Grommet for holding pipes, method for mounting a grommet, and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a grommet (1) for holding cables (2), which defines a passage (7) through which the cables (2) can be inserted in an insertion direction (8), wherein the grommet (1) has at least two parts (4, 5) which can be pivoted relative to each other about a pivot axis (6) extending parallel to the insertion direction (8), whereby the grommet (1) can be placed around the cables (2), wherein each of the parts (4, 5) is partially corrugated, whereby the parts (4, 5) together form a bellows structure (10) in a length region (9) of the grommet (1) extending along the insertion direction (8), wherein the bellows structure (10) circumferentially encloses the passage (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a grommet for holding cables, a method for mounting a grommet and a motor vehicle.

[0002] US Pat. No. 8,835,778 B2 discloses a grommet comprising a wire harness connecting part configured to be connected in a fluid-tight manner to a wire harness, a plate connecting part configured to be connected in a fluid-tight manner to a plate opening, and an extension part configured to extend in a shape-changeable manner between the wire harness connecting part and the plate connecting part. Furthermore, the grommet comprises an extension part shape-retaining part configured to maintain the shape of the extension part in a state in which a distance between the wire harness connecting part and the plate connecting part in a longitudinal direction of the wire harness is shorter than in the state in which the plate connecting part is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the plate opening.

[0003] Furthermore, US Pat. No. 6,010,134 A discloses a waterproof grommet through which an elongated object can be passed. This waterproof grommet comprises a core comprising a pair of complementary half-cylinders that together form a complete cylinder. The grommet further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that can surround the core.

[0004] Furthermore, from US 5 332 329 A, a twist-proof bushing system for installation in a predefined opening in a workpiece is known, by means of which a cable is non-destructively secured against axial or torsional displacement relative to this opening.

[0005] DE 10 2022 205 012 A1 relates to a sleeve for covering a joint connected to a drive shaft on the wheel or transmission side or to a wishbone of a motor vehicle.

[0006] US 10 309 466 B2 relates to a protective device for a cardan shaft comprising a fastening element, a tubular protective cover, and a locking device. The fastening element can be positioned around a shaft journal protruding from a housing and can be fastened to the housing. The protective cover extends along a longitudinal axis and can be positioned around a cardan shaft connected to the shaft journal. The locking device secures the protective cover to the fastening element.

[0007] DE 20 2018 100 751 U1 relates to a pleated covering having a wall formed by folds, wherein at least one current-carrying line is arranged on or in the wall.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a solution which enables a particularly simple and secure enclosing of a cable set with a grommet.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims, the description, and the figures. Features, advantages, and possible embodiments presented in the description for one of the subject matter of the independent claims are to be regarded at least analogously as features, advantages, and possible embodiments of the respective subject matter of the other independent claims, as well as any possible combination of the subject matter of the independent claims, optionally in conjunction with one or more of the subclaims.

[0010] The invention relates to a grommet for holding cables. In particular, the grommet is designed to secure a cable harness comprising multiple cables. The grommet defines a passage through which the cables can be inserted in an insertion direction. The grommet can be used to guide the cable harness through an opening in the body of a motor vehicle. During the manufacture of a cable harness, the cables, with contacts and with or without assembled connectors, must be threaded through a grommet. This manufacturing process requires a high level of manual effort. This process can be supported, for example, by a greatly expanded grommet.

[0011] In order to make it particularly easy to pass the cables through the grommet, the grommet is provided with at least two parts which can be pivoted relative to one another about a pivot axis running parallel to the insertion direction. This allows the grommet to be placed around the cables. In other words, the parts of the grommet are pivoted around the cables and the cables are thus arranged in the passage of the grommet. Because the parts of the grommet are held together and can be pivoted relative to one another about the pivot axis, the grommet can be folded around the cables particularly easily. It is further provided that each of the parts is corrugated in some areas, whereby the parts together form a bellows structure in a length region of the grommet running along the longitudinal direction of extent. This bellows structure encloses the passage on the circumference.Due to the bellows structure, the grommet can be elastically extended or compressed in the insertion direction and / or can be elastically bent about an axis running perpendicular to the insertion direction. A bellows is an elastic hose that folds together like an accordion. When the grommet is used as intended, the cables extend through the bellows in the length of the grommet that has the bellows structure and are thus covered radially outwards by the bellows and enclosed circumferentially over their entire circumference by the bellows structure. The bellows structure of the grommet enables the grommet to follow the curved contour of the cables particularly well when the cables are bent or to allow the cables to bend freely.The grommet is therefore particularly easy to mount on multiple cables and also allows a particularly large degree of bending freedom for the cables.

[0012] In a possible further development of the invention, it is provided that the parts additionally each have at least one rigid, partial frame-shaped region and together form a rigid frame by placing the partial frame-shaped regions against one another. This rigid frame completely encloses the passage on the circumference. In particular, the respective partial frame-shaped regions of the parts can each have a U-shape in cross-section. The grommet can be particularly well stabilized by means of the frame. Furthermore, the frame enables the grommet to be stiffened. In particular, when the parts are placed against one another, the grommet has two rigid frames which are arranged at respective ends of the grommet that are opposite one another in the insertion direction.This means that the grommet has a rigid frame at its front end (relative to the insertion direction) and a rigid frame at its rear end (relative to the insertion direction). The frames stabilize the grommet particularly well, especially the bellows structure. The at least one frame allows the grommet to be folded over the cables particularly easily, and the grommet, when folded over the cables, reliably encloses the cables around their entire circumference.

[0013] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a course of the pivot axis is predetermined by a joint arranged in a circumferential region of the grommet. In particular, the pivot axis extends along an outer surface of the grommet parallel to the insertion direction. The joint can be designed, for example, in the form of a hinge or a bending axis. The bending axis can be defined by a thinning of the material and / or a notch in the grommet. A course and a position of the pivot axis are predetermined or defined by the joint. The joint thus makes it possible to specify the pivot axis, about which the parts are pivoted relative to one another in order to fold the grommet around the cables, with particular precision.

[0014] The invention further relates to a method for mounting a grommet as already described in connection with the grommet according to the invention. In the method, the grommet is placed around at least two lines, whereby the lines run through the passage formed by the grommet in the insertion direction. The at least two lines form a line set, which is enclosed on the outer circumference by the mounted grommet. The design of the grommet with the at least two parts that can be pivoted relative to one another about the pivot axis enables the grommet to be placed around the lines particularly easily. The lines can thus be laid through the passage of the grommet particularly easily.

[0015] In a possible further development of the invention, a sealing material is introduced into the passage, whereby the lines are completely sealed circumferentially against an inner wall of the grommet in a length region of the grommet running in the insertion direction. The sealing material serves in particular to provide a watertight seal between the lines and the inner wall of the grommet. In other words, the passage in the grommet is completely closed off by the lines and the sealing material in a length region of the grommet, thereby preventing water from flowing through the passage of the grommet. The sealing material enables particularly simple and reliable sealing of the passage, thereby preventing water from running through the grommet into a delimited area of ​​a motor vehicle.In this case, the area of ​​the motor vehicle can be separated, in particular, by a wall having an opening into which the grommet is inserted or through which the grommet is pushed, allowing the lines to be routed through the wall into the demarcated area of ​​the motor vehicle. The sealing material thus allows the lines to be passed through an opening, with this opening being sealed fluid-tight by the grommet. In particular, the sealing material, together with the lines, seals the passage in a watertight manner.

[0016] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the cables are wound with a winding before the grommet is placed around the cables. The winding can be made, for example, from an electrically insulating material. The winding can be used to hold the cables together. Furthermore, the winding can reduce the risk of the cables becoming tangled. In addition, the winding allows the cables to lie particularly compactly against one another, whereby the grommet can be folded and placed around the cables particularly easily. The winding thus allows the cables to be held together particularly securely, whereby the cables can be placed through the passage of the grommet particularly easily.

[0017] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the parts of the grommet are held together in the region of the pivot axis, are pivoted relative to one another about the pivot axis for mounting the grommet, and at least two of the parts are joined together at their side edges facing away from the pivot axis. In particular, the parts can be joined together in a materially bonded and / or frictionally bonded and / or force-locked manner. In particular, it is provided that the parts are tightly connected to one another. This ensures that the lines are tightly enclosed around the circumference by the grommet. In this way, the penetration of liquid via a connection area between the two parts into the passage and thus to the lines can be particularly effectively prevented.Because the parts are already connected before being applied to the cables, it is particularly easy to install the grommet. Simply pivot the already connected parts relative to each other around the pivot axis and wrap them around the cables. Once wrapped around the cables, the parts are secured by joining them together. Once the parts are joined, the grommet is wrapped around the cables in a particularly secure, closed manner.

[0018] In this context, it can be provided in particular that a joining line running parallel to the insertion direction, along which the parts are joined together, runs in a wave-shaped manner. For example, a joining tool can be moved along the joining line over a surface of one of the parts in order to connect the parts together in the region of the joining line. The joining line describes the course of an area of ​​the parts in which the parts are connected to one another in a materially bonded and / or frictionally bonded and / or force-locked manner. The wave-shaped joining line has in particular a periodic sequence of wave crests and wave troughs, wherein these wave crests and wave troughs are arranged alternately one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the joining line. The longitudinal direction of the joining line runs in particular parallel to the insertion direction.The wave shape of the joining line corresponds in particular to the shape of a transverse wave, wherein the direction of propagation coincides with the longitudinal direction of the joining line. In this case, the oscillations of the wave shape run in particular in a plane which runs parallel to a contact plane. This contact plane coincides with the contact surface of the respective parts, in which or with which the respective parts lie flat against one another. In other words, the wave shape of the joining line runs in a serpentine manner in the contact plane of the parts. Due to this wave shape of the joining line, the parts can be pulled apart or compressed along the insertion direction in the area in which they are joined, whereby the risk of the parts becoming detached from one another in the area of ​​the joining line is particularly low due to the wave shape.In other words, due to the wave-shaped design of the joining line, a certain elasticity of the connecting area of ​​the parts can be ensured.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that for joining the parts, they are linked together and / or hooked together and / or glued together and / or vulcanized together and / or welded together and / or joined with an overlap. When hooking or linking, the parts can be held together, for example, via an undercut. This is a mechanical connection of the parts, which is particularly easy to produce and can be released again non-destructively if necessary. Gluing or vulcanizing or welding the parts together enables a material-to-material bond between the parts, whereby the parts are held together particularly securely. With material-to-material bonding, a non-destructive release of the parts from one another is not possible.For bonding, the parts can be held together using an adhesive. For welding, the parts are melted, at least in part, and joined to form a weld seam. Vulcanization is the process by which thermoplastic rubbers are converted into elastomeric plastics. During vulcanization, covalent crosslinks are formed between the rubber macromolecules, preventing the molecules from moving freely against each other, resulting in elastic behavior. In particular, covalent crosslinks can be formed between the two parts during vulcanization, which hold the parts together particularly securely.By joining the parts with an overlap, for which, for example, one of the parts can be folded over the other part at least in part, a particularly good seal of the grommet can be achieved in the connection area between the parts. For example, one of the parts can be folded over a side edge of the other part like a fold, with a longitudinal direction of the fold extending in the insertion direction. In other words, one of the parts can be folded over in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction around an outer edge of the other part that runs parallel to the insertion direction. In this way, the parts can be sealed particularly well against one another like a labyrinth seal.

[0020] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with a wiring harness comprising a plurality of lines. This wiring harness is enclosed by a grommet, as already described in connection with the grommet according to the invention. In particular, the grommet is installed within the framework of a method as already described in connection with the method according to the invention for installing a grommet. The grommet can be used, in particular, to guide the wiring harness through an opening in a body of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is, in particular, a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car.

[0021] Further features of the invention can be derived from the following description of the figures and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features shown below in the description of the figures and / or in the figures alone, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0022] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic front view of a grommet for holding cables; Fig. 2 a schematic side view of the spout; Fig. 3 a schematic side view of the spout, with the spout partially shown transparent; Fig. 4 a process diagram for enclosing cables with the grommet; Fig. 5 a schematic cross-sectional view of the grommet with the lines; Fig. 6 a schematic side view of a connecting area in which parts of the grommet are joined together; Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the section of the connecting area in which the parts are linked together; Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the connection area in which the parts are glued together; and Fig. 9 a schematic sectional view of the connection area in which the parts are welded together.

[0023] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0024] In Fig. 1 shows a grommet 1 for holding several wires 2 of a wiring harness 3. The grommet 1 can be used to guide the wiring harness 3 through an opening in a body of a motor vehicle. The wiring harness 3 can include electrical wires and / or fluid lines, for example, washer fluid lines. As shown in Fig. 1 in a plan view of a front end of the grommet 1, the grommet 1 is a hinged grommet, which is made in particular of a plastic. The grommet 1 comprises a first part 4 and a second part 5, which can be pivoted relative to each other about a pivot axis 6. By pivoting about the pivot axis 6, the two parts 4, 5 can be placed against each other with their respective edges facing away from the pivot axis 6, whereby the parts 4, 5 together enclose a passage 7. As shown in Fig. 1, the two parts 4, 5 each have an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein the parts 4, 5 are each held on one leg so as to be pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis 6 and can be placed against one another with their respective free legs of the U-shaped cross-section to delimit the passage 7. The pivotability of the parts 4, 5 relative to one another enables the grommet 1 to be folded around the cable set 3 comprising the plurality of lines 2, whereby the grommet 1 can be placed particularly easily around the cable set 3. In particular, the grommet 1 is folded around the completely manufactured cable set 3. In particular, the grommet 1 is to be placed around the cable set 3 in such a way that the lines 2 can be laid through the passage 7 in an insertion direction 8. In the Fig. 1, 4, 5 and 7 to 9, the insertion direction 8 runs into the image plane.

[0025] In Fig. 2, the grommet 1 is shown in a schematic side view in its closed and thus unfolded state. Here, it can be seen that the grommet 1 has a longitudinal region 9 along the insertion direction 8, in which the grommet 1 has a bellows structure 10. To provide the bellows structure 10, each of the parts 4, 5 is corrugated in some regions, whereby the parts 4, 5 together form the bellows structure 10 in the longitudinal region 9. The bellows structure 10 completely encloses the passage 7 on the circumference. The bellows structure 10 enables the grommet 1 to be pulled apart and compressed in an accordion-like manner along the insertion direction 8 in the longitudinal region 9.

[0026] As in Fig. 2, the grommet 1 has a rigid frame 11 at each of its opposite ends with respect to the insertion direction 8. Each of the rigid frames 11 completely encloses the cable set 3 when the grommet 1 is used as intended. The respective rigid frames 11 thus completely enclose the passage 7 on the circumference. To provide the respective frames 11, the parts 4, 5 each have at least one rigid, partial frame-shaped region, wherein the respective rigid frames 11 are formed by placing the partial frame-shaped regions of the parts 4, 5 against one another.

[0027] The course of the pivot axis 6 is defined by a joint 12 arranged in a peripheral region of the grommet 1. This joint 12 can, for example, comprise a hinge and / or a material taper, whereby the parts, which in this case are formed monolithically with one another, can be pivoted relative to one another about the pivot axis 6 in the region of the material taper.

[0028] In Fig. 4 shows how the two parts 4, 5 are pivoted relative to each other about the pivot axis 6, whereby the parts 4, 5 together limit the passage 7 circumferentially. As in Fig. 4, a portion of the wires 2 of the wiring harness 3 can be inserted into each of the parts 4, 5 in its U-shaped recess in the cross-section, whereby when the parts 4, 5 are folded onto one another, all of the wires 2 of the wiring harness 3 are arranged in the passage 7 and enclosed by the grommet 1. To assemble the grommet 1, the grommet 1 is thus placed around the at least two wires 2 of the wiring harness 3, whereby the wires 2 run through the passage 7 formed by the grommet 1 in the insertion direction 8. To seal the passage 7, a sealing material 13 can be introduced into the passage 7.This sealing material 13 can completely fill the passage 7 in a longitudinal region relative to the insertion direction 8, together with the lines 2 arranged in the passage 7, whereby, for example, a fluid, in particular a liquid, in particular water, can be prevented from flowing through the passage 7 in the insertion direction 8. In particular, the sealing material 13 can be a waterproof material. The sealing material 13 thus enables longitudinal watertightness of the passage 7.

[0029] As in Fig. 3 can still be recognized, the wires 2 of the wiring harness 3 can be wrapped with a winding 14. For this purpose, the wiring harness 3 can be wrapped with a tape. The windings 14 run around the insertion direction 8. By means of the windings 14, the wires 2 of the wiring harness 3 can be held together particularly easily and securely.

[0030] In order to ensure that the parts 4, 5 are held together particularly securely after they have been folded around the cable set 3, it is intended that the parts 4, 5 are joined together after they have been folded around the cable set 3. As in Fig. 5, the respective parts 4, 5 are held together at a first of their legs of the U-shaped cross-section via the joint 12 so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis 6. It is provided that the parts 4, 5 are joined together at their respective second legs of the U-shaped cross-section after being folded around the cable set 3 in a connecting area 15. In Fig. Figure 7 shows a schematic sectional view of how the parts 4, 5 are connected to one another in the connecting region 15. Here, a protrusion 16 of the second part 5 is received in a pocket 17 of the first part 4, with the protrusion 16 being held in the pocket 17 by an undercut. In the present case, the protrusion 16 is drop-shaped.

[0031] In Fig. Figure 8 shows the connecting region 15, in which the parts 4, 5 are connected to each other by means of adhesive 18. This means that the adhesive 18 is arranged between the first part 4 and the second part 5 in the connecting region 15, whereby the parts 4, 5 are glued together.

[0032] In Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the grommet 1 in which the first part 4 is welded to the second part 5. In this case, Fig. 9 shows a weld seam 19 resulting from welding. The weld seam 19 runs with its longitudinal extension direction in the insertion direction 8 along the respective adjacent side edges of the second legs of the U-shaped cross section of the parts 4, 5. Alternatively or in addition to the linking, gluing, and welding, the parts 4, 5 can be hooked together and / or vulcanized together and / or joined with an overlap.

[0033] In order to enable the grommet 1 to be elastically formed in the connecting region 15 and thus to be pulled apart and compressed in the connecting region 15 along the insertion direction 8, it is provided that in the connecting region 15 the parts 4, 5 are held together along a joining line 20 running parallel to the insertion direction 8, wherein the joining line 20 is wavy. Fig. 6, the grommet 1 is shown in a schematic plan view from above, wherein it can be seen that the parts 4, 5 are wavy in the connecting region 15, whereby the grommet 1 has the bellows structure 10. In order to enable the grommet 1 to have the bellows structure 10 in the length region 9, the joining line 20 runs along which the parts 4, 5 are joined together and which in the Fig. 8 and Fig.9 into the image plane runs in the shape of a transverse wave. Alternatively, the joining line 20 can extend in a zigzag along the insertion direction 8. The waves or the spikes of the joining line 20 run in the plane in which the respective contact surfaces extend, wherein the contact surfaces of the parts 4, 5 are those areas of the parts 4, 5 which directly abut one another in the connecting area 15. In other words, the wave shape of the joining line 20 runs in the connecting plane in which the parts 4, 5 abut one another with their respective second U-legs of the U-shaped cross-section. The wave shape or the zigzag shape of the joining line 20 enables the grommet 1 to be elastically bent or rotated in the connecting area 15. In particular, the grommet 1 should be environmentally resistant in the connecting area 15.The parts 4, 5 are tightly connected to one another in the connecting area 15, so that the penetration of, for example, water between the first part 4 and the second part 5 through the connecting area 15 into the passage 7 is particularly reliably prevented.

[0034] Overall, the invention shows how the grommet 1 can be created, which is intended for passing the wiring harness 3 through the opening in the body. List of reference symbols 1 nozzle 2 lines 3 wiring harness 4 first part 5 second part 6 swivel axis 7th round 8 Insertion direction 9 Length range 10 Bellows structure 11 frames 12 joint 13 Sealing material 14 windings 15 Connection area 16 protrusion 17 bag 18 Adhesive 19 Weld seam 20 joining line

Claims

[1] Grommet (1) for holding cables (2), which delimits a passage (7) through which the cables (2) can be laid in an insertion direction (8), wherein the grommet (1) has at least two parts (4, 5) which can be pivoted relative to one another about a pivot axis (6) running parallel to the insertion direction (8), whereby the grommet (1) can be laid around the cables (2), wherein each of the parts (4, 5) is designed to be corrugated in some areas, whereby the parts (4, 5) together form a bellows structure (10) in a length region (9) of the grommet (1) running along the insertion direction (8), wherein the bellows structure (10) encloses the passage (7) on the circumference. [2] Grommet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the parts (4, 5) additionally each have at least one rigid, partial frame-shaped region and together form a rigid frame (11) by placing the partial frame-shaped regions against one another, which frame completely encloses the passage (7) on the circumference. [3] Grommet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a course of the pivot axis (6) is predetermined by a joint (12) arranged in a peripheral region of the grommet (1). [4] Method for assembling a grommet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the grommet (1) is placed around at least two lines (2), whereby the lines (2) run through the passage (7) formed by the grommet (1) in the insertion direction (8). [5] Method according to claim 4, wherein a sealing material (13) is introduced into the passage (7), whereby the lines (2) are completely sealed circumferentially against an inner wall of the grommet (1) in a length region of the grommet (1) running in the insertion direction (8) in the passage (7). [6] Method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the lines (2) are wrapped with a winding (14) before the grommet (1) is placed around the lines (2). [7] Method according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the parts (4, 5) of the grommet (1) are held together in the region of the pivot axis (6), are pivoted towards each other about the pivot axis (6) for the assembly of the grommet (1) and at least two of the parts (4, 5) are joined together at their side edges facing away from the pivot axis (6). [8] Method according to claim 7, wherein a joining line (20) running parallel to the insertion direction (8), along which the parts (4, 5) are joined together, runs in a wave-like manner. [9] Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the parts (4, 5) are linked together and / or hooked together and / or glued together and / or vulcanized together and / or welded together and / or joined with an overlap. [10] Motor vehicle, with a cable set (3) comprising a plurality of lines (2) which is enclosed by a grommet (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3.

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