Integrally Molded Cable Harness Water-Sealing Bracket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable harness designs for electric parking brake (EPB) and antilock brake systems (ABS) face issues with water infiltration due to exposed cables at branching points, leading to potential damage and increased part counts for separate sealing and bracket attachment solutions.
Innovation Solution
A cable harness with an integrally molded water-sealing portion and bracket attachment portion, made from urethane resin, that covers the branching point of ABS sensor and parking brake electrical lines, preventing water ingress and reducing the number of parts by combining sealing and attachment functions in a single molded piece.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate water-sealing structure and bracket attachment structure are used, then water-sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water-sealing structure and bracket attachment structure into a single integrated molded component. The water-sealing portion includes an elastic member that seals the cable branching point, while the bracket attachment portion provides mounting functionality. This merging eliminates the need for separate sealing components and brackets, reducing part count while maintaining effective water sealing at the cable entry point.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated molded portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides water sealing through the elastic member, structural support for cable positioning, and bracket attachment capability. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require separate components into a single universal element that addresses both sealing and mounting requirements.
2Ease of operation
If sheath is stripped at cable branching point, then cable connectivity is improved, but water infiltration risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-installed in the water-sealing portion to create a sealing barrier before water infiltration can occur. The member is elastically deformed during cable insertion to accommodate the stripped cable ends, then automatically returns to its original shape to seal around the cables, preventing water entry at the branching point where the sheath was removed for connectivity purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member functions as a flexible sealing element that can deform to accommodate the stripped cable ends while maintaining a water-tight seal. This flexible component adapts to the cable configuration and provides continuous protection against water infiltration at the vulnerable branching point where the outer sheath was removed to allow cable separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable harness that has water-sealing properties includes a sheath that accommodates an ABS sensor cable and a parking brake cable. The ABS sensor cable and the parking brake cable branch apart at an end portion of the sheath. An integrally molded member includes, in an integrated manner, a water-sealing portion that seals the end portion of the sheath from water, and a bracket attachment portion that is attached to the bracket.