [sic] of the support (60).
10. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, in which each tool or support (70, 100, 120, 140) comprises a guide member (112) and a locking member (111) which are designed to engage with the slideway (62).
11. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the support (60) comprises at least two longitudinal slideways (62), and in which the length of the support (60) is at least five times greater than its width.
12. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, which comprises a harness-twisting tool (20).
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, which comprises a twisting-tool support (70), which is slidably mounted on the harness support (60) via a slideway (62) of the harness support (60).
14. Method for manufacturing an electrical harness comprising a connector (160, 161), in which use is made of an apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 13.

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