FR3087294A1 - CONDUCTIVE COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR TESTING AN ELECTRIC LINE - Google Patents

Abstract

Conductive component (31) comprising a first connector (36) and a second connector (38), the first and second connectors being respectively capable of electrically connecting one end of a first cable (1) and one end of a second cable ( 2), the component (31) being characterized in that it comprises a hermetic conduit suitable for the passage of a fluid, in particular air, between the first connector (36) and the second connector (38).

Description

Conductive component and method for testing a power line.

The invention relates to a conductive component comprising a first connector and a second connector, the first and second connectors being respectively capable of electrically connecting one end of a first cable and one end of a second cable. The invention also relates to an electric line comprising at least a first cable and a second cable. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such an electric line. Finally, the invention relates to a method for testing an electrical line comprising at least a first cable and a second cable.

In a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, it seems important to carry out checks on high voltage power lines. To ensure the performance of the insulation of the cables forming such lines, leakage tests are carried out which consist of injecting air through the cable core to verify that there is no leakage and guarantee the integrity of its electrical insulation. Cables are breathable to the copper core of their copper wires. These loose wires let the air through. For such a test to be reliable, all the components present in and along the cable must allow air to pass over the entire cable.

Components, in particular connectors, may be present at locations along the power line, between two cables, in particular forming more or less sealed crimps. In the case where such components are sealed, the air injected into the core of the cables of the electrical line is blocked at the first sealed component, without being able to reach the end of the electrical line. As a result, the leak test cannot be performed over the entire length of the power line. Only the cable (s) upstream of the first airtight component can be tested. The leak test is restricted to only part of the power line, therefore less reliable. This is a drawback which the present invention proposes to overcome.

This drawback of the state of the art is illustrated on the basis of the example of an electric line shown in FIG. 1, for example intended to be used for charging an electric vehicle. The electric line comprises for example a first cable 1 and a second cable 2. Each cable 1,2 comprises a conductive core 3 and an insulating sheath 5 surrounding the conductive core 3. The conductive core 3 comprises at least one conductive wire, in particular several conductive wires, for example metallic (s). The conducting wires are for example made of copper. The insulating sheath 5 is in particular intended to serve as electrical and mechanical protection for the conductive core 3.

The power line is provided with a component, for example a fuse 11, located between one end of the first cable 1 and one end of the second cable 2. A connector 13 is intended to be placed at the other end 7 of the cable 1. A connector 15 is intended to be placed at the other end 9 of the cable 2.

To test the first and second cables 1,2 of the electric line, a fluid, for example pressurized air, is injected by the connector 13. The circulation or flow of the fluid is represented by arrows 17. The fluid circulates in the longitudinal direction of the power line, from upstream to downstream. The connector 15 is for example closed downstream by a plug 19. According to a variant, the fluid may of course be injected by the connector 15, and in this case, it is the connector 13 which will for example be closed by a plug.

The conductor wires of the core 3 of the cables allow the fluid to pass. The fluid then circulates in the first cable 1, to the first element blocking the passage of the fluid. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the power line is provided with a single blocking element, namely the fuse 11, at least partially hermetic to the passage of the fluid. Of course, the power line may be provided with several blocking elements.

The length of the cables of the power line is called the "length of the power line". In the example of Figure 1, the length of the power line corresponds to the sum of the length L1 of the first cable 1 and the length L2 of the second cable 2.

The fluid cannot circulate over the entire length of the electrical line, because of the presence of the fuse 11. The integrity of the insulating sheath 5 is checked only on the part 21 of the first cable 1, of length Ltest, located at upstream of the component 11. The integrity of the insulating sheath 5 of the second cable 2 cannot be checked. The power line cannot therefore be tested over its entire length.

Document CN103364686 discloses a device making it possible to test the air tightness of the harnesses of cables of automobile lamps: it describes an air inlet which can be connected directly with a cable to be tested to form a closed loop through an air line. However, it does not describe a solution if blocking components are present along the cable. The present invention attempts to overcome this drawback, which can lead to errors in the reliability of the tests.

The object of the invention is to provide a conductive component and a method for testing a power line overcoming the above drawbacks and improving the devices and methods for testing a cable known from the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible to produce a conductive component and a test method which are simple and reliable despite the presence of waterproof components along the power line tested.

To achieve this objective, the invention relates to a conductive component comprising a first connector and a second connector, the first and second connectors being respectively capable of electrically connecting one end of a first cable and one end of a second cable, the component comprising a hermetic conduit suitable for the passage of a fluid, in particular air, between the first connector and the second connector.

The component may comprise a conductive core capable of being connected to the first cable and to the second cable, as well as a permeable zone at least partially surrounding the external surface of the conductive core, the permeable zone forming, in the component, a conduit for the passage of the fluid around the conductive core.

The permeable area can be tubular in shape.

The permeable zone can comprise a porous material, for example of the Twist Tube® type.

The component can be covered by a waterproof envelope.

The component can comprise at least one hole at its first connector and at least one hole at its second connector, the hermetic conduit being formed from one hole to the other hole by the internal structure of the component.

The component may be a fuse.

The invention also relates to an electrical line comprising at least a first cable and a second cable, each first and second cable comprising a conductive core and an insulating sheath surrounding the conductive core, the electrical line comprising a component of the type described. above, the first connector of the component being electrically connected to one end of the first cable and the second connector of the component being electrically connected to one end of the second cable.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, comprising at least one power line of the type described above or at least one component of the type described above.

The invention finally relates to a method for testing an electric line comprising at least a first cable and a second cable, the method comprising:

a step including inserting into the electrical line at least one component of the type described above, the first connector of the component being electrically connected to one end of the first cable and the second connector of the component being electrically connected to one end the second cable; and

- a step of transmitting a fluid, such as air, along the power line.

These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of particular embodiments made without limitation in relation to the attached figures, among which:

Figure 1 shows an example of a power line according to the state of the art.

FIG. 2 represents an electric line equipped with a conductive component according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 represents an electric line equipped with a conductive component according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of part of a conductive component of Figure 3.

FIGS. 5a to 5d represent the steps of a process for manufacturing a conductive component of the type of that of FIG. 2.

For the sake of simplicity, the same references are used in the different figures to designate similar or equivalent characteristics.

A method of testing a commonly used cable is described below. A first end of the cable is hermetically connected, provided with a connector, in particular a sealed connector, for example a female connector, to a pressurizing device. A second end of the cable is sealed off using a second connector and possibly a plug. The device comprising the cable and the first and second connectors is pressurized, in particular under air pressure. We check the absence of leaks along the cable. The absence of leakage guarantees the integrity of the electrical insulation along the length of the cable, the electrical insulation or insulating sheath of the cable being hermetic when it is integral.

By "test of a cable or of an electric line", we mean in particular a leak test of a cable or of an electric line. A waterproof or hermetic cable notably ensures that the electrical insulation of the cable is intact.

A conductive component that is partially or not at all breathable may also be present at a location on the power line that is different from the ends of the line. Such a conductive component, known as a “blocker”, for example a component of the fuse type, has an intrinsic blocking effect when carrying out a power line test, as has been detailed previously with reference to FIG. 1 of the state of the art.

The invention provides a solution for testing a power line over its entire length, even in the presence of intermediate conductive blocking components. For this, the invention uses a conductive component, which will replace or modify the intermediate blocking component, to allow it to continue to fulfill its first function while becoming breathable.

A first embodiment of a conductive component is described below with reference to FIG. 2. This figure voluntarily corresponds to FIG. 1, in which the fuse 11 forming a blocking component is replaced by a conductive component 31, which fulfills the same function as the fuse 11 or more generally of any other blocking element which it replaces, while being permeable to air to allow the test of the electric line 1,2 over its entire length. For this, according to this first embodiment, the fuse 11 is therefore replaced by a conductive component 31, which forms a permeable fuse in this example, which includes a bypass portion around or outside of its conductive core 32 to allow the passage of the 'air, along the path illustrated by arrow 37, the conductive core 32 being impermeable to air. This conductive component 31 comprises a first connector 36 which allows it to be connected electrically with one end of the first cable 1 and a second connector 38 which allows it to be connected electrically to one end of the second cable 2. The conductive core 32 is capable of being connected to the first cable 1 and to the second cable 2.

According to this first embodiment, the conductive component 31 therefore comprises a conductive core 32, which fulfills the first desired electrical function, for example that of a fuse, and which is surrounded, at least partially, by a permeable zone 33, making it possible to transmit the air from the inlet to the outlet of the conductive component 31. The permeable zone 33, at least partially surrounding the external surface of the conductive core 32, forms, in the component, a conduit for the passage of the fluid around of the conductive core 32. By this means, it therefore appears that air can be conducted over the entire length of the electrical line 1,2, to the final connector 15. The power line 1,2 is thus tested over its entire length, contrary to the corresponding state of the art.

In this first embodiment, the permeable zone 33 is produced using any porous material, for example comprising non-hermetic fabrics or a braiding of the Twist Tube ™ type, or thin tubes. The conductive component 31 is also covered with a waterproof envelope 35. Optionally, a first waterproof envelope can be used around the porous material, to protect it, before the use of a second waterproof envelope, which could then be an adhesive. or an external gel, which would be incompatible with direct application to the porous material but which has a high sealing efficiency.

The permeable zone 33 is for example of tubular shape.

A second embodiment of a conductive component according to the invention is described below with reference to Figures 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the fuse 11 is modified to form a conductive component 41 whose conductive core 42 is modified to form a conduit. As shown in Figure 4, at least two holes 43 are drilled on either side of the conductive component to allow air to pass. The holes 43 are drilled up to the conductive core 42, which is hollow in the present exemplary embodiment, thus making it possible to form an internal duct for letting the air pass, along the path illustrated by the arrow 47 in FIG. 3 These holes 43 are preferably made during the manufacture of the part, on either side of it, in its main axis. In addition, these holes 43 can be positioned facing the core of the wiring wires intended to be crimped. In this case, the maintenance of elements possibly contained in the component, in the conductive core 42 in particular, such as sand in a fuse, can be done by adding elements of permeable closures, for example plugs in a Gore-Tex ™ material, allowing air to pass through, but not sand, in the example of the fuse. The size of the holes 43 must at least correspond, on the surface, to that of the interstices present in the core of the corresponding wiring wire. The rest of the structure of the conductive component 41 corresponds to the fuse 11. The conductive component 41 is covered with a waterproof envelope 45. Finally, this conductive component 41 comprises a first connector 46 which allows it to be electrically connected with one end of the first cable 1 and a second connector 48 which allows it to be connected electrically with one end of a second cable 2.

According to this second embodiment, the conductive component 41 therefore comprises at least one hole 43 at its first connector 46 and at least one hole 43 at its second connector 48, the hermetic conduit being formed by a hole in the other by the internal structure of the component.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing / mounting a conductive component. By way of example, FIGS. 5a to 5d describe the steps of such a manufacturing / mounting method for a conductive component according to the first embodiment, as illustrated by FIG. 2.

The first step, the result of which is illustrated in FIG. 5a, consists in crimping the conductive core 32 of the conductive component to a first and a second cable 1, 2, from its two connectors 36, 38. This makes it possible to establish a closed electrical connection through this conductive core 32, which may be a fuse.

The second step, the result of which is illustrated in FIG. 5b, consists in positioning a split woven ribbon around the conductive core 32. This ribbon extends so as to obtain significant overlap on either side of the connectors 36 , 38, for example at least 10 millimeters. This step forms the permeable zone 33 around the conductive core 32 of the conductive component.

The third step, the result of which is illustrated in FIG. 5c, consists in positioning a first envelope 35 'around the woven tape, to protect it.

The fourth step, the result of which is illustrated in FIG. 5d and finalizes the conductive component 31, consists in positioning a second envelope 35 around the assembly obtained after the third step. This envelope may consist of a final sealing sleeve. This envelope may extend over at least 20 millimeters beyond the first envelope 35 ’on each side of the conductive component 31.

The invention also relates to a method for testing an electrical line comprising at least a first cable 1 and a second cable 2. The method comprises a step including the insertion into the electrical line of at least one conductive component 31, 41 according to one embodiment of the invention, the first connector 36, 46 of the component being electrically connected to one end of the first cable 1 and the second connector 38, 48 of the component being electrically connected to one end of the second cable 2. The The method further includes a step of transmitting a fluid, such as air, along the power line, to test the cables 1,2 of the line, as described above.

The invention also relates to an electric line as such comprising at least a first cable 1 and a second cable 2, each first and second cable comprising a conductive core 3 and an insulating sheath 5 surrounding the conductive core 3. The line electric comprises at least one conductive component 31, 41 of the type described above, the first connector 36, 46 of the component being electrically connected to one end of the first cable 1 and the second connector 38, 48 of the component being electrically connected to one end of the second cable 2.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle as such comprising at least one such power line.

A conductive component and a method for testing an electric line comprising specific cables such as charging cables for an electric vehicle have been described above. Such a conductive component and such a test method could of course be used to test any type of power line cables, in particular in fields other than the automotive field.

A conductive component and a method for testing an electrical line using air as the fluid for the leakage test have been described above. Other fluids may be used, chosen from fluids able to pass through the core of the cables of the electrical line to be tested.

Claims (9)

Claims: 1. Conductive component (31; 41) comprising a first connector (36; 46) and a second connector (38; 48), the first and second connectors being respectively capable of electrically connecting one end of a first cable (1) and one end of a second cable (2), the component (31; 41) being characterized in that it comprises a hermetic conduit suitable for the passage of a fluid, in particular air, between the first connector (36; 46) and the second connector (38; 48). 2. Component according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the component (31) comprises a conductive core (32) capable of being connected to the first cable (1) and to the second cable (2), as well as a permeable zone (33 ) at least partially surrounding the external surface of the conductive core, the permeable zone forming, in the component, a conduit for the passage of the fluid around the conductive core. 3. Component according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the permeable zone (33) is of tubular shape and / or in that the permeable zone (33) comprises a porous material, for example of the Twist Tube® type. 4. Component according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it is covered by a sealed envelope (35). 5. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one hole (43) at its first connector (46) and at least one hole (43) at its second connector (48), the hermetic conduit being formed from one hole to the other hole by the internal structure of the component. 6. Component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a fuse. 7. Power line comprising at least a first cable (1) and a second cable (2), each first and second cable comprising a conductive core (3) and an insulating sheath (5) surrounding the conductive core (3), the electric line being characterized in that it comprises a component (31; 41) according to any one of the preceding claims, the first connector (36; 46) of the component being electrically connected to one end of the first cable (1) and the second connector (38; 48) of the component being electrically connected to one end of the second cable (2). 8. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one electric line (1, 2) according to claim 7 or at least one component (31; 41) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 9. Method for testing an electric line (1,2) comprising at least a first cable (1) and a second cable (2), characterized in that it comprises: - A step including inserting into the electrical line (1, 2) at least one component (31; 41) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the first connector (36; 46) of the component being electrically connected to one end of the first cable (1) and the second connector (38; 48) of the component being electrically connected to one end of the second cable (2), and - a step of transmitting a fluid, such as air, along the power line, to test the first and second cables (1, 2) of the power line.