Stacked Wiring Member Thickness Reduction via Wire Nesting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wire harnesses with circular cross-sections require increased space for arrangement and have a desired thickness reduction, as they are made of stacked flat wiring members.

Innovation Solution

A stacked wiring member comprising flat wiring members with wire-like transmission members of varying thicknesses, where thinner members are strategically placed to minimize thickness by filling gaps between thicker members, and a base member keeps the wires in a parallel state, allowing for efficient stacking and protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If wire-like transmission members of different thicknesses are arranged side-by-side in the stacked direction, then the thickness of the stacked wiring member increases, but the arrangement space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of stacked wiring memberVSAvoidarrangement space requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing thinner wire-like transmission members into the gaps between thicker members in the stacked direction. This allows multiple wires of different thicknesses to occupy the same vertical space, reducing the overall thickness of the stacked wiring member while maintaining proper arrangement of all conductors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional side-by-side arrangement to a three-dimensional nested arrangement. By utilizing the gaps between thicker wires in the stacked direction, thinner wires are positioned in the vertical dimension rather than requiring additional horizontal space, thus reducing the overall thickness of the wiring member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If wire-like transmission members of different thicknesses are arranged side-by-side, then the thickness increases, but the space for arranging the wire harness must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of stacked wiring memberVSAvoidspace for arranging wire harness

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing thinner wire-like transmission members into the gaps between thicker members in the stacked direction. This allows multiple wires of different thicknesses to occupy the same vertical space, reducing the overall thickness of the stacked wiring member while maintaining proper arrangement of all conductors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional side-by-side arrangement to a three-dimensional nested arrangement. By utilizing the gaps between thicker wires in the stacked direction, thinner wires are positioned in the vertical dimension rather than requiring additional horizontal space, thus reducing the overall thickness of the wiring member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11183317B2Stacked wiring member

Publication Date: 2021.11.23 AUTONETWORKS TECH LTD

AI summary

A stacked wiring member includes a plurality of stacked flat wiring members. Each of the plurality of flat wiring members includes a plurality of wire-like transmission members and a base member keeping the plurality of wire-like transmission members in a parallel state in at least a part of the plurality of wire-like transmission members in an extension direction thereof. Wire-like transmission members having different thicknesses in the plurality of wire-like transmission members are disposed to be located together in a stacked direction of the plurality of flat wiring members.