Fastener for holding three electric cables

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastener (1) for holding three electric cables (2a, 2b, 2c), which is configured to be secured to a securing bracket for a battery tray having an opening, characterized in that the fastener (1) has three interfaces, each being configured to accommodate one of the three electric cables (2a, 2b, 2c), the fastener (1) comprising a first strap (7) and a second strap (8), the fastener (1) comprising a guide comprising a first part and a second part (9b), the guide being configured to be inserted into the opening in the securing bracket, the first part being configured to slide in the second zone such that the fastener (1) is locked when the first part is positioned in the second zone, the fastener (1) comprising a clip (10) configured to be positioned in the first zone.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE OF THE INVENTION: THREE-ELECTRICAL CABLE LOCK CLIP

[0003] The present invention claims priority from French application No. FR2500169 filed on 08.01.2025, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004]

[0001] The invention relates to means for fixing electrical cables, in particular electrical harnesses positioned at the level of the battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle.

[0005]

[0002] Prior art patent application US6533226 is known, describing a mounting assembly for attaching cables to a support element of a transport vehicle. The support element has a first side, a second side, and an opening for communication between the first and second sides. The assembly includes a fastener comprising a strap and a head. The strap is flat and has serrations. The strap encircles a cable and is positioned partially inside the opening. The head is disc-shaped. The head forms a stop against the first side of the support element. The head has a pilot socket designed to fit into the opening in the support element. A lip is present on the head to prevent it from passing through the opening. Furthermore, the assembly includes a saddle support positioned between the cable and the support element.The seat support comprises a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is in contact with the cable, while the second surface is in contact with the other side. However, a drawback remains. Securing these elements requires complex assembly, particularly due to the use of screws, for example. Yet, in a vehicle, accessibility can be limited, especially in an after-sales service scenario. Furthermore, such an assembly only allows for the securing of a single cable. In a cable system with multiple cables, it is therefore necessary to arrange several assemblies within the vehicle, which makes their arrangement, or the arrangement of other vehicle components, difficult.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks, to secure three electrical cables, and to facilitate their assembly and disassembly within the vehicle.

[0006]

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a three-wire electrical cable retaining clip configured to attach to a battery tray mounting bracket having an opening comprising a first longitudinal zone and a second zone perpendicular to the first zone such that said opening has a T-shape, notable in that the clip has three interfaces each configured to accommodate one of the three electrical cables, said clip comprising a first strap configured to clamp two interfaces each comprising one of the electrical cables and a second strap configured to clamp the remaining interface comprising the remaining electrical cable, said clip comprising a guide comprising a first part and a second part, the width of the first part being less than the width of the second part, the guide being configured to fit into said opening of the mounting bracket,said first part being configured to slide into said second zone such that said clip is locked when said first part is positioned in said second zone, said clip comprising a clip configured to position itself in said first zone when said first part is positioned in said second zone.

[0007]

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the three electrical cables are held securely by a single clip, which facilitates assembly and disassembly operations.

[0008]

[0006] Advantageously, said first part has a width less than the width of the second zone so that there is a gap of a predetermined distance between said first part and the contour of the fixing support delimiting said second zone.

[0009]

[0007] Preferably, said predetermined distance is between 3 mm and 6 mm, preferably 5 mm.

[0010]

[0008] The presence of such play ensures the uniform distribution of forces on the clip in order to prevent its breakage.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery tray comprising three electrical cables and at least one clip described above, said clip ensuring the retention of said three electrical cables.

[0011]

[0010] Preferably, said battery tray includes three fixing supports and three clips so as to hold said three electrical cables along said battery tray.

[0012]

[0011] This allows the electrical cables to be correctly positioned against the battery tray, in order to prevent damage to them. It also facilitates the mounting of other vehicle components around said battery tray.

[0013]

[0012] The invention also relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray as previously described.

[0014]

[0013] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for assembling three electrical cables of a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described, remarkable in that said method comprises the following steps:

[0015] - a step of positioning the electrical cables in each of the interfaces of the clip, the first strap clamping two interfaces each comprising one of the electrical cables, the second strap clamping said remaining interface comprising the remaining electrical cable; - a step of inserting the guide into the first area of ​​said opening of the battery tray mounting support, the first part and the second part of the guide passing through said first area;

[0016] - a sliding step of the first part of the guide into said second zone of the opening, the clip positioning itself in said first zone, said clip being blocked by said fixing support.

[0017]

[0014] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for disassembling three electrical cables from a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described, remarkable in that said method comprises the following steps:

[0018] - a step of pressing on said clip so that said clip exits said first zone, said guide being simultaneously moved so that said first part slides from the second zone to said first zone; - a step of withdrawing said guide from said opening via said first zone.

[0015] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which:

[0019] - [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a clip for holding three electrical cables according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0020] - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a mounting bracket for a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle on which the clip, illustrated in figure 1, is configured to attach;

[0021] - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the staple, shown in figure 1, in a different view;

[0022] - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the three electrical cables held by three clips.

[0023]

[0016] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a clip 1 for holding three electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c. The clip 1 has three interfaces, preferably semicircular in shape, onto which the electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c can be positioned. For example, the electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c are the high-voltage power supply cables for the battery located in the battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. The clip 1 has a first strap 7 configured to grip two interfaces when the electrical cables 2a, 2b are positioned in each of the two interfaces. In addition, said clip 1 has a second strap 8 configured to grip the remaining interface when the remaining electrical cable 3b is positioned in said remaining interface. In Figure 1, the three electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c are each positioned in one of the interfaces.The first strap 7 secures two electrical cables 2a and 2b, while the second strap 8 secures the remaining electrical cable 2c. In this case, the battery tray has a mounting bracket 3, shown in Figure 2. The mounting bracket 3 has an opening 4 comprising a first longitudinal zone 5 and a second zone 6 perpendicular to the first zone 5. The opening 4 thus has a T-shape. In Figure 2, a dashed line is shown on the opening 4 to visually delineate the first zone 5 and the second zone 6. In addition, the clip 1 has a guide. The guide comprises a first part 9a and a second part 9b. The first part 9a is visible in Figure 3. The first part 9a has a width less than the width of the second part 9b. The width of the second part 9b is less than the width of the first zone 5 and greater than the width of the second zone 6.In other words, the width of the second part 9b lies between the width of the second zone 6 and the width of the first zone 5. In this way, it is possible to insert said second part 9b through said first zone 5, but not through said second zone 6. However, the first part 9a has a width less than said second zone 6. Thus, it is possible to insert both the second part 9b and the first part 9a into said first zone 5, and to slide said first part 9a into said second zone 6. In this way, the clip 1 is locked into said fastening support 3. Furthermore, optionally, there is a gap between the first part 9a and the contour of the fastening support 3, which separates said second zone 6 from the opening 4. This gap has a predetermined distance. Preferably, said predetermined distance is between 3 mm and 6 mm. Even more preferably, the predetermined distance is 5 mm.In addition, said staple 1 includes a clip configured to position itself in the first zone 5 when the first part 9a slides into said second zone 6.

[0024]

[0017] The invention further relates to a battery tray comprising three electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c and at least one of the clips 1 described above. The clip 1 secures the three electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c. Battery electrical cables are generally very long, exceeding 1 m. Therefore, preferably, the battery tray has three separate clips 1 to secure the three electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c along its length. This implies the presence of three separate mounting brackets 3 on the battery tray. The securing of the three electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c by three clips 1 is illustrated in Figure 4.

[0025]

[0018] The invention also relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray as previously described.

[0026]

[0019] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for assembling three electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c from a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. The method includes a positioning step during which the electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c are each positioned on one of the interfaces of said clip 1. The first strap 7 is positioned around two interfaces and the two electrical cables 2a, 2b positioned in these two interfaces. The second strap 8 is positioned around the remaining interface, that is, around said interface not being clamped by said first strap 7, as well as around the remaining electrical cable 2c positioned in said remaining interface. During an insertion step, the guide is inserted into the first zone 5 of said opening 4 of the mounting bracket 3, as previously described. The first part 9a and the second part 9b cross the first zone 5.During a sliding step, the first part 9a of the guide slides into the second zone 6 of said opening 4. Thus, the clip 10 comes to be inserted into said first zone 5. It is then impossible to slide the first part 9a in the opposite direction, from the second zone 6 to the first zone 5 because the clip 10 is an obstacle.

[0027]

[0020] A method for disassembling three electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c from a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle can also be implemented within the scope of the invention. Such a method includes a support step during which a first force is exerted on the clip 10 so as to remove it from said first zone 5. The first force can, in particular, be exerted using a screwdriver, for example, when access to the clip 10 is difficult for a technician. A second force must be exerted simultaneously to move the guide, in particular the first part 9a, so that it slides from the second zone 6 to said first zone 5. During a withdrawal step, the guide is completely removed from said opening 4, via the first zone 5. Thus, said clip 1 is free. It is possible to disassemble the first strap 7 and / or the second strap 8 to release the electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c from said clip 1.This method is practical for performing maintenance operations on the battery tray, without necessarily separating the electrical cables 2a, 2b, 2c. Thus, they can be easily reconnected after the maintenance operation has been carried out.

Claims

1. CLAIMS 1. A clip (1) for retaining three electrical cables (2a, 2b, 2c) configured to attach to a mounting bracket (3) of a battery tray having an opening (4) comprising a first longitudinal zone (5) and a second zone (6) perpendicular to the first zone (5) such that said opening (4) has a T-shape, characterized in that the clip (1) has three interfaces, each configured to accommodate one of the three electrical cables (2a, 2b, 2c), said clip (1) comprising a first strap (7) configured to enclose two interfaces, each comprising one of the electrical cables (2a, 2b), and a second strap (8) configured to enclose the remaining interface comprising the remaining electrical cable (2c), said clip (1) comprising a guide comprising a first portion (9a) and a second portion (9b), the width of the first portion (9a) being less than the width of the second portion. (9b),the guide being configured to fit into said opening (4) of the mounting bracket (3), said first part (9a) being configured to slide in said second zone (6) so that said clip (1) is locked when said first part (9a) is positioned in said second zone (6), said clip (1) comprising a clip (10) configured to position itself in said first zone (5) when said first part (9a) is positioned in said second zone (6).

2. Clip (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first part (9a) has a width less than the width of the second zone (6) so that there is a gap of a predetermined distance between said first part (9a) and the contour of the fixing support (3) delimiting said second zone (6).

3. Staple (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said predetermined distance is between 3 mm and 6 mm, preferably 5 mm.

4. Battery tray comprising three electrical cables (2a, 2b, 2c) and at least one clip (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, said clip (1) securing said three electrical cables (2a, 2b, 2c).

5. Battery tray according to claim 4, characterized in that said battery tray comprises three fixing supports (3) and three clips (1) so as to secure said three electrical cables (2a, 2b, 2c) along said battery tray.

6. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray according to claim 4 or 5.

7. Method for assembling three electrical cables (2a, 2b, 2c) of a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of positioning the electrical cables (2a, 2b, 2c) in each of the interfaces of the clip (1), the first strap (7) clamping two interfaces each comprising one of the electrical cables (2a, 2b), the second strap (8) clamping said remaining interface comprising the remaining electrical cable (2c); - a step of inserting the guide into the first zone (5) of said opening (4) of the battery tray mounting support (3), the first part (9a) and the second part (9b) of the guide passing through said first zone (5); - a sliding step of the first part (9a) of the guide in said second zone (6) of the opening (4), the clip (10) being positioned in said first zone (5), said clip (1) being blocked by said fixing support (3).

8. A method for disassembling three electrical cables (2a, 2b, 2c) from a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of pressing on said clip (10) so that said clip (10) exits said first zone (5), said guide being simultaneously moved so that said first part (9a) slides from the second zone (6) to said first zone (5); - a step of removing said guide outside said opening (4) via said first zone (5).

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