Corrugated tube holding structure and electric wire protecting component

Abstract

To improve assembling workability of a corrugated tube.SOLUTION: A pair of holding members 20, 30 formed with a housing space 40 for inserting the terminal of the corrugated tube 10 in an assembled state and locking the movement of the terminal in an insertion direction and a removal direction, holding ribs 41 and holding grooves 42 alternately formed in an axial direction are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the housing space, the holding ribs are concentrically housed in valley parts 11 of the corrugated tube, and the holding grooves are concentrically housed in ridge parts 12 of the corrugated tube; The first side wall surface 13 of the mountain portion is formed in a side surface shape of a truncated cone tapered toward the insertion direction, the second side wall surface 14 of the mountain portion is formed in a planar shape orthogonal to the removal direction, the first locking surface 43 of the holding rib is an inclined surface having an inclination angle equal to that of the first side wall surface and is formed in a side surface shape of a truncated cone tapered toward the insertion direction, and the second locking surface 44 of the holding rib is formed in a planar shape orthogonal to the insertion direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

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 from the outer circumferential surface. Each retaining rib has a semicircular arc portion that forms an arc when the housing and the cover are fully assembled. When the housing and the cover are assembled, the semicircular arc portion is inserted into a valley portion of the bellows portion of the corrugated tube, thereby holding 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] In a conventional corrugated tube holding structure, the end of the corrugated tube is first placed in the housing while inserting the holding rib on the housing into the valley portion on the outer peripheral surface. Next, this corrugated tube holding structure holds the corrugated tube so that it does not come off the housing, and then inserts the holding rib on the cover into the valley portion on the outer peripheral surface while assembling the cover to the housing, thereby holding the end of the corrugated tube between the housing and the cover. In this way, in the conventional corrugated tube holding structure, the process of assembling the housing and the cover and the process of assembling the corrugated tube to the housing and the cover must be carried out simultaneously, leaving room for improvement in terms of stabilizing the corrugated tube assembling process.

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

[0006] The corrugated tube holding structure according to the present invention comprises a pair of holding members each having a cylindrical accommodating space formed therein, which allows an end of a cylindrical corrugated tube to be inserted in an insertion direction along a tube axis in an assembled state, while locking movement of the end of the corrugated tube in the insertion direction and in a removal direction along the tube axis, the corrugated tube being formed in a bellows tube shape having annular valleys and peaks alternately arranged in the tube axis direction, and annular holding ribs and holding grooves formed alternately in the axial direction are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating space, the holding ribs are concentrically received in the valleys on the outer peripheral surface side, and the holding grooves are concentrically received in the peaks on the outer peripheral surface side, and the holding ribs are held in the peaks on the outer peripheral surface side. The first annular side wall surface, which is the side wall surface on the insertion direction side, is formed in the side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, the second annular side wall surface, which is the side wall surface on the removal direction side of the peak portion on the outer surface side, is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the removal direction or in the side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, the first annular engagement surface, which is the side wall surface on the removal direction side of the retaining rib, is an inclined surface having an inclination angle equal to that of the first side wall surface and is formed in the side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, and the second annular engagement surface, which is the side wall surface on the insertion direction side of the retaining rib, is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the insertion 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 valley portions and peak portions alternately arranged in a 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 in an assembled state form a cylindrical accommodating space that allows the end of the corrugated tube to be inserted in an insertion direction along the tube axis, while preventing movement of the end of the corrugated tube in the insertion direction and in a removal direction along the tube axis, and the accommodating space has an inner circumferential surface that is provided with annular retaining portions alternately arranged in the axial direction. The retaining rib and retaining groove are provided, the retaining rib is concentrically accommodated in the valley portion on the outer peripheral surface side, the retaining groove concentrically accommodates the peak portion on the outer peripheral surface side, a first annular side wall surface which is the side wall surface on the insertion direction side of the peak portion on the outer peripheral surface side is formed in the side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, a second annular side wall surface which is the side wall surface on the removal direction side of the peak portion on the outer peripheral surface side is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the removal direction or in the side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, a first annular locking surface which is the side wall surface on the removal direction side of the retaining rib is an inclined surface having an inclination angle equivalent to that of the first side wall surface and is formed in the side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, and a second annular locking surface which is the side wall surface on the insertion direction side of the retaining rib is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the insertion direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the corrugated tube holding structure and wire protection component according to the present invention, by applying a load to the end of the corrugated tube in the insertion direction that is large enough to disengage the first side wall surface of the peak of the corrugated tube from the first locking surface of the retaining rib, the peak that has entered one of the retaining grooves can be moved into another retaining groove that is adjacent to the retaining groove in the insertion direction. Therefore, in this corrugated tube holding structure and wire protection component, by inserting the end of the corrugated tube into the accommodating space with such a load, the end of the corrugated tube can be inserted to the completed assembly position in the accommodating space. In this corrugated tube holding structure and wire protection component, the end of the corrugated tube can be assembled to the completed assembly position in the accommodating space simply by pushing the end of the corrugated tube into the accommodating space of the fully assembled housing and cover. In other words, the corrugated tube holding structure and wire protection component according to the present invention can improve the ease of assembling a 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 an explanatory diagram illustrating the process of assembling the corrugated tube. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the main parts inside the housing. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the main parts inside the cover. 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 6. FIG.

[0012] Reference numeral 1 in Figures 1 to 3 indicates a wire protection component of this embodiment. This wire protection component 1 includes a cylindrical corrugated tube 10 and a pair of holding members: a housing 20 and a cover 30 (Figures 1 to 3). The housing 20 and the cover 30, which serve as the pair of holding members, form a cylindrical storage space 40 into which, in an assembled state, the end of the corrugated tube 10 is inserted in an insertion direction along the tube axis, while preventing movement of the end of the corrugated tube 10 in the insertion direction and in the removal direction along the tube axis (Figures 3 and 4). The corrugated tube holding structure 100 of this embodiment is constituted by the housing 20 and the cover 30.

[0013] In the following, when simply referred to as the insertion direction, it refers to the direction in which the end of the corrugated tube 10 is inserted into the housing 20 and the cover 30 in the assembled state. Also, when simply referred to as the removal direction, it refers to the direction in which the end of the corrugated tube 10 is removed from the housing 20 and the cover 30 in the assembled state.

[0014] 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 (FIGS. 1 to 4). A plurality of electric wires (not shown) are inserted through the corrugated tube 10.

[0015] The outer peripheral ridge 12 has an annular first side wall surface 13 which is the side wall surface on the insertion direction side, and an annular second side wall surface 14 which is the side wall surface on the removal direction side (FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0016] The first side wall surface 13 is also the side wall surface on the removal direction side of the valley portion 11 on the outer peripheral surface side. This first side wall surface 13 is formed in the side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction. In addition, the second side wall surface 14 is also the side wall surface on the insertion direction side of the valley portion 11 on the outer peripheral surface side. This second side wall surface 14 is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the removal direction or in the side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction. The second side wall surface 14 shown here is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the removal direction. Therefore, the peak portion 12 on the outer peripheral surface side shown here is formed in the outer peripheral edge shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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 3). 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 3). 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.

[0020] 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).

[0021] 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). 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.

[0022] When the housing 20 and the cover 30 are fully assembled, the accommodating space 40 is formed inside the pair of holding portions 22, 32. When the assembly is complete, the pair of holding portions 22, 32 have a cylindrical shape, and the accommodating space 40 inside them holds the end of the corrugated tube 10.

[0023] The inner peripheral surface of the accommodation space 40 is provided with annular retaining ribs 41 and retaining grooves 42 that are alternately formed in the axial direction (FIGS. 3 and 4). The retaining ribs 41 are concentrically received in the valleys 11 on the outer peripheral surface side. The retaining grooves 42 are concentrically received in the peaks 12 on the outer peripheral surface side.

[0024] The pair of retaining portions 22, 32 are protrusions that protrude from the inner wall surface of each of the plurality of valley portions 11 on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube 10, and have retaining ribs 24, 34 that fit into the valley portions 11 to hold the end of the corrugated tube 10 ( FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6 ). 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 11 on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated tube 10 ( FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6 ). The pair of semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a form annular portions and are arranged concentrically within the valley portions 11 when the pair of retaining portions 22, 32 are in an assembled state. Therefore, in the accommodation space 40, the pair of semicircular arc portions 24a, 34a form annular retaining ribs 41.

[0025] The retaining rib 41 has a first annular locking surface 43 which is the side wall surface on the removal direction side, and a second annular locking surface 44 which is the side wall surface on the insertion direction side (FIG. 4).

[0026] The first locking surface 43 also serves as a side wall surface of the holding groove 42 on the insertion direction side. This first locking surface 43 is an inclined surface with an inclination angle equivalent to that of the first side wall surface 13 of the corrugated tube 10, and is formed in the shape of a truncated cone that tapers toward the insertion direction. The second locking surface 44 also serves as a side wall surface of the holding groove 42 on the removal direction side. This second locking surface 44 is formed in a planar shape that is perpendicular to the insertion direction.

[0027] In this wire protection component 1, the first side wall surface 13 on the insertion direction side of the peak portion 12 of the corrugated tube 10 is formed in the shape of a truncated cone that tapers toward the insertion direction, and the first locking surface 43 on the removal direction side of the retaining rib 41 of the accommodating space 40 is formed in the shape of a truncated cone that tapers toward the insertion direction. The first side wall surface 13 of the peak portion 12 and the first locking surface 43 of the retaining rib 41 have the shape of a truncated cone that tapers toward the insertion direction and face each other in parallel at the same inclination angle.

[0028] In this wire protection component 1, the first side wall surfaces 13 of the peak portions 12 and the first locking surfaces 43 of the retaining ribs 41 have such shapes and are arranged that when the peak portions 12 are inserted into the retaining grooves 42 and the end of the corrugated tube 10 attempts to move in the insertion direction, the first side wall surfaces 13 of the peak portions 12 are locked by the first locking surfaces 43 of the retaining ribs 41. Therefore, in this wire protection component 1, the movement of the end of the corrugated tube 10 in the insertion direction can be locked by the first side wall surfaces 13 of the peak portions 12 and the first locking surfaces 43 of the retaining ribs 41. Therefore, in this wire protection component 1, it is possible to prevent the end of the corrugated tube 10, which is positioned in the assembly completion position in the accommodating space 40, from moving in the insertion direction.

[0029] Meanwhile, in this wire protection component 1, by applying a load in the insertion direction to the end of the corrugated tube 10 that is large enough to release the engagement between the first side wall surface 13 of the ridge portion 12 and the first locking surface 43 of the retaining rib 41, the ridge portion 12 that has entered one of the retaining grooves 42 can be moved into another retaining groove 42 that is adjacent to the retaining groove 42 on the insertion direction side. Therefore, in this wire protection component 1, by inserting the end of the corrugated tube 10 into the accommodating space 40 with a load of such magnitude, the end of the corrugated tube 10 can be inserted up to a predetermined position in the accommodating space 40. This predetermined position is the position where the end of the corrugated tube 10 has been completely assembled in the accommodating space 40.

[0030] Furthermore, in this wire protection component 1, the second side wall surfaces 14 of the peak portions 12 of the corrugated tube 10 on the removal direction side are formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the removal direction or in the shape of a truncated cone that tapers toward the insertion direction (in this example, formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the removal direction), and the second locking surfaces 44 of the retaining ribs 41 of the accommodating space 40 on the insertion direction side are formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the insertion direction. Therefore, in this wire protection component 1, when the peak portions 12 are inserted into the retaining grooves 42 and the end of the corrugated tube 10 attempts to move in the removal direction, the second side wall surfaces 14 of the peak portions 12 are locked by the second locking surfaces 44 of the retaining ribs 41. Therefore, in this wire protection component 1, the movement of the end of the corrugated tube 10 in the removal direction can be locked by the second side wall surfaces 14 of the peak portions 12 and the second locking surfaces 44 of the retaining ribs 41. Therefore, in this wire protection component 1, it is possible to prevent the end of the corrugated tube 10, which is positioned in the assembly completion position in the accommodation space 40, from moving in the removal direction.

[0031] In this way, in this wire protection component 1, the end of the corrugated tube 10 can be assembled to the assembly completion position in the accommodating space 40 simply by pushing the end of the corrugated tube 10 into the accommodating space 40 of the housing 20 and the cover 30 in an assembled state. That is, the wire protection component 1 and the corrugated tube holding structure 100 of this embodiment can improve the ease of assembling the corrugated tube 10. The wire protection component 1 and the corrugated tube holding structure 100 of this embodiment can hold the end of the corrugated tube 10 in the assembly completion position in the accommodating space 40 simply by inserting the end of the corrugated tube 10 into the assembly completion position in the accommodating space 40. Therefore, the wire protection component 1 and the corrugated tube holding structure 100 of this embodiment can improve the ease of assembling the corrugated tube 10 while ensuring the holding force of the corrugated tube 10 after assembly.

[0032] 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 25 that pulls out the multiple electric wires in the internal space (FIGS. 1 to 3). The electric wire pull-out portion 25 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.

[0033] 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 pull-out portion 25 of this wire protection component 1 is fitted into a circular through-hole in the housing.

[0034] Therefore, a cylindrical mat seal 51 with a lip on its outer circumferential surface is housed inside the electric wire pull-out portion 25 (FIG. 3). This mat seal 51 has a cylindrical through-hole (hereinafter referred to as "electric wire insertion hole") 51a 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 51a. In this way, the mat seal 51 is provided to ensure a waterproof function inside the electric wire pull-out portion 25.

[0035] In the wire protection component 1, a mat seal cover 60 attached to the wire pull-out portion 25 prevents the mat seal 51 from falling off from the wire pull-out portion 25 (FIGS. 1 to 3). The mat seal cover 60 has a wire insertion hole 61 formed coaxially with the wire insertion hole 51a (FIG. 3). The wire that passes through the wire insertion hole 51a of the mat seal 51 is pulled out through the wire insertion hole 61.

[0036] In addition, an annular sealing member 52 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire pull-out portion 25 (FIGS. 1 to 3). This sealing member 52 fills the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire pull-out portion 25 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 25. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1. Wire protection parts 10 Corrugated tube 11 Valley 12 Yamabe 13 First side wall 14 Second side wall 20 Housing (retaining member) 30 Cover (retaining member) 40 Containment Space 41 Retaining rib 42 Retaining groove 43 First locking surface 44 Second locking surface 100 Corrugated tube holding structure

Claims

1. a pair of holding members each having a cylindrical accommodation space formed therein, which allows an end of a cylindrical corrugated tube to be inserted in an insertion direction along a tube axis in an assembled state, and which prevents movement of the end of the corrugated tube in the insertion direction and in a removal direction along the tube axis; The corrugated tube is formed into a bellows tube shape having annular valley portions and peak portions alternately arranged in a tube axial direction, The inner peripheral surface of the accommodation space is provided with annular retaining ribs and retaining grooves alternately formed in the axial direction, The retaining rib is concentrically accommodated in the valley portion on the outer circumferential surface side, The retaining grooves are configured to concentrically accommodate the peaks on the outer peripheral surface side, a first annular side wall surface, which is a side wall surface of the peak portion on the outer peripheral surface side facing the insertion direction, having a side surface shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction; a second annular side wall surface, which is a side wall surface on the removal direction side of the peak portion on the outer peripheral surface side, is formed into a plane shape perpendicular to the removal direction or a side surface shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, a first annular locking surface, which is a side wall surface of the retaining rib on the removal direction side, is an inclined surface having an inclination angle equivalent to that of the first side wall surface, and is formed in a side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, A corrugated tube holding structure characterized in that a second annular locking surface, which is a side wall surface of the holding rib on the side facing the insertion direction, is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the insertion direction.

2. a corrugated tube having an accordion-like shape, with annular valley portions and peak portions alternately arranged in the tube axis direction, 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 When the housing and the cover are fully assembled, a cylindrical accommodating space is formed between the housing and the cover, which allows the end of the corrugated tube to be inserted in an insertion direction along a tube axis, while preventing the end of the corrugated tube from moving in the insertion direction and in a removal direction along the tube axis, The inner peripheral surface of the accommodation space is provided with annular retaining ribs and retaining grooves alternately formed in the axial direction, The retaining rib is concentrically accommodated in the valley portion on the outer circumferential surface side, The retaining grooves are configured to concentrically accommodate the peaks on the outer peripheral surface side, a first annular side wall surface, which is a side wall surface of the peak portion on the outer peripheral surface side facing the insertion direction, having a side surface shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction; a second annular side wall surface, which is a side wall surface on the removal direction side of the peak portion on the outer peripheral surface side, is formed into a plane shape perpendicular to the removal direction or a side surface shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, a first annular locking surface, which is a side wall surface of the retaining rib on the removal direction side, is an inclined surface having an inclination angle equivalent to that of the first side wall surface, and is formed in a side shape of a truncated cone tapering toward the insertion direction, The wire protection component is characterized in that the second annular locking surface, which is a side wall surface of the holding rib on the side facing the insertion direction, is formed in a planar shape perpendicular to the insertion direction.

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