FR3094446A1 - Holding box for at least one cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a retaining housing (1) comprising a mouth (2) and an outlet (3) intended for a passage of a cable inside the housing (1), a duct (6) internal to the housing (1) connecting the mouth (2) to the outlet (3). The housing (1) is in two parts (1a, 1b) with articulation means (5) of the two parts (1a, 1b) with each other between an open position and a closed position of the housing (1 ), a first part (1a) comprising securing means (9) cooperating with complementary means (9a) carried by a second part (1b) in the closed position of the housing (1), the two parts (1a, 1b) delimiting internally the duct (6) in the closed position, the duct (6) being of curved shape connecting the mouth (2) and the outlet (3) misaligned with respect to each other in a direction transverse to the housing ( 1). Abstract figure: FIGURE 1

Description

Holding box for at least one cable

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a housing for holding at least one cable, advantageously an electric cable but which can also be used for a fluid conduit. Such a holding box is also known as a staple.

Prior art

It is known to use a holding box mainly for holding a cable or several cables passing through it.

Such a holding box comprises a mouth and an outlet intended for passage of a cable inside the box, an internal duct in the box connecting the mouth to the outlet.

However, a particularly acute problem arises for cables with a large section which must be changed in orientation by being bent.

However, the radii of curvature of large section cables, for example 50mm², according to business rules and supplier data, must be five times the outer diameter of the cable.

Thus, for a 50mm² cable which has an outer diameter of 14mm, it is necessary to provide a radius of curvature of 70mm, which is impossible to maintain in a constrained environment, in particular but not only in a motor vehicle.

The solutions used in cases of difficult routing use a trunking for cable guidance. The solution involving a trunking has the disadvantage of a large footprint in the area concerned by the need.

Indeed, as the change of orientation of the cable is generally subject to interference with a device located on the route of the cable, the cable is therefore in a restricted environment and the addition of a trunking only make the lack of space worse.

The document CN-U-2462174 describes a holding box allowing the installation of electrical cables, in particular with a cross section of less than 0.5 mm, passing through the box through respective conduits. The conduits internal to the casing disclosed in this document may have different configurations, namely straight or curved.

In one embodiment, the conduits in the same holding box have different curvatures which cause parallel cables to approach each other before and after fixing in the holding box.

However, the cables described in this document are of small diameter and the problem of curvature of a large diameter cable is not mentioned.

Conversely, the problem at the basis of the invention is, during a change of orientation of a cable involving a curvature of the cable, to be able to carry out this change of orientation without the aid of a chute or an element added to effect such a change of orientation.

To this end, the present invention relates to a holding box comprising a mouth and an outlet intended for passage of a cable inside the box, a conduit internal to the box connecting the mouth to the outlet, remarkable in that the casing is in two parts with means for articulating the two parts with each other between an open position and a closed position of the casing, a first part comprising securing means cooperating with complementary means carried by a second part in the closed position of the housing, the two parts internally delimiting the duct in the closed position, the duct being of curved shape by connecting the mouth and the outlet misaligned with respect to each other in a direction transverse to the housing.

A holding box crossed by one or more cables is known from the state of the art. Such a state-of-the-art box is used to hold the cable(s).

On the other hand, what was not known, was to use such a holding box to effect a change of orientation of a cable implying it to be curved.

It is thus used an element that is the holding box to make it perform a new function, namely the curvature of an electric cable, which represents an economy of means.

The solution proposed by the present invention consists in creating an elbow shape molded into the holding box to orient the outlet of the cable as desired. Thus, the cable is directly oriented towards the route chosen in its environment which may be cluttered.

This greatly facilitates the assembly operations of this cable, which is less flexible and prevents it from being bent.

This also makes it possible to avoid going through a silicone cable solution, a solution that is much more expensive. With regard to the use of a trunking proposed by the state of the art, the present invention requires less bulk. In addition, a holding box is a mechanically stronger part than a trunking.

As regards the constitution of the holding box in two parts, advantageously superimposed on one another and hinged together advantageously by a hinge, opening of the holding box is facilitated as well as the housing of a portion of each cable inside.

Advantageously, the securing means and the complementary means are latching means carried by the first part cooperating with complementary latching means carried by the second part.

Advantageously, the outlet is extended by an endpiece projecting from the housing. The cable is thus better guided and it is the end piece which may have means for holding the cable.

Advantageously, the tip is of truncated conical shape and open at its free end, narrowing away from the housing. This allows the ferrule to press circumferentially on the cable by its free end which is narrowed compared to the rest of the ferrule.

Advantageously, the housing comprises at least one auxiliary mouth and at least one auxiliary outlet connected by an auxiliary duct internal to the housing, said at least one auxiliary mouth and said at least one auxiliary outlet being arranged at a distance from the mouth and the outlet of said cable, said at least one auxiliary conduit being straight.

These auxiliary mouthpieces and outlets are of course positioned on the box at a distance from the mouthpiece and the outlet of the previously mentioned cable, this for cables other than that associated with the mouthpiece and the outlet.

It is common for a holding box to be common to several cables of different diameters, for example, without this being limiting, four cables joined together in the same holding box by respective passages.

Advantageously, at least two orifices for means of fixing the casing with a member external to the casing extend perpendicularly to and at a distance from the curved conduit.

The holding box can thus be fixed to a fixed member present in its environment, which gives stability to the assembly formed by the holding box and the cable(s) passing through it.

Advantageously, the casing has internal reinforcement ribs forming a grid defining partitions.

Advantageously, the housing is of rectangular parallelepiped shape, the mouth and the outlet being on opposite sides of the parallelepiped-shaped housing.

The present invention also relates to an assembly of at least one cable and a holding box, said at least one cable passing through the box with a portion of said at least one cable internal to the box being housed in a conduit integrated in the support extending between an inlet mouth of said at least one cable and an outlet outlet of said at least one cable carried by the casing, noteworthy in that the casing is as described above, said at least one cable being curved in the box.

The holding box performs two functions, a first function of holding one or more cables and a second function of bending a specific cable. The cable harness is held in a dynamic loop and the orientation of a cable is carried out by guiding it in curvature as it passes through the holding box.

In the case of an application of the present invention for a motor vehicle, the orientation of the cable directly in the holding box makes it possible to meet the need for a constrained environment in the vehicle without the need for a trunking, which provides significantly reduced implementation and tooling costs.

It is also procured an ergonomic gain for the operators who assemble such an assembly in a motor vehicle with a reduced assembly time.

Advantageously, said at least one cable being an electrical supply cable for an on-board network of a hybrid motor vehicle.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and with regard to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a perspective side view of a cable holding box according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cable, not shown in this figure, being curved during its passage through the casing, the casing being shown transparent for the overview of the ducts inside the casing,

- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a longitudinal sectional view of a cable holding box according to one embodiment of the present invention, a curved conduit for passing the cable to be bent being visible in this figure, as well as three straight conduits for other cables,

- Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a perspective view of a cable harness and a holding box forming an assembly according to an embodiment according to the present invention.

It should be borne in mind that the figures are given by way of examples and do not limit the invention. They constitute schematic representations of principle intended to facilitate understanding of the invention and are not necessarily at the scale of practical applications. In particular, the dimensions of the various elements shown are not representative of reality.

Detailed description of the invention

In what follows, reference is made to all figures taken in combination. When reference is made to a specific figure or figures, these figures are to be taken in combination with the other figures for the recognition of the designated reference numerals.

In Figure 1, there is shown a single securing means 9 carried by a first part 1a cooperating with a single additional means 9a carried by a second part 1b in the closed position of the housing 1 but the number, configuration and position of the means securing and complementary means may be different without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The same applies to the position and configuration of the means 5 for articulating the two parts 1a, 1b with each other, which may be different from those shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to all the figures, the present invention relates to a holding box 1 comprising a mouth 2 and an outlet 3 intended for a passage of a cable 4 inside the box 1.

The denomination cable 4 is to be taken in its broad sense and also includes everything that is conducted. Indeed, the cable 4 can be an electric cable 4 but it should be considered that the holding box 1 can receive a fluid pipe. The cable 4 or the pipe can be of circular section but this is not compulsory.

Such a holding box 1 can be crossed by several cables 4, 4a and aids in their joint positioning and local holding of the cable(s) 4, 4a which cross it.

In addition, such a holding box 1 comprises two parts 1a, 1b advantageously foldable against each other, which frequently causes it to be called a clip.

In such a holding box 1, a duct 6 internal to the box 1 connects the mouth 2 to the outlet 3 for the passage of the cable 4 inside the box 1. This also applies to auxiliary ducts 6a between respectively an auxiliary mouth 2a and an auxiliary outlet 3a of other cables 4a, which will be described more precisely later.

The invention intends to use such a holding box 1 to create a bend in the cable 4 or one of the cables 4, 4a passing through it, in the event that a different orientation must be taken by the cable 4 after it has passed through the box 1 maintenance.

According to the invention, the housing 1 is in two parts 1a, 1b with means 5 for articulating the two parts 1a, 1b with each other between an open position and a closed position of the housing 1. This feature allows the insertion of the cable(s) 4, 4a inside the box 1.

A first part 1a comprises fastening means 9 cooperating with complementary means 9a carried by a second part 1b in the closed position of the casing 1. In this closed position of the casing 1, the two parts 1a, 1b internally delimit at least the duct 6 .

The conduit 6 is of curved shape by connecting the mouth 2 and the outlet 3 which are misaligned with respect to each other in a direction transverse to the box 1. It follows that the cable 4 passing through this conduit 6 is oriented differently after passing through the case 1 for holding.

The articulation means 5 can be a hinge connecting the two parts 1a, 1b extending over a longitudinal edge of the case 1. Thus, the holding case 1 can have the configuration of a clip, each of the two parts 1a , 1b forming a leg of the clip.

The two parts 1a, 1b may have removable fastening means 9 ensuring fastening of the two parts 1a, 1b to each other in the closed position of the case 1. These removable fastening means 9 may be latching means carried by the first part 1a cooperating with complementary latching means 9a carried by the second part 1b or folding securing means 9, for example one or more tongues or one or more lugs, carried by one of the two parts 1a, 1b received, respectively in a housing carried by the other of the two parts 1b, 1a.

The duct 6 internal to the casing 1 can be obtained by molding during the manufacture of the casing 1. The duct 6 can be produced by the combination of complementary shapes carried by the two parts 1a, 1b and complementing each other to form the duct 6 by closed position of the holding box 1.

The outlet 3 can be extended by an end piece 7 protruding from the casing 1 surrounding the portion of the cable 4 coming out of the retaining casing 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the tip 7 can be of truncated conical shape and open at its free end, narrowing away from the housing 1.

The end piece 7 can be split by several longitudinal grooves, these grooves giving the end piece 7 a possibility of expansion of the open free end of the end piece 7 under the action of the cable 4 being pushed into the end piece. 7.

Thus, a cable 4 can easily be introduced and exit through the free end of the end piece 7 but the wall of the free end of the end piece 7 presses against the cable 4 to hold it.

Referring more particularly to Figure 3, as previously mentioned, the cable 4 whose orientation it is desired to change may not be the only cable 4, 4a passing through the holding box 1.

In this case, for an auxiliary cable 4a, which does not need to be bent in the casing 1, the casing 1 comprises at least one auxiliary mouth 2a and at least one auxiliary outlet 3a connected by an auxiliary conduit 6a internal to the casing 1, said at least one auxiliary conduit 6a being straight.

The auxiliary mouth(s) 2a and the auxiliary outlet(s) 3a can be arranged at a distance from the mouth 2 and the outlet 3 of the cable 4 to be bent.

In the figures, which is not limiting, three auxiliary conduits 6a are shown for a respective auxiliary cable referenced 4a in Figure 1.

Two auxiliary cables 4a can be of circular section and a third auxiliary cable 4a can be of rectangular section with, in the latter case, an auxiliary mouth 2a and an ovalized rectangular auxiliary outlet 3a for each of these auxiliary cables 4a not requiring be curved.

In general, the cable 4 whose orientation has been changed by passing through a curved conduit 6 is the largest of the cables 4, 4a, but this is not limiting. An example of electrical cable harnesses 4, 4a will be given later.

The auxiliary duct(s) 6a inside the box 1 can be straight or straight when it is not necessary to change the orientation of the respective auxiliary cable 4a which passes through them by bending it.

On the other hand, the box 1 according to the present invention may very well contain at least two curved conduits 6 for respectively curving a cable 4 passing through them.

For fixing the holding case 1 with a member 11 present in the environment of the case 1, at least two orifices 10 for means 10a for fixing the case 1 with a support member 11 external to the case 1 can extend perpendicularly to the conduit 6 of curved shape but at a distance from the conduit 6 of curved shape so as not to cross it.

The fixing means 10a can be screws or threaded rods at their two ends or at only one end, the other end bearing a head resting against the support member 11 or the box 1.

Although not shown in the figures, the casing 1 may have internal reinforcing ribs forming a grid defining partitions. There may be two longitudinal rows of partitions, for example seven partitions per row with two larger partitions receiving the curved duct 6 inside them. The orifices 10 can pass through a common grid zone with four partitions.

The box 1 can be of rectangular parallelepiped shape. The mouth 2 and the outlet 3 can be located on opposite sides of the box 1 of parallelepiped shape and the curved conduit 6 extends along a width of the box 1. The orifices 10 passing through the box 1 can extend in a height of box 1.

In the figures, there is shown a holding box 1, in the form of a clip, with four internal ducts 6, 6a connected to respective mouths 2, 2a and outlets 3, 3a. Each pair of mouthpiece 2, 2a and outlet 3, 3a is associated with a respective cable 4, 4a. Only one cable 4 of the four cables 4a needs to be bent by passing through a curved conduit 6 in the holding box 1. The other auxiliary conduits 6a each associated with one of the three remaining cables 4a are straight or straight.

Without this being limiting, the dimensions of the box 1 are 83mm x 20mm x 30mm, sufficient to create a housing allowing a bend to be formed on a cable 4 with a section of 50mm² and 14mm in diameter, this cable 4 being to be bent.

The holding box 1 can also be designed so that each cable housing 4, 4a can withstand a tearing force of 100Nm.

The box 1 is assembled on the harness of electrical cables 4, 4a by clipping with articulation of the two parts 1a, 1b of the box 1 by molded hinge. Box 1 holds cables 4, 4a by several snap-fastening means positioned on the ends and middle of box 1.

The present invention also relates to a set of at least one cable 4 to bend and a holding box 1. The cable 4 to be bent passes through the casing 1 with a portion of the cable 4 internal to the casing 1 being housed in a duct 6 integrated in the holding casing 1 extending between an entry mouth 2 of the cable 4 to be bent and a cable 4 outlet outlet 3 carried by box 1.

According to the present invention, the box 1 is as described above, including in particular in its interior a curved conduit 6 for the passage of the cable 4 to be bent in its interior and a modification of the orientation of the cable 4 at the outlet of the box 1 by relative to its orientation at the entrance to the box 1, said at least one cable 4 being curved in the box 1.

There may be several cables 4, 4a crossing the box 1 by a respective conduit 6, the cables 4a whose orientation is not to be changed and which are not cables 4a to be bent being called auxiliary cables 4a.

The mouth 2 and the outlet 3 carried by the casing 1 comprise means for holding the cable 4 to be bent being a cable 4 for supplying electricity to an on-board network of a hybrid motor vehicle.

Without this being limiting, with more particular reference to FIG. 3, a holding box 1 associated with several cables 4, 4a can ensure fixing of a bundle of several cables 4, 4a in a hybrid motor vehicle.

As previously mentioned, the cable 4 to be bent can be a power supply cable 4 from an on-board network of a hybrid motor vehicle, advantageously at 12 Volts.

The other three cables 4a shown in Figure 3 are not to bend and are so-called auxiliary cables 4a. These auxiliary cables 4a have smaller sections than the cable 4 to be bent and emerge unchanged in their specific orientation at the outlet of the box 1.

A first auxiliary cable 4a can be a power cable for electrical or electronic components. A second auxiliary cable 4 4a can be an electric gearbox power cable, at 300 volts. A third auxiliary cable 4a is a 600 Volt air conditioning power cable. The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given by way of examples only.

Claims (10)

Retaining housing (1) comprising a mouth (2) and an outlet (3) intended for a passage of a cable (4) inside the housing (1), a conduit (6) internal to the housing (1) connecting the mouth (2) to the outlet (3), remarkable in that the housing (1) is in two parts (1a, 1b) with articulation means (5) of the two parts (1a, 1b) the one with the other between an open position and a closed position of the housing (1), a first part (1a) comprising securing means (9) cooperating with complementary means (9a) carried by a second part (1b) in closed position of the housing (1), the two parts (1a, 1b) internally delimiting the duct (6) in the closed position, the duct (6) being curved by connecting the mouth (2) and the outlet (3) misaligned with respect to each other in a direction transverse to the housing (1). Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the securing means (9) and the complementary means (9a) are latching means carried by the first part (1a) cooperating with complementary latching means carried by the second part (1b). Housing (1) according to any one of the two preceding claims, in which the outlet (3) is extended by an end piece (7) projecting from the housing (1). Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the end piece (7) is of truncated conical shape and open at its free end tapering away from the housing (1). Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises at least one auxiliary mouth (2a) and at least one auxiliary outlet (3a) connected by an auxiliary duct (6a) internal to the housing (1), said at least an auxiliary mouth (2a) and said at least one auxiliary outlet (3a) being arranged at a distance from the mouth (2) and the outlet (3) of said cable (4), said at least one auxiliary duct (6a) being rectilinear . Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least two openings (10) for fixing means (10a) of the housing (1) with a member (11) external to the housing (1) extend perpendicular to and at a distance from the duct (6) of curved shape. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which has internal reinforcing ribs forming a grid delimiting the partitions. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is of rectangular parallelepiped shape, the mouth (2) and outlet (3) being on opposite faces of the parallelepiped shaped housing (1). Assembly of at least one cable (4) and of a retaining housing (1), said at least one cable (4) passing through the housing (1) with a portion of said at least one cable (4) internal to the housing ( 1) being housed in a duct (6) integrated in the retaining housing (1) extending between an inlet mouth (2) of said at least one cable (4) and an outlet (3) of outlet of said at least one cable (4). at least one cable (4) carried by the housing (1), remarkable in that the housing (1) is according to any one of the preceding claims, said at least one cable (4) being bent in the housing (1). Assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one cable (4) being an electrical supply cable for an on-board network of a hybrid motor vehicle.