Path restricting member

Abstract

The path restricting member restricts a path in which the electric wire is routed. The path restricting member includes: a plate-shaped first plate member including first peak portions and first valley portions extending in an axial direction of the electric wire and alternately connected to an outer surface in a direction crossing the axial direction; the second plate member includes second peaks and second valleys extending in the axial direction and alternately connected to the outer surface in the intersecting direction. The second plate member includes a fitting extension portion extending toward the first plate member in the axial direction and fitted to an outer surface of the first plate member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a path limiting member. Background Art

[0002] In the related art, a path limiting member has been proposed to limit the bending of an electric wire. Patent Document 1 describes a path limiting member that covers more than half of the outer circumference of an outer member such as a corrugated tube in the circumferential direction of the outer member, extends along the length direction of the outer member, and limits the path of the electric wire laying.

[0003] Citation List

[0004] Patent Document

[0005] Patent Document 1: JP2022 - 69307A Summary of the Invention

[0006] However, since the path limiting member cannot cover the entire area of the electric wire in the circumferential direction, the path limiting member cannot be directly attached to the electric wire. As described above, by using an outer member such as a corrugated tube, the path limiting member is attached to the electric wire. Therefore, the path limiting member tends to have an increased number of components. In addition, there is a risk that the manufacturing process becomes more complicated and the manufacturing cost increases. The path limiting member can only be attached to an electric wire with a preset diameter, and the path limiting member must be manufactured according to the diameter of the electric wire, which may increase the manufacturing cost.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure is made. The object of the present disclosure is to provide a path limiting member that can prevent an increase in the number of components and limit the path of the electric wire laying with a simple structure.

[0008] To achieve the above object, the path limiting member according to the present disclosure has the following features.

[0009] The path limiting member limits the path of the electric wire laying. The path limiting member includes a plate - shaped first plate member that includes a first peak portion and a first valley portion, the first peak portion and the first valley portion extend in the axial direction of the electric wire and are alternately connected on the outer surface in a cross - direction intersecting the axial direction, the first plate member is wound to cover a part of the outer circumference of a predetermined portion of the electric wire; and a plate - shaped second plate member that includes a second peak portion and a second valley portion, the second peak portion and the second valley portion extend in the axial direction and are alternately connected on the outer surface in the cross - direction, the second plate member is wound to cover another part of the outer circumference of the predetermined portion of the electric wire, and the second plate member is assembled to the first plate member. The second plate member includes an assembly extension portion that extends toward the first plate member in the axial direction and is assembled to the outer surface of the first plate member.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, a first peak portion and a first valley portion extending in the axial direction are alternately connected on the outer surface of the first plate member in the crossing direction, and a second peak portion and a second valley portion extending in the axial direction are alternately connected on the outer surface of the second plate member in the crossing direction. Accordingly, the wire laying path can be restricted, including restricting the bending of the wire and the like. Since the outer surfaces of the first plate member and the second plate member are configured as described above, for example, when the wire is laid under the floor of a vehicle (such as an autonomous vehicle), by adjusting the interval between adjacent peak portions, it is possible to cope with debris such as flying stones. Since the first plate member and the second plate member are configured to simply wind around the wire, the number of components can be reduced compared to the related art in which an external member and a path restricting member are provided. As described above, according to the present disclosure, the wire laying path can be restricted by a simple structure.

[0011] The present disclosure has been briefly described above. The details of the present disclosure can be clarified by reading the mode for carrying out the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as "embodiment") described below with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness including a path restricting member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (however, for ease of description, the path restricting member is in a state of being wound around the wire).

[0013] Figure 2 is along Figure 1 in the cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in.

[0014] Figure 3 is Figure 1 as shown in the plan view of the path restricting member (however, Figure 3 shows the state before the path restricting member is attached to the wire, that is, the unfolded state).

[0015] Figure 4 is Figure 3 of the exploded perspective view.

[0016] Figure 5 is a schematic view showing an example of packaging during the transportation of the path restricting member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The path restricting member 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Hereinafter, for ease of description, the definitions of "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" are as shown in Figure 1 and the like. The "front-rear direction", the "left-right direction", and the "upper-lower direction" are orthogonal to each other. In the present disclosure, the front-rear direction corresponds to the "axial direction". In Figure 3 andFigure 4 Among them, the left - right direction corresponds to the "cross - direction" in the present disclosure, and the up - down direction corresponds to the "thickness direction" in the present disclosure.

[0019] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the path - restricting member 1 is wound (attached) to cover the outer periphery of the wire W, thereby forming a wire harness WH together with the wire W. For example, the wire harness WH is connected to a plurality of vehicle devices (not shown) mounted on a vehicle (e.g., an electric vehicle) and is laid under the vehicle floor. In this type of wire harness WH, the path - restricting member 1 restricts the path of the wire W, including restricting the bending of the wire W, etc.

[0020] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the path - restricting member 1 includes a plate - shaped first plate member 10 and a plate - shaped second plate member 20 assembled to the first plate member 10. Hereinafter, the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 constituting the path - restricting member 1 will be described in sequence.

[0021] First, the first plate member 10 will be described. The first plate member 10 is wound to cover a part of the outer periphery of a predetermined portion of the wire W. In this example, the first plate member 10 is a main protection plate that protects most of the predetermined portion.

[0022] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the first plate member 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, is longer in the front - rear direction in a top view, and first peak portions 11 and first valley portions 12 extending in the front - rear direction are alternately connected on the outer surface ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 the upper surface in) of the first plate member 10 in the left - right direction. At the same time, the inner surface ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 the lower surface in) of the first plate member 10 that contacts the wire W is a flat surface.

[0023] As Figure 4 shown, a first hook portion 13 protruding downward is provided at the left end of the first plate member 10. In the state where the attachment of the first plate member 10 to the wire W is completed (i.e., the first plate member 10 is wound around the wire W), the first hook portion 13 is engaged by hooking onto one of the first peak portions 11.

[0024] As Figure 4 shown, a plurality of (a pair in this example) first through - holes 14 penetrating in the up - down direction are provided in a substantially central portion of the first plate member 10 in the front - rear direction and the left - right direction. When the first plate member 10 is attached to the wire W, a bundling member (not shown, such as a band) for bundling the wire W to the first plate member 10 is inserted into the first through - holes 14.

[0025] Next, the second plate member 20 will be described. The second plate member 20 is wound to cover the outer periphery of another part of the predetermined portion of the electric wire W. In this example, the second plate member 20 is a sub (additional) protection plate that protects a small part of the predetermined portion.

[0026] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the second plate member 20 has a main body portion 20a, which is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, is longer in the front - rear direction in a top view, and second peak portions 21 and second valley portions 22 extending in the front - rear direction are alternately connected in the left - right direction on the outer surface ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 the upper surface in). At the same time, the inner surface of the second plate member 20 in contact with the electric wire W ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 the lower surface in) is a flat surface.

[0027] In this example, since the second plate member 20 is a sub (additional) protection plate, the length of the main body portion 20a in the front - rear direction is formed to be shorter than the length of the first plate member 10 in the front - rear direction.

[0028] As Figure 4 shown, a second hook portion 23 protruding downward is provided at the left end of the main body portion 20a of the second plate member 20. In a state where the attachment of the second plate member 20 to the electric wire W is completed (i.e., the second plate member 20 is wound around the electric wire W), the second hook portion 23 is engaged by hooking onto one of the second peak portions 21.

[0029] As Figure 4 shown, a plurality of (a pair in this example) second through - holes 24 penetrating in the up - down direction are provided in a substantially central portion of the main body portion 20a of the second plate - like member 20 in the front - rear direction and the left - right direction. When the second plate member 20 is attached to the electric wire W, a bundling member (not shown, such as a band) for bundling the electric wire W to the second plate member 20 is inserted into the second through - holes 24.

[0030] As Figure 1 , 3 and 4 shown, a fitting extension portion 25 extending forward (toward the first plate member 10) and fitted to the outer surface of the first plate member 10 is provided in a substantially central region in the left - right direction of the main body portion 20a of the second plate member 20. Particularly as Figure 2 shown, in the fitting extension portion 25, third peak portions 26 and third valley portions 27 extending in the front - rear direction are alternately connected corresponding to the first peak portions 11 and the first valley portions 12 in the left - right direction, and are formed in a concavo - convex shape when viewed in the front - rear direction.

[0031] When viewed from the inner surface side, the third peak portion 26 is a valley, and when viewed from the inner surface side, the third valley portion 27 is a peak (see Figure 2 ). Therefore, when the fitting extension portion 25 is fitted to the outer surface of the first plate member 10, the third peak portion 26 is fitted to the first peak portion 11, and the third valley portion 27 is fitted to the first valley portion 12. As described above, the second plate member 20 is fitted to the first plate member 10 by fitting the third peak portion 26 and the third valley portion 27 of the fitting extension portion 25 to the first peak portion 11 and the first valley portion 12, respectively.

[0032] The first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 constituting the path restricting member 1 have been described above. Next, an example of a method for attaching (wrapping) the path restricting member 1 to the electric wire W will be described.

[0033] First, the first plate member 10 is set at a corresponding position of the electric wire W, and the electric wire W is bundled to the first plate member 10 by inserting a bundling member into the first through hole 14. Thereafter, the first plate member 10 is wound to cover the outer periphery of the electric wire W, and the first hook portion 13 is engaged by being locked to one of the first peak portions 11. Therefore, the first plate member 10 is attached to the electric wire W.

[0034] Next, the second plate member 20 is set at a corresponding position of the electric wire W, and in a state where the fitting extension portion 25 is fitted to the outer surface of the first plate member 10, the electric wire W is bundled to the second plate member 20 by inserting a bundling member into the second through hole 24. Thereafter, the second plate member 20 is wound to cover the outer periphery of the electric wire W, and the second hook portion 23 is engaged by being locked to one of the second peak portions 21. Therefore, the second plate member 20 is attached to the electric wire W.

[0035] Therefore, the path restricting member 1 is attached to the electric wire W, completing the Figure 1 shown wire harness WH. An example of a method for attaching (wrapping) the path restricting member 1 to the electric wire W has been described.

[0036] As another example of a method for attaching the path restricting member 1 to the electric wire W, for example, first, the first plate member 10 can be fitted to the second plate member 20, and then the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 can be wound together around the electric wire W. In the method of attaching the path restricting member 1 to the electric wire W, the order of the steps of bundling the electric wire W to the plate members (referring to the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20) and the step of winding the plate members around the electric wire W is not important. The order of these steps is appropriately determined.

[0037] As described above, the wire W to which the path restricting member 1 is attached is transported to, for example, an automated vehicle manufacturing plant or the like for installation on a vehicle. At this time, the wire W having the path restricting member 1 is packaged in a packaging material such as cardboard. Generally, when a wire has a path restricting member, the bending of the wire is restricted, so it is necessary to prepare a large packaging material in an automated vehicle manufacturing plant or the like or attach the path restricting member to the wire. However, with the path restricting member 1 according to the present embodiment, as Figure 5 shown, the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 can be easily detached as expected, so the wire W can be packaged in a bent state, which makes it easier to package the wire W together with the path restricting member 1.

[0038] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first peak portions 11 and the first valley portions 12 extending in the front-rear direction are alternately connected to the outer surface of the first plate member 10, and the second peak portions 21 and the second valley portions 22 extending in the front-rear direction are alternately connected to the outer surface of the second plate member 20. Therefore, the path along which the wire W is laid can be restricted, including restricting the bending of the wire W and the like. Since the outer surfaces of the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 are configured as described above, it is possible to cope with debris from flying stones or the like by adjusting the interval between adjacent peak portions. Since the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 are configured to simply wind around the wire W, the number of components can be reduced compared with the related art provided with an external member and a path restricting member. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the path along which the wire W is laid can be restricted by a simple structure.

[0039] In addition, as described above, since the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 can be simply wound around the wire W, the operability of attaching the path restricting member 1 to the wire W is excellent, and it is also possible to cope with wires W having different diameters.

[0040] In addition, according to the present embodiment, the second plate member 20 is assembled to the first plate member 10 by respectively assembling the third peak portion 26 and the third valley portion 27 of the fitting extension portion 25 to the first peak portion 11 and the first valley portion 12 of the first plate member 10. As described above, according to the above configuration, the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 can be assembled to each other by a simple structure. In addition, as described above, it is possible to easily package the wire W together with the path restricting member 1.

[0041] According to the present embodiment, the first plate member 10 is provided with a first hook portion 13, and the second plate member 20 is provided with a second hook portion 23. Therefore, it is easier to attach the path restricting member 1 to the wire W.

[0042] According to this embodiment, the first through-hole 14 is provided in the first plate member 10, and the second through-hole 24 is provided in the second plate member 20. Therefore, the electric wire W can be fixed to the plate member, and thus friction and wear of the electric wire W caused by vibration can be prevented.

[0043] The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and appropriate modifications, improvements, etc. can be made. The materials, shapes, dimensions, quantities, arrangement positions, etc. of the components in the above embodiments are freely selectable and not limited as long as the present disclosure can be implemented.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the path limiting member 1 includes the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20. However, for example, only one of the first plate member 10 and the second plate member 20 can be used as the path limiting member 1.

[0045] The following [1] to [4] briefly summarize and list the features of the path limiting member according to the above embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0046] [1] The path limiting member (1) limits the path of the electric wire (W) laying, and the path limiting member (1) includes:

[0047] A plate-shaped first plate member (10) including a first peak portion (11) and a first valley portion (12), the first peak portion (11) and the first valley portion (12) extending in the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the electric wire (W) and being alternately connected on the outer surface in a direction intersecting the axial direction ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 the left-right direction in), the first plate member (10) being configured to be wound to cover a part of the outer periphery of a predetermined portion of the electric wire (W); and

[0048] A plate-shaped second plate member (20) including a second peak portion (21) and a second valley portion (22) extending in the axial direction and alternately connected on the outer surface in the intersecting direction, the second plate member (20) being configured to be wound to cover another part of the outer periphery of a predetermined portion of the electric wire (W) and being configured to be assembled to the first plate member (10), wherein

[0049] The second plate member (20) includes an assembly extension portion (25) extending in the axial direction toward the first plate member (10) and assembled to the outer surface of the first plate member (10).

[0050] According to the configuration of [1] above, the first peak portions and the first valley portions extending in the axial direction are alternately connected in the crossing direction on the outer surface of the first plate member, and the second peak portions and the second valley portions extending in the axial direction are alternately connected in the crossing direction on the outer surface of the second plate member. Accordingly, the wire laying path can be restricted, including restricting the bending of the wire and the like. Since the outer surfaces of the first plate member and the second plate member are configured as described above, for example, when the wire is laid under the floor of a vehicle (such as an autonomous vehicle), by adjusting the interval between adjacent peak portions, it is possible to cope with debris such as flying stones. Since the first plate member and the second plate member are configured to simply wind around the wire, the number of components can be reduced as compared with the related art in which an external member and a path restricting member are provided. As described above, according to the above configuration, the path of the wire laying can be restricted by a simple structure.

[0051] [2] According to the path restricting member (1) described in [1] above, wherein

[0052] The fitting extension portion (25) includes a third peak portion (26) and a third valley portion (27) that extend in the axial direction and are alternately connected in the crossing direction, and the third peak portion (26) and the third valley portion (27) are respectively fitted to at least one first peak portion (11) and at least one first valley portion (12).

[0053] According to the configuration of [2] above, the second plate member is fitted to the first plate member by fitting the third peak portion and the third valley portion of the fitting extension portion to the first peak portion and the first valley portion of the first plate member, respectively. As described above, according to the above configuration, the first plate member and the second plate member can be fitted to each other by a simple structure.

[0054] [3] According to the path restricting member (1) described in [1] or [2] above, wherein

[0055] One end of the first plate member (10) in the crossing direction is provided with a first hook portion (13), and in a state where the first plate member (10) is wound around the wire (W), the first hook portion (13) engages with at least one first peak portion (11), and

[0056] One end of the second plate member (20) in the crossing direction is provided with a second hook portion (23), and in a state where the second plate member (20) is wound around the wire (W), the second hook portion (23) engages with at least one second peak portion (21).

[0057] According to the configuration of [3] above, the first plate member is provided with the first hook portion and the second plate member is provided with the second hook portion. Accordingly, it is easier to attach the path restricting member to the wire.

[0058] [4] According to the path restricting member (1) described in any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein

[0059] The first plate member (10) is provided with a first through-hole (14) that penetrates in the thickness direction ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 the up-and-down direction in the

[0060] axial direction and the intersecting direction), and a bundling member for bundling the first plate member (10) and the electric wire (W) can be inserted through the first through-hole. And

[0061] the second plate member (20) is provided with a second through-hole (24) that penetrates in the thickness direction, and a bundling member for bundling the second plate member (20) and the electric wire (W) can be inserted through the second through-hole.

[0061] According to the configuration of [4] above, the first through-hole is provided in the first plate member, and the second through-hole is provided in the second plate member. Therefore, the electric wire can be fixed to the plate member, and thus friction and wear of the electric wire due to vibration can be prevented.

Claims

1. A path restriction member that restricts the path of electrical wire laying, the path restriction member comprising: A plate-shaped first plate member including a first peak portion and a first valley portion, the first peak portion and the first valley portion extending in the axial direction of the electrical wire and alternately connected on the outer surface in a crossing direction intersecting the axial direction, the first plate member being wound to cover a part of the outer periphery of a predetermined portion of the electrical wire; And A plate-shaped second plate member including a second peak portion and a second valley portion, the second peak portion and the second valley portion extending in the axial direction and alternately connected on the outer surface in the crossing direction, the second plate member being wound to cover another part of the outer periphery of the predetermined portion of the electrical wire and being assembled to the first plate member, wherein The second plate member includes an assembly extension portion that extends toward the first plate member in the axial direction and is assembled to the outer surface of the first plate member.

2. The path restriction member according to claim 1, wherein The assembly extension portion includes a third peak portion and a third valley portion, the third peak portion and the third valley portion extending in the axial direction and alternately connected in the crossing direction, and The third peak portion and the third valley portion are respectively assembled to at least one of the first peak portion and at least one of the first valley portion.

3. The path restriction member according to claim 1, wherein One end of the first plate member in the crossing direction is provided with a first hook portion, and in a state where the first plate member is wound around the electrical wire, the first hook portion engages with at least one of the first peak portions, and One end of the second plate member in the crossing direction is provided with a second hook portion, and in a state where the second plate member is wound around the electrical wire, the second hook portion engages with at least one of the second peak portions.

4. The path restriction member according to claim 1, wherein The first plate member is provided with a first through hole that penetrates in a thickness direction intersecting the axial direction and the crossing direction, and a bundling member for bundling the first plate member and the electrical wire can be inserted through the first through hole, and The second plate member is provided with a second through hole that penetrates in the thickness direction, and a bundling member for bundling the second plate member and the electrical wire can be inserted through the second through hole.

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