Exterior member for wire harness

Abstract

To provide an exterior member for a wire harness in which the exterior member for arranging a wire harness therein has an improved clamp fitting strength.SOLUTION: An exterior member 100 for a wire harness protects a wire harness. The exterior member 100 for a wire harness includes a pipe 20 in which a wire harness is arranged. Further, the exterior member 100 for a wire harness includes a corrugate tube 10 that has an inner circumferential portion in the longitudinal direction partially in contact so as to cover a portion of an outer circumferential portion of the pipe 20 and that has a wire harness arranged therein. Moreover, the exterior member 100 for a wire harness includes a clamp 40 that is disposed in a portion of the outer circumferential portion of the corrugate tube 10. Moreover, the exterior member 100 for a wire harness includes a blind rivet 30 that jointly fastens the pipe 20, the corrugate tube 10, and the clamp 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior member for a wire harness.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a wire harness has been used to electrically connect a plurality of devices mounted on an automobile, and an exterior member for protecting this wire harness has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness protection material composed of a cylindrical body through which a wire harness is inserted and a mounting member protruding on the outer surface of a conductor. The wire harness protection material disclosed in Patent Document 1 is composed of a flat cylindrical portion and a bellows-shaped portion, and a mounting member is fixed to the outer surface of the flat cylindrical portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the exterior member for a wire harness disclosed in Patent Document 1, a material for the cylindrical body is injection-molded, and then a synthetic resin such as PP different from the material for the cylindrical body is injection-molded to form a mounting member on the cylindrical body. On the other hand, the wire harness is fixed to the vehicle body by a mounting member such as a clamp. Generally, the wire harness is long and has a certain weight. Therefore, for example, in the exterior member for a wire harness disclosed in Patent Document 1, the fixing strength between the cylindrical body and the mounting member is required.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of such conventional technologies. And an object of the present invention is to provide an exterior member for a wire harness in which the mounting strength of a clamp is improved, the exterior member being for protecting a wire harness and having a wire harness disposed therein.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An exterior member for a wire harness according to an aspect of the present invention is an exterior member for protecting a wire harness, and includes a pipe in which a wire harness is disposed, a corrugated tube that is in contact with a part of the outer peripheral portion of the pipe so as to cover a part of the inner peripheral portion in the longitudinal direction and in which a wire harness is disposed, a clamp installed on a part of the outer peripheral portion of the corrugated tube, and a blind rivet for clamping the pipe, the corrugated tube, and the clamp together.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided an exterior member for a wire harness in which the mounting strength of a clamp is improved, the exterior member being for protecting a wire harness and having a wire harness disposed therein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the exterior member 100 for a wire harness according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

[0010] (Regarding the exterior member for a wire harness) In recent years, with the increase in electric vehicles, the demand for high-voltage wires for automobiles has been increasing. Since the voltage of high-voltage wires for automobiles is higher than normal, in many cases, the entire wire is provided with an exterior for protection. For example, in HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles) and PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles), due to the layout, the wire harness becomes long, and a pipe-shaped exterior made of resin is used.

[0011] In addition, a clamp is required to attach the wire harness to the vehicle. Conventionally, when this clamp is retrofitted to the exterior, it is fixed by taping or clamping with a COT clamp. Also, when the clamp is fixed to the exterior, it is fixed by injection molding.

[0012] Improvement in the mounting strength is required for fixing this clamp to the exterior. The exterior member 100 for a wire harness according to this embodiment has a simple configuration with fewer unnecessary parts when attaching the clamp to the exterior, and improves the mounting strength.

[0013] (Configuration of the exterior member 100 for a wire harness) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of the exterior member 100 for a wire harness according to this embodiment. The exterior member 100 for a wire harness according to this embodiment is an exterior member that protects a wire harness (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior member 100 for a wire harness according to this embodiment includes a corrugated tube 10, a pipe 20, a blind rivet 30, and a clamp 40.

[0014] In the following description, the direction of the axis (longitudinal direction) of the outer member 100 for the wire harness shown in FIG. 1 is defined as the X direction, and the radial direction orthogonal to the X direction is defined as the Y direction and the Z direction as shown in FIG. 1.

[0015] The pipe 20 has a wire harness disposed inside. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness is disposed in the X direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the pipe 20. The pipe 20 is made of resin and is produced using a mold. Also, the pipe 20 may be made of a metal such as aluminum. Further, the pipe 20 is provided with a hole for passing the blind rivet 30. In the present embodiment, the pipe 20 shows an example where the cross-sectional shape is circular as shown in FIG. 2, but this cross-sectional shape is not limited to circular, and for example, the pipe 20 may have a square cross-sectional shape.

[0016] The corrugated tube 10 is a resin member used for protecting electric wires and cables. Also, the corrugated tube 10 is a protective tube with a corrugated pattern on its surface. Further, the corrugated tube 10 is made of a flexible material such as polypropylene.

[0017] In the present embodiment, the corrugated tube 10 is in contact with a part of the outer peripheral part of the pipe 20 so that a part of the inner peripheral part in the longitudinal direction is covered, and a wire harness is disposed inside. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness is disposed in the X direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube 10, similar to the pipe 20.

[0018] Also, in the example shown in FIG. 1, a part of the inner peripheral part in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube 10 is in contact with and covers a part of the outer peripheral part of the pipe 20, which is the broken line part 20a. Further, similar to the pipe 20, the corrugated tube 10 is provided with a hole for passing the blind rivet 30. In the present embodiment, the corrugated tube 10 shows an example where the cross-sectional shape is circular as shown in FIG. 2, but this cross-sectional shape is not limited to circular, and for example, the corrugated tube 10 may have a square cross-sectional shape.

[0019] The clamp 40 is installed on a part of the outer peripheral portion of the corrugated tube 10. The clamp 40 is a part for attaching the pipe 20 with the wire harness disposed thereon and the corrugated tube 10 to the vehicle body. The clamp 40 is made of resin or metal. In the present embodiment, the clamp 40 is shown as an example in a convex form as shown in FIG. 1, but this form is not limited to the convex form. For example, the clamp 40 may be in a concave form.

[0020] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the clamp 40 is set in the Y direction which is the upper part of the corrugated tube 10. Further, the clamp 40 is provided with a hole for passing the blind rivet 30, similarly to the corrugated tube 10 and the pipe 20.

[0021] The blind rivet 30 clamps the pipe 20, the corrugated tube 10, and the clamp 40 together. The blind rivet 30 applied in the present embodiment is a general rivet formed of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or the like. Thereby, when the wire harness exterior member 100 according to the present embodiment is attached to the exterior member of the clamp 40, it is possible to improve the attachment strength with a simple configuration with fewer unnecessary parts.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness exterior member 100 in the A-A cross-section in FIG. 1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the corrugated tube 10 is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the pipe 20 so that the inner peripheral portion covers the outer peripheral portion of the pipe 20. Further, the clamp 40 is installed on the outer peripheral portion of the corrugated tube 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the pipe 20, the corrugated tube 10, and the clamp 40 are clamped together by the blind rivet 30.

[0023] That is, the outer member 100 for wire harness according to the present embodiment is fastened together with the pipe 20, the corrugated tube 10, and the clamp 40 by a single blind rivet 30. Thereby, the outer member 100 for wire harness according to the present embodiment can firmly attach the pipe 20 and the corrugated tube 10 which are outer members and the clamp 40 with a small number of parts.

[0024] As described above, the outer member 100 for wire harness is an outer member 100 for wire harness that protects the wire harness. The outer member 100 for wire harness includes a pipe 20 in which a wire harness is disposed inside. Further, the outer member 100 for wire harness includes a corrugated tube 10 that is in contact with a part of the outer peripheral portion of the pipe 20 so as to cover a part of the inner peripheral portion in the longitudinal direction and in which a wire harness is disposed inside. Further, the outer member 100 for wire harness includes a clamp 40 installed on a part of the outer peripheral portion of the corrugated tube 10. Furthermore, the outer member 100 for wire harness includes a blind rivet 30 that fastens the pipe 20, the corrugated tube 10, and the clamp 40 together.

[0025] Thereby, when the clamp 40 is attached to the outer member, the outer member 100 for wire harness according to the present embodiment can improve the attachment strength with a simple configuration with fewer unnecessary parts.

[0026] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the present embodiment is not limited by the contents described in the above embodiments. In addition, the constituent elements described above include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art and those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the configurations described above can be combined as appropriate. Also, various omissions, substitutions, or changes in the configuration can be made without departing from the gist of the embodiment.

[0027] In the outer member 100 for a wire harness, the overlapping portion between the pipe 20 and the corrugated tube 10 may be fixed by an adhesive member. Thereby, the outer member 100 for a wire harness can enhance the waterproof effect at the overlapping portion between the pipe 20 and the corrugated tube 10.

[0028] Also, the blind rivet 30 applied to the outer member 100 for a wire harness may be provided with a resin cap 30a having waterproof properties as shown in FIG. 3. The resin cap 30a may be made of a polypropylene-based substance. Thereby, the outer member 100 for a wire harness can enhance the waterproof effect from the location of the blind rivet 30. Further, the outer member 100 for a wire harness can obtain the effect of preventing electrolytic corrosion with the metal base material, for example, when the pipe 20 is formed of metal.

[0029] The features of the outer member 100 for a wire harness will be described below.

[0030] The outer member 100 for a wire harness according to the first aspect is an outer member 100 for protecting a wire harness. The outer member 100 for a wire harness includes a pipe 20 in which a wire harness is disposed inside. Further, the outer member 100 for a wire harness includes a corrugated tube 10 that is in contact with a part of the outer peripheral portion of the pipe 20 so as to cover a part of the inner peripheral portion in the longitudinal direction and in which a wire harness is disposed inside. Also, the outer member 100 for a wire harness includes a clamp 40 installed on a part of the outer peripheral portion of the corrugated tube 10. Furthermore, the outer member 100 for a wire harness includes a blind rivet 30 that co-fastens the pipe 20, the corrugated tube 10, and the clamp 40.

[0031] According to the above configuration, when attaching the clamp 40 to the outer member, the outer member 100 for a wire harness can improve the attachment strength with a simple configuration with fewer unnecessary parts.

[0032] In the outer member 100 for a wire harness according to the second aspect, the overlapping portion between the pipe 20 and the corrugated tube 10 may be fixed by an adhesive member.

[0033] According to the above configuration, the outer member 100 for a wire harness can enhance the waterproof effect at the overlapping portion between the pipe 20 and the corrugated tube 10.

[0034] The blind rivet 30 applied to the outer member 100 for a wire harness according to the third aspect may be provided with a waterproof cap.

[0035] According to the above configuration, the outer member 100 for a wire harness can enhance the waterproof effect from the location of the blind rivet 30.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0036] 10 Corrugated tube 20 Pipe 30 Blind rivet 30a Resin cap 40 Clamp 100 Outer member for a wire harness

Claims

1. An exterior member for a wire harness that protects the wire harness, a pipe for arranging the wire harness inside, a corrugated tube that is in contact with a part of the outer peripheral part of the pipe so that a part of the inner peripheral part in the longitudinal direction covers the part of the outer peripheral part of the pipe, and the wire harness is arranged inside, a clamp installed on a part of the outer peripheral part of the corrugated tube, and a blind rivet for clamping the pipe, the corrugated tube, and the clamp together. An exterior member for a wire harness.

2. The exterior member for a wire harness according to claim 1, wherein an overlapping portion between the pipe and the corrugated tube is fixed by an adhesive member.

3. The exterior member for a wire harness according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blind rivet includes a resin cap having waterproof properties.

Images