FR2901858A1 - SUPPORT FOR WELL TUBE - Google Patents

Abstract

There is described a corrugated tube support for fixing a corrugated tube, in particular on a motor vehicle engine, comprising a support member (10), with at least two partial elements (11, 12), capable of to be assembled to receive the corrugated tube, such that they describe an opening (13) whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the corrugated tube to be received, and at least one rib (17, 18), which extends radially from an inner periphery described by the two partial elements (11, 12), so as to be engageable with peripheral grooves of the corrugated tube to be received; and a fastener (20) connected to the support member (10) for fixing the support member (10), in particular on the motor.

Description

The present invention relates to a support for

  corrugated tube for fixing a corrugated tube, in particular on the motor of a motor vehicle. Corrugated tubes, also known as corrugated pipes, are flexible conduits used to protect electrical cables. In the automotive industry, a corrugated pipe, intended for the protection of cable sets or sets of lines, is mainly used on the engine and in areas where splashing water occurs. The corrugated tube then protects the cable set against raging, thermal stress and, for example, the gnawing by martens. The corrugated tube, in the automotive industry, is most often used in a slotted or reclosable variant again. The hose opens in length to pull a cable into it, having already been made with the plug-in connections. In addition, corrugated tubes are formed of thermoplastic polymers, such as, for example, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene and polytetrafluoroethylene. In longitudinal section, the corrugated tubes have a wavy contour, composed of corrugation hollows (perimeter grooves) and corrugation peaks (perimeter protrusions). Such corrugated tubes are attached directly to the engine by means of corrugated tube supports. As a result, known corrugated tube supports are made of an elastomer, ie a flexible elastic material, because relative displacements produced by the motor in operation or by displacements of the corrugated tube between them. elements, must be supported. For fixing, such corrugated tube supports have a fastening opening, by means of which the corrugated tube holder is plugged into a sheet metal bracket, or a mounting bracket placed on the motor. The support for corrugated pipe is for this purpose mounted in the manufacture of the cable harness, on the set of lines or on the corrugated tube. So that the fixing bracket located on the motor fits into the fixing opening of the corrugated tube support, without the set of lines being falsely positioned in the vehicle, that is to say for example is placed At the skew, the support for corrugated tubes must be positioned exactly during assembly. In other words, it is necessary that the position of the fixing opening for the mounting bracket on the motor is defined as accurately as possible. This positioning can not, however, be performed in a process-safe manner.

  Correspondingly to this, the technical problem underlying the present invention is to create a support for corrugated tube for fixing a corrugated tube, in particular on a motor of a motor vehicle, which does not require any exact positioning of the support for corrugated tubes on the tube, but which on the contrary allows a certain possibility of adjustment also after the assembly. This problem is solved by a support for corrugated pipe for fixing a corrugated pipe, in particular on a motor of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a support element, with at least two partial elements, capable of being assembled to receive the corrugated tube, such that they describe an opening whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the corrugated tube to be received, and at least one rib which extends radially from an inner periphery described by the two partial elements, so as to be engageable with peripheral grooves of the corrugated tube to be received; and a securing member connected to the support member for securing the support member, particularly to the motor. Advantageous developments of the present invention are provided by the fact that: - the support element is formed of a hard elastic material, in particular a polypropylene or a polyamide, and the fastening element is formed of a flexible elastic material, in particular, an elastomer, the two partial elements of the support element are a first and a second half-shell, made as the two partial elements, two diametrically opposed ribs are made, each extending from one of the partial elements, several ribs are arranged parallel to each other, the two partial elements are capable of being connected together, being grouped together by folding, by means of a film hinge The fixing element has a fastening opening, by means of which the corrugated tube support can be plugged into a fixing bracket, the components of the support element are made in one piece, at least one partial element of the support element has a locking lug, and the other partial element has an engagement section, in which the lug of The lock is engageable, the diameter of the opening and the rib are such that a corrugated tube to be received can rotate relative to the corrugated tube support and be fixed at its axial position by preventing any translation. The present invention is based on the idea of creating a corrugated tube holder which, to adjust the relative position between the corrugated tube holder and the corrugated tube, allows rotation of the inserted corrugated tube without the corrugated tube being able to be rotated. moved axially and thus makes it impossible detachment of the support vis-à-vis the tube. For this purpose, the corrugated tube support comprises a support member formed of at least two partial elements and at least one rib. The two partial elements serve to receive the corrugated tube and are capable of being assembled so that they describe an opening. This opening is adapted to the cross section of the corrugated tube and, in particular, is at least partially in the form of a circle. In order for the corrugated tube to rotate in the support member about its own axis, the diameter of the opening is larger than the diameter of the corrugated tube, ie it is larger than the diameter predetermined by the projections around the corrugated tube (outer diameter). In other words, the corrugated tube is not tight in the support member. The rib of the support element extends radially from an inner periphery described by the two partial elements, so as to be able to be engaged with a groove around the corrugated tube inserted, making any translation in the axial direction of the corrugated tube is prevented. The rib then extends into the circumferential groove only to such a degree that the corrugated tube does not jam by clamping at the bottom of the groove, because, otherwise, any rotation of the corrugated tube about its own axis would be prevented. If necessary, the rib does not come into contact with the bottom. In addition, a corrugated tube holder according to the invention comprises a fixing member which is connected to the support member for fixing the support member, in particular on the motor. With this embodiment, in the simplest possible way, a support for corrugated pipe is created for which any rotation of the corrugated tube (around its own axis) in the support is possible, without the corrugated tube can be moved. in its axial direction relative to the support for corrugated tubes. This also allows, after fixing the corrugated tube support, to orient the corrugated tube so that no extremely precise positioning is necessary when mounting the corrugated tube support on the corrugated tube, and that the corrugated tube is or can be oriented, therefore, correctly once it is mounted. Advantageously, the support element is formed of a hard elastic material, in particular a polypropylene or a polyamide. It is therefore optimally ensured that the corrugated tube can rotate in the support for corrugated tubes, that is to say in the support element, and that, by means of the rib, a fixation is obtained. axial direction of the corrugated tube. In order to be able to withstand the relative displacements between the motor and the corrugated pipe, originating from the motor in operation or the stresses applied to the corrugated pipe, the fixing element is preferably formed of a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomer. The flexible elastic material is preferably a thermoplastic elastomer and has, particularly preferably, a hardness of about 60 Shore A. Advantageously, the support member and the fastener in this embodiment are made in a method of two-component injection molding, known essentially to those skilled in the art, making any precise explanation superfluous. As a result, a one-piece corrugated tube support has been created and the possibility has been excluded that parts may break off and be lost during or prior to assembly. Advantageously, the two partial elements of the support element are formed of a first and a second half-shell. That is to say that the opening in the form of a circle described by the partial elements is formed of a first semi-shell half-circle and a second half-shell half-shell, which together describe the opening in the form of a circle. As a variant, however, it is possible to provide only a half-shell in the form of a semicircle, describing part of the opening. The open cross section of the opening is closed by a second "half-shell" substantially flat. It is also conceivable that the half-shells form a rectangular opening. In this case, the ribs have no regular height (in radial direction), on the contrary, much more, they have a shape that corresponds to the cross section of the corrugated tube, that is to say in particular in the form of a circle . If the half-shells describe a rectangular opening, the diameter mentioned above corresponds to the lengths of the sides. Advantageously, also, at least two diametrically opposed ribs are formed, each extending from one of the partial elements. The two ribs then extend over an essential part of the inner periphery, so that the ribs can also be described as perimeter ribs. However, it is also conceivable to provide a plurality of short ribs, aligned in rows with each other. When there are corrugated tubes, a plurality of circumferential grooves are aligned in rows with each other. Therefore, also, several (two or more) ribs arranged parallel to each other may be provided to engage in the plurality of these grooves. According to an advantageous embodiment, the two partial elements are connected together, in a manner allowing a folding assembly, by means of a film hinge. A film hinge is an extremely thin bond between two parts that must be moved relative to each other. These are bonds, which are non-separable and are made by the material, which are often manufactured as integrated constructions from the same material. A film hinge thus makes it possible to form the partial elements and thus the support element in a single material, so that, as mentioned above, it is possible to manufacture a support for one-piece corrugated tubes. On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the two partial elements are separate, isolated elements that can be connected together. In order to fix the corrugated tube support, the fastening element preferably has a fastening opening, by means of which the corrugated tube holder can be plugged into a mounting bracket, in particular on the motor of a motor vehicle. In addition, the components of the support element are advantageously made in one piece together.

  To lock the partial elements, at least one of the partial elements of the support member has a locking lug and the other partial element has an engagement section, in which the locking lug can snap. If the partial elements are connected together by a film hinge, then it is sufficient that one of the partial elements has a locking lug and the other partial element has an engagement section. If, with regard to the partial elements, they are separate elements, then two locking lugs and, correspondingly, two engagement sections are provided. It is therefore of no importance to know whether one of the partial elements has a locking lug and an engagement section, or two locking lugs, and that the other correspondingly corresponding partial element has a lug.

  8 locking and an engaging section, or two engagement sections. In particular, in the present invention, the diameter of the aperture and rib are such that, as mentioned above, a corrugated tube having been inserted can rotate relative to the corrugated tube holder and is fixed against any translation in its axial direction. Other features, embodiments and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: FIG. 1 shows a support element of a support for corrugated tubes according to the invention, in perspective view and in the open state by folding; Fig. 2 shows the support member of FIG. 1, illustrated in perspective and in the assembled state by folding; Fig. 3 shows a fastener illustrated in perspective; Fig. 4 shows a corrugated tube holder of the present invention with the support member of FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as the fastening element of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 shows a support for corrugated tubes according to another embodiment of the invention, in a) in the open state by folding and in b) 30 in the closed state.

  Fig. 4 shows a support for corrugated tube according to the present invention. The corrugated tube holder comprises a support member 10 and a fastener 20. The support member 10 will be explained first with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 represents the support member 10 in the open state by folding. The support element 10 is formed of two partial elements 11 and 12 in the form of two half-shells. The half-shells 11 and 12 may be assembled so that they describe an opening 13 substantially in the form of a circle. The opening 13 is then adapted to the cross section of the corrugated tube to be inserted and is essentially in the form of a circle. As this is visible from FIG. 2, the opening is not completely in the form of a circle, but has, in the hinge and the locking zone, sections whose shape is different from the shape of a circle. By the substantially circular-shaped expression, it is meant that the corrugated tube to be used, not shown, can be accommodated in the opening 13, that is to say through it, of so that it can rotate due to the shape of the cross section of the opening 13, without being able to be moved greatly in the radial direction. In order that the corrugated tube that has been inserted can actually rotate, the diameter of the opening 13 is slightly larger than the diameter of the corrugated tube to be inserted, knowing that the diameter is predetermined by the peripheral projections of the corrugated tube. The half-shells 11 and 12 are connected together by a film hinge 14, so that they can be folded together in the state shown in FIG. 2 or can be opened again from this state. To lock the half-shells 11 and 12 in the state shown in FIG. 2, the half-shell 12 has a locking lug 15 engageable with an engaging section 16 of the half-shell 11, as shown in FIG. 2.

  The support member 10 further has two ribs 17 and 18. These ribs 17 and 18 each extend half-shells 11 and 12 radially inwardly. That is to say, they extend towards the opening 13 described by the half-shells 11 and 12. The ribs 17 and 18 are then configured so that they extend into peripheral grooves of the tube corrugated not shown. A corrugated tube is characterized in particular by the fact that it has, observed in longitudinal sectional view, a wavy shape contour composed of corrugation peaks and corrugation hollows. The undulating hollows are described here as perimeter grooves. If the ribs 17 and 18 extend in the circumferential grooves of the corrugated tube, then it can no longer move in the axial direction, that is to say it is blocked in the axial direction against any displacement in translation. In other words, the ribs 17 and 18 have a height such that the diameter defined between them is smaller than the diameter described by the half-shells 11 and 12 and smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated tube. In addition, the diameter of the ribs 17 and 18, however, is slightly larger than the diameter of the corrugated tube in the circumferential grooves to allow rotation of the corrugated tube. Finally, the support element shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a fastening section 19 for connecting to the fastening element 20. The fastening element 20 is shown in FIG. 3. It is substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and has a fastening aperture 21 for attachment to a sheet metal bracket of the engine. In the embodiment shown, the support member shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is formed of an elastic material, hard, such as, for example, a thermoplastic polymer, in particular, polypropylene or polyamide. On the other hand, the fastening element 20 shown in FIG. 3 is formed of a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomer. Thus, the fastening element 20 makes it possible to support or compensate for engine vibrations and thus relative displacements between the engine and the corrugated tube, and to reduce or prevent any transmission, for example of engine vibrations. line games or corrugated tube. The corrugated tube support shown in FIG. 4 composed of the support member 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the fastener 20 shown in FIG. 3 is preferably manufactured in a two-component injection molding process. This creates a monoblock component, which component can not be detached, which is advantageous from the point of view of the subsequent assembly.

  In order to cover different variants of corrugated tubes having a nominal diameter of 13 to 22 mm, the support member 10 is preferably manufactured in a two-component tool, with so-called replaceable inserts.

  In Figures 5a and 5b, there is shown a variant of the corrugated tube holder according to the present invention. Elements shown in Fig. 5, which correspond to the elements shown in Figs. 1 to 4, have been provided with identical reference characters. The embodiment shown in Figure 5 differs in the following manner from the previously described embodiment. The remaining elements are of different realization and will not be the object of new explanation.

  The support for corrugated tube 10 of Figure 5 has a first half-shell 11. This half-shell 11 is provided with a plurality of ribs 17 arranged in parallel. The half-shell has, similarly to the half-shell 11 shown in Figure 1, a cross-section in the form of a semicircle. In addition, a second half-shell 12 is provided. The half-shell 12 has a substantially flat shape, seen in cross section, and is in the form of a cover. The half-shell 12 also correspondingly to the ribs 17 three ribs 18 arranged parallel to each other. The opening 13 described by the half-shells has a U-shape. The diameter of the opening is at any place, that is to say also the location with the smallest diameter, greater than the diameter of the corrugated tube to receive. The three ribs 17 arranged in parallel penetrate radially inwards, projecting, so as to describe a U-shape in the openings 13. The ribs 18 of the half-shell 12 close to describe the open part of the U-shape Likewise, in FIG. 5a, it can be seen that the parallel ribs 18 are recessed in the center of the half-shell 12 in part, having a trapezoidal shape. The circle-shaped part of the U described by the ribs 17, as well as this recess 22 in the form of a circle of the ribs 18, define a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the corrugated tube to be received, however slightly larger than the predetermined diameter. by the circumferential grooves of the corrugated tube. As a result, it is possible for the ribs 17 and 18 to engage in the circumferential grooves of the corrugated tube, without the corrugated tube being clamped between the half-shells 11 and 12 or the ribs 17 and 18, that is, still allowing rotation of the corrugated tube about its own axis. Due to the engagement of the ribs 17 and 18 in the circumferential grooves, any translational movement of the corrugated tube in the corrugated tube holder in its axial direction is impossible. The other elements of the corrugated tube holder shown in Fig. 5 are identical to the corrugated tube holder shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and will not be the subject of a new explanation here.

  It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Even more, variants are quite apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, the support member 10 need not be formed of a one-piece component. For example, the half-shells 11 and 12 may also be separate elements, without providing a film hinge 14. In such a case, the film hinge 14 is replaced for example by another lock, which can be made identically a snap lug and an engagement section. Also, it would be conceivable to replace the hinge film 14 by any other articulated connection. Thus, for example, a linkage of the two elements can be effected by an axis, which is either a one-piece component of a half-shell and engages in corresponding engagement sections belonging to the other half-shell. either be a separate element and connect the two half-shells together.

  In addition, one could also perform any other connection of the support member 10 with the fastener 20 instead of manufacturing the corrugated tube holder in a two-component injection molding process. The most different configurations that are possible are also possible for the ribs 17 and 18. Thus, the rib could be completely made so as to make the periphery, that is to say, to extend completely along the periphery of the ribs. Likewise, the rib could be intermittent, i.e. could be formed by a row alignment of a large number of small projections, which extend on the periphery or on a portion of the periphery of the opening 13. Also, two or more than three parallel ribs may be provided.

  In addition, other modifications are also apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

  1. Support for corrugated pipe for fixing a corrugated pipe, in particular on a motor of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a support element (10), with at least two partial elements (11, 12 ), capable of being assembled to receive the corrugated tube, so that they describe an opening (13) whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the corrugated tube to be received, and at least one rib (17, 18) which extends radially from an inner periphery described by the two partial elements (11, 12), so as to be engageable with peripheral grooves of the corrugated tube to be received; and a fastener (20) connected to the support member (10) for fixing the support member (10), in particular on the motor.   The corrugated tube holder according to claim 1, wherein the support member (10) is formed of a hard elastic material, in particular a polypropylene or a polyamide, and the fastening member (20). is formed of a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomer.   The corrugated tube holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two partial members (11, 12) of the support member (10) are a first and a second half-shell, formed as the two partial elements. .   The corrugated tube holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two diametrically opposed ribs (17,18) are formed, each extending from one of the partial members.   The corrugated tube holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of ribs (17, 18) are arranged parallel to one another.   The corrugated tube holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two partial members (11, 12) are connectable together by being folded together by means of a film hinge. (14).   Corrugated tube holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening element (20) has a fastening opening (21), by means of which the corrugated tube holder can be plugged onto a mounting bracket.   8. Support for corrugated pipe according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the components of the support member (10) are made in one piece.   The corrugated tube holder according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one partial member (11, 12) of the support member (10) has a locking lug (15), and the other partial member (11, 12) has an engagement section (16) in which the locking pin (15) is detachable.   The corrugated tube holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the opening (13) and the rib (17, 18) are such that a corrugated tube to be received can rotate through 2901, 858 17 to the support for corrugated tube and be fixed at its axial position by preventing any translation.