FR2744781A1 - Seal for electrical cable sheath passing through motor vehicle panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The opening (12) in a vehicle wall (11) through which passes an electrical cable sheath (9) is sealed by an elastomeric fastener (8). The fastener has an annular sealing lip (8b) and a plastics part (10) of greater hardness than the elastomer. The plastics part has a clipping the obturator (7) in the opening. This is constituted by an assembly of anchoring fingers (13c) pivoted to the plastic element. Three anchoring fingers are spaced from each other along plastic element periphery around the axis of the obturator.

Description

 The invention relates to a removable and sealed closure device for an opening, for example an opening passing through a wall of a motor vehicle.

In particular, the invention relates to a device for sealingly passing a sheath through a wall of a motor vehicle.

 In motor vehicles, sheaths containing for example an electric beam must pass through the walls of the motor vehicle which may be fixed walls such as an apron or a floor of the vehicle or alternatively movable walls such as a door, a trunk or a component of the vehicle. Such walls which separate, for example, the passenger compartment of the vehicle from the engine or from the outside must provide insulation which is necessary for the comfort of the passengers of the vehicle or to avoid degradation of vehicle components.

 To ensure this insulation continuously, for example to avoid the passage of water, vapor and dust or to avoid the transmission of odors or noise between the two sides of the wall, it is necessary to provide crossings of sheaths which are impervious to one or more nuisance agents such as those mentioned above.

 Hitherto, the closure devices ensuring the sealed passage of an element, such as a sheath surrounding electrical cables, consisted of a one-piece rubber element comprising a flexible annular lip intended to be applied so as to tight against the wall around the passage opening, a flexible lip for the passage of the sheath and a fixing part in the opening comprising for example a hooking means projecting outwards.

 Such sealed rubber passage devices are very difficult to install in the openings of the walls of the motor vehicle intended to receive them, insofar as the coefficient of friction of the rubber on the wall material (metal or plastic) generally has a high value, so that it is very difficult to slide the attachment portion of the closure device inside the opening. In addition, the rubber closure device tends to deform, so that it is very difficult to exert pressure on the device, sufficient to make it penetrate into the opening. The establishment of the shutter device is also made difficult by the fact that the possibilities of taking the device are low and that the possibilities of access to the opening can be very reduced.

To facilitate the mounting of a flexible protective rubber sheath in a passage opening of the body of a motor vehicle, it has been proposed in patent FR-A-95-01875 filed by the Companies
AUTOMOBILES PEUGEOT and AUTOMOBILES CITROEN place plastic inserts in the engagement part of the protective sheath, so as to facilitate the sliding of the engagement end of the sheath around the edges of the opening. Such an embodiment can only be applied to the obturation of openings of limited dimensions and does not make it possible to best solve the problem posed by the installation and fixing of a sheathing device or of a another device for closing an opening passing through a wall of a motor vehicle; indeed, such devices do not include a part allowing a satisfactory grip for the engagement of the device in the opening.

 Until now, there has been no known shutter device such as a duct or plug for closing an unused opening passing through a wall of a motor vehicle which can be easily installed in an area of difficult access and so that the device is effectively maintained on the wall.

 The object of the invention is therefore to propose a removable and leaktight closure device for an opening, in particular an opening passing through a wall of a motor vehicle, comprising an elastomer closure element comprising at least one lip. flexible annular seal and a plastic element of a hardness greater than that of the elastomer, integral with the elastomer element, this device can be put in place without difficulty in the opening and fixed effectively.

 For this purpose, the plastic element comprises at least one means of fixing by clipping the device into the opening.

 In order to clearly understand the invention, we will now describe, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended figures, a closure device according to the invention and according to several variants and, for comparison, a shutter device according to the prior art used to ensure the sealed passage of a sheath of a bundle of a motor vehicle.

 Figure 1 is a sectional view of a sheathing device according to the prior art installed in an opening passing through a wall of a motor vehicle.

 Figures 2 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of a passgaine obturation device according to the invention.

 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the plastic element of the closure device.

 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the entire closure device comprising an elastomeric element and the plastic element.

 FIG. 4 is a view in axial section of the closure device shown in FIG. 3.

 FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of detail 5 of FIG. 4.

 Figure 6 is an axial sectional view of the closure device placed in an opening passing through a wall of a motor vehicle and ensuring the passage of a sheath of a bundle of the motor vehicle.

 Figure 6A is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the closure device ensuring the passage of a rigid element through the bulkhead of a motor vehicle.

 Figure 7 is an axial sectional view of a sheath closing device according to the invention and according to a second embodiment.

 Figure 8 is an axial sectional view of a closure device according to the invention and according to a third embodiment.

 In Figure 1, we see a part of a wall 1 of a motor vehicle which is traversed by a circular opening 2 produced by cutting and pushing the wall, so that the opening 2 has a folded edge. Of course, the opening 2 could have a shape different from a circular shape, for example, a square or oblong shape and not have a folded rim. I1 can be a simple light of variable shape through a wall of any thickness.

 The opening 2 through the wall 1 allows the passage of a sheath 3 containing a bundle of electric cables from the motor vehicle. It ensures the sealed passage of the sheath 3 inside the opening 2, by means of a rubber closure plug 4 of generally cylindrical shape. The plug 4 has at its central part a passage opening for the sheath 3 surrounded by a flexible lip 5 which can be deformed to allow the passage of the sheath 3 and which ensures sufficient elastic tightening of the sheath 3 to obtain a good seal . The sealing device 4 made of a single piece of rubber comprises a flexible peripheral sealing lip 6 intended to be placed in sealing abutment against the wall 1 around the opening 2 and a fixing part 4a comprising a fixing lip and sealing projecting outwards.

 To achieve the establishment of the closure device 4 inside the opening 2, it is necessary to introduce the part 4a inside the opening 2 so that the flange or the protruding lugs are placed below the folded edge of the opening 2. Due to the high friction between the rubber and the material of the wall 1 which is for example a sheet of steel, the installation of the closure device 4 requires to exert significant pressure on the shutter device 4. Due to the flexibility of the shutter device 4, it is very difficult to transmit a large force to the fixing part 4a. In addition, there is a small grip surface on the plug 4 and generally the space available in the vicinity of the wall 1 of the motor vehicle is reduced, when the assembly of the shutter and duct passage device is carried out. 4.

 Due to the difficulties in mounting the shutter device, correct placement of this device in the opening cannot be guaranteed; in particular the fixing and sealing lip 4a can be folded back, during assembly and therefore, the sealing is no longer ensured.

 The mounting of a sheath fitting according to the prior art as shown in FIG. 1 therefore presents difficulties and it is very difficult to obtain a resistant and tight fixing of the sheath fitting inside the opening of Wall.

 In Figures 2 to 6, there is shown a first embodiment of a sheath pass according to the invention which can be put in place and fixed in an opening passing through a wall of a motor vehicle in a simple and rapid manner.

 Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, it can be seen that the sleeving according to the invention generally designated by the reference 7 comprises an elastomer closure element 8 and a stiffening and fixing element 10 of the elastomeric closure element 8 of the sheath pass inside an opening 12 passing through a wall 11 of a motor vehicle.

 The stiffening and fixing element 10 is produced by molding a plastic material such as a polyamide, whether or not loaded with a reinforcing material.

 The plastic element 10 comprises a flat part 10a in the form of a disc and three hooking fingers 13a, 13b and 13c formed integrally with the disc 10a, as can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6.

 The elastomer closure element 8 comprises a substantially flat part 8a in the form of a disc, a peripheral part 8b having the shape of a frustoconical skirt whose thickness decreases from the inside towards the outside and which constitutes a flexible lip. sealing when the sheath pass is placed in the opening 12 of the wall 11, as well as a central flexible lip of frustoconical shape 8c ensuring the sealed passage of the sheath 9.

 As can be seen in particular in FIG. 5, the flat disc-shaped part 8a of the elastomer closure element 8 is pierced with three openings such as 14a arranged at the periphery of the flat part 8a of the element closure 8, so as to each receive a hooking finger such as 13a, 13b and 13c. Generally, the hooking fingers 13a, 13b and 13c as well as the openings passing through the flat part of the closure element 8 are arranged at 120C from one another around an axis of symmetry of revolution of the stiffening and fixing element 10 or closing element 8 respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 4, when the closure element 8 and the stiffening element 10 are assembled, the fingers 13a, 13b and 13c being engaged in the corresponding openings such as 14a of the closure element 8, the axes of symmetry of revolution of the closure element 8 made of elastomer and of the stiffening element 10 made of plastic material coincide along the axis 15.

 Each of the fingers 13a, 13b and 13c has a shoulder such as 16a on which the underside of the flat part 8a of the closure element comes to bear when the finger 13a is fully engaged inside the corresponding opening 14a . The lower face of the disc 10a is then supported on the upper face of the flat part 8a of the elastomer closure element. The elastomeric closure element 8 is fixed to the plastic element 10 after engagement of the fingers 13a, 13b and 13c in the openings of the elastomeric element 8, by the fact that the flat part 8a of the elastomer element is clamped between the shoulders of the fingers 13a, 13b and 13c and the lower surface of the disc 10a. The seal at the level of the passage of the fingers in the openings is obtained by slight compression of the elastomer or by sealing means such as lips on the elastomer element 8.

 Each of the hooking fingers further comprises at its lower part, a hooking lug such as 17a and 17c directed outwards, that is to say in the direction opposite to the corresponding shoulder 16a or 16c. In addition, one of the fingers (13c) has an upper actuating portion 13'c projecting above the upper surface of the disc 10a. By exerting a pressure with the finger on the end portion 13'c from the inside towards the outside of the disc 10a, the hooking finger 13c is pivoted around its connection part to the disc 10a, so as to bring the hooking heel 17c inwards.

 To achieve the fixing of the sheathing device in the opening 12 of the wall 11, the end parts of the fingers 13a, 13b and 13c are engaged in the opening 12. The fingers 13a, 13b and 13c have chamfered ends which cooperate with the edge of the opening 12 to fold the fingers inward, when a thrust is exerted on the sheath 7. The fingers which are connected to the disc-shaped part lOa by flexible connecting tabs little thick can easily pivot inwards, then, when the hooking heels are fully inserted into the opening, outwards, due to the elasticity of the plastic. The sheath 7 is thus fixed by clipping into the opening 12. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the peripheral flexible lip 8b then comes to bear against the wall 11, around the opening 12, with a certain pressure, so that the flexible lip deforms and ensures a good seal between the peripheral part of the closure element 8 and the wall 11. Likewise, the central frustoconical flexible lip 8c ensures a good seal around the sheath 9. The sheath pass 7 therefore ensures a tight closure of the opening 12 around the sheath 9. The axis 15 of the sheath pass 7 is then disposed along the axis of the opening 12.

 In addition, a resistant, perfectly sealed and well-controlled fixing of the sheath pass 7 is obtained in a simple and rapid manner, avoiding deformation of the flexible elastomer closure element 8 which would make it difficult to put the pass-through in place. sheath 7. The sheath 7 is in fact stiffened by the plastic element 10, the hardness of which is substantially greater than the hardness of the elastomer material of the closure element 8.

 I1 should be noted that the fixing of the device is carried out only through the element 10 having good rigidity.

 In order to dismantle the passgaine device 7, a thrust is exerted on the actuating part 13'c of the finger 13c, which makes it possible to move the heel 17c towards the inside of the opening 12.

We can then slide the sheath 7 to release the heels of the fingers 13a and 13b and extract the fingers of the sheath 7 from the opening 12.

 FIG. 6A shows an alternative embodiment of the closure device which has just been described and which can be used to ensure the sealed passage of a rigid element such as a steering column or a control tube a gearbox through a wall of a motor vehicle and in particular through the bulkhead separating the passenger compartment from the engine compartment. The corresponding elements in FIGS. 6 and 6A bear the same references with, however, the sign '(prime) for the elements represented in FIG. 6A. The apron 11 ′ is traversed by an opening 12 ′ in which the closure device 7 ′ is mounted ensuring the sealed and sliding passage (in rotation or in translation) of the rigid element 9 ′. The apron 11 'is covered internally with a layer of soundproofing material 28 which is itself coated with an interior lining carpet 27. The closure device 7' comprises a flexible elastomer element 8 'having a flexible lip d 'peripheral seal 8'b and a plastic element 10 comprising hooking fingers such as 13' engaged in openings of the elastomer element 8 '.

 A split ring 25 made of a polymer material such as polyacetal is introduced inside a housing 26 of the elastomer element 8 '. The rigid element 9 'is slidably mounted in the internal bore of the split ring 25 to move, in a rotational movement, in the case of a steering column, or in a translational movement, in the case of '' a gearbox control tube, for example.

 The shape of the elements 8 'and 10' can be complex, for example in order to release the accelerator pedal from the vehicle or any other mobile or fixed device located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

 FIG. 7 shows a sheathing device according to the invention and according to a second embodiment, generally designated by the reference 19.

The sheath obturation device 19 comprises a flexible elastomeric closing element 18 whose general shape is analogous to the shape of the closing element 8 of the device 7 shown in FIGS. 2 to 6,
A stiffening and fixing element made of plastic material 20 whose hardness is substantially greater than the hardness of the closure element made of elastomeric material 18 is made integral with the elastomeric closure element 18 by the fact that a part 20a of the element 20 having the shape of a flat disc is embedded inside the elastomeric material of the closure element 18.

 The sheath obturation device 19 is produced by overmolding of the closure element 18 made of elastomeric material on the plastic element 20 disposed partially inside the mold in which the closure element 18 is produced.

 The plastic element 20 has a general structure similar to the structure of element 10 of the sheathing device 7 according to the first embodiment. The element 20 comprises in particular, at its periphery, three fastening fingers such as 23c comprising a fastening heel projecting outwards at one of their ends. One of the attachment fingers (23c) has an actuating portion 23'c projecting from a face of the flat disc 20a, opposite the attachment portion of the finger.

 In addition, the flat disc-shaped portion 20a of the element 20 is traversed by openings 21 through which the elastomeric material can flow during the pressure molding of the element 18 inside the mold. It is thus possible to obtain a joining between the plastic element 20 and the elastomer element 18, without the elastomer of the element 18 being made adherent on the surface of the part 20a of the element 20 embedded in the inside the elastomer. This reduces the production cost of the duct sleeve.

 As in the case of the sleeve pass 7 which has been described previously, the sleeve pass 19 can be engaged in an opening passing through a wall of a motor vehicle by simple pressure on its flat upper surface. The attachment fingers such as 23c which have come in one piece with the flat part 20a of the element 20 and which are connected to this flat part 20a by a plastic tongue having a certain elasticity can pivot to allow the passage of the hooking parts of the fingers through the opening of the wall.

 After passage of the opening, the fingers such as 23c return elastically towards the outside so that their hooking part comes to bear against a part of the wall opposite the closing element 18, on the edge of the opening. This ensures fastening by clipping the sleeve 19 into the opening.

 It should be noted that the plastic element 20 constituting an insert inside the rubber element 18 must have sufficient strength to hold the pressure inside the mold so that a very good seal is obtained. at the junction between the elastomeric material and the plastic in zones such as zones 24 and 24 'indicated in FIG. 7.

 As in the case of the sheathing device 7 which has been described above, the disassembly of the sheathing device 19 can be carried out by exerting pressure on the actuating part 23'c projecting from the plastic element, so as to erase the heel of the hooking finger 23c relative to the edge of the opening. We can then release the other two attachment fingers and separate the sheath device 19 from the wall.

 In Figure 8, there is shown a closure device according to the invention and according to a second embodiment which is generally designated by the reference 7 ".

 The corresponding elements of the device 7 "and of the device 7 shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 have the same references with, however, the sign" (second) as regards the elements of the device 7 ".

 The device 7 "comprises a closure element 8" made of elastomer and an element 10 "made of plastic material which is identical in every respect to element 10 of the device 8. The closure element 8" made of elastomer and the stiffening device and fixing 10 "of plastic are joined in the same way as the closing element 8 and the stiffening and fixing element 10 of the device 7, the three peripheral hooking fingers of the element 10" being engaged in element 8 "elastomer openings.

 Unlike the elastomer element 8, the element 8 "does not have a central flexible lip for passage of a sheath but a flexible corrugated elastomer pipe 22 made integrally with the closure element 8".

 The corrugated flexible conduit 22 constitutes a sheath for passage of a beam passing through a wall 11 "through an opening 12" on which is attached and fixed the sheathing device 7 ". The device 7" can be used in particular to ensure the passage of a beam through an opening 12 "of a movable wall 11" such as a door, a trunk or a shutter. The displacements of the opening wall 11 "relative to the vehicle body can be absorbed by deformation of the sheath 22. The assembly and disassembly of the sheath device 7" are carried out in a similar manner to the assembly and disassembly of the sheath device 7.

 It is also possible to envisage shutter devices which are not sheathing devices and which are produced in the same way as the sheathing devices which have been described above. Such devices comprise an elastomer closure element which is closed at its central part instead of having a flexible lip or a pitch ring of a sheath or of a rigid member and a stiffening and fixing element made of material. plastic integral with the elastomer closure element. Such closing devices which can be fixed in a simple and rapid manner by clipping of the hooking fingers of the plastic element in an opening of a wall can also be very easily removed by providing a pivoting hooking finger at the way of a lever; these devices can be used in particular for closing a hole in a bodywork of a motor vehicle. In fact, provision is made for example for cable passage holes or conduits for optional equipment or even holes which are used for cable passage only on certain vehicles of a series production range. In this case, it is necessary to be able to sealingly seal the unused passage holes on the motor vehicle. In this case also, the device according to the invention makes it possible to produce the closure effectively and quickly.

 The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described.

 Thus, the elastomeric closing element and the plastic stiffening and fixing element of the device can have shapes different from those which have been described.

 The means of fixing by clipping of the plastic element may have a shape different from that which has been described.

 The connection between the elastomer element and the plastic element can be carried out in a manner different from those which have been described.

 The actuation of at least one of the fixing means by clipping to ensure disassembly of the device can be achieved in a different way.

 The attachment means may be different from fingers spaced along the periphery of the plastic element. The number of these clipping means may be different from three and, in some cases, only one clipping means may be used.

 Finally, the closure device according to the invention can be used not only as a sheath pass or as a sealed closure plug of an opening not used on a wall of a motor vehicle but also in other applications in which it is necessary to close off an opening through a wall of a motor vehicle.

Claims (14)

 1.- Removable and sealed closure device for an opening, in particular an opening (12, 12 ', 12 ") passing through a wall (11, 11', 11") of a motor vehicle, comprising a closure element (8, 18, 8 ', 8 ") made of elastomer having at least one flexible, annular sealing lip (8b, 8c, 8b') and a plastic element (10, 20, 10 ', 10 ") of a hardness greater than that of the elastomer, integral with the elastomer element (8, 18, 8 ', 8"), characterized in that the plastic element (10, 20, 10 ', 10 ") includes at least one clip-on fastening means (13a, 13b, 13c, 13', 23c) of the device (7, 19, 7 ', 7") in the opening (12, 12', 12 ").  2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means by clipping the device (7, 19, 7 ', 7 ") in the opening (12, 12', 12") is constituted by a set of attachment fingers (13a, 13b, 13c, 13 ', 23c) pivotally connected to the plastic element (10, 20, 10', 10 ").  3.- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises three attachment fingers (13a, 13b, 13c) spaced from one another along a periphery of the plastic element (10, 20, 10 ', 10 "), around an axis (15) of the closure device (7, 19, 7', 7") intended to come along the axis of the opening (12, 12 ', 12 ") when the device is clipped into the opening.  4.- Device according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the attachment fingers (13a, 13b, 13c, 13 ', 23c) came integrally with the plastic element (10 , 20, 10 ', 10 ") and each comprise a flexible tongue for connection to the plastic element ensuring the pivoting of the finger.  5.- Device according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that one of the attachment fingers (13a, 13b, 13c, 13 ', 23c) has a projecting actuating part (13'c, 23'c) on one side of the closure device (7, 19, 7 '), opposite a hooking heel (17a, 17c) of the hooking finger.  6.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the elastomer closure element (8, 8 ', 8 ") and the plastic element (10, 10' , 10 ") are made integral with each other by engagement of fixing means (13a, 13b, 13c) of the plastic element (10, 20, 10 ', 10") in corresponding openings ( 14a) passing through the element (8, 8 ', 8 ") made of elastomeric material.  7.- Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the fixing means (13a, 13b, 13c) each comprise a shoulder (16a, 16c) bearing on a surface of the elastomer closure element (8 , 8 ', 8 ") and that the plastic element (10, 10', 10") has a bearing surface on the elastomeric element (8, 8 ', 8 ") arranged so that the elastomeric element (8, 8 ', 8 ") is clamped between the shoulders (16a, 16c) and the bearing surface of the plastic element (10, 10', 10") after engagement of the fixing means (13a, 13b, 13c) in the corresponding openings of the closure element made of elastomeric material (8, 8 ', 8 ").  8.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plastic element (20) is made integral with the closure element of elastomeric material (18) by means of a part (20a) of the element of plastic material (20) which is embedded in a part of the closure element of elastomeric material.  9.- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the closure element of elastomeric material (18) is produced by overmolding of elastomeric material on a part of the element of plastic material (20).  10.- Device according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the part (20a) of the plastic element (20) embedded in the elastomeric element (18) is crossed by at minus an opening (21).  11.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the closing element of elastomeric material comprises in a central part, an annular flexible lip (8c) for leaktight passage of a sheath (9 ).  12.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the closure element of elastomeric material (8 ') comprises, in a central part having a housing (26), a ring (25) to ensure the sliding passage of a rigid element (9 ') movable in rotation or in translation relative to the wall (11') of the motor vehicle.  13.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the closure element (8 ') made of elastomeric material comprises a central part constituted by a flexible corrugated conduit (22) ensuring the passage of a beam through an opening of an opening wall (11 ') of a motor vehicle.  14.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the closure element comprises a completely closed central part, the device for sealingly closing an unused opening of a wall of a motor vehicle.