Corrugated tube holding structure and electric wire protection member

Abstract

A reduction in the holding force of a bellows is suppressed. Each of the pair of holding members (20, 30) has a holding section (22, 32) that holds the tip of the corrugated tube (10) by sandwiching the tip from the outer peripheral surface side, and the pair of holding sections has holding ribs (24, 34) that protrude from the respective inner wall surfaces toward each of a plurality of valley sections (11A) on the outer peripheral surface side of the corrugated tube. The retaining ribs are provided with semi-arc parts (24a) and (34a) which are concentrically inserted into the valley parts on the outer peripheral surface side, one retaining part is provided with a pair of deformation suppression pieces (25) which protrude from the inner wall surface of the retaining part and suppress deformation of the tail end of the corrugated pipe towards the inner side in the radial direction, the deformation suppression pieces are provided with clamping parts (25a), and the clamping parts (25a) are inserted into the valley parts (11B) on the inner peripheral surface side of the tail end of the corrugated pipe. The locking portions are disposed so as to face each other in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis direction of the corrugated tube, and each of the locking portions locks the movement of the distal end of the corrugated tube to the inside in the radial direction.

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 housing and a cover that house and externally lead a plurality of electric wires led out from the end of a circular tube-shaped bellows. A holding rib for holding the end of the bellows is provided in the housing and the cover. Each holding rib has a semi-circular arc portion that forms a circular arc portion when the housing 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 valley portion 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, the existing bellows holding structure in the case of using a bellows with a slit, when the bellows is stretched in the tube axis direction and the side wall surface of the valley portion is caught on the holding rib, narrows the bellows to the inside in the radial direction, thereby reducing the hooking allowance of the holding rib in the valley portion. 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 corrugated pipe holding structure according to the present application is characterized by comprising a pair of holding members that hold the end of a corrugated pipe in an assembled state, the corrugated pipe being formed in a corrugated pipe shape having valley portions and peak portions in a circular ring shape alternately arranged in a pipe axis direction and slits cut in the pipe axis direction, the pair of holding members each having a holding portion that sandwiches and holds the end of the corrugated pipe from an outer peripheral surface side of the corrugated pipe, the pair of holding portions having holding ribs that are protrusions protruding from an inner wall surface of each of the holding portions toward each of the valley portions on the outer peripheral surface side, the holding ribs being provided with semicircular arc portions that are concentrically inserted into the valley portions on the outer peripheral surface side, one of the holding portions being provided with a pair of deformation suppression members that protrude from the inner wall surface of the holding portion and suppress deformation of the end of the corrugated pipe toward an inner side in a radial direction, the deformation suppression members having locking portions that are inserted into valley portions on an inner peripheral surface side of the end of the corrugated pipe, the movement of the end of the corrugated pipe toward the inner side in the radial direction being locked in the valley portions on the inner peripheral surface side of the corrugated pipe, each of the locking portions of the pair of deformation suppression members being arranged in opposition in a direction orthogonal to the pipe axis direction.

[0011] Further, the electric wire protection member according to the present application is characterized by including: a bellows having a corrugated tube shape, the bellows having valley portions and peak portions each having a circular ring shape and being alternately arranged in a tube axis direction, and slits being cut in the tube axis direction, the bellows being for a plurality of electric wires to be inserted therethrough; a housing that houses the plurality of electric wires drawn out from a distal end of the bellows and causes the plurality of electric wires to be drawn out to an outer side; and a cover that holds the distal end of the bellows between the housing in an assembled state and covers the plurality of electric wires drawn out from the distal 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 distal end of the bellows from an outer peripheral surface side of the bellows, a pair of the holding portions having holding ribs each being a protrusion that protrudes from an inner wall surface of each of the pair of the holding portions to each of a plurality of the valley portions on the outer peripheral surface side, the holding ribs being provided with semicircular arc portions that are concentrically inserted into the valley portions on the outer peripheral surface side, one of the holding portions being provided with a pair of deformation suppression members that protrude from the inner wall surface of the holding portion and suppress deformation of the distal end of the bellows to an inner side in a radial direction, the deformation suppression members each having a locking portion that is inserted into the valley portion on an inner peripheral surface side in the distal end of the bellows, the distal end of the bellows being locked from movement to the inner side in the radial direction in the valley portion on the inner peripheral surface side of the bellows, each of the locking portions of the pair of the deformation suppression members being arranged in opposition in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis direction.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] In the bellows holding structure and the electric wire protection member according to the present application, even when the bellows is stretched in the tube axis direction and narrowed to the inner side in the radial direction, the pair of the deformation suppression members can reduce the narrowing amount of the bellows because each of the locking portions locks the valley bottom of the valley portion on the inner peripheral surface side, as compared with the related art. Therefore, in the pair of the holding portions, the hooking allowance of the semicircular arc portion can be ensured in the valley portion on the outer peripheral surface side. The bellows holding structure and the electric wire protection member according to the present application can suppress reduction in the holding force of the bellows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the bellows holding structure and the electric wire protection member according to the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bellows holding structure and the electric wire protection member according to the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an X-X sectional view of

[0017] Figure 4 is Figure 2 a partial enlarged view of a Y-Y line section of

[0018] Figure 5 is Figure 2 a partial enlarged view of a Z-Z line section of

[0019] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a main portion of the inside of the case.

[0020] Figure 7 is a plan view showing a main portion of the inside of the case.

[0021] Figure 8 is a plan view showing a main portion of the inside of the lid.

[0022] Figure 9 is an explanatory view showing the start of assembly of the bellows.

[0023] Figure 10 is an explanatory view showing the end of assembly of the bellows.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] 1 wire protection member

[0026] 10 bellows

[0027] 11A valley portion on the outer peripheral surface side

[0028] 12A hill portion on the outer peripheral surface side

[0029] 11B valley portion on the inner peripheral surface side

[0030] 12B hill portion on the inner peripheral surface side

[0031] 13 slit

[0032] 20 case (retaining member)

[0033] 22 retaining portion

[0034] 24 retaining rib

[0035] 24a semicircular arc portion

[0036] 25 deformation suppression member

[0037] 25a locking portion

[0038] 25b base portion

[0039] 25c connecting portion

[0040] 25d arc surface

[0041] 30 cover (retaining member)

[0042] 32 retaining portion

[0043] 34 retaining rib

[0044] 34a semicircular portion

[0045] 100 bellows retaining structure DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a bellows retaining structure and an electric 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.

[0047] [EMBODIMENT]

[0048] Based on Figures 1 to 10 One of the embodiments of the bellows retaining structure and the electric wire protection member of the present application will be described.

[0049] Figures 1 to 5 Reference sign 1 denotes the electric wire protection member of the present embodiment. The electric wire protection member 1 is provided with a circular tube-shaped bellows 10 and a case 20 and a cover 30 as a pair of retaining members, which retain the end of the bellows 10 between the case 20 and the cover 30 in an assembled state. Figures 1 to 5 The bellows retaining structure 100 of the present embodiment is constituted by the case 20 and the cover 30 as the pair of retaining members.

[0050] The bellows 10 is shaped in a bellows shape having circular ring-shaped valleys 11 and peaks 12 alternately arranged in a tube axis direction and slits 13 cut in the tube axis direction. Figures 1 to 5 In the bellows 10, the valley 11A on the outer peripheral surface side becomes the peak 12A when viewed from the inner peripheral surface side, and the peak 12B on the outer peripheral surface side becomes the valley 11B when viewed from the inner peripheral surface side. A plurality of electric wires (omitted from illustration) are inserted through the bellows 10.

[0051] The case 20 and the cover 30 as the pair of retaining members are shaped from an insulating material such as synthetic resin and assembled with each other.

[0052] The case 20 houses a plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10 and causes the plurality of electric wires to be drawn to the outside. The cover 30 retains the end of the bellows 10 between the case 20 in the assembled state, and the cover 30 covers the plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10 between the case 20 in the assembled state.

[0053] The case 20 has a case main body 21 that houses the plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10. Figures 1 to 5). The cover 30 has a cover main body 31 that covers a plurality of electric wires drawn from the end of the bellows 10 between the case 20 in the assembled state Figures 1 to 4 ). The case main body 21 and the cover 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.

[0054] The case 20 and the cover 30 have holding portions 22, 32 that sandwich and hold the end of the bellows 10 from the outer peripheral surface side Figures 1 to 4 ).

[0055] The case 20 and the cover 30 maintain the assembled state with respect to each other by a locking mechanism at a plurality of sites. The locking mechanism maintains the assembled state by causing a first engagement portion 23 provided to the case 20 and a second engagement portion 33 provided to the cover 30 to engage with each other in the assembled state Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 5 ). For example, in the locking mechanism, the first engagement portion 23 is formed as a claw-shaped protruding portion, and the second engagement portion 33 is formed to have a groove shape that hooks the protruding portion. The locking mechanism is provided at one site between the case main body 21 and the cover main body 31, and at two sites between the pair of holding portions 22, 32.

[0056] 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 each inner wall surface toward each of a plurality of valley portions 11A of the outer peripheral surface side of the bellows 10, and that enter the valley portion 11A to hold the end of the bellows 10 Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figures 5 to 8 ). The pair of holding ribs 24, 34 are provided with semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a that concentrically insert into the plurality of valley portions 11A of the outer peripheral surface side of the bellows 10 Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 ). 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 valley portion 11A. Therefore, the pair of semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a are able to engage with the side wall surface of the valley portion 11A in the tube axis direction of the bellows 10. Therefore, the end of the bellows 10 is held by a plurality of pairs of holding ribs 24, 34 in the pair of holding portions 22, 32.

[0057] Further, although shown in the foregoing, in this state, when the bellows 10 is stretched in the tube axis direction, the side wall surface of the valley portion 11A hooks on 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 thereby reduces the hooking allowance of the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a in the valley portion 11A.

[0058] Therefore, in one holding portion 22 (32), a pair of deformation suppressing members 25 are provided, which protrude from the inner wall surface of the holding portion 22 (32) and suppress deformation of the end of the bellows 10 toward the inner side in the radial direction. Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 7 ) In this case, the deformation suppressing members 25 are provided in the holding portion 22 of the housing 20.

[0059] The deformation suppressing members 25 have a locking portion 25a that is inserted into a valley portion 11B on the inner peripheral surface side of the end of the bellows 10, and locks movement of the end of the bellows 10 toward the inner side in the radial direction. Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 7 ) The respective locking portions 25a of the pair of deformation suppressing members 25 are disposed in opposition in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis direction of the bellows 10.

[0060] Even if the bellows 10 is stretched in the tube axis direction and narrowed toward the inner side in the radial direction, since the respective locking portions 25a lock the valley bottom of the valley portion 11B, this pair of deformation suppressing members 25 can reduce the amount of narrowing of the bellows 10 relative to the past. Therefore, in the pair of holding portions 22, 32, it is possible to secure the hooking allowance of the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a in the valley portion 11A on the outer peripheral surface side. Therefore, the wire protection member 1 and the bellows holding structure 100 of the present embodiment can suppress reduction of the holding force of the bellows 10.

[0061] In this case, the deformation suppressing members 25 further have a base portion 25b that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the holding portion 22 and is disposed in opposition to the end surface of the end of the bellows 10 in the tube axis direction, and a linking portion 25c that links the locking portion 25a and the base portion 25b in the end of the bellows 10. Figures 3 to 7

[0062] In the holding portion 22, the locking portion 25a of one deformation suppressing member 25 is inserted into the end of the bellows 10 from the slit 13, and the locking portion 25a is inserted into the valley portion 11B from one end portion in the circumferential direction as viewed from the slit 13. Figure 9 ​). Also, in the holding portion 22, one end portion of the bellows 10 is guided to the locking portion 25a of the other deformation suppressing member 25 while rotating the bellows 10. In the holding portion 22, the locking portion 25a of the other deformation suppressing member 25 is inserted into the end of the bellows 10 from the slit 13, and one end portion of the locking portion 25a viewed from the slit 13 is inserted into the valley portion 1 IB, and the bellows 10 is rotated until the slit 13 reaches, for example, between the pair of deformation suppressing members 25 ( Figure 10 ). In order to make the rotation of the bellows 10 smooth, the locking portion 25a is provided with an arc-shaped surface 25d along the arc-shaped bottom surface of the valley portion 1 IB of the inner peripheral surface side ( Figure 4 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 ).

[0063] However, each of the locking portions 25a in the pair of deformation suppressing members 25 can also function as an expansion portion that expands the end of the bellows 10 to the outer side in the radial direction from the valley portion 1 IB of the inner peripheral surface side in opposite directions, respectively, and expands the end of the bellows 10. Thereby, in the pair of holding portions 22, 32, it is possible to further reduce the amount of narrowing of the bellows 10 when stretched in the tube axis direction. Therefore, the wire protection member 1 and the bellows holding structure 100 of the present embodiment can increase the hooking margin of the semicircular arc portion 24a, 34a in the valley portion 1 IA, and thus can further suppress the amount of reduction in the holding force of the bellows 10.

[0064] In the wire protection member 1, a plurality of electric wires are drawn out to the inside space of the housing main body 21 and the cover main body 31 from the bellows 10 whose end is thus held. The housing 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.

[0065] For example, the plurality of electric wires shown here connect between a torque sensor of an electric power steering and an electronic control device. The wire protection member 1 is assembled to a frame of the torque sensor, and is provided in order to secure a waterproof function with the frame. The wire protection member 1 causes the electric wire draw-out portion 26 to be fitted into a circular through-hole of the frame.

[0066] Therefore, a cylindrical sealing gasket 41 provided with a lip portion 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 is formed for each electric wire. Figure 3), and the cylindrical through-hole is provided with a lip on the inner peripheral surface. The electric wire drawn out from the end of the corrugated tube 10 passes through the internal space formed by the housing main body 21 and the cover main body 31, and is drawn out to the outside through the electric wire insertion hole 41a. Therefore, the gasket 41 is provided to ensure the waterproof function on the inside of the electric wire drawing-out portion 26.

[0067] Further, in the electric wire protection member 1, the gasket cover 50 assembled to the electric wire drawing-out portion 26 prevents the gasket 41 from falling off from the electric wire drawing-out portion 26 Figures 1 to 3 ). In the gasket cover 50, the electric wire insertion hole 51 is formed coaxially with the electric wire insertion hole 41a Figure 3 ). The electric wire passing through the electric wire insertion hole 41a of the gasket 41 passes through the electric wire insertion hole 51 to be drawn out to the outside.

[0068] Further, a ring-shaped sealing member 42 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire drawing-out portion 26 Figures 1 to 3 ). The sealing member 42 fills the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire drawing-out portion 26 and the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole in the frame of the torque sensor, and ensures the waterproof function on the outside of the electric wire drawing-out portion 26.

Claims

1. A bellows retaining structure, characterized in that, It includes a pair of retaining members that hold the ends of the bellows in the assembled state. The bellows is formed into a bellows shape, which has annular valleys and peaks arranged alternately in the tube axis direction, as well as slits cut in 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 the inner wall of each of the retaining portions toward each of the plurality of valleys on the outer peripheral surface. The retaining rib is provided with a semi-circular arc portion that is concentrically inserted into the valley on the outer peripheral surface. A pair of deformation-inhibiting members are provided in one of the retaining portions. The pair of deformation-inhibiting members protrude from the inner wall surface of the retaining portion and inhibit the radially inward deformation of the end of the bellows. Each of the aforementioned deformation suppression members has a locking portion that inserts into a valley on the inner circumferential side of the end of the bellows, and locks the radially inward movement of the end of the bellows in the valley on the inner circumferential side of the bellows. Each of the locking portions in the pair of deformation suppressing members is configured to be opposite each other in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis direction.

2. The bellows retaining structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The deformation suppressing member has: a base that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the retaining portion and is disposed opposite to the end face of the end of the bellows in the tube axis direction; And a connecting portion that connects the locking portion to the base at the end of the bellows.

3. The bellows retaining structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, An arc-shaped surface is provided in the locking portion, and the arc-shaped surface is along the arc-shaped bottom surface of the valley of the valley on the inner peripheral surface side.

4. The bellows retaining structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each of the locking portions in the pair of deformation suppressing members functions as an expanding portion, which expands the ends of the bellows radially outward from the valley on the inner circumferential surface side in opposite directions, thereby expanding the ends of the bellows.

5. A wire protection component, characterized in that, have: A corrugated tube in the shape of a bellows, the bellows having annular valleys and peaks arranged alternately in the tube axis direction and slits cut in the tube axis direction, the bellows being for multiple wires to pass through. A housing that houses a plurality of wires extending from the end of the bellows and allows the wires to extend outward; and 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 the inner wall of each of the retaining portions toward the outer peripheral surface of each of the plurality of valleys. The retaining rib is provided with a semi-circular arc portion that is concentrically inserted into the valley on the outer peripheral surface. A pair of deformation-inhibiting members are provided in one of the retaining portions. The pair of deformation-inhibiting members protrude from the inner wall surface of the retaining portion and inhibit the radially inward deformation of the end of the bellows. Each of the aforementioned deformation suppression members has a locking portion that inserts into a valley on the inner circumferential side of the end of the bellows, and locks the radially inward movement of the end of the bellows in the valley on the inner circumferential side of the bellows. Each of the locking portions in the pair of deformation suppressing members is configured to be opposite each other in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis direction.

Images