Wiring Harness and Electrical Assembly Having a Wiring Harness

Abstract

A wiring harness and an electrical assembly in which a chamber can be vented by the wiring harness are provided. The wiring harness is configured to transmit electrical power between two electrical contact points located separate from each other. The wiring harness includes an individual conductor, which includes an electrically insulating layer and forms, along a longitudinal direction of extent of the wiring harness, two connection ends of the wiring harness for electrically contacting the contact points; a hollow channel element, which is separate from the individual conductor and runs along the longitudinal direction of extent, wherein each of the ends of the channel element opens out at a respective connection end; and a wiring harness sheath, by way of which the individual conductor and the channel element are jointly sheathed along the longitudinal direction of extent.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A wiring harness for an electrical assembly, wherein the wiring harness is configured to transmit electrical power between two electrical contact points arranged separately from one another, the wiring harness comprising: an individual conductor, which comprises an electrically insulating layer and forms along a longitudinal direction of extent of the wiring harness two connection ends of the wiring harness for electrical contacting of the contact points; a hollow channel element, which is formed separately from the individual conductor and runs along the longitudinal direction of extent, wherein a respective one of ends of the channel element opens out at a respective one of the connection ends; and a wiring harness sheath, by way of which the individual conductor and the channel element are jointly sheathed along the longitudinal direction of extent.

12. The wiring harness according to claim 11, wherein: the channel element has a dirt trapping device.

13. The wiring harness according to claim 12, wherein: the dirt trapping device has a dirt trapping layer arranged on an inner circumferential side of the channel element.

14. The wiring harness according to claim 11, wherein: the channel element has an additional length portion, because of which the channel element is arranged as wrapping helically around the individual conductor in the wiring harness sheath, at least in a wrapping region.

15. The wiring harness according to claim 14, wherein: the channel element has a dirt trapping device, and the dirt trapping device has the additional length portion.

16. The wiring harness according to claim 11, further comprising: an embedding body, which is arranged in the wiring harness sheath and in which the individual conductor and the channel element are embedded, whereby the wiring harness is fluidically seal-tight within the wiring harness sheath beyond the channel element along the longitudinal direction of extent.

17. The wiring harness according to claim 11, wherein: the channel element has a form stability structure by way of which the channel element is protected from excessive axial and radial deformation.

18. The wiring harness according to claim 11, wherein: the individual conductor projects beyond the channel element at the connection end along the longitudinal direction of extent.

19. An electrical assembly comprising: a first electrical contact point and a second electrical contact point, which are electrically connected to one another by the wiring harness according to claim 11, a chamber, which is delimited by a wall element and in which the first electrical contact point is arranged, wherein the second electrical contact point is arranged outside the chamber; and a passage opening, which penetrates the wall element, wherein the chamber is formed as fluidically seal-tight beyond the passage opening; wherein: the wiring harness runs through the passage opening, the passage opening is fluidically sealed off by the wiring harness sheath, while the wiring harness is held in the passage opening; and one of the connection ends is arranged in the chamber, whereas the other of the connection ends is arranged outside the chamber, so that the chamber and a region outside the chamber are fluidically connected to one another by the channel element for pressure equalization.

20. The electrical assembly according to claim 19, further comprising: a further chamber, in which the second electrical contact point is arranged and which is delimited by the wall element, so that the chamber and the further chamber are fluidically sealed off from one another by the wall element, wherein: the passage opening opens out on one hand into the chamber and on another hand into the further chamber; and the other of the connection ends is arranged in the further chamber, so that the chamber and the further chamber are fluidically connected to one another by the channel element for pressure equalization.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a perspective and partially sectional view of a portion of a wiring harness which has a channel element.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a wall element of an electrical assembly which has a passage opening through which the wiring harness runs.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a perspective and detailed view of a connection end of the wiring harness.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the connection end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] In the figures, elements that are the same or functionally the same are provided with the same designations.

[0040] A wiring harness 1 and an electrical assembly 2 are presented below in a joint description. For this purpose, FIG. 1 shows in a perspective and partially sectional view a portion of the wiring harness 1 which has a channel element 3. If the electrical assembly 2 (shown in part in FIG. 2) has been produced in such a way that it is ready for use, the electrical assembly 2 has the wiring harness 1. In this case, the wiring harness 1 is designed for transmitting electrical power, that is to say electrical voltage and/or electrical current, between two electrical contact points (not shown) arranged or formed separately from one another. For this purpose, the wiring harness 1 has an individual conductor 4, in the present example two individual conductors 4, which have a respective core 5 of an electrically conducting or electrically conductive material, for example metal. The wiring harness may have more than two individual conductors.

[0041] The respective individual conductor 4 comprises an electrically insulating layer 6, the respective core 5 and the respective electrically insulating layer 6 being connected to one another in such a way that a fluid, for example air, is blocked from passing through between the respective core 5 and the respective electrically insulating layer 6. In other words, the respective individual conductor 4 is formed as fluidically seal-tight along its longitudinal direction of extent 7. In the stretched state of the wiring harness 1, a longitudinal direction of extent 8 of the wiring harness 1 and the longitudinal direction of extent 7 of the individual conductor 4 coincide or are parallel to one another. A connection end 10 of the wiring harness 1 is formed by a respective end 9 of the respective individual conductor 4. In this case, the connection end 10 of the wiring harness 1 is designed to be brought into electrically conducting or conductive contact with the contact points, so that an electrically conducting or conductive connection is established between the wiring harness 1, in particular the corresponding individual conductor 4, and the corresponding contact point.

[0042] The channel element 3 is of a hollow form and runs along the longitudinal direction of extent 8 of the wiring harness 1, an open end 11 of the channel element 3 opening out at the connection end 10. Expressed a different way, the end 11 of the channel element 3 is arranged in the region, in particular the proximity, of the connection end 10. To this extent it should be understood that the connection end 10 is a region or space which encloses both the corresponding end 9 of the corresponding individual conductor 4 and the end 11 of the channel element 3.

[0043] Along the longitudinal direction of extent 8 of the wiring harness 1, the channel element 3 may be arranged parallel to the individual conductors 4. In the present example it is provided that the wiring harness 1 has a wrapping region 12, in which the channel element 3 wraps around at least one of the individual conductors 4 or a number of the individual conductors 4. In this case, the channel element 3 is arranged helically or like a helix, at least in the wrapping region 12, so that the individual conductor(s) 4 is/are wrapped around helically by the channel element 3.

[0044] The wiring harness 1 also has a wiring harness sheath 13, by way of which the individual conductors 4 and the channel element 3 are jointly sheathed along the longitudinal direction of extent 8. In the present example the individual conductors 4 and the channel element 3 are sheathed uninterruptedly along the longitudinal direction of extent by way of the wiring harness sheath 13. In FIG. 1, the wiring harness sheath 13 is only partially shown.

[0045] Being of a hollow form allows the channel element 3 to offer a pressure equalizing channel 14 which is free from material and can be flowed through by a fluid, in particular gas, for example air, and by way of which a pressure equalization can take place between the connection end 10 and a further connection end (not shown) opposite from or opposed to the connection end 10 along the longitudinal direction of extent 8.

[0046] It is shown furthermore in FIG. 1 that the individual conductors 4 project beyond the channel element 3 at the connection end 10 along the longitudinal direction of extent 7, 8. In other words, the respective individual conductor 4 extends further out of the wiring harness sheath 13 than the channel element 3 or the pressure equalizing channel 14.

[0047] In the present example the channel element 3 has an additional length portion 15, which serves the purpose of arranging the channel element 3 helically around the individual conductor(s) 4.

[0048] Also, not shown or shown completely transparently in FIG. 1 is an embedding body 16, which together with the individual conductor 4 or with the individual conductors 4 and the channel element 3 is enclosed on the outer circumferential side by the wiring harness sheath 13. In other words, both the embedding body 16 and the channel element 3 as well as the at least one individual conductor 4 are arranged inside the wiring harness sheath 13. In this case, a material-bonding connection may have been respectively produced between the embedding body 16 and the at least one individual conductor 4 and between the embedding body 16 and the channel element 3. Thus, the embedding body 16 acts on the one hand as a fastening or holding element for the channel element 3 and/or for the individual conductor 4 within the wiring harness sheath 13 and on the other hand as a sealing element by way of which the wiring harness 1 is formed as fluidically seal-tight along the longitudinal direction of extent 8.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a wall element 17 of the electrical assembly 2, the wall element 17 having a passage opening 18 through which the wiring harness 1 runs. The electrical assembly 2 has the first electrical contact point (not shown) and the second electrical contact point (not shown), which are electrically connected to one another by way of the wiring harness 1. Furthermore, the electrical assembly 2 has the wall element 17, which in the present example separates a first chamber 19 and a second chamber 20 from one another. To this extent, the electrical assembly 2 includes the chambers 19, 20. In this case, the first electrical contact point is arranged in the first chamber 19, whereas the second electrical contact point is arranged in the second chamber 20. The chambers 19, 20 are fluidically connected to one another by way of the passage opening 18 as long as the wiring harness 1 has not yet been inserted as intended into the passage opening 18. Apart from the passage opening 18, the chambers 19, 20 are fluidically sealed off from one another. In FIG. 2 it is shown how the wiring harness 1 runs through the passage opening 18 and extendsin each case at least partiallyinto the respective chamber 19, 20. Expressed in a different way, the wiring harness 1 ends on the one hand in the first chamber 19 and on the other hand outside the first chamber 19, in particular in the second chamber 20. Because of this, in this state the chambers 19, 20 are fluidically sealed off from one anotherapart from the channel element 3. This should be understood as meaning that no fluid can flow through between the wiring harness 1, in particular between its wiring harness sheath 13, and the passage opening 18. However, because of the channel element 3, the two chambers 19, 20 are fluidically connected to one another, so that a pressure equalization can take place between the chambers 19, 20. In other words, because of the channel element 3, it is ensured that the respective chamber 19, 20 can be vented, in that fluid, in particular the air, flows through the channel element 3.

[0050] In FIG. 3 a perspective and detailed view of the connection end 10 of the wiring harness 1 is shown. To avoid dirt particles being undesirably transported from one of the chambers 19, 20 into the corresponding other one of the chambers 19, 20 during pressure equalization between the chambers 19, 20 by way of the channel element 3, in the present example it is provided that the wiring harness 1, in particular its channel element 3, has a dirt trapping device 21. The dirt trapping device 21 has for example a dirt trapping layer 22 arranged on the inner circumferential side of the channel element 3 and formed in particular like a hook tape of a hook-and-loop fastener and/or as magnetic or magnetizable. In this case, an inner circumferential surface of the channel element 3 or of the pressure equalizing channel 14 may be formed at least in some regions, for instance in a protective trapping region, by the dirt trapping device 21, in particular by the dirt trapping layer 22.

[0051] As an alternative or in addition, the dirt trapping device 21 has the additional length portion 15 (see FIG. 1), with the effect of providing a particularly long dirt trapping distance, along which any dirt particles can be deposited as intended.

[0052] Because of the dirt trapping device, (dirt) particles are not undesirably transported through the channel element 3in particular during pressure equalization or because of the pressure equalization.

[0053] Furthermore, in the present example the wiring harness 1 has a form stability structure 23, by way of which the channel element 3, that is to say the pressure equalizing channel 14, is protected from excessive axial and radial deformation. In the present example, the form stability structure 23 is provided by the channel element 3 having a circular ring-shaped cross-sectional figure. Because of the circular ring-shaped cross-sectional figure, the channel element 3 is particularly resistant to bending and to radial deformation, that is to say crushing, so that the channel element 3, and as a consequence the pressure equalizing channel 14, is particularly stable. Furthermore, the form stability structure 23 may have a reinforcing structure which is incorporatedin particular in a material-bonding mannerin a material of the channel element 3. The reinforcing structure may be for example a wire framework or mesh.

[0054] In the present case, the individual conductors 4, their electrical insulating layer 6, the channel element 3, the wiring harness sheath 13, the embedding body 16 and the form stability structure 23 are elastically and/or plastically bendable or formable non-destructively along the longitudinal direction of extent 8 of the wiring harness 1. Therefore, bending or deforming of the wiring harness 1 in a way that does not constitute misuse does not cause any functions of the channel element 3 and the individual conductors 4 and of the embedding body 16 and the form stability structure 23 to be restricted.

[0055] In FIG. 4 a perspective view of the connection end 10 of the wiring harness 1 is shown. Here it can be seen in particular how the channel element 3 opens out in the region of the connection end 10 and in this case projects less far into the region than the individual conductors 4. It can also be seen that, for particularly easy and efficient contacting with the electrical contact points, the individual conductors 4 have a respective wire end sleeve 24, the respective wire end sleeve 24 being formed in one piece with a respective cable lug 25. Thus, such an intimate connection is established between the respective core 5 of the individual conductor 4 and the associated wire end sleeve 24 that it is not possible for fluid, in particular air, to flow through between the core 5 and the respective electrically insulating layer 6. For this purpose, it may for example be provided that a material-bonding connection is established between the corresponding wire end sleeve 24 and the corresponding core 5.

[0056] Overall, the wiring harness 1 and the electrical assembly 2 propose a possibility for efficient pressure equalization of the chamber 19, 20 or the chambers 19, 20 that involves particularly little effort. In other words, it is shown by the wiring harness 1 or by the electrical assembly how one of the chambers 19, 20 can be provided, in particular retrofitted, with a pressure equalizing element particularly efficiently and involving little effort.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0057] 1 Wiring harness [0058] 2 Electrical assembly [0059] 3 Channel element [0060] 4 Individual conductor [0061] 5 Core [0062] 6 Electrically insulating layer [0063] 7 Longitudinal direction of extent of the individual conductor [0064] 8 Longitudinal direction of extent of the wiring harness [0065] 9 End of the individual conductor [0066] 10 Connection end [0067] 11 End of the channel element [0068] 12 Wrapping region [0069] 13 Wiring harness sheath [0070] 14 Pressure equalizing channel [0071] 15 Additional length portion [0072] 16 Embedding body [0073] 17 Wall element [0074] 18 Passage opening [0075] 19 Chamber [0076] 20 Chamber [0077] 21 Dirt trapping device [0078] 22 Dirt trapping layer [0079] 23 Form stability structure [0080] 24 Wire end sleeve [0081] 25 Cable lug