Wire distribution unit and wire harness

Abstract

The present invention provides a wire routing unit and wire harness that enable proper routing of wires along a routing path and reduce the number of components. [Solution] The wire routing unit 1 comprises a first fixing part 2 that is fixed to the object to be fixed, a first holding part 3 that holds the wire W relative to the first fixing part 2, a second fixing part 4 that is fixed to the object to be fixed, a second holding part 5 that holds the wire W relative to the second fixing part 4, and a flexible connecting part 6 that connects the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4, with the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 being integrally molded with the connecting part 6.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as related to a wire harness unit and a wire harness, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, there is known a wire harness unit (wiring regulation member) having a first holding portion and a second holding portion for holding a wire member, connecting the first holding portion and the second holding portion with a first regulation member and a second regulation member, and connecting the first regulation member and the second regulation member with a connecting member. This wire harness unit can be deformed according to the wiring path of the wire member by making the connecting member capable of changing the angle formed by the first regulation member and the second regulation member, and the versatility of the wiring path regulation member can be improved.

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 the above-described wire harness unit and wire harness, there is room for improvement in that it may be difficult to appropriately route and fix the wire according to the wiring path. For example, in the above-described wire harness unit, when it is desired to route the wire in a curved manner, it becomes difficult to route the wire along the curved wiring path. On the other hand, in the above-described wire harness unit, it is conceivable to provide a large number of connecting members and route the wire along a curved wiring path, but there is a concern that the number of parts will increase.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a wire routing unit and wire harness that can properly route electric wires along a routing path and reduce the number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In other words, the wire routing unit according to the present invention comprises a first fixing part fixed to an object to be fixed, a first holding part that holds a wire to the first fixing part, a second fixing part fixed to the object to be fixed, a second holding part that holds the wire to the second fixing part, and a flexible connecting part that connects the first fixing part and the second fixing part, wherein the first fixing part and the second fixing part are formed integrally with the connecting part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the wire routing unit and wire harness of the present invention, wires can be properly routed along the routing path, and the number of parts can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire routing unit and wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the wire routing unit and wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the movement of the fixing part in the wire routing unit and wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing part in the wire routing unit and wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of a comparative example of a wire routing unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Furthermore, some of the components in the following embodiments may be easily substituted or substantially identical to those that are easily substituted by those skilled in the art.

[0010] [Embodiment] This embodiment relates to a wire routing unit and a wire harness. In the following description, of the three intersecting directions, the first direction is referred to as the "extension direction X," the second direction as the "width direction Y," and the third direction as the "height direction Z." Here, the extension direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are mutually orthogonal. Note that "orthogonal" here includes approximately orthogonal. The extension direction X corresponds, for example, to the direction in which the electric wire extends. Unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description refer to the directions when the parts are assembled together.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wire routing unit 1 of this embodiment is a unit that routes and fixes electric wires W to an object to be fixed, and is used, for example, mounted on a vehicle, and more specifically, for routing the movable wires of a transmission. The electric wires W are wiring members and conductive members that make electrical connections, and are, for example, provided in pairs in parallel. The number of electric wires W installed is not limited to this. The wire routing unit 1 also functions as a wire harness WH, including the electric wires W. Figure 1 shows the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH with the electric wires W routed in a straight line, and Figure 2 shows the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH with the electric wires W routed along a curved path.

[0012] The wire routing unit 1 comprises a first fixing part 2, a first holding part 3, a second fixing part 4, a second holding part 5, and a connecting part 6. The first fixing part 2 is the part that fixes the wire routing unit 1 to the object to be fixed. The object to be fixed is, for example, a vehicle body, electrical equipment, or vehicle components. The first fixing part 2 has, for example, a first support piece 21 and a first fixing piece 22. The first support piece 21 and the first fixing piece 22 are each formed in a plate shape and are joined in a cross-sectional L shape in a direction intersecting the extending direction X of the electric wire W. The first support piece 21 is provided along the extending direction X and the width direction Y and supports the electric wire W extending in the extending direction X. The first fixing piece 22 is provided along the extending direction X and the height direction Z and forms a fixing hole 221 that penetrates both sides. The fixing hole 221 is used as a hole for inserting a fastening member (not shown). The first fixing piece 22 is fixed to the object to be fixed using a fastening member.

[0013] The first holding portion 3 is the part that holds the electric wire W, for example, it holds the electric wire W with respect to the first fixing portion 2. The first holding portion 3 is provided as a separate component from the first fixing portion 2 and is attachable to the first support piece 21. Specifically, the first holding portion 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is provided to cover the outer circumference of the first support piece 21 and the electric wire W, and holds the electric wire W with respect to the first support piece 21.

[0014] The second fixing part 4 is the part that fixes the wire routing unit 1 to the object to be fixed, and is provided spaced apart from the first fixing part 2, fixing the wire routing unit 1 to the object to be fixed at a different position from the first fixing part 2. The second fixing part 4 has, for example, a second support piece 41 and a second fixing piece 42. The second support piece 41 and the second fixing piece 42 are each formed in a plate shape and are joined in an L-shape in cross-section in a direction intersecting the extending direction X of the electric wire W. The second support piece 41 is provided along the extending direction X and the width direction Y, and supports the electric wire W extending in the extending direction X. The second fixing piece 42 is provided along the extending direction X and the height direction Z, and forms a fixing hole 421 that penetrates both sides. The fixing hole 421 is used as a hole for inserting a fastening member (not shown). The second fixing piece 42 is fixed to the object to be fixed using a fastening member.

[0015] The second holding portion 5 is a portion for holding the electric wire W. For example, the second holding portion 5 holds the electric wire W with respect to the second fixing portion 4. The second holding portion 5 is provided as a separate member from the second fixing portion 4 and can be attached to the second support piece 41. Specifically, the second holding portion 5 is formed in a cylindrical shape, covers the outer periphery of the second support piece 41 and the electric wire W, and holds the electric wire W with respect to the second support piece 41.

[0016] The connecting portion 6 is a portion for connecting the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 and has flexibility. The connecting portion 6 is formed in a plate shape and extends in the extending direction of the electric wire W. For example, the connecting portion 6 is formed continuously with the first support piece 21 of the first fixing portion 2 and the second support piece 41 of the second fixing portion 4 and is provided between the first support piece 21 and the second support piece 41. Therefore, the connecting portion 6 can be arranged along the electric wire W routed between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4, and can support the electric wire W routed between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4.

[0017] The connecting portion 6 is formed integrally with the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 by integral molding. That is, the connecting portion 6 is formed of the same material as the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 and is integrally formed with the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 by molding. Thereby, the connecting portion 6, the first fixing portion 2, and the second fixing portion 4 are not provided as separate parts, respectively, and can be handled as one part. For this reason, the electric wire wiring unit 1 can be configured with a small number of parts, and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the connecting portion 6, the first fixing portion 2, and the second fixing portion 4 are separate parts, respectively.

[0018] The connecting portion 6 is, for example, integrally formed with the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 by resin molding. The connecting portion 6 is formed, for example, with a plate thickness that can change the extending direction and is formed to have flexibility. Thereby, the connecting portion 6 can be provided linearly or in a curved state.

[0019] Next, a method of using the electric wire wiring unit 1 and the wire harness WH according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness unit 1 is attached to the wire W, supports the wire W so that the wire W is routed along the wiring path, and is fixed to the object to be fixed.

[0021] First, the wire harness unit 1 is installed along the wiring path of the wire W. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the wire W is routed linearly, the wire harness unit 1 is installed so that the connecting portion 6 is linear. The wire W is held by the first holding portion 3 at the position of the first fixing portion 2 and is held by the second holding portion 5 at the position of the second fixing portion 4. The first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 are fixed to the object to be fixed using fastening members. The wire W is supported by the connecting portion 6 between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 and is routed along the connecting portion 6. For example, if the connecting portion 6 is not provided in the wire harness unit 1, the wire W will hang down by its own weight between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 and be routed. In this case, there is a concern that the wire W may sway due to vibration. On the other hand, the wire harness unit 1 and the wire harness WH according to the present embodiment can support the wire W by the connecting portion 6 between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4. Therefore, in the wire harness unit 1 and the wire harness WH according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid the wire W from hanging down and being routed between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4, and it is possible to suppress the wire W from swaying due to vibration.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, when the wire W is routed in a curved manner, the wire harness unit 1 is installed by curving the connecting portion 6. Since the connecting portion 6 has flexibility, it can be installed by being curved without force. In this case, for example, the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 are arranged in an upside-down state and fixed to the object to be fixed. The wire W is held by the first holding portion 3 at the position of the first fixing portion 2 and is held by the second holding portion 5 at the position of the second fixing portion 4. The wire W is supported by the connecting portion 6 between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 and is routed in a curved state.

[0023] As shown in Figure 5, if a connecting portion 6 is not provided between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4, as in the wire routing unit 100, for example, it is difficult to properly route the electric wire W. That is, the electric wire W is routed hanging down due to its own weight between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4. In particular, if the electric wire W is routed in a curved manner, it will hang down considerably. In this case, there is a concern that the electric wire W will sway considerably due to vibration. Also, the portion of the electric wire W extending from the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4 will be bent, causing stress concentration. In contrast, the wire routing unit 1 according to this embodiment can support the electric wire W by curving the connecting portion 6 between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4. Therefore, in the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to this embodiment, it is possible to avoid the electric wire W hanging down between the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 4, to suppress stress concentration in the electric wire W, and to properly route the electric wire W in a curved manner.

[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the wire routing unit 1 may also be used in a manner in which one of the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 is moved. That is, the wire routing unit 1 may be used in a manner in which the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 are moved apart or closer together, with the connecting part 6 installed so as to be curved and the electric wire W routed in a curved manner along the connecting part 6. In this case, the curvature of the connecting part 6 and the electric wire W will change due to the movement of the first fixing part 2 or the second fixing part 4. At this time, since the connecting part 6 is flexible, it will elastically deform in response to the movement of the first fixing part 2 or the second fixing part 4, changing its curvature and bending, and can properly support the electric wire W. Therefore, even when the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to this embodiment are used in a manner in which the first fixing part 2 or the second fixing part 4 is moved, stress concentration on the electric wire W can be suppressed and the electric wire W can be routed in a curved manner.

[0025] The wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH can be smoothly fixed to the object to be fixed by connecting the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 with a connecting part 6. For example, in the wire routing unit 1, when the first fixing part 2 is fixed to the object to be fixed, the direction and position of the fixing position of the second fixing part 4 are limited by the connecting part 6, preventing the wire W from being routed in a twisted manner, and making the fixing work of the second fixing part 4 easier. For this reason, the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH can be fixed to the object to be fixed more smoothly than when the connecting part 6 is not provided.

[0026] As described above, the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to this embodiment connect the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 with a connecting part 6, thereby enabling the wire W to be properly routed along the routing path between the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4. Furthermore, because the connecting part 6 of the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to this embodiment is flexible, the wire W can be properly routed in a curved state even if the routing path is curved.

[0027] Furthermore, the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to this embodiment can reduce the number of parts by integrally molding the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 with the connecting part 6. In addition, the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to this embodiment can be integrally molded with the connecting part 6, allowing for smooth fixing work to the object to be fixed.

[0028] It should be noted that the wire routing unit and wire harness according to the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to this embodiment may be constructed by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments described above.

[0029] For example, in the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to the above-described embodiment, the first fixing part 2 has a first fixing piece 22 and the second fixing part 4 has a second fixing piece 42, but the rigidity of the first fixing piece 22 and the second fixing piece 42 may be configured to be higher than the rigidity of the connecting part 6. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the first fixing piece 22 may be made thicker by folding a plate material in half. In this case, the plate thickness of the first fixing piece 22 can be increased to increase the strength of the first fixing piece 22, and the fixing of the wire routing unit 1 to the object to be fixed can be stabilized. In Figure 4, the narrow part 211 is the part for attaching the first holding part 3. The second fixing piece 42 may also be configured in the same way as the first fixing piece 22 in Figure 4. By configuring the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH in this way, the strength of the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 can be increased without reducing the flexibility of the connecting part 6.

[0030] Furthermore, in the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to the above-described embodiment, the case in which the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 are integrally molded with the connecting part 6 in resin has been described, but the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 may be formed integrally with the connecting part 6 by methods other than resin molding. For example, the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 may be integrally molded with the connecting part 6 by press molding or press processing. Even in this case, similar to the wire routing unit 1 and wire harness WH according to the above-described embodiment, The electric wire W can be properly routed along the routing path between the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4, and the first fixing part 2 and the second fixing part 4 are integrally molded with the connecting part 6, which allows for smooth fixing work to the object to be fixed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 1: Wire distribution unit 2: First fixed part 3: First holding part 4:Second fixed part 5:Second holding part 6:Connection part W:Electric wire WH: Wire harness

Claims

1. A first fixing part that is fixed to the object to be fixed, The first fixing part is provided with a first holding part that holds the electric wire, A second fixing part that is fixed to the object to be fixed, A second holding portion for holding the electric wire relative to the second fixing portion, The first fixing part and the second fixing part are connected by a flexible connecting part, The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are formed integrally with the connecting portion by molding. Electrical cable routing unit.

2. Power lines and, The system comprises a wire routing unit that is attached to the aforementioned wire, The aforementioned wire routing unit is A first fixing part that is fixed to the object to be fixed, A first holding portion for holding the electric wire relative to the first fixing portion, A second fixing part that is fixed to the object to be fixed, A second holding portion for holding the electric wire relative to the second fixing portion, It comprises a flexible connecting portion that connects the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are formed integrally with the connecting portion by molding. Wire harness.

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