Ultrasonically Welded Textile Sleeve Assembly for Non-Tensioned Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textile sleeves for protecting elongate members in vehicles are compromised when repeatedly opened and closed, leading to overstressing and potential damage to both the sleeve and the contained members.
Innovation Solution
A textile sleeve assembly with ultrasonically welded attachment features, including reverse folded loops and weld joints, ensures the sleeve remains non-tensioned by spacing weld joints to maintain a slack state, preventing tension transfer to the elongate member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the textile sleeve is fixed between vehicle body and closure member, then the sleeve provides protection to the elongate member, but the sleeve is overstressed and damaged when the closure member is repeatedly opened and closed
Solution Approach 1:
The textile fabric is segmented into multiple sections with attachment features at spaced intervals, allowing the sleeve to be secured at multiple points rather than a single location, distributing stress and preventing overstretching during closure member operation
Solution Approach 2:
A textile fabric acts as an intermediary element between the vehicle body and closure member, providing attachment features that secure the sleeve without directly transmitting tensile forces to the sleeve wall, thereby protecting the elongate member from stress
2Adaptability or versatility
If the textile sleeve is stretched to accommodate closure member movement, then the sleeve can be attached between spaced members, but the elongate member inside is damaged due to excessive tension
Solution Approach 1:
The textile fabric serves as a mediator that absorbs and isolates tensile forces generated during closure member movement, preventing these forces from being transmitted to the elongate member within the sleeve through ultrasonic weld joints
Solution Approach 2:
Attachment features are provided at specific locations on the textile fabric rather than uniformly distributed, allowing localized attachment points that maintain sleeve flexibility while preventing tension transfer to the elongate member
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The assembly effectively prevents overstressing of the sleeve and contained members by maintaining a non-tensioned state, enhancing protection and extending the useful life of the elongate member.
Implementation Method 1
The textile fabric is bonded to the outer surface of the textile sleeve via a plurality of weld joints, including at least a pair of ultrasonically welded weld joints
Implementation Method 2
at least a pair of the plurality of weld joints including a first weld joint and a second weld joint spaced from one another along the textile fabric
Data Source
AI summary
A textile sleeve assembly including a tubular textile wall with an outer surface and an inner surface bounding a cavity extending a longitudinal central axis for routing and protecting an elongate member therein. A textile fabric bonded to the outer surface of the tubular textile wall via a plurality of weld joints. The textile fabric having a pair of attachment features for attachment to spaced apart attachment members on a vehicle body and a closure member of a vehicle.