Cable penetration assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable penetration assembly of a housing (12) of an actuator (10). The cable feed-through assembly has a housing (12) of the actuator (10), a sleeve (26) and a feed-through opening for feeding the cable (20, 22) into an interior of the housing (12). A sleeve (26) is connected to the housing (12) and defines a through opening. Furthermore, the sleeve (26) has a tube region (28), which has a wall that is closed in the circumferential direction. The tube region (28) is connected to the housing (12). Furthermore, the sleeve (26) has a cable fastening region (30), which has a wall that is interrupted in the circumferential direction. The cable fastening region (30) is connected to the tube region (28) at a side of the tube region (28) facing away from the housing (12). In addition, the invention relates to an actuator (10) for a motor vehicle having a cable pass-through assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a cable pass-through assembly of a housing of an actuator. The invention also relates to an actuator. Background Art

[0002] The electric actuator needs to be powered by an electric motor arranged in the housing. In some cases, electrical signals, such as electrical signals from sensors and control signals, must also be transmitted into and / or out of the housing. In addition, in many applications, such as in vehicle construction, the housing must be sufficiently watertight. Therefore, the housing is usually sealed by welding, bonding and / or attachment. Therefore, it is complicated to pass the cable through the housing and additional sealing is required in most cases. In addition, sufficient tensile strength of the cable must be guaranteed. Correspondingly, in order to release the tension, complex fastening methods are required in the housing. In addition, even a small cable movement may affect the sealing of the housing. After the corresponding wires are arranged in the through-opening in the housing, the through-opening can be cast with plastic.

[0003] Otherwise, a plug can be provided at the housing in order to connect the electrical conductors in the housing with the electrical conductors outside the housing. Such plugs must also be sealed in some cases. Generally speaking, such plugs should be integrated into the housing in a complex manner. In addition, the actuator has many parts and the plug itself may be expensive.

[0004] A tension release device for fluid sealing of electrical equipment is described in US 9,601,867B2. Here, a nipple (nippel) integrally formed in the housing forms a through opening for the cable. At the side facing away from the housing, this nipple has a barb. The hose is fixed via the nipple, the cable and the barb to form a seal. The hose can have an adhesive on the inside and can be formed as a shrink hose. The hose holds the cable at the nipple, and the barb strengthens the connection between the hose and the nipple. However, the barb may penetrate the hose and thus affect the sealing of the assembly. In addition, when a tensile force acts on the cable, the hose may stretch. As a result, although the cable is fastened to the nipple via the hose, the connection between the cable and the electrical equipment may be quickly damaged. That is, tension release through the hose can only withstand a small tensile force. Summary of the invention

[0005] A first aspect of the invention relates to a cable feedthrough assembly for a housing of an actuator. The cable feedthrough assembly may, for example, have an element for feeding a cable from the outside to the interior space of the housing. The actuator may be arranged in the housing. The housing may also be part of the actuator. The actuator may, for example, have a motor and optionally a transmission and / or a rod assembly. The cable may, for example, be formed as a copper cable with a plastic electrically insulating sheath. The cable may be formed for transmitting current and / or electrical signals. However, the cable may also be formed for transmitting optical signals. The cable may, for example, be formed as a glass fiber cable. The cable may, for example, be connected to a motor to supply it with power. The actuator may be a vehicle actuator. The actuator may, for example, be formed to adjust an exterior rearview mirror, move a window glass and / or retract and / or extend a door handle. The housing may have a plurality of housing elements, such as a main part and a cover connected thereto. The housing may, for example, have an injection molded plastic part. The cable feedthrough assembly may be formed to be watertight. The housing may be formed to be watertight.

[0006] The cable pass-through assembly has a housing of the actuator. The cable pass-through assembly has a sleeve. In addition, the cable pass-through assembly has a through opening for passing the cable into the inner space of the housing. The through opening can be formed by the sleeve and / or the housing. The through opening can extend through the sleeve and / or the wall of the housing. The through opening can, for example, have a circular or polygonal cross section. The through opening can extend axially through the wall of the housing and / or the sleeve. The sleeve can have a circular or polygonal cross section. The through opening can, for example, be formed in the sleeve. The cross section of the sleeve can correspond to the cross section of the through opening. The actuator can have a movable part protruding from the housing. At least some parts of the actuator (such as a motor) can be arranged in the inner space of the housing.

[0007] The sleeve is connected to the housing. The sleeve defines the through-opening. The sleeve can be arranged at the housing, for example. The through-opening extends, for example, straight through the sleeve and through the wall of the housing, for example in the region of the sleeve. The cable can be arranged in the sleeve and extend into the interior space of the housing through the through-opening. The sleeve can be formed, for example, from the same material as the housing. The sleeve can be a one-piece plastic component, in particular an injection-molded plastic part. The sleeve can, for example, have an axial extension. The axial extension of the sleeve can, for example, be greater than the radial extension. The sleeve can have a central axis, which is formed rotationally symmetrical with respect to the central axis. The central axis can correspond to the axial extension of the sleeve and / or to the longitudinal axis of the through-opening. The sleeve can define the through-opening. The sleeve can be formed straight or curved. Here, the shape of the sleeve and the shape of the through-opening can correspond to each other.

[0008] The sleeve has a tube region with a wall that is closed in the circumferential direction. The tube region is formed, for example, as a perfectly circular tube. The tube region is connected to the housing. The tube has, for example, an opening that opens into the interior space of the housing. This opening can be flush with the inner side of the wall of the housing that is connected to the opening. The opening can define one end of the through-opening.

[0009] The sleeve has a cable fastening area, which has a wall that is interrupted in the circumferential direction. The cable fastening area can be formed, for example, as a protrusion and / or a projection that protrudes axially from the tube area. The protrusion can, for example, taper away from the tube area in the axial direction. The protrusion can, for example, be formed in a groove shape and / or have a groove-shaped cross-section. The cable fastening area is connected to the tube area at the side of the tube area that faces away from the shell. That is, the protrusion is, for example, arranged to be spaced apart from the shell. The cable fastening area can form the free end of the sleeve. On the contrary, the tube area can be connected to the shell at the end facing away from the cable fastening area. However, other areas of the sleeve (such as additional tube areas) can also be connected to the cable fastening area.

[0010] A fastening element such as a hose, in particular a shrink hose, can hold the cable particularly securely at the sleeve by means of the cable fastening region. Thus, in contrast to a closed tube region, the cable can, for example, be directly connected to and / or abut against the cable fastening region, in particular in order to fix the cable and / or release tension. Thus, a particularly robust tension release can be provided. Thus, the hose can be supported at the sleeve by being stretched by tension at the cable. Then, the corresponding force no longer acts on the connection of the cable to the actuator or acts with less intensity. In addition, sealing can be simplified by means of the cable fastening region. For example, the hose and the at least one cable can close the through-opening there. The cable fastening region can also not include projections that can act radially on the shrink hose and, in some cases, penetrate the shrink hose or otherwise damage the shrink hose. For example, the cable fastening region and the tube region can smoothly transition into each other radially outwards.

[0011] The cable fastening area may have one or more cables. For each cable, an associated through-opening and an associated sleeve may be provided. However, it is also possible to arrange a plurality of cables together in one sleeve and one through-opening. If applicable, the following corresponding embodiments also apply to one or more cables in the through-opening.

[0012] In another embodiment of the cable fastening area, it can be proposed that the cable feedthrough assembly has at least one cable, which extends through the through-opening into the interior space of the housing. One end of the cable can be arranged outside the interior space. The cable can, for example, be firmly connected to the actuator, in particular the motor of the actuator. The other end of the cable can, for example, form this connection in the interior space. The connection can, for example, be soldering or welding. A clamping connection is also possible. For example, two cables are provided for powering the motor. These two cables can, for example, be arranged in parallel with each other and / or close to each other in the through-opening.

[0013] The cable feed-through assembly can have a shrink hose. The shrink hose can be fastened in the tube area. The shrink hose can fasten the at least one cable at the cable fastening area. The shrink hose can, for example, bring one or two cables against the cable fastening area and then hold them at the cable fastening area in a friction fit. Alternatively or additionally, the shrink hose can also bond the corresponding cables to the cable fastening area. The fastening effect formed in this way can provide a particularly effective tension release for the electrical connection of the corresponding cables to the actuator. The shrink hose can be a thermoplastic hose, which shrinks radially under the action of heat, for example by hot air and / or infrared radiation. However, the shrink hose can also shrink in other ways, for example by UV light. The shrink hose can also be formed as a cold shrink hose. The shrink hose can be formed to be insulating and / or watertight. The shrink hose can shrink onto the pipe sleeve and then be held at the pipe sleeve. By shrinking, the shrink hose can also fix the corresponding cable at the cable fastening area, since the wall interrupted in the circumferential direction can make the shrink hose contact the corresponding cable on one side and contact the cable fastening area radially on the opposite side. The shrink hose can completely surround the tube area on the circumference at least along the axial section facing the cable fastening area. The shrink hose can completely surround the cable fastening area on the circumference at least along the axial section facing the tube area or also axially along its entire length. The shrink hose can, for example, lie against the cable fastening area on the outside and against the side of the corresponding cable facing away from the cable fastening area radially on the inside.

[0014] In another embodiment of the cable feedthrough assembly, it can be proposed that the shrink hose has an adhesive on the side facing the sleeve. The adhesive can be arranged at the plastic sheath of the shrink hose at the radial inner side, for example. The adhesive can be formed so that the volume increases when the shrink hose shrinks, for example under the action of heat. For example, when the shrink hose is heated, the adhesive expands. The adhesive can, for example, fill the gap between the at least one cable and the cable fastening area and / or the shrink hose. Alternatively or additionally, even in the case of multiple cables, the adhesive can also bond the multiple cables to each other and / or fill the gaps between the cables. As a result, the cable feedthrough assembly can be particularly sealed. In addition, the corresponding cables can then be simply and firmly bonded. In addition, in contrast to introducing the adhesive in other ways, no additional manufacturing steps are required. In addition, higher tensile forces can be absorbed by the adhesive.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the cable lead-through, it can be provided that the adhesive bonds the at least one cable to the cable fastening region. The adhesive can, for example, completely or almost completely fill a gap between the cable fastening region and the at least one cable within the shrink hose. The adhesive can additionally seal the cable lead-through. The adhesive can fill a corresponding gap in the radial direction at least at one axial position, for example partially along the axial extension of the cable fastening region or even the entire axial extension.

[0016] In another embodiment of the cable lead-through assembly, it can be provided that the shrink hose brings the at least one cable against the cable fastening area. This can be used to fix the cable. The pressure can be generated by shrinking onto the sleeve.

[0017] In another embodiment of the cable lead-through assembly, it can be provided that the at least one cable protrudes from the interrupted wall of the cable fastening area in the direction of the cable lead-through center. For example, in an axial view, the at least one cable can be higher than the corresponding end of the wall in the circumferential direction of the cable fastening area. In an axial view, the cross-section of the cable fastening area forms, for example, a groove shape, wherein the at least one cable protrudes beyond the corresponding edge of the groove shape. If more than one cable is provided, all, some or only one of these cables can be extended. By extending, the corresponding cable can be pressed against the cable fastening area, for example, particularly strongly by shrinking the hose. This cable is thereby fixed there particularly well.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the cable lead-through, it can be provided that the transition between the tube area and the cable fastening area is rounded or angled. Mechanical stress peaks can be avoided in the case of a rounded transition. In addition, the risk of the shrink hose peeling off can be reduced. In the case of an angled transition, production can be more cost-effective. In addition, the transition in the tube sleeve can be particularly short.

[0019] In another embodiment of the cable feed-through, it can be provided that the sleeve and the housing are formed in one piece, in particular as a one-piece injection-molded part. For example, the sleeve and the housing can be injection-molded together in one step. If the housing has a plurality of parts, the sleeve can be formed in one piece with one of these housing parts. The housing element and the sleeve can be formed in one piece, for example, from a single plastic part.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, the tube region and the cable fastening region can be formed in one piece, wherein in particular the tube sleeve can be formed as a one-piece injection-molded part. The tube sleeve can then be particularly robust and can be produced cost-effectively. The cable fastening region and the tube region can, for example, be formed from a single plastic part, optionally jointly with the housing element.

[0021] The sleeve can also be a component separate from the housing. For example, the sleeve can be screwed or glued to the wall of the housing. In the region of the sleeve, the wall has a through-opening, which is formed corresponding to the through-opening defined by the sleeve and / or corresponding to the outer circumference of the sleeve.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, the housing can have a housing element and a cover element, in particular wherein the housing element and the cover element can be welded to one another. The housing element and the cover element can be, for example, plastic parts that are laser-welded to one another. The housing can then be particularly watertight. The through-opening can be arranged outside the connection between the cover element and the housing element. As a result, the passage of a cable does not affect the connection of the two elements. A laser-welded housing can be produced very cost-effectively.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the cable lead-through, it can be provided that the cable lead-through is designed to be watertight. As a result, the cable lead-through can protect the actuator from environmental influences. In addition, the actuator can then be used particularly easily in a vehicle. For example, the shrink hose (optionally together with its adhesive) can close the lead-through opening around the corresponding cable.

[0024] In another embodiment of the cable feed-through assembly, it can be proposed that the sleeve has an additional tube area, which has a wall that is closed in the circumferential direction. The additional tube area can simplify the installation of the shrink hose and / or additionally protect the cable. The additional tube area can be connected to the cable fastening area at the side of the cable fastening area facing away from the housing. As a result, the shrink hose can be reduced or even completely prevented from sliding away from the housing in the direction of the free end and / or in the direction of the cable fastening area when the shrink hose is shrunk. This can simplify installation. In addition, this can simplify sealing. Alternatively or additionally, the mounting device can also have a stop for the shrink hose, which prevents or reduces the shrink hose from sliding in the corresponding direction. For example, the stop can be made to abut against the end of the shrink hose facing away from the housing when shrinking.

[0025] The further tube region is, for example, arranged at the end of the tube region of the cable fastening region facing away from the housing side. The further tube region can define a further through-opening or a further sub-region of the through-opening. The further tube region can, for example, have the same cross-section as the tube region on the housing side and / or can be formed in one piece with the cable fastening region and optionally the tube region on the housing side. The sleeve formed in this way can also be considered as a sleeve with a through-opening, wherein the through-opening can be approached radially in the axial middle region of the sleeve by an interruption in the wall of the sleeve. The middle region with the interruption then forms the cable fastening region.

[0026] A second aspect relates to an actuator for a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle can be designed, for example, as a passenger car or a truck. The actuator according to the second aspect has a cable feed-through assembly according to the first aspect. The corresponding advantages and further features can be derived from the description of the first aspect, wherein the design of the first aspect also forms the design of the second aspect, and vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 A motor vehicle actuator with a cable feed-through is shown in a schematic perspective view.

[0028] Figure 2 Another schematic perspective view shows the Figure 1 actuator.

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic side view showing the basis without the corresponding cables Figure 1 actuator.

[0030] Figure 4 The top view schematically shows the basis for the absence of corresponding cables Figure 1 actuator.

[0031] Figure 5 The schematic top view shows the basis of the shrink hose without cover element and with cable feed-through Figure 1 actuator.

[0032] Figure 6 Schematic side view showing the basis for the shrink hose with cable feed-through Figure 1 actuator.

[0033] Figure 7 A first embodiment of a sleeve of a cable feed-through is schematically illustrated in a perspective view.

[0034] Figure 8 A second embodiment of a sleeve of a cable feed-through is schematically shown in a perspective view.

[0035] Fig. 9 A third embodiment of a sleeve of a cable feed-through is schematically shown in a perspective view.

[0036] Fig.10 A third embodiment of a sleeve is schematically shown in a side view.

[0037] Reference numerals:

[0038] 10 Actuator

[0039] 12 Housing

[0040] 14 Shell elements

[0041] 16 Cover element

[0042] 18 Motor

[0043] 20 First Cable

[0044] 22 Second cable

[0045] 24 shots

[0046] 26 Pipe sleeve

[0047] 28 Tube Area

[0048] 30 Cable fixing area

[0049] 32 Shrink hose

[0050] 40 Fastening area

[0051] 42 Transition

[0052] 44 Additional Tube Areas

[0053] 46 Additional transitions DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Figure 1 An actuator 10 for a motor vehicle is shown in a perspective view. The actuator 10 has a housing 12. The housing 12 has a housing element 14 and a cover element 16, which are joined to one another by laser welding in the example shown. The actuator 10 has a housing 12. Figure 5 The motor 18 can be seen in the figure. The first cable 20 and the second cable 22 are connected to the motor 18 for power supply and control. The two cables 20 and 22 are electrically connected to the motor 18 or the circuit board, for example, by welding or soldering or plugging. Figure 5 By means of the rod 24 shown in the figure, which is mechanically operatively connected to the motor, a movable part of the motor vehicle (such as a retractable door handle) can be moved. The connection of the motor 18 through the housing 12 to the rod 24 is sealed.

[0055] The actuator 10 has a cable lead-through which guides the cables 20, 22 watertightly from the outside into the interior of the housing 12. In addition to the housing 12, the cable lead-through also has a sleeve 26. Figure 2 The stereogram of Figure 5 When viewed together, it can be seen that the sleeve 26 defines a through-opening which leads from the outside into the interior space of the housing 12. In the example shown, the two cables 20, 22 extend essentially parallel in the sleeve 26. The sleeve 26 is directly connected to the wall of the housing element 14 at one end on the housing side and is formed integrally with the housing element 14. The sleeve 26 and the housing element 14 are here made together as a one-piece injection-molded component. The sleeve 26 has a tube area 28. The tube area 28 is connected to the housing element 14. The tube area 28 has a wall which is closed in the circumferential direction. The tube area 28 thus forms a tube with a circular cross-section. Furthermore, the sleeve 26 has a cable fastening area 30. The cable fastening area 30 is connected to the tube area 28 and forms a free end facing away from the housing element 14. In Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3 , the cable fastening area 30 has a wall which is interrupted in the circumferential direction. The cable fastening area 30 then forms a kind of groove in cross section and, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As can be seen in the figure, a channel that is open upward is formed in the top view.

[0056] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the cable lead-through assembly also has a shrink hose 32. The shrink hose 32 completely encloses the tube area 28 at least in one axial sub-area. The shrink hose 32 is then clamped and fixed at the tube area 28. In this area, the shrink hose 32 is not in contact with the two cables 20, 22. In a view along the longitudinal axis of the lead-through opening or the sleeve 26, the two cables 20, 22 extend beyond the wall of the cable fastening area 30. The two cables 20, 22 protrude from the interrupted wall of the cable fastening area 30 in the direction of the cable lead-through center. In the cable fastening area 30, the shrink hose 32 makes the two cables 20, 22 abut against the inner bottom of the cable fastening area 30. The shrink hose 32 then holds the two cables 20, 22 at the cable fastening area 30 and thus forms a tension relief device for connecting the two cables 20, 22 to the motor 18.

[0057] Optionally, the shrink tube 32 has an adhesive on the side facing the sleeve 26 and thus on the radial inside, which is activated and expands, for example, when the shrink tube 32 is shrunk onto the sleeve 26. The adhesive then additionally fixes the two cables 20, 22 on the shrink tube 32. The adhesive then additionally bonds the two cables 20, 22 to the cable fastening area 30. Furthermore, at least in an axial sub-area of ​​the cable fastening area 30, the corresponding gap between the cable fastening area 30, the two cables 20, 22 and the plastic housing of the shrink tube 32 is completely or almost completely filled with adhesive.

[0058] Figure 7 A first embodiment of a sleeve 26 is shown. A fastening region 40 is connected to the tube region 28, which serves, for example, to screw the sleeve 26 into the housing element 14. The sleeve 26 can then be produced separately from the housing element 14. If the sleeve 26 is formed integrally with the housing element 14, this fastening region 40 is omitted. In the first embodiment, the transition 42 between the tube region 28 and the cable fastening region 30 is formed rounded, as shown in the previous figures. Such a rounding can avoid mechanical stress peaks and can also simplify the smooth contact of the shrink hose 32 in the transition 42.

[0059] Figure 8 A second embodiment of the sleeve 26 is shown, which differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the transition section 42. In this embodiment, the transition section 42 is formed polygonally. Production can then be particularly simple.

[0060] Fig. 9 A third embodiment of the sleeve 26 is shown. This embodiment is based on Figure 7 The first embodiment of the present invention has an additional tube area 44, which has a wall that is closed in the circumferential direction. The additional tube area 44 is connected to the cable fastening area 30 at the side of the cable fastening area 30 facing away from the housing 12. The cable fastening area 30 therefore no longer forms the free end of the sleeve 26, but the additional tube area 44 forms the free end. The additional transition 46 (i.e. between the additional tube area 44 and the cable fastening area 30) is formed as a polygon, such as Fig.1044 and is similar to the transition section 42 in the second embodiment. As in the first embodiment, in another embodiment, the further transition section 46 between the further tube area 44 and the cable fastening area 30 can also be formed as rounded. As in the first embodiment, in another embodiment, the transition section 42 between the tube area 28 and the cable fastening area 30 can also be formed as polygonal. The sleeve 26 according to the third embodiment can also be considered as a continuous tube with an additional lateral opening in the middle area, whereupon the middle area forms the cable fastening area 30. When shrinking in the direction of the free end of the sleeve 26, the further tube area 44 can prevent or reduce the sliding of the shrink hose 32. The reduced effective diameter of the shrinkage to the cable fastening area 30 compared to the tube area 28 causes axial forces away from the housing element 14 when shrinking. This can be at least partially compensated by the further tube area 44.

Claims

1. A cable feed-through assembly for a housing (12) of an actuator (10), The cable penetration assembly comprises a housing (12) of the actuator (10), a sleeve (26) and a through opening for passing the cable (20, 22) through the inner space of the housing (12). wherein the sleeve (26) is connected to the housing (12), wherein the sleeve (26) defines the through opening, The sleeve (26) has a tube region (28) with a wall which is closed in the circumferential direction, wherein the tube region (28) is connected to the housing (12), and A cable fastening region (30) is provided, which has a wall which is interrupted in the circumferential direction, wherein the cable fastening region (30) is connected to the tube region (28) at a side of the tube region (28) facing away from the housing (12).

2. The cable pass-through assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cable pass-through assembly comprises at least one cable (20, 22), the cable extending through the through-opening into the inner space of the housing (12), and further comprises a shrink hose (32), the shrink hose being fastened at the tube area (28) and fastening the at least one cable (20, 22) at the cable fastening area (30).

3. The cable feed-through according to claim 2, wherein the shrink hose (32) has an adhesive on the side facing the sleeve (26).

4. The cable feed-through assembly according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive bonds the at least one cable (20, 22) to the cable fastening area (30), and in particular wherein the adhesive fills the corresponding gap inside the shrink hose (32) between the cable fastening area (30) and the at least one cable (20, 22).

5. The cable feed-through according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the shrink hose (32) holds the at least one cable (20, 22) against the cable fastening area (30).

6. The cable feed-through according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cable (20, 22) protrudes from an interrupted wall of the cable fastening area (30) in the direction of the cable feed-through center.

7. The cable feed-through according to claim 1, wherein the transition (42) between the tube region (28) and the cable fastening region (30) is rounded or angled.

8. The cable feed-through according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve (26) and the housing (12) are formed in one piece, in particular as a one-piece injection-molded part, and / or wherein the tube region (28) and the cable fastening region (30) are formed in one piece, in particular wherein the tube sleeve (26) is formed as a one-piece injection-molded part, and / or The housing (12) comprises a housing element (14) and a cover element (16), in particular the housing element (14) and the cover element (16) are welded to one another.

9. The cable feed-through according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable feed-through is formed watertight.

10. The cable feed-through assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve ( 26 ) has a further tube region ( 44 ) having a wall which is closed in the circumferential direction, wherein the further tube region ( 44 ) is connected to the cable fastening region ( 30 ) at a side of the cable fastening region ( 30 ) facing away from the housing ( 12 ).

11. An actuator (10) for a motor vehicle, the actuator having a cable feed-through according to one of the preceding claims.

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