VIBRATION-DAMPENED ATTACHMENT ARRANGEMENT OF THE CABLES OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

The present invention relates to a vibration-dampened attachment arrangement of the cables of an internal combustion engine, the arrangement comprising a connector through which the conductors of the cable are detachably attached to the circuit and a support structure, through which the attachment arrangement is supported to a support surface arranged in connection with the internal combustion engine.

Electrical cables that will be every now and then mechanically removed or replaced are usually provided with a connector allowing removal of the cable as necessary. Such connectors are also used in connection with measurement sensors and in situations in which removal of mechanical components requires removing the electrical cables in connection with, e.g. service work.

Such a connector, able to be mechanically disconnected when necessary, consists of a male part and a female part. The electrical connection is typically carried out by using metallic pins and connection pieces suitable for them, arranged in an insulating construction. The mechanical protection of the connectors is typically arranged by means of divisible housing, in which the halves can be connected to each other by means, for example, of a threaded connection or by means of a so-called bayonet connector. Selection of the material of the connector can have an effect on the durability of the connector against, for example, moisture and chemicals. In severe conditions metals are commonly used as shell material of the connectors.

However, in many applications it is just the connectors that are most prone to damage, even if only high-quality connectors were used. Especially in connection with engines, one clear reason is that the connectors are exposed to relatively strong vibration which will have a mechanical effect on both the housing of the

connector and the pins themselves. There is wear in the connector exposed to the vibration firstly within the mechanism connecting the parts of the connector to each other, such as a bayonet connection or threads, which causes a weak fastening of the parts of the connector and further causes wear of the conductors and wear of the connector pins inside the connector. This will inevitably cause a bad contact and increase of resistance.

Therefore, as even a high-quality connector is not reliable in the long run in an internal combustion engine, the object of the invention is to accomplish a vibration- dampened fastening arrangement for cables that will eliminate this problem of prior art.

A further object of the invention is to produce an attachment arrangement in which the connector is mechanically well supported and where the vibration dampening is efficiently arranged, such that the movement of the various parts of the connector in relation to each other is minimized.

The aims of the invention are mainly achieved as disclosed in the appended claim 1 and as more closely explained in other claims.

A vibration-dampened attachment arrangement of a cable of an internal combustion engine according to the invention comprises a connector, through which the conductors of the cable are detachably connected to the circuit and a support structure, through which the attachment arrangement is supported to a support surface arranged in connection with the internal combustion engine. The invention is characterized in that the attachment arrangement comprises an elastic part through which the connector is attached to the support surface arranged in connection with the internal combustion engine. In the arrangement a compression means partially surrounds the elastic part, whereby the compression means creates a compression force supporting the connector. Preferably the compression means is attached by means of a fastening band at least partially surrounding the attachment means and the elastic part.

The elastic part comprises a volume within an area defined by the outer circumference in the cross-section thereof, into which volume the connector is arranged and the volume can be opened in the longitudinal direction L of the elastic part along its whole length for arranging the connector into the elastic part. The surface of the elastic part limiting the volume comprises a number of lamellaes, whereby the surface will better adapt to the form of the connector and thus the support is even. Preferably the lamellaes extend along the whole length of the elastic part in the longitudinal direction thereof.

The invention can be used both for connecting conductors to each other as well as for connecting the conductors to a sensor or an actuator. Especially in sensor applications the connector comprises a flange at the connection point of the sensor, whereby by means of the flange the connector and thus also the sensor can be efficiently supported by the elastic part.

The connector comprises a first part and a second part, whereby the elastic part extends in its longitudinal direction L over the connection point between of the first and second parts of the connector for supporting the connection point. Thus, the support for the connector is especially good and the vibration can only minimally affect the connector.

With the cable attachment arrangement according to the invention the failure rate is very low, whereby the reliability of the system is essentially better than in prior art.

In the following the invention is described by way of example and with reference to the appended schematic drawings, of which figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention, figure 2 shows the embodiment of figure 1 in perspective view, figure 3 illustrates the elastic part of the embodiment of figure 1 in longitudinal section,

figure 4 illustrates another embodiment according to the invention without a compression means, and figure 5 illustrates yet another embodiment according to the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a vibration dampened attachment arrangement 1 arranged on a support surface 5 of an internal combustion engine. The attachment arrangement comprises a connector 3 connecting cables 2 to each other. The conductors of the cable are detachably connected to each other through connector 3, in this example the cables are connected to each other, whereby the cables are in an electrical or other corresponding connection with each other; the cables can also optical cables. The attachment arrangement also comprises a support structure 4, through which the attachment arrangement is supported by the support surface 5 arranged in connection with the internal combustion engine. The attachment arrangement also comprises an elastic part 6, into which the connector 3 is arranged and through which the connector 3 is thus attached to the support surface 5 arranged in connection with the internal combustion engine. Thus, in the attachment arrangement the connector 3 is mechanically supported by means of the elastic part. This will accomplish dampening of the vibration having an effect on the connector while the arrangement mechanically stiffens the parts of the connector, which impedes movement and wear between the parts of the connector. In addition, the arrangement mechanically protects the connector and accomplishes a steady attachment on the support surface of the engine.

In the elastic part there is a gap or volume 6.1 , into which the connector is installed. When the connector is installed in volume 6.1 , the volume is closed by means of a compression member 7, which can be, in the embodiment of figure 7, also called a cover. The volume 6.1 can be opened in the longitudinal direction (L) of the elastic part along its whole length for arranging the connector in the elastic part. The cover both compresses the elastic part against the connector and forms a mechanical protection. The cover is installed in its place by means of a fastening band 8 or the like extending around both the elastic part, compression part and the connector.

The surface limiting the elastic part comprises a number of lamellaes 6.2 supporting the connector elastically in the volume and following the dimensions of the outside of the connector so that an even support is achieved for the connector. In order to have as smooth a support as possible, the lamellaes extend over the whole length of the elastic part in its longitudinal direction.

In the arrangement, there is a compression means 7 on the opposite side of the support structure 4 partially surrounding and closing the elastic part 6 and its volume 6.1 , simultaneously compressing the elastic part. The compression means 7 is fastened by means of a tightenable and lockable tightening band 8 surrounding at least the attachment means and the elastic part. The connector is formed of two parts, comprising a first part 3.1 , into which the first cable is connected and a second part 3.1 , into which the second cable is connected, characterized in that the elastic part 6 extends in its longitudinal direction over the connection point 3.4 of the first and second parts of the connector for supporting the connection point.

In figure 3, the part of the structure of the elastic part can be seen in a longitudinal cross-section. The figure illustrates how the surface limiting the volume 6.1 comprises lamellaes 6.2 arranged from one end to another. Further, the figure illustrates an indentation 6.3 in the middle of the elastic part, extending nearly to the support structure 4. The purpose of this will become apparent in figure 4, in which one embodiment of the invention is shown without the compression means. The figure illustrates the connection of sensor 3.3 into the cable 2. In order to improve positioning the structure of the connector 3 includes a flange 3.4 minimizing the possibility of the movement of the connector, which is specially important in sensor applications. The indentation is in the connection point of the sensor 3.2 and the flange is arranged in this indentation. As can be seen in figure 4, elastic surface is here arranged by means of a separate surface layer 6.2. It is also possible to use a surface layer instead of the lamella, the layer being softer than the elastic part 6 so that a corresponding effect can be accomplished.

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment in which the compression means 7 also functions as a support structure which will during use be fastened to a support surface 5 arranged in connection with the engine. Here the compression means comprises side parts 7.2 extending from the bottom part 7.1 more than halfway over the elastic part. Thus, the side parts lock the elastic part and the switch inside themselves. The bottom part can be provided with, for example, a hole having an inner thread by means of which the attachment can be accomplished.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described here, but a number of modifications thereof can be conceived of within the scope of the appended claims.