Alex Bergeron
Sealing Solutions Provider at Elasto Proxy
Image source: cable-technics.be
Did you drive to work today? Did you use mass transit instead? If you commuted by car, maybe you pressed a button to roll down the power windows and let in some fresh air. If you traveled to the office by bus, maybe you noticed that the driver braked and shifted gears. If you took a subway or elevated train to the jobsite instead, you entered and exited a passenger car through powered doors.
Electrical Cables and Hydraulic Hoses
Automobiles, mass transit, mobile specialty vehicles, and even military transports all use electrical and hydraulic systems. Jacketed cables consisting of bonded, twisted, or braided wires carry electric current to doors, windows, and instrument panels. Sturdy but flexible hydraulic hoses carry high-pressure fluid to brakes and transmission systems. Though often unseen, cables and hoses are mission-critical.
Securing a vehicle’s electrical cables and hydraulic hoses is important, too, both for vehicle performance and passenger safety. Cable cleats, durable rubber components that retain and secure these conduits, must be properly designed and made from the right compound. Often, these rubber parts are installed on a vehicle’s undercarriage, where conditions are especially demanding.
Cable Cleat Location and Material Selection
For example, cable cleats used on snowplows must be able to resist cold temperatures, bad weather, road salt, and aggressive chemicals that help keep roadways safe during winter driving conditions. On buses and trains that run year-round, cable cleats may need to withstand sunlight, extreme weather, and temperatures that can range from +40° C to -40° C.
Typically, rubber cable cleats are made of silicone or EPDM. A synthetic resin, silicone is a polymer that repels water and is suitable for use over a wide temperature range. EPDM rubber is also synthetic, and is a reliable elastomer that provides good resistance to ozone and UV rays.
Form and Function
Cable cleat location and compound selection are important, but they’re not the only considerations when designing and fabricating these rubber parts. Do you need to secure one or more hydraulic hoses, electrical cables, or both? What are the sizes of the conduits you need to support? Cable cleats can be molded into various shapes and sizes, and even e color-matched to your vehicle.
As a custom-fabricator of high-quality, low-volume rubber components, Elasto Proxy provides cable cleats for both mass transit and mobile specialty vehicles. Some partners need round, diaphragm-style, or multi-component cable cleats that clamp together after the conduits are installed. Others need parts that look like door hinges or are as small as 1” in diameter to as tall as 16” high. How can we help you?
