Corrugated tube holding structure and electric wire protecting component

Abstract

To provide a holding structure and an electric wire protection component which suppress reduction in holding force of a corrugated tube.SOLUTION: In the electric wire protection component 1, the housing 20 and the cover 30, which are holding members constituting the corrugated tube holding structure 100, have the holding portions 22 and 32 that sandwich and hold the end of the corrugated tube 10 from the outer peripheral surface side, and the holding portions are protrusions that protrude from the internal 11A surface for each of the plurality of valley portion side walls on the outer peripheral surface side of the corrugated tube. A pair of deformation suppressing tools (25) are provided, each of the deformation suppressing tools (25) having a locking portion side 24a which projects from the 34a surface of the holding portion (22), is inserted into the valley portion side 11B on the inner peripheral surface side of the end of the corrugated tube, locks the movement of the end of the corrugated tube to the inner side in the radial direction in the valley portion, and is arranged to face each other in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis direction of the corrugated tube. 25a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a corrugated tube holding structure and a wire protection component. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, wire protection components include a housing and a cover that accommodate and allow multiple wires pulled out from the end of a cylindrical corrugated tube. The housing and the cover are provided with retaining ribs for holding the end of the corrugated tube. Each retaining rib has a semicircular portion that forms an arc when the housing and cover are fully assembled, and the semicircular portion is inserted into a valley portion of the bellows portion of the corrugated tube to hold the end of the corrugated tube (see Patent Document 1 listed below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-164390 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a conventional corrugated tube holding structure, when a corrugated tube with slits is used, when the corrugated tube is pulled in the axial direction and the side wall surfaces of the valley portions are caught on the retaining ribs, the corrugated tube is constricted radially inward, reducing the engagement allowance of the retaining ribs in the valley portions. Therefore, the conventional corrugated tube holding structure may reduce the holding force of the corrugated tube, and there is room for improvement in this regard.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a corrugated tube holding structure and a wire protection component that can prevent a decrease in the holding force of the corrugated tube. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The corrugated tube holding structure according to the present invention comprises a pair of holding members that hold an end of a corrugated tube in an assembled state, the corrugated tube being formed in a bellows tube shape having annular valleys and peaks alternately arranged in a tube axis direction and slits cut in the tube axis direction, the pair of holding members each having a holding portion that sandwiches and holds the end of the corrugated tube from an outer circumferential surface side, the pair of holding portions being protrusions that protrude from each inner wall surface for each of a plurality of the valleys on the outer circumferential surface side, and The corrugated tube has a retaining rib with a semicircular arc portion that is inserted on the center, and one of the retaining portions has a pair of deformation suppressors that protrude from the inner wall surface and suppress radial inward deformation of the end of the corrugated tube, and the deformation suppressors are inserted into the valley portion on the inner surface side of the end of the corrugated tube and have a locking portion within the valley portion that locks the radial inward movement of the end of the corrugated tube, and the respective locking portions of the pair of deformation suppressors are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the pipe axis direction.

[0007] Moreover, a wire protection component according to the present invention includes: a corrugated tube in the shape of a bellows tube, having annular valleys and peaks alternately arranged in a tube axis direction and slits cut in the tube axis direction, through which a plurality of electric wires are inserted; a housing that accommodates the plurality of electric wires pulled out from an end of the corrugated tube and pulls them outward; and a cover that holds the end of the corrugated tube between itself and the housing in an assembled state, and that covers and conceals the plurality of electric wires pulled out from the end of the corrugated tube between itself and the housing in an assembled state, wherein the housing and the cover each have a holding portion that sandwiches and holds the end of the corrugated tube from an outer circumferential surface side. The pair of holding portions are protrusions protruding from the respective inner wall surfaces at each of the plurality of valley portions on the outer peripheral surface side, and have holding ribs with semicircular arc portions that are inserted concentrically into the valley portions on the outer peripheral surface side, one of the holding portions is provided with a pair of deformation suppressors that protrude from the inner wall surface and suppress radial inward deformation of the terminal of the corrugated tube, the deformation suppressors are inserted into the valley portions on the inner peripheral surface side of the terminal of the corrugated tube, and have locking portions within the valley portions that lock the radial inward movement of the terminal of the corrugated tube, and the respective locking portions of the pair of deformation suppressors are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the pipe axis direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the corrugated tube holding structure and wire protection component according to the present invention, even if the corrugated tube is pulled in the axial direction and narrows radially inward, the pair of deformation suppressors have their respective locking portions lock onto the bottoms of the valleys on the inner circumferential surface, thereby reducing the amount of narrowing compared to conventional methods. Therefore, the pair of retaining portions can ensure an engagement allowance for the semicircular arc portions within the valleys on the outer circumferential surface. The corrugated tube holding structure and wire protection component according to the present invention can prevent a decrease in the holding force of the corrugated tube. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a corrugated tube holding structure and a wire protection component according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the corrugated tube holding structure and the wire protection component according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line ZZ in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the main parts inside the housing. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the main parts inside the housing. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the main parts inside the cover. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the start of assembling the corrugated tube. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the state when the assembling of the corrugated tube is completed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a corrugated tube holding structure and a wire protection component according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0011] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a corrugated tube holding structure and a wire protection component according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIG.

[0012] 1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a wire protection component of this embodiment. This wire protection component 1 includes a cylindrical corrugated tube 10 and a housing 20 and a cover 30 as a pair of holding members that hold the end of the corrugated tube 10 in an assembled state (FIGS. 1 to 5). A corrugated tube holding structure 100 of this embodiment is constituted by the housing 20 and the cover 30 as a pair of holding members.

[0013] The corrugated tube 10 is formed in a bellows tube shape having annular valley portions 11 and peak portions 12 alternately arranged in the axial direction of the tube, and slits 13 cut in the axial direction of the tube (FIGS. 1 to 5). In this corrugated tube 10, the valley portions 11A on the outer peripheral surface side become peak portions 12A when viewed from the inner peripheral surface side, and the peak portions 12B on the outer peripheral surface side become valley portions 11B when viewed from the inner peripheral surface side. A plurality of electric wires (not shown) are inserted through this corrugated tube 10.

[0014] The housing 20 and cover 30, which serve as a pair of holding members, are molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and are assembled together.

[0015] The housing 20 accommodates and allows the plurality of electric wires drawn out from the end of the corrugated tube 10. The cover 30 holds the end of the corrugated tube 10 between itself and the housing 20 in the assembled state, and also covers and conceals the plurality of electric wires drawn out from the end of the corrugated tube 10 between itself and the housing 20 in the assembled state.

[0016] The housing 20 has a housing main body 21 that houses multiple electric wires pulled out from the end of the corrugated tube 10 (FIGS. 1 to 5). The cover 30 has a cover main body 31 that covers and conceals the multiple electric wires pulled out from the end of the corrugated tube 10 between the housing 20 in the assembled state (FIGS. 1 to 4). The housing main body 21 and the cover main body 31 form an internal space in which the multiple electric wires pulled out from the end of the corrugated tube 10 are routed when the assembled state is complete.

[0017] The housing 20 and the cover 30 each have holding portions 22, 32 that sandwich and hold the end of the corrugated tube 10 from the outer peripheral surface side (FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0018] The housing 20 and cover 30 are maintained in their mutually assembled state by locking mechanisms at multiple locations. The locking mechanisms maintain the assembled state by engaging the first engagement portion 23 provided on the housing 20 with the second engagement portion 33 provided on the cover 30 in the assembled state (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5). For example, in this locking mechanism, the first engagement portion 23 is formed as a claw-shaped protrusion, and the second engagement portion 33 is formed as a groove that hooks onto this protrusion. This locking mechanism is provided at one location between the housing main body 21 and the cover main body 31, and at two locations between the pair of retaining portions 22, 32.

[0019] The pair of retaining portions 22, 32 are cylindrical in the assembled state and hold the end of the corrugated tube 10 therein. The pair of retaining portions 22, 32 are protrusions that protrude from the inner wall surfaces of the respective retaining portions 22, 32 for each of the plurality of valley portions 11A on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube 10, and have retaining ribs 24, 34 that fit into the valley portions 11A to hold the end of the corrugated tube 10 ( FIGS. 1 , 3 , and 5 to 8 ). The pair of retaining ribs 24, 34 are provided with semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a that are concentrically inserted into the plurality of valley portions 11A on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube 10 ( FIGS. 1 , 3 , 7 and 8 ). The pair of semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a form annular portions and are arranged concentrically within the valley portions 11A when the pair of retaining portions 22, 32 are assembled. Therefore, the pair of semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a can lock the side wall surfaces of the valley portions 11A in the axial direction of the corrugated tube 10. Therefore, the end of the corrugated tube 10 is held by multiple pairs of holding ribs 24, 34 in the pair of holding portions 22, 32.

[0020] However, as mentioned above, if the corrugated tube 10 is pulled in the axial direction, the side wall surface of the valley portion 11A will get caught on the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a of the pair of retaining ribs 24, 34, causing the corrugated tube 10 to be constricted radially inward, reducing the engagement allowance of the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a within the valley portion 11A.

[0021] Therefore, one of the holding portions 22 (32) is provided with a pair of deformation suppressors 25 that protrude from its inner wall surface and suppress radial inward deformation of the end of the corrugated tube 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7). Here, the deformation suppressors 25 are provided on the holding portion 22 of the housing 20.

[0022] The deformation suppressor 25 is inserted into a valley portion 11B on the inner peripheral surface side of the end of the corrugated tube 10, and has a locking portion 25a that locks the end of the corrugated tube 10 in the valley portion 11B to prevent radial inward movement of the end of the corrugated tube 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7). The locking portions 25a of the pair of deformation suppressors 25 are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the corrugated tube 10.

[0023] Even if the corrugated tube 10 is pulled in the axial direction and narrows radially inward, the pair of deformation suppressors 25 can reduce the amount of narrowing compared to conventional methods because the respective locking portions 25a lock onto the bottoms of the valley portions 11B. Therefore, the pair of retaining portions 22, 32 can ensure sufficient engagement for the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a within the valley portions 11A on the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the wire protection component 1 and corrugated tube retaining structure 100 of this embodiment can prevent a decrease in the retaining force for the corrugated tube 10.

[0024] Here, the deformation suppression device 25 further has a base portion 25b that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the holding portion 22 and is positioned opposite the end face of the terminal of the corrugated tube 10 in the pipe axis direction, and a connecting portion 25c that connects the locking portion 25a to the base portion 25b inside the terminal of the corrugated tube 10 (Figures 3 to 7).

[0025] In the holding unit 22, the locking portion 25a of one of the deformation suppressors 25 is inserted into the end of the corrugated tube 10 through the slit 13, and this locking portion 25a is inserted into the valley portion 11B from one end in the circumferential direction as seen from the slit 13 (FIG. 9). Then, in the holding unit 22, while rotating the corrugated tube 10, one end of the corrugated tube 10 is guided to the locking portion 25a of the other deformation suppressor 25. In the holding unit 22, the locking portion 25a of the other deformation suppressor 25 is inserted into the end of the corrugated tube 10 through the slit 13, and this locking portion 25a is inserted into the valley portion 11B from one end in the circumferential direction as seen from the slit 13, and the corrugated tube 10 is rotated until the slit 13 reaches, for example, between the pair of deformation suppressors 25 (FIG. 10). The locking portion 25a is provided with an arcuate surface 25d that fits along the arcuate bottom surface of the valley portion 11B on the inner circumferential surface side in order to facilitate smooth rotation of the corrugated tube 10 (FIGS. 4, 6 and 7).

[0026] Incidentally, the locking portions 25a of the pair of deformation suppressors 25 may function as tube expansion portions that expand the end of the corrugated tube 10 by pushing the end of the corrugated tube 10 radially outward in opposite directions from within the valley portions 11B on the inner circumferential surface side. This can further reduce the amount of narrowing in the pair of holding portions 22, 32 when the corrugated tube 10 is pulled in the axial direction. Therefore, the wire protection component 1 and corrugated tube holding structure 100 of this embodiment can increase the engagement allowance of the semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a in the valley portions 11A, thereby further suppressing a decrease in the holding force of the corrugated tube 10.

[0027] In the wire protection component 1, multiple electric wires are pulled out from the corrugated tube 10, whose ends are held in this manner, into the internal space of the housing main body 21 and the cover main body 31. The housing 20 has an electric wire pull-out portion 26 that pulls out the multiple electric wires in the internal space (FIGS. 1 to 3). The electric wire pull-out portion 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape with its own cylindrical axis perpendicular to the cylindrical axis formed by the pair of holding portions 22, 32.

[0028] For example, the multiple electric wires shown here connect a torque sensor and an electronic control unit of an electric power steering. Wire protection component 1 is attached to the housing of the torque sensor and is provided to ensure a waterproof function between the housing and the wire protection component. Wire lead-out portion 26 of this wire protection component 1 is fitted into a circular through-hole in the housing.

[0029] Therefore, a cylindrical mat seal 41 with a lip on its outer circumferential surface is housed inside the electric wire pull-out portion 26 (FIG. 3). This mat seal 41 has a cylindrical through-hole (hereinafter referred to as "electric wire insertion hole") 41a with a lip on its inner circumferential surface formed for each electric wire (FIG. 3). The electric wire pulled 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 pulled out through the electric wire insertion hole 41a. In this way, the mat seal 41 is provided to ensure a waterproof function inside the electric wire pull-out portion 26.

[0030] In the wire protection component 1, a mat seal cover 50 attached to the wire pull-out portion 26 prevents the mat seal 41 from falling off from the wire pull-out portion 26 (FIGS. 1 to 3). The mat seal cover 50 has a wire insertion hole 51 formed coaxially with the wire insertion hole 41a (FIG. 3). The wire that passes through the wire insertion hole 41a of the mat seal 41 is pulled out through the wire insertion hole 51.

[0031] In addition, an annular sealing member 42 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire pull-out portion 26 (FIGS. 1 to 3). This sealing member 42 fills the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire pull-out portion 26 and the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole in the housing of the torque sensor, thereby ensuring a waterproof function outside the electric wire pull-out portion 26. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1. Wire protection parts 10 Corrugated tube 11A Valley on the outer surface 12A Ridge on outer surface 11B Valley portion on the inner peripheral surface 12B Inner circumferential surface 13 Slit 20 Housing (retaining member) 22 Holding part 24 Retaining rib 24a Semicircular arc section 25 Deformation control device 25a Locking part 25b base 25c connection part 25d arcuate surface 30 Cover (retaining member) 32 Holding part 34 Retaining rib 34a Semicircular arc section 100 Corrugated tube holding structure

Claims

1. a pair of holding members for holding the ends of the corrugated tube in an assembled state; The corrugated tube is formed into a bellows tube shape having annular valleys and peaks alternately arranged in a tube axis direction and slits cut in the tube axis direction, the pair of holding members each have a holding portion that sandwiches and holds the end of the corrugated tube from an outer peripheral surface side, The pair of holding portions are protrusions that protrude from the respective inner wall surfaces for each of the plurality of valley portions on the outer peripheral surface side, and each have a holding rib provided with a semicircular arc portion that is inserted concentrically into the valley portion on the outer peripheral surface side, one of the holding portions is provided with a pair of deformation suppressors that protrude from the inner wall surface and suppress radial inward deformation of the end of the corrugated tube, the deformation suppressor has a locking portion that is inserted into the valley portion on the inner circumferential surface side of the end of the corrugated tube and locks the end of the corrugated tube in the valley portion to prevent radial inward movement of the end of the corrugated tube, The corrugated tube holding structure is characterized in that the respective locking portions of the pair of deformation suppressors are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the tube axis direction.

2. 2. The corrugated tube holding structure according to claim 1, wherein the deformation suppression device has a base portion that protrudes from the inner wall surface of one of the holding portions and is positioned opposite the end face of the terminal of the corrugated tube in the tube axis direction, and a connecting portion that connects the locking portion to the base portion inside the terminal of the corrugated tube.

3. 3. The corrugated tube holding structure according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is provided with an arcuate surface that fits along the arcuate bottom surface of the valley bottom of the valley portion on the inner circumferential surface side.

4. 3. The corrugated tube holding structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the locking portions of the pair of deformation suppression devices functions as an expansion portion that expands the end of the corrugated tube by pushing the end of the corrugated tube radially outward in opposite directions from within the valley portion on the inner surface side.

5. a corrugated tube having an accordion-like shape, which has annular valleys and peaks alternately arranged in a tube axis direction and slits cut in the tube axis direction, and through which a plurality of electric wires are inserted; a housing for accommodating and allowing the plurality of electric wires drawn out from the end of the corrugated tube to be drawn outward; a cover that holds the end of the corrugated tube between itself and the housing in an assembled state, and that covers and conceals the plurality of electric wires drawn out from the end of the corrugated tube between itself and the housing in an assembled state; Equipped with the housing and the cover each have a holding portion that sandwiches and holds the end of the corrugated tube from an outer peripheral surface side, The pair of holding portions are protrusions that protrude from the respective inner wall surfaces for each of the plurality of valley portions on the outer peripheral surface side, and each have a holding rib provided with a semicircular arc portion that is inserted concentrically into the valley portion on the outer peripheral surface side, one of the holding portions is provided with a pair of deformation suppressors that protrude from the inner wall surface and suppress radial inward deformation of the end of the corrugated tube, the deformation suppressor has a locking portion that is inserted into the valley portion on the inner circumferential surface side of the end of the corrugated tube and locks the end of the corrugated tube in the valley portion to prevent radial inward movement of the end of the corrugated tube, The wire protection component is characterized in that the locking portions of the pair of deformation suppressors are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the pipe axis direction.

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