Wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness which can improve assemblability of a protector and a half pipe member to a corrugate tube.SOLUTION: A wire harness WH comprises: a corrugate tube 10; a protector 20 provided with an insertion space part 25 into which the corrugate tube 10 is inserted along an axial direction X; and a half pipe member 30 extending in an arc shape along an outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugate tube 10 to hold the corrugate tube 10 and whose end 30a in the axial direction X is held by the protector 20. The protector 20 has: an inner peripheral surface 20a facing the insertion space part 25; a rib 26 provided on the inner peripheral surface 20a to engage with an annular recess 11 formed on the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugate tube 10; and a projection 27 provided on the inner peripheral surface 20a to regulate movement of the half pipe member 30 in the axial direction X by contact with the end 30a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire harness.

Background Art

[0002] As a technology related to a conventional wire harness, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness including a corrugated tube having flexibility and a wire material inserted therethrough along the axial direction, and a protector provided with an insertion space portion through which the corrugated tube is inserted along the axial direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in this type of wire harness, for example, in addition to the corrugated tube and the protector described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above, an arc-shaped half-pipe member for holding the corrugated tube may be used. In this case, there is room for further improvement in terms of improving the assemblability of the protector and the half-pipe member with respect to the corrugated tube.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a wire harness capable of improving the assemblability of a protector and a half-pipe member with respect to a corrugated tube.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the wire harness according to the present invention includes a corrugated tube having flexibility and a wiring material inserted therethrough along the axial direction, a protector provided with an insertion space portion through which the corrugated tube is inserted along the axial direction, and a half pipe member that extends in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube to hold the corrugated tube and has an end portion in the axial direction held by the protector. The protector has an inner peripheral surface facing the insertion space portion, a rib provided on the inner peripheral surface and engaging with an annular recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube, and a protrusion provided on the inner peripheral surface and restricting the axial movement of the half pipe member by abutting against the end portion.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] In the wire harness according to the present invention, the protector has an inner peripheral surface facing the insertion space portion, a rib provided on the inner peripheral surface and engaging with an annular recess of the corrugated tube, and a protrusion provided on the inner peripheral surface and restricting the axial movement of the half pipe member by abutting against the end portion. With this configuration, the wire harness can, for example, restrict the axial movement of the protector with respect to the corrugated tube by the engagement between the rib and the annular recess, and can restrict the axial movement of the half pipe member with respect to the protector by the abutment between the protrusion and the end portion. As a result, the wire harness has the effect of improving the assemblability of the protector and the half pipe member with respect to the corrugated tube.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments. Also, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be replaced by those skilled in the art and are easy to replace, or those that are substantially the same. In this specification, ordinal numbers are used only for distinguishing parts, members, parts, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0010] [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wire harness WH according to an embodiment. The wire harness WH of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a vehicle such as an automobile and is used to connect between devices mounted on the vehicle for power supply and signal communication. The wire harness WH of the present embodiment includes, for example, a plurality of wire materials W having conductivity, a corrugated tube 10 as an exterior material through which the plurality of wire materials W are inserted, a pair of protectors 20 through which the corrugated tube 10 is inserted and which regulate the routing path of the corrugated tube 10, and a half-pipe member 30 that holds the corrugated tube 10. Note that the wire harness WH may further include grommets, fixtures, connectors, and the like.

[0011] In the following description, among the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction that intersect each other, the first direction is referred to as the "axial direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z". Here, the axial direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are substantially orthogonal to each other. The axial direction X typically corresponds to the extending direction of the cable member W, the insertion direction of the corrugated tube 10 and the cable member W with respect to the protector 20, the longitudinal direction of the half-pipe member 30, and the like. The width direction Y typically corresponds to the width direction (radial direction) of the cable member W and the corrugated tube 10, the width direction (left-right direction) of the protector 20 and the half-pipe member 30, and the like. The height direction Z typically corresponds to the height direction (radial direction) of the cable member W and the corrugated tube 10, the height direction (up-down direction) of the protector 20 and the half-pipe member 30, and the like. Also, each direction used in the following description will be described as the direction in the state where the corrugated tube 10 is assembled to the protector 20 unless otherwise specified.

[0012] The cable member W is composed of, for example, a metal rod, an electric wire, an electric wire bundle, or the like. The metal rod is formed by covering the outside of a rod-shaped member having conductivity with a covering portion having insulation. The electric wire is formed by covering the outside of a conductor portion (core wire) composed of a plurality of metal strands having conductivity with a covering portion having insulation. The electric wire bundle is a bundle of the electric wires. Here, the cable member W is described as being formed in a substantially circular cross-sectional shape and having substantially the same outer diameter and shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0013] The corrugated tube 10 is for the cable member W to be inserted along the axial direction X, protects the cable member W, and regulates the routing path of the cable member W. The corrugated tube 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape (tubular) by, for example, a resin material having insulation. A plurality of annular recesses 11 (see FIG. 2) are provided on the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. The annular recesses 11 are recessed from the outer peripheral surface 10a toward the radially inner side of the corrugated tube 10 and are open toward the radially outer side. The corrugated tube 10 is formed in a bellows shape having flexibility as a whole by arranging a plurality of annular recesses 11 along the axial direction X.

[0014] The half-pipe member 30 holds, for example, the shape of the corrugated tube 10 routed along the axial direction X. The half-pipe member 30 is provided, for example, across between a pair of protectors 20, and suppresses deformation of the corrugated tube 10 between the pair of protectors 20. Further, the half-pipe member 30 also functions as a member that suppresses interference between a peripheral member mounted on a vehicle and the corrugated tube 10. The half-pipe member 30 extends in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10, and holds the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. The half-pipe member 30 covers, for example, an area approximately half on the lower side in the height direction Z of the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. That is, the half-pipe member 30 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that is open upward in the height direction Z.

[0015] The protectors 20 are provided in a pair at both end portions 10c in the axial direction X of the corrugated tube 10, hold the corrugated tube 10, and regulate the routing path of the corrugated tube 10. Further, the protector 20 also functions as a member that holds the end portion 30a (see FIG. 2) in the axial direction X of the half-pipe member 30 described above. The protector 20 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape (tubular) along the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10 as a whole. An insertion space portion 25 extending along the axial direction X is provided inside the protector 20. The insertion space portion 25 is a space portion into which the corrugated tube 10 and the half-pipe member 30 are inserted.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vicinity of the protector 20 of the wire harness WH, showing the state where the upper cover 22 is in the open position P1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vicinity of the protector 20 of the wire harness WH, showing the state where the upper cover 22 is in the closed position P2, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the protector 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the protector 20 is composed of, for example, a lower cover 21, an upper cover 22, a hinge 23, a lock portion 24, ribs 26, a protrusion 27, etc. The protector 20 is formed such that the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 22 are formed separately from each other by, for example, synthetic resin or the like.

[0017] The hinge 23 rotatably connects the upper cover 22 to the lower cover 21. The hinge 23 has, for example, a rotation axis extending along the axial direction X. The upper cover 22 is configured to be rotatable between an open position P1 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) where the insertion space portion 25 is opened by rotation around the rotation axis of the hinge 23 and a closed position P2 (see FIG. 3) where the insertion space portion 25 is closed. In the open position P1, the upper cover 22 opens the insertion space portion 25 along the height direction Z (radial direction), and in the closed position P2, the upper cover 22 closes the insertion space portion 25 along the height direction Z (radial direction). The protector 20 has a cylindrical inner peripheral surface 20a that covers the outer peripheral side of the insertion space portion 25 in a state where the upper cover 22 is positioned at the closed position P2 with respect to the lower cover 21.

[0018] The lower cover 21 is formed, for example, in a semi-circular shape along the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. The lower cover 21 covers approximately the lower half region of the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10 in the height direction Z. That is, the lower cover 21 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that is open upward in the height direction Z. Further, the lower cover 21 has a semi-circular (arc-shaped) inner surface 20a2 facing the insertion space portion 25. The inner surface 20a2 of the lower cover 21 constitutes a part of the inner peripheral surface 20a of the protector 20 and is a structure for partitioning the above-described insertion space portion 25 as the internal space portion of the protector 20. The insertion space portion 25 is a space portion through which the corrugated tube 10 and the half pipe member 30 are inserted.

[0019] The upper cover 22 is connected to the lower cover 21 via a hinge 23 and covers (closes) the insertion space portion 25 in the lower cover 21. The upper cover 22 is formed, for example, in a semi-circular shape along the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. The upper cover 22 covers approximately the upper half region of the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10 in the height direction Z. That is, the upper cover 22 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that is open toward the lower side in the height direction Z. Further, the upper cover 22 has a semi-circular (arc-shaped) inner surface 20a1 facing the insertion space portion 25. The inner surface 20a1 of the upper cover 22, together with the inner surface 20a2 of the lower cover 21, constitutes a part of the inner peripheral surface 20a of the protector 20 and is a structure for partitioning the above-described insertion space portion 25 as the internal space portion of the protector 20.

[0020] The locking portion 24 is for locking the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 22 in the closed position P2. The locking portion 24 includes, for example, a first locking portion 24a provided on the upper cover 22 and a second locking portion 24b provided on the lower cover 21. The first locking portion 24a is formed, for example, in a claw shape at an end portion of the upper cover 22 opposite to the hinge 23. The second locking portion 24b is formed, for example, in a locking hole shape at a position corresponding to the first locking portion 24a in the lower cover 21. The first locking portion 24a has a locking surface facing the second locking portion 24b in the height direction Z, and when the locking surface and the second locking portion 24b are locked in the height direction Z, the upper cover 22 is locked to the lower cover 21 in the closed position P2.

[0021] The rib 26 is a portion that engages with an annular recess 11 formed on the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. The rib 26 is provided on the inner surface 20a1 of the upper cover 22 among the inner peripheral surfaces 20a of the protector 20 and protrudes into the insertion space portion 25 from the inner surface 20a1. In the present embodiment, a plurality of ribs 26 are provided on the upper cover 22 at intervals in the axial direction X. The plurality of ribs 26 are formed to be curved in an arc shape along the inner surface 20a1 of the upper cover 22 and the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. Further, the plurality of ribs 26 are positioned offset in the axial direction X with respect to the protrusion 27. The protector 20 is restricted from moving in the axial direction X with respect to the corrugated tube 10 by the engagement between the plurality of ribs 26 and the annular recess 11.

[0022] The protrusion 27 is a portion that restricts the movement of the half-pipe member 30 in the axial direction X by abutting against the above-described end portion 30a. The protrusion 27 is provided at the end portion on the outer side (opposite to the half-pipe member 30) in the axial direction X of the protector 20. The protrusion 27 is provided annularly across the inner surface 20a1 of the upper cover 22 and the inner surface 20a2 of the lower cover 21 among the inner peripheral surfaces 20a of the protector 20 and protrudes into the insertion space portion 25 from the inner surfaces 20a1, 20a2. The protrusion 27 has an inner peripheral surface 27a and a restricting surface 27b. The inner peripheral surface 27a is a surface on the radially inner side of the protrusion 27 and holds the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10 inserted into the insertion space portion 25. The restricting surface 27b is a side surface on the central side in the axial direction X of the protrusion 27 and restricts the end portion 30a of the half-pipe member 30 inserted into the insertion space portion 25.

[0023] Here, in the present embodiment, the pair of protectors 20 are configured with substantially the same specifications as each other, specifically, specifications that are reversed in the axial direction X with respect to each other. That is, the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 22 of each of the pair of protectors 20 are provided with a protruding portion 27, ribs 26, a locking portion 24, and the like. And the half-pipe member 30 is arranged so as to fit between the protruding portion 27 of one of the pair of protectors 20 and the protruding portion 27 of the other. The half-pipe member 30 is restricted from moving to both sides in the axial direction X with respect to the protector 20 by the contact between the two protruding portions 27 and the two end portions 30a.

[0024] If the protruding portion 27 is not provided on the protector 20, it is necessary to fix the half-pipe member 30 to the protector 20 using a fixing member such as a band or a tape, and there is a possibility that the assembly work of the half-pipe member 30 will be troublesome. In that regard, in the present embodiment, since the protruding portion 27 is provided on the protector 20, the movement of the half-pipe member 30 in the axial direction X with respect to the protector 20 can be restricted by the contact between the protruding portion 27 and the end portion 30a, and thus there is an advantage that fixing members such as bands and tapes can be reduced.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the protector 20 of the wire harness WH. As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the first diameter d1 of the inner peripheral surface 27a of the protruding portion 27 is formed to be equal to the second diameter d2 of the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. The first diameter d1 is the diameter (opening width) of the inner peripheral surface 27a in a state where the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 22 are assembled in a cylindrical shape, that is, in a state where the upper cover 22 is in the closed position P2 with respect to the lower cover 21.

[0026] Further, in the protector 20, a stepped portion 28 recessed in the radial direction is provided between the inner surface 20a2 of the lower cover 21, the inner peripheral surface 27a of the protruding portion 27, and the regulating surface 27b. The stepped portion 28 is a portion where the half-pipe member 30 is accommodated, and is provided on the side opposite to the rib 26 on the inner peripheral surface 20a of the protector 20. The depth of the stepped portion 28 is substantially the same as the thickness of the half-pipe member 30. Thus, in the present embodiment, by providing the rib 26 on the upper cover 22 side of the protector 20 and accommodating the half-pipe member 30 on the lower cover 21 side of the protector 20, the rib 26 and the half-pipe member 30 are arranged so as not to interfere with each other within the protector 20.

[0027] Also, in the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface 27a of the protruding portion 27 and the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10 are assembled so as to be fitted (engaged) with each other, thereby suppressing the half-pipe member 30 from protruding over the protruding portion 27 or being displaced from a predetermined position (stepped portion 28) within the protector 20. Further, in the present embodiment, for example, when the half-pipe member 30 is assembled, in a state where the protruding portion 27 and the half-pipe member 30 overlap, the upper cover 22 is configured not to be able to rotate to the closed position P2 and not to close, thereby also suppressing the occurrence of displacement of the half-pipe member 30 during assembly.

[0028] As described above, in the wire harness WH of the present embodiment, the protector 20 includes an inner peripheral surface 20a facing the insertion space portion 25, a rib 26 provided on the inner peripheral surface 20a and engaging with an annular recess 11 formed on the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10, and a protrusion 27 provided on the inner peripheral surface 20a and restricting the movement of the half-pipe member 30 in the axial direction X by abutting against the end portion 30a. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can restrict the movement of the protector 20 relative to the corrugated tube 10 in the axial direction X, for example, by the engagement between the rib 26 and the annular recess 11, and can also restrict the movement of the half-pipe member 30 relative to the protector 20 in the axial direction X by the abutment between the protrusion 27 and the end portion 30a. As a result, the wire harness WH can improve the assemblability of the protector 20 and the half-pipe member 30 with respect to the corrugated tube 10, and thus can reduce fixing members such as bands and tapes for fixing the corrugated tube 10, the protector 20, and the half-pipe member 30.

[0029] Further, in the wire harness WH of the present embodiment, the protectors 20 are provided in a pair at both end portions 10c of the corrugated tube 10 in the axial direction X, and the half-pipe member 30 is arranged so as to fit between one protrusion 27 and the other protrusion 27 of the pair of protectors 20. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can restrict the movement of the half-pipe member 30 to both sides in the axial direction X with respect to the protector 20, for example, by the abutment between the two protrusions 27 and the two end portions 30a. As a result, the wire harness WH can further improve the assemblability of the half-pipe member 30.

[0030] In addition, in the wire harness WH of the present embodiment, the protector 20 is configured to include a semi-circular lower cover 21 and a semi-circular upper cover 22 assembled to the lower cover 21. The protruding portion 27 is provided annularly across the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 22. In a state where the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 22 are assembled in a cylindrical shape, that is, in a state where the upper cover 22 is in the closed position P2 with respect to the lower cover 21, the first diameter d1 on the inner peripheral surface 27a of the protruding portion 27 is formed to be equal to the second diameter d2 on the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corrugated tube 10. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can suppress, for example, the half-pipe member 30 from shifting from a predetermined position within the protector 20 over the protruding portion 27 in a state where the corrugated tube 10 is assembled to the inner peripheral surface 27a of the protruding portion 27.

[0031] Further, in the wire harness WH of the present embodiment, the rib 26 is provided on the inner surface 20a1 of the upper cover 22 that forms a part of the inner peripheral surface 20a of the protector 20, and the half-pipe member 30 is accommodated in a stepped portion 28 between the inner surface 20a2 of the lower cover 21 that forms a part of the inner peripheral surface 20a of the protector 20 and the inner peripheral surface 27a of the protruding portion 27. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can, for example, arrange the rib 26 on the upper cover 22 side of the protector 20 and accommodate the half-pipe member 30 on the lower cover 21 side of the protector 20, and thus can arrange the rib 26 and the half-pipe member 30 so as not to interfere with each other within the protector 20.

[0032] Note that, in the present embodiment, a case where the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 22 of the protector 20 are rotatably connected via the hinge 23 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 22 may be configured in a separable (detachable) form that is not connected via the hinge 23. Further, in the present embodiment, a case where the protector 20 is provided at both end portions 10c in the axial direction X of the corrugated tube 10 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the protector 20 may be provided only on one side of the both end portions 10c of the corrugated tube 10.

[0033] The embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated above. However, the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, combinations, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Also, each configuration, shape, etc. of the specifications (structure, type, direction, form, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be appropriately changed and implemented.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 10 Corrugated tube 10a Outer peripheral surface 10c Both end portions 11 Annular recess 20 Protector 20a Inner peripheral surface 20a1 Inner surface 20a2 Inner surface 21 Lower cover 22 Upper cover 25 Insertion space portion 26 Rib 27 Protrusion 27a Inner peripheral surface 28 Step portion 30 Half-pipe member 30a End portion d1 First diameter d2 Second diameter W Cable WH Wire harness X Axial direction

Claims

1. A corrugated tube having flexibility and having a cable inserted therethrough along the axial direction therein, A protector provided with an insertion space portion through which the corrugated tube is inserted along the axial direction, A half-pipe member that extends in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube to hold the corrugated tube and has an end portion in the axial direction held by the protector, The protector has an inner peripheral surface facing the insertion space portion, a rib provided on the inner peripheral surface and engaging with an annular recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube, and a protrusion provided on the inner peripheral surface and restricting the movement of the half-pipe member in the axial direction by abutting against the end portion. A wire harness.

2. The protector is provided in a pair at both end portions of the corrugated tube in the axial direction, The half-pipe member is arranged so as to fit between one protrusion and the other protrusion of the pair of protectors. The wire harness according to claim 1.

3. The protector includes a semi-circular lower cover and a semi-circular upper cover assembled to the lower cover. The protrusion is provided annularly across the lower cover and the upper cover. In a state where the lower cover and the upper cover are assembled in a cylindrical shape, a first diameter on the inner peripheral surface of the protrusion is formed to be equal to a second diameter on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube. The wire harness according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The rib is provided on the inner surface of the upper cover that constitutes a part of the inner peripheral surface of the protector. The half-pipe member is accommodated in a step portion between an inner surface of the lower cover that forms a part of the inner peripheral surface of the protector and the inner peripheral surface of the protruding portion. The wire harness according to claim 3.

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