Grommet, wire harness, and method for attaching wire harness

Abstract

To improve work efficiency and ensure water stopping performance.SOLUTION: A grommet 1 includes an annular water stop portion 11A that is mounted in a through hole 101 formed in a mounting panel 100 to stop water, a plurality of cylindrical portions 12 penetrating through the water stop portion 11A, a communicating portion 13 that communicates the cylindrical portions 12 along the alignment of the plurality of cylindrical portions 12 to connect the interiors 12A of the respective cylindrical portions 12 together, and a push member 30 that presses all the cylindrical portions 12 and the communicating portion 13 inward from the periphery, and pushes the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 12 against the outer peripheral surface of a wiring material W in a state in which the wiring material W is inserted into the interior 12A of each of the cylindrical portions 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a grommet, a wire harness, and a method for attaching a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a clamp that has a function of attaching a pipe harness having electric wires passing through a metal pipe to a vehicle body and a function of fitting and fixing a grommet to the pipe harness. This clamp has a thin hinge that connects two parts having a pair of semicircular inner surfaces, a locking part and a locked part that are provided on the divided ends of each part and lock each other, a vehicle body fixing part provided on one of the parts, and a circumferential grommet fixing protrusion provided on the semicircular inner surface of each part. The clamp covers each part with a cylindrical part of a grommet made of rubber or elastomer that fits the pipe harness, and presses and fixes the grommet fixing protrusions of each part against the entire outer periphery of the cylindrical part of the grommet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-67292 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the invention of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a cylindrical part of a grommet is fitted on the outer periphery of a metal pipe (pipe harness) through which a plurality of electric wires pass, and grommet fixing protrusions of each part of a clamp are pressed against the entire outer periphery of the cylindrical part of the grommet to perform watertightness. However, in the invention of Patent Document 1, when the ends of a plurality of electric wires are connected to a connector, each electric wire is passed through a metal pipe and then connected to the connector in a vehicle. Therefore, in the invention of Patent Document 1, the number of wiring steps is increased, which takes a long time, and the work is performed in a narrow vehicle, which makes the work less efficient. In addition, the invention of Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration watertightness of gaps that occur between a plurality of electric wires in the grommet part. Generally, watertightness of gaps that occur between a plurality of electric wires is achieved by pouring and solidifying a silicone watertight liquid, but it is difficult to sufficiently watertight the gaps with a watertight liquid for large-diameter electric wires that have larger gaps.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a grommet, a wire harness, and a method for installing a wire harness that can improve work efficiency and ensure waterproofing performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the grommet of the present invention comprises an annular water-stopping portion that is attached to a through hole formed in a mounting panel to stop water, a plurality of tubular portions that penetrate the water-stopping portion, a communicating portion that connects each of the tubular portions along the arrangement of the plurality of tubular portions to connect the interiors of each of the tubular portions into one, and a pressing member that presses all of the tubular portions and the communicating portions inward from the periphery when a wiring material is inserted into each of the tubular portions, and presses the inner surfaces of each of the tubular portions against the outer circumferential surfaces of each of the wiring materials.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the wire harness of the present invention has a plurality of electrically conductive wiring materials and a grommet arranged to bundle together the wiring materials, and the grommet has an annular water-stopping portion that is inserted into a through hole formed in a mounting panel to stop water, a plurality of tubular portions that penetrate the water-stopping portion, a communicating portion that connects the tubular portions along the arrangement of the plurality of tubular portions to connect the interiors of the tubular portions into one, and a pressing member that presses all of the tubular portions and the communicating portions inward from the periphery when wiring materials are inserted into each of the tubular portions, and presses the inner surfaces of the tubular portions against the outer surfaces of the wiring materials.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a method for installing a wire harness according to the present invention includes a plurality of electrically conductive wiring materials, a connector to which the wiring materials are connected together, and a grommet provided in a manner to bundle the wiring materials together, the grommet including an annular water stop portion that is inserted into a through hole formed in a mounting panel to stop water, a plurality of tubular portions that penetrate the water stop portion, a communication portion that connects the tubular portions along the arrangement of the plurality of tubular portions to connect the insides of the tubular portions into one, and a state in which the wiring materials are inserted into each of the tubular portions. and a pressing member that presses all of the tubular portions and the communicating portions inward from the periphery and presses the inner surfaces of each of the tubular portions against the outer periphery of each of the wiring materials, the method including the steps of collectively expanding each of the tubular portions connected together at the grommet, inserting the connector and each of the wiring materials into each of the expanded tubular portions, and pressing each of the tubular portions and the communicating portions inward from the periphery and pressing the inner surfaces of each of the tubular portions against the outer periphery of each of the wiring materials. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The grommet, the wire harness, and the method for installing the wire harness according to the present invention have the effect of improving work efficiency and ensuring watertight performance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a grommet according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the grommet according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the grommet and the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the grommet and the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for attaching the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating a procedure for attaching the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating a procedure for attaching the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating a procedure for attaching the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the wire harness according to the embodiment after installation. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view of the wire harness according to the embodiment after installation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the components in the following embodiments include those that are replaceable and easy for a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0012] [Embodiment] The grommet 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is incorporated into a wire harness WH to be wired in a vehicle or the like. Here, the wire harness WH is, for example, a wiring material W used for power supply or signal communication to connect each device mounted on a vehicle with a connector 200 (see FIG. 8) or the like. The wire harness WH includes a conductive wiring material W and a grommet 1 provided on the wiring material W and through which the wiring material W is inserted. The wire harness WH may further include various components such as exterior members such as a corrugated tube, a resin tape, and a protector, an electric connection box, and a fixing device. The wiring material W is, for example, an electric wire. The electric wire is a conductor portion (core wire) made of a plurality of conductive metal wires, the outside of which is covered with an insulating covering portion. Here, the wiring material W is, for example, a thick electric wire used in a high-voltage system. The wire harness WH bundles and aggregates a plurality of wiring materials W, and various devices are electrically connected via connectors 200 etc. provided at the ends of the bundled wiring materials W.

[0013] The grommet 1 is applied to the through hole 101 formed in the mounting panel 100 to be mounted when wiring the wiring material W across two spaces partitioned by the mounting panel 100 as a boundary. The mounting panel 100 is, for example, a metal plate constituting a vehicle body, and the through hole 101 penetrates the mounting panel 100 along the plate thickness direction. The two spaces partitioned by the mounting panel 100 are typically an interior space (for example, a cabin) and an exterior space (for example, an engine compartment). The grommet 1 is assembled to the through hole 101 in a state in which the wiring material W of the wire harness WH is inserted and sheathed around the wiring material W, thereby protecting the wiring material W passing through the through hole 101 and waterproofing the through hole 101. The grommet 1 has functions such as dustproofing and soundproofing in addition to waterproofing the through hole 101. The configuration of the grommet 1 will be described in detail below with reference to the respective drawings.

[0014] In the following description, for convenience, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with each other, the first direction is referred to as the "axial direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z". The axial direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are typically perpendicular to each other. Here, the axial direction X corresponds to the plate thickness direction of the above-mentioned mounting panel 100, and corresponds to the insertion direction of the wiring material W and the grommet 1 into the through hole 101. In other words, the axial direction X is a direction along the extension direction of the wiring material W inserted into the grommet 1. The width direction Y and the height direction Z correspond to the extension direction of the mounting panel 100. Here, for the sake of convenience and ease of understanding, the wiring material W will be described as being linearly wired along the axial direction X, but this is not limiting, and the wiring material W inserted into the grommet 1 may be partially bent or curved so as to deviate from the axial direction X when the grommet 1 is attached to the mounting panel 100. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description will be described as a direction when the grommet 1 is assembled to the mounting panel 100.

[0015] The grommet 1 of this embodiment includes a grommet body 10, a grommet inner 20, and a pressing member 30, as shown in FIGS.

[0016] The grommet body 10 includes a main body portion 11, a tubular portion 12, a communicating portion 13, and a flexible portion 14, which are integrated together to form an elastic body. The grommet body 10 is made of an insulating elastic resin material having low rigidity and high flexibility, such as rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer (e.g., ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)).

[0017] The main body 11 is a portion that waterproofs the through hole 101 when attached to the mounting panel 100 and through which the wiring material W is inserted along the axial direction X. The main body 11 is configured to include a waterproof portion 11A and a blocking portion 11B, and is formed in a dome shape as a whole.

[0018] The water-stopping portion 11A is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the through-hole 101 of the mounting panel 100. The water-stopping portion 11A is a portion that contacts the water-stopping surface 102, which is configured as one surface facing the axial direction X of the mounting panel 100, and stops water between the water-stopping surface 102 and the water-stopping surface 102. The water-stopping portion 11A of this embodiment is configured to include a first lip portion 11Aa and a second lip portion 11Ab. The first lip portion 11Aa is formed in a tongue shape so that the tip faces the water-stopping surface 102, and is formed as an annular outer peripheral portion along the annular shape of the water-stopping portion 11A. The second lip portion 11Ab is formed in a tongue shape so that the tip faces the water-stopping surface 102, and is formed as an annular inner peripheral portion along the annular shape of the water-stopping portion 11A. The first lip portion 11Aa and the second lip portion 11Ab are integrally connected to each other at their base ends. The first lip portion 11Aa and the second lip portion 11Ab are configured to elastically deform and adhere closely to the water-stopping surface 102 around the edge of the through hole 101 when the grommet 1 is attached to the through hole 101, thereby sealing the entire periphery of the through hole 101.

[0019] The blocking portion 11B is formed integrally with the base ends of the first lip portion 11Aa and the second lip portion 11Ab in the water stop portion 11A, and is formed to block the annular shape of the water stop portion 11A. Therefore, the blocking portion 11B is configured to cover and block the through hole 101 together with the water stop portion 11A on the water stop surface 102 side of the mounting panel 100 to which the water stop portion 11A is in close contact. As shown in Fig. 3, a groove portion 11C is formed in a continuous annular shape on the inner surface of the main body portion 11 between the blocking portion 11B and the water stop portion 11A.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the tubular portion 12 is formed in a tubular shape that is approximately cylindrical and is integral with the main body portion 11, and the wiring material W is inserted inside along the axial direction X. The tubular portion 12 is provided integrally with the blocking portion 11B. The tubular portion 12 is configured to extend from the blocking portion 11B along the axial direction X so as to move away from the water-stopping surface 102 of the mounting panel 100, and to penetrate the blocking portion 11B. Therefore, the wiring material W inserted into the tubular portion 12 is arranged to penetrate the main body portion 11. A plurality of the tubular portions 12 are formed side by side. In the present embodiment, two tubular portions 12 are formed side by side along the width direction Y. One tubular portion 12 inserts one wiring material W. One wiring material W is typically configured as one electric wire.

[0021] The inner peripheral surface 12B of the tubular portion 12 protrudes toward the inside of the tube 12A, and ribs 12C are formed along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical shape. A plurality of ribs 12C are formed in the axial direction X, which is the extension direction of the tubular portion 12. In this embodiment, the ribs 12C are formed at a total of three locations: at the tip of the tubular portion 12 extending away from the blocking portion 11B, and midway along the extension.

[0022] The communication portion 13 is formed to connect the plurality of tubular portions 12. The communication portion 13 communicates the respective tubular portions 12 along the arrangement of the plurality of tubular portions 12. The communication portion 13 connects the tubular interiors 12A of the plurality of tubular portions 12 as one ring. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the communication portion 13 includes a pair of communication walls 13A facing each other in the height direction Z, and a communication hole 13B formed between the inner wall surfaces 13C of the facing communication walls 13A. Each communication wall 13A is provided along the width direction Y so as to communicate the respective tubular portions 12 in the arrangement direction of the plurality of tubular portions 12. Each communication wall 13A is formed to extend in the same manner as the tubular portions 12 along the axial direction X in which the tubular portions 12 extend. The communication wall 13A is formed in a constricted shape with respect to the outer circumferential surfaces 12D of the plurality of tubular portions 12 having a substantially cylindrical shape, and communicates a part of each tubular portion 12. The communication wall 13A is formed such that the distance between the pair of opposing inner wall surfaces 13C in the height direction Z is wider at the center side in the arrangement direction (here, the width direction Y) of the tubular parts 12 than at the end sides in the arrangement direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in the communication part 13, the pair of inner wall surfaces 13C are formed to be slightly curved so that the distance G1 at the center side in the arrangement direction of the tubular parts 12 is wider than the distance G2 at the end sides in the arrangement direction. In other words, the pair of inner wall surfaces 13C are formed to be slightly curved so that they gradually approach each other in the height direction Z from the center side to both ends along the arrangement direction of the tubular parts 12. The communication hole 13B is provided so as to divide the opposing inner wall surfaces 13C of each communication wall 13A, and is formed continuously in the axial direction X, thereby connecting the insides 12A of the multiple tubular parts 12 as one ring.

[0023] 3, the flexible portion 14 is provided so as to surround the tubular portion 12 and the communication portion 13, and is formed so as to connect the tubular portion 12 and the communication portion 13 to the blocking portion 11B. The flexible portion 14 is formed in a bellows shape and is allowed to bend in the width direction Y, the height direction Z, and the axial direction X.

[0024] The grommet inner 20 is a member to which the grommet body 10 is attached and through which the wiring material W is inserted inside, and which can be fitted along the edge of the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the grommet inner 20 includes a main body 21, a claw portion 22, and a flange portion 23. The grommet inner 20 is formed as a rigid body having higher rigidity than the grommet body 10 by integrating the main body 21, the claw portion 22, and the flange portion 23. The grommet inner 20 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene (PP) having higher rigidity than the grommet body 10, for example. The main body 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction X along the shape of the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100, and the cylindrical shape is divided into a first member 21A and a second member 21B. The first member 21A and the second member 21B are formed symmetrically, and the claws 21Aa, 21Ba and the holes 21Ab, 21Bb are fitted together to form a cylindrical shape. The claws 22 are formed to protrude outward from the outer peripheral surfaces of the first member 21A and the second member 21B of the main body 21. The claws 22 are provided so as to hook onto the edge of the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100, and the main body 21 is attached to the edge of the through hole 101. The flange 23 extends toward the outside of the main body 21 at one end of the cylindrical shape of the main body 21, and is provided continuously in the circumferential direction along the cylindrical shape of the main body 21. The flange 23 is formed by dividing the first member 21A and the second member 21B of the main body 21. The flange 23 is inserted into the groove 11C formed in the main body 11 of the grommet body 10. The grommet inner 20 is formed into a cylindrical shape by fitting the first member 21A and the second member 21B together with each other in a state where the flange portion 23 is inserted into the groove portion 11C of the main body portion 11 of the grommet main body 10, and in this state, the claw portion 22 is hooked on the edge of the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100, so that the grommet inner 20 is attached to the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100 together with the grommet main body 10, as shown in Fig. 3. The grommet main body 10 attached to the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100 by the grommet inner 20 exhibits water stopping performance by contacting the first lip portion 11Aa and the second lip portion 11Ab of the water stopping portion 11A with the water stopping surface 102 of the mounting panel 100. Note that the first member 21A and the second member 21B are described here as being formed separately, but may be formed by being connected to each other in a hinge shape so as to be openable and closable.

[0025] The pressing member 30 is a member attached to the periphery of the tubular portion 12 and the communicating portion 13 of the grommet body 10. The pressing member 30 is formed as a rigid body having higher rigidity than the grommet body 10. The pressing member 30 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene (PP) having higher rigidity than the grommet body 10. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pressing member 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to surround the outer circumferential surfaces 12D, 13D (see Fig. 4) of each of the tubular portions 12 and the communicating portion 13, and the cylindrical shape is divided into a first member 30A and a second member 30B. The first member 30A and the second member 30B are formed in a symmetrical shape, and the claws 30Aa, 30Ba and the flanges 30Ab, 30Bb are fitted together to form the cylindrical shape. The pressing member 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and presses the cylindrical portion 12 and the communication portion 13 of the grommet body 10 inward from the periphery. When pressing, the pressing member 30 includes a cylindrical pressing portion 30C and a protruding pressing portion 30D. The cylindrical pressing portion 30C and the protruding pressing portion 30D are formed by dividing the first member 30A and the second member 30B. The cylindrical pressing portion 30C is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to surround each cylindrical portion 12 of the grommet body 10, and the cylindrical shape is divided into approximately half the first member 30A and the second member 30B. The cylindrical pressing portions 30C of the first member 30A and the second member 30B are formed as semicircular ribs 30Ca surrounding each cylindrical portion 12. The ribs 30Ca forming the cylindrical pressing portion 30C are provided in a plurality of positions in the axial direction X, which is the extension direction of the cylindrical portion 12. In this embodiment, the ribs 30Ca forming the cylindrical pressing portion 30C are formed at three positions in the axial direction X. The protruding pressing portion 30D is disposed outside the communicating portion 13 of the grommet body 10, and is formed by dividing it into the first member 30A and the second member 30B. As described above, the communicating portion 13 is formed such that the outer peripheral surface 13D is constricted with respect to the outer peripheral surface 12D of the plurality of cylindrical portions 12, which are substantially cylindrical, and the protruding pressing portion 30D disposed outside the communicating portion 13 is formed to protrude between the plurality of cylindrical pressing portions 30C so as to be inserted into the constricted shape of the outer peripheral surface 13D of the communicating portion 13. The protruding pressing portion 30D is formed as a rib 30Da that is inserted into the constricted shape of the outer peripheral surface 13D of the communicating portion 13.The rib 30Da forming the protruding pressing portion 30D has a surface that presses the communication portion 13 and is formed flat and continuous in the width direction Y, which is the arrangement direction of the multiple cylindrical portions 12. A plurality of ribs 30Da forming the protruding pressing portion 30D are provided in the axial direction X, which is the extension direction of the cylindrical portion 12. In this embodiment, the ribs 30Da forming the protruding pressing portion 30D are formed at three locations in the axial direction X. The ribs 30Da forming the protruding pressing portion 30D are formed continuously with the rib 30Ca forming the cylindrical pressing portion 30C. Note that, here, the first member 30A and the second member 30B have been described as being formed separately, but they may be formed by being connected in a hinge shape so as to be mutually openable and closable.

[0026] 6 to 10, a description will be given of a mounting procedure, which is a method for mounting the wire harness WH using the above-mentioned grommet 1. Note that Fig. 6 illustrates the cylindrical portion 12 and the communication portion 13, and omits the main body portion 11 and the flexible portion 14.

[0027] First, as shown in FIG. 6, in the grommet 1, the tubular parts 12 connected together by the communication parts 13 are expanded together. The expansion of the tubular parts 12 is performed using an expansion device 300. The expansion device 300 includes a drive device (not shown), a plurality of moving parts 301 that are moved closer to or farther from each other by the drive device, and rod-shaped insertion parts 302 fixed to each moving part 301. The expansion device 300 moves each moving part 301 with each insertion part 302 in a parallel state by the drive device. Then, in the expansion device 300, the insertion parts 302 are arranged close to each other in a state where the moving parts 301 are moved closer to each other, and the insertion parts 302 are inserted into the tubular parts 12 connected together, and then the moving parts 301 are moved away from each other by the drive device. Then, the expansion device 300 expands all of the connected tube portions 12 collectively by the mutually separated insertion portions 302. This is the expansion step (S1) shown in FIG.

[0028] 6, the connector 200 and a plurality of wiring materials W connected to the connector 200 are inserted into the cylindrical interiors 12A of the cylindrical portions 12 expanded into one. This is the insertion step (S2) shown in FIG.

[0029] After the connector 200 and the wiring material W have been inserted, as shown in FIG. 7, the expansion by the expansion device 300 is stopped and each of the tubular portions 12 and the communication portion 13 is restored to its original shape.

[0030] Next, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the pressing member 30 presses each tubular portion 12 and the communicating portion 13 inward from the periphery in the height direction Z, pressing the inner peripheral surface 12B of each tubular portion 12 against the outer peripheral surface of each wiring material W. The pressing member 30 has a divided first member 30A and a second member 30B, so that the wiring material W inserted into each tubular portion 12 can be passed through its own cylindrical shape. This pressing member 30 can be obtained by molding the same member, since the first member 30A and the second member 30B are formed symmetrically. The above is the pressing process (S3) shown in Figure 5.

[0031] Thereafter, the first member 21A and the second member 21B of the grommet inner 20 are assembled to the grommet body 10 so that the wiring material W passes through the cylindrical shape, and the first member 21A and the second member 21B are fitted together. The grommet inner 20 can be easily inserted into the groove portion 11C of the grommet body 10 by having the divided first member 21A and the second member 21B. In addition, the grommet inner 20 can be easily fitted into the grommet body 10 by having the divided first member 21A and the second member 21B, avoiding the wiring material W. Since the first member 21A and the second member 21B are formed in a symmetrical shape, this grommet inner 20 can be obtained by molding the same member. Through the above steps, a wire harness WH is formed in which grommets 1 are attached to a plurality of wiring materials W connected to the connector 200.

[0032] Further, thereafter, the end of the wiring material W opposite to the end to which the connector 200 is connected is inserted into the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100, and the main body 21 of the grommet inner 20 is fitted into the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100. As a result, with the flange 23 inserted into the groove 11C of the main body 11 of the grommet main body 10, the claw 22 is hooked onto the edge of the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100, and the grommet inner 20 is attached to the through hole 101 of the mounting panel 100 together with the grommet main body 10.

[0033] As described above, the grommet 1 and wire harness WH of this embodiment comprise an annular water-stopping portion 11A that is attached to the through hole 101 formed in the mounting panel 100 to stop water, a plurality of tubular portions 12 that penetrate the water-stopping portion 11A, a communicating portion 13 that communicates each of the tubular portions 12 along the arrangement of the plurality of tubular portions 12 and connects the tubular interiors 12A of each of the tubular portions 12 into one, and a pressing member 30 that presses all of the tubular portions 12 and the communicating portions 13 inward from the periphery when a wiring material W is inserted into each of the tubular interiors 12A of each of the tubular portions 12, thereby pressing the inner surfaces 12B of each of the tubular portions 12 against the outer surfaces of each of the wiring materials W.

[0034] According to the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, the insides 12A of the tubular parts 12 through which the wiring materials W are inserted are connected to one another by the communication parts 13, so that the connector 200 to which the wiring materials W are connected can be inserted together with the wiring materials W into the insides 12A of the tubular parts 12. Therefore, according to the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, it is not necessary to connect the wiring materials W to the connector 200 after passing them through the tubular parts 12. As a result, according to the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, the number of steps for wiring can be reduced, and the work efficiency can be improved. Moreover, according to the grommet 1 and the wire harness WH, the inner peripheral surface 12B of each tubular part 12 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of each wiring material W by the pressing member 30, so that the waterproof performance can be ensured.

[0035] In addition, in the grommet 1 of this embodiment, the communicating portion 13 is formed in a constricted shape with respect to the outer peripheral surfaces 12D of the multiple tubular portions 12, and the pressing member 30 includes a multiple number of cylindrical pressing portions 30C that each press the tubular portions 12, and a protruding pressing portion 30D that is located between the multiple cylindrical pressing portions 30C and presses the communicating portion 13.

[0036] According to this grommet 1, the pressing member 30 presses the outer peripheral surface 12D of each tubular portion 12 with each cylindrical pressing portion 30C to press each tubular portion 12 against the outer peripheral surface of each wiring material W to stop water, and presses the communication portion 13 formed in a constricted shape with respect to the outer peripheral surface 12D of the multiple tubular portions 12 with the protruding pressing portion 30D to stop water between each tubular portion 12 provided with the communication portion 13. Thus, according to this grommet 1, the pressing member 30 can stop water between the tubular portion 12 and the wiring material W with the cylindrical pressing portion 30C, and can stop water between each cylindrical pressing portion 30C with the protruding pressing portion 30D. As a result, according to this grommet 1, water stopping performance can be ensured.

[0037] In addition, in the grommet 1 of this embodiment, the communicating portion 13 is formed such that the distance along the pressing direction (height direction Z) between a pair of inner wall surfaces 13C facing the pressing direction by the protruding pressing portion 30D is wider at the center side of the arrangement direction of the tubular portions 12 than at the end sides of the arrangement direction, and the protruding pressing portion 30D is formed flat in the arrangement direction.

[0038] According to this grommet 1, in the communicating portion 13 pressed by the protruding pressing portion 30D formed flat in the arrangement direction of the tubular portions 12, the pressing stroke is larger at the center side in the arrangement direction of the tubular portions 12 than at the end sides in the arrangement direction due to the difference in the interval along the pressing direction. Therefore, according to this grommet 1, the amount of pressing is larger at the center side in the arrangement direction of the tubular portions 12, and the center side is deformed toward both ends in the arrangement direction closer to the tubular portions 12. As a result, according to this grommet 1, the communicating portion 13 can be pressed evenly. Specifically, according to this grommet 1, the opposing communicating walls 13A of the communicating portion 13 are pressed evenly without uneven pressing, increasing the degree of adhesion of each communicating wall 13A, so that the communicating hole 13B is blocked without any gaps, and the water-stopping performance can be improved. Furthermore, according to this grommet 1, the protruding pressing portion 30D is formed flat in the arrangement direction of the tubular portions 12, so that the communicating portion 13 is pressed flat to be in close contact with the flat surface, thereby improving the waterproofing performance.

[0039] Furthermore, in the grommet 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, each tubular portion 12 is formed such that its shape before being pressed by the pressing member 30 is expanded relative to the shape of the outer surface of the wiring material W, and as shown in Figure 10, it deforms to conform to the shape of the outer surface of the wiring material W as it is pressed by the pressing member 30.

[0040] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, each tubular portion 12 of the grommet 1 is formed so that, with the portion furthest from the communicating portion 13 as a base point 12E, the portion spreads out in the height direction Z, which is the pressing direction, as it approaches the communicating portion 13 along the arrangement direction (width direction Y) from the base point 12E. Therefore, when pressed by the pressing member 30, the tubular portion 12 deforms so that the inner peripheral surface 12B comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material W, and assumes a shape that conforms to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material W. As a result, according to the grommet 1, the inner peripheral surface 12B of the tubular portion 12 deforms so as to be evenly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material W, thereby improving the water-stopping performance.

[0041] In the grommet 1 of this embodiment, the pressing member 30 includes ribs 30Ca that press the respective cylindrical portions 12 and a rib 30Da that presses the communication portion 13.

[0042] According to this grommet 1, the pressing member 30 includes the rib 30Ca that presses each tubular portion 12, thereby increasing the degree of adhesion when the inner peripheral surface 12B of the tubular portion 12 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material W, thereby improving the water stopping performance. Moreover, according to this grommet 1, the pressing member 30 includes the rib 30Da that presses the communicating portion 13, thereby increasing the degree of adhesion of the communicating portion 13, thereby improving the water stopping performance.

[0043] In the grommet 1 of this embodiment, the tubular portion 12 has a plurality of ribs 12C formed on the inner peripheral surface 12B in the axial direction X along which the tubular portion 12 extends. In the grommet 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that the pressing member 30 presses the tubular portion 12 against the plurality of ribs 12C of the tubular portion 12 such that the plurality of ribs 30Ca are staggered in the axial direction X. In this manner, with this grommet 1, the ribs 12C on the inner peripheral surface 12B of the tubular portion 12 can be effectively pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material W, improving the water-stopping performance.

[0044] In addition, the installation method of the wire harness WH of this embodiment includes a process of collectively expanding each of the tubular portions 12 connected together in the grommet 1, a process of inserting the connector 200 and each of the wiring materials W into each of the expanded tubular portions 12, and a process of pressing each of the tubular portions 12 and the communicating portions 13 inward from the periphery with the pressing member 30 to press the inner surface 12B of each of the tubular portions 12 against the outer surface of each of the wiring materials W.

[0045] According to this method for mounting the wire harness WH, the connector 200 to which the multiple wiring materials W are connected is inserted together with each of the wiring materials W into the cylindrical interior 12A of each of the cylindrical parts 12, so that it is not necessary to pass each of the multiple wiring materials W through the through holes 101 formed in the mounting panel 100, and then through the cylindrical parts 12 before connecting them to the connector 200 inside the vehicle. As a result, according to this grommet 1, the number of steps in the wiring work can be reduced, and the work efficiency can be improved. Moreover, according to this grommet 1, the inner peripheral surface 12B of each cylindrical part 12 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of each wiring material W by the pressing member 30, so that the waterproof performance can be ensured.

[0046] The grommet 1, the wire harness WH, and the method of attaching the wire harness WH according to the embodiment of the present invention described above are not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The grommet 1 and the wire harness WH according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiment and modified examples described above.

[0047] In the above description, the wiring material W has been described as being composed of a thick electric wire used in high voltage systems, but it is not limited to this and may be composed of a metal rod, an electric wire bundle, etc. A metal rod is a rod-shaped member having electrical conductivity, the outside of which is covered with an insulating covering. A wire bundle is a bundle of electric wires. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 Grommet 11A Water stop part 12 Cylinder 12A cylinder 12B Inner surface 12C Rib 12D outer surface 13 Communication section 13C Inner wall 13D outer surface 30 Pressing member 30C Cylindrical pressing part 30Ca Rib 30D Protruding pressure part 30Da Rib 100 Mounting Panel 101 Through hole 200 Connectors W Routing material WH Wire harness

Claims

1. An annular water-stopping part that is attached to a through hole formed in an attachment panel to stop water; A plurality of tubular portions passing through the water stop portion; a communication portion that communicates with each of the cylindrical portions along the arrangement of the plurality of cylindrical portions to connect the interiors of the cylindrical portions into one; A pressing member that presses all of the tubular portions and the communication portions inward from the periphery while the wiring material is inserted into each of the tubular portions, and presses the inner peripheral surface of each of the tubular portions against the outer peripheral surface of each of the wiring materials; Equipped with The communication portion is formed in a constricted shape so as to connect outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical portions, the pressing member includes a plurality of cylindrical pressing portions each pressing the cylindrical portion, and a protruding pressing portion located between the plurality of cylindrical pressing portions and pressing the communication portion, The communication portion is formed such that a distance along the pressing direction between a pair of inner wall surfaces facing each other in a pressing direction by the protruding pressing portion is wider at a center side in the arrangement direction than at end sides in the arrangement direction, The protruding pressing portion is formed flat in the arrangement direction. Grommet.

2. Each of the tubular portions is formed such that the shape before being pressed by the pressing member is expanded relative to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material, and is deformed to conform to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the wiring material as it is pressed by the pressing member. The grommet of claim 1 .

3. The pressing member includes a rib that presses each of the cylindrical portions and a rib that presses the communicating portion, The grommet according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A plurality of electrically conductive wiring materials; A grommet provided in a manner to bundle the wiring materials; having The grommet is An annular water stop part that is attached to a through hole formed in the mounting panel to stop water; A plurality of tubular portions passing through the water stop portion; a communication portion that communicates with each of the cylindrical portions along the arrangement of the plurality of cylindrical portions to connect the interiors of the cylindrical portions into one; A pressing member that presses all of the tubular portions and the communication portions inward from the periphery while the wiring material is inserted into each of the tubular portions, thereby pressing the inner peripheral surface of each of the tubular portions against the outer peripheral surface of each of the wiring materials; Equipped with The communication portion is formed in a constricted shape so as to connect outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical portions, the pressing member includes a plurality of cylindrical pressing portions each pressing the cylindrical portion, and a protruding pressing portion located between the plurality of cylindrical pressing portions and pressing the communication portion, The communication portion is formed such that a distance along the pressing direction between a pair of inner wall surfaces facing each other in a pressing direction by the protruding pressing portion is wider at a center side in the arrangement direction than at end sides in the arrangement direction, The protruding pressing portion is formed flat in the arrangement direction. Wire harness.

5. A plurality of electrically conductive wiring materials; A connector to which the wiring materials are connected together; A grommet provided in a manner to bundle the wiring materials; having The grommet is An annular water stop part that is attached to a through hole formed in the mounting panel to stop water; A plurality of tubular portions passing through the water stop portion; a communication portion that communicates with each of the cylindrical portions along the arrangement of the plurality of cylindrical portions to connect the interiors of the cylindrical portions into one; A pressing member that presses all of the tubular portions and the communication portions inward from the periphery while the wiring material is inserted into each of the tubular portions, thereby pressing the inner peripheral surface of each of the tubular portions against the outer peripheral surface of each of the wiring materials; Equipped with The communication portion is formed in a constricted shape so as to connect outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical portions, the pressing member includes a plurality of cylindrical pressing portions each pressing the cylindrical portion, and a protruding pressing portion located between the plurality of cylindrical pressing portions and pressing the communication portion, The communication portion is formed such that a distance along the pressing direction between a pair of inner wall surfaces facing each other in a pressing direction by the protruding pressing portion is wider at a center side in the arrangement direction than at end sides in the arrangement direction, The protruding pressing portion is formed flat in the arrangement direction. A method for installing a wire harness, comprising the steps of: a step of connecting the tubular portions along a line of the plurality of tubular portions by the connecting portion formed in a constricted shape so as to connect the outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of tubular portions in the grommet, thereby expanding the interiors of the tubular portions connected together; A step of inserting the connector and each of the wiring materials into each of the expanded tubular portions; pressing each of the tubular portions with each of the cylindrical pressing portions of the pressing member, and pressing the communicating portions inward from the periphery, the communicating portions being formed such that the spacing along the pressing direction of a pair of the inner wall surfaces opposing the pressing direction by the protruding pressing portions is wider at the center side of the arrangement direction than at the ends of the arrangement direction, by the flat protruding pressing portions of the pressing member in the arrangement direction, thereby pressing the inner peripheral surfaces of each of the tubular portions against the outer peripheral surfaces of each of the wiring materials; A method for installing a wire harness comprising:

Images