DE102022128174A1 - Bowden cable - Google Patents

Abstract

A Bowden cable for transmitting compressive forces and/or tensile forces and/or mechanical movements, consisting of a core (1) which is surrounded by a guide tube (2) except for its two end regions, the guide tube (2) having a guide tube end piece (3) at at least one of its two ends, to which a sealing element (6) is assigned, is to be improved in such a way that a secure, verifiable seal is ensured between the core and the guide tube or guide tube end piece, which does not allow any leaks even if the core is twisted and also ensures smooth movement of the core. For this purpose, it is proposed that the sealing element (6) is arranged in the end of the guide tube end piece (3) facing away from the guide tube (2), and that the sealing element (6) surrounding the core (1) is positioned at the end of the guide tube end piece (3) facing away from the guide tube (2) so that it is visible from outside the guide tube end piece (3).

Description

The invention relates to a Bowden cable for transmitting compressive forces and/or tensile forces and/or mechanical movements, consisting of a core which is surrounded by a guide tube except for its two end regions, wherein the guide tube has a guide tube end piece at at least one of its two ends, to which a sealing element is assigned.

Bowden cables are used in many different ways, e.g. in household appliances for emergency release of locks, in sanitary technology for operating valves, but also in the automotive industry, e.g. for operating parking brakes, for unlocking seats, trunk lids, fuel tank caps, etc. The end areas of the guide tube or the guide tube end pieces can be exposed to harsh environmental influences. The ingress of dirt and moisture into the interior of the Bowden cable can lead to stiffness, corrosion and blockages. For this reason, it is known to protect the interface between the core and the guide tube with sealing elements.

Bellows or grommets made of elastomer materials are used here. Such sealing elements are external and thus exposed to all environmental influences, whereby high demands such as stone chips, strong water jets, high-pressure water jets and possibly high temperatures can lead to the failure of the external sealing elements.

Known internal sealing elements are arranged inside the guide tube end piece and are therefore protected against environmental influences. However, the disadvantage is that when the Bowden cable is fully assembled, it is not possible to see whether a sealing element has been installed or not. In addition, depending on the design of the compression between the core and the seal and the position of the seal inside the guide tube end piece, pivoting movements of the core can cause the core to lift off the seal on one side, creating a gap that leads to a leak.

The invention is based on the object of ensuring a safe, verifiable seal between the core and the guide tube or guide tube end piece, which does not allow any leaks even if the core is entangled and also enables the core to move smoothly.

This object is achieved in that the sealing element is arranged in the end of the guide tube end piece facing away from the guide tube, and in that the sealing element surrounding the core is positioned at the end of the guide tube end piece facing away from the guide tube so as to be visible from outside the guide tube end piece.

The arrangement of the seal in the guide tube end piece ensures that the guide tube end piece surrounds the seal protectively, thus ensuring the greatest possible sealing effect. Because the sealing element is visible, there is no question as to whether a sealing element has been installed in the guide tube end piece or not.

It is advantageous that the sealing element has at least one zone which surrounds the core in a linear contact.

If the core is guided over the entire surface, it can only be operated with difficulty. The linear contact or two or more linearly arranged contacts ensure that the core moves smoothly.

It is important that the guide tube end piece has an additional guide device for the core at a distance from the end of the guide tube end piece facing away from the guide tube.

This additional guide device prevents the core from pivoting relative to the seal, so that it always rests against the guide tube end piece and the core without causing leaks.

It has been proven that the additional guide device causes an angle of the core guide relative to the guide in the sealing element of the guide tube end piece of < 10°, preferably < 5°, particularly preferably 0°.

This means that there is no jamming or only such a slight jamming between the core and the seal that the tightness of the Bowden cable is not endangered.

It is expedient that the core is made of a plastic-coated rope, preferably a plastic-coated steel rope.

Conventional steel cables made from individual wires regularly have small gaps between the individual wires, which cannot always be completely sealed by seals. The plastic coating compensates for these gaps, so that the core has a smooth, gap-free surface that can be optimally sealed. In addition, capillary action The plastic coating prevents moisture from entering the Bowden cable from the inside of the core past the sealing element. The plastic coating prevents moisture from the steel cable from entering the Bowden cable. The plastic coating also ensures that the core runs particularly smoothly in the sealing element and also in the guide tube.

• 1 einen erfindungsgemäß ausgestatteten Endbereich eines Bowdenzuges, und
• 2 einen Schnitt durch den erfindungsgemäßen Endbereich eines Bowdenzugs.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing.

• 1 an end region of a Bowden cable equipped according to the invention, and
• 2 a section through the end region of a Bowden cable according to the invention.

1 shows one end of a Bowden cable, which has a core 1 that is guided in a guide tube 2. A guide tube end piece 3 is arranged at the end of the guide tube 2, whereby the end of the Bowden cable not shown can also regularly have a guide tube end piece. Two webs 4 are arranged on the guide tube end piece 3, which hold an additional guide device 5. The sealing element 6 can be seen on the guide tube end piece 3, so that the question of whether a sealing element 6 is installed or not does not arise.

In 2 The sealing element 6 can be seen inside the guide end piece 3. The sealing element 6 has two ring-shaped sealing lips 7, which surround the core 1 in a linear contact. The linear contact ensures that the core 1 moves smoothly.

The core 1 is formed by a steel cable 8 which is surrounded by a plastic sheath 9. This ensures that the gaps between the individual wires are filled by the plastic sheath 9. The moisture that gets into the Bowden cable through the interior of the core 1 past the sealing element 6 due to capillary action between the individual wires is kept out of the Bowden cable by the plastic sheath 9. The plastic sheath 9 also ensures that the core 1 moves more smoothly both between the sealing lips 7 and in the guide tube 2.

List of reference symbols

1

Soul

2

Guide tube

3

Guide tube end piece

4

Bridges

5

additional guide device

6

Sealing element

7

Sealing lips

8th

Steel cable

9

Plastic coating

Claims (5)

Bowden cable for transmitting compressive forces and/or tensile forces and/or mechanical movements, comprising a core (1) which is surrounded by a guide tube (2) except for its two end regions, the guide tube (2) having a guide tube end piece (3) at at least one of its two ends, to which a sealing element (6) is assigned, characterized in that the sealing element (6) is arranged in the end of the guide tube end piece (3) facing away from the guide tube (2), and in that the sealing element (6) surrounding the core (1) is positioned at the end of the guide tube end piece (3) facing away from the guide tube (2) so as to be visible from outside the guide tube end piece (3). Bowden cable to Claim 1 , characterized in that the sealing element (6) has at least one zone which surrounds the core (1) in a linear contact. Bowden cable to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the guide tube end piece (3) has an additional guide device (5) for the core (1) at a distance from the end of the guide tube end piece (3) facing away from the guide tube (2). Bowden cable to Claim 3 , characterized in that the additional guide device (5) causes an angle of the core guide relative to the guide in the sealing element (6) of the guide tube end piece (3) of less than 10°, preferably less than 5°, particularly preferably 0°. Bowden cable according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the core (1) is formed by a rope with a plastic sheath, preferably a steel rope (8) with a plastic sheath (9).

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