GUIDING AND SUPPORT DEVICE FOR A BLINDLY INSTALLED CABLE

Abstract

The device includes a mechanical fastening means and a cable guidance and retention means arranged to position the cable in a deployment or retracted configuration within an allocated area. According to the invention, the device comprises a cable guidance arm (1) including a cable retention means (5), a pivot joint (3) arranged between the mechanical fastening means (2) and the arm, and a spring-forming means (3). The joint allows rotation of the arm between two positions: one position (PL) ensuring the cable is in the deployment configuration and the other position ensuring the cable is in the retracted configuration. The spring-forming means is arranged to exert a force on the arm facilitating its rotation from one position to the other. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: GUIDING AND RETAINING DEVICE FOR A BLINDLY MOUNTED CABLE

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the guiding and holding in position of a cable or a bundle of cables. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for guiding and holding a cable mounted blindly in a constrained environment. The invention finds a particular, but not exclusive, application in the mounting of a cover on a rotating electrical machine housing, requiring the guiding and holding in position of an electrical connection cable between components present in the housing and an electrical connector integrated into the cover, within a restricted area allocated to the cable.

[0002] Generally, assembly processes do not always allow sufficient accessibility and visibility during assembly operations to guarantee the correct placement of cables in their allocated spaces. In such a situation, where the cable is said to be "blindly mounted," a positioning defect can hinder the alignment of parts to be assembled, lead to cable damage through pinching or crushing, or even cause a malfunction or alteration of a component in the surrounding environment.

[0003] In the prior art, a device called a "cable carrier chain" is known and is frequently used in industrial settings for guiding cables. Besides the fact that this device is limited to guidance in a plane, which makes it unsuitable for certain applications, its size and cost are significant drawbacks that restrict its use.

[0004] From US patent 2010259118A1, an electric motor for a motor vehicle is known. In this motor, wiring harnesses for a resolver and a temperature sensor are housed in a casing, under a cover. These harnesses are connected together, and the resolver harness is held in position by a clamp against a cooling oil distribution pipe. These arrangements prevent blockage of the cooling oil path and avoid pinching or damage to the wiring harnesses during assembly of the cover onto the casing.

[0005] The present invention provides a novel solution for guiding and holding in position a cable or a bundle of cables, without the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art, for blind mounting of the latter in a restricted area of ​​a complex environment.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a cable guidance and retention device, the device comprising a mechanical fixing means and a cable guidance and retention means arranged to dispose of the cable in a deployment configuration or a retraction configuration in an allocated area.According to the invention, the device comprises a cable guide arm including a cable retaining means, a pivot joint arranged between the mechanical fixing means and the cable guide arm, and a means providing a spring function, the pivot joint allowing a rotational movement of the cable guide arm between two positions, one of the positions ensuring a cable arrangement in the deployment configuration and the other position ensuring a cable arrangement in the retracted configuration, and the means providing the spring function being arranged so as to exert on the cable guide arm a force facilitating its rotational movement from one position to the other position.

[0007] According to a particular embodiment, the device is made in the form of a single piece.

[0008] According to a particular feature, this one-piece part is made of plastic material and comprises an unfilled polyamide of the type known as “PA6” or “PA66”.

[0009] According to another particular feature, the pivot joint is provided by a deformable portion of the one-piece part.

[0010] According to another particular feature, the deformable portion is elastic and provides the means ensuring the spring function, the means ensuring the spring function exerting on the cable guide arm a force facilitating its rotational movement from its position ensuring a disposition of the cable in the deployment configuration to its position ensuring a disposition of the cable in the retraction configuration.

[0011] According to another particular embodiment, the device is made in the form of at least two separate parts assembled by the pivot joint, one part forming the mechanical fixing means and the other part forming the cable guide arm, and includes a spring arranged so as to exert on the cable guide arm a force facilitating its rotational movement from one position to the other position.

[0012] According to another particular feature, the mechanical fastening means includes a clip-on clip or screw fastening means.

[0013] According to another particular feature, the cable retention means includes a cable clamp of the so-called "lyre" type or a cable retention ring.

[0014] According to another particular feature, the device includes a means forming a protective partition.

[0015] The invention also relates to a rotating electrical machine comprising a device as briefly described above.

[0016] Other advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description below of several particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable guiding and holding device according to the invention, shown in a first extreme position.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cable guidance and retention device of Fig. 1, shown in another extreme position.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a cutaway perspective view showing an integration of the cable guidance and retention device of Fig. 1 into an assembly formed of a deep housing and a closing cover.

[0020] Fig. 4 is a perspective view relating to the assembly of the whole of Fig. 3.

[0021] Fig. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of the whole of Fig. 3 showing the cable guidance and retention device of Fig. 1 and the retention of the cable in a restricted area of ​​the housing closed by its cover.

[0022] Fig. 6 is a cutaway top view of the entire Fig. 3 showing the cable guidance and retention device of Fig. 1 and the retention of the cable in a restricted area of ​​the housing closed by its cover.

[0023] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cable guiding and holding device according to the invention.

[0024] With reference to [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2], an embodiment DG of a device according to the invention for guiding and holding a cable in position in a complex environment is described below. The DG device of the invention is made in a single piece of plastic, typically by injection molding, and offers the advantage of low manufacturing cost. Typically, the plastic used is an unfilled PA6 or PA66 polyamide, but not exclusively.

[0025] As seen in [Fig.1] and [Fig.2], the DG device essentially comprises a cable guide arm 1, a mechanical fixing section 2, a pivot joint 3, a protective partition 4 and a cable retaining section 5.

[0026] The cable guide arm 1 is shaped according to the environment in which the device DG is integrated, as will become clear in the following description. The cable guide arm 1 can assume two extreme positions shown respectively in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2]. In [Fig. 1], the arm 1 is shown in a deployed position PL. In [Fig. 2], the arm 1 is shown in a retracted position PR.

[0027] The mechanical fastening section 2 is implemented here in the form of a clip. The clip 2 is designed to clip onto a mechanical interface provided in the environment to support the mechanical fastening of the device DG.

[0028] The pivot joint 3 is formed by a deformable portion of the device DG. The pivot joint 3 performs both a pivot function and an arm lifting spring function. Thus, when a thrust force F (see [Fig. 1], or [Fig. 2]) is applied to the arm 1 in the deployed position PL, the pivot joint 3 deforms, and consequently, the arm 1 moves into its retracted position PR and is held in this position PR as long as this force remains active. In the absence of an applied thrust force F, the arm lifting spring function exerted by the pivot joint 3 causes the arm 1 to rise from its retracted position PR to its deployed position PL and holds the arm 1 in this latter position PL.

[0029] The protective partition 4 has the function of preventing the CL cable from coming into contact with certain parts of the DG device and the environment, so as not to disrupt the operation of the device and to prevent any possible interaction with a component of the environment.

[0030] The cable retention section 5 is implemented here in the form of a cable clamp of the so-called "lyre" type. Section 5 provides a gripping and retention function for the CL cable.

[0031] With reference now more particularly to [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 4], the device of the invention DG is described above in the context of an application in a rotating electrical machine. More specifically, the device DG is integrated here into a housing CA of the rotating electrical machine. The device DG allows, when a cover CO is mounted on the housing CA, the guidance and positioning of a cable CL providing electrical connections between components present in the housing CA and components integrated into the cover CO, within a restricted area allocated to the cable CL. The cable CL is provided with an electrical connector, at one free end thereof, which must be inserted into an electrical counter-connector of the cover CO. In the figures, the connector of the cable CL and the counter-connector of the cover CO are indicated by the same reference mark CE.

[0032] In this rotating electrical machine, the CA housing, which is generally deep-dish in shape, must be closed with the CO cover during the assembly process. Once the CO cover has been assembled onto the CA housing, the CL cable must be precisely located in its designated area, which is here at the bottom of the CA housing. In the initial phase of the assembly process, the CO cover is held above the CA housing by a gripper (not shown). With the CO cover held above the CA housing, an operator manually inserts the connector (CE) of the CL cable into the counter-connector (CE) of the CO cover. The operator then removes the CO cover from the aforementioned gripper, places the CO cover onto the CA housing, and secures the assembly with screws (not shown). While the CO cover is being positioned on the CA housing, the DG device guides and holds the CL cable in place so that it is positioned within its designated area. The DG device thus compensates for the operator's inability to manually manage the correct positioning of the CL cable due to limited accessibility and visibility.

[0033] As shown in [Fig.3], in the initial phase of the assembly process, with the cover CO held above the housing CA by the gripper, the device DG is in its deployment position PL and the cable CL is stretched by the cable retaining section 5. The operator can thus easily grasp the cable CL and connect its connector (CE) into the counter-connector (CE) of the cover CO.

[0034] In the situation shown in [Fig. 4], the CO cover is released from its aforementioned gripper, and the operator, after connecting the connector (CE) of the CL cable to the counter-connector (CE) of the CO cover, moves the CO cover (along arrow A) to assemble it onto the CA housing and close it. The arm 1 of the DG device then comes into contact with a suitable portion of the CO cover and is progressively pushed towards its retracted position PR until it reaches this position once the CO cover is properly in place on the CA housing. The arm 1 rotates from its deployed position PL to its retracted position PR, thus guiding the CL cable into its designated restricted area within the CA housing.

[0035] The cutaway perspective view in [Fig. 5] and the cutaway top view in [Fig. 6] show the correct positioning of the cable CL in the housing CA, as achieved by the device DG of the invention. As more clearly seen in [Fig. 6], the shape of the arm 1 is defined in accordance with the environment and, during its movement towards the retracted position PR, guides the cable CL towards the restricted area allocated to it in the housing CA. In its retracted position PR, the arm 1 holds the cable CL within the allocated area. By ensuring guidance and retention of the cable CL with a complex path conforming to the environment, the device DG guarantees the preservation of the various components present in the interior space of the housing CA, which is closed by the cover CO.

[0036] The device according to the invention can also be made according to an architecture comprising several parts, typically to meet certain constraints, such as dimensional, material or industrial constraints.

[0037] An example of an embodiment DGa of a device of the invention having an architecture with several parts is shown in [Fig.7].

[0038] As can be seen in [Fig. 7], the device DGa essentially comprises a first part 1 forming a mounting support, and a second part 2a forming an arm cable guide, and a return spring for arm 3a. Parts 1a and 2a are assembled via a pivot joint 4a.

[0039] The pivot joint 4a comprises two assembled parts, namely, a female part formed from material in one of the parts (here part 1a) and a male part formed from material in the other part (here part 2a).

[0040] In addition to the female part of the pivot joint, the part la includes, in particular, a clip 10a and a tenon lia made of material. The clip 10a provides a mechanical fastening function by clipping the device DGa. The clip 10a is clipped onto a mechanical interface IM provided in the mounting environment of the device DGa. The tenon 1la is provided for attaching one end of the arm return spring 3a.

[0041] In addition to the male part of the pivot joint, part 2a includes, in particular, a ring 20a and a tenon 21a made of the same material. Besides its main function as a cable guide arm, part 2a also performs a protective function, like the protective partition 4 of the DG device, thanks to its overall partition shape. Ring 20a secures the cable CL. Unlike the cable clamp 5 provided in the DG device, ring 20a allows the cable some freedom by letting it slide. This freedom of movement for the cable CL may be necessary due to its mechanical characteristics (stiffness, dimensions, etc.). Tenon 21a is provided for attaching a second end of the arm return spring 3a.

[0042] Like the DG device, this DGa device allows two extreme positions, namely, a deployment position PLA of the part 2a forming the cable guide arm and a retracted position PRa of this part 2a. The arm return spring 3a pulls the part 2a towards the retracted position PRa which is that shown in [Fig.7].

[0043] Furthermore, the attachment of a device of the invention, such as the DG device or the DGa device, can be achieved along several mounting axes. In addition to the clip and clip fastening solution, screw fastening can also be used.

[0044] The invention makes it possible to reduce the costs of obtaining quality, in particular by ensuring the preservation of the cable during factory assembly, and, in after-sales, by avoiding abrasive contacts between the cable and other components which could lead to critical malfunctions.

[0045] The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein by way of example. A person skilled in the art may, depending on the applications of the invention, make various modifications and variations falling within the scope of the invention's protection.

Claims

Demands

1. Cable guidance and retention device (CL), the device comprising a mechanical fastening means and a cable guidance and retention means arranged to dispose of said cable in a deployment configuration or a retraction configuration within an allocated area, characterized in that it comprises a cable guidance arm (1, 2a) comprising a cable retention means (5, 20a), a pivot joint (3, 4a) arranged between said mechanical fastening means (2, 1a) and said cable guidance arm (1, 2a), and a means (3, 3a) providing a spring function, said pivot joint (3, 4a) allowing a rotational movement of said cable guidance arm (1, 4a) between two positions (PL, PR), one (PL) of the positions ensuring a disposition of said cable (CL) in said deployment configuration and the other position (PR) ensuring a disposition of said cable (CL) in said retraction configuration, and said means (3,3a) performing the function of a spring, arranged to exert on said cable guide arm (1, 2a) a force facilitating its rotational movement from said position to said other position.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made in the form of a single piece.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said one-piece part is made of plastic material and comprises an unfilled polyamide of the type known as "PA6" or "PA66".

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said pivot joint is provided by a deformable portion (3) of said one-piece part.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said deformable portion (3) is elastic and provides said means ensuring the function of spring, said means ensuring the function of spring exerting on said cable guide arm (1) a force facilitating its rotational movement from its position (PL) ensuring a disposition of said cable in said deployment configuration to its position (PR) ensuring a disposition of said cable in said retraction configuration.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made in the form of at least two separate parts assembled by said

7.

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10. pivot joint (4a), a part forming said mechanical fastening means (la) and the other part forming said cable guide arm (2a), and in that it includes a spring (3a) arranged to exert on said cable guide arm (2a) a force facilitating its rotational movement from said position (PLa) to said other position (PRa). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said mechanical fastening means comprises a clip (2) or screw fastening means. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said cable retention means comprises a cable clamp of the so-called "lyre" type (5) or a cable retention ring (20a). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a means (4, 2a) forming a protective partition. Rotating electric machine, characterized in that it comprises a device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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