Wiring-harness with connector staging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10547143-B2
Application number	US-201916427450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2019
Priority date	Jun 27, 2017
Publication date	Jan 28, 2020
Grant date	Jan 28, 2020

Abstract

A wiring-harness includes an electrical-connector and a staging-device. The staging-device has a cavity defining a flexible-member in compressive contact with the electrical-connector. The flexible-member is configured to removably retain the electrical-connector within the cavity. The cavity locates the electrical-connector in a predetermined-position within the staging-device, such that the electrical-connector is presented to an assembler in the predetermined-position. The staging-device is particularly useful in automated, i.e. robotic, installation of the wiring-harness.

First claim

We claim:

1. A wiring-harness assembly comprising:
a wire-cable having at least one electrical-connector; and
a staging-device defining at least one cavity, wherein the staging-device comprises at least one flexible-member disposed within the at least one cavity in compressive contact with the at least one electrical-connector, wherein the at least one flexible-member is configured to removably retain the at least one electrical-connector within the at least one cavity, wherein the staging-device locates the at least one electrical-connector in a predetermined-position within the at least one cavity such that the at least one electrical-connector is presented to an assembler in the predetermined-position, wherein the at least one flexible-member is arranged on a quarter-round ribbed-spacer, wherein the at least one cavity includes at least four datum-surfaces, and wherein the at least four datum-surfaces are configured to contact the at least one electrical-connector disposed within the at least one cavity on at least four corresponding datum-points.

2. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the quarter-round ribbed-spacer is formed of a complaint material different from a material forming the staging-device.

3. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the quarter-round ribbed-spacer is disposed within a corner of the at least one cavity.

4. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the quarter-round ribbed-spacer is secured to the staging-device by a T-shaped rail defined by the quarter-round ribbed-spacer that is disposed within a corresponding T-shaped-cavity defined by the staging-device.

5. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein between thirty percent and fifty percent of a surface-area of the at least one electrical-connector is disposed within the at least one cavity.

6. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least four corresponding datum-points on the at least one electrical-connector include a first-side, a second-side, a mating-side, and a corner.

7. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible-member applies a retention-force to the at least one electrical-connector within the at least one cavity in a range from about 40 Newtons to about 60 Newtons.

8. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the assembler is a robot.

9. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the staging-device is configured to release the at least one electrical-connector from the predetermined-position to the assembler.

10. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical-connector is located with a true-position of less than 2.0 millimeters relative to the predetermined-position.

11. The wiring-harness assembly in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrical-connector is located with the true-position of less than 0.5 millimeter relative to the predetermined-position.

12. A staging-device configured to retain at least one electrical-connector of a wiring-harness, the staging-device comprising:
a staging-device-body defining at least one cavity; and
at least one flexible-member configured to be in compressive contact with the at least one electrical-connector when inserted within the at least one cavity, wherein the at least one flexible-member is configured to removably retain the at least one electrical-connector within the at least one cavity, wherein the staging-device-body is configured to locate the at least one electrical-connector in a predetermined-position within the at least one cavity such that the at least one electrical-connector is presented to an assembler in the predetermined-position, wherein the at least one flexible-member is arranged on a quarter-round ribbed-spacer, wherein the at least one cavity includes at least four datum-surfaces, and wherein the at least four datum-surfaces are configured to contact the at least one electrical-connector disposed within the at least one cavity on at least four corresponding datum-points.

13. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the quarter-round ribbed-spacer is formed of a complaint material different from a material forming the staging-device.

14. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the quarter-round ribbed-spacer is disposed within a corner of the at least one cavity.

15. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the quarter-round ribbed-spacer is secured to the staging-device by a T-shaped rail defined by the quarter-round ribbed-spacer that is disposed within a corresponding T-shaped-cavity defined by the staging-device.

16. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein between thirty percent and fifty percent of a surface-area of the at least one electrical-connector is disposed within the at least one cavity.

17. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the at least one electrical-connector is located with a true-position of less than 2.0 millimeters relative to the predetermined-position.

18. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the at least one electrical-connector is located with the true-position of less than 0.5 millimeter relative to the predetermined-position.

19. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the at least four corresponding datum-points on the at least one electrical-connector include a first-side, a second-side, a mating-side, and a corner.

20. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the at least one flexible-member applies a retention-force to the at least one electrical-connector within the at least one cavity in a range from about 40 Newtons to about 60 Newtons.

21. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the assembler is a robot.

22. The staging-device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the staging-device is configured to release the at least one electrical-connector from the predetermined-position to the assembler.

Assignees

• Aptiv Tech Ltd

Inventors

• Peterson David R
• Sudik Jr Joseph
• Szuba Jr Frank Walter
• Intihar Mark
• Decker Benjamin
• Kneppers Andrew

Classifications

• H01R2201/26

  for vehicles · CPC title

• H01R13/631 Primary

  for engagement only · CPC title

• H01R13/502 Primary

  composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/60 Primary

  Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged · CPC title

• B60R16/0215

  Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor · CPC title