Protector Connection Structure for Non-Bellows Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wire harness protectors fail to establish a reliable connection with corrugated tubes unless they have a bellows-shape, limiting their functionality and attachment workability.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure featuring a latch portion and a sliding portion that allows the protector to be attached to a conduit, enabling a locked state even without a bellows-shape, with the sliding portion opposing the conduit's direction to maintain the latched state, improving attachment workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the protector is fixed to the conduit by sandwiching the end portion with the protector body and lid, then the connection is simple, but the connection is unreliable when the conduit is not bellows-shaped
Solution Approach 1:
The latch portion is designed to engage with the conduit in a dynamic latching action, where the latch portion moves from an engaged state to a disengaged state through relative sliding motion. This dynamic engagement mechanism ensures reliable connection regardless of whether the conduit is bellows-shaped or not, while maintaining simple attachment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch portion acts as an intermediary element between the protector and the conduit, providing a positive mechanical engagement that ensures reliable connection. The latch portion engages with the conduit body to prevent accidental disconnection, while the sliding portion provides the necessary movement capability.
2Reliability
If the latch portion is joined to the conduit in a latched state, then connection reliability is improved, but the workability of attachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding portion is designed to enable easy transition between latched and unlatched states through simple sliding motion. The latch portion can be engaged or disengaged from the conduit by sliding the sliding portion along the conduit axis, making the attachment process highly workable while maintaining reliable connection when latched.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch portion is pre-configured to automatically engage with the conduit when the sliding portion is moved to the latched position. This preliminary engagement design ensures that once the sliding portion is positioned, the latch portion secures the connection reliably without requiring additional fastening operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sliding portion slides in the direction of conduit extension, then the protector can connect to non-bellows-shaped conduits, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding portion provides linear sliding motion along the conduit axis, enabling the latch portion to engage with various conduit shapes including non-bellows-shaped conduits. This simple sliding mechanism achieves adaptability without requiring complex adjustment devices or multiple component variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of the latch portion and sliding portion creates a universal connection mechanism that can accommodate different conduit types and shapes. The latch portion engages with the conduit body while the sliding portion provides the necessary movement, making the protector adaptable to various applications without increasing overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A connection structure connecting a conduit 12 to a protector 30, the conduit 12 having a wire 11 inserted therein and being configured to move in accordance with sliding of a sliding object, and the protector 30 being attached to an end portion of the conduit 12 and being configured to move with the conduit 12, wherein, the protector 30 includes: a latch portion 39 that is joined to the conduit 12 in a latched state; and a sliding portion 15 that can slide in the direction in which the conduit 12 extends, opposes the conduit 12 in a normal position, and restricts release of the latched state of the latch portion 39.