Method for electrically insulating an electrically conductive line end of an electrical line, and assembly device for fixing a sheath made of a flexible and electrically insulating material to a line end of an electrical line

Abstract

A method for electrically insulating an electrically conductive line end (13) of an electrical line (12), comprising the following measures: a) providing an assembly device (1) having a main part (2) having a through opening (4) extending from a first (3a) to a second outer side (3b), b) introducing an end portion (11) of a tubular sheath (10) made of a flexible and electrically insulating material via the first outer side (3a) into the through opening (4) and fixing the end portion (11) in the through opening (4) by means of at least one fixing element (5), c) cutting the fixed end portion (11) off from the rest of the sheath (10) by means of a cutting tool (9) of the assembly device (1), d) introducing the line end (13) of the electrical line (12) into the through opening (4) via the second outer side (3b) and inserting the line end (13) into the interior (14) of the tubular end portion (11) of the sheath (10) arranged in the through opening, e) fixing the end portion (11) of the sheath (10) to the line end (13).

Description

[0001] Method for electrically insulating an electrically conductive

[0002] Cable end of an electrical cable and mounting device for fixing a sheath made of a flexible and electrically insulating material to a

[0003] End of an electrical cable

[0004] The invention relates to a method for the, preferably automated, electrical insulation of an electrically conductive cable end of an electrical cable. The invention further relates to an assembly device designed to carry out this method.

[0005] Single- or multi-core electrical cables—especially in the form of so-called electrical end connectors—made of an electrically conductive material usually have an electrically insulating sheath. However, the electrically conductive material of the electrical cable is often exposed at its end, which requires separate electrical insulation of the cable end for safety reasons.

[0006] Against this background, it is known to provide the cable end with an electrically insulating end cap or to wrap it with an electrically insulating adhesive tape or the like in order to achieve the desired electrical insulation.

[0007] US Pat. No. 6,090,231 A discloses a method for the automated electrical insulation of an electrically conductive cable end of an electrical cable. For this purpose, an assembly device with a base body having a through-opening is provided. An end section of a tubular, electrically insulating sheath is inserted into the through-opening and secured in the through-opening by means of fixing elements. Likewise, the end section of the sheath is secured to the end of the electrical conductor. DE 11 2018 002 521 T5 also discloses such a method.

[0008] DE 102004 028684 A1 and JP 2009-231004 A each also disclose a method for the automated fixing of a sheath made of a flexible and electrically insulating material to the end of an electrical cable. For this purpose, the end of the electrical cable and an end section of an electrically insulating sheath are inserted into a through-opening provided in an assembly device and fixed to one another there.

[0009] However, such an approach proves to be relatively complex.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for electrically insulating the end of an electrical cable, which is particularly suitable for automated implementation. Furthermore, an improved assembly device for implementing such a method is to be created.

[0011] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims.

[0012] The basic idea of ​​the invention is therefore to insert the end of an electrical conductor into a tubular, electrically insulating sheath made of a flexible material and then permanently fix the sheath to the end of the conductor. This procedure can be easily carried out automatically. This is preferably done using an assembly device according to the invention, in which the tubular sheath can first be arranged and which allows the cable end to be subsequently inserted into the interior of the sheath. The assembly device is equipped with a through-opening through which the electrical cable can be inserted at one end and the sheath at the other end.By equipping the assembly device with a suitable fixing element, the sheath can be held securely in the through-opening of the assembly device, which significantly simplifies the insertion of the cable end into the interior of the sheath. The assembly device also comprises a cutting tool, by means of which an end section of the sheath can be separated from the remaining part of the sheath before the cable end of the electrical conductor is inserted into the sheath. This allows the use of a strip or endless material as the raw material for the sheath. Furthermore, the assembly device according to the invention is equipped with an electrical heating device, which ensures the final, permanent fixation of the sheath at the cable end, for example by gluing the material of the electrical insulation to the cable end, i.e. by forming a material-to-material connection between the cable end and the sheath.The measures mentioned allow for very simple electrical insulation of the end of the electrical conductor, so that they are particularly suitable for the automated assembly of the sheath at the end of the conductor.

[0013] The method according to the invention therefore serves for the preferably automated electrical insulation of an electrically conductive line end of an electrical line. Specifically, the method according to the invention comprises at least five measures a) to e). In measure a), an assembly device is provided which has a base body with a through-opening extending from a first to a second outer side of the base body. In measure b), an end section of the sheath is introduced into the through-opening via the first outer side. Furthermore, in measure b), this end section of the sheath is fixed in the through-opening by means of at least one fixing element.In a further step c), the end section fixed in step b) is severed from the remaining part of the sheath of the assembly device using a cutting tool so that, after separation, it forms electrical insulation for the end of the electrical conductor. In step d), the end of the cable is inserted into the through-opening via the second outer side of the base body, and the cable end is pushed into the interior of the tubular end section of the sheath fixed in the through-opening. In step e), the end section of the electrically insulating sheath is then fixed to the end of the cable. The steps a) to e) mentioned can expediently be carried out in alphabetical order. However, the order of individual procedural steps a) to e) can also be reversed, where appropriate.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the fixing in step d) is carried out by shrinking the end section of the casing by heating it, in particular by means of a preferably electric heating device of the assembly device. The force-locking connection created in this way proves to be permanently stable.

[0015] According to an advantageous development, the fixing in step d) is achieved by gluing the end section of the sheath to the cable end, preferably using an adhesive provided on the inside of the end section of the tubular sheath. Such an adhesive connection can be easily achieved by coating the inside of the end section of the tubular sheath with a suitable adhesive, which can be heated using an electric heating device provided in the assembly device. The cohesive connection created in this way also proves to be permanently stable.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the fixing in step d) is carried out by mechanically crimping the end section of the sheath to the end of the electrical cable. In this variant, the provision of an adhesive can be omitted, thereby further simplifying the method according to the invention.

[0017] According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, it comprises a step aO) preceding at least step a). According to step aO), the tubular sheath is converted from a flat and / or folded geometric shape into a substantially round geometric shape. This allows the use of continuous material or strip material as the raw material for the sheath.

[0018] The invention further relates to an assembly device for, preferably automatically, fixing a hose-like sheath made of a flexible and electrically insulating material to a line end of an electrical line, in particular by carrying out the method according to the invention presented above.

[0019] The assembly device according to the invention comprises a base body having a through-opening extending from a first to a second outer side, preferably longitudinally shaped and extending along an axial direction, into which the line end of the electrical line and an end portion of the sheath can be inserted. Furthermore, the assembly device comprises at least one fixing element for fixing the end portion of the sheath received in the through-opening. Furthermore, the assembly device comprises a heating device, preferably an electric one, for heating the end portion of the sheath. Finally, the assembly device according to the invention comprises a cutting tool for separating the end portion fixed in the through-opening from the remaining sheath.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the mounting device according to the invention, it comprises at least one air duct extending in the base body and opening into the through-opening for fixing the tubular end section to a peripheral wall of the base body delimiting the through-opening by means of negative pressure generation.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the through-opening can open into the first outer side of the base body by means of a first mouth section and also open into the second outer side of the base body by means of a second mouth section. In this variant, the through-opening tapers, in particular conically, away from the first or second outer side in the region of the first and / or second mouth section to form an insertion aid for the cable end or the end section of the sheath.

[0022] According to a further advantageous development, a stop can be formed in the region of the first opening section for preferably axially positioning the end section of the casing in the through-opening. The stop is particularly preferably formed by an undercut formed in the base body.

[0023] Particularly preferably, the base body can be formed in two parts, comprising a first and a second base body part. The two base body parts together surround the through-opening. The second base body part is designed to be detachable from the first base body part, at least in the region of the second outer side, for removing the cable end with the end section of the sheath fixed to the cable end from the through-opening. This variant facilitates the removal of the conductor after the sheath has been installed on the cable end. Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings, and the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0025] Showing schematically:

[0026] Fig. 1 An example of a mounting device according to the invention,

[0027] Fig. 2-5 are snapshots of the assembly device of Figure 1 illustrating various procedural measures of the method according to the invention.

[0028] Figure 1 shows, by way of example and in longitudinal section, an assembly device 1 according to the invention for the automated fixing of a hose-like sheath 10 made of a flexible and electrically insulating material to a line end 13 of an electrical line 12. The electrical line 12 can be formed by an electrical cable and can also be single- or multi-core. The line 12 can consist of an electrically conductive material, which in turn is surrounded on the outside by an electrically insulating material. In the example, the electrically conductive material is exposed at a line end 13 of the line 12 and is therefore to be electrically insulated using the method according to the invention and using an assembly device 1 according to the invention.

[0029] For this purpose, the mounting device 1 comprises a base body 2, which has a longitudinal through-opening 4 extending along an axial direction A from a first outer side 3a to a second outer side 3b. The two outer sides 3a, 3b are respective end faces of the longitudinal base body 2 with respect to the axial direction A. An end section 11 of the sheath 10 can be inserted into the through-opening 4 via the first outer side 3a of the base body 2. Likewise, the line end 13 of the electrical line 12 can be inserted into the through-opening 4 via the second outer side 3b of the base body 2. According to Figure 1, the mounting device 1 further comprises a fixing element 5, which is adjustable along a direction R perpendicular to the axial direction A, for fixing the end section 11 of the sheath 10 received in the through-opening 4.Furthermore, the assembly device 1 comprises an electrical heating device 15 for heating the end section 11. For this purpose, the electrical heating device 15 can have an electrically heatable heating element 15a.

[0030] Furthermore, the assembly device 1 comprises a cutting tool 9 for separating the fixed end section 11 from the remaining part of the casing 10, i.e. the part complementary to the end section 11. For this purpose, the cutting tool 9 can have an adjustable cutting blade 9a, which can be introduced into the through-opening 4 along the direction R perpendicular to the axial direction A, so that it can sever the end section 11 of the casing 10 along the direction R.

[0031] Furthermore, the assembly device 1 in the example comprises two air ducts 6a, 6b extending in the base body 2 and each opening into the through-opening 4. In the example scenario, the two air ducts 6a, 6b are arranged at a distance from one another with respect to the axial direction A and each extend orthogonally to the axial direction A, i.e. along the direction R. The two air ducts 6a, 6b can each be designed like a slot, with one end opening into the through-opening 4 and the other end opening onto an outer surface 16 of the base body 2. To fix the tubular end section 11 to a circumferential wall 7 of the base body 2 delimiting the through-opening 4, a negative pressure can be generated by means of the air present in these two air ducts 6a, 6b, by means of which negative pressure the end section 11 is pressed against the circumferential wall 7.

[0032] As Figure 1 also shows, the through-opening 4 opens into the first outer side 3a of the base body 2 by means of a first opening section 4a and also into the second outer side 3b of the base body 2 by means of a second opening section 4b. In the example scenario, the through-opening 4 tapers away from the first outer side 3a and second outer side 3b, respectively, in the region of the first and second opening sections 4a, 4b, in particular conically, in order to thereby form an insertion aid for the line end 13 or the end section 11 of the sheath 10. In the region of the second opening section 4b, a stop 8 can also be formed for axially positioning the end section 11 of the sheath 10 in the through-opening 4. This stop 8 can expediently be formed by an undercut formed in the base body 2.

[0033] The method according to the invention can be carried out using the assembly device 1 described above. The method according to the invention is described below by way of example with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0034] As already explained, the method according to the invention serves for the, preferably automated, electrical insulation of an electrically conductive line end 13 of an electrical line 12. For this purpose, the method according to the invention comprises five obligatory measures a) to e).

[0035] First, however, in an optional measure aO) preceding these five mandatory measures, a tubular sheath 10 provided as a strip material or endless material can be converted from a folded and thus flat geometric shape into a substantially round geometric shape (not shown in the figures).

[0036] In measure a) of the method according to the invention, the assembly device 1 shown in Figure 1 is provided.

[0037] Thereafter, as indicated in Figure 1 by means of an arrow X, in step b), an end section 11 of the sheath 10 made of an electrically insulating and flexible material—such a material may be a suitable plastic—is introduced along the axial direction A via the first outer side 3a into the through-opening 4. The introduction can be carried out using a suitable transport device 17 of the assembly device 1, which for this purpose has transport rollers 18 for transporting the sheath 10 along the axial direction A.

[0038] After insertion into the through-opening 4, the end section 11 of the casing 10 is mechanically fixed in the through-opening 4 by means of an adjustable fixing element 5, as shown in Figure 2, by means of a fixed fixing element 5. For this purpose, the fixing element 5 presses against the end section 11 from the outside along a direction R perpendicular to the axial direction A, compressing or squeezing it. The end section 11 is thus clamped in the through-opening 4 by means of the fixing element 5, preventing any movement of the end section 11 along the axial direction A.

[0039] In a further step c), the end section 11 fixed in the through-opening 4 in step b) is separated, as shown in Figure 3, from the remaining part 11.1 of the casing 10, i.e. the part complementary to the end section 11, by means of a cutting tool 9 of the assembly device 1. Such a cutting tool

[0040] 9 may comprise a cutting knife 9a which, as shown in Figure 3, cuts through the end portion 11 by being inserted into the through-opening 4 along the direction R orthogonal to the axial direction A.

[0041] According to the illustration in Figure 3, in a further measure d), the line end 13 of the line 12 is introduced via the second outer side 3b along the axial direction A into the through-opening 4 and into the interior 14 of the tubular end section 11 of the sheath fixed in the through-opening 4

[0042] 10. As explained above, in order to fix the end section 11 to the peripheral wall 7 of the base body 2, which borders the through-opening 4, a negative pressure can be generated by means of air present in the two air channels 6a, 6b, by means of which the end section 11 is sucked against the peripheral wall 7. This maximizes the volume of the interior 14 of the sheath, which facilitates the insertion of the cable end 13 into the end section 11.

[0043] In a further step e), the end section 11 of the sheath 10 is then fixed to the line end 13 of the line 12. The electrical sheath 10 can be fixed to the line 12 in various ways. For example, the fixing in step e), as indicated in Figure 4, can be achieved by shrinking the end section 11 of the sheath 10 by heating it using the electrical heating device 15 of the assembly device 1. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the fixing in step e) takes place by gluing the end section 11 of the sheath 10 to the line end 13. For this purpose, a suitable adhesive (not shown) can be provided on the inside of the end section 11 of the tubular sheath 10. The formation of such an adhesive bond can also be achieved by heating the adhesive using the electrical heating device 15.In a further variant, fixing in measure e) can be achieved by mechanically squeezing the end section 11 of the sheath 10 with the cable end 13. A combination of two or all three of the three variants presented above is also conceivable.

[0044] As shown in perspective in Figure 5, the base body 2 can be formed in two parts with a first and a second base body part 2a, 2b. The two base body parts 2a, 2b together surround the through-opening 4. The second base body part 2b is designed to be detachable from the first base body part 2a, at least in the region of the second outer side 3b, for removing the line end 13 with the end section 11 of the sheath 10 fixed to the line end 13, from the through-opening 4. Such detachment and removal of the second base body part 2b from the first base body part 2a (see arrow Y in Figure 5) facilitates the removal of the line end 13 with the former end section 11 of the sheath 10 fixed to it, as indicated in Figure 5.

[0045] In the case of a one-piece design of the base body 2, the cable end 13 with the former end section 11 can be pulled axially out of the through opening 4.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for electrically insulating an electrically conductive line end (13) of an electrical line (12), comprising the following measures: a) providing a mounting device (1) having a base body (2) with a through-opening (4) extending from a first (3a) to a second outer side (3b), b) introducing an end section (11) of a tubular sheath (10) made of a flexible and electrically insulating material over the first outer side (3a) into the through-opening (4) and fixing the end section (11) in the through-opening (4) by means of at least one fixing element (5), c) separating the fixed end section (11) from the remaining sheath (10) by means of a cutting tool (9) of the mounting device (1),d) introducing the cable end (13) of the electrical cable (12) via the second outer side (3b) into the through-opening (4) and pushing the cable end (13) into the interior (14) of the tubular end section (11) of the sheath (10) arranged in the through-opening, e) fixing the end section (11) of the sheath (10) to the cable end (13).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing in step e) is carried out by shrinking the end section (11) of the casing (10) by heating it.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing in measure e) is carried out by gluing the end section (11) of the sheath (10) to the line end (13).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing in measure e) is carried out by mechanically squeezing the end section (11) of the sheath (10) with the cable end (13) of the electrical cable (12).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method comprises the following measure aO) preceding measure a): aO) transferring the tubular sheath (10) from a flat and / or folded geometric shape into a substantially round geometric shape.

6. Mounting device (1) for fixing a sheath (10) made of a flexible and electrically insulating material to a line end (13) of an electrical line (12), with a base body (2) which has a through-opening (4) extending from a first (3a) to a second outer side (3b), into which through-opening the line end (13) of the electrical line (12) and an end section (11) of the sheath (10) can be introduced, with at least one adjustable fixing element (5) for fixing the end section (11) of the sheath (10) received in the through-opening (4), with an adjustable cutting tool (9) for separating the fixed end section (11) from the remaining material of the sheath (10), with a heating device (15) for heating the end section (11) of the sheath (10).

7. Mounting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the mounting device (1) has at least one air duct (6a, 6b) extending in the base body (2) and opening into the through-opening (4) for fixing the tubular end section to a peripheral wall (7) of the base body (2) delimiting the through-opening (4) by means of negative pressure generation.

8. Mounting device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the through-opening (4) opens into the first outer side (3a) of the base body (2) by means of a first mouth section (4a) and into the second outer side (3b) of the base body (2) by means of a second mouth section (4b), the through-opening (4) tapers away from the first (3a) or second outer side (3b) in the region of the first and / or second mouth section (4a, 4b) to form an insertion aid for the line end (13) or the end section (11) of the sheath (10).

9. Mounting device according to claim 8, characterized in that in the region of the first mouth section (4a) a stop (8) for positioning the end section (11) of the casing (10) in the through opening (4) is formed.

10. Mounting device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the base body (2) is designed in two parts with a first and a second base body part (2a, 2b) which together surround the through-opening (4), wherein the second base body part (2b) is designed to be detachable from the first base body part (2a) at least in the region of the second outer side (3b) for removing the line end (13) with the end section (11) of the sheath (10) fixed to the line end (13) from the through-opening (4).

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