Corrugated tube holding structure and electric wire protection member

Abstract

Provided is a bellows holding structure that suppresses a reduction in the holding force of a bellows. The present invention is provided with a pair of holding members (20, 30) for holding the tip of a bellows (10) in an assembled state, the pair of holding members respectively having holding sections (22, 32) for holding the tip of the bellows by sandwiching the tip from the outer peripheral surface side, and the pair of holding sections having holding ribs (24, 34). The retaining ribs (24, 34) are projections projecting from respective inner wall surfaces to each of a plurality of recesses (11) on the outer peripheral surface side of the bellows, and are provided with semicircular arc portions (24a, 34a) concentrically inserted into the recesses on the outer peripheral surface side, and the inner wall surface of one of the retaining portions is provided with a tube expansion projection (25). The pipe expanding protrusion (25) is inserted into the slit (13) of the corrugated pipe in the assembled state, and expands one end portion and the other end portion of the tail end of the corrugated pipe in the circumferential direction observed from the slit, so that the tail end of the corrugated pipe is expanded.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a bellows holding structure and a wire protection member. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, a wire protection member has a case that houses and externally leads a plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of a circular tube-shaped bellows, and a cover. A holding rib for holding the end of the bellows is provided at the case and the cover. Each holding rib has a semi-circular arc portion that forms a circular arc portion when the case and the cover are in an assembled completed state, and holds the end of the bellows by inserting the semi-circular arc portion into a recess of a corrugated portion of the bellows (Patent Literature 1 described below).

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-164390 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, in the past bellows holding structure, in the case where a slitted bellows is used, when the bellows is stretched in the tube axis direction and the side wall surface of the recess is hooked to the holding rib, the bellows is narrowed toward the inside in the radial direction, and thus the hooking allowance of the holding rib in the recess is reduced. Therefore, the existing bellows holding structure can reduce the holding force of the bellows, and there is room for improvement in this regard.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present application is to provide a bellows holding structure and a wire protection member that can suppress a reduction in the holding force of a bellows.

[0009] TECHNICAL MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0010] The bellows holding structure according to the present application is characterized by including a pair of holding members that hold the end of a bellows in an assembled state, the bellows being formed in a bellows shape having concave portions and convex portions in a circular ring shape alternately arranged in a tube axis direction and a slit cut in the tube axis direction, the pair of holding members each having a holding portion that sandwiches and holds the end of the bellows from an outer peripheral surface side, the pair of holding portions each having a holding rib that is a protrusion protruding from an inner wall surface toward each of the concave portions on the outer peripheral surface side, and the holding rib being provided with a semicircular arc portion that is concentrically inserted into the concave portion on the outer peripheral surface side, and the inner wall surface of one of the holding portions being provided with a tube expansion protrusion that is inserted into the slit in the assembled state to expand one end and the other end of the end of the bellows in a circumferential direction as viewed from the slit, thereby expanding the end of the bellows.

[0011] Further, the electric wire protection member according to the present application includes a bellows having concave portions and convex portions in a circular ring shape alternately arranged in a tube axis direction and a slit cut in the tube axis direction, and having a bellows shape in which a plurality of electric wires are inserted, a housing that houses the plurality of electric wires drawn out from an end of the bellows and causes the plurality of electric wires to be drawn out to the outside, and a cover that holds the end of the bellows between the housing in an assembled state and covers the plurality of electric wires drawn out from the end of the bellows between the housing in the assembled state, the housing and the cover each having a holding portion that sandwiches and holds the end of the bellows from an outer peripheral surface side, the pair of holding portions each having a holding rib that is a protrusion protruding from an inner wall surface toward each of the concave portions on the outer peripheral surface side, the holding rib being provided with a semicircular arc portion that is concentrically inserted into the concave portion on the outer peripheral surface side, and the inner wall surface of one of the holding portions being provided with a tube expansion protrusion that is inserted into the slit in the assembled state to expand one end and the other end of the end of the bellows in a circumferential direction as viewed from the slit, thereby expanding the end of the bellows.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] In the bellows holding structure and the electric wire protection member according to the present application, the tube expansion protrusion expands the end of the bellows and increases the hooking allowance of the pair of semicircular arc portions in the concave portion on the outer peripheral surface side. Thus, in the pair of holding portions, even if the bellows is stretched in the tube axis direction to be narrowed toward the inside in the radial direction, the narrowing amount can be reduced relative to the past, and thus the hooking allowance of the semicircular arc portion can be ensured in the concave portion. Therefore, the bellows holding structure and the electric wire protection member according to the present application can suppress a decrease in the holding force of the bellows. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view showing the bellows retaining structure and wire protection component of an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a perspective view illustrating the bellows retaining structure and wire protection component of an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 XX-line sectional view.

[0017] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of the cross section of the YY line.

[0018] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of the ZZ line cross section.

[0019] Figure 6 This is a top view showing the main inner part of the casing.

[0020] Figure 7 This is a top view showing the main part of the inside of the cover.

[0021] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0022] 1. Wire protection components

[0023] 10 Corrugated Pipe

[0024] 11 recess

[0025] 12 convex part

[0026] 13 Slits

[0027] 20 Housing (Retaining Components)

[0028] 22. Maintenance section

[0029] 24. Keep the ribs intact.

[0030] 24a Semicircular part

[0031] 25 Expander Protrusion

[0032] 30. Cover (retaining component)

[0033] 32. Maintenance section

[0034] 34. Keep the ribs intact.

[0035] 34a Semicircular part

[0036] 100 Bellows retaining structure Detailed Implementation

[0037] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a bellows holding structure and a wire protection member according to the present application will be described in detail based on the drawings. In addition, the present application is not limited to this embodiment.

[0038] [Embodiment]

[0039] Based on Figures 1 to 7 One of the embodiments of the bellows holding structure and the wire protection member of the present application will be described.

[0040] Figures 1 to 5 Reference sign 1 denotes a wire protection member of the present embodiment. The wire protection member 1 is provided with a circular tube-shaped bellows 10 and a case 20 and a lid 30 holding the end of the bellows 10 in an assembled state as a pair of holding members. Figures 1 to 5 The bellows holding structure 100 of the present embodiment is constituted by the case 20 and the lid 30 as the pair of holding members.

[0041] The bellows 10 is shaped in a bellows shape having circular ring-shaped concave portions 11 and convex portions 12 alternately arranged in the tube axis direction and slits 13 cut in the tube axis direction. Figures 1 to 5 A plurality of electric wires (omitted from illustration) are inserted through the bellows 10.

[0042] The case 20 and the lid 30 as the pair of holding members are shaped from an insulating material such as synthetic resin and assembled with each other.

[0043] The case 20 houses the plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10 and causes the plurality of electric wires to be drawn outward. The lid 30 holds the end of the bellows 10 between the case 20 in the assembled state and covers the plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10 between the case 20 in the assembled state.

[0044] The case 20 has a case main body 21 housing the plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10. Figures 1 to 5 The lid 30 has a lid main body 31 covering the plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10 between the case 20 in the assembled state. The case main body 21 and the lid main body 31 form an internal space for routing the plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10 in the assembled state. Figures 1 to 4 The case 20 and the lid 30 respectively have holding portions 22, 32 sandwiching and holding the end of the bellows 10 from the outer peripheral surface side.

[0045] Figures 1 to 4

[0046] ​​The case 20 and the lid 30 are held in the assembled state by a locking mechanism at a plurality of sites. The locking mechanism holds the assembled state by causing the first engaging portion 23 provided to the case 20 and the second engaging portion 33 provided to the lid 30 to engage with each other in the assembled state Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 For example, in the locking mechanism, the first engaging portion 23 is formed as a claw-shaped protruding portion, and the second engaging portion 33 is formed as a groove shape having a hook that hooks the protruding portion. The locking mechanism is provided at one site between the case main body 21 and the lid main body 31, and at two sites between the pair of holding portions 22, 32.

[0047] The pair of holding portions 22, 32 are in a cylindrical shape in the assembled state, and hold the end of the bellows 10 on the inner side thereof. The pair of holding portions 22, 32 have holding ribs 24, 34 that are protrusions protruding from the inner wall surface of each of the pair of holding portions 22, 32 toward each of the plurality of recesses 11 of the outer peripheral surface side of the bellows 10, and that enter the recess 11 to hold the end of the bellows 10 Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 7 The pair of holding ribs 24, 34 are provided with semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a that concentrically insert into the plurality of recesses 11 of the outer peripheral surface side of the bellows 10 Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 The pair of semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a form a circular ring portion when the pair of holding portions 22, 32 are in the assembled state, and are concentrically arranged in the recess 11. Therefore, the pair of semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a can be latched to the side wall surface of the recess 11 in the tube axis direction of the bellows 10. Therefore, the end of the bellows 10 is held in the pair of holding portions 22, 32 by the plurality of pairs of holding ribs 24, 34.

[0048] However, as also shown in the foregoing, in this state, if the bellows 10 is stretched in the tube axis direction, the side wall surface of the recess 11 hooks the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a of the pair of holding ribs 24, 34, narrows the bellows 10 toward the inner side in the radial direction, and reduces the hooking margin of the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a in the recess 11.

[0049] Therefore, a tube-expanding protrusion 25 is provided to the inner wall surface of one holding portion 22 (32), and in the assembled state, the tube-expanding protrusion 25 inserts into the slit 13, and expands one end and the other end of the end of the bellows 10 in the circumferential direction as viewed from the slit 13, and expands the end of the bellows 10 Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 6 Here, the tube-expanding protrusion 25 is provided to the holding portion 22 of the case 20.

[0050] The expansion protrusion 25 expands the end of the bellows 10, and increases the hooking allowance of the pair of semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a in the recessed portion 11 on the outer peripheral surface side. Therefore, in the pair of holding portions 22, 32, even if the bellows 10 is stretched in the tube axis direction and is narrowed toward the inside in the radial direction, the narrowing amount can be reduced relative to the past, and thus the hooking allowance of the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a in the recessed portion 11 can be ensured. Therefore, the electric wire protection member 1 and the bellows holding structure 100 of the present embodiment can suppress a decrease in the holding force of the bellows 10.

[0051] Here, in order to efficiently increase the hooking allowance of the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a in the recessed portion 11 as the bellows 10 is expanded, the expansion protrusion 25 is preferably inserted into the slit 13 on the convex portion 12 side of the outer peripheral surface of the bellows 10.

[0052] In the electric wire protection member 1, a plurality of electric wires are drawn out to the inside space of the case main body 21 and the cover main body 31 from the bellows 10 whose end is thus held. The case 20 has an electric wire draw-out portion 26 that draws out the plurality of electric wires in the inside space thereof to the outside Figures 1 to 3 The electric wire draw-out portion 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape such that the cylinder axis thereof is orthogonal to the cylinder axes of the pair of holding portions 22, 32.

[0053] For example, the plurality of electric wires shown here connect between a torque sensor of a power assisted steering and an electronic control device. The electric wire protection member 1 is assembled to a frame of the torque sensor, and is provided in order to ensure waterproofing with the frame. The electric wire protection member 1 causes the electric wire draw-out portion 26 to be fitted into a circular through-hole of the frame.

[0054] Therefore, a cylindrical sealing gasket 41 having a lip portion provided on the outer peripheral surface is accommodated inside the electric wire draw-out portion 26 Figure 3 In the sealing gasket 41, a cylindrical through-hole (hereinafter referred to as "electric wire insertion hole") 41a having a lip portion provided on the inner peripheral surface is formed for each electric wire Figure 3 The electric wires drawn out from the end of the bellows 10 pass through the inside space of the case main body 21 and the cover main body 31, and are drawn out to the outside through the electric wire insertion hole 41a. Therefore, the sealing gasket 41 is provided in order to ensure waterproofing inside the electric wire draw-out portion 26.

[0055] In the electric wire protection member 1, a sealing gasket cover 50 assembled to the electric wire draw-out portion 26 prevents the sealing gasket 41 from falling off from the electric wire draw-out portion 26 Figures 1 to 3 In the sealing gasket cover 50, an electric wire insertion hole 51 is formed coaxially with the electric wire insertion hole 41a Figure 3 The electric wires that pass through the electric wire insertion hole 41a of the sealing gasket 41 are drawn out to the outside through the electric wire insertion hole 51.

[0056] Further, a seal member 42 in a circular ring shape is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the wire lead-out portion 26. Figures 1 to 3 The seal member 42 fills the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the wire lead-out portion 26 and the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole in the frame of the torque sensor, and ensures the waterproof function of the outside of the wire lead-out portion 26.

Claims

1. A bellows retaining structure, characterized in that, It has a pair of retaining components that hold the ends of the bellows in the assembled state. The bellows is formed into a bellows shape having annular concave and convex portions arranged alternately in the tube axis direction and slits cut into the tube axis direction. Each of the pair of retaining members has a retaining portion that clamps and holds the end of the bellows from the outer peripheral surface side. Each pair of retaining portions has a retaining rib, which is a protrusion projecting from each of the plurality of recesses on the outer peripheral surface side from their respective inner wall side, and the retaining rib is provided with a semi-circular arc portion that is concentrically inserted into the recess on the outer peripheral surface side. An expansion protrusion is provided on the inner wall surface of one of the retaining parts. The expansion protrusion is inserted into the slit in the assembled state to expand one end and the other end of the bellows in the circumferential direction as viewed from the slit, thereby expanding the end of the bellows.

2. The bellows retaining structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The expansion protrusion increases the hook allowance of a pair of semi-circular portions in the recess on the outer peripheral side of the bellows.

3. The bellows retaining structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The expansion tube protrusion is inserted into the slit on the outer peripheral surface side of the protrusion.

4. A wire protection component, characterized in that, have: A corrugated tube having annular recesses and protrusions arranged alternately in the tube axis direction and slits cut into the tube axis direction, and the corrugated tube having a corrugated tube shape for multiple wires to pass through. A housing that houses a plurality of wires extending from the end of the bellows and allows the plurality of wires to extend outward; as well as A cover that holds the end of the bellows between itself and the housing in the assembled state, and the cover that covers the plurality of wires extending from the end of the bellows between itself and the housing in the assembled state. The housing and the cover each have a retaining portion that clamps and holds the end of the bellows from its outer peripheral surface. Each pair of retaining portions has a retaining rib, which is a protrusion projecting from each of the plurality of recesses on the outer peripheral surface side from their respective inner wall sides. The retaining rib is provided with a semi-circular arc portion that inserts concentrically into the recess on the outer peripheral surface side. An expansion protrusion is provided on the inner wall surface of one of the retaining parts. The expansion protrusion is inserted into the slit in the assembled state to expand one end and the other end of the bellows in the circumferential direction as viewed from the slit, thereby expanding the end of the bellows.

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