Multi-channel flexible holding mechanism

Abstract

A retention mechanism for use with a first pipeline and a second pipeline is provided, comprising a flexible, coiled web, a first conduit, and a second conduit. The first conduit defines a first passage through the web and is configured to receive the first pipeline passing through the first passage. The second conduit defines a second passage through the web and is configured to receive the second pipeline passing through the second passage. The first conduit and the second conduit are attached to and surrounded by the web so that when the first pipeline and the second pipeline are respectively fixed to the first conduit and the second conduit and extend through the first passage and the second passage, respectively, the web enables the first pipeline and the second pipeline to move.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a retention mechanism for retaining a pipeline relative to a support structure, the retention mechanism having a coiled web. Background Art

[0002] A pipeline generally passes through a supporting structure in a vehicle, equipment or other environment. The pipeline may be, for example, a fluid pipeline (eg, hydraulic, pneumatic, water), a mechanical cable, an electrical wire or a wiring harness. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a retaining mechanism for use with a first pipeline and a second pipeline is provided to facilitate the first pipeline and the second pipeline to pass through a support structure. The retaining mechanism includes a flexible coiled web to be mounted to the support structure, a first pipe and a second pipe. The first pipe defines a first channel through the web. The first channel is configured to receive a first pipeline passing through the first channel. The first pipe is configured to be fixed to the first pipeline to block contaminants from passing through the first channel. The second pipe defines a second channel through the web. The second channel is configured to receive a second pipeline passing through the second channel. The second pipe is configured to be fixed to the second pipeline to block contaminants from passing through the second channel. The first pipe and the second pipe are attached to the web and surrounded by the web so that when the first pipeline and the second pipeline are respectively fixed to the first pipeline and the second pipeline and the first pipeline and the second pipeline extend through the first channel and the second channel respectively, the web enables the first pipeline and the second pipeline to move relative to the support structure.

[0004] The above and other features will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The drawings are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a holding mechanism for holding a first pipeline and a second pipeline relative to a support structure;

[0007] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the opposite side of the holding mechanism;

[0008] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a retaining mechanism;

[0009] Figure 4 is a front view showing a first side of the retaining mechanism;

[0010] Figure 5 is a front view showing a second side of the retaining mechanism;

[0011] Figure 6 is along Figure 5A cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1 , showing a reinforcement member embedded in the pocket;

[0012] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a reinforcement member of the retaining mechanism;

[0013] Figure 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a conduit having a slit retaining mechanism; and

[0014] Fig. 9 is similar to Figure 6 sectional view showing another embodiment of a retaining mechanism without reinforcement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Reference Figure 1-5 , a retaining mechanism 10 is shown. The retaining mechanism 10 retains a plurality of pipelines relative to a support structure 12 in a manner that enables the pipelines to move relative to the support structure 12, but blocks contaminants from passing through the support structure 12 between the retaining mechanism 10 and the pipelines. The pipelines can take various forms, such as fluid pipelines (e.g., hydraulic, pneumatic, water), mechanical cables, wires, and wire harnesses, to name a few. The retaining mechanism 10 can be configured for use with two or more pipelines. Illustratively, the retaining mechanism 10 is provided for use with a first pipeline 14 and a second pipeline 16, each of which is shown, for example, as a hydraulic hose.

[0016] The retaining mechanism 10 is configured to be mounted to a support structure 12. The support structure 12 can take various forms for various applications. Illustratively, the support structure 12 includes a plate or other type of wall. The support structure 12 has an aperture 18 in which the retaining mechanism 10 is positioned.

[0017] The retaining mechanism 10 includes a mounting wall 20. The mounting wall 20 has a plurality of fastener receiving apertures 22 (e.g., four), and the support structure 12 has a plurality of fastener receiving apertures 23 (e.g., four). A plurality of fasteners 24 (e.g., four) are positioned in the fastener receiving apertures 22, 23, respectively, so that the fasteners 24 attach the mounting wall 20 to the support structure 12. Each fastener 24 may include a bolt, a washer received on the bolt, and a nut screwed onto the bolt (for ease of illustration, threads are not shown).

[0018] The retention mechanism 10 includes a flexible, coiled web 26. The web 26 is positioned in an aperture 28 of the mounting wall 20 and is attached to the mounting wall 20 such that the mounting wall 20 surrounds the web 26. An outer periphery 30 of the web 26 is overmolded onto an inner periphery 32 of the mounting wall 20 that defines the aperture 28. The outer periphery 30 may have a U-shaped portion that is overmolded onto the inner periphery 32 on either side of the inner periphery.

[0019] The holding mechanism 10 includes a central portion 34. The central portion 34 includes a first conduit 36, a second conduit 38 and a support wall 40, which may be flat. The first conduit 36 ​​and the second conduit 38 are attached to the support wall 40. The conduits 36, 38 extend axially from the support wall 40, and the web 26 extends radially from the support wall 40 to the mounting wall 20. The mounting wall 20 surrounds the first conduit 36 ​​and the second conduit 38.

[0020] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 , the support wall 40 includes a pocket 42 and a reinforcement 44 embedded in the pocket 42. The pocket 42 is overmolded on the reinforcement 44. The pipes 36, 38 extend axially from the pocket 42, and the web 26 extends radially from the pocket 42. The reinforcement 44 is configured as a plate, for example, and includes a first pipe orifice 46, a second pipe orifice 48, and an attachment orifice 50. The first pipe orifice 46 is positioned to communicate with a first channel 52 of the first pipe 36. The second pipe orifice 48 is positioned to communicate with a second channel 54 of the second pipe 38. The attachment orifice 50 is filled with the material for making the pocket 42 to facilitate attaching the reinforcement 44 to the pocket 42. Referring to Fig. 9 In other embodiments, the support wall may be constructed as a simple wall 40 ′ without the pocket 42 and the reinforcement 44 .

[0021] Reference Figures 4 to 6 , the web 26 surrounds the first duct 36 and the second duct 38. The first duct 36 and the second duct 38 are spaced apart from each other in dimension 56, and the web 26 is elongated in dimension 56 to accommodate the duct spacing. Thus, the web 26 may be oval so as to be narrower in dimension 57. The attachment aperture 50 is located between the first duct 36 and the second duct 38 and between the first duct aperture 46 and the second duct aperture 48 in dimension 56.

[0022] The web 26 is coiled. As such, the web 26 has one or more coils 58. Illustratively, the web 26 has three coils 58. Each coil 58 is a closed loop that surrounds the central portion 34 and its conduits 36, 38 and the support wall 40. In the neutral state of the web 26, the coils 58 are concentric and positioned about the first conduit 36 ​​and the second conduit 38 on a common plane 60 defined by the mounting wall 20. The coils 58 are radially inclined to facilitate the telescoping nature of the web 26. Illustratively, the coils 58 are radially inclined inwardly toward the first conduit 36 ​​and the second conduit 38. In other embodiments, the coils 58 may be radially inclined outwardly.

[0023] Illustratively, the web 26 and the first and second ducts 36, 38 are integrated into a single component 62. The pocket 42 is contained in the component 62. In embodiments where the support wall 40 is a simple wall, the support wall 40 may be contained in the component 62. The component 62 is made of, for example, an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, one or more of the web 26, duct 36, duct 38, pocket 42, and support wall 40 may be separate components.

[0024] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the first pipeline 14 and the second pipeline 16 extend through the first conduit 36 ​​and the second conduit 38, respectively. The first conduit 36 ​​defines a first passage 52 through the web 26. The first passage 52 receives the first pipeline 14 through the first passage 52 and the web 26. The first conduit 36 ​​is fixed to the first pipeline 14 to block contaminants from passing through the first passage 52 between the first conduit 36 ​​and the first pipeline 14. The second conduit 38 defines a second passage 54 through the web 26. The second passage 54 receives the second pipeline 16 through the second passage 54 and the web 26. The second conduit 38 is fixed to the second pipeline 16 to block contaminants from passing through the second passage 54 between the second conduit 38 and the second pipeline 16. The first conduit 36 ​​and the second conduit 38 are attached to and surrounded by the web 26 so that the web 26 enables the first pipeline 14 and the second pipeline 16 to move relative to the support structure 12.

[0025] The holding mechanism 10 includes a first clamp 62 and a second clamp 64. The first clamp 62 clamps the first pipe 36 and the first pipeline 14 to each other. The second clamp 64 clamps the second pipe 38 and the second pipeline 16 to each other. Each clamp 62, 64 can be, for example, a band clamp (the slits in the band of the band clamp are omitted for ease of illustration).

[0026] Reference Figure 8 Each of the pipes 36, 38 includes a distal end 66 relative to the support wall 40, a side wall 68 extending from the support wall 40 to the distal end 66, and a slit 70 formed in the side wall 68 and extending along the length direction of the side wall 68 to the distal end 66, the slit 70 being configured to be reduced in width to facilitate clamping of the pipes 36, 38 to the corresponding pipelines 14, 16.

[0027] The side wall 68 of each pipe 36, 38 includes a frustoconical portion 72 and a cylindrical portion 74. The frustoconical portion tapers from the support wall 40. The cylindrical portion 74 extends from the frustoconical portion 72 away from the support wall 40 to the distal end 66. The slit 70 extends from the distal end 66 through the cylindrical portion 74 and into the frustoconical portion 72. Each clamp 62, 64 is positioned in a groove 76 of the cylindrical portion 74 of the corresponding pipe 36, 38 so as to contact the groove 76 in the cylindrical portion 74. The slit 70 and frustoconical portion 72 enable the corresponding pipe 36, 38 to accommodate a wide range of pipelines having different diameters without the need to re-equip the component 62 for a more tailored fit for each pipeline, thereby providing some compatibility in the design for fitting pipelines in the corresponding pipe 36, 38. Instead of having the diameter of the cylindrical portion 74 defining the maximum outer diameter of the line, the line can be supported in and through the corresponding pipe 36, 38, the maximum outer diameter being defined by the base diameter of the frustoconical portion 72, the slit 70 and frustoconical portion 72 functionally acting as a hinge that enables the cylindrical portion 74 to open wider to allow larger components to pass through and be supported. In applications where the line is a hose, the hose end connector may be two or more times the diameter of the hose material itself. In this case, the slit 70 and frustoconical portion 72 enable the pipe 36, 38 to expand to allow the hose end connector to pass therethrough, and then to contract to clamp the pipe 36, 38 to the hose.

[0028] Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A retaining mechanism for use with a first pipeline and a second pipeline, comprising: a flexible coiled web mounted to a support structure, the web comprising more than one concentric coils positioned in a common plane, a first conduit defining a first passage through the web, the first passage being configured to receive the first line passing through the first passage, the first conduit being configured to be secured to the first line to block contaminants from passing through the first passage, and a second conduit defining a second passage through the web, the second passage being configured to receive the second pipeline passing through the second passage, the second conduit being configured to be secured to the second pipeline to block contaminants from passing through the second passage, the first passage and the second passage being attached to the web and surrounded by each of the coiled portions of the web so that the web enables the first pipeline and the second pipeline to move relative to the support structure when the first pipeline and the second pipeline are respectively secured to the first conduit and the second conduit and the first pipeline and the second pipeline respectively extend through the first passage and the second passage.

2. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, comprising a mounting wall to be mounted to the support structure, wherein: The mounting wall includes an aperture, and the web is positioned in the aperture and attached to the mounting wall such that the mounting wall surrounds the web, the first conduit, and the second conduit.

3. The holding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein: An outer periphery of the web is overmolded onto an inner periphery of the mounting wall defining the aperture of the mounting wall.

4. The holding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein: The common plane is defined by the mounting wall.

5. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: The coiled portion is radially inclined toward the first pipe and the second pipe.

6. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: The web is oval in shape.

7. The holding mechanism according to claim 6, wherein: The first and second conduits are spaced apart from one another in a dimension, and the web is elongated in the dimension.

8. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: The web, the first duct and the second duct are integrated into a single component.

9. The holding mechanism according to claim 8, wherein: The single component is made of an elastomeric material.

10. The holding mechanism of claim 8, comprising a flat support wall, wherein: The support wall includes a pocket contained in the single component and a reinforcement plate embedded in the pocket, the first and second conduits extending axially from the pocket, and the web extending radially from the pocket.

11. The holding mechanism according to claim 10, wherein: The reinforcing plate includes a first conduit aperture communicating with the first passage and a second conduit aperture communicating with the second passage.

12. The retention mechanism of claim 1, comprising a central portion, wherein: The central portion includes the first conduit, the second conduit, and a support wall, the first conduit and the second conduit extending axially from the support wall, and the web extending radially from the support wall.

13. The holding mechanism according to claim 12, wherein: The supporting wall includes a pocket-shaped member and a reinforcing member embedded in the pocket-shaped member.

14. The holding mechanism according to claim 1, comprising a first clamping member and a second clamping member, the first clamping member clamping the first pipe and the first pipeline together; the second clamping member clamping the second pipe and the second pipeline together.

15. The retaining mechanism of claim 14, comprising a support wall, wherein each of the first conduit and the second conduit is attached to the support wall and comprises a side wall, a slit, and a distal end relative to the support wall, the slit being formed in the side wall and extending along the length direction of the side wall to the distal end.

16. The holding mechanism according to claim 15, wherein: The side wall of each of the first and second conduits includes a frustoconical portion and a cylindrical portion, the frustoconical portion converging from the support wall, the cylindrical portion extending from the frustoconical portion away from the support wall to the distal end, and with respect to each of the first and second conduits, the slit extends from the distal end through the cylindrical portion and into the frustoconical portion.

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