Wire Harness Groove Nesting for Compact Parallel Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wire harness designs with parallel exterior members require a wide space due to their large total width, making them bulky and inefficient in terms of size and configuration.

Innovation Solution

A wire harness design featuring a first tubular exterior member with an interior groove to accommodate a second exterior member, allowing them to be disposed parallel to each other, thereby reducing the overall width, with a holding structure to secure the second member and a positional offset restricting structure to prevent axial movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two exterior members are disposed parallel to each other as in conventional wire harnesses, then the wire harness can accommodate multiple conductive paths, but the total width becomes large making the wire harness bulky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of multiple conductive pathsVSAvoidtotal width of wire harness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The second exterior member is nested within the exterior accommodating groove of the first exterior member, allowing one tubular structure to contain another. This nesting arrangement enables multiple conductive paths to be accommodated while significantly reducing the overall width of the wire harness, as the second exterior member does not occupy additional lateral space but rather utilizes the internal volume of the groove structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of stationary object

If the second exterior member is accommodated in the exterior accommodating groove, then the width of the wire harness is reduced, but the second exterior member may fall off without proper securing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewidth of wire harnessVSAvoidsecuring of second exterior member

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The exterior accommodating groove is designed with a holding structure portion that preliminarily secures the second exterior member in position before final assembly. The groove geometry itself provides inherent retention features that prevent the second exterior member from falling off, eliminating the need for additional securing members while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The exterior accommodating groove acts as an intermediary structure between the first and second exterior members. It provides a controlled interface that both reduces overall width and ensures proper positioning and securing of the second exterior member through its specially designed holding structure portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If additional securing members are used to prevent the second exterior member from falling off, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring of second exterior memberVSAvoidnumber of securing members

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The exterior accommodating groove is designed to be self-sufficient in securing the second exterior member. The holding structure portion integrated into the groove geometry provides automatic retention without requiring external securing members. This self-service approach reduces device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining the reliability needed to prevent the second exterior member from falling off.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9601911B2Wire harness

Publication Date: 2017.03.21 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A wire harness includes a first conductive path, a second conductive path, a first exterior member having a tubular shape and accommodating the first conductive path, and a second exterior member having a tubular shape and accommodating the second conductive path. An exterior accommodating groove is formed in a wall of the first exterior member. The exterior accommodating groove is recessed inward of the first exterior member. The second exterior member is accommodated in the exterior accommodating groove so as to be parallel to the first exterior member.