CABLE CHANNEL

Abstract

A cable channel for receiving at least one cable includes a first cable housing and a second cable housing. The first cable housing includes a first connector and the second cable housing includes a first mating connector releasably connected to the first connector arranging the first and second cable housings together.

Claims

1. A cable channel for receiving at least one cable, comprising: a first cable housing including a first connector; and a second cable housing including a first mating connector releasably connected to the first connector arranging the first and second cable housings together.

2. The cable channel of claim 1, wherein the first cable housing and the second cable housing are arranged together in a channel longitudinal direction.

3. The cable channel of claim 1, wherein the first cable housing includes a second mating connector and the second cable housing includes a second connector.

4. The cable channel of claim 3, further comprising: a terminating part including a plurality of flanking webs spaced apart in a circumferential direction and extending in a channel longitudinal direction, the terminating part releasably connected to one of the second mating connector and the second connector.

5. The cable channel of claim 4, wherein the terminating part includes a flanking ring extending in the circumferential direction and arranged partially inside and partially outside the flanking webs.

6. The cable channel of claim 1, wherein the first connector includes a connection arm and the first mating connector includes a connection pin, and the first cable housing and the second cable housing are arranged together transversely to a channel longitudinal direction.

7. The cable channel of claim 6, wherein the releasable connection is maintained as a result of a spring force acting between the first and second cable housings transversely to the channel longitudinal direction.

8. The cable channel of claim 7, wherein the spring force is generated by a plurality of spring blocks arranged on an outer side at least one of the first cable housing and the second cable housing.

9. The cable channel of claim 1, wherein the first cable housing includes a receiving shell and a cover shell releasably connected to each another and forming a channel-like cavity for the at least one cable.

10. The cable channel of claim 9, wherein the receiving shell forms at least a portion of the channel-like cavity and the cover shell forms a planar outer surface.

11. The cable channel of claim 1, wherein an outer region of the first cable housing includes a plurality of securing elements mutually spaced in a channel longitudinal direction for releasably securing a line.

12. The cable channel of claim 11, wherein the plurality of securing elements is arranged in a plurality of rows.

13. The cable channel of claim 11, wherein the line is in the form of a busbar.

14. A cable channel for receiving at least one cable, comprising: a first cable housing including a first connector at a first end, a first mating connector at a second end, a first connection arm at a first side, and a first connection pin at a second side; and a second cable housing including a second connector at a first end, a second mating connector at a second end, a second connection arm at a first side, and a second connection pin at a second side, the first and second cable housings arranged in a channel longitudinal direction having one of the first connector releasably connected to the second mating connector and the second connector releasably connected to the first mating connector; and a third cable housing including a third connector at a first end, a third mating connector at a second end, a third connection arm at a first side, and a third connection pin at a second side, the first and third cable housings arranged in a transverse direction having one of the first connection arm releasably connected to the third connection pin and the first connection pin releasably connected to the third connection arm.

15. The cable channel of claim 14, further comprising: a terminating part including a plurality of flanking webs spaced apart in a circumferential direction and extending in a channel longitudinal direction, the terminating part releasably connected to one of the second mating connector and the second connector.

16. The cable channel of claim 14, wherein the releasable connection between the first and third cable housings is maintained as a result of a spring force acting between the first and third cable housings transversely to the channel longitudinal direction.

17. The cable channel of claim 14, wherein an outer region of the first cable housing includes a plurality of securing elements mutually spaced in a channel longitudinal direction, and the plurality of securing elements is arranged in a plurality of rows for releasably securing a line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The inventive cable channel is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this case, components which correspond to one another or are comparable in terms of their function are denoted by the same reference signs. In the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of sections of an inventive cable channel with open cable housings in the region of a received cable,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the illustration of the cable channel according to FIG. 1 with closed cable housings in the region of the received cable,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a perspective partial illustration of the cable housing according to FIG. 1, but without a received cable,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of the underside (not visible in FIG. 3) of the cable housing, and

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the perspective illustration of the underside according to FIG. 4 and a line secured thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The embodiments or implementations disclosed in the above drawings and the following detailed description are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to these embodiments or implementations.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a cable channel 10 for receiving a cable 12, which is designed for example as an electric cable having one or more electrical lines. The cable channel 10 has a combination of a plurality of (e.g., identically designed) cable housings 14, which receive the cable 12 along an axial cable longitudinal direction or channel longitudinal direction 16, at least in sections—here along a section 18. For combining and arranging a plurality of cable housings 14 together, a plurality of connectors and corresponding mating connectors are provided on the cable housings 14.

[0036] According to some embodiments, all the cable housings 14 are designed to be identical, at least functionally and in terms of their dimensions and geometrical measurements. The connectors and corresponding mating connectors are therefore present on each cable housing 14.

[0037] The connectors and corresponding mating connectors yet to be described are designed in such a way that a multiplicity of cable housings 14 can be arranged together in the channel longitudinal direction 16 and/or in a transverse direction 20 transversely to the channel longitudinal direction 16 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2).

[0038] It can be seen from a comparison between FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 that the cable housing 14 has two mutually cooperating housing shells 22, 24. A first housing shell of the cable housing 14 acts as a receiving shell 22 for receiving the cable 12. A second housing shell then acts as a cover shell 24 or a cover for effective mechanical protection of the cable 12 inserted into the receiving shell 22. The cover shell 24 has a planar outer surface 28 on its cover outer side 26. As a result, the entire cable channel 10 can have a substantially planar cover outer side 26 or outer surface, which facilitates its handling in terms of assembly, i.e., its installation in a vehicle.

[0039] After the respective portion of the cable 12 has been inserted into the receiving shell 22 (FIG. 1), the cover shell 24 is releasably connected to the receiving shell 22 in order to complete the cable housing 14 and to form a channel-like cavity 23 for the cable 12 (FIG. 2).

[0040] It can be seen in FIG. 3 that, for the connection of the two shells 22, 24, assembly lugs 30 of the cover shell 24 engage in assembly recesses 32 in the receiving shell 22. These assembly elements 30, 32 can be designed in such a way that they facilitate a releasable connection (e.g., a form- and/or force-fitting latching) of the two shells 22, 24.

[0041] Four cable housings 14 arranged together are visible in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In this case, two cable housings 14 are arranged together in the channel longitudinal direction 16 in each case, so that two parallel longitudinal rows 34 are formed. As seen in the transverse direction 20, two cable housings 14 are likewise arranged together in each case, so that two transverse rows 36 are formed. However, for assembly reasons, the cable housings 14 of the transverse row 36 are arranged regularly offset in the channel longitudinal direction 16.

[0042] It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the receiving shell 22 has, on its one end portion 38 on the channel longitudinal side, a connector 40 which is releasably connected to a corresponding mating connector 42 of a further end portion 44 of the adjacent receiving shell 22. The individual receiving shells 22 have in each case both the connector 40 and the corresponding mating connector 42. Any number of cable housings 14 can thus be arranged together in the channel longitudinal direction 16.

[0043] If a further cable housing 14 or further receiving shell 22 is not added at the respective end portion 38, 44 of the receiving shell 22, a releasable connection of the connector 40 and/or the corresponding mating connector 42 to a terminating part 46 is provided. The terminating part 46 supports flanking means in the form of a plurality of flanking webs 48 and possibly additionally a flanking ring 50.

[0044] The flanking webs 48 are arranged at a spacing from one another in a circumferential direction 52 extending transversely to the channel longitudinal direction 16 and extend substantially in the channel longitudinal direction 16. The flanking ring 50 extends in the circumferential direction 52 and is arranged partially inside and partially outside the flanking webs 48, as seen radially.

[0045] The above-mentioned flanking means 48, 50 flank the cable 12 outside the cable housing 14 near to the end portion 38 or end portion 44. Depending on the configuration, individual flanking means 48, 50 flank the cable 12 with or without a radial spacing. They help to ensure that the portion 18 of the cable 12 which is received by one or more cable housings 14 remains in the desired specified position and substantial relative movements between the portion 18 of the cable 12 and the receiving cable housing(s) are therefore not generated axially or in the channel longitudinal direction 16.

[0046] To this end, the flanking ring 50 is designed for example as a cable tie, which is tightly fastened until the cable 12 is pressed radially against individual flanking webs 48.

[0047] The terminating parts 46 moreover help to ensure that the cable 12, outside the received portions 18, retains free portions 54 which create flexible bending portions for flexible installation of the entire cable channel 10 in the installation area, e.g., in a vehicle.

[0048] It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the receiving shell 22 has, at its outer side 56, a plurality of connectors in the form of flat connection arms 58, which extend substantially in the transverse direction 20. Each connection arm 58 incorporates a through-hole 60 and corresponds to a connection pin 62, which is arranged as a corresponding mating connector on the outer side 56 of the further receiving shell 22.

[0049] The connection arm 58 and the corresponding connection pin 62 form a technically easily releasable connection of two cable housings 14 in the transverse direction 20. A hole wall 64 of the through-hole 60 and the corresponding connection pin 62 abut against one another in the manner of a form-fitting connection, which is maintained as a result of a spring force F acting in the transverse direction 20. The spring force F is generated by a plurality of spring blocks 68 arranged on an outer flank 66 of the receiving shell 22. In the assembled state of the cable housings 14 arranged together in the transverse direction 20, the spring force F of the spring blocks 68 acts in each case on a counter-block 70. The counter-blocks 70 are arranged on a further outer flank 72 of the receiving shell 22. If the two cable housings 14 arranged together in the transverse direction 20 are pressed against one another in the transverse direction 20 by a counter-force which is greater than the spring force F of the spring blocks 68, the releasable connection 58, 62 can be broken.

[0050] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the spring blocks 68, and also the counter-blocks 70, are enclosed in the receiving shell 22 with break-away walls 74, 76, which can be removed manually to form a cable outlet or a protected cable access point extending between adjacent cable housings 14. Additionally, break-away portions 78 are provided in the cover shell 24, which break-away portions can likewise be removed to enlarge the associated cable outlet or cable passage in the region of the associated spring block 68 or counter-block 70.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows the underside (already shown in FIG. 4) of the cable channel 10 with the outer sides 56 of the receiving shells 22. A line 80 is releasably secured on this underside. The line 80 can be designed as a busbar, for example a grounding busbar, and thus helps to ensure the mechanical stabilization of the cable channel 10.

[0052] For releasable securing of the line 80, two securing rows 82 extending equidistantly in the channel longitudinal direction 16 are present on the cable housing 14, more precisely in the region of the outer side 56 of the receiving shell 22. Each securing row 82 has a plurality of securing elements 84 which are mutually spaced in the channel longitudinal direction 16. They are designed for example in the manner of latching webs, which can be resiliently flexible in the transverse direction 20.

[0053] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing example embodiments or implementations and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the any use of the terms “has,” “includes,” “comprises,” or the like, in this specification, identifies the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0054] Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the teachings may be described herein in terms of functional and/or logical block components or various processing steps, which may include any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions.

[0055] Terms of degree, such as “generally,” “substantially,” or “approximately” are understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to refer to reasonable ranges outside of a given value or orientation, for example, general tolerances or positional relationships associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments or implementations.

[0056] As used herein, “e.g.,” is utilized to non-exhaustively list examples and carries the same meaning as alternative illustrative phrases such as “including,” “including, but not limited to,” and “including without limitation.” Unless otherwise limited or modified, lists with elements that are separated by conjunctive terms (e.g., “and”) and that are also preceded by the phrase “one or more of” or “at least one of” indicate configurations or arrangements that potentially include individual elements of the list, or any combination thereof. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” or “one or more of A, B, and C” indicates the possibilities of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A and C; or A, B, and C).

[0057] While the above describes example embodiments or implementations of the present disclosure, these descriptions should not be viewed in a restrictive or limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.