Interface component for automotive cable gland with multifunction cover and assembly including such an interface component

Abstract

Interface component for a motor vehicle cable gland with a multi-function cover and an assembly comprising such an interface component. The invention relates to an interface component (15) for a motor vehicle, adapted to be mounted on a cable gland (9) fixed to an opening (7) passing through a sheet metal element (3) of a body structure of said motor vehicle. According to the invention, the interface component (15) comprises a guide cover (17) designed to vertically constrain at least one cable bundle (13) when said interface component (15) is mounted on said cable gland (9) and when said at least one cable bundle (13) passes through said cable gland (9). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Interface component for a vehicle cable gland with a multi-function cover and an assembly comprising such an interface component. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the automotive field, and concerns an interface piece for cable pass-through and an assembly comprising such an interface piece. Previous technique

[0002] In a motor vehicle, cable harnesses run through the passenger compartment to supply various vehicle components, including, for example, a fuel pump from the fuel tank, a rear axle component, an electric handbrake, wheel speed sensors, a traction battery, etc.

[0003] When a beam has to pass through a sheet metal element of the vehicle, for example the floor, the sheet metal element has an opening receiving a cable pass-through, oriented perpendicularly relative to the sheet metal element, which can be fixed on a shutter itself mounted in the opening, or directly on the sheet metal element.

[0004] The cable gland comprises a rigid part, designed to allow its attachment to the shutter or to the floor, and a flexible part, called a nipple, extending upwards towards the top of the cable gland, generally made of an elastomeric material and designed to allow water, air and noise sealing between the passenger compartment and the underbody.

[0005] Since the floor is relatively flat, the beam that passes through the cable pass-through tends to take on volume vertically above the floor.

[0006] Also, in battery electric vehicles (BEVs, an Anglo-Saxon acronym for "Battery Electric Vehicle") or hybrid vehicles comprising a thermal engine and an electric motor which operate simultaneously or alternately in order to reduce the power consumed by the vehicle, for example a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEVs, an English acronym for "Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle"), the wiring harnesses running through the vehicle are larger in size, compared with the harnesses used in thermal vehicles.

[0007] Beam fixing points on the floor can be provided but, despite this, the dispersions are such that the beam is not well fixed vertically and takes a random position.

[0008] The rigidity of the bundle creates a bump at the exit of the cable pass-through, above the opening made in the floor.

[0009] The presence of such a bump causes several inconveniences, such as the obstruction of items coming onto the floor.

[0010] For example, this can cause the carpet placed on the floor to lift up.

[0011] This can also interfere with the mounting of the soundproofing face of the carpet, despite the indentation generally made in the soundproofing face of the carpet to allow the beam to pass through.

[0012] Also, the seat lever bar, which allows the sliding seats to be moved, can rub against the carpet, creating a hard spot for the seat and risking damage to the carpet or the wiring harness, particularly by tearing the carpet or the harness. Description of the invention

[0013] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and for this purpose relates to an interface piece for a motor vehicle, adapted to be mounted on a cable gland fixed to an opening through a sheet metal element of a body structure of said motor vehicle, said interface piece being remarkable in that it includes a guide hood designed to vertically constrain at least one bundle when said interface piece is mounted on said cable gland and when said at least one bundle passes through said cable gland.

[0014] Thus, by providing an interface piece adapted to be mounted on a cable gland, the cable gland being fixed in an opening through a sheet metal element of a body structure, the interface piece having a guide hood designed to vertically constrain at least one bundle when said interface piece is mounted on said cable gland and when said at least one bundle passes through said cable gland, it is possible to compact the bundle and thus reduce the height of the bundle at the exit of the cable gland.

[0015] In this way, the creation of a bump at the exit of the cable pass-through due to the rigidity of the bundle is avoided, which makes it possible to get rid of all the disadvantages resulting from the presence of such a bump.

[0016] Also, by mounting the interface piece on the cable gland, two acoustic barriers are created: the first by the flexible part of the cable gland and the second by the interface piece. This improves the acoustic performance.

[0017] According to optional features of the interface piece according to the invention: - said guide hood consists of a semi-tubular face defining a receiving space for said beam oriented towards said cable pass-through when said interface piece is mounted on said cable pass-through; - said interface piece comprises a base extended laterally by said guide hood; - said guide hood is arranged cantilevered from said base; - said interface piece includes at least one quick-release interface designed to allow the attachment of said interface piece to said cable gland; - said at least one quick-release mounting interface is arranged on said base; - said interface piece is made of a plastic material

[0018] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle assembly, comprising: - a sheet metal component of the body structure of said motor vehicle, said sheet metal component comprising an opening passing through said sheet metal component, - a cable gland, fixed to said opening, - at least one bundle passing through said cable gland, said assembly being remarkable in that it comprises an interface piece mounted on said cable gland, said interface piece being according to the invention and said beam being vertically constrained by said guide cover of said interface piece.

[0019] According to an optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, said cable gland includes a flexible part made of an elastomeric material and said flexible part extends inside said base of said interface piece.

[0020] According to another optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, said sheet metal element is a floor of said motor vehicle. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig-1] partially shows an assembly of motor vehicles according to the invention, seen from perspective.

[0023] [Fig.2] shows the interface piece according to the invention, seen in lateral perspective.

[0024] [Fig.3] shows the interface piece according to the invention, seen in perspective from below.

[0025] [Fig.4] shows the assembly of the interface piece on the cable gland.

[0026] [Fig.5] shows the assembly formed by the interface piece and the cable gland seen in perspective and in cross-section along the line VV of [Fig.4].

[0027] [Fig.6] shows an assembly step of the interface part on the cable pass-through. Description of the implementation methods

[0028] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions are designated by the same reference.

[0029] Reference is made to [Fig.1] partially showing an assembly 1 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, seen in perspective.

[0030] Assembly 1 comprises a sheet metal element 3 of a body structure of the motor vehicle. The sheet metal element 3 can define a generally flat and horizontal portion.

[0031] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the sheet metal element 3 is a floor 5 of the vehicle body underbody.

[0032] The floor 5 has an opening 7 through the floor 5. The location of the opening 7 through the sheet metal element 3 can be adapted at will according to needs.

[0033] Floor 5 receives a cable pass-through 9, oriented perpendicularly relative to floor 5.

[0034] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the cable guide 9 is fixed on a shutter 11 itself mounted in the opening 7.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the cable pass-through 9 is fixed directly onto the opening 7 of the floor 5, i.e. the cable pass-through is mounted on the floor 5 without a shutter 11.

[0036] Assembly 1 further comprises a set of cable harnesses which run through the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0037] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, a bundle 13 passes through the opening 7 of the floor 5, the bundle 13 being able for example to include cables from a fuel pump of the fuel tank, an element of the rear axle, an electric handbrake, wheel speed sensors, a traction battery, etc.

[0038] More specifically, the beam 13 passes through the cable pass-through 9 fixed to the opening 7 of the floor 5.

[0039] According to the invention, the assembly 1 comprises an interface piece 15, including a guide hood 17 adapted to vertically constrain the bundle 13 when the interface piece 15 is mounted on the cable gland 9 and when the bundle 13 passes through the cable gland 9.

[0040] The interface piece 15 can be made of a rigid plastic material, such as polypropylene, which ensures that the beams are constrained in the desired direction.

[0041] Reference is made to figures 2 and 3 showing the interface piece 15 viewed in perspective respectively laterally and from below.

[0042] The interface piece 15 can admit a longitudinal plane P of symmetry.

[0043] In one embodiment, the guide hood 17 consists of a semi-tubular face 19, for example with a roughly circular cross-section.

[0044] The semi-tubular face 19 defines a space 21 for receiving the beam 13.

[0045] When the interface piece 15 is mounted on the cable pass-through 9, the space 21 for receiving the beam 13 defined by the semi-tubular face 19 is oriented towards the cable pass-through 9.

[0046] In other words, the guide hood has an external surface 23 and an internal surface 25, together defining the semi-tubular face 19. The internal surface 25 defines the space 21 for receiving the beam 13 and is located opposite the cable pass-through 9.

[0047] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the interface piece 15 comprises a base 27, extended laterally by the guide hood 17.

[0048] Also, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the guide hood 17 is arranged cantilevered relative to the base 27 of the interface piece 15, which makes it easier to mount the interface piece in the assembly 1.

[0049] The interface piece 15 further includes at least one quick-fixing interface 29 designed to allow quick and simplified fixing of the interface piece 15 onto the cable gland 9.

[0050] For example, the quick-fix interface 29 is a fixing clip adapted to allow the interface piece 15 to be clipped onto the cable gland 9.

[0051] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, two quick-fixing interfaces 29 equip the interface part 15, distributed on either side of the longitudinal plane of symmetry P.

[0052] The quick-fixing interfaces 29 are arranged, for example, at the base 27. However, in an embodiment not shown in the figures, the quick-fixing interfaces 29 can be arranged elsewhere on the interface piece 15, for example at the guide cover 17, particularly when the latter extends laterally relative to the base 27 without extending cantilevered relative to the base 27.

[0053] Reference is made to [Fig.4] showing the assembly of the interface piece 15 on the cable gland 9.

[0054] Each quick-fixing interface 29 is adapted to cooperate with a complementary fixing interface 31 carried by the cable gland 9.

[0055] The cable gland 9 has a rigid part 33, designed to allow its attachment to the shutter 11 visible in [Fig.1] or directly to the sheet metal element 3, and a flexible part 35 extending upwards from the cable gland 9 relative to the rigid part 33.

[0056] The flexible part 35 is designed to provide a watertight, airtight, and soundproof seal between the passenger compartment and the body underbody. The flexible part 35 can be made of an elastomeric material, for example, EPDM rubber (acronym for ethylene propylene diene monomer).

[0057] Reference is made to [Fig.5] showing the assembly formed by the interface piece 15 and the cable gland 9 seen in perspective and in cross-section along the line VV of [Fig.4],

[0058] In one embodiment, the flexible part 35 of the cable pass-through 9 extends inside the base 27 of the interface piece 15. The flexible part 35 has a lateral opening 37 allowing the beam 13 (not shown here) to reach the beam reception space 21 defined by the semi-tubular face 19 of the guide hood 17.

[0059] Reference is made to [Fig.6] showing an assembly step of the interface part 15 on the cable pass-through 9.

[0060] The interface piece 15 can be mounted on the cable gland 9 for example after the beam 13 has passed through the opening 7 made in the floor 5 and the cable gland 9.

[0061] The mounting of the interface piece 15 on the cable gland 9 is carried out by making the quick-fixing interfaces 29 of the interface piece 15 cooperate with the complementary fixing interfaces 31 carried by the cable gland 9.

[0062] As will be understood, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of this interface piece and of this assembly comprising such an interface piece, described above solely by way of illustrative examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Interface piece (15) for motor vehicle, adapted to be mounted on a cable gland (9) fixed to an opening (7) passing through a sheet metal element (3) of a body structure of said motor vehicle, said interface piece (15) being characterized in that it comprises a guide hood (17) designed to vertically constrain at least one bundle (13) when said interface piece (15) is mounted on said cable gland (9) and when said at least one bundle (13) passes through said cable gland (9).

2. Interface piece (15) according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide hood (17) consists of a semi-tubular face defining a space (21) for receiving said beam (13) oriented towards said cable gland (9) when said interface piece (15) is mounted on said cable gland (9).

3. Interface piece (15) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a base (27) extended laterally by said guide hood (17).

4. Interface piece (15) according to claim 3, characterized in that said guide hood (17) is arranged cantilevered relative to said base (27).

5. Interface piece (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one quick-fixing interface (29) designed to allow the attachment of said interface piece (15) to said cable gland (9).

6. Interface piece (15) according to claim 3 or according to claims 3 and 5 or according to claims 3, 4, 5, characterized in that said at least one quick-fixing interface (29) is arranged on said base (27).

7. Interface piece (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is made of a plastic material.

8. Assembly (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a sheet metal element (3) of a body structure of said motor vehicle, said sheet metal element (3) comprising an opening (7) passing through said sheet metal element (3), - a cable gland (9), fixed to said opening (7), - at least one bundle (13) passing through said cable gland (9), said assembly (1) being characterized in that it comprises an interface piece (15) mounted on said cable gland (9), said interface piece (15) being according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and said bundle (13) being constrained vertically by said guide cover (17) of said interface piece (15).

9. Assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein said interface piece (15) is according to claim 3 or according to claims 2 and 3 or according to any one of claims 4 to 7 combined with claim 3, wherein said cable gland (9) comprises a flexible part (35) made of an elastomeric material, characterized in that said flexible part (35) extends inside said base (27) of said interface piece (15).

10. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that said sheet metal element (3) is a floor (5) of said motor vehicle.

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