Abstract:
An attachment device for cables is described herein. This attachment device includes a central body formed of a plastic material and defining a cavity configured to receive a temperature probe and a plurality of straps extending from the central body, each strap of the a plurality of straps configured to secure a cable to the central body, wherein the central body defines a wall having a first side configured to be in contact with the temperature probe and a second side in contact with a cable. This attachment device may notably be used in an electrical connection assembly having a connector, a temperature sensor disposed within the device, and at least two cables.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Patent Application No. 1654701 filed in the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (French Patent Office) on May 25, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to the field of automobile vehicles and notably, but not exclusively, to the fields of electrical cabling for motor vehicles and of electrical connectors for motor vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the field of motor vehicles and notably of electric or hybrid vehicles, it is necessary to detect abnormal heating events in electrical cables in order to prevent any damage, or even fire, to the vehicles. This aspect is particularly important during operations for recharging batteries, which may be carried out with current intensities that can go up to 125 A. 
         [0004]    For this purpose, as disclosed for example in the document JP5422479, the idea is to measure the temperature of each cable by means of a temperature probe (or sensor), respectively placed in the vicinity of the latter on a fixed support on a connection receptacle. 
         [0005]    However, this type of device of the prior art notably exhibits the following drawbacks:
       the support is designed and fabricated for a particular model of receptacle; changing a model of receptacle may require a new support to be designed;   its size is relatively bulky;   the overall cost of this function “measurement of temperature of the cables” is also relatively high.       
 
         [0009]    It is therefore important to propose a new solution solving these problems. 
         [0010]    The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    According to a first embodiment of the invention, an attachment device for cables is provided The attachment device includes. a central body formed of a plastic material and defining a cavity configured to receive a temperature probe and a plurality of straps extending from the central body. Each strap of the a plurality of straps is configured to secure a cable to the central body. The central body defines a wall having a first side configured to be in contact with the temperature probe and a second side in contact with a cable. 
         [0012]    The plurality of straps may be integrally formed with the central body. The straps may be configured to pressure to the cable in order to maintain contact between the cable and the second side of the wall. The plurality of straps may form jaws configured for retaining the two cable. 
         [0013]    According to a second embodiment of the invention, an electrical connector assembly is provided. The electrical connection assembly includes a connector, at least two cables, the attachment device described above holding the two cables within the plurality of straps, and a temperature probe disposed within the cavity. 
         [0014]    The attachment device may be self-supported by the two cables. The temperature probe may be essentially equidistant from the cables. The electrical connection assembly includes a receptacle in which contacts connected to the cables are accommodated and a cover for at least partially enclosing the receptacle. The cover has an opening for the passage of the cables and the attachment device is mounted on the cables between the opening of the cover and the receptacle. The plurality of straps may form jaws configured for retaining the two cables. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of an attachment device according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows an elevation view of one example of a connection assembly comprising the attachment device in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a transverse cross-section view of a second exemplary embodiment of an attachment device according to the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the attachment device in  FIG. 3 , with a closed strap; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows an elevation view of another example of a connection assembly comprising the attachment device in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a connection assembly such as that in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , with a cover. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    In the figures, the same references denote identical or similar elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    A non-limiting example of an attachment device  1  is described herein below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0024]    According to this example, the attachment device  1  is designed to be mounted in a connection assembly comprising a connector  2  for a charging point of an electric vehicle (see  FIG. 2 ). During charging, the currents flowing through the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  connected to this connector  2  may, for example, reach 125 A. The cross-section of these cables is therefore large, e.g. 16 mm 2  for three phase cables  4 ,  6 ,  8  and the ground cable  10 . The cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10  are therefore relatively rigid and the attachment device  1  needs to be robust in order to hold the whole assembly without breaking or deforming. Furthermore, the attachment device  1  comprises harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  (at least one harness per cable whose temperature it is desired to monitor—see  FIG. 1 ) forming a “C” in transverse cross-section whose free ends must be able to be parted in order to insert a cable  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10  or  12  into it. The attachment device  1  must therefore exhibit a certain flexibility. 
         [0025]    The attachment device  1  is a single block made of molded plastic material. The plastic material and the dimensioning of the attachment device  1  are chosen so that, as indicated hereinabove, the attachment device  1  is sufficiently robust, while at the same time conserving the possibility of elastically deforming it. Furthermore, the plastic material is chosen in such a manner that the attachment device  1  renders the connection assembly lighter than the solutions of the prior art: taping up, filling of a cavity comprising a temperature probe (or “potting” according to the terminology of the art), etc. The plastic material is for example chosen from within the list comprising polyamide (PA) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). 
         [0026]    In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the attachment device  1  comprises five harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . Four of these harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  are divided into two symmetrical pairs  14 ,  16  and  18 ,  20  on either side of a rectangular body  24  forming an accommodation designed to receive a temperature probe  28  (see  FIG. 2 ). Each harness  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  or  22  forms a claw enclosing a cable  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10  or  12  so as to retain the attachment device  1  on this cable. The attachment device  1  thus holds all of the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  together. 
         [0027]    The rectangular body  24  forms a cavity which extends along a longitudinal axis L with an essentially rectangular cross-section (generally speaking, the cavity—or accommodation— 24  is not necessarily rectangular and may for example have any given cylindrical shape, of revolution or otherwise). The transverse cross-section of this rectangular body  24 , perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, comprises two small sides  30 ,  32  and two large sides  34 ,  36 . The wall  25  of the rectangular body  24  has a thickness at the apices of the rectangle of the transverse cross-section for example close to, or equal to, 1 mm. Each cable  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  is thus positioned equidistant from the temperature probe  28 , in contact with the wall  25 , whereas the temperature probe  28  is placed on the other side of the wall  25 , also in contact with the latter. 
         [0028]    A partition  38  separates the two harnesses ( 14 ,  16  or  18 ,  20 ) of each pair of harnesses. This partition  38  is essentially perpendicular to the two large sides  34 ,  36  of the rectangular body  24 . A flexible strap  40  forming a hook essentially extends from one edge of the rectangular body  24  (in other words, from the apex of the rectangle of the transverse cross-section) and returns towards its free end towards the plane of a partition  38 . Each partition  38  and a strap  40  thus form a harness  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  in which a cable  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10  of large diameter (in other words one of the three phase cables or the ground cable) can be clamped and retained. The free edge of each strap  40  comprises a ledge  42  so as to form a flare on the opening of each harness  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  in order to facilitate the insertion of a cable into the latter. 
         [0029]    A fifth harness  22  is formed between two pairs of harnesses, on one of the two small sides  30 ,  32  of the rectangular body  24 . This fifth harness  22  is intended to receive and hold the cable of the neutral  12 . The latter has a smaller cross-section that the four preceding ones  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 , which is for example 4 mm 2 . The free edge of this fifth harness  22  comprises, on either side, a ledge  44  forming a flare facilitating the insertion of a cable  12  into the latter. 
         [0030]    The small face of the rectangular body  24 , opposite to that on which the fifth harness  22  is formed, comprises a reinforcement endowing the attachment device  1  with a greater robustness. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 2 , the attachment device  1  is shown with the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  inserted into the harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , together with the temperature probe  28  inserted into its accommodation formed from the rectangular body  24 . The attachment device  1  is presented with the longitudinal axis L of the rectangular body  24  parallel to that of the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  over their portion inserted into the harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and parallel to the longitudinal axes of the contacts (not visible in the figures) accommodated within the receptacle  46  of the connector  2 . Each strap  40  receiving a cable  4 ,  6 ,  8  or  10  of large cross-section forms means for applying pressure in order to hold and press this cable  4 ,  6 ,  8  or  10  against the wall  25  of the rectangular body  24  receiving the temperature probe  28 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows an electrical connection assembly comprising a connector  2 , cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  and an attachment device  1  holding these cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  together. 
         [0033]    In this  FIG. 6 , it can be seen that, when the receptacle  46  is closed by a cover  48 , the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  extend away from the receptacle  46  in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the receptacle  46  (this plane is essentially perpendicular to the axis of the eyelets  50  for fixing the receptacle  46  onto a support). The cover  48  comprises an opening  52  for the passage of the cables. The attachment device  1  is mounted on the cables between the opening  52  of the cover  48  and the receptacle  46  (hence with the longitudinal axis L of the rectangular body  24  more or less parallel to the plane of the receptacle  46  in contrast to what is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a second non-limiting example of an attachment device  1 . In  FIG. 3 , the attachment device  1  is shown in a transverse cross-section halfway along its length (i.e. its dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis L). 
         [0035]    This embodiment differs from the preceding one essentially by the shape of the harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . According to this embodiment, the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10  with a wider cross-section are no longer clamped between a partition and a flexible strap. Each of them is enclosed within a tubular cavity enclosed by a strap  54 . The strap  54  avoids having to make use of less productive methods such as wrapping with an adhesive tape. 
         [0036]    As in the preceding embodiment, four harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  are divided into two symmetrical pairs  14 ,  16  and  18 ,  20  on either side of a rectangular body  24 . The rectangular body  24  is designed to receive a temperature probe  28  (see  FIG. 5 ). The rectangular body  24  has essentially the same shape as in the preceding embodiment. 
         [0037]    Each strap  54  is connected to the central block  56  comprising the rectangular body  24  with an articulation  58  essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the rectangular body  24 . Each strap  54  also comprises straps  40  similar to those of the central block  56 . The free end of each strap  54 , on the side opposite to the articulation  58 , is equipped with a hook  60  allowing each strap  54  to be closed over a pair of cables of large cross-section. One of the hooks  60  also closes over a harness  22  receiving a cable  12  with a smaller cross-section. 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 4 , once the strap  54  is closed. It is observed that the straps  40  of the central block  56  and those of a strap  54  form tubular cavities whose wall is almost closed. Each tubular cavity extends longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the rectangular body  24 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the strap  54  is closed over these tubular cavities and the latter receive a cable  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10  or  12 , the strap  54  forms a means for applying pressure in order to hold and press each cable against the wall  25  of the rectangular body  24  receiving the temperature probe  28 . 
         [0039]    As for the preceding embodiment, when the receptacle  46  is closed by a cover  48 , the attachment device  1  is mounted on the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  between the opening of the cover  48  and the receptacle  46 . 
         [0040]    In the two preceding embodiments, the attachment device  1  is retained on the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  but is not rigidly attached to the receptacle  46 . The attachment device  1  is self-supported by the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12 . The attachment device  1  also plays a support role, notably during the phases for assembly of the connector  2 , since it holds all the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  of the connector  2 , together with the temperature probe  28 . This facilitates the cabling operations and operations for mounting of the connector  2 . 
         [0041]    According to the method for measuring the temperature according to the invention, an attachment device  1  (for example such as that of the first or of the second embodiment described hereinabove) is used comprising harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  peripheral to a central rectangular body  24 , in which a temperature probe  28  is placed. The cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10  whose temperature it is desired to measure are placed in the harnesses  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 . Their temperature is measured through the wall  25  of the rectangular body  24  in contact with which they are elastically pressed. 
         [0042]    It will be noted that the attachment device  1  offers the following advantages:
       the central position of the temperature probe  28  allows the variations in temperature of any of the cables  4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  to be detected; a single probe is therefore sufficient, which is particularly cost-effective;   the attachment device  1  can have relatively standardized dimensions, independent of the dimensions of the connector  2 ; a fact which allows simplification of the logistics (only one reference to manage) and of the assembly, and is particularly cost-effective; and   by virtue of the proximity between the cables  10  and the temperature probe  28 , the detection of an abnormal heat build-up is faster than when the temperature probe  28  is placed in the receptacle  46  of the connector  2 ; similarly, the measurement is particularly reliable owing to the position of the temperature probe  28  under a cover  48 .       
 
         [0046]    While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, primary secondary, etc. does not denote any order of importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.