Adhesive tape

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of an adhesive tape (1) as wrapping tape for sheathing cables or cable bundles (2) in automobiles, comprising at least one double-layered tape-shaped carrier (3, 4), which is formed as a composite (3, 4) of a textile layer (3) and a metal layer (4) for electromagnetic shielding purposes over the entire surface, and comprising at least one adhesive layer (5) on one face of the carrier (3, 4), wherein the textile layer (3) is arranged so as to face outwards, the metal layer (4) is arranged thereunder so as to be protected, and the adhesive layer (5) is arranged on the metal layer (4) so as to face the product. The helical sheathing process is carried out with an overlap of at least 30% of the width of the carrier (3, 4) between a respective wrap and the following wrap.

Description

[0001] tape

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to the use of an adhesive tape as a wrapping tape for sheathing cables or cable bundles in automobiles, with at least one two-layer tape-shaped carrier, which is designed as a full-surface composite of a textile layer and a metallic layer for electromagnetic shielding, and with at least one adhesive layer on one side of the carrier.

[0004] Adhesive tapes, and especially wrapping tapes for covering elongated products, which are primarily used for the spiral sheathing of cables in automobiles, must meet very different and sometimes conflicting requirements. For example, the adhesive tape must protect the cables from oil, gasoline, and washing fluids. Furthermore, such adhesive tapes often have to absorb abrasive movements, so high abrasion resistance is required. Finally, cables covered with the adhesive tape in question are subject to movements that should be acoustically dampened as much as possible to avoid unnecessary rattling noises.

[0005] EP 2 597 740 A1 further concerns the use of a multilayer adhesive tape to provide electromagnetic shielding for cables, particularly in motor vehicles. These vehicles are typically electric or hybrid vehicles, which are at least partially powered by a battery-powered electric motor.

[0006] Since batteries with high operating voltage, so-called high-voltage batteries, are typically used to store electrical energy at this point, such high-voltage systems require special mechanical protection and labeling of these cables, as well as electromagnetic shielding of the high-voltage components. For electrical supply from various direct current or alternating current sources, inverter units are often integrated into the vehicle, which emit electromagnetic fields during operation. This also generally applies to the other charging cables and the entire high-voltage system.

[0007] For this reason, the generic prior art according to EP 4 050 077 A1 also deals with an adhesive tape that provides electromagnetic shielding for the cables sheathed therewith in an automobile, and in particular in electric or hybrid vehicles. For this purpose, the adhesive tape acts as a longitudinal sheathing for the cable harnesses. For this purpose, the adhesive tape carrier has a width relative to the transverse direction, and a first carrier with an adhesive layer projects at least along one longitudinal edge relative to a lateral edge of a second carrier. This is intended to achieve, on the one hand, good electromagnetic shielding and, on the other hand, secure attachment to the cable harness through longitudinal sheathing.

[0008] A spiral winding mentioned in connection with EP 4 050 077 A1, on the other hand, is criticized as being disadvantageous because it is said to be associated with higher rigidity and the risk of flagging at the associated strip ends.

[0009] If one considers the prior art according to EP 2 597 740 A1, the production of the sheathing is, on the one hand, complicated and, on the other hand, requires separate adaptation to each cable diameter. The same applies to the generic prior art according to EP 4 050 077 A1. In addition to the complex manufacturing process described there, the longitudinal sheathing implemented in this context implies complex logistics. This is because a correspondingly dimensioned longitudinal sheath is required for each diameter of the cable set or cable bundle to be sheathed. In addition, the solution mentioned does not fully meet, but only partially, the requirements already described in the introduction with regard to electromagnetic shielding, the necessary abrasion resistance, and additional noise dampening.Furthermore, the inevitable adaptation of the longitudinal sheath to the respective diameter of the cable bundle to be sheathed poses the risk that the existing metallic layer will define a "gap" in the longitudinal direction through which the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the cables can penetrate unhindered. Such a "gap" is practically undetectable in the installed state. The invention aims to remedy this situation.

[0010] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a use in such a way that simple and cost-effective processing is achieved and all automotive-specific requirements are met, in particular with regard to electromagnetic shielding, abrasion and noise damping.

[0011] To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes the use according to claim 1.

[0012] Within the scope of the invention, the first step is to effectively shield electromagnetic radiation in a motor vehicle, especially an electric or hybrid vehicle. This is particularly important to ensure the proper functioning of electronic control units. Since control units often also perform safety-relevant functions, for example, in connection with an ABS braking system, their proper and, in particular, uninterrupted operation is of utmost importance. For this reason, automobile manufacturers have been conducting electromagnetic compatibility tests for decades.

[0013] For this reason, the invention is based on a special layer structure that initially places the textile layer facing outwards. This means that once the adhesive tape has been wound spirally around the cables to be covered in automobiles, the textile layer is on the outside or is positioned facing outwards.

[0014] This allows the textile layer to provide special mechanical protection for the adhesive tape and, consequently, for the cables wrapped with it. For this purpose, the textile layer can be designed as a woven fabric, fleece, velour, knitted fabric, or scrim, either individually or in combination.

[0015] If the textile layer at this point is designed as a woven fabric or has such a woven fabric, particularly high abrasion resistance can be achieved. This is especially true if a PET fabric (polyethylene terephthalate) is used at this point. In fact, with the help of such PET fabrics, abrasion resistance levels that at least meet the criteria of abrasion class C according to standard LV 312-1 (October 2009) can be easily achieved. In principle, such fabrics can even be used to produce adhesive tapes that achieve abrasion class E, as described in detail in the applicant's utility model DE 20 2021 103 182 U1, which should be cited as a reference in this context. Additionally or alternatively, a velour or nonwoven fabric can also be used at this point to additionally or alternatively realize and implement good noise dampening of the adhesive tape according to the invention.In fact, at least a moderate level of noise reduction of noise reduction class C can be achieved in this way, according to the classification described in detail in Section 34 of EP 2 034 576 A1. At this point (in EP 2 034 576 A1), exemplary combinations of a PET fabric and PET nonwoven are described and explained, which simultaneously fulfill the functions of abrasion protection and effective noise reduction. Reference is made to the explanations therein.

[0016] This means that the outward-facing textile layer can, in principle, consist of a single layer of the previously described woven, nonwoven, velour, knitted, or scrim fabric. However, combinations such as woven / nonwoven or woven / nonwoven are also conceivable, as explained by way of example and supplementary information in the applicant's EP 1 136 535 B1. Irrespective of this, laminates made of two identical or different textiles, for example, woven / nonwoven, woven / velour, woven / woven, etc., to name just a few, are also used as the textile layer.

[0017] Either way, the outward-facing layer of the carrier acts as mechanical protection for the adhesive tape as well as the cable wrapped with it, and simultaneously as mechanical protection for the underlying metallic layer. In contrast to the prior art, an additional coating of the metallic layer is therefore not required; instead, according to the invention, this function is performed by the outward-facing textile layer. In addition to the described mechanical protection, the textile layer also functions as an alternative or simultaneously as a rattle protection, particularly when a fleece or velour is used in addition to a woven fabric or as an alternative.

[0018] In addition, since the textile layer usually has a layer thickness of 0.1 mm to 3 mm and usually has a surface weight of 40 g / m 2 up to 600 g / m 2The adhesive tape also has the necessary flexibility to be perfectly wound spirally around cables in automobiles. This is further enhanced by the fact that the metallic layer typically has a thickness of between 10 μm and 100 μm, making it practical and unimportant for processing. Finally, the adhesive layer is usually designed in such a way that it is made of acrylate. This is, of course, only an example. The adhesive layer itself generally has an adhesive coating of between 40 g / m 2 and 400 g / m 2 .

[0019] Since, according to the invention, the textile layers are arranged facing outwards, the metallic layer is protected underneath, and the adhesive layer on the metallic layer is arranged facing the product, the adhesive tape can be perfectly wound spirally around the cables to be protected in automobiles. In addition, and according to the invention, a specific overlap of the individual wraps is used, which amounts to at least 30% of the width of the carrier and usually lies at approximately 50% of the width of the carrier from the respective wrap to the subsequent wrap. At this point, it is also possible to provide and implement a marking as a positioning aid during bandaging, as described in detail in the applicant's utility model DE 20 2015 100 125 U1.

[0020] Different overlap sizes for the helical sheathing of cables in automobiles are also discussed here. In any case, the inventive construction of the adhesive tape not only predestines its use in the sheathing of elongated products, especially cables in automobiles. It also allows for simple and problem-free processing because the total layer thickness of the adhesive tape can generally be less than 3.5 mm. Consequently, the adhesive tape according to the invention has the necessary flexibility and conformability to be easily wrapped helically around the cables. Any flagging at the tape ends is also not observed.

[0021] In addition, the helical winding with the aforementioned overlap of at least 30% ensures that the cables sheathed in this way are perfectly shielded against any electromagnetic shielding by the metallic layer provided, which is embedded in the adhesive tape, and that this is done without gaps. This means that at this point, comparable attenuation of the electromagnetic radiation is observed in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 200 MHz, which is particularly relevant here, and which corresponds to that of the longitudinal sheathing according to EP 4 050 077 A1. This means that in the installed state and taking into account the helical windings with an overlap of at least 30%, this shielding results in an attenuation of the relevant radiation of 20 dB(A) to 30 dB(A) under comparable measurement conditions as described therein.

[0022] Compared to the teaching of EP 4 050 077 A1, all of this is associated with the particular advantage that the adhesive tape according to the invention is preferably wound spirally around the cable. This explicitly eliminates the risk of undetected "gaps" in the shielding, as already described above. Furthermore, processing is significantly simpler in that cables and cable harnesses or cable coils of virtually any diameter can be wrapped with the adhesive tape according to the invention, whereas the known teaching has significant diameter limitations at this point, or different longitudinal sheaths must be kept and processed for different diameters. This is complex in terms of assembly and logistics.

[0023] A further advantage over the generic teaching of EP 4 050 077 A1 is that the essential requirements with regard to electromagnetic shielding, abrasion resistance, and noise dampening can be easily met according to the invention. Because the textile layer is arranged facing outwards and the metallic layer is protected underneath, the textile layer can be realized and implemented, for example, as a combination of a woven fabric and a velour or even a woven fabric and a nonwoven fabric in order to achieve both the required abrasion resistance and adequate noise dampening. This is not possible with the known teaching of EP 4 050 077 A1 to this degree and with this degree of consistency.

[0024] In addition, according to the invention, the adhesive layer is not only arranged on the metallic layer facing the product, but in principle it can also be arranged on both sides of the two-layer, strip-shaped carrier. Likewise, the adhesive layer can be applied in strips instead of as a full-surface coating. An embodiment is conceivable here in which the adhesive layer is present in strips on the top and bottom of the strip-shaped carrier, specifically on opposite edges. Of course, other embodiments, as well as a full-surface coating with the adhesive layer, are also possible and are included. As a result, the adhesive tape described is suitable for the helical sheathing of cables or cable bundles in automobiles, so that the logistical problems described in connection with EP 4 050 077 A1 do not arise with the longitudinal sheathing provided therein.Furthermore, any flagging is not observed, and flexible sheaths or casings are simultaneously realized. This is where the main advantages lie.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the textile layer and the metallic layer can be bonded together by an adhesive layer and / or mechanically. The adhesive layer can again be an adhesive coating using an adhesive compound based on, for example, an acrylate. Of course, other adhesives can also be used here to ensure the desired adhesive bond between the textile layer and the metallic layer, if required.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, both layers, i.e. the textile layer and the metallic layer, can also be mechanically connected to one another. To mechanically connect the textile layer and the metallic layer, it is conceivable to provide coupling elements that extend through both layers. These coupling elements can be rivet-like structures or other connecting elements for the two layers. A particularly advantageous embodiment is one in which the coupling elements are formed as components of sewing threads that extend through both layers. This means that in this case the textile layer and the metallic layer are sewn together. Conventional sewing threads, such as polyester threads, polyamide threads, etc., can be used.Since the metallic layer is penetrated by the sewing threads when the textile and metallic layers are sewn together, and the metallic layer is typically a metal foil and / or a metallized textile layer, the extremely small hole size has virtually no negative impact on the shielding effect of the metallic layer. This is all the more so because the holes in the metallic layer caused by the sewing are tiny and, due to the generally foil-like or textile-like nature of the metallic layer, are generally closed or cling to the sewing threads.

[0027] As already explained, the metallic layer can advantageously be formed as a metal foil and / or a metallized textile layer. In both cases, the metallic layer typically has a minimum thickness of 1 μm to 10 μm. Maximum thicknesses of up to 100 μm can be observed. The metallized textile layer can be a textile layer with a deposited metal layer. The metallic layer is often applied to a plastic film or textile layer by vapor deposition.

[0028] This means that the metallic layer is advantageously formed as a plastic film and / or textile layer with a metal layer applied thereto by vapor deposition. The metals used and advantageously utilized for the coating can be copper, aluminum, iron, or stainless steel, individually, in combination, or as an alloy. Furthermore, there is the further possibility of the metallic layer being formed as a laminate of a plastic film and / or a textile layer and a metal layer.

[0029] In this case, the laminate is defined and manufactured from two initially separate components: the plastic film or textile layer on the one hand, and the metal layer on the other. For this purpose, the two layers can be joined together by pressing, gluing, fusing, etc.

[0030] The invention also relates to an elongated product which has been produced by spiral wrapping with the adhesive tape described above.

[0031] As a result, an adhesive tape and an elongated product are provided, which advantageously are cables or a cable bundle or even a wiring harness in automobiles. The cables advantageously wrapped with the adhesive tape according to the invention are typically those that are components of a high-voltage system in electric or hybrid vehicles. In fact, such cables of high-voltage systems are designed in such a way that they emit electromagnetic radiation, which must be shielded to prevent functional impairment of the vehicle.

[0032] According to the invention, the shielding of the cables in question is achieved by the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape thus serves a multiple function in that it not only mechanically binds the cables together and protects them from external influences, but also provides electromagnetic shielding through the preferably spiral-shaped sheathing. This means that additional shielding measures are expressly unnecessary.

[0033] Since the adhesive tape according to the invention can also be designed in any color, it also serves an indicator function, as is known in this context. For example, an orange color indicates that cables carrying voltages of more than 60 V are sheathed at this point. A blue color indicates voltages of up to 48 V. Of course, other colors can also be easily used. These can be easily realized and implemented in the adhesive tape, for example, by solution-dying the outward-facing textile layer with the relevant colorant.

[0034] Because the total thickness of the adhesive tape practically does not exceed that of a conventional adhesive tape, because the additional metallic layer has a thickness of only 1 μm and in particular 10 μm up to 100 μm at the maximum, the adhesive tape according to the invention is easy to process and, in particular, can be wound spirally around the cables with a certain overlap of usually at least 30%. This is possible for cable bundles of virtually any diameter, so that the adhesive tape according to the invention is universally applicable. In combination with the effective mechanical abrasion and rattle protection, this provides a particularly cost-effective solution.

[0035] The adhesive layer can be designed to face the product, so that the adhesive tape is bonded at least partially to the product and partially to itself, taking the overlap into account. Generally, the adhesive layer can also be applied to the textile layer. Thus, the adhesive tapes, wound spirally around the product, form a hollow tube that flexibly encloses the cable or cable bundle. Combinations are also conceivable.

[0036] This is where the main advantages can be seen.

[0037] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings:

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a sheath produced using the adhesive tape according to the invention and

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a basic section through the adhesive tape according to the invention.

[0040] Figure 1 shows a sheathing system using an adhesive tape 1, which is wound spirally around a cable bundle 2 wrapped with the adhesive tape. The cable bundle 2 is composed of several cables that are joined together longitudinally. The cables belong, in particular, to a high-voltage system, as already described at the beginning.

[0041] For this purpose, and as shown in the sectional view in Fig. 2, the adhesive tape 1 according to the invention has a carrier 3, 4 which, according to the exemplary embodiment and essential to the invention, is at least two-layered and band-shaped. For this purpose, the band-shaped carrier 3, 4 is composed of a textile layer 3 and a metallic layer 4 for electromagnetic shielding of the cables of the cable bundle 2. The composition of the band-shaped carrier 3, 4 from the textile layer 3 and the metallic layer can be final. The two layers 3, 4 define a full-surface composite 3, 4, i.e., viewed over their entire surface, they are connected to one another without any overhang. In addition, an adhesive coating 5 is also implemented on one side of the carrier 3, 4.In principle, an additional adhesive layer 5 can also be applied to the opposite side of the carrier 3, 4, although this is generally not required and is not shown. According to the exemplary embodiment, the adhesive layer 5 is applied over the entire surface of the metallic layer 4 on its underside. In principle, however, a dot-like or strip-like application of the adhesive layer 5 to the underside of the metallic layer 4 is also possible and conceivable, as long as the adhesive layer 5 allows the adhesive tape 1 thus created to be guided spirally around the cable bundle 2, thereby creating the desired sheathing.

[0042] Based on the illustration in Fig. 1, it can also be seen that the band-shaped carrier 3, 4 has the adhesive coating 5 on its inner side facing the cable bundle 2, whereas the outer side of the carrier 3, 4 facing away from the cable bundle 2 is formed by the outwardly facing textile layer 3. In contrast, the metallic layer 4 is arranged in a protected manner beneath the textile layer 3. The adhesive layer 5 is located on the metallic layer 4 and is arranged facing the product or the cable bundle 2.

[0043] In addition, according to the embodiment, the carrier 3, 4 and in particular the outwardly facing textile layer 3 is equipped with a marking 6, which is a continuous distance marking.

[0044] In fact, the marking 6 is at a predetermined distance A from an edge 1a of the adhesive tape. In addition to this edge or longitudinal edge 1a, the adhesive tape 1 has another opposite edge 1b or longitudinal edge due to its elongated and band-shaped nature. The longitudinal edge 1a of the adhesive tape 1 is an edge 1a of the adhesive tape 1 that is covered when the adhesive tape 1 is wound helically onto the cable bundle 2. For this reason, it is shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1. Here, several windings 7, 8, 9, 10 can be seen.

[0045] In fact, the roll 7 is a leading roll 7 of the wrapping or bandage realized using the adhesive tape 1. In contrast, the second, subsequent roll 8 functions as a follow-up roll 8 and is glued onto the leading roll 7 with an overlap or an overlap A. According to the illustration, this overlap A corresponds to the distance A of the marking or distance marking 6 from the edge 1a of the adhesive tape 1 covered by the follow-up roll 8.

[0046] If one considers the further course of the wrapping or helical sheathing of the cable bundle 2 in the example, it becomes clear that all further wraps 9, 10 are applied to the cable bundle 2 in a comparable manner. In fact, the subsequent wrap 8 functions as a leading wrap 8 with regard to the subsequent wrap 9 that follows it. The subsequent wrap 9, in turn, is to be regarded as a leading wrap 9 with regard to the further subsequent wrap 10. In all of these cases, the overall procedure is such that the subsequent wrap 8 or 9, 10 is glued onto the leading wrap 7 or 8, 9 that is glued to the cable bundle 2, taking into account the overlap or overlap A. According to the exemplary embodiment, the overlap or overlap amounts to at least 30% of the width of the support 3, 4. As a rule, an overlap of approximately 50% based on the width of the support 3, 4 is used at this point.In this case, the overall winding direction W for the helical sheathing of the cables or the cable bundle 2 is carried out as shown in Fig. 1.

[0047] Referring to Fig. 2, the adhesive tape 1 can be seen here in a schematic longitudinal section. In order to realize and implement the already mentioned full-surface bond 3, 4 between the textile layer 3 and the metallic layer 4 for electromagnetic shielding against electromagnetic radiation emanating from the cables of the cable bundle 2, the textile layer 3 and the metallic layer 4 can be adhesively bonded to one another by an additional adhesive layer 11, which is additionally shown in Fig. 2. The additional adhesive layer 11, made of, for example, an acrylate adhesive or another adhesive suitable for this location, is shown hatched for differentiation and is only implemented optionally.Typically, the textile layer 3 and the metallic layer 4 are mechanically connected to one another by coupling elements that penetrate both layers 3, 4, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, are formed as components of sewing threads 12 that penetrate both layers 3, 4. This means that the sewing threads 1, 2 penetrate the textile carrier 3 on the one hand and the metallic layer 4 on the other, thus ensuring the desired bond 3, 4 of the two layers 3, 4.

[0048] The metallic layer 4 can be a metal foil and / or a metallized textile layer. The metallic layer 4 has a layer thickness of only between 10 μm and 100 μm. In principle, the metallic layer 4 can also be formed as a laminate, as already described in the introduction.

[0049] The textile layer 3 is itself designed as a woven fabric, fleece, velour, knitted fabric or scrim, individually or in combination. A laminate of two

[0050] The same or different textiles are conceivable. The layer thickness of the textile layer 3 is 0.1 to 3 mm according to the exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, a basis weight of 40 g / m is typically used for the textile layer 3. 2 up to 600 g / m 2 The adhesive layer 5 is coated with an adhesive mass of between 40 g / m 2 400 g / m 2 on the

[0051] Underside of the metallic layer 4 is applied.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Use of an adhesive tape (1) as a winding tape for the helical sheathing of cables or cable bundles (2) in automobiles, with at least one two-layer tape-shaped carrier (3, 4) which is designed as a full-surface composite (3, 4) of a textile layer (3) and a metallic layer (4) for electromagnetic shielding, and with at least one adhesive layer (5) on one side of the carrier (3, 4), wherein the textile layer (3) is arranged facing outwards, the metallic layer (4) is protected underneath and the adhesive layer (5) on the metallic layer (4) is arranged facing the material, and wherein the helical wrapping takes place with an overlap of at least 30% of the width of the carrier (3, 4) from the relevant roll to the subsequent roll.

2. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that the textile layer (3) and the metallic layer (4) are connected to one another by an adhesive layer (11) and / or mechanically.

3. Use according to claim 2, characterized in that coupling elements penetrating both layers (3, 4) are provided for the mechanical connection of the textile layer (3) and the metallic layer (4).

4. Use according to claim 3, characterized in that the coupling members are formed as components of sewing threads (12) penetrating both layers (3, 4).

5. Use according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the metallic layer (4) is designed as a metal foil and / or metallized textile layer.

6. Use according to claim 5, characterized in that the metallic layer (4) is formed as a plastic film and / or textile layer with a layer of metal built up thereon by gas phase deposition.

7. Use according to claim 6, characterized in that the metal used for the coating is copper, aluminum, iron or stainless steel, individually, in combination or as an alloy.

8. Use according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the metallic layer (4) is formed as a laminate of a plastic film and / or a textile layer and a metal layer.

9. Use according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the metallic layer (4) has a layer thickness between 1 pm and in particular 10 pm up to 100 pm.

10. Use according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the textile layer (3) is designed as a woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, velour, knitted fabric or scrim, individually or in combination.

11. Use according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the textile layer (3) is designed as a laminate of two identical or different textiles, for example woven / nonwoven, woven / velour, woven / woven.

12. Use according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the total layer thickness of the adhesive tape is below 3.5 mm, wherein preferably the textile layer (3) has a layer thickness of 0.1 to 3 mm and a basis weight of 40 g / m 2 up to 600 g / m 2 has.

13. Use according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the adhesive layer (5) is formed on an acrylate basis.

14. Use according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the adhesive layer (5) has an adhesive application of between 40 g / m 2 and 400 g / m 2 has.

15. Elongated material, in particular a cable bundle (2), which is spirally wrapped using the adhesive tape (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 14.

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