Method for making sheathed metal tube

• US 7,308,758 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ti Automotive Heidelberg Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Ti Automotive Heidelberg Gmbh
• Inventors: Weick, Georg, Sausner, Andreas, Adkins, Delbert L., Poirier, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; John C.
• Application Number:
  US10/796,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20040194298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 295/08, 295/05, 295/06, 294/60, 294/28, 298/25, 156/304.2
• US Class Current: 29/825
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/183 for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section H01R4/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/20 using a crimping sleeve H01R4/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/643 for rigid cylindrical bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/726 Making a non-soldered electrical connection simultaneously with the heat shrinking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

In a method for grounding a metal tube (2) sheathed with an electrically non-conducting plastic layer (1), has the plastic layer (1) of the metal tube (2) completely removed at an area of connection (3) the area of connection (3) is connected to the motor vehicle part in an electrically conducting fashion by a conductive covering section (4) is closed in the circumferential direction of the metal tube (2) which covers the area of connection (3) on all sides or more than covers the area of connection (3) on all sides, i.e. in the form of a crimp sleeve or a heat-shrinkable sleeve. It is first pushed onto the metal tube (2) and is then pressed onto the metal tube (2) at least at its ends under radial pressure applied along at least part of the circumference without any gaps. In one form, the tube has a bead in the area where the plastic layer is removed and the bead is in contact with the conductive covering section.

Claims

1. A method for making a metal tube (2) sheathed with an electrically non-conducting plastic layer (1), for use in a motor vehicle for transporting liquid or gaseous media, especially fuels, and which is adapted to be connected to a conductive portion of the motor vehicle, the steps comprising, completely removing said plastic layer (1) over the total circumference of the metal tube (2) at an area of connection (3), providing a conductive covering section (4) and at least covering the area of connection (3) on all sides of the area of connection (3) with said conductive covering section (4) and pressing said conductive covering onto the metal tube (2) at least at its ends under radial pressure applied along at least part of the circumference without any gaps.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic layer is removed at a certain point on the tube at a certain width, and the covering section (4) is constructed as closed in the circumferential direction of the metal tube (2) and the conductive covering section overlies a portion of said plastic layer adjacent both longitudinal ends of said area of connection.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the covering section (4) consists of a metal crimp sleeve.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the crimp sleeve (4) consists of aluminum or stainless steel.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 or 4, characterized in that the crimp sleeve (4) is pressed on mechanically.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the covering section (4) consists of a heat-shrinkable sleeve made of electrically conductive plastic.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve (4) is shrunk onto the metal tube (2) by heat treatment.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve (4) is provided with an electrically conductive adhesive coating on the inside.

9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve (4) is provided with an electrically conductive adhesive coating on the inside.

20. A method according to claims 1 or 18 wherein said tube includes an outer surface and said step of removal of said plastic layer from said tube (2) at said area of connection (3) exposes the outer surface of the tube.

21. A method according to claims 1 or 18 wherein said tube includes an outer surface, and an electrically conductive anti-corrosion layer (6) and said step of removal of said plastic layer (1) from said tube (2) at said area of connection (3) exposes said conductive anti-corrosion layer.

10. A method for making a metal tube (2) sheathed with an electrically non-conducting plastic layer (1), for use in a motor vehicle for transporting liquid or gaseous media, especially fuels, and which is adapted to be connected to a conductive portion of the motor vehicle, the steps comprising, completely removing said plastic layer (1) over at least a partial area of the circumference of the metal tube (2) at an area of connection (3), providing a conductive covering section (4) which covers the area of connection (3) on all sides or more than covers the area of connection (3) on all sides, the covering section (4) consists of a heat-shrinkable sleeve made of electrically conductive plastic, pressing said conductive covering onto the metal tube (2) at least at its ends under radial pressure applied along at least part of the circumference without any gaps, wherein at least one bead (5) which runs around the circumference of the metal tube (2) is produced on said metal tube (2) and wherein the plastic layer (1) covering the bead (5) is removed at least over part of the bead circumference, preferably over the total bead circumference, and wherein the heat-shrinkable sleeve made of electrically conductive plastic is pushed onto the area of connection (3) on the bead (5).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve (4) is shrunk onto the metal tube (2) by heat treatment.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve (4) is provided with an electrically conductive adhesive coating on the inside.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve (4) is provided with an electrically conductive adhesive coating on the inside.

14. A method for making a metal tube (2) sheathed with an electrically non-conducting plastic layer (1), for use in a motor vehicle for transporting liquid or gaseous media, especially fuels, and which is adapted to be connected to a conductive portion of the motor vehicle, the steps comprising, completely removing said plastic layer (1) over at least a partial area of the circumference of the metal tube (2) at an area of connection (3), providing a conductive covering section (4) which covers the area of connection (3) on all sides or more than covers the area of connection (3) on all sides, the covering section (4) consists of a heat-shrinkable sleeve made of electrically conductive plastic, pressing said conductive covering onto the metal tube (2) at least at its ends under radial pressure applied along at least part of the circumference without any gaps, wherein at least one bead (5) which runs around the circumference of the metal tube (2) is produced on said metal tube (2), and wherein the plastic layer (1) covering the bead (5) is removed at least over part of the bead circumference, preferably over the total bead circumference, and wherein the heat-shrinkable sleeve made of electrically conductive plastic is pushed onto the area of connection (3) on the bead (5), and wherein the plastic layer is removed at a certain point on the tube at a certain width, and the covering section (4) is constructed as closed in the circumferential direction of the metal tube (2) and the conductive covering section overlies a portion of said plastic layer adjacent both longitudinal ends of said area of connection.

15. The meted according to claim 14, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve (4) is shrunk onto the metal tube (2) by heat treatment.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve (4) is provided with an electrically conductive adhesive coating on the inside.

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sleeve is provided with an electrically conductive adhesive coating on the inside.

18. A method for making a metal tube (2) sheathed with an electrically non-conducting plastic layer (1), for use in a motor vehicle for transporting liquid or gaseous media, especially fuels, and which is adapted to be connected to a conductive portion of the motor vehicle, the steps comprising, completely removing said plastic layer (1) over at least a partial area of the circumference of the metal tube (2) at an area of connection (3), providing a conductive covering section (4) of conductive plastic material which covers at least the area of connection (3) on all sides and pressing said conductive covering onto the area of connection of said metal tube (2) at least at its ends under radial pressure without any gaps.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the plastic layer is removed at a certain point on the rube at a certain width, and the covering section (4) overlies a portion of said plastic layer adjacent both longitudinal ends of said area of connection.