Photocurable Resin Binding for Wire Harnesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing wire harnesses, such as thermal welding and tape winding, either affect conductors under coatings or require lengthy winding processes, leading to suboptimal binding states and workability.

Innovation Solution

A method and device using a photocurable resin to form a binding portion around electric wires, which is cured with light, eliminating the need for thermal welding and tape winding, thereby improving binding state and workability while protecting the wires and reducing external protectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If thermal welding is used to bind electric wires, then binding strength is improved, but conductors under coatings are affected and binding state deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding strengthVSAvoidbinding state
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal welding (thermal field) with photocurable resin bonding (chemical field). The resin is applied to bind electric wires and cured through photopolymerization when exposed to light, eliminating thermal effects that damage conductors while achieving sufficient binding strength through chemical adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If tape winding is used to bind electric wires, then binding state is improved, but winding time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding stateVSAvoidbinding workability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical tape winding process with automated resin application and light curing. The photocurable resin is applied to the wires and rapidly cured by light exposure, eliminating the time-consuming manual or automated winding operation while maintaining binding quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of photocurable resin from liquid (applicable state) to solid (cured state) through photopolymerization. This rapid phase change upon light exposure enables quick binding without the prolonged mechanical winding process, significantly improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Productivity

If photocurable resin is used to form binding portion, then binding workability is improved, but additional curing process is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding workabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal welding equipment with photocurable resin application and light curing equipment. While this introduces a chemical process, it eliminates the complex thermal control and monitoring required for thermal welding, and the rapid light curing enables faster cycle times, improving overall workability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 photocurable resin binding method enhances the binding state and workability of wire harnesses by not affecting conductors and eliminating winding time, while also providing protection and maintaining the required shape, thus improving productivity and reducing external components.

Implementation Method 1

performing a resin curing to cure the photocurable resin provided on the portion of the plurality of electric wires by irradiating the photocurable resin with light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP3763575B1Wire harness, wire harness manufacturing method and wire harness manufacturing device
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP3763575B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3763575B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3763575B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wire harness includes: a harness main body (2). The harness main body includes a plurality of electric wires (4) and a binding portion (5). The biding portion is configured to bind the plurality of electric wires. The binding portion is formed by a cured photocurable resin (23).