Cable gland

The cable gland design addresses the challenge of high pulling forces and sealing issues in electric charging stations by incorporating a grip element and clamping mechanism, ensuring cable protection and cost-effective sealing in electric charging stations.

WO2024258365A1PCT designated stage expired Publication Date: 2024-12-19BIMED TEKNIK ALETLER SANAYI & TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/TR2023/050571
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-06-14
Publication Date
2024-12-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing cable glands for electric charging stations face issues with high cable pulling forces, which can damage the cables and lead to sealing problems due to increased weight and heat in fast-charging cables, and existing solutions either damage the cables or increase the size and cost of charging stations.

Method used

A cable gland design featuring a hollow tubular gland body, gland nut, sealing element, clamping ring, grip element, and clamping element that provides resistance against pulling forces, prevents cable pushback, and maintains sealing protection without damaging the insulation, using a combination of materials like metal, plastic, or their combinations.

Benefits of technology

The cable gland effectively withstands high pulling forces, prevents cable damage, maintains sealing integrity, and reduces external interference, while providing cost-effective sealing protection against liquids and dust, enhancing the durability and efficiency of charging station installations.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a cable gland (A) for cable assembly. The cable gland (A) comprises a hollow tubular gland body (10) connectable to a housing, a gland nut (12) connectable to the gland body (10) and having an opening for cable passage, at least one sealing element (14) placed into the gland body (10) and providing sealing protection, a clamping ring (16) placed into the gland cap (12), and a gripping element (18) connected to said clamping ring (16), which wraps around the outer surface of the cable and provides resistance against the cable pulling force. Furthermore, the cable gland (A) comprises at least one clamping element (20) placed between the gland body (10) and the gland nut (12) which, when force is applied to the gland cap (12), moves into the clamping ring (16) and thus prevents the cable from being pushed back.
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Description

[0001] CABLE GLAND

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to cable glands for mounting cables in a housing.

[0004] In particular, the invention relates to cable glands for the assembly of charging cables used in electric charging stations.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] In recent years, the demand for environmentally friendly electric vehicles has increased with the trend of the strengthening of global environmental regulations and reducing energy costs. Accordingly, the need for charging infrastructure that can charge electric vehicle batteries is also increasing.

[0007] An electric charging station comprises a charging body with an internal power supply module, a charging cable for charging the electric vehicle with electricity supplied from the power supply module and a charging gun. For charging the electric vehicle, the charging cable fixed to the charging station is connected to the electric vehicle by an operator. The charging cable is fixed to the charging station by means of a cable gland. The cable gland provides sealing and mechanical strength between the charging cable and the charging station.

[0008] With the common use of electric vehicles, charging stations capable of fast charging are also expected to become common. A fast-charging cable carries more current than a normal charging cable. As the current carried in the charging cable increases, a larger cross-sectional area is required and this causes the cable weight to increase. Fast-charging cables heat up rapidly because of the high currents they carry. To prevent this, a system is added around the charging cable through which a coolant passes. Therefore, it is not easy to use a fast-charging cable. Because as the cable weight increases, the flexibility of the cable decreases and it becomes difficult to move.

[0009] In the charging station, a part of the charging cable hangs outside the charging body. However, the charging cable must be pulled out for charging. The charging cables are therefore exposed to relatively high pulling forces, which are almost continuous. The cable glands, which provide strain relief by means of a seal, are used to prevent this situation. Cable assembly is carried out with high clamping forces to ensure that the cable is tightly gripped by the seal.

[0010] US10141686B2 discloses a grommet for use in a cable connection. There is a hole in the grommet body and a flexible membrane is placed at one end of the hole and flexible gripping teeth are placed at the other end. Thus, the grommet grips the cable when force is applied.

[0011] In the existing applications, installation with high clamping force may damage the cable. On the other hand, the heating of the fast-charging cables causes permanent deformation of the seal and the outer sheath of the cable over time. As a result, the cable gland cannot fulfill its cable fastening and sealing functions. The cable, which is vulnerable to cable pulling force, is damaged and sealing problems arise in the charging station.

[0012] JP2016067185A discloses a charging station developed to reduce the pulling force applied to a charging cable. Here, the charging cable is wound onto a static pulley unit and pressed against the static pulley unit by means of a contact element. The friction force generated at the contact part of the static pulley unit and the charging cable when the charging cable is pulled and the friction force generated when the contact element pushes the charging cable towards the static pulley unit create a resistance against the pulling force. Thus, the effect of pulling force on the cable is reduced.

[0013] The solutions in the prior art cause an increase in the size and cost of the charging stations. Considering the fact that charging station infrastructures are just becoming common and the initial investment costs are relatively high, it is expected to provide simple and cost-effective solutions.

[0014] As a result, it has become necessary to make an improvement in the relevant technical field due to the above-mentioned negativities and the inadequacy of the existing solutions in solving the problem.

[0015] Purpose of the Invention

[0016] The invention has been inspired by the present situations and aims to solve the aforementioned disadvantages. The main purpose of the invention is to reduce the negative effects of the high cablepulling force to which the cables used in electric charging stations are exposed. The gripping system used in the inventive cable gland provides the charging cable to withstand high cable pulling force.

[0017] Another purpose of the invention is to prevent the cable mounted in the charging station from being pushed back. Pushing the cable back may damage the internal connections. A clamping element is used to prevent the cable from being pushed back.

[0018] Another purpose of the invention is to prevent the sealing elements from damaging the insulation of the charging cable. The sealing elements used in the invention do not damage the insulation of the charging cable. Because the sealing element does not take on the function of preventing the movement of the cable.

[0019] Another purpose of the invention is to prevent the reduction of strain relief by avoiding external interference with the grip element. The cable gland prevents external interference with the grip element by means of a jacket. Sealing protection is additionally increased.

[0020] Another purpose of the invention is to provide sealing protection by preventing the ingress of liquid and dust when there is no cable passage through the cable gland assembled in the charging station. The protection cap placed on the gland body fulfills this function.

[0021] In order to fulfill the purposes described above, the invention is a cable gland for a cable assembly, comprising; a hollow tubular gland body, which can be connected to a housing, a gland nut with an opening for cable passage, which can be connected to the gland body, at least one sealing element which can be placed into the gland body, providing sealing protection, a clamping ring which can be placed into the gland nut, a grip element which is connected to the clamping ring, providing resistance against the cable pulling force by wrapping the outer surface of the cable, further comprising; at least one clamping element can be placed between the gland body and the gland nut, which moves into the clamping ring when a force is applied to the gland nut, thereby preventing the cable from being pushed back.

[0022] The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be understood more clearly thanks to the figures provided below and the detailed explanations given by reference to these figures. For this reason, the evaluation should be made by taking these figures and detailed explanations into account.

[0023] Brief Description of Figures

[0024] Figure 1 : is exploded view of the cable gland.

[0025] Figure 2: is a quarter cross sectional view of the cable gland.

[0026] Description of Part References

[0027] A. Cable gland

[0028] 10. Gland body

[0029] 12. Gland nut

[0030] 14. Sealing element

[0031] 16. Clamping ring

[0032] 18. Grip element

[0033] 20. Clamping element

[0034] 22. Jacket

[0035] 24. Guide element

[0036] 26. Protection cap

[0037] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0038] In this detailed description, preferred embodiments of the cable gland (A) subject to the invention are explained only for a better understanding of the subject.

[0039] The cable gland (A) presented in the invention is preferably designed for the assembly of fast charging cables used in electric charging stations. Nevertheless, the cable gland (A) can be used without restriction for the assembly of any cable into any housing. Referring to Figure 1, the cable gland (A) generally comprises a gland body (10), a gland nut (12), a sealing element (14), a clamping ring (16), a grip element (18) and a clamping element (20). The gland body (10) enables the cable gland (A) to be fastened to a housing. The gland body (10) is designed as a hollow hole through which the cable can pass. The gland body (10) is made of a material consisting of, but not limited to, metal, plastic, or combinations thereof. The gland nut (12) is connected to the gland body (10). In one embodiment of the invention, the internal threads in the gland nut (12) are screwed onto the external threads in the gland body (10), thereby enabling the gland nut (12) to be connected to the gland body (10). The gland nut (12) has an opening for passing the cable. The gland nut (12) is made of a material consisting of, but not limited to, metal, plastic, or combinations thereof.

[0040] Referring to Figure 2, the sealing element (14) is inserted into the gland body (10). The sealing element (14) provides sealing protection to the cable gland (A). The guide element (24) is inserted into the gland body (10), preferably in or on the sealing element (14). The guide element (24) guides the cable during cable passage. Thus, the guide element (24) prevents damage to the sealing element (14).

[0041] The clamping ring (16) is placed between the gland body (10) and the gland nut (12). The clamping ring (16) is made of a material consisting of, but not limited to, metal, plastic, or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compression ring (16) comprises two concentric rings. The grip element (18) is clamped between these two rings and connected to the clamping ring (16). In alternative embodiments of the invention, the grip element (18) and the clamping ring (16) can be connected to each other by different methods known in the art. The grip element (18) wraps the outer surface of the cable and provides resistance against the cable pulling force. The gripping force of the grip element (18) is extended over a large surface of the cable. Thus, especially fast charging cables are prevented from being damaged against high pulling forces. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the grip element (18) is in the form of a wire mesh. The grip element (18) is made of a material consisting of, but not limited to, metal, plastic, or combinations thereof. The jacket (22) prevents external interference with the grip element (18). This prevents users from damaging the grip element (18) and adversely affecting the cable tensile strength. The jacket (22) also provides sealing protection. The jacket (22) is connected to the gland nut (12). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the internal threads on one end of the jacket (22) are tightened against the external threads on the gland nut (12), thereby enabling the jacket (22) to be connected to the gland cap (12). In alternative embodiments of the invention, the jacket (22) and the gland nut (12) may be connected to each other by different methods known in the art. The jacket (22) is made of a material consisting of, but not limited to, metal, plastic, or combinations thereof.

[0042] The clamping element (20) is placed between the gland body (10) and the gland nut (12). The clamping element (20) moves into the clamping ring (16) when force is applied to the gland nut (12). Thus, the clamping element (20) clamps the cable and prevents the cable from being pushed back.

[0043] The protection cap (26) is inserted into the gland body (10) and covers the hollow space of the gland body (10). Thus, sealing protection is provided by preventing liquid and dust ingress when there is no cable passage.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cable gland (A) for a cable assembly, comprising;- a hollow tubular gland body (10), which can be connected to a housing,- a gland nut (12) with an opening for cable passage, which can be connected to the gland body (10),- at least one sealing element (14) which can be placed into the gland body (10), providing sealing protection,- a clamping ring (16) which can be placed into the gland nut (12),- a grip element (18) which is connected to the clamping ring (16), providing resistance against the cable pulling force by wrapping the outer surface of the cable, characterized in that;- at least one clamping element (20) can be placed between the gland body (10) and the gland nut (12), which moves into the clamping ring (16) when a force is applied to the gland nut (12), thereby preventing the cable from being pushed back.

2. A cable gland (A) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a jacket (22) which is connected to the gland cover (12) and prevents external interference with the grip element (18).

3. A cable gland (A) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a guiding element (24) which can be inserted in the gland body (10) and prevents damage to the sealing element (14) by guiding the cable.

4. A cable gland (A) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one protection cap (26) which closes the internal cavity of the gland body (10) and provides sealing protection in the absence of cable passage.

5. A cable gland (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is used for the assembly of charging cables in electric charging stations.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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    US20150200530A1

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    US20170288337A1

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