Elastic Holder Wire Harness Vibration Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire harnesses used in vehicles, such as those for electric parking brake systems, experience a reduction in water tightness due to vibrations, which can cause the housing to separate or become misaligned from the sheath, allowing water to enter.
Innovation Solution
A wire harness design featuring a cable with exposed electric wires, a housing with sealing members, and a cylindrical holder made of an elastic material that engages with the housing to restrict movement and maintain water tightness, even under vibration. The holder has a small and large diameter cylindrical portion with an engaging mechanism to prevent longitudinal movement and enhance sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is rigidly fixed to the sheath, then the water tightness is improved, but the ability to absorb vibration and movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is made of elastic material instead of rigid material, changing the physical parameter of flexibility. This allows the holder to maintain engagement between the housing and sheath while accommodating vibrations and movements, preventing water ingress without causing connection failure
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism between the holder, housing, and sheath is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The elastic holder can deform and recover during vibration, maintaining continuous engagement to preserve water tightness while adapting to relative movements between components
2Ease of manufacture
If the housing is made loose-fitting for easy installation, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the water tightness is reduced due to gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The holder acts as an intermediary component between the housing and sheath. It provides the sealing function that prevents water ingress while allowing the housing to be easily installed over the sheath without requiring precise fitting, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and water tightness
3Strength
If the holder is made of hard material for structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the ability to maintain engagement under vibration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holder material properties are changed from hard/rigid to elastic/flexible. This parameter change allows the holder to maintain structural integrity while adapting to vibrations and movements, ensuring continuous engagement between the housing and sheath to maintain water tightness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively maintains water tightness during vehicle vibrations by preventing the housing from moving relative to the sheath, thus preventing water ingress through the gaps, ensuring reliable operation of the electric parking brake system.
Implementation Method 1
a cylindrical holder (6) comprising an elastic body and having an inner circumferential surface in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the sheath (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A wire harness includes a cable that includes electric wires and a sheath covering the electric wires and is arranged so that the electric wires are exposed from an end of the sheath, a housing that accommodates the electric wires exposed from the end of the sheath, a sealing member arranged inside the housing, and a cylindrical holder including an elastic body and having an inner circumferential surface in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the sheath. An engaging portion provided on one of the housing and the holder engages an engaged portion provided on an other of the housing and the holder. The engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion restricts the housing from moving in a longitudinal direction of the cable.