DEVICE FOR GUIDING HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL CABLES FOR FIXING TO THE BODY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

DEVICE FOR GUIDING HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL CABLES FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE BODY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE The present invention relates to a guiding device (2) for electrical cables intended to be attached to the body of a motor vehicle, during an operation of styling mechanical components, arranged on a preparation tray for said mechanical components, by said body of said motor vehicle, remarkable in that said guiding device comprises a retractable magnetic support (4) configured to guide and pre-hold, by means of at least one permanent magnet, the electrical cables on the body of the motor vehicle, so as to allow fixing by screwing of said cables to said body after an operation of unstyling the mechanical components of said motor vehicle. (Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 4)

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR GUIDING HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL CABLES FOR FIXING TO THE BODY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly the field of the assembly of mechanical components to the body of motor vehicles. Prior art

[0002] The use of mechanical component preparation trays, commonly referred to as "POM" is well established on assembly lines in the automotive industry, offering in particular the possibility of fixing different components to the vehicle body during the styling process. For example, brake pipes can be clipped under the body, or axles can be fixed to the chassis through automatic screwing using dedicated pins.

[0003] However, despite the advantages offered by these POM trays, a challenge persists regarding the fixing of high-voltage electric cables, particularly for motor vehicles equipped with traction electric energy accumulators. Indeed, their significant weight makes them liable to hang during the unstyling process (when removing the POM tray), which makes it impossible to screw or clip them during styling.

[0004] Thus, there is a need to find a solution for holding and assembling these electrical cables on the body of the motor vehicle after styling, in a safe, precise and rapid manner, guaranteeing a reliable and efficient automotive assembly process.

[0005] The published patent document FR 3 120 577 A1 discloses a device for holding a main harness of cables under the body during a styling operation of the bodywork of an electric vehicle, said device comprising a styling cone guiding the main harness while being able to be mounted by a bayonet fitting on a support which is intended to be fixed on a cover of a traction battery of said motor vehicle.

[0006] However, the solution proposed by the document does not overcome the technical problem presented above. Indeed, the bayonet mounting of the electrical harness to the support does not allow the weight of the high-voltage electrical cables to be effectively supported. Statement of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a simple and efficient solution allowing reliable and precise fixing of electrical cables to the body of a motor vehicle.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a guiding device for electrical cables intended to be fixed to the body of a motor vehicle, during an operation of styling mechanical components, arranged on a preparation tray for said mechanical components, by said body of said motor vehicle, remarkable in that said guiding device comprises a retractable magnetic support configured to guide and pre-hold, by means of at least one permanent magnet, the electrical cables on the body of the motor vehicle, so as to allow fixing by screwing of said cables to said body after an operation of unstyling the mechanical components of said motor vehicle.

[0009] Advantageously, the electrical cables comprise high voltage electrical power cables configured to be connected to an electrical traction energy accumulator of the motor vehicle.

[0010] Preferably, the styling operation comprises an approach of the mechanical organ preparation platform under the body, and the unstyling operation comprises a removal of said platform from said body of the motor vehicle.

[0011] According to one embodiment, said guide device further comprises two sliding columns configured to extend from the mechanical organ preparation tray, each of said sliding columns being provided with a distal end intended to engage in a corresponding housing located in line with a lower face of the retractable magnetic support, so as to ensure support of the retractable magnetic support against the body of the motor vehicle.

[0012] According to one embodiment, each sliding column comprises a cylindrical base in which slides a rod arranged in direct contact with a spring arranged at the bottom of said cylindrical base.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the retractable magnetic support comprises an upper face intended to be in direct contact with the body of the motor vehicle, said upper face comprising at least one hollow part allowing an electrical cable path to be arranged.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the retractable magnetic support comprises two longitudinal ends provided with a through hole allowing the passage of fixing screws towards the body.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the upper face of the retractable magnetic support comprises two hollow parts receiving a corresponding electrical cable tray, and the through hole at each of the longitudinal ends opens onto the corresponding hollow part.

[0016] Preferably, the upper face further comprises a groove for the passage of at least one brake hose, said groove being adjacent to one of the two hollow parts.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the retractable magnetic support comprises at least two permanent magnets flush with an upper face of said retractable magnetic support, or arranged in line with corresponding cavities opening onto a lower face of said retractable magnetic support.

[0018] The invention also relates to a method of assembling a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: - arrangement of a guiding device for electric cables on a tray for preparing mechanical parts, said guiding device being according to the invention; - installation of electrical cables in line with at least one corresponding hollow part on an upper face of the retractable magnetic support; - bringing the mechanical parts preparation tray closer to the body of said motor vehicle, in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle and until the upper face of the retractable magnetic support engages with a corresponding portion of the body by means of permanent magnets; - removal of the mechanical parts preparation platform from the body of said motor vehicle; - fixing the electrical cables to the body by screwing through corresponding holes arranged at the longitudinal ends of the retractable magnetic support; - disengagement of the retractable magnetic support from the corresponding portion of the box.

[0019] Advantageously, the engagement of the upper face of the retractable magnetic support with the corresponding portion of the body corresponds to a magnetic pre-holding of said upper face on the body.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the disengagement of the retractable magnetic support is carried out by manually removing said retractable magnetic support from the corresponding portion of the body, by means of a handle extending from a lower face of said retractable magnetic support.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the corresponding portion of the body of the motor vehicle comprises a floor crossmember of said motor vehicle.

[0022] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that the retractable magnetic support makes it possible both to guide and pre-hold, by means of permanent magnets, the electrical cables to the body of the motor vehicle. Such pre-holding makes it possible, even after undoing, to ensure that the cables are put on hold before the fixing the cables to the body by screwing them.

[0023] In addition, the sliding columns provided with springs are capable of ensuring secure engagement of the retractable magnetic support with the corresponding portion of the body. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a guiding device for electric cables according to the invention, comprising a retractable magnetic support and two sliding columns extending from a mechanical organ preparation tray;

[0025] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of the guiding device of [Fig.l], receiving electrical cable trays in line with the corresponding hollow parts on an upper face of the retractable magnetic support;

[0026] [Fig.3] represents another perspective view of the guiding device according to the invention, during a styling operation in which the retractable magnetic support is supported against the body of the motor vehicle, by means of the two sliding columns;

[0027] [Fig.4] schematically represents a front view of the guiding device for electric cables according to the invention;

[0028] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view of the retractable magnetic support of [Fig.3], showing a pre-holding of the upper face of said retractable magnetic support on a corresponding portion of the body of the motor vehicle, after a de-styling operation;

[0029] [Fig.6] represents a perspective view of the body of the motor vehicle of [Fig.4], after manual disengagement of the retractable magnetic support from the corresponding portion of the body. Detailed description

[0030] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a guiding device 2 for electric cables according to the invention, comprising a retractable magnetic support 4 and two sliding columns 6 extending from a mechanical organ preparation tray 8.

[0031] The mechanical component preparation tray 8 “POM” is known in the state of the art, and makes it possible to bring together a multitude of mechanical components (including in particular a powertrain, brake hoses 10, electrical power cables, etc.) with the body of a motor vehicle on an assembly line for the latter.

[0032] The guiding device 2 according to the invention makes it possible to safely guide both the electric power cables and the brake hoses 10 of the vehicles. automobiles. In this respect, the retractable magnetic support 4 is preferably provided with two hollow parts 4.1 arranged adjacent to the two longitudinal ends 4.2 of said support 4, as well as a groove 4.3 for the passage of the brake hoses 10. Said hollow parts 4.1 and the groove 4.3 open onto an upper face 4.4 of said support 4.

[0033] Preferably, the groove 4.3 makes it possible to arrange the brake hoses 10 visible in [Fig. 1], and the two hollow parts 4.1 make it possible to arrange an electrical cable path 12 (visible in [Fig. 2]).

[0034] Advantageously, the two sliding columns 6 are intended to bear on the POM 8 in order to guarantee support of the upper face 4.4 of the support 4 against the body of the motor vehicle. The design of the columns 6 will be detailed later in this description.

[0035] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of the guide device 2 of [Fig.l], receiving paths 14 of electric cables 12 in line with the corresponding hollow parts 4.1 on the upper face 4.4 of the retractable magnetic support 4.

[0036] Preferably, the cable trays 14 may correspond to electrical ducts 14 intended to be screwed to the body of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, each of the two ducts 14 comprises a hole 14.1 for the passage of a fixing screw, and the retractable magnetic support 4 is provided with a through orifice which extends over an entire thickness of said support 4 at the longitudinal ends 4.2. In this configuration, the placement of the cable trays 14 in the hollow parts 4.1 allows the alignment of the hole 14.1 with the corresponding orifice.

[0037] [Fig. 3] represents another perspective view of the guiding device 2 of the invention, during a styling operation in which the retractable magnetic support 4 is placed in abutment against the body 3 of the motor vehicle 1, by means of the two sliding columns 6.

[0038] The covering is ensured by bringing the POM 8 closer to the body 3 in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle 1. Here we can see that the upper face of the support 4 is supported against a cross member 5 of the floor of said motor vehicle 1, and makes it possible to guide the cable trays 14 on said cross member 5.

[0039] Advantageously, the through-hole 4.5 (aligned with the corresponding screw-through hole 14.1) opens towards the corresponding hollow part 4.1. This allows simple and ergonomic screwing of the cable trays 14 onto the crosspiece 5, after a stripping operation.

[0040] Advantageously, the retractable magnetic support 4 comprises at least two permanent magnets making it possible to ensure engagement by magnetic adhesion of the upper face of said support on the cross member 5 of the floor of the motor vehicle 1, said engagement corresponds to a pre-holding of the support 4 on the body 3, prior to screwing the cable trays 14 onto said box 3.

[0041] The permanent magnets (not shown) may be arranged in line with dedicated cavities 4.7 which open onto a lower face 4.8 of said retractable magnetic support 4, or alternatively arranged flush with the upper face of the support 4, in particular in line with a dedicated recess 9 (visible in [Fig.4]).

[0042] Preferably, the retractable magnetic support 4 is a single-piece part obtained from a metallic or non-metallic material. Said retractable magnetic support 4 preferably comprises between 4 and 20 permanent magnets, which may have different shapes and are arranged in different locations. The permanent magnets may be fixed by gluing and / or by screwing to said support 4.

[0043] With reference to the schematic view of the guide device 2 in [Fig.4], it can be seen that each of the two sliding columns 6 comprises a cylindrical base 6.1 which can bear in direct contact with the POM, or can alternatively be fixed, for example, by screwing with said POM.

[0044] Preferably, each sliding column 6 is provided with a rod 6.2 sliding relative to the base 6.1 and is arranged in direct contact with a spring 7 arranged at right angles to a bottom 6.3 of said cylindrical base 6.1.

[0045] Advantageously, the spring 7 ensures a constant support force of the rod 6.2 on the support 4, so as to guarantee total engagement of the upper face 4.4 with the body of the motor vehicle.

[0046] In this respect, each rod 6.2 is provided with a distal end 6.4 intended to engage in a corresponding housing 4.6 located at the right of the lower face 4.8 of the retractable magnetic support 4.

[0047] Preferably, the rod 6.2 is capable of sliding over at least 5 mm and over at most 50 mm, said rod 6.2 more preferably comprising a stroke of approximately 20 mm, which is determined by the passage of a transverse pin 11 through an oblong hole 6.5 formed in the cylindrical base 6.1.

[0048] Advantageously, the guide device 2 comprises a handle 16 formed with the retractable magnetic support 4, which allows the manual removal of said support 4, to ensure disengagement of the latter from the body of the motor vehicle.

[0049] [Fig. 5] illustrates the pre-holding of the upper face of the retractable magnetic support 4 on the cross member 5 of the motor vehicle 1, after a de-styling operation, corresponding to a removal of the POM from the body.

[0050] Advantageously, although the POM has been removed, as well as the two sliding columns, the retractable magnetic support 4 remains in place thanks to the permanent magnets, adhered to the cross member 5 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0051] In this configuration, the cable trays 14 can be easily fixed by screwing through the hole 4.5 of the retractable magnetic support 4.

[0052] After this, the support 4 can be manually removed by the handle 16, and the assembly of the motor vehicle 1 can therefore be finalized, giving rise (as visible in [Fig.6]) to cable trays 14 fixed to the cross member 5, as well as to brake hoses 10 fixed by clipping to said cross member 5 by means of a clip fixing 10.1.

[0053] Advantageously, the guiding device 2 according to the invention corresponds to a tool allowing both the installation and the holding until the screwing of the ducts 14 allowing the secure holding of the high voltage electric cables 12 of the motor vehicle 1, the latter preferably being electrically powered. Thus, the assembly of the motor vehicle 1 is made simple and more ergonomic.

Claims

Claims

1. Guiding device (2) for electric cables (12) intended to be fixed to the body (3) of a motor vehicle (1), during an operation of styling mechanical parts arranged on a preparation tray for said mechanical parts (8), by the body (3) of said motor vehicle (1), characterized in that said guiding device (2) comprises a retractable magnetic support (4) configured to guide and pre-hold, by means of at least one permanent magnet, the electric cables (12) on the body (3) of the motor vehicle (1), so as to allow fixing by screwing of said cables (12) to said body (3) after an operation of unstyling the mechanical parts of said motor vehicle (1).

2. Guiding device (2) according to claim 1, further comprising two sliding columns (6) configured to extend from the mechanical organ preparation tray (8), each of said sliding columns (6) being provided with a distal end (6.4) intended to engage in a corresponding housing (4.6) located at right angles to a lower face (4.8) of the retractable magnetic support (4), so as to ensure support of the retractable magnetic support (4) against the body (3) of the motor vehicle (1).

3. Guiding device (2) according to claim 2, in which each sliding column (6) comprises a cylindrical base (6.1) in which slides a rod (6.2) arranged in direct contact with a spring (7) arranged at right angles to a bottom (6.3) of said cylindrical base (6.1).

4. Guiding device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the retractable magnetic support (4) comprises an upper face (4.4) intended to be in direct contact with the body (3) of the motor vehicle (1), said upper face (4.4) comprising at least one hollow part (4.1) making it possible to arrange an electrical cable tray (14).

5. Guiding device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the retractable magnetic support (4) comprises two longitudinal ends (4.2) provided with a through hole (4.5) allowing the passage of fixing screws towards the body (3).

6. Guiding device (2) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the upper face (4.4) of the retractable magnetic support (4) comprises two hollow parts (4.1) receiving a corresponding electrical cable tray (14), and the through hole (4.5) at each of the longitudinal ends (4.2) opens onto the corresponding hollow part (4.1).

7. Guiding device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the retractable magnetic support (4) comprises at least two permanent magnets flush with an upper face (4.4) of said retractable magnetic support (4), or arranged in line with corresponding cavities (4.7) opening onto a lower face (4.8) of said retractable magnetic support (4).

8. Method for mounting a motor vehicle (1), comprising the following steps: - arranging a guide device (2) for electric cables (12) on a mechanical component preparation tray (8), said guide device (2) being according to one of claims 1 to 7; - placing electric cables (12) in line with at least one corresponding hollow part (4.1) on an upper face (4.4) of the retractable magnetic support (4); - bringing the mechanical component preparation tray (8) towards the body (3) of said motor vehicle (1), in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle (2) and until the engagement, by means of permanent magnets, of the upper face (4.4) of the retractable magnetic support (4) with a corresponding portion (5) of the body (3); - removal of the mechanical organ preparation tray (8) from the body (3) of said motor vehicle (2); - fixing of the electric cables (12) on the body (3) by screwing through corresponding orifices (4.5) arranged at longitudinal ends (4.2) of the retractable magnetic support (4); - disengagement of the retractable magnetic support (4) from the corresponding portion (5) of the body (3).

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the disengagement of the retractable magnetic support (4) is achieved by manually removing said retractable magnetic support (4) from the corresponding portion (5) of the body (3), by means of a handle (16) extending from a lower face (4.8) of said retractable magnetic support (4).

10. Method according to one of claims 8 and 9, in which the corresponding portion of the body (3) of the motor vehicle (1) comprises a floor cross member (5) of said motor vehicle (2).

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