CA2208181A1 - Apparatus for assembling a wiring harness - Google Patents

Apparatus for assembling a wiring harness

Info

Publication number
CA2208181A1
CA2208181A1 CA 2208181 CA2208181A CA2208181A1 CA 2208181 A1 CA2208181 A1 CA 2208181A1 CA 2208181 CA2208181 CA 2208181 CA 2208181 A CA2208181 A CA 2208181A CA 2208181 A1 CA2208181 A1 CA 2208181A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
conduit
wiring harness
support surface
attached
set forth
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2208181
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert Brophy
Richard Murphy
Mike Foster
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2208181A1 publication Critical patent/CA2208181A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

An apparatus for assembling a wiring harness includes a support surface, a flute attached to the support surface for opening a seam of a conduit, and a conduit applicator to insert the wiring harness through the open seam and for applying the conduit about the wiring harness.

Description

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING A WIRING HARNESS

BACKGROUN~ OF THE lNV~NllON

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to wiring harnesses and, more particularly, to an apparatus for assembling a wiring harness.
2. Description of the Related Art It is known to provide wiring harnesses for electrical connection between electrical components and power supplies. Typically, the wiring harness has a plurality of wires that extend longitudinally and are wrapped in a bundle with electrical tape. Generally, the wiring harness is disposed in a conduit to protect the wiring harness from the environment. The conduit is typically made of a plastic material that is split by a seam longitudinally. To dispose the wiring harness in the conduit, a person uses their fingers to pull the conduit transversely along the seam to create an opening to feed the wiring harness into the conduit.

One disadvantage of the above assembly is that a large force is required by the person to open the seam of the conduit as the length of the wiring harness increases. Another disadvantage of the above assembly is that the wiring harness may become jammed in the conduit by the person inserting the wiring harness into the conduit. Yet another disadvantage of the above assembly is that manually inserting the wiring harness into the conduit by a person's fingers is time consuming and labor intensive.

SUMMARY OF THE lNv~N-llON
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assembling a wlrlng harness.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assembling a wiring harness that reduces bunching or jamming of the wiring harness in the conduit.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assembling a wiring harness which is less time consuming and labor intensive.

To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is an apparatus for assembling a wiring harness. The apparatus includes a support surface, a flute attached to the support surface for opening a seam of the conduit and a conduit applicator to insert the wiring harness through the open seam and for applying the conduit about the wiring harness.
One advantage of the present invention is that an apparatus is provided for assembling a wiring harness. Another advantage of the present invention is that the apparatus significantly reduces bunching or jamming of the wiring harness in the conduit. Yet another advantage of the present-invention is that the apparatus requires less time and labor to assemble the wiring harness.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the - same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wiring harness.
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an apparatus, according to the present invention, for assembling the wiring harness of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2illustrating another embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, a wiring harness is generally indicated at 12.
The wiring harness 12 includes a plurality of individual insulated wires 14 extending longitudinally and a tape 16 such as electrical tape wrapped, preferably in a spiral manner, about the wires 14. Wiring harness 12 includes a conduit 18 extending longitudinally and is split by a seam (not shown) extending longitudinally therealong. The conduit 18 is made of a plastic material and may have a plurality of ribs 20 extending circumferentially thereabout and disposed longitudinally therealong. The taped wires 14 are disposed in the conduit 18. It should be appreciated that the wiring harness 12 is conventional and known in the art.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an apparatus 21, according to the present invention, is shown for assembling the wiring harness 12. The apparatus 21 includes a base or support surface 22 extending longitudinally. The support surface 22 is generally rectangular in shape and is made of a rigid material such as a metal material. It should be appreciated that the support surface 22 is elevated above a floor a sufficient height for a person to operate the apparatus 21.
The apparatus 2i includes a taper 24 attached to the support surface 22. The taper 24 is generally circular in shape and mounted to the support surface 22.
The taper 24 has a tape holder 26 to hold a roll 27 of the tape 16. The tape holder 26 follows a circular track of the taper 24 when driven by a chain and motor (not shown). The individual insulated wires 14 extend through the taper 24 which wraps the tape 16 from the roll 27 in a spiral manner about the wires 14 as the wires 14 are moved longitudinally through the taper 24.
It should be appreciated that the taper 24 is conventional and known ln the art.
The apparatus 21 also includes at least one upper guide wheel or roller 28 disposed longitudinally downstream of the taper 24 and attached to the support surface 22. The upper guide roller 28 is generally cylindrical in shape. The upper guide roller 28 is made of a rigid material such as a metal material and has a bushing 30 extending axially therethrough made of a softer rigid material. In one embodiment, the upper guide roller 28 is made of aluminum and the bushing 30 is made of brass. A fastener 32 extends through the bushing 30 and threadably engages a-threaded aperture in the support surface 22. It should be appreciated that the bushing 30 and fastener 32 allow the upper guide roller 28 to rotate. It should also be appreciated that, instead of the fastener 32, the upper guide roller 28 may be rotated by a shaft connected to a motor.
The apparatus 10 also includes at least one lower guide wheel or roller 34 disposed longitudinally downstream from the taper 24 opposing the upper guide roller 28 and attached to the support surface 22. The lower guide roller 34 is generally cylindrical in shape.
The lower guide roller 34 is made of a rigid material such as a metal material and has a bushing 36 extending axially therethrough made of a softer rigid material.
In one embodiment, the lower guide roller 34 is made of aluminum and the bushing 36 is made of brass. A
fastener 38 extends through the bushing 36 and threadably engages the support surface 22. It should be appreciated that the bushing 36 and fastener 38 allow the lower guide roller 34 to rotate. It should also be appreciated that, instead of the fastener 38, the lower guide roller 34 may be rotated by a shaft connected to a motor.
The apparatus 21 includes a conduit applicator, generally indicated at 40, to insert the taped wires 14 into the conduit 18. The conduit CA 02208l8l l997-06-l8 applicator 40 includes a support or reaction member 42 disposed longitudinally downstream of the rollers 28 and 34 and attached to the support surface 22. The reaction member 42 has at least one, preferably a reaction surface 44 which is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the support surface 22 to guide the conduit 18 therealong.
The conduit applicator 40 includes a roller 46 for urging the tapered wires 14 into the conduit 18.
The roller 46 iS rotatably disposed about a fastener 48 which is connected to a rod 50 of a toggle clamp 52.
The toggle clamp 52 iS attached to the support surface 22. It should be appreciated that the roller 46 applies a force to move the taped wires 14 into the conduit 18 by the extension of the rod 50 by the toggle clamp 52 and the reaction of the conduit 18 against the reaction surface 44 of the reaction member 42.
The conduit applicator 40 further includes a flute 54 attached to the support surface 22 to guide and open the seam of the conduit 18. As illustrated in FIG.
4, the flute 54 includes an inner tube 56 and a plate 58 attached to the inner tube 56. The inner tube 56 iS

generally cylindrical in shape and extends longitudinally. The plate 58 is a planar member extending longitudinally. The flute 54 also includes an outer tube 60 disposed about the inner tube 56. The 5outer tube 60 is generally cylindrical in shape and lS
secured to the plate 58 by suitable means such as brazing. The outer tube 60 is preferably concentric with the inner tube 56. It should be appreciated that the conduit 18 is disposed over the inner tube 56 and 10the plate 58 opens the seam of the conduit 18.
The apparatus 21 further includes a guide 62 to guide the wiring harness 12 away from the conduit applicator 40. The guide 62 is generally cylindrical in shape and rotatably attached to the support surface 22.
15The apparatus 10 also includes a sleeve 64 extending longitudinally and on an angle away from the guide 62.
The sleeve 64 includes an elongated aperture 66 extending therethrough to receive the wiring harness 12.
In operation, a conduit 18 is inserted into 20the flute 54 such that its seam is aligned and opened by the plate 58. The conduit 18 is moved along the flute 54 and to the conduit applicator 40. A plurality of CA 02208l8l l997-06-l8 insulated wires 14 are pulled manually through the taper 24. The operator actuates the motor of the taper 24 to rotate the tape holder 26 to apply the tape 16 to wrap the wires 14. The operator pulls the taped wires 14 through the rollers 28 and 34 to the conduit applicator 40. The taped wires 14 are inserted by the operator into the interior of the conduit 18. The conduit 18 and taped wires 14 are moved between the reaction member 42 and the roller 46 and the conduit 18 closes about the taped wires 14 and the seam.
Referring to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the apparatus 21 iS shown. Like parts have like reference numerals increased by one hundred (100). The apparatus 121 may include a cut-off 123 attached to the support surface 122. The cut-off 123 iS pneumatically actuated to trim or cut even the ends of wires 14. The apparatus 121 may include a sonic welder 125 attached to the support surface 122. The wires 14 may be sonically spliced at this point. It should be appreciated that the cut-off 123 and sonic welder 125 are conventional and known in the art.

The apparatus 121 also includes a shuttle 170 on rollers 171 to move longitudinally. The shuttle 170 includes a pair of plate members 172 operatively connected together to form a track 174 extending longitudinally and attached to the support surface 122.
The shuttle 170 has a connecting member 176 which is attached to a chain 178 and moved by a drive motor (not shown). The shuttle 170 includes an attachment 180 for attaching the wiring harness 12 thereto. It should be appreciated that the shuttle 170 moves longitudinally along the track 174. The operation of the apparatus 121 is similar to the apparatus 21 except that the operator grasps the wiring harness 12, and moves it to the shuttle 170 and actuates the motor to move the shuttle 170 longitudinally away from the conduit applicator 140 in one of a series of movements represented by A, B and C to assemble the wiring harness 12.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus for assembling a wiring harness comprising:
a support surface;
a flute attached to said support surface for opening a seam of a conduit; and a conduit applicator to insert the wiring harness through the open seam and for applying the conduit about the wiring harness.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flute comprises an inner tube extending longitudinally and a plate attached to said inner tube wherein the conduit is disposed over said inner tube and said plate opens the seam of the conduit.
3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit applicator includes a reaction member attached to said support surface and a roller spaced laterally from said reaction member to force the wiring harness to extend into the conduit.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said reaction member has a reaction surface inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of said support surface.
5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said conduit applicator includes an actuator for moving said roller toward said reaction member.
6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for rotatably securing said roller to said actuator.
7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a taper attached to said support surface to apply tape to wires of the wiring harness.
8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including an upper guide roller attached to said support surface, and a lower guide roller opposing said upper guide roller and attached to said support surface.
9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a guide rotatably attached to said support surface for guiding the wiring harness therealong.
10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a sleeve attached to said support surface having an aperture extending therethrough to receive the wiring harness.
11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a shuttle for moving the wiring harness away from said conduit applicator.
12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said shuttle comprises a pair of opposed plates disposed about a track, one of said plates having an attachment to attach the wiring harness thereto.
13. An apparatus for assembling a wiring harness comprising:
a support surface;

an upper guide roller attached to said support surface;
a lower guide roller opposing said upper guide roller and attached to said support surface; and a flute attached to said support surface for opening a seam of a conduit; and a conduit applicator to insert the wiring harness through the open seam and for applying the conduit about the wiring harness.
14. An apparatus for assembling a wiring harness comprising:
a support surface;
a flute attached to said support surface for opening a seam of a conduit;
a conduit applicator to insert the wiring harness through the open seam and for applying the conduit about the wiring harness; and a shuttle for moving the wiring harness away from said conduit applicator.
CA 2208181 1997-06-13 1997-06-18 Apparatus for assembling a wiring harness Abandoned CA2208181A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US87451597A 1997-06-13 1997-06-13
US08/874,515 1997-06-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2208181A1 true CA2208181A1 (en) 1998-12-13

Family

ID=25363969

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2208181 Abandoned CA2208181A1 (en) 1997-06-13 1997-06-18 Apparatus for assembling a wiring harness

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2208181A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113067228A (en) * 2021-03-18 2021-07-02 周振 Mechanism for winding and connecting electric wire

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113067228A (en) * 2021-03-18 2021-07-02 周振 Mechanism for winding and connecting electric wire

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