Device for isolating a cable, cable assembly or cable harness from vibrations

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for isolating a cable (2), cable assembly or cable harness from vibrations, the device (1) comprising a wall (3) which is tubular and has a continuous longitudinal slot (4) in order for it to be possible to introduce the cable (2), cable assembly or cable harness into a receiving volume (5) of the device (1) through the longitudinal slot (4) in an assembly state (7), the wall (3) being made of a resilient plastics material by means of extrusion. According to the invention, the plastics material is foamed, an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), a silicone, a thermoplastic vulcanised material (TPE-V) or a fluoro-rubber (FKM) being provided as the plastics material.

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR ISOLATING A CABLE, CABLE HARNESS OR WIRING HARNESS FROM VIBRATIONS

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for isolating a cable, cable harness or cable loom from vibrations, wherein the device has a wall which is tubular with a continuous longitudinal slot in order to be able to insert the cable or cable harness or cable loom through the longitudinal slot into a receiving volume of the device in an assembled state, wherein the wall is made of an elastic plastic material by means of extrusion.

[0004] STATE OF THE ART

[0005] If the fastening points of cable ducts for a wiring harness, a cable loom, or individual or multiple cables in a car are subjected to dynamic stress (e.g., by an electrical machine), vibrations can occur in the wiring harness. These vibrations, in turn, can cause different noises in several frequency ranges that can be perceived in the car's interior.

[0006] Because electric vehicles are generally much quieter than conventional vehicles with combustion engines, wiring harnesses for BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) are sometimes subject to higher acoustic requirements than those for vehicles with combustion engines. Therefore, decoupling elements can be provided to limit the transmission of dynamic loads between cables and all other components, such as cable ties, and the like, thus reducing noise.

[0007] A technical challenge is to determine the origin of the vibrations and to define the design and positioning of the decoupling elements (in the area of ​​the identified origin).

[0008] A second problem is that each decoupling element must usually be designed individually, depending on the design of the corresponding cable duct. The production of such decoupling elements is correspondingly complex and expensive. For example, it is known to produce decoupling elements from ethylene propylene diene (monomer) rubber (EPDM) using two-component (2K) or multi-component injection molding. The resulting decoupling elements are precisely adapted to the specific cable duct shape and cannot be used in cable ducts with different geometries or dimensions.

[0009] A further problem with known decoupling elements is that they do not cover the cables or cable harness completely, but only in a very small, limited area, and therefore only offer very limited thermal and mechanical protection for the cable duct. If the cable temperature briefly exceeds the operating temperature of common plastics, such as polypropylene (PP), at full load, the cable duct can be damaged. A similar problem arises from mechanical stress on the cable duct caused by cable vibrations. EP1494248A2 discloses an insulating sleeve with a slot, wherein the slot is overlapped by a section of the insulating sleeve. The insulating sleeve is made from a thermoplastic material.

[0010] From DE 10356973 B3 a protective sheath for cable harnesses in motor vehicles is known, wherein the protective sheath has a flexible carrier and at least one manually plastically deformable fastening element connected to the carrier for encompassing attachment to the respective cable harness. The carrier is a flat element, for example a nonwoven thread stitched fabric, which is only arranged around the respective cable harness with the at least one fastening element, wherein due to the connection between the fastening element and carrier the latter follows the shape predetermined by the fastening element. The respective fastening element in turn typically has a plastically deformable core, for example made of one or more copper wires, and a sheath that receives the core.A cover can be provided for the at least one fastening element, which cover can also be designed as a textile fabric and completely conceals the carrier with the fastening elements located thereon. The cover can be made of foam and face the cable harness so that it comes into contact with a particularly conformable and flexible inner coating. Finally, in addition to the fastening elements, a closure can be provided, which is designed, for example, as a micro-Velcro strip that is applied to the cover on a longitudinal edge of the carrier. EP 0886357 A2 also discloses a protective sheath for a cable harness. The protective sheath is formed from a multi-layer material web, one layer of which can comprise foam. The material web is first glued to the cable harness using an adhesive strip running along its length.The protective sheath is then wrapped around the cable harness and finally closed either with another adhesive strip along the length or with a Velcro fastener along the length.

[0011] DE 102016220167 A1 discloses a sheath for a cable harness. The sheath is designed as a hose with a longitudinal slit, the cable harness being inserted laterally through the slit into the hose. The hose can be made of plastic. Foam can be injected into an interior space between the hose and the wires of the cable harness, which then hardens to fill the interior space and provide additional stiffening.

[0012] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for isolating a cable, cable loom, or wiring harness from vibrations, which avoids the aforementioned problems. In particular, the device should be as flexible in use as possible in order to enable acoustic decoupling as independently as possible from the specific cable duct present. The device should preferably be simple to manufacture and process. Preferably, increased acoustic performance should be achieved, particularly preferably with simultaneous weight savings, which can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.

[0014] PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] To solve the problem mentioned above, it is necessary to

[0016] Device for isolating a cable, cable harness or cable loom from vibrations, the device having a wall which is tubular with a continuous longitudinal slot in order to be able to insert the cable or cable harness or cable loom through the longitudinal slot into a receiving volume of the device in an assembled state, the wall being made from an elastic plastic material by means of extrusion, the invention providing that the plastic material is foamed, the plastic material being an ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) or a silicone or a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPE-V) or a fluororubber (FKM).

[0017] Here and in the following, the term "oscillations" is to be understood as including vibrations and shocks or impacts.

[0018] The receiving volume is generally limited by the device in sections, since the device can be open at the front and back, i.e., at its end faces. On the other hand, the slot can be an open slot, so that the device is then open there or there as well. However, it is also conceivable that the slot is not open but covered, for example, by the slot being overlapped by a section of the device or by sections of the wall overlapping.

[0019] It should be noted that the continuous longitudinal slot is present along the entire length of the device due to the extrusion manufacturing process, whereby the longitudinal slot does not necessarily have to extend in a straight line if the device is straight, but only within the framework of certain (unavoidable) manufacturing tolerances.

[0020] Extrusion allows the cost-effective production of

[0021] Device - even with complex cross-sections - in any length, or the device can thus be manufactured virtually endlessly or as a virtually endless product and cut to any length. Accordingly, cables, cable strands, or cable harnesses of any length can be arranged almost completely within the receiving volume of the device for insulation, with the slot allowing easy insertion over the entire length of the device. Complex acoustic measurements and investigations to determine the exact source of unwanted noise and the subsequent arrangement of decoupling elements at these specific locations can thus be eliminated.

[0022] When the cable / cable harness / wiring harness is inserted through the slot into the receiving volume, the device is in the assembled state. The device does not necessarily have to run in a straight line; rather, it is also conceivable for the device's path to essentially correspond to or approximate a specific path of the cable / cable harness being accommodated to facilitate insertion. However, due to the flexibility of the device guaranteed by the foamed plastic material of the wall, a straight path is generally not a problem when inserting the cable / cable harness / wiring harness, as the device adapts to the path of the inserted cable / cable harness / wiring harness. If the device with the inserted cable / cable harness / wiring harness is subsequently arranged under deformation, e.g., in a cable duct, this is also not a problem due to the device's flexibility.

[0023] Furthermore, thermal and mechanical protection can be ensured over the entire length of the respective cable, cable harness, or cable loom, in particular of a cable duct in which the respective cable, cable harness, or cable loom is arranged. This means that a large area can be easily covered in one piece with the device, for example, an entire cable duct area with a length of 15 mm to 1500 mm.

[0024] Complex installation of decoupling elements on the cable / cable harness / cable loom on the one hand and in the cable duct on the other hand can be eliminated.

[0025] Particularly when decoupling larger areas, the processing effort and processing time are correspondingly significantly lower compared to known (individual) decoupling elements, since a single piece of the foamed device, which can also be referred to as a decoupling hose or decoupling pipe, can be used for a specific length, whereby the device can be positioned and mounted very quickly and precisely in a single work step.

[0026] By making the wall out of a foamed plastic material, a number of advantages are realized compared to conventional solutions.

[0027] On the one hand, the soft and foamed structure or shape of the wall strengthens the modularity, as it can be easily deformed without damage and can also be compressed without damage when fitting cable ties.

[0028] The foamed structure of the wall reduces the number of different device types or decoupling tube types required due to the increased flexibility. The solid individual decoupling elements used previously had to be positioned and installed in several steps, which results in comparatively much more processing effort and a considerably longer processing time. The foam structure ensures particularly good temperature insulation properties. The latter have the advantage that, despite high temperatures starting from at least one conductor of the respective cable / cable harness / wiring loom and the insulation, low-density materials, which are more sustainable and cost-effective, can be used for surrounding cable harness components, e.g. polypropylene (PP) instead of polycaprolactam (PA6).In other words, the good temperature insulation properties have the advantage that in high-temperature areas, materials with lower density, much more sustainable materials and less expensive materials (e.g. PP instead of PA6) can be used.

[0029] The foamed cell structure of the wall results in an overall weight reduction for vehicles in which the device is used. Furthermore, this results in a reduction in transport costs and CO2 emissions during transport and over the vehicle's lifetime. Furthermore, the weight reduction in vehicles leads to an increase in range compared to current standard solutions, which is particularly important for BEVs.

[0030] Acoustic measurements are usually performed relatively late in a vehicle's development cycle, making the implementation of acoustic measures quite costly. The device according to the invention with the foamed wall enables rapid responses in a late development phase, since the flexible and compressible structure is easier to implement in an existing installation space than the prior art.

[0031] The foamed extrusion process in combination with the specific material formulation also enables precise, fast and individual adaptation to the acoustic requirements, so that vibrations in a defined frequency range can be specifically absorbed by adjusting the material density, foam structure and dimensions.

[0032] The device or its wall can be manufactured from all elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers that can be processed using the foam extrusion process with a foam degree in the range of 15% to 90%, e.g. EPDM, silicone, thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPE-V) and fluororubber (FKM).

[0033] Accordingly, in the device according to the invention, it is provided that an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) or a silicone or a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPE-V) or a fluororubber (FKM) is provided as the plastic material.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the plastic material used is a peroxide-crosslinked ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) or a silicone which is crosslinked using peroxide or platinum. The peroxide crosslinking of the EPDM results in greater temperature resistance than conventional crosslinking using sulfur, particularly with regard to compression set, although in practice correspondingly higher temperatures can occur when used in vehicles or cars, for example in or near the engine compartment. The same applies to the peroxide- or platinum-based crosslinked silicones mentioned. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that silicones are sometimes also referred to as silicone elastomers.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, one or more, preferably two, continuous hollow chambers are provided in the wall. With a view to a possible weight reduction, the device can thereby advantageously be made even lighter. Furthermore, the hollow chambers can prove advantageous with regard to increased thermal insulation. Furthermore, the hollow chambers can improve the deformability of the device, which further increases its flexibility in use.

[0036] The device according to the invention or the decoupling hose can be wound up onto a spool or drum as a virtually endless product, which has the advantage of being much easier to handle during production, transport and further processing. Of course, winding up without a spool or drum is also possible, which further reduces costs. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device is wound up in a pre-assembled state, preferably on a drum, it being possible to convert the device into the assembled state at least in sections by unwinding and subsequent cutting to length.

[0037] The longitudinal slot in combination with the flexible wall guarantees a certain degree of modularity, i.e. there is no need to manufacture a separate device for each cable / cable strand / cable harness cross-section, but different cable cross-sections can be decoupled with one and the same dimension. This means that one and the same device can accommodate or insulate cables / cable strands / cable harnesses whose cross-sections do not need to be the same, but can differ from one another to a certain extent. In order to enlarge the range of cable / cable strand / cable harness cross-sections that can be covered with one type of foamed decoupling pipe, overlapping sections of the wall can be provided so that the longitudinal slot is not open - at least in a radial direction pointing outwards from a radial center of the accommodation volume. With increasing cross-section of the increasing orWhen a cable / cable harness / wiring loom is removed, the wall is deformed or pushed apart outward, reducing the overlap. However, the overlap can be maintained over a wide range of cross-sections. Furthermore, the falling out of a cable / cable harness / wiring loom can be largely prevented.

[0038] Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the longitudinal slot is overlapped by an overlap section of the wall. To create the overlap section, it would be conceivable, for example, for it to be slightly offset radially outward from the remaining wall. However, it is also conceivable to simply extend an edge region of the wall in the circumferential direction in order to create the overlap section or the overlap with the longitudinal slot.

[0039] The overlap section can also be made larger in the circumferential direction so that it covers or overlaps more than just the longitudinal slot.

[0040] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is accordingly provided that the overlapping section overlaps an edge region of the wall delimiting the longitudinal slot, wherein the edge region overlapped by the overlapping section extends over an angular range lying between 0° and 30°. This design proves to be particularly advantageous in practice, on the one hand, in order to cover a relatively large cross-sectional area of ​​cables / cable strands / cable harnesses to be accommodated and, at the same time, to effectively prevent the respective cable / cable strand / cable harness from falling out as far as possible.A further advantage of the device according to the invention is that, due to the resulting surface structure of the foamed extrudate, high friction values ​​arise between the device and the cable, cable harness, or wiring harness accommodated therein, which in turn results in axial fixation of the cable, cable harness, or wiring harness in the device. Axial here is to be understood as along the path of the device. Obviously, the high friction values ​​also promote a stable position of the cable, cable harness, or wiring harness in the device transverse to the path of the device.

[0041] Similarly, high friction values ​​result between the device and any fastening means for the device, such as clamps, cable ducts or the like, so that an excellent, particularly axial, fixation of the device in the said fastening means results.

[0042] The surface structure can in turn be specifically influenced by the degree of foam and / or the size of the foam pores in order to ultimately achieve the aforementioned friction values ​​or friction value ranges.

[0043] Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the wall has a surface with a surface structure, the surface structure having an average surface roughness Sa in the range from 0.5 pm to 100 pm, preferably from 1 pm to 10 pm, and / or a maximum height S z in the range from 5 pm to 800 pm, preferably from 10 pm to 200 pm. The wall can obviously have said surface both on the outside and on the inside, where the wall delimits the receiving volume. The specified characteristic values ​​Sa and S z can be measured in a manner known per se, in particular in accordance with the ISO 4287 standard, for example optically, for example by means of confocal microscopy.

[0044] Sa indicates the average (arithmetically averaged) height of all measured points in an area measurement—that is, a measurement across an area, as opposed to a profile measurement across a single line. The parameter Sz, in turn, is defined as the sum of the height value of the highest peak and the height value of the deepest depression relative to the area under consideration (and again, not just a linear profile).

[0045] In combination with typical cables and hoses, friction coefficients (also called friction numbers) are obtained that guarantee excellent axial fixation of the cables / hoses or cable harnesses or cable looms in the device. Specifically, with typical cable harnesses, cable looms, cables, or hoses, static friction coefficients in the range of 0.2 to 2.5, preferably 0.6 to 1.4, can be achieved, and / or sliding friction coefficients in the range of 0.15 to 2.4, preferably 0.55 to 1.35.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the wall has a surface with a surface energy in the range of 30 mN / m to 60 mN / m. The surface energy also or additionally has a positive influence on the axial fixation of the cable harness, cable loom, or cable in the device or in the receiving volume. The surface energy can be determined in a conventional manner. For example, the surface energy can be measured using plasma treatment test inks. Drops of the test ink are applied to the surface, and a check is carried out to determine whether the applied drop does not contract within a certain time, thus ideally wetting the surface. If this is the case, it is assumed that the surface energy of the test specimen or the surface being tested and the surface tension of the test ink matched to a specific surface energy match.The surface energy can be influenced by the degree of foaming and / or the size of the foam pores.

[0047] Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the plastic material has pores with an average volume of 0.05 mm 3 up to 2.5 mm 3 , preferably 0.05 mm 3 up to 1.8 mm 3 This design proves to be optimal not only with regard to the discussed axial fixation of the cable harness, cable loom, or cable in the device or in the receiving volume, but also with regard to acoustic performance.

[0048] The pore volume can be determined in a conventional manner, such as through CT scans. Averaging is usually done by calculating the arithmetic mean.

[0049] This means that the pore size is defined here by specifying the (averaged) volume. A corresponding one-dimensional quantity, the diameter of a sphere with this volume, can obviously be derived immediately and can also be used as a measure of pore size. However, it should be noted that pores are not necessarily spherical, but can also deviate from this shape.

[0050] The pore size can be influenced by different parameters or in different ways, for example: by the viscosity of the plastic material during extrusion; by adding additives during extrusion (so-called "compounding"); by suitable coordination of process parameters such as pressures, temperatures or pull-off speeds during extrusion; by choice of crosslinking or a specific crosslinking system; by choice of blowing agents or blowing agent contents used; by choice of nucleating substances or nucleating substance contents; by choice of fillers or filler content.According to the invention, a system comprising several, preferably two to five, devices according to the invention is provided, wherein the devices are connected to one another, wherein the walls of the devices are preferably designed as one piece with one another, wherein receiving volume cross sections of the receiving volumes of all devices are arranged in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a profile of the devices. This means that all receiving volumes each have a receiving volume cross-section that lies in the cross-sectional plane.

[0051] This allows, at least in sections, preferably over the entire length of the devices, a substantially parallel routing of several cable strands, several cable harnesses, or several individual cables, if these are arranged in the receiving volumes of the several devices of the system. In principle, any number of devices is possible in the system according to the invention, but in practice, two to five devices are particularly convenient to handle and can cover most typical applications.

[0052] Preferably, the walls of the devices are made in one piece, which automatically ensures that the devices are connected and, accordingly, all devices or the entire system can be manufactured at the same time by means of extrusion, which is particularly economical.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, it is provided that the longitudinal slots of all devices lead outwards from the receiving volume of the respective device. The respective longitudinal slot can be open to the outside or, in particular if an overlapping section is provided, not. This allows a particularly quick and uncomplicated insertion of the respective cable, cable loom or cable harness into the

[0054] Recording volume of the respective device directly from the outside.

[0055] In principle, however, it is not necessary for all of the longitudinal slots to lead directly to the outside. It is sufficient if one or more of the longitudinal slots - but not all of the longitudinal slots - lead to the outside in order to be able to insert cables, cable strands or cable harnesses from the outside into the corresponding receiving volume or volumes, and if individual longitudinal slots then lead from this receiving volume or volumes into the remaining receiving volumes. Accordingly, the cables, cable strands or cable harnesses that were initially inserted from the outside can ultimately be moved further into the respective intended receiving volume. There, the respective cable, the respective cable strand or the respective cable harness is particularly well protected against external influences and against unintentional movement outwards.The latter is the case because moving out of such a recording volume simply leads to another recording volume.

[0056] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, it is provided that at least one longitudinal slot leads from the receiving volume of one of the devices into the receiving volume of another of the devices, wherein preferably only one of the longitudinal slots leads outwards from one of the receiving volumes.

[0057] To maximize the aforementioned protective effect, it can be provided, as mentioned, that only one of the longitudinal slots leads outward from one of the receiving volumes. This means that, with the exception of the receiving volume from which one of the longitudinal slots leads outward, all receiving volumes offer particularly good protection for the respective cable, the respective cable harness, or the respective cable loom against external influences and against unintentional movement outward.

[0058] There are almost no limits to the relative arrangement of the devices of the system according to the invention, and the arrangement - as well as the number of devices - can be optimized for the respective application.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the receiving volume cross-sections are arranged along a straight line. This means that the devices are all arranged next to one another or one above the other, which makes handling very easy, especially if all longitudinal slots lead outwards.

[0060] This type of arrangement is not limited to any particular number of devices. In particular, two, three, four, or five devices are possible.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, three devices are provided and the receiving volume cross-sections are arranged at the corners of a, in particular equilateral, triangle. This means that the receiving volume cross-sections are arranged triangularly relative to one another, which is particularly well suited, for example, for accommodating three cable harnesses (in the three receiving volumes). In particular, the centers of the receiving volume cross-sections can lie at the corners of the triangle.

[0062] The arrangement on the vertices of an equilateral triangle allows for a particularly space-saving design and particularly good handling of the system.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, four devices are provided and the receiving volume cross-sections are arranged at the corners of a rectangle, in particular a square. This means that the receiving volume cross-sections are arranged in a rectangular, in particular square, arrangement with respect to one another, which is particularly suitable, for example, for accommodating four cable harnesses (in the four receiving volumes). In this case, the centers of the receiving volume cross-sections can, in particular, lie at the corners of the rectangle, in particular the square.

[0064] The arrangement on the corners of a square allows for a particularly space-saving design and particularly good handling of the system.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, it is provided that five devices are provided, that the receiving volume cross-sections of four of the five devices are arranged on corner points of a rectangle, in particular a square, and that one of the receiving volume cross-sections is arranged on a point in the middle of the rectangle or outside the rectangle, in particular outside the rectangle on a straight line that is normal to one side of the rectangle and bisects it.

[0066] This means that four of the five receiving volume cross-sections are arranged in a rectangular, in particular square, manner relative to one another, and the remaining fifth receiving volume cross-section can be arranged centrally between the first four receiving volume cross-sections or outside the first four receiving volume cross-sections. In particular, the centers of the first four receiving volume cross-sections can lie at the corners of the rectangle, in particular the square. Analogously, the center of the remaining fifth receiving volume cross-section can lie at the point in the middle of the rectangle, in particular the square, or on the straight line.

[0067] Preferably, if the center point of the remaining fifth receiving volume cross-section lies on the straight line, the distance of the center point of this receiving volume cross-section from this or a nearest side of the rectangle can again be at least as large as half the length of this or the nearest side in order to ensure a sufficiently large and at the same time sufficiently compact arrangement.

[0068] The described arrangements of the five recording volume cross-sections each allow a particularly space-saving design and particularly good handling of the system.

[0069] In accordance with the above, the invention provides an arrangement or insulating arrangement comprising a device according to the invention or a system according to the invention and at least one cable, at least one cable harness or at least one cable loom, wherein the at least one cable, the at least one cable harness or the at least one cable loom is arranged in the at least one receiving volume, wherein between a surface of the at least one wall on the one hand and the at least one cable, the at least one cable harness or the at least one cable loom on the other hand there is / are a static friction coefficient in the range of 0.2 to 2.5, preferably from 0.6 to 1.4, and / or a sliding friction coefficient in the range of 0.15 to 2.4, preferably from 0.55 to 1.35. Since one or more devices are necessarily present, at least one receiving volume and at least one wall having a surface are also necessarily present. The said arrangement orThe insulating arrangement results from the intended use of the device according to the invention or the system according to the invention with the at least one cable, the at least one cable harness, or the at least one cable harness. The at least one cable, the at least one cable harness, or the at least one cable harness has a surface quality that is customary or typical for the prior art.

[0070] SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0071] The invention will now be explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. The drawings are examples and are intended to illustrate the inventive concept, but in no way restrict it or represent it exhaustively.

[0072] It shows:

[0073] Fig. 1 is a schematic axonometric view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention in an assembled state

[0074] Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the device from Fig. 1

[0075] Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention

[0076] Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the device according to the invention in a pre-assembly state

[0077] Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a first

[0078] Embodiment of a system according to the invention with two devices according to the invention

[0079] Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a second

[0080] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with two devices according to the invention Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a third

[0081] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with three devices according to the invention

[0082] Fig . 8 is a schematic sectional view of a fourth

[0083] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with three devices according to the invention

[0084] Fig. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a fifth

[0085] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with four devices according to the invention

[0086] Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of a sixth

[0087] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with four devices according to the invention

[0088] Fig. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a seventh

[0089] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with five devices according to the invention

[0090] Fig. 12 is a schematic sectional view of an eighth

[0091] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with five devices according to the invention

[0092] Fig. 13 is a schematic sectional view of a ninth

[0093] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with five devices according to the invention

[0094] Fig. 14 is a schematic sectional view of a tenth

[0095] Embodiment of the system according to the invention with five devices according to the invention

[0096] WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0097] Fig. 1 shows a schematic axonometric view of a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention for isolating a cable 2, cable harness or cable loom from vibrations. The device 1 has a wall 3 which is tubular with a continuous longitudinal slot 4 in order to be able to insert the cable 2 or the cable harness or the cable loom through the longitudinal slot 4 into a receiving volume 5 of the device 1 in an assembled state 7. The receiving volume 5 is particularly clearly visible in the schematic cross-sectional view of Fig. 2. During insertion, the wall 3 can possibly give way slightly - depending on the cross-sectional size of the cable 2 or cable harness / cable loom to be accommodated - as a result of which the longitudinal slot 4 is widened in the cross-sectional plane shown in Fig. 2. After the cable 2 or the cable harness / cable loom is arranged in the receiving volume 5, the longitudinal slot 4 can possiblyreturn to its original size when the wall 3 has elastically returned to its original position in assembly state 7.

[0098] Fig. 1 shows the device 1 in the assembled state 7, with the cable 2 inserted through the longitudinal slot 4 being indicated by a dashed line. In Fig. 1, the device 1, and in particular the longitudinal slot 4, extends essentially in a straight line, but different courses are also conceivable - in particular if the course of the device 1 approximately corresponds to the course of the cable 2 / cable strand / cable harness -, whereby it is crucial that the cable 2 or the cable strand or cable harness can be inserted through the longitudinal slot 4 into the receiving volume 5. The wall 3 is made from an elastic plastic material by means of extrusion, the plastic material being foamed, which guarantees, among other things, increased flexibility, high vibration damping and particularly good temperature insulation properties. Noise that can arise if the cable 2 or the cable strand / cable harness is moved due to vibrations or

[0099] Vibrations, for example, striking a cable duct (not shown), are effectively suppressed by the damping effect of the foamed plastic material. Furthermore, the length of the device 1 can be perfectly adapted to the length of the cable 2 or cable loom / harness to be insulated, ensuring that no noise sources resulting from the described vibrations remain. Furthermore, the foam structure results in a weight reduction compared to known solutions, which can ultimately contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.

[0100] In the illustrated embodiments, EPDM is provided as the plastic material, or the wall 3 of the device 1 shown is made of foamed EPDM. In particular, it can be provided that the material is peroxide-crosslinked EPDM, which has increased temperature resistance and is therefore particularly well suited for use in vehicles.

[0101] To increase the temperature insulation properties and the deformability as well as to further reduce the weight, one or more, preferably two, continuous hollow chambers 6 can be provided in the wall 3, preferably in all embodiments, which are indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 2.

[0102] Fig. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention, wherein the same applies to this second embodiment as what was said above regarding the first embodiment, unless otherwise stated, which is why unnecessary repetition is omitted.

[0103] In contrast to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment the longitudinal slot 4 is overlapped by an overlapping section 10 of the wall 3. Viewed in a radial direction which in Fig. 3 corresponds to the dashed lines pointing outwards from a radial center 13, whereby strictly mathematically there are an infinite number of radial directions, the longitudinal slot 4, which is indicated in Fig. 3 by the dash-dotted line, is therefore not open to the outside. For comparison, in Fig. 3 the dotted line in the wall 3 indicates a typical position of an edge of the wall 3 which would delimit a longitudinal slot 4 open to the outside in the radial direction, as is actually the case in the first embodiment.

[0104] By covering the longitudinal slot 4, the modularity of the device 1 is increased because cables 2 or cable strands / cable harnesses with different strengths or thicknesses can be arranged in the receiving volume 5 without impairing the function of the device 1. Even with very thick cables 2 or cable strands / cable harnesses, the function can be retained over a large area because the wall 3 can yield elastically and, due to the overlap, the longitudinal slot 4 can even remain closed, even if the overlap becomes smaller. Falling out of a received cable 2 or cable strand / cable harness can therefore be largely prevented.

[0105] In the second exemplary embodiment shown, the overlapping section 10 overlaps an edge region 11 of the wall 3 which delimits the longitudinal slot 4, the edge region 11 overlapped by the overlapping section 10 extending over an angular range 12 which lies between 0° and 30°. This design has proven to be particularly advantageous in practice, on the one hand, in order to cover a relatively large cross-sectional area of ​​cables 2 or cable strands / cable harnesses to be accommodated and, at the same time, to effectively prevent the respective cable 2 or cable strand / cable harness from falling out as far as possible. In the two embodiments of the device 1 shown, the device 1 is rolled up in a pre-assembled state 8, preferably on a drum 9, and the device 1 can be converted into the assembled state 7 at least in sections by unrolling and subsequent cutting to length.The cutting can be carried out to any length - perfectly adapted to the length of the specific cable 2 or cable strand / cable harness to be insulated. This simplifies handling during production, transport and further processing. Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of the device 1 in the pre-assembled state 8, wherein no drum 9 is provided for winding up. Such a drum 9 is schematically sketched in dashed lines in Fig. 4 merely to indicate this type of winding, which is also possible in principle.

[0106] In all embodiments of the device 1 it can be provided that the wall 3 has a surface 17 with a surface structure, wherein the surface structure has an average surface roughness Sa in the range from 0.5 pm to 100 pm, preferably from 1 pm to 10 pm, and / or a maximum height Sz in the range from 5 pm to 800 pm, preferably from 10 pm to 200 pm. Said surface 17 can have the wall 3 both on the outside and on the inside, where the wall 3 delimits the receiving volume 5. The surface structure can be specifically influenced by the degree of foam. In this way high friction values ​​or coefficients of friction (also called friction numbers) can be achieved between the device 1 and the received cables 2 or Cable harnesses / cable harnesses in order to fix them axially, i.e. in the direction of the device 1.Specifically, with typical cable harnesses, cable strands, cables 2 or hoses, static friction coefficients in the range from 0.2 to 2.5, preferably from 0.6 to 1.4, can be achieved and / or sliding friction coefficients in the range from 0.15 to 2.4, preferably from 0.55 to 1.35.

[0107] Similarly, high friction values ​​result between the device 1 and any fastening means (not shown) for the device 1, such as clamps, cable ducts or the like, so that an excellent, in particular axial, fixation of the device 1 in said fastening means also results.

[0108] Furthermore, in all embodiments of the device 1, it can be provided that the wall 3 has a surface energy in the range of 30 mN / m to 60 mN / m on the surface 17, which also or additionally has a positive influence on the axial fixation of the respective cable 2, cable strand or cable harness in the device 1 or in the receiving volume 5.

[0109] Finally, in all embodiments of the device 1, it can be provided that the plastic material has pores with an average volume of 0.05 mm 3 up to 2.5 mm 3 , preferably 0.05 mm 3 up to 1.8 mm 3 This design proves to be optimal not only with regard to the discussed axial fixation of the cable harness, cable loom or cable 2 in the device 1 or in the receiving volume 5, but also with regard to the acoustic performance.

[0110] Fig. 5 to Fig. 14 show various embodiments of a system 16 according to the invention comprising a plurality of devices 1 according to the invention, wherein the devices 1 are connected to one another in that the walls 5 of the devices 1 are designed or extruded as one piece, wherein receiving volume cross-sections 14 of the receiving volumes 5 of all devices 1 are arranged in a cross-sectional plane 15 perpendicular to the course of the devices 1. This means that all receiving volumes 5 each have a receiving volume cross-section 14 which lies in the cross-sectional plane 15.

[0111] This allows a substantially parallel routing of a plurality of cable strands, a plurality of cable harnesses or a plurality of individual cables 2 at least in sections, preferably over the entire course of the devices 1, if these are or are arranged in the receiving volumes 5 of the plurality of devices 1 of the system 16.

[0112] Clearly, it also applies for a single device 1 that the receiving volume 5 has a receiving volume cross-section 14 in the cross-sectional plane 15, the latter being the plane of the drawing in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

[0113] In the system 16 according to the invention, a wide variety of arrangements of the receiving volume cross-sections 14 are possible. Fig. 5 shows a first embodiment of the system 16 with two devices 1, wherein the receiving volume cross-sections 14 are arranged along a straight line 18. The centers of the receiving volume cross-sections 14 lie on the straight line 18. Of course, it would be equally possible to provide a system 16 with three, four, five, or even more devices 1 with such an arrangement.

[0114] In the first embodiment of the system 16 shown in Fig. 5, it is provided that the longitudinal slots 4 of all devices 1 lead outward from the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1. This enables a particularly rapid and uncomplicated insertion of the respective cable 2, cable harness, or cable harness into the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1 directly from the outside.

[0115] Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of the system 16, which differs from the first embodiment of Fig. 5 only in that only one of the longitudinal slots 4 leads from one of the receiving volumes 5 to the outside, this applying to the right-hand device 1 in Fig. 6. A longitudinal slot 4, on the other hand, leads from the receiving volume 5 of one of the devices 1 into the receiving volume 5 of another of the devices 1, namely according to Fig. 6 from the receiving volume 5 of the left-hand device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the right-hand device 1. D. h. a cable 2 (not shown in Fig. 6) can be introduced through the longitudinal slot 4 of the right-hand device 1 from the outside into its receiving volume 5 and can be moved from there into the receiving volume 5 of the left-hand device 1 via the longitudinal slot 4 connecting the two receiving volumes 5, where the cable 2 is particularly well protected against unintentional movement outwards.

[0116] Fig. 7 shows a third embodiment of the system 16 with three devices 1, so that, for example, three cable harnesses can be accommodated without any problem. The receiving volume cross-sections 14 are arranged on corners 19 of an equilateral triangle in order to ensure a particularly space-saving design and particularly good handling of the system 16. The centers of the receiving volume cross-sections 14 lie on the corners 19. In the third embodiment of the system 16 shown in Fig. 7, it is provided that the longitudinal slots 4 of all devices 1 lead outwards from the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1. This enables particularly rapid and uncomplicated insertion of the respective cable 2, cable harness or cable harness into the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1 directly from the outside.

[0117] Fig. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the system 16, which differs from the third embodiment of Fig. 7 only in that only one of the longitudinal slots 4 leads from one of the receiving volumes 5 to the outside, whereby in Fig. 8 this applies to the upper right device 1. The remaining longitudinal slots 4, however, lead from the

[0118] Receiving volume 5 of the left upper device 1 and from the receiving volume 5 of the central lower device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the right upper device 1. This means that a cable 2 (not shown in Fig. 8) can be introduced from the outside through the longitudinal slot 4 of the right upper device 1 into its receiving volume 5. From this receiving volume 5, the cable 2 can be moved further via the corresponding longitudinal slot 4 connecting the respective receiving volumes 5 into the receiving volume 5 of the left upper device 1 or into the receiving volume 5 of the central lower device 1, where the cable 2 is particularly well protected against unintentional movement outwards.

[0119] Fig. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the system 16 with four devices 1, so that, for example, four cable harnesses can be easily accommodated. The receiving volume cross-sections 14 are arranged at corners 19 of a square in order to ensure a particularly space-saving design and particularly good handling of the system 16. The centers of the receiving volume cross-sections 14 lie at the corners 19.

[0120] In the fifth embodiment of the system 16 shown in Fig. 9, it is provided that the longitudinal slots 4 of all devices 1 lead outward from the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1. This enables a particularly rapid and uncomplicated insertion of the respective cable 2, cable harness, or cable harness into the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1 directly from the outside.

[0121] Fig. 10 shows a sixth embodiment of the system 16, which differs from the fifth embodiment of Fig. 9 only in that only one of the longitudinal slots 4 leads from one of the receiving volumes 5 to the outside, this applying to the right upper device 1 in Fig. 10. Two of the remaining longitudinal slots 4, however, lead from the receiving volume 5 of the left upper device 1 and from the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the right upper device 1. One longitudinal slot 4 leads from the receiving volume 5 of the left lower device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device. This means that a cable 2 (not shown in Fig. 10) can be introduced from the outside into the receiving volume 5 of the right upper device 1 through the longitudinal slot 4 of the right upper device 1.From this receiving volume 5, the cable 2 can be moved further via the corresponding longitudinal slot 4 connecting the respective receiving volumes 5 into the receiving volume 5 of the left upper device 1 or into the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device 1, where the cable 2 is particularly well protected against accidental outward movement. From the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device 1, the cable 2 can finally be moved into the receiving volume 5 of the left lower device 1, from where the cable 2 can practically not be accidentally moved outward.

[0122] Fig. 11 shows a seventh embodiment of the system 16 with five devices 1, so that, for example, five cable harnesses can be accommodated without any problem. The receiving volume cross-sections 14 of four of the five devices 1 are arranged at corners 19 of a rectangle. The centers of these four receiving volume cross-sections 14 lie at the corners 19. One of the receiving volume cross-sections 14 is arranged with its center point on a center point 21 of the rectangle in order to ensure a relatively compact design and good handling of the system 16.

[0123] In the seventh embodiment of the system 16 shown in Fig. 11, it is provided that the longitudinal slots 4 of all devices 1 lead outward from the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1. This enables a particularly rapid and uncomplicated insertion of the respective cable 2, cable harness, or cable harness into the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1 directly from the outside.

[0124] Fig. 12 shows an eighth embodiment of the system 16, which differs from the seventh embodiment of Fig. 11 only in that only one of the longitudinal slots 4 leads from one of the receiving volumes 5 to the outside, this applying to the right upper device 1 in Fig. 12. Two of the remaining longitudinal slots 4, however, lead from the receiving volume 5 of the central device 1 (with the receiving volume cross-section 14 on the center point 21) and from the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the right upper device 1. Two further longitudinal slots 14 lead from the receiving volume 5 of the left upper device 1 and from the receiving volume 5 of the left lower device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the central device 1. I.e. a cable 2 (not shown in Fig . 12 ) can be introduced through the longitudinal slot 4 of the right upper device 1 from the outside into its receiving volume 5 .From this receiving volume 5, the cable 2 can be moved further via the corresponding longitudinal slot 4 connecting the respective receiving volumes 5 into the receiving volume 5 of the central device 1 or into the receiving volume 5 of the right-hand lower device 1, where the cable 2 is particularly well protected against accidental movement outwards. From the receiving volume 5 of the central device 1, the cable 2 can finally be moved into the receiving volume 5 of the left-hand upper device 1 or into the receiving volume 5 of the left-hand lower device 1, from where the cable 2 can practically not be moved outwards inadvertently at all. Fig. 13 shows a ninth embodiment of the system 16 with five devices 1, so that again, for example, five cable harnesses can be accommodated without problem. The receiving volume cross-sections 14 of four of the five devices 1 are arranged on corner points 19 of a square.The centers of these four recording volume cross-sections 14 lie on the corner points 19 . One of the recording volume cross-sections 14 is arranged outside the square on a straight line 18 ' that is normal to one side 20 of the square and bisects it in order to ensure a relatively compact design and good handling of the system 16 . The center of this recording volume cross-section 14 lies on the straight line 18 ' .

[0125] In the ninth embodiment of the system 16 shown in Fig. 13, it is provided that the longitudinal slots 4 of all devices 1 lead outward from the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1. This enables a particularly rapid and uncomplicated insertion of the respective cable 2, cable harness, or cable harness into the receiving volume 5 of the respective device 1 directly from the outside.

[0126] Fig. 14 shows a tenth embodiment of the system 16, which differs from the ninth embodiment of Fig. 13 only in that only one of the longitudinal slots 4 leads from one of the receiving volumes 5 to the outside, whereby in Fig. 14 this applies to the rightmost or right middle device 1. Two of the remaining longitudinal slots 4, however, lead from the receiving volume 5 of the right upper device 1 and from the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the right middle device 1. Two further longitudinal slots 14 lead from the receiving volume 5 of the left upper device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the right upper device and from the receiving volume 5 of the left lower device 1 to the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device 1. In other words, a cable 2 (in Fig.14 not shown) can be inserted through the longitudinal slot 4 of the right middle device 1 from the outside into its receiving volume 5. From this receiving volume 5, the cable 2 can be moved further via the corresponding longitudinal slot 4 connecting the respective receiving volumes 5 into the receiving volume 5 of the right upper device 1 or into the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device 1, where the cable 2 is particularly well protected against unintentional movement outwards. From the receiving volume 5 of the right upper device 1, the cable 2 can finally be moved into the receiving volume 5 of the left upper device 1, from where the cable 2 can practically not be moved outwards unintentionally.Analogously, the cable 2 can be moved from the receiving volume 5 of the right lower device 1 into the receiving volume 5 of the left lower device 1, from where the cable 2 can practically not be moved outwards unintentionally at all.

[0127] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0128] 1 device

[0129] 2 cables

[0130] 3 wall

[0131] 4 longitudinal slot

[0132] 5 Recording volume

[0133] 6 hollow chamber

[0134] 7 Assembly status

[0135] 8 Pre-assembly state

[0136] 9 drum

[0137] 10 Overlap section

[0138] 11 Marginal area

[0139] 12 angle range

[0140] 13 Radial Center

[0141] 14 Recording volume cross-section

[0142] 15 cross-sectional plane

[0143] 16 systems

[0144] 17 Surface of the wall

[0145] 18 , 18 ' Straight

[0146] 19 Corner point

[0147] 20 pages

[0148] 21 Center

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Device (1) for isolating a cable (2), cable loom or cable harness from vibrations, wherein the device (1) has a wall (3) which is tubular with a continuous longitudinal slot (4) in order to be able to insert the cable (2) or the cable loom or the cable harness through the longitudinal slot (4) into a receiving volume (5) of the device (1) in an assembled state (7), wherein the wall (3) is made of an elastic plastic material by means of extrusion, characterized in that the plastic material is foamed, wherein the plastic material is an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) or a silicone or a thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPE-V) or a fluororubber (FKM) is provided.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a peroxide-crosslinked ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) or a silicone which is peroxide- or platinum-based crosslinked is provided as the plastic material.

3. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the device (1) is rolled up in a pre-assembly state (8), preferably on a drum (9), wherein the device (1) can be transferred into the assembly state (7) at least in sections by unrolling and subsequent cutting to length.

4. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the longitudinal slot (4) is overlapped by an overlapping section (10) of the wall (3), wherein preferably the overlapping section (10) overlaps an edge region (11) of the wall (3) delimiting the longitudinal slot (4), wherein the Overlapping section (10) overlapped edge region (11) extends over an angular range (12) which lies between 0 and 30°.

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wall (3) has a surface (17) with a surface structure, wherein the surface structure has a surface mean roughness Sa in the range from 0.5 pm to 100 pm, preferably from 1 pm to 10 pm, and / or a maximum height Sz in the range from 5 pm to 800 pm, preferably from 10 pm to 200 pm.

6. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the wall (3) has a surface (17) with a surface energy in the range of 30 mN / m to 60 mN / m.

7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plastic material has pores with an average volume of 0.05 mm 3 up to 2.5 mm 3 , preferably 0.05 mm 3 up to 1.8 mm 3 , has.

8. System (16) comprising several, preferably two to five, devices (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the devices (1) are connected to one another, wherein preferably the walls (5) of the devices (1) are designed in one piece with one another, wherein in a cross-sectional plane (15) perpendicular to a course of the devices (1) receiving volume cross sections (14) of the receiving volumes (5) of all the devices (1) are arranged.

9. System (16) according to claim 8, characterized in that the longitudinal slots (4) of all devices (1) each lead outwards from the receiving volume (5) of the respective device (1).

10. System (16) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one longitudinal slot (4) leads from the receiving volume (5) of one of the devices (1) into the receiving volume (5) of another of the devices (1), wherein preferably only one of the longitudinal slots (4) leads outwards from one of the receiving volumes (5).

11. System (16) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the receiving volume cross sections (14) are arranged along a straight line (18) are arranged.

12. System (16) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that three devices (1) are provided and that the receiving volume cross-sections (14) are arranged on corner points (19) of a, in particular equilateral, triangle.

13. System (16) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that four devices (1) are provided and that the receiving volume cross-sections (14) are arranged on corner points (19) of a rectangle, in particular a square.

14. System (16) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that five devices (1) are provided, that the receiving volume cross-sections (14) of four of the five devices (1) are arranged on corner points (19) of a rectangle, in particular a square, and that one of the receiving volume cross-sections (14) is arranged on a point in the middle (21) of the rectangle or outside the rectangle, in particular outside the rectangle on a straight line (18') which is normal to one side (20) of the rectangle and bisects it.

15. Insulation arrangement comprising a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 or a system (16) according to one of claims 8 to 14 and at least one cable (2), at least one cable harness or at least one cable loom, wherein the at least one cable (2), the at least one cable harness or the at least one cable loom is arranged in the at least one receiving volume (5), wherein between a surface (17) of the at least one wall (3) on the one hand and the at least one cable (2), the at least one cable harness or the at least one cable loom on the other hand there is / are a coefficient of static friction in the range from 0.2 to 2.5, preferably from 0.6 to 1.4, and / or a coefficient of sliding friction in the range from 0.15 to 2.4, preferably from 0.55 to 1.35.

Images