GB2335085A

GB2335085A - Motor vehicle roof lining harness

Info

Publication number: GB2335085A
Application number: GB9804661A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicolas Clift
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-05
Filing date: 1998-03-05
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Also published as: GB9804661D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle roof lining harness comprises a plurality of conduit elements secured to form a harness (4) having a planar configuration. The harness including a coupling (5) to provide power and/or control signals for functional elements secured to respective couplings (10, 11, 12, 13) associated about the liner (1) within a motor vehicle. The conduit elements may be electrical cables or wires, optic fibre cabling, hydraulic tubing or pneumatic piping.

Description

2335085 A MOTOR'THICLE ROOF LINING FLARNESS The present invention relates

to a motor vehicle roof lining harness and more particularly such a harness for combination with a roof lining for such a motor vehicle to produce a more ergonomically effective manufacturing module.

It will be appreciated that there is an increasing use of electrical devices within a motor vehicle. Thus, such electrical devices must be controlled and powered through a wiring harness located within the roof lining of a motor vehicle. Inherently such a roof lining must be smooth to look aesthetic within the motor vehicle but conventional bundle-type harnesses may be difficult to incorporate within a roof lining module. It will also be understood that for ergonomic efficiency a motor vehicle manufacturer will wish to ensure that the harness is incorporated within the roof lining prior to assembly within a motor vehicle in order to reduce the number of assembly stages conducted at manufacturing track side.

v It is an object of the present invention to provide a motor vehicle roof lining harness which can be readily incorporated within such a lining with good aesthetic and ergonomic manufacturing performance.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle roof harness comprising a plurality of conduit elements secured and -2.

grouped together, substantially in a planar configuration with a first end of said plurality of conduit elements being coupled to coupling means whilst respective other ends of said conduit elements are coupled to respective functional elements, said coupling means being associated with power and/or control means arranged to operate said functional elements through said respective conduit elements.

The conduit elements being configured to allow said power and/or control means to operate said functional elements using electrical flow/signals or optical signals or pneumatic pulsing or hydraulic pulsing.

Thus, said conduit elements may be electrical cabling or wires, optical fibre cabling, hydraulic tubing or pneumatic piping, all secured together in substantially planar configuration.

The conduit elements may be secured together by appropriate fusing of portions of plastic material sleeving about said respective conduit elements or, alternatively, said conduit elements may be secured together by strap elements extending across said planar configuration of said plurality of conduit elements. Such strap elements may be wrapped around said plurality of conduit elements or on either side of said planar configuration thereof to ensure balanced, less distortive, combination of said plurality of conduit elements.

A roof lining pre-form or module for a motor vehicle comprising a roof liner for a motor vehicle including the motor vehicle lining harness as described above is also included within the scope of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompany drawing which is a schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle roof lining harness and roof lining.

A motor vehicle roof liner 1 by its very name constitutes the, or a substantial part, of the roof of a motor vehicle. Typically, it may be formed from a frame with a panel extending therebetween or more commonly will be a moulded plastics or non-woven sheet. The liner 1 includes fixing apertures 2 and any appropriate orifices 3 to allow access to functional elements such as the interior light fitting of the motor vehicle. Of principal concern with regard to the present invention is the harness 4 associated with the liner 1 to provide power and control to functional elements about the liner 1. Such functional elements may be the interior lighting, sunroof or car alarm components.

As indicated previously, the space available between the liner 1 and the motor vehicle body roof panel is limited thus care must be taken with regard to assembly. The liner 1 and any prior harness, used to power and control functional elements, must be carefully assembled to ensure that there is no detrimental bulging of the panel which could be unsightly and to ensure that the prior harness is securely located to prevent vibrationinduced whiplash noises from movement of the harness between the liner 1 and the roof panel. The harness is normally adhered to the liner 1 to facilitate good location within the motor vehicle. Typically, the power and control of functional elements is by electrical signals and current thus the conduits of the harness are generally electrical wire. These wires require individual adhesion to the liner and can, if crossed, produce unsightly bulging.

Furthermore, the process of incorporating the prior harness within the liner llgroove panel 2 can be relatively intricate and not particularly suitable as a manufacturing stage at track side in motor vehicle assembly.

In accordance with the present invention the harness 4 comprises a plurality of conduit elements secured together in a substantially planar configuration. ie. ribbon cable or FPC. The harness 4 can be held in such a planar configuration through fusing sleeve portions of each respective conduit or by using lateral straps which may extend across the harness either in a wrap-around or alternate side arrangement. With the harness 4 in a planar configuration, it will be appreciated that a more substantial area of harness 4 is available for adhesion to the liner 1 in comparison with previous single wire situations. Thus, the harness 4 is more easily secured to the liner 1.

As indicated above, typically electrical current signals are used to control the functional elements about the liner 1 through the harness 4. However, it will be appreciated that these functional elements may be controlled and powered using hydraulic or pneumatic or optical signals.

Thus, the combination of electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic and optical signals and flows may be used to control and power functional elements. For example, a functional element such as an alarm system for the motor vehicle may be powered by an electrical current through an electrical wire conduit whilst an optical fibre with optical signals is used to control that alarm element on a time division multiplexed basis which may be consistent with existing motor vehicle management systems. The present invention allows configuration of such different conduit types in one harness 4 although it will be understood that normally a single conduit type will be used, eg. electrical wiring.

At one end of the harness 4, a coupler 5 is located and this coupler 5 provides a duct through which power and control signals for the respective functional elements are passed. The harness 4 at appropriate spur locations 6, 7 is spurred in order to provide appropriate pathways to respective functional elements. However, subsequent to each of these spurs 6, 7 it will be noted that there is sufficient planar definition of the harness 4 in order to provide an appropriate flat surface for securing to the liner 1. For example, the harness 4 after spur 6 may diverge into pathways 8,.9. Pathway 8 may -6, lead to an alarm coupling 10 to which ultrasonic sensors are secured. Whilst pathway 9 may lead to spur 7 which provides through couplings 11, 12, 13 connection to the interior lighting arrangement through coupling 11 and a sunroof motor (coupling 12) and a sunroof switch arrangement 5 through coupling 13.

As indicated above, a principal use for the harness, in accordance with the present invention, is with regard to incorporation within a liner 1 in a pre-form module for delivery to a motor vehicle manufacturing track side as an integral unit. Thus, the harness 4 will be adhered to the liner 1 to constitute the pre-form module or sub-assembly which will then be delivered to the motor vehicle manufacturing track side such that incorporation of the sub-assembly will only require securing the liner 1 through apertures 2 within the motor vehicle and then appropriately coupling the coupling elements 10, 5, 11, 12, 13 to the functional elements.

A fully modular head liner 1 assembly or pre-form module using a planar configuration harness 4 avoids the time-consuming process of securing the harness to the liner 1 at vehicle assembly track sides. It will be appreciated by providing a planar configuration harness 4 that any form memory associated with wiring in previous individual conduit harness systems is avoided.

It will be understood that the harness 4 could be made self-adhesive by incorporating an appropriate adhesive compound within the sleeving associated with each conduit or straps. This adhesive could then be activated by heat or a solvent. Furthermore, the harness 4 could be made integral with the liner 1 during the liner's forming process and so avoid a secondary bonding operation between the liner 1 and the harness 4.

Typically, the harness 4 may be made through assembly of a length of conduit elements together in the required planar configuration and then shearing the appropriate numbers of elements for each respective functional element by longitudinal breaking of the lateral bonds between the conduit elements. These longitudinal breaks will terminate at spurs such as 6, 7. The conduit elements will then be cut to the appropriate length for convenient coupling to the functional elements. In such circumstances it will be appreciated that wrinkling and ridging at the spur areas 6, 7 must be eliminated through folding and ironing or by incorporating a degree of elasticity into the harness 4 to accommodate such wrinkling.

C,

Claims

1. A motor vehicle roof lining harness comprising a plurality of conduit elements secured and grouped together substantially in a planar configuration with a first end of said plurality of conduit elements being coupled to coupling means whilst respective other ends of said conduit elements are coupled to respective functional elements, said coupling means being associated with power andfor control means arranged to operate said functional elements through said respective conduit elements.

2. A harness as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said conduit elements are configured to allow said power and/or said control means to operate said functional elements using electrical flow andlor optical signals and/or pneumatic pulsing and/or hydraulic pulsing.

3. A harness as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said conduit elements include electrical cabling and/or optical fibre cabling andlor hydraulic tubing andfor pneumatic piping, all secured together in a substantially planar configuration.

4. A harness as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said conduit elements are secured together by appropriate fusing of portions of respective sleeving about each said conduit element.

5. A harness as claimed in any of Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said conduit elements are secured together in said planar configuration by strap elements.

6. A harness as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said strap elements are arranged to wrap around said plurality of conduit elements.

7. A harness as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said strap elements are arranged to extend alternatively laterally either side of said plurality of conduit elements.

8. A roof lining sub-assembly module comprising a roof liner for a motor vehicle including a motor vehicle lining harness as claimed in any preceding claim.