Cable duct with flexible zone

Abstract

An arrangement (1) having a cable duct (2) into which at least one cable (10) with an electrical conductor is inserted, the cable duct (2) having at least one flexible zone (3) along the axial extent thereof.

Description

[0001] Cable duct with flex zone

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to an arrangement with a cable duct into which at least one cable with an electrical conductor is inserted, according to the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0004] Conventional cable ducts are rigid along their axial length and protect the cable or multiple cables inserted within them from external mechanical influences. There are also cable ducts that are flexible along their entire length and designed for flush-mounted installation of power cables in walls, but these are not discussed here.

[0005] The standard cable ducts, which are rigid over their length (see examples in the figures, at the bottom), have the disadvantage that they cannot be changed in their axial extent (length) (extended or shortened) or rotated around their own axis without tools or additional components, which severely limits their possible applications.

[0006] This prior art is shown in Figure 5. A known arrangement 12 has a rigid cable duct 13 extending in the axial direction. A cable (not shown in detail) is arranged in this cable duct 13, with one end of the cable terminating in a connector 14.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the object of improving an arrangement with a cable duct into which at least one cable with an electrical conductor is inserted, with regard to its application.

[0008] This problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0009] According to the invention, the cable duct has at least one flexible section (flex zone) along its axial extension. This flexible section advantageously makes it possible to shorten or lengthen the cable duct as required and / or to rotate the two sections of the cable duct adjacent to the flexible section relative to each other. Particularly in the latter case, the position of at least two cables inserted in the cable duct can be rotated relative to each other (e.g., up to 180°) in their axial extension.

[0010] A casing (in the form of a housing) can be provided over the flexible section and beyond it in one direction, or preferably in both directions, to stiffen and / or support this flexible section. The casing can be manufactured as a plastic overmold.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the flexible section is rod- or tube-shaped, with the two ends of the cable duct adjacent to the flexible section being connected to each other by means of the rod or tube. Corresponding embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and briefly explained in more detail.

[0012] Figures 1 to 4 show an arrangement 1 according to the invention.

[0013] The arrangement according to Figure 1 has a cable duct 2 which comprises a flexible section 3. A connecting element 4 is arranged within the flexible section 3. The connecting element 4 connects a front section 5 and a rear section 6 of the cable duct 2 in the region of the flexible section 3. The term “front section” means that part of the cable duct 2 is arranged at one end of the connecting element 4 and extends from this. Likewise, the term “rear” section means that another part of the cable duct 2 is arranged at the other end of the connecting element 4 and extends from this. The connecting element 4 thus lies within a respective end of the front section 5 or the rear section 6 and connects them in such a way that these two sections 5, 6 are connected to one another but can move relative to one another.This movement is possible in the axial direction and / or rotationally relative to one another. It is determined by the geometric design of the connecting element 4, for example as a thin rod or as a thin tubular structure, but also by its choice of material. The connecting element 4 is preferably made of the same material as the two sections 5, 6 of the cable duct 2, but can also be made of a different material. In the latter case, the two sections 5, 6 together with the connecting element 4 can be manufactured from plastic in a two-component injection molding process. Figure 1 also shows that a plug 7 is arranged at the end of the rear section 6 facing away from the connecting element 4. Instead of the plug 7, it is also possible for the cable located inside the cable duct 2 to be led out of this end of the cable duct 2.Furthermore, Figure 1 also shows that the cable duct 2 can (but does not have to) have at least one limiting element 8 and / or at least one positioning element 9. These two elements 8, 9 are arranged on the rear section 6 in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1, but can additionally or alternatively also be provided on the front section 5. These elements 8, 9 enable the precise positioning of the cable duct 2 in a surrounding housing (if present) during insertion into this housing, or predetermine its final position in the housing.

[0014] In Figure 2 it can be seen that the cable duct 2 according to Figure 1 is equipped with cables 10. In this embodiment, two cables 10 are present. However, it is also conceivable to insert only one cable or more than two cables into the cable duct 2 with its flexible section 3 and to secure them there. It can be seen that the two cables 10 are twisted relative to one another in the region of the flexible section 3, in particular rotated by approximately or exactly 180° relative to one another. This can be done during assembly of the cable duct 2. For this purpose, the cable duct 2 has, in its front section 5 and also in its rear section 6, recesses (such as grooves) or bores or the like extending in the axial direction, into which the respective cable 10 can be inserted or passed through.In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 2 and when viewed in detail, it is clear that one cable 10 is arranged at the top in the front section 5 and at the bottom in the rear section 6. The second cable 10, in contrast, is arranged at the bottom in the front section 5 and correspondingly at the top in the rear section 6. By twisting the two sections 5, 6 relative to one another in one direction or the other, it is possible, together with the connecting element 4, to create the flexible section 3 of the cable duct 2. For this purpose, the connecting element 4 is designed and its material is selected in such a way that it is possible to move the two sections 5, 6 towards or away from one another in the axial direction, so that the flexible section 3 is reduced in size or increased in size.This change in the flexible section 3 is thus realized, if necessary, by a linear movement or a relative rotational movement of the two sections 5, 6. Angling the two sections 5, 6 relative to each other may also be considered.

[0015] The same applies to the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Here, it can be seen that one cable 10 is arranged in alignment and substantially or exactly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable duct 2. The same applies to the second cable 10. Here, too, the two cables 10 (or more than two of these cables) are arranged in corresponding recesses (grooves) of the two sections 5, 6.

[0016] If the cable duct 2 has been equipped with the cables 10 as shown in Figure 3, it is possible to enable a rotation (a type of twisting) of the cables 10 by rotating the two sections 5, 6 relative to one another and utilizing the flexible section 3 according to the invention between these two sections 5, 6, which can then lead to a final state as shown in Figure 2. Conversely, it is also true that Figure 2 represents the initial state and a rotation takes place to align the two sections 5, 6 with one another (in the axial direction and / or in the direction of rotation and / or angling), up to the final state shown in Figure 3. Finally, Figure 4 shows that a housing (sheathing) is arranged partially or completely around the cable duct 2. This housing is designed as a plastic overmolding 11 according to Figure 4.The cable duct 2 is thus inserted into the housing or surrounded by the plastic overmolding 11 after the two sections 5, 6 have been aligned in the intended direction (linear direction and / or rotational direction and / or angular deflection). In this exemplary embodiment, too, a plug 7 is arranged at one end of the cable duct 2, namely at its rear section 6. Instead of the plug 7, one or more cables 10 can also be led out of this housing, in particular from the plastic overmolding 11. The housing and preferably the plastic overmolding 10 ensure that the two sections 5, 6 are fixed in the intended alignment with respect to one another, thus stiffening the flexible section 3, so that it is no longer possible to change the position of the two sections 5, 6 relative to one another.

[0017] The at least one positioning element 9 according to Figure 2 is designed for positioning with poka-yoke protection of the cable duct 2 in its housing, whereas the at least one positioning element 9 according to Figure 2 is designed for positioning with poka-yoke protection of the cable duct 2 in its housing. The term poka-yoke refers to a principle consisting of several elements, which includes technical precautions or devices for immediate fault detection and prevention.

[0018] Finally, it should be noted that in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4, the two sections 5, 6 are always arranged in axial alignment with one another. It is of course also possible for the cable duct 2 to be bent or kinked around the flexible section 3.

[0019] List of reference symbols

[0020] 1. Arrangement

[0021] 2. Cable duct

[0022] 3. Flexible section

[0023] 4. Connecting element

[0024] 5. Front section

[0025] 6. Rear section

[0026] 7. Plug

[0027] 8. Boundary element

[0028] 9. Positioning element

[0029] 10. Cable

[0030] 11 . Plastic overmolding

[0031] 12. Order

[0032] 13. Cable duct

[0033] 14. Plug

Claims

Patent claims 1. Arrangement (1) with a cable duct (2) into which at least one cable (10) with an electrical conductor is inserted, characterized in that the cable duct (2) has at least one flexible section (3) along its axial extent.

2. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible section (3) is formed by a rod-shaped or tubular connecting element (4) which connects a front section (5) to a rear section (6) of the cable duct (2).

3. Arrangement (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the front section (5) and / or the rear section (6) of the cable duct (2) has a recess for receiving the at least one cable (10), wherein the respective cable (10) is inserted into its associated recess.

4. Arrangement (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the front section (5) and / or the rear section (6) of the cable duct (2) has a passage for receiving the at least one cable (10), wherein the respective cable (10) is passed through its associated passage.

5. Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable duct (2) has at least one limiting element (8), 6. Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable duct (2) has at least one positioning element (9).

7. Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable duct (2) is inserted in a casing, 8. Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable duct (2) is surrounded by a plastic overmold (11).

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