Cable sleeve comprising a deformable portion with variable cross-sectional area
The present disclosure relates to cable sleeve for receiving one or more cables, such as a harness for a vehicle. The sleeve includes a sleeve body having a portion made of deformable material. The portion is designed to have a first configuration, which is predefined, and to adopt a second configuration. In the first configuration the cross-sectional area of the portion is smaller than in the second configuration. Additionally, In the first configuration the perimeter length of the cross-sectional area is larger than or equal to the second configuration.
1 . A cable sleeve for receiving one or more cables, such as a harness for a vehicle, the sleeve comprising:
a sleeve body comprising a portion made of deformable material, wherein the portion is designed to have a first configuration, which is predefined, and to adopt a second configuration, wherein a cross-sectional area of the portion is smaller in the first configuration than in the second configuration, wherein a perimeter length of the cross-sectional area in the first configuration is larger than or equal to the second configuration, wherein the cross-sectional area has an essentially circular shape in the second configuration, and wherein in the first configuration the perimeter of the cross-sectional area comprises one or more convex sections and one or more concave sections, as seen from outside of the perimeter of the cross-sectional area.
2 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area has a non-circular and non-rectangular shape in the first configuration.
3 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the first configuration is retained as long as substantially no external force acts on the portion and wherein the second configuration is adopted as long as an external force acts on the portion.
4 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the perimeter length of the cross-sectional area is substantially the same in the first and the second configuration.
5 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the perimeter portions forming the concave sections in the first configuration form the convex sections in the second configuration.
6 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration the convex and concave sections are arranged alternatingly along the perimeter.
7 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration a ratio of a distance d concave from a center point of the cross-sectional area to an innermost point of a concave section and a distance d convex from the center point of the cross-sectional area to an outermost point of a convex section, d concave /d convex , is at most 0.90.
8 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein in the second configuration the cross-sectional area is at least 120% of the cross-sectional area in the first configuration.
9 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area has a cloverleaf shape in the first configuration.
10 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable material is a polymer.
11 . The sleeve according to claim 10 , wherein the polymer is a rubber material.
12 . The sleeve according to claim 11 , wherein the rubber material is ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM).
13 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the adoption of the second configuration is established substantially without stretching the deformable material.
14 . The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the portion is configured to be deformed to a third configuration with at least partially stretching the deformable material and, wherein in the third configuration the cross-sectional area is at least 220% of the cross-sectional area in the second configuration.
15 . A method for assembling a cable sleeve with cables, comprising:
providing a cable sleeve including a sleeve body having a portion made of deformable material, wherein the portion is designed to have a first configuration, which is predefined, and to adopt a second configuration, wherein a cross-sectional area of the portion is smaller in the first configuration than in the second configuration, and wherein a perimeter length of the cross-sectional area in the first configuration is larger than or equal to the second configuration, wherein the cross-sectional area has an essentially circular shape in the second configuration;
applying an external force on the portion such that the portion adopts the second configuration; and
guiding one or more cables for a vehicle at least partially through the sleeve, wherein in the first configuration the perimeter of the cross-sectional area comprises one or more convex sections and one or more concave sections, as seen from outside of the perimeter of the cross-sectional area.
16 . A method for assembling a cable sleeve with cables, comprising:
providing a cable sleeve including a sleeve body having a portion made of deformable material, wherein the portion is designed to have a first configuration, which is predefined, and to adopt a second configuration, wherein a cross-sectional area of the portion is smaller in the first configuration than in the second configuration, and wherein a perimeter length of the cross-sectional area in the first configuration is larger than or equal to the second configuration, wherein the cross-sectional area has an essentially circular shape in the second configuration;
applying an external force on the portion such that the portion adopts the second configuration;
guiding one or more cables, such as a harness for a vehicle, at least partially through the sleeve; and
releasing, after guiding one or more cables, such as a harness for a vehicle, at least partially through the sleeve, the applied external force such that the portion has the predefined first configuration, wherein applying the external force comprises using an expander contacting at least partially one or more concave sections of the perimeter of the cross-sectional area.