Multi-conduit flexible retention mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11320067-B2
Application number	US-201916524848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2019
Priority date	Jul 29, 2019
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A retention mechanism provided for use with a first line and a second line comprises a flexible convoluted web, a first conduit, and a second conduit. The first conduit defines a first passageway through the web, and is configured to receive the first line through the first passageway. The second conduit defines a second passageway through the web, and is configured to receive the second line through the second passageway. The first and second conduits are attached to and surrounded by the web such that the web enables movement of the first and second lines when the first and second lines are fixed respectively to the first and second conduits and extend respectively through the first and second passageways.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retention mechanism for use with a first line and a second line, comprising:
a flexible convoluted web to be mounted to a support structure,
a first conduit defining a first passageway through the web, the first passageway configured to receive the first line through the first passageway, the first conduit configured to be fixed to the first line to block passage of contaminants through the first passageway,
a second conduit defining a second passageway through the web, the second passageway configured to receive the second line through the second passageway, the second conduit configured to be fixed to the second line to block passage of contaminants through the second passageway, the first and second conduits attached to and surrounded by the web such that the web enables movement of the first and second lines relative to the support structure when the first and second lines are fixed respectively to the first and second conduits and extend respectively through the first and second passageways, and
a mounting wall to be mounted to the support structure, wherein the mounting wall comprises an aperture in which the web is positioned such that the mounting wall surrounds the web and the first and second conduits, and an outer periphery of the web and an inner periphery of the mounting wall defining the aperture of the mounting wall are bonded together.

2. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the web comprises concentric convolutions, and the convolutions are positioned on a common plane defined by the mounting wall.

3. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the web is oblong.

4. The retention mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the first and second conduits are spaced apart from one another in a dimension, and the web is elongated in that dimension.

5. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , comprising a central portion, wherein the central portion comprises the first and second conduits and a support wall from which the first and second conduits extend axially and from which the web extends radially.

6. The retention mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the support wall comprises a pocket and a stiffener embedded in the pocket.

7. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the mounting wall is mounted under the support structure axially.

8. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the web is indirectly mounted to the support structure by the mounting wall without contacting the support structure.

9. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped portion of the outer periphery of the web cups the inner periphery of the mounting wall to lie on opposite sides thereof.

10. A retention mechanism for use with a first line and a second line, comprising:
a flexible convoluted web to be mounted to a support structure,
a first conduit defining a first passageway through the web, the first passageway configured to receive the first line through the first passageway, the first conduit configured to be fixed to the first line to block passage of contaminants through the first passageway,
a second conduit defining a second passageway through the web, the second passageway configured to receive the second line through the second passageway, the second conduit configured to be fixed to the second line to block passage of contaminants through the second passageway, the first and second conduits attached to and surrounded by the web such that the web enables movement of the first and second lines relative to the support structure when the first and second lines are fixed respectively to the first and second conduits and extend respectively through the first and second passageways, and
a flat support wall,
wherein the web and the first and second conduits are integrated into a single part, the support wall comprises a pocket included in the single part and a stiffener plate embedded in the pocket to stiffen the support wall, the first and second conduits extend axially from the pocket, and the web extends radially from the pocket.

11. The retention mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the single part is made of an elastomeric material.

12. The retention mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the stiffener plate comprises a first conduit aperture in communication with the first passageway and a second conduit aperture in communication with the second passageway.

13. The retention mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the first conduit aperture and the second conduit aperture of the stiffener plate are spaced apart.

14. The retention mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the flat support wall and the stiffener plate are positioned on a common plane.

15. A retention mechanism for use with a first line and a second line, comprising:
a flexible convoluted web to be mounted to a support structure,
a first conduit defining a first passageway through the web, the first passageway configured to receive the first line through the first passageway, the first conduit configured to be fixed to the first line to block passage of contaminants through the first passageway,
a second conduit defining a second passageway through the web, the second passageway configured to receive the second line through the second passageway, the second conduit configured to be fixed to the second line to block passage of contaminants through the second passageway, the first and second conduits attached to and surrounded by the web such that the web enables movement of the first and second lines relative to the support structure when the first and second lines are fixed respectively to the first and second conduits and extend respectively through the first and second passageways,
a first clamp clamping the first conduit and the first line to one another and a second clamp clamping the second conduit and the second line to one another,
a support wall, wherein each of the first conduit and the second conduit is attached to the support wall and comprises a distal end relative to the support wall, a side wall, and a slit formed in the side wall and extending lengthwise of the side wall to the distal end, the side wall of each of the first conduit and the second conduit comprises a frusto-conical portion necking down from the support wall and a cylindrical portion extending from the frusto-conical portion away from the support wall to the distal end, and, with respect to each of the first and second conduits, and the slit extends from the distal end through the cylindrical portion into the frusto-conical portion.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Short Daniel T

Classifications

• F16L3/127 Primary

  and extending away from the attachment surface · CPC title

• F16L5/00 Primary

  Devices for use where pipes, cables or protective tubing pass through walls or partitions (installations of electric cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings H02G3/22) · CPC title

• H02G3/22 Primary

  Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings · CPC title

• B60R16/0222

  Grommets · CPC title

• F16L5/14

  for double-walled or multi-channel pipes · CPC title