EP1966498A1

EP1966498A1 - Connecting element for a bowden cable sheath

Info

Publication number: EP1966498A1
Application number: EP06841032A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Pereira Monteiro
Original assignee: Fico Cables Ltda
Current assignee: Fico Cables Ltda
Priority date: 2005-12-28
Filing date: 2006-12-19
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Also published as: WO2007073905A1; DE102005062794B3; CN101365888A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connecting element (1) for a Bowden cable sheath (4), comprising an essentially tubular spring element (10), at least one holding projection (20, 26) for latching the Bowden cable sheath (4) to the connecting element, wherein the holding projection (20, 26) is arranged within the tubular spring element (10), and wherein the holding projection (20, 26) is resiliently biased in direction of the outer surface of the Bowden cable sheath (4) by means of the tubular spring element (10).

Description

Connecting element for a Bowden cable sheath

1. Field of invention The present invention relates to a connecting element for a Bowden cable sheath, which is used to connect the end of a Bowden cable sheath to an element.

2. Prior art

Usually, pulling forces are transmitted via Bowden cables, such that pressure forces appear on the Bowden cable sheath and pulling forces on the cable of the

Bowden cable. In this case, the Bowden cable sheath must only be supported within a corresponding receptacle. Such receptacles are usually formed into the device to be actuated and only consist of a cylindrical bore, into which the

Bowden cable sheath is inserted and which comprises a through-hole for the cable of the Bowden cable within the end face thereof.

If a Bowden cable should be used as a push-pull cable, i.e. transmit pulling as well as pushing forces, the Bowden cable sheath has to be rigidly connected to the device to be actuated. Usually, the Bowden cable sheath is clamped to the housing by means of a clamp or connected to the device to be actuated in another way.

For industrial applications, for example in the motor vehicle industry, in which Bowden cables are used, for example as clutch cable, accelerator cable, parking break cable, hood cable, fuel cap cable or for the seat adjustment, are corresponding fittings or connecting elements of a plastic material injection molded to the ends of the Bowden cable sheath. By means of these fittings or connecting elements, then the Bowden cable sheath can simply and fast be mounted at the device to be actuated. Since for different applications, different connecting elements or fittings are used for the Bowden cable sheath, different injection molding tools have to be provided for the connecting elements or fittings. These tools are comparatively expensive and the manufacturing effort for the injection molding is comparatively high.

It is therefore the problem of the present invention to provide a connecting element for a Bowden cable sheath, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, which is comparatively cost-efficient in its production and in its manufacturing effort, is suitable for different applications and by which pulling as well as pushing forces can be transmitted via the Bowden cable. Further, the assembly effort, respectively a possible service effort should be decreased.

It is a further goal of the present invention to provide a connecting element for a Bowden cable sheath, which is mounted only at the site of the final assembly, to provide Bowden cables for particularly space-constrained mounting conditions.

3. Summary of the invention

The above-mentioned problems are solved by a connecting element for a Bowden cable sheath according patent claim 1. Particularly, these problems are solved by a connecting element for a Bowden cable sheath, comprising an essentially tubular spring element, at least one holding projection for latching the Bowden cable sheath to the connecting element, wherein the holding projection is arranged within the tubular spring element, and wherein the holding projection is resiliently biased in direction of the outer surface of the Bowden cable sheath by means of the tubular spring element.

By means of the resilient biasing of the at least one holding projection within a tubular spring element, the Bowden cable sheath is securely latched, respectively directly held within the connecting element. Therefore, it is not possible to simply pull out the Bowden cable sheath of the connecting element. A rigid and reliable connection directly between Bowden cable sheath and the connecting element is provided. By means of the resilient biasing of the holding projection, this latching is permanently maintained, even if the material of the Bowden cable sheath yields in the course of a lifetime. Further, by means of the resilient biasing the Bowden cable sheath is retained also during heavy vibrations, which is required particularly in the field of motor vehicles.

In a preferred embodiment, the holding projection can be moved away from the Bowden cable sheath by means of a lateral pressure on the spring element for the assembly of a Bowden cable sheath. For the assembly of the connecting element at a Bowden cable sheath, the assembling person only has to apply a lateral pressure on the spring element, such that the holding projection moves outwardly, and the Bowden cable sheath can easily be inserted into the connecting element. During this insertion, in general no axial pressure has to be applied to the Bowden cable sheath, such that the assembly is easy and also possible at space-constrained assembly situations. Further, during assembly the Bowden cable is not damaged, such that assembly errors are avoided.

Due to the possibility of the easy assembly of the connecting element at the Bowden cable sheath, preferably by hand only, it is possible to install the Bowden cable without the connecting element, for example within a motor vehicle, and to assemble the connecting element only after that. Thereby, the connecting element does not interfere with the installation process of the Bowden cable, what is favorable particularly at space-constrained assembly situations.

In a further preferred embodiment at least two holding projections are provided, which are arranged facing each other within the tubular spring element and which can be moved away from each other by means of a lateral pressure on the spring element. If a pair of facing holding projections is provided, the Bowden cable sheath is held symmetrically and therefore held safer, compared to only one holding projection. During a tension on the Bowden cable sheath no bending torque results at the latched portion of the Bowden cable sheath. Preferably the connecting element comprises two pairs of holding projections, wherein the pairs are axially spaced from each other. By means of two pairs of holding projections a pulling force on the Bowden cable sheath is distributed among four holding projections, which decreases the local load at the latching positions and leads to a safe latching.

In a preferred embodiment, the spring element comprises an elliptical cross section. Within the spring element, a space is provided to compress the spring element and to move the holding projections away from each other. Simultaneously, the elliptical spring element in its partially relaxed condition provides a high pre-biasing force for the holding projections. During the compression of the spring element for the assembly of the Bowden cable sheath, it preferably adopts an essentially circular cross section.

hi a further preferred embodiment, the connecting element comprises first wing- like centering means, which are arranged within the spring element for centering the Bowden cable sheath. The first wing-like centering means act for a lateral holding of the Bowden cable sheath at the sides, at which the holding projections do not have an effect on the Bowden cable sheath. Therefore, a lateral movement of the Bowden cable sheath is prevented at this position. The centering means are provided wing-shaped, such that a lateral pressure on the spring element for the assembly of the Bowden cable sheath is possible at all.

Preferably, the connecting element further comprises a mounting means for connecting the connecting element at a further part. The mounting means acts for a secure connection of the connecting element and therefore of the mounted Bowden cable at the part to be actuated.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting means comprises a laterally arranged slot, for the introduction of a pressure and a pulling force to the connecting element. The mounting means can comprise an arbitrary suitable shape, which varies with the different applications of the Bowd en cable. For the insertion into a slot of a device to be actuated, the mounting means preferably comprises a lateral slot, which allows a fast and secure assembly of the Bowden cable at the part to be actuated or another element, for example the car body of a motor vehicle.

In a further preferred embodiment, the connecting element comprises two rod elements, which connect the spring element with the connecting element, wherein the rod elements are arranged in radial direction above the holding projections. The rod elements essentially act for connecting the spring element rigidly with the connecting element, as well as to allow an opening movement of the spring element, i.e. a lateral compression thereof. Since the rod element is arranged in radial direction above the holding projections, they further increase the pressure which is transmitted to the holding projections, to latch the Bowden cable sheath. The pre-tension of the spring element is thereby increased.

In a further preferred embodiment, the connecting element comprises at least one second centering means, for centering the outermost end of the Bowden cable sheath. By means of the at least one second centering means, furthermore a lateral movement of the Bowden cable sheath within the connecting element is prevented. The second centering means and the tubular spring element are preferably spatially separated from each other, to allow an opening movement of the tubular spring element.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a Bowden cable comprising a Bowden cable sheath and a connecting element as described above.

Further preferred embodiments result from the sub-claims.

4. Short description of the drawings In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described by means of the drawings, which show:

Fig. 1: a Bowden cable with an assembled connecting element, according an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2: the connecting element of Fig. 1 in a three-dimensional view;

Fig. 3 : a three-dimensional view of a Bowden cable and a connecting element during the assembly;

Fig. 4: a front view of a further embodiment of a connecting element according the invention;

Fig. 5: a three-dimensional view from the front side of an embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention;

Fig. 6: a three-dimensional view from the side of a connecting element according Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7: a three dimensional sectional view of a connecting element according the invention with an assembled Bowden cable sheath.

5. Description of preferred embodiments In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a connecting element 1 according to the invention, which is mounted onto the end of a Bowden cable sheath 4. A cable 6 of the Bowden cable 8 extends through the Bowden cable sheath 4 as well as through a hole 54 in the connecting element 1 and the cable 8 is freely displaceable. The connecting element 1 comprises a tubular spring element 10, wherein at an inner side thereof holding projections 20, 26 for latching of the Bowden cable sheath 4 are arranged facing each other (not shown in Fig. 1). In the preferred embodiment, the spring element comprises an elliptical cross section. Further, first wing-like centering means 30 are provided within the tubular spring element 10, which support the sides of the Bowden cable sheath 4 and which center the Bowden cable sheath 4.

The tubular spring element 10 presses the holding projections 20, 26 in direction to the outer surface of the Bowden cable sheath 4, such that they form a rigid connection with the plastic cover of the Bowden cable sheath 4.

The spring element 10 is connected by means of two rod elements 50 at a base plate 52 of the connecting element 1. The two rod elements 50 are dimensioned such that they introduce the pulling, respectively pressure forces on the Bowden cable sheath 4 into the device to be actuated. The rod elements are arranged at the spring element 10 in radial direction above the holding projections 20, 26.

Therefore, they increase the pressure which is introduced to the holding projections 20, 26 by the spring element 10. By means of this special arrangement, an opening movement of the spring element 10 is also allowed (as described below).

The connecting element 1 acts for fixing a Bowden cable 8 at a device to be actuated (not shown). By means of the connecting element 1, the Bowden cable sheath 4 is fixed at the device to be actuated or another arbitrary element, for example within a motor vehicle. The connection between the connecting element

1 and the Bowden cable sheath 4 is so rigid that on the one hand the Bowden cable sheath 4 does not arbitrarily disconnect out of its anchoring, for example due to heavy vibrations. On the other hand, pulling as well as pushing forces can be transmitted via the Bowden cable 8, which would not be possible by means of a Bowden cable sheath 4 which is loosely introduced into a receptacle.

The connecting element 1 comprises mounting elements 40, by means of which the connecting element 1 itself can be fixed at a device to be actuated, hi the present case, the mounting means 40 comprises of a short hollow cylinder with a small diameter and a hollow cylinder with a larger diameter, which is formed thereto, which together with the base plate 52 form a circumferential mounting slot 42. The connecting element 1 can be mounted at the device to be actuated by a simple insertion of the mounting means 40 into a mounting slot. The base plate

52 comprises a hole 54, though which the cable 6 of the Bowden cable 8 can extend.

However, the connecting element 1 can also be shaped like in Fig. 5 and 6 and, for example, be directly formed at the device to be actuated or be connected in another way to the device to be actuated.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the connecting element 1 further comprises second centering means 60, which center the outermost end 5 of the Bowden cable sheath 4. In the shown embodiment, the second centering means 60 comprises of two half-circular shaped receptacles, which are connected to the base plate 52 and which axially extend in direction of the tubular spring element 10. In mounted condition, these second centering means 60 fix the front end 5 of the Bowden cable sheath 4, such that it can not perform lateral movements within the connecting element 1. The second centering means 60 can also comprise any arbitrary shape, for example be formed as a simple drilling hole within the base plate 52, to fix the outermost end 5 of the Bowden cable sheath 4 in lateral direction. The particular design of the second centering means 60, however, allows on the one hand a desired movability of the rod elements 50, as well as an optical supervision of the assembly process. The assembling person namely can visually control if the outermost end 5 duly abuts the base plate 52, thereby determining if the Bowden cable sheath 4 is totally inserted into the connecting element 1.

The holding projections 20, 26, which impress from the outside into the Bowden cable sheath 4, by means of the spring effect of the spring element 10, and which hold the Bowden cable sheath 4, are shown in Figures 4 and 5 in more detail. The holding projections 20, 26 are arranged within the inner opening of the tubular spring element 10, respectively, and comprise a contact face 22, respectively, which is adapted to the circular surface of the Bowden cable sheath 4. The contact face 22 comprises a rear edge 24, which is preferably provided sharp-edged, and which impresses into the plastic covering of the Bowden cable sheath 4 after the assembly. During a pulling force on the Bowden cable sheath 4, the rear edge 24 of the holding projections 20, 26 prevents that the Bowden cable sheath 4 releases from the connecting element 1. A pressure on the Bowden cable sheath 4 is introduced from the front face of the Bowden cable sheath 4 into the base plate 52.

Within the tubular spring element 10 at the front edge thereof, a pair of further holding projections 26 is arranged, which hold the Bowden cable sheath 4 in addition to the pair of holding projections 20.

An assembly of the connecting element 1 at the end of a Bowden cable sheath 4 is done as follows: First, as shown in Fig. 3, the cable 6 of the Bowden cable 8 is guided through the connecting element 1. Then, the assembling person pushes laterally on the tubular spring element 10, preferably with its fingers, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4 by the forces Fl and F2. Thereby, the tubular spring element 10 re-shapes and thereby adopts an essentially circular cross section. Due to this reshaping, the holding projections 20, 26 move to the top, respectively to the bottom, i.e. away from each other, as indicated by arrows 27. Thereby, a sufficient opening for the Bowden cable sheath 4 results, which can be introduced without any force effort into the connecting element 1. The Bowden cable sheath 4 is totally inserted, if its front edge abuts the base plate 52, which can be visually controlled by the special design of the second centering means 60. By releasing of the connecting element 1, i.e. if it is no more laterally pushed on the tubular spring element 10, it returns to its prior elliptical shape, wherein the holding projections 20, 26 are resiliency biased against the outer surface of the Bowden cable sheath 4. Therefore, the Bowden cable sheath 4 is rigidly latched within the connecting element 1.

The Bowden cable 8 with the connecting element 1 mounted thereon is then suitably connected at the device to be actuated, for example inserted into a mounting receptacle.

For releasing of the connecting element 1 from the Bowden cable sheath 4, only a lateral pressure on the tubular spring element 10 has to be applied, as shown in Fig. 3 and 4, such that the holding projections 20, 26 move away from each other and again release the Bowden cable sheath 4. This can then be easily pulled out of tthhee ccoonnnneeccttiinngg eelleemmeenntt 11..

List of reference signs 1 connecting element

4 Bowden cable sheath

6 cable of the Bowden cable

8 Bowden cable

10 tubular spring element 20, 26 holding projections

22 contact face

24 rear edge

27 movements of the holding projections 20, 26

30 first wing-like centering means 40 mounting means

42 circumferential slot 50 rod elements

52 base plate

54 hole

60 second centering means

Claims

Patent claims

1. Connecting element (1) for a Bowden cable sheath (4), comprising:

a. an essentially tubular spring element (10);

b. at least one holding projection (20, 26) for latching of the Bowden cable sheath (4) at the connecting element (1), wherein the holding projection (20, 26) is arranged within the tubular spring element (10); and wherein

c. the holding projection (20, 26) is resiliently biased in direction of the outer surface of the Bowden cable sheath (4) by means of the tubular spring element 10.

2. Connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the holding projection (20, 26) can be moved away from the Bowden cable sheath (4) by means of a lateral pressure (Fl, F2) on the spring element (10) for the assembly of the Bowden cable sheath (4).

3. Connecting element according to claim 1 , wherein at least two holding projections (20, 26) are provided, which are arranged facing each other within the tubular spring element (10) and which can be moved away from each other by means of a lateral pressure (Fl, F2) on the spring element (10).

4. Connecting element according claim 3, comprising two pairs of holding projections (20, 26), wherein the pairs are axially spaced from each other.

5. Connecting element according to one of the claims 1 - 4, wherein the spring element (10) comprises an elliptical cross section.

6. Connecting element according to one of the claims 1 - 5, further comprising first wing-like centering means (30), which are arranged within the spring element (10) for centering of the Bowden cable sheath (4).

7. Connecting element according to one of the claims 1 - 6, further comprising a mounting means (40), for mounting of the connecting element (1) at a further element.

8. Connecting element according to claim 7, wherein the mounting means (40) comprises a lateral arranged slot (42), for the introduction of a pressure and a pulling force on the connecting element (1).

9. Connecting element according to one of the claims 1 - 8, further comprising two rod elements (50), which connect the spring element (10) with the connecting element (1), wherein the rod elements (50) are arranged in radial direction above the holding projections (20).

10. Connecting element according to one of the claims 1 - 9, further comprising at least one second centering means (60), for centering of the outermost end (5) of the Bowden cable sheath (4).

11. Bowden cable (8) comprising a Bowden cable sheath (4) and a connecting element (1) according to one of the previous claims.