Sealing grommet structure

Abstract

A sealing grommet construction comprising a sealing grommet (1), designed as a corrugated tube with a constant outer diameter over its length, one end of which projects through an opening (12) in a housing wall (10) and in which a retaining ring (6) is positioned for retention in the housing wall. The retaining ring projects radially inwardly into the corrugated recesses (2) of the sealing grommet by the inner contour of its through opening (7) and is connectable to the housing wall so as to close the opening in the housing wall. The retaining ring projects into the corrugated recesses of the sealing grommet by the inner contour (8) of its central through opening, the sealing grommet being made of an elastically deformable material and elastically deformed such that the retaining ring (6) can be moved from one corrugated recess (2) to the adjacent corrugated recess (2) by the application of a predetermined minimum force in the axial direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing grommet structure comprising a sealing grommet, the sealing grommet being designed as a corrugated tube with a constant outer diameter over its length, one end of which projects through an opening in a housing wall and on which a retaining ring is arranged for holding it to the housing wall, the retaining ring projecting radially inward with its radially inner area into a corrugated recess of the sealing grommet, the retaining ring being connectable to the housing wall to close the opening in the housing wall. [Background technology]

[0002] In this type of sealing grommet structure, a retaining ring having locking projections is connected to the housing wall by engaging with the corrugated recesses of the corrugated pipe, and is known to be held in place by the retaining ring. Such sealing grommet structures are of complex design and require considerable labor for their assembly. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a sealing grommet structure of the above-mentioned type which has a simple structure, can be easily assembled, and allows the same sealing grommet to be used even when the length of the sealing grommet protruding from the opening in the housing wall is changed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] According to the present invention, this problem is solved by a structure in which the retaining ring protrudes into the corrugated recess of the sealing grommet due to the inner contour of its central through opening, the sealing grommet is made of an elastically deformable material, and the retaining ring is moved from one corrugated recess to the adjacent corrugated recess while the sealing grommet is elastically deformed by applying a predetermined minimum axial force.

[0005] In such a construction, the retaining ring of the sealing grommet is moved into a corrugated recess that corresponds to the desired length of the sealing grommet protruding from the opening in the housing wall, allowing one and the same sealing grommet to be used for different lengths of sealing grommet protruding from the housing wall without the need for additional parts or special tools.

[0006] Also, by changing the outer diameter of the retaining ring, the same grommet can be used with openings in the housing wall of different diameters.

[0007] This allows for a significant reduction in storage and logistics costs for grommets.

[0008] The same sealing grommet can be used for a variety of applications, so only one mold is required for production.

[0009] The retaining ring can be held on the sealing grommet without play if the retaining ring is designed so that the inner contour of the through hole of the retaining ring contacts within the corrugated recess of the sealing grommet.

[0010] The retaining ring may be designed such that its through opening has a circular contour, allowing it to be positioned over the sealing grommet regardless of its rotational position, thus facilitating installation.

[0011] If the retaining ring rests with the inner contour of its through hole against the outer contour of the corrugated recess in a preloaded manner, the retaining ring can be securely fitted onto the sealing grommet.

[0012] The sealing grommet has a gripping contour in one of its end regions, by means of which the sealing grommet can be gripped, for example by hand, and subjected to an axial force.

[0013] Such a construction allows the retaining ring to be pulled into a desired position over the sealing grommet by pulling on the gripping profile.

[0014] In order to fasten the retaining ring to the housing wall, the retaining ring may be provided with a connecting structure in its radially outer peripheral region which is connectable to the housing wall.

[0015] In a simple design, the connecting structure is a radially outwardly opening annular groove, the groove width of which corresponds to the wall thickness of the housing wall and the diameter of its bottom corresponds to the diameter of the opening in the housing wall.

[0016] The retaining ring is formed of an elastically deformable material and has an annular groove such that the retaining ring can be connected to the housing wall by simply fitting it against the opening in the housing wall, provided that the retaining ring is configured to fit into the opening in the housing wall.

[0017] If the retaining ring is constructed with a radially surrounding sealing lip about its radially outer periphery, the retaining ring will sealingly contact the housing wall when installed.

[0018] If the sealing lip is resilient and its radially inner region is connected to the groove wall of the annular groove facing away from the housing wall and the freely projecting radially outer region of the sealing lip is angled towards the housing wall, the retaining ring will abut the housing wall under a preload, thereby increasing the sealing effect when attached to the housing wall. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 shows a sealing grommet structure in longitudinal cross section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in detail below: The drawing shows a sealing grommet structure in longitudinal cross section.

[0021] In the sealing grommet construction shown in the figures, the sealing grommet 1 is designed as a corrugated tube with a constant diameter over its length, with corrugated recesses 2 and corrugated protrusions 3 arranged alternately.

[0022] The sealing grommet is formed from an elastic material.

[0023] The sealing grommet 1 is provided at its left end with a tab 4 as a gripping contour and at its right end with a connection part 5 of a kink construction.

[0024] The connection portion 5 may be provided in other shapes, for example it may extend straight relative to the sealing grommet 1, or it may be designed to be flexibly bent in any direction.

[0025] In the left end region of the sealing grommet 1, the retaining ring 6 is arranged with its central through-opening 7 located in the corrugated recess 2 and surrounds the sealing grommet 1 with its inner contour 8. The retaining ring 6 rests against the sealing grommet 1 with the inner contour 8 of the through-opening 7 preloading it against the outer contour of the corrugated recess 2.

[0026] In the left-hand end region of the sealing grommet 1, a retaining ring 6 is shown attached to the housing wall 10, and on the right-hand side of the sealing grommet 1, identical retaining rings 6', 6'' are shown in two further positions.

[0027] The retaining ring 6 , 6 ′, 6 ″ has, in its radially outer peripheral region, an annular groove 9 opening radially outward, the groove width of which corresponds to the wall thickness of the housing wall 10 .

[0028] The diameter of the bottom 11 of the annular groove 9 corresponds to the diameter of the opening 12 in the housing wall 10. The retaining rings 6, 6', 6'' are made of an elastic material and are positioned on the sealing grommet 1 by fitting against the protrusions 3 of the corrugated structure. When the annular groove 9 engages in the opening 12 in the housing wall 10, the retaining ring 6 together with the sealing grommet 1 is fixed to the housing wall 10.

[0029] The retaining ring 6, 6', 6" is provided on its radial outside with a radially surrounding sealing lip 13, the radially inner region 14 of which is connected to a groove wall 15 of the annular groove 9 facing away from the housing wall 10. The freely projecting radially outer region 16 of the sealing lip 13 is inclined towards the housing wall 10 when not attached to the housing wall 10.

[0030] When the retaining ring 6 is installed on the housing wall 10, the sealing lips 13 deform radially outwardly and abut against the housing wall 10 with a sealing preload. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Sealing grommet 2 Wave recess 3 Waveform convex part 4 Tabs 5 Connection 6 Retaining Ring 7 Through opening 8 Inner Contour 9 Annular groove 10 Housing Wall 11 Bottom 12 Opening 13 Sealing lip 14 Radial inner area 15 Groove Wall 16 Radial outer area

Claims

1. A sealing grommet structure comprising a sealing grommet (1), The sealing grommet (1) is designed as a corrugated tube with a constant outer diameter over its length, one end of which projects through an opening (12) in the housing wall (10) and on which a retaining ring (6) is arranged for holding it in the housing wall (10); The retaining ring (6) is connectable to the housing wall (10) to close the opening (12) in the housing wall (10), The retaining ring (6) has an inner contour (8) of its central through-opening (7) that protrudes from the through-opening (7) into the corrugated recess (2) of the sealing grommet (1); the sealing grommet (1) is made of an elastically deformable material and is configured to be elastically deformed by application of a predetermined minimum force in the axial direction, so that the retaining ring (6) can move from one corrugated recess (2) to an adjacent corrugated recess (2); The retaining ring (6) has a connecting structure on its radially outer peripheral region that can be connected to the housing wall (10), The connecting structure is an annular groove (9) that opens radially outward and has a groove width corresponding to the wall thickness of the housing wall (10), the diameter of the bottom (11) of the annular groove (9) corresponds to the diameter of the opening (12) in the housing wall (10); The retaining ring (6) has a radially surrounding sealing lip (13) on its radially outer periphery; The sealing lip (13) is elastic and its radially inner region (14) is connected to a groove wall (15) of the annular groove (9) facing away from the housing wall (10), a freely projecting radially outer region (16) of the sealing lip (13) is inclined towards the housing wall (10) when the retaining ring (6) is not attached to the housing wall (10); When the retaining ring (6) is installed on the housing wall (10), the sealing lip (13) deforms radially outward and abuts against the housing wall (10) with a sealing preload. Sealing grommet structure.

2. The retaining ring (6) rests in the corrugated recess (2) of the sealing grommet (1) with the inner contour (8) of the through opening (7). The sealing grommet structure according to claim 1 .

3. The through opening (7) of the retaining ring (6) has a circular contour. The sealing grommet structure according to claim 2 .

4. the retaining ring (6) is preloaded by the inner contour (8) of the through opening (7) against the outer contour of the corrugated recess (2); The sealing grommet structure according to claim 2 .

5. the sealing grommet (1) has a gripping contour in one of its end regions, by means of which the sealing grommet (1) is gripped and subjected to an axial force; The sealing grommet structure according to claim 1 .

6. The retaining ring (6) is made of an elastically deformable material, The retaining ring (6) is fitted into the opening (12) in the housing wall (10) by the annular groove (9). The sealing grommet structure according to claim 1 .

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