FR3163504A1 - Sheath for securing an electrical wiring harness in a motor vehicle and a sheath support element - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sheath for retaining an electrical harness in a motor vehicle and a sheath support element. The sheath (2) comprises a base (4) delimited by a front face (6), a rear face (8), and at least one side wall (10) extending from the base (4), so as to define, together with the front face (6), a space (12) suitable for accommodating an electrical harness. The base (4) is traversed by at least one opening (14) connecting its front face (6) to its rear face (8), the opening (14) being of sufficient dimensions to allow the insertion of an appendage of a retaining means suitable for attaching the base (4) to a component of a motor vehicle. The base (4) includes at least one tab (16) extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from the rear face (8) of the base (4). Figure 1

Description

Sheath for securing an electrical wiring harness in a motor vehicle and a sheath support element Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates to the field of automobiles and, more particularly, to devices for maintaining electrical wiring in a motor vehicle.

Technological background

The use of electronic components in motor vehicles has significantly improved safety and passenger comfort. Each electronic component is connected to the vehicle's battery and, possibly, to the on-board computer via electrical cables.

To simplify the integration of these electrical cables into motor vehicles, they are grouped together in the form of wiring harnesses. Each wiring harness consists of a plurality of flexible conductors braided together to form a single cable.

With the increasing number of electronic devices in motor vehicles, the diameter of electrical wiring harnesses has become increasingly important. These large-diameter harnesses can no longer be secured to the vehicle's chassis using clips.

To remedy this problem, it has been proposed to use sheaths fixed at different points on the chassis of a motor vehicle, in order to facilitate the passage of electrical harnesses and allow them to be held along the chassis.

This solution, however, has the drawback of requiring additional mounting points on the chassis to secure the cables. These mounting points are generally created by welding nuts to the chassis. This welding process can be quite complex.

Another drawback is that securing a cable duct with nuts welded to the chassis requires precise alignment between these nuts and specially designed passages through the duct. This alignment can be difficult to achieve, especially with large ducts or when the nuts are located in hard-to-reach places. Therefore, two operators are necessary: one to hold the duct along a frame rail, for example, and the other to insert screws into the duct's passages and tighten them into the nuts welded to the frame rail.

Securing a sheath to the chassis of a motor vehicle, particularly at one of its side members, is a complex process requiring the intervention of several operators.

Object of the invention

The invention aims to provide a sheath for holding an electrical harness in a motor vehicle, allowing for a simpler and faster fixing of said sheath in a motor vehicle.

To achieve this goal, the invention proposes a sheath comprising a base delimited by a front face and a rear face, the rear face being opposite the front face. The sheath includes at least one lateral wall extending from its base, so as to delimit, with its front face, a space suitable for accommodating an electrical harness, at least partially. The base is traversed by at least one opening connecting its front face to its rear face. At least one opening is of sufficient dimensions to allow the insertion of an appendage of a retaining means, suitable for attaching the base to a component of a motor vehicle.

The invention is remarkable in that the base includes at least one lug which extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from the rear face of the base.

The rear face of the sheath is intended to be opposite or pressed against a component of a motor vehicle when the sheath is attached to said component.

Advantageously, the sheath includes at least one lug extending from its rear face, such that at least one lug can serve as a means of guiding and/or positioning the sheath against a component of a motor vehicle. More specifically, at least one lug protrudes from the rear face of the sheath so as to be able to fit into a slot on a component of a motor vehicle specifically designed for this purpose.

The presence of a tab on the rear face of the sheath allows an operator to quickly and precisely position the sheath on a component of a motor vehicle. The operator is alerted to the correct positioning of the sheath when the tab engages and/or fits into a designated slot on the component. Thus, the tab enables an operator to quickly and accurately position the sheath on a component of a motor vehicle.

According to one embodiment, the rear face of the sheath is at least partly flat or substantially flat, so as to allow better support of the sheath against a flat or substantially flat surface.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the lug comprises a first cylindrical or substantially cylindrical portion extending between a first end and a second end, and said first end is connected to the rear face of the sheath. This embodiment facilitates easier and more precise pivoting of the sheath around the longitudinal axis of the lug when the first portion of the lug is located in a notch or a passage provided for this purpose in a component of a motor vehicle.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the lug comprises a second part, connected to the second end of its first part, so as to form a raised section at the second end of its first part. By forming this raised section, the second part of the lug can retain the lug in a notch, the width of which is between the width of the first part and the width of the second part of the lug. In this example, the width is measured along a radial or substantially radial direction to the first part of the lug.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the base of the sheath extends between a first end and a second end, and the lug is located at the first end of the sheath, while the opening is located at the second end. The presence of an opening at one end of the sheath opposite the end from which the lug extends advantageously allows the sheath to be secured with a single retaining means inserted into said opening. Consequently, the sheath can be held against a component of a motor vehicle using only one retaining means. The sheath can therefore be attached more simply, more quickly, and less expensively to a component of a motor vehicle.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the sheath comprises, between its first end and its second end, at least one section forming an angle. According to a particular embodiment, at least one section forms an angle whose value is between 60° and 120°, preferably on the order of 90°, and the angle is rounded or substantially rounded.

Of course, the different characteristics, variants and forms of realization mentioned above can be associated with each other in various combinations, insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

The invention also relates to an element of a motor vehicle for a sheath described above, comprising an edge which has a notch whose width is of sufficient dimension to allow the first part of the lug to slide into the notch, and to prevent the second part of the lug from passing through said notch.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the element comprises at least one fastening means, and the fastening means is configured to retain an appendage of a retaining means, passing through a passage in the base of a sheath described above.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the notch and at least one means of fixing the element are arranged so as to allow a passage through the base of a sheath described above to be aligned with at least one means of fixing said element, when a lug of the sheath is held by said notch.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the element is able to be superimposed or substituted for at least a portion of a side member of a motor vehicle.

The invention is not limited to this single embodiment, so that the element described above may refer to another part of a motor vehicle.

Description of the figures

The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example of the realization of a sheath according to the invention, for the retention of an electrical bundle;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial perspective view of one end of the sheath represented by the FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a component of a motor vehicle suitable for maintaining the sheath shown in figures 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first step in assembling a sheath, represented by figures 1 and 2, on an element represented by the FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second step in the assembly of a sheath, represented by figures 1 and 2, on an element represented by the FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 6 illustrates a third step in the assembly of a sheath represented by figures 1 and 2, on an element represented by the FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 7 illustrates an electrical beam held against an element represented by the FIG. 3 , via a sheath illustrated by the FIG. 1 .

Detailed description of the invention

As a reminder, the invention proposes a sheath for holding an electrical harness in a motor vehicle, allowing for a simpler and faster fixing of said sheath in a motor vehicle.

There FIG. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of an embodiment of a sheath 2 for retaining an electrical harness in a motor vehicle.

The sheath comprises a base 4 delimited by a front face 6 and a rear face 8, both of which are flat. The rear face is opposite the front face, preferably parallel or substantially parallel to the front face. The thickness of the base, corresponding to the smallest distance between the front and rear faces, is between 0.5 cm and 3 cm, preferably on the order of 1 cm.

As illustrated by the FIG. 2 The base 4 comprises two side walls 10, perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the rear face 8. The side walls are positioned opposite each other so as to define a space 12 suitable for at least partially housing an electrical harness. The smallest distance between the side walls 10 is between 3 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 8 cm.

The sheath 2 includes a passage 14 through its base 4. The passage 14 connects the front face 6 of the base to its rear face 8. The passage 14 is of sufficient dimensions to allow the insertion of an appendage of a retaining means, such as a threaded rod, suitable for linking the base to an element of a motor vehicle.

Remarkably, the base includes a lug 16 visible on the FIG. 2 extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from its rear face 8.

The lug 16 comprises a first portion 18 that is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical in shape. The first portion 18 extends between a first end 20 and a second end. The smallest distance between the first and second ends is between 1 cm and 5 cm, preferably between 2 cm and 4 cm. The first end 20 of the lug is attached to the rear face of the sheath. The diameter of the first portion 18, measured radially to its longitudinal axis, is between 1 cm and 6 cm, preferably between 2 cm and 3 cm.

The lug comprises a second part 20, connected to the second end of its first part 18, so as to form a raised section at the second end of said first part. In this example, the second part 20 is cylindrical in shape, with a larger diameter and a shorter length than the first part of the lug.

Preferably, the base and the lug form a single piece, which can be produced by a molding process, for example. The sheath is preferably made from a synthetic polymer.

In this example, the sheath 2 extends between a first end 24 and a second end 26. The lug 16 is located at the first end 24 of the sheath. The passage 14 is located at the second end 26 of the sheath; optionally, the passage may be outside the space 12 delimited by the side walls 10, so as not to be covered by an electrical bundle present in said space.

Between its first end 20 and its second end 26, the sheath forms a rounded or substantially rounded angle 28, so that said ends are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular.

The invention also relates to a component 30 of a motor vehicle illustrated by the FIG. 3 According to this example, element 30 is a portion of a front side member of a motor vehicle chassis. Element 30 includes a notch 32 at an edge 34. The notch 32 has a width sufficient to allow the first part 18 of the lug to slide within said notch, and to prevent the second part 22 of the lug from passing through said notch. Element 30 includes at least one fastening means 36, in this case a threaded passage, configured to retain a threaded rod of a retaining means mentioned above.

The notch 32 and the fixing means 36 are arranged so as to allow the passage 14 of the sheath 2 to be aligned with the fixing means 36, when the lug 16 of the sheath is held by said notch.

Thus, according to a first assembly step illustrated by the FIG. 4 An operator can position the rear face 8 of the sheath 2 opposite the element 30, so that the lug 16 of the sheath fits into the notch 32 of the element 30. The sheath is thus held to the element 30 at its first end 24.

The operator thus has both hands free to perform a second assembly step consisting of grasping a retaining means, for example a screw, with one hand, and then grasping the second end 26 of the sheath with the other hand in order to rotate it until the passage 14 of the sheath is opposite the fixing means 36, as illustrated by the FIG. 5 .

According to a third assembly step illustrated by the FIG. 6 The operator can then insert the appendage of the retaining means 37 into the passage 14, up to the fastening means, in order to screw, for example, the retaining means 37 into the fastening means 36, as illustrated by the FIG. 6 The sheath is then held firmly against element 30.

The sheath 2 can then serve as a guide and support for an electrical harness 38, as illustrated by the FIG. 7 .

The above example, which is not a limitation, of a sheath according to the invention, along with a component of a motor vehicle suitable for housing the sheath, offers an easier and more economical alternative for securing a sheath in a motor vehicle. In other words, the invention described above allows for savings in the number of support and fastening means required, a reduction in assembly time, and therefore a reduction in cost.

Claims (10)

Sheath (2) for retaining an electrical harness (38) in a motor vehicle, comprising a base (4) delimited by a front face (6) and a rear face (8), the rear face being opposite the front face (6), and at least one side wall (10) extending from the base (4), so as to delimit with the front face (6), a space (12) suitable for receiving an electrical harness (38), at least in part, the base (4) being traversed by at least one passage (14) connecting its front face (6) to its rear face (8), the passage (14) being of sufficient dimensions to allow the insertion of an appendage of a retaining means (37) suitable for linking the base (4) to an element (30) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that the base (4) includes at least one lug (16) which extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from the rear face (8) of the base (4). Sheath (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lug (16) comprises a first part (18) of cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape, extending between a first end (20) and a second end, and in that said first end is connected to the rear face (8) of the sheath (2). Sheath (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the lug (16) comprises a second part (22), linked to the second end of its first part (18), so as to form an overthickness at the second end of its first part (18). Sheath (2) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the base (4) extends between a first end (24) and a second end (26), and in that the lug (16) is located at the first end (24) of the sheath, and in that the passage (14) is located at the second end (26) of the sheath. Sheath (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the sheath (2) comprises, between its first end (24) and its second end (26), at least one section forming an angle. Sheath (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one section forms an angle whose value is between 60° and 120°, preferably of the order of 90°, and in that the angle is rounded or substantially rounded. Element (30) of a motor vehicle for a sheath (2) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that an edge (34) of the element (30) includes a notch (32) the width of which is of sufficient dimension to allow the first part (18) of the lug (16) to slide into the notch, and to prevent the passage (14) of the second part (22) of the lug (16) through said notch. Element (30) according to claim 7, characterized in that the element (30) comprises at least one fastening means (36), and in that the fastening means is configured to retain an appendage of a retaining means (37) passing through a passage (14) of the base (4) of a sheath (2) according to any one of claims 3 to 6. Element (30) according to claim 8, characterized in that the notch (32) and at least one fastening means (36) of the element (30) are arranged so as to allow a passage (14) through the base (4) of a sheath (2) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, to be aligned with at least one fastening means of said element (30), when a lug (16) of the sheath (2) is held by said notch. Element (30) according to claim 9, characterized in that the element (30) is able to be superimposed or substituted for at least a portion of a side member of a motor vehicle.