EP1796216B1 - Cable shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The socket has a flat fastening area (12) and a crimping area (18) with a pair of crimping units (20, 22) for receiving and fastening electrical cables. A neck area (16) connects the fastening area and crimping area. A recess (14) is provided for a fastener in the fastening area. Two protruding wings (24) adjacent to the crimping area are provided in the neck area from a plane defined by the fastening area. The socket is crimped at the cable and the wings are protruded from the plane after bending the crimping units and/or fastening the cable. The fastening area is kept free by an adhesive. An independent claim is also included for a method for fastening an electrical cable to a cable socket.

Description

The invention relates to a cable lug for attaching at least one electrical cable by means of crimping elements according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a cable lug is for example from the JP-A-11-297375 known.

When attaching a cable lug to one or more electrical cables by means of a crimp attachment, there is often the need to protect the crimp connection against the ingress of moisture, water or other liquids, since a caused by capillary action of the strands forwarding of water to damage the cable or the connected electrical components or even lead to a cable fire. Shrink tubing is therefore usually used for sealing, although difficulties may arise in the shrink-fitting process because not only does a desirable shrinkage of the diameter of the shrink tubing occur during shrinkage, but also some undesirable longitudinal shrinkage in the direction of the cable. As a result, the wire of the cable held by crimping elements and consisting of a large number of individual strands is no longer covered by the shrinking hose in sufficient length and water or moisture can penetrate between the individual strands. Although additional soldering of the wires with the cable lug a seal can be achieved, but this requires an additional operation in the assembly of a cable.

It is also possible to use heat-shrinkable hoses which are coated on their inside with a hot-melt adhesive. A disadvantage of these heat-shrink tubing, however, is that due to the reduction in cross-section during shrinking adhesive leak from the front end of the shrink tube and can also get into the mounting portion of the cable lug, which can lead to an undesirable reduction in the conductivity of the contact point. Furthermore, a fastening designed, for example, as a screw connection can loosen after a while by setting the adhesive, which likewise leads to a malfunction.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a cable lug, which allows for good electrical contact reliable protection of the cable core against the ingress of moisture, water or other pollutants.

The object is achieved by a cable lug with the features of claim 1.

In a cable lug of the type mentioned, the wings fix a shrink tubing during the shrinking process, as by friction between the wings and the shrink tube as well as a possible due to a gap between the wings and crimp, slightly greater cross-sectional shrinkage, for example caused by a certain length shrinkage or slipping longitudinal movement of the shrink tube is prevented at least in this area. This ensures that the cable cores are still covered in sufficient length by the shrink tubing even after shrinking. In the cable lug according to the invention, the wings are not bent during crimping and thus are still after crimping out of the plane defined by the attachment area out. The enlargement of the overall length achieved by the arrangement of the wings also causes the heat-shrinkable tube to protrude beyond the cable cores in sufficient length without protruding into the fastening area.

When using a heat-shrinkable adhesive coated on the inside with heat-shrinkable adhesive, the wings also ensure that space remains at the end face of the cable core for receiving the melting adhesive. As a result, the front side of the wire is sealed and the otherwise performed for this step of soldering the cable wire with the cable lug is unnecessary.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the description, the figures and the subclaims.

In a cable lug according to the invention according to an advantageous embodiment, a trough arranged between the wings and the fastening region can be formed in the neck region. This trough prevents leakage of adhesive that escapes during the shrinkage process into the attachment area by the trough serving as a reservoir for excess adhesive. As a result, a reliable contact is ensured in the long term.

Advantageously, the wings and the crimping elements can be arranged on one side and the depression on the other side of the plane defined by the fastening region. Experience has shown that occurs on the side facing away from the crimping elements of the cable lug particularly high amount of adhesive because here the shrink tube is more or less flush with the cable lug and fewer cavities are present, in which the adhesive could penetrate. Here, the trough acts as a catch basin for the swelling adhesive and prevents further creeping or running in the attachment area. On the opposite side is formed by the stamping of the trough a survey that also prevents to some extent a penetration of the adhesive into the mounting area.

In a preferred embodiment of a cable lug according to the invention, the wings protrude at an angle of approximately 90 ° out of the plane defined by the fastening area. As a result, a reliable fixing of the shrink tube and an effective sealing of the cable core are achieved in an advantageous manner, since the cross section thus spanned by the wings corresponds approximately to the cross section of the crimped cable lug in the region of the crimping elements. Depending on the embodiment of the cable lug, an angle of 45 ° to 90 ° may be suitable for performing the function.

It is also advantageous if the wings are rectangular. This embodiment has proven itself in the use according to the invention, since sufficient contact between the shrink tube and the wings is ensured here, without the shrink tube is injured.

In an expedient embodiment, but also wings that taper towards their ends or widen, may be advantageous. Continue to pose Lanyards in which the upper edges of the wings are inclined to the plane defined by the attachment area, in particular the corners, which are formed by the upper edges and the associated side edges including an acute angle, arranged on the side facing the attachment area, a preferred embodiment By such a sawtooth-like training in each case a corner improved fixation of the shrink tube is achieved.

Advantageously, the length of the wings in their direction away from the plane defined by the fastening plane extending direction is smaller than the length of the at least one pair of crimping elements in this direction in an uncrimped state. In particular, the length of the wings may be about 20 to 30% of the length of the crimping elements in an uncrimped state. Preferably, the length of the wings is substantially equal to the maximum extent of the at least one pair of crimping elements in a crimped state. This sizing of the wings effectively fixes the shrink tubing during the shrinkage process because slippage of the shrink tubing during or after shrinkage into a region of lower cross-section is prevented by a similarly large cross section of the wing and crimp regions.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the cable lug is attached to at least one electrical cable, wherein a shrink tube is provided, which is bent over an insulated portion of the electric cable, over the crimping area, the crimping elements for receiving and fixing the cable, and via a extends at least the wings comprehensive portion of the neck region away. This ensures that the shrink tubing rests at its rear end completely against the insulation of the cable, and at its front End is fully applied to the cable lug. This prevents moisture, water or other liquids from reaching the crimping area or even from penetrating the inside of the cable.

It is advantageous if the inside of the heat-shrinkable tube is coated with a hot-melt adhesive. The adhesive causes additional sealing between the shrink tubing and the cable or cable lug, as well as a sealing of the end face of the cable core.

In this case, it is also advantageous if a clearance is provided between the neck area-side end of the shrink tubing and the trough. In this way it can be achieved that the shrink tube is largely flush with a flat portion of the cable lug.

But it can also be a good seal of the cable while keeping the fixing area of adhesive can be achieved when the shrink tube extends completely over the trough or about to its half. Also in this case, it performs the function of a reservoir for excess adhesive.

Furthermore, the subject of the present invention is a cable lug, which indeed has a trough but no wings, as this also the keeping free of the mounting portion of adhesive through the trough is sufficiently achieved.

The cable lug according to the invention can be produced in a punch bending process, for example, so that it can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner with conventional devices.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Kabelschuhs vor der Montage, und

Fig. 2

eine halbtransparente Seitenansicht des an einem Kabel montierten Kabelschuhs von Fig. 1.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawing; in this shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a cable lug according to the invention prior to assembly, and

Fig. 2

a semi-transparent side view of the mounted on a cable lug of Fig. 1 ,

According to Fig. 1 For example, a cable lug 10 according to the invention has a substantially planar attachment region 12 into which a circular recess 14 is provided for receiving a fastening means (not illustrated here). This may be, for example, a threaded bolt to which the cable lug 10 is secured by nuts. The fastening region 12 merges into a neck region 16, to which a crimping region 18 immediately adjoins. In the crimping region 18, two pairs of crimping elements 20, 22 are provided, which serve for fastening a cable. The first pair of crimping elements 20 is disposed adjacent to the neck portion 16 and serves to secure the wire of the cable. The second pair of crimping elements 22 is arranged in the cable-side end region of the cable lug 10 and is provided for fixing the insulation of the cable.

In the neck region 16 two adjacent to the crimp region 18 wings 24 are formed, which have a rectangular contour in their end regions. The crimping elements 20, 22 and the vanes 24 extend substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the attachment region 12, pointing in the same direction. Furthermore, an approximately circular depression 26 is arranged in the otherwise flat neck region 16 between the wings 24 and the recess 14. The hollow 26 is formed by embossing in the neck region 16, wherein the raised portion formed by the embossing on the opposite side points in the same direction as the crimping elements 20, 22 and the wings 24. Thus, the depression is located on the crimping elements 20, 22 and Wings 24 opposite side of the cable lug.

The distance between two paired crimping elements 20 and 22 is each slightly larger than the diameter of the cable section to be accommodated there. The distance of the wings 24 from each other is such that the heat shrink tubing to be used is reliably fixed in the intended position during the shrinking process and here corresponds to the width of the cable lug at its narrowest point.

Fig. 2 illustrates the cable lug 10 in an assembled condition with a cable 28 attached to the lug 10 and the assembly provided with a shrink tube 30 coated with hot melt adhesive 32 on the inside thereof. The end-stripped wire 34 of the cable 28 is held by the pair of crimping members 20, while the pair of crimping members 22 surrounds the cable 28 in an insulated portion. The heat-shrinkable tube 30 has reduced its diameter by the action of heat to such an extent that it bears approximately completely against the cable lug 10 and the cable 28. From the two end portions of the shrink tube 30 is leaked by the action of heat adhesive 32, which causes a seal between the shrink tube 30 and cable 28 and cable lug 10. It can be seen that in the neck region 16 on the underside some adhesive 32 has leaked, which was collected by the trough 26 and thus kept away from the attachment area 12.

For fastening the cable lug 10 to a cable 28 according to Fig. 2 For example, in a first step, an end region of the cable 28 is stripped to a length which corresponds approximately to the width of the crimping elements 22 for the wire 34.

In a further step, a heat-shrinkable tube 30 coated on its inside with adhesive 32 is pushed over the cable 28. The length of the shrink tube 30 is to be dimensioned so that after the end of the shrinking process, the front end of the shrink tube 30 is located between the wings 24 and the trough 26 and the rear end covers a short outside of the cable lug 10 lying portion of the cable 28.

In a variant that in Fig. 2 is shown in dashed lines, the shrink tube 30 is sized longer so that it extends over the trough away and its front end between trough 16 and mounting portion 12 is located. Alternatively, the shrink tubing 30 may also end over the trough 16.

Subsequently, the cable 28 is inserted into the cable lug 10, that the stripped wire 34 is in the region of the crimping elements 20, but does not protrude into the area between the wings 24. By bending over the crimping elements 20, 22, a frictional and conductive connection between the cable 28 and the cable lug 10 is then produced, with the crimping elements 20 engaging the wire 34 and the crimping elements 22 engaging the insulated area of the cable 28.

In a following step, the shrink tube 30 is pushed so far over the cable lug 10 attached to the cable 24, that the End portions of the shrink tube 30 are located at the end of the shrinking process in the above-described positions.

In the next step, the shrink tube 10 is heated, for example by a hot air blower. In this case, the diameter of the shrink tube 10 is reduced and this fits tightly to the cable lug 10 and the cable 34. By the gap between the crimping elements 20 and the wings 24, in the region of which a slightly greater shrinkage is possible, and by friction on the wings 24, the shrinking tube 10 is prevented from displacement in the longitudinal direction. As a result, sufficient coverage of the neck region 16 and thus the stripped wire 34 is achieved.

The melting adhesive 32 partially exits at the ends of the shrink tube 30 due to the shrinkage due to the necking and causes a seal against the cable 28 and the neck region 16 of the cable lug. Excess adhesive 32, which has leaked out in the neck region 16, is caught by the depression 16, in particular on the underside of the cable lug 10, and prevented from entering the attachment region 12.

Due to the adhesive area 32 kept free mounting area 12 a good conductivity and secure attachment are guaranteed. The shrink tube 10, together with the adhesive 32 protects the wire 34 from the ingress of water, moisture or other pollutants.

In Fig. 2 is indicated by the reference numeral 24 ', a slightly modified wing shape, in which the upper edge is slightly inclined. In such wings 24 'are the upper edges to the through the attachment area 12 inclined plane defined, in particular, the corners, which are formed by the upper edges and the associated side edges including an acute angle, arranged on the mounting portion 12 side facing. The upper right, the fastening region 12 facing corner of a sawtooth-like blade 24 'is thus according to Fig. 2 as an acute angle and the upper left, the crimping region 18 facing corner formed as an obtuse angle, wherein the upper edge of the wing 24 'extending from left to right rising.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

lug

12

fastening area

14

recess

16

neck

18

Crimping range

20

Crimping element for wire

22

Crimping element for insulation

24, 24 '

wing

26

trough

28

electric wire

30

shrinkable tubing

32

adhesive

34

Vein

Claims (12)

1. A cable lug (10) comprising a substantially planar fastening region (12), a crimp region (18) having at least one pair of crimp elements (20, 22) for the reception and fastening of the electrical cable (28) and having a neck region (16) connecting the fastening region (12) and the crimp region (18), wherein
   a recess (14) for a fastening means is provided in the fastening region (12); and wherein
   at least two wings (24) are provided in the neck region (16) which are adjacent to the crimp region (18) and project out of a plane defined by the fastening region (12),
   characterized in that
   the cable lug (10) is crimped to an electrical cable; and in that the wings (24) also project from the plane after a bending over of the crimp elements (20, 22) and/or after the fastening of the electrical cable (28).
2. A cable lug in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a depression (26) arranged between the wings (24) and the fastening region (12) is formed in the neck region (16).
3. A cable lug in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the wings (24) and the crimp elements (20, 22) are arranged on one side and the depression (26) on the other side of the plane defined by the fastening region (12).
4. A cable lug in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wings (24) project out of the plane defined by the fastening region (12) at an angle of approximately 90°.
5. A cable lug in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wings (24) are rectangular.
6. A cable lug in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the upper edges of the wings (24) are inclined with respect to the plane defined by the fastening region (12); and in that in particular the corners which are formed by the upper edges and the associated side corners while including an acute angle are arranged on the side facing the fastening region (12).
7. A cable lug in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the wings (24) in their direction of extent facing away from the plane defined by the fastening region (12) is smaller than the length of the at least one pair of crimp elements (20, 22) in this direction in an uncrimped state and in particular amounts to approximately 20-30% of the length of the crimp elements (20, 22) in an uncrimped state.
8. A cable lug in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the wings (24) in their direction of extent facing away from the plane defined by the fastening region (12) is substantially equal to the maximum extent of the at least one pair of crimp elements (20, 22) in this direction in a crimped state.
9. A cable lug in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable lug (10) is fastened to at least one electrical cable (28), with a shrink sleeve (30) being provided which extends beyond an insulated section of the electrical cable (28), beyond the crimp region (18) whose crimp elements (20, 22) are bent over for the reception and fastening of the cable (28) and beyond a section of the neck region (16) comprising at least the wings (24).
10. A cable lug in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the inner side of the shrink sleeve (30) is coated with a hot melt adhesive (32).
11. A cable lug in accordance with claim 2 and claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that a spacing is provided between an end of the shrink sleeve (30) at the neck region side and the depression (16).
12. A method for the fastening of at least one electrical cable (28) to a cable lug (10) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps:

    inserting at least one end section of the cable (28) at least partly stripped of insulation into the crimp region (18) of the cable lug; fastening the cable (28) in the cable lug (10) by bending over the at least one pair of crimp elements (20, 22);

    shrinking on a shrink sleeve (30) which extends over the crimp region (18) and a section of the neck region (16) comprising at least the wings (24).

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