Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a connection between a corrugated tube and a further body, wherein the further body has a bore having a bore diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated tube, with the method including the step of drawing or pressing the corrugated tube into the bore.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a connection between a corrugated tube and a further body. 
     Cables have to be laid in aircraft for the transfer of data and/or power such that they are protected from mechanical damage, from contamination and from electromagnetic irradiation to ensure an uninterrupted data transmission or a reliable power supply. A corrugated tube made of metal satisfies these requirements provided it is ensured that it can be connected mechanically tightly, in a sealed and electrically conductive manner. 
     It is known from the prior art to achieve the corrugated tube connection in that the corrugated tube end is compressed and is then clamped using a sleeve nut as is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     A further known method comprises the corrugated tube  20 ′ in accordance with  FIG. 3  being connected to the body  10 ′ to be connected by a weld connection or a solder connection  30 ′. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the underlying object of the present invention to further develop a method of the initially named kind such that a reliable, cost-effective, electrically conductive and space-saving connection of the corrugated tube is made possible. 
     This object is solved by a method having the features herein. 
     Provision is made in accordance with the invention that the body to which the corrugated tube is to be connected has a bore with a bore diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated tube, with the method including the step of drawing or pressing the corrugated tube into the bore. At least a part section of the corrugated tube which is to be received in the bore thus has an outer diameter before the drawing in or pressing in which is larger than the inner diameter of the bore. 
     Provision is preferably made in this respect that the corrugated tube and/or the further body to be connected consist of metal or comprise metal. 
     Provision is further preferably made that a diameter reduction of the first corrugation of the corrugated tube cut at the crest point takes place before the drawing in or pressing in. This diameter reduction can take place by elongating or stretching the first corrugation of the corrugated tube. Alternatively or additionally, provision can be made that the diameter reduction takes place by cutting off the corrugated tube. Provision is preferably made that only the first corrugation of the corrugated tube is initially stretched out and that it is then cut off in the region of the outwardly directed corrugation peak. 
     The pressing in of the corrugated tube can take place in that a spreading tool and/or pressing tool is inserted into the inner space of the corrugated tube and that a force acting in the direction of introduction is then exerted onto the spreading tool and/or pressing tool. 
     The spreading tool or pressing tool can be inserted into the corrugated tube such that it is applied to the inner shoulder of the first non-deformed corrugation. 
     The corrugated tube is preferably made such that the corrugated tube springs back elastically as soon as force is no longer exerted onto the spreading tool or pressing tool, whereby a friction-locked connection results between the outer side of the corrugated tube and the inner wall of the bore. A good mechanical fixing of the corrugated tube in the bore is already achieved by this compression joint. 
     The bore can have a bore bottom, with an undercut being located around the peripheral region of the bore bottom and having a larger diameter than the bore per se. 
     Provision can furthermore be made that a new corrugation is formed by the drawing in or pressing in of the corrugated tube in the end region of the corrugated tubes said corrugation being received at least regionally in the undercut. An axial fixing is achieved in this manner by form fit in addition to the named force-transmitting connection. 
     The connection between the corrugated tube and the further body is preferably present over the total periphery of the corrugated tube so that a 360° shield against electromagnetic irradiation results. 
     To achieve a further improved seal tightness and/or further increased mechanical strength, provision can be made that the corrugated tube is provided with a sealing and/or bonding fluid at least in its region to be received in the bore and/or the inner bore wall and/or the bore bottom is/are provided with a sealing and/or bonding fluid. 
     The invention furthermore relates to an arrangement having a corrugated tube and a body connected thereto, said arrangement characterized in that the connection between the corrugated tube and the body was carried out in accordance with a method described herein. The invention finally relates to an aircraft having at least one arrangement described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows the method steps for the manufacture of the connection between the corrugated tube and the body to be connected thereto in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a known method for the corrugated tube connection by clamping by means of a sleeve nut; and 
         FIG. 3  shows a known method for the corrugated tube connection by welding or soldering. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A metallic body to which the corrugated tube  20  should be connected is shown with the reference numeral  10  in  FIG. 1 . The body  10  has a bore  12  which comprises a bore bottom  14  which is in turn passed through by a further bore  15  which has a smaller diameter than the bore  12 . The bore  12  is enlarged in diameter in its region bounding the bore bottom  14 , with the diameter enlargement being formed by a circumferential groove or a recess  16 . 
     The corrugated tube  20  is likewise made of metal and serves for the reception of cables, not shown, for the transfer of data and/or power. 
     Since the outer diameter of the corrugated tube  20  not drawn into the bore  12  is larger than the inner diameter of the bore  12  of the body  10 , in a first step, the end region of the corrugated tube  20  is first deformed such that its outer diameter is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the bore  12 . This can be done, for example, in that the first corrugation  22  of the corrugated tube  20  is lengthened. i.e. stretched/extended, so that the outer diameter of this corrugation  22  is reduced so much that it is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the bore  12 . The corrugated tube  20  can then be cut off in the region of this corrugation  22 , preferably in its crest region, as is shown in  FIG. 1 , left hand representation. 
     Subsequently, a spreading and/or pressing tool  30  is introduced into the interior of the corrugated tube  20  such that the spreading and/or pressing tool  30  contacts the undeformed corrugation  23  adjacent to the deformed corrugation  22  from the inside, as can be seen from  FIG. 1 , left hand representation. In other words, the spreading and/or pressing tool  30  is laid against the shoulder of the first corrugation trough  24 . 
     The circumferential wall of the bore  12  and/or the bore bottom  14  as well as the corrugations which are probably located in the bore  12  after the drawing in of the corrugated tube are then wetted with a sealing and bonding fluid. In accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , this applies to the deformed corrugation as well as to the two adjoining, non-deformed corrugations. It is naturally equally possible first to apply the named fluid and then to insert the spreading and/or pressing tool  30 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , middle representation, the corrugated tube  20  is then pressed into the bore  12  of the body  10  by axial force exertion onto the spreading and/or pressing tool. This is indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 1 , middle representation. This results in a reduction in the diameter of the pressed-in corrugations whose outer sides now contact the inner wall of the bore  12 . After the relief of the spreading and/or pressing tool, there is a compression joint between the corrugated tube  20  and the bore  12  of the body  10  due to the springing back of the corrugated tube  20 . This is indicated by the reference numeral  40  in  FIG. 1 , right hand representation. 
     A chamfered edge of the bore  12  is marked by the reference numeral  17  in  FIG. 1 , middle representation and facilitates an introduction of the corrugations of the corrugated tube  20  into the bore  12 . 
     As can furthermore be seen from  FIG. 1 , middle representation, the corrugated tube  20  is pressed so far into the bore  12  until the end section/region  22   a  as well as a further radially inwardly offset section  22   b  of the aforesaid first corrugation  22 , which is adjacent to the first corrugated trough, adjoins the bore wall or the bore bottom  14 , as is shown in  FIG. 1 , middle representation. In this respect, the corrugated tube  20  is compressed so much that the walls of the first corrugation trough contact one another or only have a comparatively small spacing. 
     Furthermore, at least the end region  22   a  of the corrugated tube  20  is received in the recess  16  so that a shape match results in the axial direction between the bore  12  and the reformed first corrugation. This is indicated by the reference numeral  50  in  FIG. 1 , right hand representation. 
     After the pressing-in process, the spreading and/or pressing tool  30  is again removed from the inner space of the corrugated tube  20  so that the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 , right hand representation, results. 
     The corrugated tube  20  is now secured against being pulled out by shape-match reception of the newly shaped first corrugation in the region of the recess  16 , on the one hand, and by the named compression joint, on the other hand. A tight connection is provided in this manner together with the sealing or bonding fluid. The electrical contact resistance is low due to the metal contact. The electrical contact takes place reliably over the total periphery of the corrugations of the corrugated tube received in the bore  12  so that an effective protection from electromagnetic irradiation results (360° shielding).