Folded Hollow Plate Wire Protector for Load Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire harnesses are insufficient in supporting loads when the direction of the hollow portions intersects with the load direction, leading to potential crushing.
Innovation Solution
A protector made of a folded hollow plate material with load-bearing wall portions arranged to align with the load direction, featuring a tubular shape with locked portions for engagement with a counterpart member, providing enhanced support and resistance to deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hollow portions of the wire harness are arranged in a direction intersecting with the load direction, then the wire harness can be easily manufactured with standard hollow plate material, but the load cannot be supported sufficiently and the wire harness is prone to crushing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing load bearing wall portions with different structural characteristics from other wall portions. Specifically, the load bearing wall portions are configured with their longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the load direction, and include reinforcement structures such as increased thickness or additional support elements at specific locations to enhance load support capability precisely where needed, rather than uniformly strengthening the entire wire harness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by making the wire harness structure asymmetric with respect to the hollow plate material orientation. The load bearing wall portions are specifically oriented with their longitudinal direction parallel to the load direction, while other wall portions may have different orientations. This asymmetric configuration optimizes strength in the critical load-bearing directions while maintaining ease of manufacture for non-critical sections.
2Reliability
If the wire harness is arranged at a position subject to load without sufficient structural reinforcement, then the installation space can be utilized, but the wire harness deforms or crushes under the exerted load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the wire harness into distinct functional segments: load bearing wall portions and non-load bearing wall portions. The load bearing wall portions are specifically designed with enhanced structural characteristics including longitudinal orientation parallel to the load direction and reinforcement structures, while other portions maintain standard construction. This segmented approach provides targeted reinforcement only where loads are applied, improving reliability without unnecessarily increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the structural parameters of the wire harness in response to load conditions. The load bearing wall portions feature changed parameters including longitudinal direction orientation (substantially parallel to load direction), increased thickness, and additional support elements. These parameter changes are applied selectively to enhance resistance to deformation under load while maintaining simplicity in non-critical areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A protector made of a hollow plate material is externally fitted to an electric wire arranged at a position at which a load is exerted. A protector-equipped electric wire is provided with an electric wire arranged at a position at which a load is exerted, and a protector externally fitted to the electric wire. The protector is made of a folded hollow plate material, the hollow plate material including a plurality of plate-shaped portions, and interposed portions that are arranged extending in one direction between the plurality of plate-shaped portions and form hollow spaces between the plurality of plate-shaped portions, the protector including a plurality of wall portions that covers the electric wire. The plurality of wall portions including at least one load bearing wall portion that is arranged so that the direction in which the interposed portions extend corresponds to a direction in which the load is exerted.