The present invention concerns a cable bushing assembly having a cable sleeve fitting and a panel having a corresponding cable bushing opening for mounting, particularly in a vehicle application.
Cable bushings as well as cable sleeve fittings are known in a multitude of different designs. In the automotive area, the purpose is to bring electrical wiring with electrical or electronic components through housings or partitions. In this service it is necessary that a cable bushing be equipped to resist external stresses, be of small dimensioning, provide protection for a contained cable, be sealed against moisture, and finally, be capable of being mounted or dismounted with the least possible effort. Known cable bushings and associated fittings so described, for instance, those such as have been marketed by the firm Hellermann Tyton, do not, currently, fulfill the given requirements to a sufficient extent.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to make available a cable bushing assembly having a cable with a sleeve fitting, which meet the various demands of the automotive industry in a greater measure than heretofore. Further, the purpose of the invention is to furnish a partition, or a cover panel, which has an opening complementary to mounting the bushing assembly.
Due to the shape of the opening to accommodate the cable bushing, which has different width functional surfaces, it is possible that a correspondingly shaped cable sleeve fitting can be easily inserted into a recess thereof and by means of a clamping closure between the recess and the fastening edges of the cable bushing, can be securely held. By means of the dimensioning and the physical arrangement of the housing panel, where the cable is concerned, a moisture tight seal is created for the cable bushing. The shape of the housing panel and of the fastening component, as seen in top view, can be optional, that is it may optionally appear as an rectangle, an oval, a circle or the like.
The invention adapts itself particularly well for cable bushings carrying large plug connectors. That is, the cross-section of the plug-in connector is larger than that of the cable, whereby equipment is made which is usually difficult to properly seal off. By means of the invented shape of the bushing opening, where the areas of the bushing and the opening provide sufficient room, so that even large plug-in components can be passed through the available aperture.
In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cable bushing opening is embedded in a recess, of depth to be defined later. For this reason, the flat outline of the recess is complementary to the outer contour of a flange cover, which is part of the outer wall of the fitting, by means of which the sealing tightness of the cable bushing is considerably improved.
Advantageously, a thickness of the edge surfaces of the flange cover is equal to the depth of the recess. By this advantage the upper edge of the recess aligns itself with the external side of the flange cover with the consequence that a loose flapping action of the cover is avoided.
In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fastening edges run parallel to one another and form consequently one plane. This arrangement assures a simple mode of manufacture and gives an assured grip of the cable sleeve fitting between the two fastening edges by a clamping means.
In a similar manner, the advantageous formation of the invented object, parallel edges of the fastening edges lie in the one plane of the first area of the cable bushing opening, enabling a problem-free manufacturing operation.
In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, between the first and the second area of the cable bushing opening, an opening is provided which lends itself to a special, convergent transition area. Through this transition opening, the insertion and the clamping of the cable sleeve fitting is made easier in the second area between the two fastening edges.
In accord with another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shape of the second area (when seen in plan view) of the cable bushing opening is complementary to the external shape of the fastening part of the cable sleeve fitting. By means of this arrangement, as a first consideration, an easy insertion of the connector plug into the first area is assured and at the same time, no space is unnecessarily wasted.
In an advantageous manner, in this arrangement, the second area and the fastening part are made as rectangles. In this way, the manufacturing procedure is simplified.
In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the depth of indentation areas in the fastening zone on the forward end in an insertion direction of the fastening device is increasing in depth. In this way, the insertion and the securement of the cable connector is made easier at the second area of the cable bushing opening.
In accord with another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flange cover is penetrated by the cable in an eccentrically offset location. Accordingly, when the cable sleeve fitting is completely inserted into the second area, then the flange cover can make a tight closure of the bushing opening. Since the cable bushing opening lies in the recess, the flange cover lies in the same recess.
The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:
a is a plan view of the cable bushing opening; and
b is a sectional view along the line A-A of 2a;
a is a plan view of the cable sleeve fitting from the side of the plug connector;
b is a sectional view along the cable, as seen in profile;
c is a sectional view along the cable, as seen from above or beneath;
a is a perspective presentation of a cable sleeve fitting inserted in the first area of the cable bushing opening, with the cable entering from the outside;
b is a perspective presentation of a cable sleeve fitting inserted in the first area of the cable bushing opening, with the cable entering from the inside;
a is a perspective presentation with half of a cable sleeve fitting inserted into the second area of the cable bushing opening with the cable entering from the outside;
b is a perspective presentation with half of a cable sleeve fitting inserted into the second area of the cable bushing opening with the cable entering from the inside;
a is a perspective presentation with an entire cable sleeve fitting inserted into the second area of the cable bushing opening with the cable entering from the outside; and
b is a perspective presentation with an entire cable sleeve fitting inserted into the second area of the cable bushing opening with the cable entering from the inside.
Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail.
Considering
First area 12 has a width marked as B1, which defines the distance between side edges 18, 19. The first area has a length, of its rectangular shape, of L1. Second area 14, which terminates in rounded end 24, has a width designated B2, which defines the distance between parallel side edges 20, 21. The corresponding length of the second area is L2. First width B1 is larger than second width B2. First length L1 corresponds to a value approximating that of second length L2. Transition zone 16 has a third length L3 and two side edges 22 and 23, which generally converge toward one another. End 24 of the second area, which lies opposite to the transition zone 16 is, in this figure, semicircular. Further as seen in
Referring to
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the mounting of cable 8 with sleeve 8 into cable bushing opening 4 will be described. First, male fitting 10 is passed through cable bushing opening 4, and subsequently fastening part 30 is inserted into first area 12 of the cable bushing opening 4, as shown in
The tightness in regard to dust and moisture of the cable sleeve fitting is equal to, or better than the protection class IP44 (IP Protective Classification for Apparatuses in Correspondingly Pollution-Loaded Environments).
In the exemplary embodiment, cable 8 penetrates the cable bushing opening 4 perpendicularly and also exits in a perpendicular direction outside of housing panel 2. Alternatively, a penetration in other than a perpendicular direction for cable 8 through bushing opening 4 is possible, and also outside of, or within housing panel 2 it is possible for the cable to penetrate in optimal directions which are angular to the perpendicular directions.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2006 042 192.2 | Sep 2006 | DE | national |