Shielded electrical harness with an angled connector, and its method of fabrication

Abstract

A bundle includes wire segments forming a branch fitted with an angled coupling including:

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, characteristics, and advantages of the invention appear from the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings and which relates, without any limiting character, to preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 6 shows successive steps in a method of fabricating a harness in accordance with the invention, the figures being diagrammatic fragmentary section views showing one end of a branch of a harness that is to be fitted with an angled connector, the section being in a plane containing the longitudinal axis (reference 32) of the wires in said branch.

FIG. 7 shows a harness of the invention obtained by the method.

Claims

1. A bundle (10) comprising a plurality of conductor wire segments (22 to 24) coated in an insulating material, the wire segments being grouped together to form a branch of the bundle that is fitted at its free end with an angled coupling comprising: a base or plug (14) to which the ends (22a to 24a) of the wire segments of the branch of the bundle are secured;an angled rigid casing or duct (13) surrounding the wire segments and having a first end (20, 28) designed to bear against the base; anda member (15) for fastening the casing to the base with mutual orientation between them that is variable;the branch being protected by a shielding sheath or braid (40) secured to a second end (30, 31) of the angled casing or duct, the bundle including one or more abutment members (33) secured to the portion of the wire segments that extend inside (25) the angled casing or duct and that adheres to at least one wire segment, said abutment member(s) co-operating with the angled casing or duct to prevent said portion of the wire segments from leaving said casing or duct, and wherein said portion of the wire segments presents an extra length (39) that enables localized twisting so that the mutual orientation between the base and the casing can be modified without introducing harmful mechanical stresses in these wire segment portions.

2. A bundle according to claim 1, in which the abutment member(s) comprise(s) a sleeve.

3. A bundle according to claim 2, in which the sleeve is a heat-shrink sleeve.

4. A bundle according to claim 1, in which the abutment member(s) surround(s) all of the wire segments.

5. A bundle according to claim 1, in which the twisting of the wires enables the mutual orientation between the base and the angled casing to be modified by at least about 90° to 180° approximately.

6. A bundle according to claim 1, in which the shielding sheath or braid (40) is made at least in part out of metal.

7. A bundle according to claim 1, in which the member (15) for fastening the casing to the base comprises a threaded ring.

8. A method of fabricating a harness or bundle according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: fitting the portion of the wire segments extending inside the angled casing or duct with at least one abutment member suitable for co-operating with the angled casing in order to prevent said portion of the wire segments from leaving the casing;twisting said wire portions extending between the abutment(s) and the base; for this purpose, the base is turned in a predetermined orientation that can subsequently be modified during assembly on a rotorcraft, such changes in orientation causing localized twisting of the wire segments between the abutment(s) and the base without applying stress to said wire segments because of said wire segments possessing an extra length (39); and thensecuring the angled casing to the base by means of the fastener member forming part of the connector.

9. A method according to claim 8, in which an adhesive tie and/or a heat-shrink tubular sleeve is engaged around the conductors; the tie or sleeve is tightened in order to tie the conductors together while ensuring that a length (34) of the wires measured between their ends (22a to 24a) and the distal end (35) of the sleeve is sufficient to ensure that, when the sleeve is in abutment against a wall (36) at the end (31) of the casing (13), the conductors present portions projecting from the casing (13) of length (37) that enables the ends to be inserted into pins introduced in the channels (21) of the base, while conserving for these conductors, portions of a length (39) that is sufficient to enable them to be twisted by turning the base and then securing the base to the angled casing (13) in a position that can be modified in order to coincide with the position of a second connector.