Patent Publication Number: US-2023133130-A1

Title: Routing assembly for routing electrical connections

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a routing assembly for routing electrical connections in a work machine. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a wiring harness passing through a hose assembly and which is movable with respect to the hose assembly as flexures are induced in the hose assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Work machines, such as track type tractors, excavators, loaders, and the like, are commonly applied for earth moving operations at various worksites. To accomplish such operations, work machines often require several of their sub-systems to work collectively and concertedly. Examples of such sub-systems may include systems for actuating the work machine&#39;s implements, systems to monitor and control the work machine&#39;s functions, systems to supply power to execute the aforesaid functions, and the like. To this end, it is common for such sub-systems to be operably and suitably connected to each other by way of an electrical connection that may include electrical wirings. 
     Work machines typically operate in harsh terrains. Therefore, an electrical connection may be routed through a cover or sheath so as to protect the electrical connection from external elements, such as dust, fluids, and the like. In this regard, it is a common practice to securely couple the cover or sheath with the electrical connection, e.g., at locations where the electrical connection may enter and/or exit the cover or sheath. Given such a coupling, however, if the cover or sheath were subjected to stresses (e.g., significant twisting and/or bending forces), said stresses may be unduly passed to the electrical connection as well, potentially shortening the electrical connection&#39;s usable life. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,563,878 relates to a grommet of which a first diameter tubular section can extend smoothly in response to displacement of a wire harness inserted closely in the first diameter tubular section when the wire harness is pushed into a through-hole in a vehicle body panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A routing assembly for routing an electrical connection between two or more sub-systems in a work machine. The routing assembly includes a hose, a coupling member, a wiring harness, and a grommet. The hose defines a conduit. The coupling member defines a through-bore fluidly coupled with the conduit. The wiring harness facilitates passage of one or more electrical wirings through each of the conduit and the through-bore to enable electrical communication between the two or more sub-systems. The grommet is retentively engaged with the coupling member and the wiring harness respectively with a first force and a second force. The first force is greater than the second force facilitating a movement of the wiring harness with respect to the grommet without disengaging the grommet from the coupling member. 
     In another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a work machine. The work machine includes a number of sub-systems and a routing assembly for routing an electrical connection between two or more sub-systems of the plurality of sub-systems. The routing assembly includes a hose, a coupling member, a wiring harness, and a grommet. The hose defines a conduit. The coupling member defines a through-bore fluidly coupled with the conduit. The wiring harness facilitates passage of one or more electrical wirings through each of the conduit and the through-bore to enable electrical communication between the two or more sub-systems. The grommet is retentively engaged with the coupling member and the wiring harness respectively with a first force and a second force. The first force is greater than the second force facilitating a movement of the wiring harness with respect to the grommet without disengaging the grommet from the coupling member. 
     In yet another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for routing an electrical connection between two or more sub-systems in a work machine. The method includes providing a hose defining a conduit; providing a coupling member defining a through-bore; connecting the hose to the coupling member such that the conduit is fluidly coupled to the through-bore; using a wiring harness to facilitate passage of one or more electrical wirings through each of the conduit and the through-bore to enable electrical communication between the two or more sub-systems; and applying a grommet to retentively engage with the coupling member and with the wiring harness respectively with a first force and a second force. The first force is greater than the second force facilitating a movement of the wiring harness with respect to the grommet without disengaging the grommet from the coupling member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side view of an exemplary work machine that includes a number of sub-systems, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view of a routing assembly for routing electrical connections in the work machine, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  3    is a flowchart illustrating a method for routing the electrical connection between two or more sub-systems in the work machine, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Generally, corresponding reference numbers may be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts, e.g.,  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  101  and  201  could refer to one or more comparable components used in the same and/or different depicted embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a work machine  100  is disclosed. The work machine  100  may be a construction machine  104 , such as a track type tractor. However, aspects of the present disclosure may be applicable to several other types of machines, such as excavators, shovels, loaders, off-highway trucks, and the like, and said applicability to other machines will become apparent by way of the discussions below. The work machine  100  embodying the track type tractor is purely exemplary. 
     The work machine  100  may include multiple sub-systems  108 . For example, the work machine  100  may include a power system  112 , an implement system  116 , an actuation system  120 , a sensing system  124 , a control system  128 , and the like. For example, the power system  112  may include a power source (e.g., an internal combustion engine and/or an electrical power generation unit) housed within a power compartment  132 . The implement system  116  may include an implement  136  (e.g., a bucket or a moldboard) movably coupled to a frame  140  of the work machine  100 . The actuation system  120  (e.g., including hydraulic and/or electrical actuators) may source power from the power system  112  to accomplish an actuation (e.g., panning, titling) of the implement  136  of the implement system  116 . The implement  136  may be in turn used to perform functions, such as moving (e.g., pushing) earth from one location to another location at a worksite  144 . Further, the sensing system  124  and the control system  128  may be combinedly applied for monitoring and controlling the actuation and/or working of the implement  136 . The work machine  100  may include several other such sub-systems as well, but which are not discussed in the present disclosure, for brevity. 
     As noted above, one or more of these sub-systems  108  may work collectively and concertedly with the other so as to execute one or more functions of the work machine  100 . For example, the sensing system  124  and the control system  128  may work in concert with each other so as to control the actuation system  120  and help move and/or maintain the implement  136  in a predetermined orientation with respect to the frame  140 , during a work cycle. According to an exemplary scenario, the sensing system  124  may include a sensor  148  (e.g., an inertial measurement unit, IMU) coupled to a portion of the implement  136 , and the control system  128  may be operably coupled to such the sensor  148  so as to receive signals from the sensor  148 . A control of the implement  136  may be performed by the control system  128  by controlling the actuation system  120  once signals from the sensor  148  are received by the control system  128 . In this regard, a communication (e.g., an electrical signal communication) between the sub-systems  108 , e.g., between the control system  128  and the sensing system  124  and/or between the control system  128  and the actuation system  120 , may be attained by one or more electrical connections (e.g., physical, hard wired, electrical connection, such as an electrical connection  152 ) (see  FIG.  2   ) that may extend therebetween. Said electrical connection  152  may include one or more electrical wirings  156 . 
     Given the multiple sub-systems  108  of the work machine  100 , there may exist several such electrical connections between the various sub-systems  108  of the work machine  100 . However, only one electrical connection (i.e., electrical connection  152 ) is discussed, and aspects discussed for the same may be applied to one or more of the other electrical connections of the work machine  100 . Although an electrical communication between two or more sub-systems  108  may involve electrical signal communication, as noted above, such an electrical connection may additionally or optionally also facilitate a supply of electrical power therethrough. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , an aspect of the present disclosure relates to a routing assembly  160  for routing (or providing passage to) the electrical connection  152  between the two or more sub-systems  108  of the work machine  100  (e.g., between the sensing system  124  and the control system  128 ,  FIG.  2   ). The routing assembly  160  includes a hose assembly  164  having a hose  168  and a coupling member  172 , as shown. Further, the routing assembly  160  includes a wiring harness  176  and a grommet  180 . Details related to the routing assembly  160  shall now be discussed below. 
     The hose  168  may define an elongated structure and may define a conduit  184  that may extend throughout a length of the hose  168  so as to be open to each end of the hose  168  (only one of the end, i.e., an end  188 , is shown in  FIG.  2   ). Further, the hose  168  may include a hydraulic hose  168 ′, and may be one that may be capable of supplying hydraulic fluid for hydraulic actuation. Aspects of the present disclosure however relate to applications of the hose  168  not necessarily involving the passage or flow of fluid (e.g., hydraulic fluid) therethrough. The hose  168  may be generally flexible, alike conventional hydraulic hoses, but may be rigid enough to withstand certain external forces (e.g., twisting and/or bending forces) that the hose  168  may be subjected to during an application of the routing assembly  160  and/or an operation of the work machine  100 . 
     The coupling member  172  may include an elongated profile, and may define a first end  192  and a second end  196  opposed to the first end  192 . The first end  192  may define a flange structure  200  having an end face  204  (e.g., a first end face  208 ). Further, the coupling member  172  may define a through-bore  212  extending from the first end face  208  all the way to a second end face  216  defined at the second end  196 . The coupling member  172  may be assembled and coupled to the hose  168  so as to have the through-bore  212  and the conduit  184  fluidly coupled with each other. The through-bore  212  may be open to the first end face  208  at a first opening  220  and may define an inner coupling surface  224  extending from the first end face  208 . 
     The coupling member  172  may further define a receptacle  228  at the second end  196 . The receptacle  228  may be disposed concentrically around the through-bore  212  (e.g., around a portion of the through-bore  212 , as shown) and/or around a second opening  232  of the through-bore  212  defined at the second end  196 . The receptacle  228  may extend inwards into a body  236  of the coupling member  172  from the second end face  216  defined at the second end  196 , as shown. In an assembly of the coupling member  172  with the hose  168 , the end  188  of the hose  168  may be received into the receptacle  228  (e.g., in a press fitted manner) so as to have the hose  168  tightly crimped and/or fixedly coupled with the coupling member  172  (or with the second end  196  of the coupling member  172 ). 
     Although not limited, the coupling member  172  may be made from one or more of high grade plastics and/or polymers, or from a metallic material. For example, the coupling member  172  may be made from stainless steel, or from any suitable alloy, that may keep the coupling member  172  durable, free from rust and corrosion, and one which may provide the coupling member  172  with longevity. 
     The wiring harness  176  may be disposed or wrapped around the electrical wirings  156  and may keep the electrical wirings  156  together so as to route them together as a single pack or a single unit. In this regard, the wiring harness  176  may extend partially or fully along the length of the electrical wirings  156 , and may be disposed in a manner so as to facilitate passage of the electrical connection  152  or the electrical wirings  156  through a common passageway (i.e., passageway  240  combinedly defined by the conduit  184  and the through-bore  212 ). In that manner, the wiring harness  176  may route the electrical connection  152  or the electrical wirings  156  through each of the hose  168  and the coupling member  172 , and said passage of the electrical wirings  156  may facilitate establishment of electrical communication between the two or more sub-systems  108  (e.g., between the sensing system  124  and the control system  128 ) of the work machine  100 . 
     The grommet  180  may be assembled and retentively engaged with the coupling member  172  and with the wiring harness  176  respectively with a first force and a second force. The first force may be greater than the second force facilitating a movement (see direction, A,  FIG.  2   ) of the wiring harness  176  with respect to the grommet  180  without disengaging the grommet  180  from the coupling member  172 . Both the first force and the second force may be frictional forces. 
     In some embodiments, the grommet  180  may define a first portion  244  (e.g., a first cylindrical portion  244 ′) and a second portion  248  (e.g., a second cylindrical portion  248 ′). The first portion  244  may define a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the second portion  248 . In that manner, a stepped surface  252  may be defined on the first portion  244 , and which interfaces with the second portion  248 . In an assembly of the grommet  180  with the coupling member  172  and the wiring harness  176 , the second portion  248  of the grommet  180  may be inserted into the through-bore  212  through the first opening  220  and may be press-fitted against the inner coupling surface  224  of the through-bore  212 , causing the grommet  180  to be retentively engaged with the coupling member  172  with the first force. In such an arrangement, the first portion  244  (or the stepped surface  252 ) may abut against the first end face  208  of the coupling member  172  so as to restrict an ingress of the grommet  180  into the through-bore  212  and so as to also retain the grommet  180  at the first end  192  of the coupling member  172 . 
     Further, the grommet  180  may define a channel  256 . The channel  256  may pass (e.g., linearly) through each of the first portion  244  and the second portion  248 , as shown, and may provide passage to the wiring harness  176  (and thus the electrical connection  152 ) therethrough. The channel  256  may define an inner channel surface  260  that may lie in registration with the wiring harness  176  in the assembly of the grommet  180  with the wiring harness  176  (and with the coupling member  172 ). Such registration enables the grommet  180  to be retentively engaged with the wiring harness  176  with the second force. Although not limited, the grommet  180  may be made from a polymer that may exhibit flexible, elastic properties. 
     In some embodiments, the routing assembly  160  may include a sealing gel  264  disposed between at least a portion of the wiring harness  176  and at least a portion of the grommet  180 . For example, the sealing gel  264  may be disposed between the inner channel surface  260  and an outer surface  268  defined by the wiring harness  176  so as to provide a sealing (e.g., a water-proof sealing) between the grommet  180  and the wiring harness  176 . Said sealing may disallow entrance of any foreign or external elements, such as dust and other particles, into the passageway  240  defined by the through-bore  212  and the conduit  184  (to route the electrical connection  152  therethrough). As an example, the sealing gel  264  may include, but may not be limited to, one or more of a silicone based gel, an epoxy based gel, a phenolic sealant, an acrylic sealant, and/or may include any suitable polymer based sealant. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , an exemplary method for routing the electrical connection  152  between two or more sub-systems (e.g., between the sensing system  124  and the control system  128 ) of the work machine  100  is discussed. The method is described by way of a flowchart  300  and is discussed in conjunction with  FIGS.  1  and  2   . The method starts at step  302 . 
     At step  302 , an operator may provide and bring forth the hose  168  for the electrical wirings  156  so as to have the hose  168  serve as a protective sheath or cover for the electrical wirings  156  and/or for the electrical connection  152 . As noted above, the hose  168  may include a hydraulic hose  168 ′ that may be generally flexible, but may be rigid enough to withstand certain external forces (e.g., twisting and/or bending forces) that the hose  168  may be subjected to during an application of the routing assembly  160  and/or during an operation of the work machine  100 . The method proceeds to step  304 . 
     At step  304 , the operator may provide and bring forth the coupling member  172  (as part of the overall, hose assembly  164 ) to be coupled with the hose  168 . The method proceeds to step  306 . 
     At step  306 , the operator may couple the coupling member  172  with the hose  168  to form the hose assembly  164 . More particularly, the operator may insert the end  188  of the hose  168  into the receptacle  228  defined at the second end  196  of the coupling member  172 . In so doing, the operator fluidly couples the conduit  184  to the through-bore  212  so as to define the common passageway (i.e., the passageway  240  which is combinedly defined by the through-bore  212  and the conduit  184 ). In some embodiments, the end  188  of the hose  168  may be received into the receptacle  228  in a press-fitted fashion. It is possible for an operator to additionally or optionally apply securing means, such as adhesives, between the end  188  of the hose  168  and the second end  196  of the coupling member  172  so as to effectively retain the hose  168  with the coupling member  172 . The method proceeds to step  308 . 
     At step  308 , the operator may use the wiring harness  176  to facilitate passage of the electrical wirings  156  through each of the conduit  184  and the through-bore  212  (i.e., through the passageway  240 ). In that manner, electrical communication between the two or more sub-systems  108  of the work machine  100  (e.g., the sensing system  124  and the control system  128 ) is enabled. In some embodiments, the wiring harness  176  may be first arranged or wrapped around the electrical connection  152  and/or may be arranged to bundle up the electrical wirings  156  as a single pack or single unit. Thereafter, the wiring harness  176  together with the electrical wirings  156  may be inserted into the passageway  240 , e.g., through the first end  192  of the coupling member  172 , passed into the through-bore  212  of the coupling member  172 , and moved out through the second end  196  of the coupling member  172  so as to make the assembly of the wiring harness  176  together with the electrical wirings  156  advance further into the conduit  184  defined by the hose  168 . Said procedure may continue until the wiring harness  176  together with the electrical wirings  156  may extend outwards of the hose  168  from the other end (not shown) of the hose  168 . The method proceeds to step  310 . 
     At step  310 , the operator may apply the grommet  180  to retentively engage with the coupling member  172  and with the wiring harness  176  respectively with a first force and a second force. The first force being greater than the second force, as already discussed above, facilitates a movement of the wiring harness  176  (and thus the electrical connection  152 /electrical wirings  156 ) with respect to the grommet  180  without disengaging the grommet  180  from the coupling member  172 . The method ends at step  310 . 
     In some embodiments, the grommet  180  may be mounted onto the assembly of the wiring harness  176  and the electrical wirings  156  prior to the insertion of said assembly of the wiring harness  176  and the electrical wirings  156  into the passageway  240 . More particularly, the operator may slide and insert said assembly of the wiring harness  176  and the electrical wirings  156  into the channel  256  of the grommet  180  so as to bring the inner channel surface  260  of the channel  256  into registration with the wiring harness  176 . Such a registration of the inner channel surface  260  with the wiring harness  176  enables the grommet  180  to be retentively engaged with the wiring harness  176  with the second force, which may be a frictional force. 
     Once the grommet  180  is mounted to said assembly of the wiring harness  176  and the electrical wirings  156 , the operator may push said assembly of the wiring harness  176  and the electrical wirings  156  further inwards into the passageway  240  until said assembly (or solely the electrical wirings  156  of said assembly) is drawn to extend outwards of the passageway  240  through the other end (not shown) of the hose  168 . In so doing, the operator may also bring the grommet  180  in contact with the first end  192  of the coupling member  172  such that the second portion  248  of the grommet  180  may be able to enter into the through-bore  212  first. 
     Once the grommet  180  is in contact with the coupling member  172 , the operator may push and insert the second portion  248  of the grommet  180  into the through-bore  212  through the first opening  220  of the through-bore  212  such that the second portion  248  may be press-fitted against the inner coupling surface  224  of the through-bore  212 . This enables the grommet  180  to be retentively engaged with the coupling member  172  with the first force, which may be a frictional force. The operator may then keep pushing the grommet  180  into the through-bore  212  until the first portion  244  (or the stepped surface  252 ) of the grommet  180  is brought into abutment against the first end face  208  of the coupling member  172  so as to restrict further ingress of the grommet  180  into the through-bore  212  and so as to also retain the grommet  180  at the first end  192  of the coupling member  172 . 
     In some embodiments, the operator may also provide the sealing gel  264  between at least a portion of the wiring harness  176  and at least a portion of the grommet  180 . In this regard, the sealing gel  264  may be injected (by a suitable device) and introduced into an interface defined between the inner channel surface  260  of the channel  256  and the outer surface  268  of the wiring harness  176 . The sealing gel  264  may have the property to be relatively stretchable and thus may be able to accommodate movements of the wiring harness  176  with respect to the grommet  180 , but may also have the property to relatively easily entirely disintegrate if a full disassembly and removal of the wiring harness  176  from the grommet  180  were required. 
     In brevity, the electrical connection  152 , by way of the routing assembly  160 , is suitably routed through a protective sheath or a cover (i.e., through the hose  168  or the hose assembly  164 ) that protects the electrical connection  152  from the harsh elements of the terrain or the worksite  144  in which the work machine  100  may operate. Further, the first force being greater than the second force, facilitating a movement of the wiring harness  176  with respect to the grommet  180  without disengaging the grommet  180  from the coupling member  172 , allows the wiring harness  176  and/or the electrical connection  152  passing through the hose assembly  164  (or the passageway  240 ) to move with respect to the hose  168  and hose assembly  164  as flexures or bending forces are induced in the hose  168  or in the hose assembly  164 , during operations. In that manner, the wiring harness  176  and/or the electrical connection  152  is prevented from being subjected to undue tension and strain, in turn increasing the useful, operable life of the wiring harness  176  and the electrical wirings  156 . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method and/or system of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the method and/or system disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalent.