Flexible Grommet Coupling for Wire Harness Inclination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grommets fail to maintain effective sound insulation and sealing performance across varying inclination angles of wire harnesses passing through vehicle body panels, limiting their universal application.
Innovation Solution
A grommet design featuring a main body with a seal portion, a tubular portion for the wire harness, and flexible coupling portions that absorb inclination by bending, creating sound insulation spaces to maintain sealing and insulation performance regardless of wire harness angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional grommet design is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying inclination angles of wire harnesses and sound insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is divided into multiple functional segments: a rigid main body for structural support, flexible coupling portions for angle adaptation, and sound insulation portions for acoustic isolation. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while collectively solving the adaptability issue without requiring complete redesign of the entire grommet structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling portions are designed with flexible material properties and geometric features that enable them to dynamically bend and deform in response to varying wire harness inclination angles. This dynamic characteristic allows the grommet to adapt to different installation conditions while maintaining sealing and structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the grommet structure is made more complex to adapt to inclination angles, then adaptability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexibility of the coupling portions is achieved by controlling material parameters (elasticity, hardness) and geometric parameters (thickness, cross-sectional shape) during the molding process. By adjusting these parameters within standard manufacturing ranges, the desired flexibility is obtained without requiring complex multi-step manufacturing processes or specialized materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sound insulation space is added between coupling portions, then sound insulation performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound insulation function is merged with the coupling portions by integrating sound insulation portions directly into the coupling structure. This combination eliminates the need for separate sound insulation components while achieving effective acoustic isolation through the air gaps and flexible material properties of the integrated design.
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 grommet effectively absorbs wire harness inclination, maintaining sealing and enhancing sound insulation performance across different angles, ensuring universal compatibility and improved acoustic insulation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the pair of coupling portions includes a flexible portion configured to bend so as to absorb an inclination of the wire harness with respect to the panel
Implementation Method 2
a main body that includes a seal portion configured to come into contact with the panel
Data Source
AI summary
A grommet according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first coupling portion that couples a first tubular portion and a first base portion to each other; and a second coupling portion that couples a second tubular portion and a second base portion to each other. The first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are provided with a space therebetween in the axial direction of the grommet. The first coupling portion includes a first flexible portion. The second coupling portion includes a second flexible portion. The first flexible portion and the second flexible portion are configured to bend so as to absorb an inclination of a wire harness with respect to a vehicle body panel. The first coupling portion and the second coupling portion provide a first sound insulation space therebetween.