Modular Wire Harness Grommet for Sealing and Layout Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of conventional grommets needs to be frequently changed to accommodate varying layouts and shapes of wire harnesses and attachment holes, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A grommet composed of three members: a first member with a seal portion, a second member with a tubular portion, and a third member with a tubular portion, allowing for independent adjustment of each member to fit different vehicle designs without altering the entire grommet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the grommet design is changed to accommodate different wire harness layouts and attachment hole shapes, then the adaptability to device design is improved, but the design complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is divided into three separate members: a first member with a seal portion that contacts the panel, a second member with a tubular portion for wire harness insertion, and a third member with another tubular portion. This segmentation allows each member to be independently designed and adjusted to fit different wire harness layouts and attachment hole shapes, improving adaptability without requiring complete redesign of the entire grommet assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The three members are configured to work together dynamically, where the first member provides sealing against the panel while the second and third members accommodate the wire harness in different orientations. This dynamic configuration allows the grommet to adapt to varying wire harness inclinations and positions while maintaining a relatively simple overall design structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If the grommet is made as a single integrated component, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the ability to adjust to different wire harness configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the grommet into three manufacturable members with distinct functions, each component can be produced using standard manufacturing processes for relatively simple geometries. The first member is optimized for sealing, while the second and third members are optimized for wire harness accommodation, allowing each to be manufactured independently with simpler tooling and processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The three separately manufactured members are combined into a functional assembly that provides the complete grommet functionality. This merging approach allows the benefits of simplified individual component manufacturing while achieving the complexity needed for adaptability through the coordinated arrangement of the three members.
Data Source
AI summary
A direction in which a wire harness (W) passes inside a grommet (10) according to one aspect of the present disclosure is defined as an insertion direction (D). The grommet (10) includes: a first member (11) that includes a seal portion (36) configured to come into contact with a vehicle body panel (P); a second member (12) that is attached to one side of the first member (11) in the insertion direction (D), and includes a second tubular portion (43) into which the wire harness (W) is inserted; and a third member (13) that is attached to the other side of the first member (11) in the insertion direction (D), and includes a third tubular portion (52) into which the wire harness (W) is inserted.