Wire Harness Guide With Contoured Surface And Enclosed Openings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wires during manufacturing, transportation, and installation are prone to damage, misalignment, and creep, often deviating from specified bend radii, leading to costly and time-consuming repositioning and repairs, especially in tight spaces.

Innovation Solution

A guide with a contoured surface having a non-linear central axis and circumferentially enclosed openings is used to maintain desired wire bends, resist lateral displacement, and secure wires, allowing for efficient routing and installation according to design specifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If wires are routed without a guide structure, then installation is simpler and faster, but wires deviate from specified bend radii and suffer from misalignment and creep

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire bend radius conformityVSAvoidguide structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A guide structure acts as an intermediary component between the wire and the installation environment. The guide provides a contoured surface that physically directs the wire along the desired path, ensuring conformity to specified bend radii while preventing misalignment and creep during installation and operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide structure is pre-configured with the exact contour and bend radius requirements before wire installation. By establishing the correct geometric path in advance, the guide ensures that wires are routed precisely according to specifications from the outset, eliminating the need for post-installation adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If wires are manually repositioned to correct misalignment and creep, then wire fitment improves, but installation time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire alignment stabilityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure provides self-aligning features that automatically maintain wire position without requiring manual intervention. The contoured surface and engagement mechanisms work passively to prevent creep and misalignment, allowing the wire installation system to self-correct and maintain alignment stability throughout the installation process and during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Alignment features and engagement mechanisms are built into the guide structure before installation. These pre-configured elements automatically guide the wire into the correct position and maintain it there, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual repositioning and ensuring reliable alignment from the start.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If wires are installed in tight spaces without guidance, then installation flexibility is higher, but wire damage and improper fitment increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidwire damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure is divided into multiple segments or sections, each designed to handle specific portions of the wire route. This segmentation allows the guide to navigate tight spaces and complex geometries while providing continuous protection and guidance, reducing wire damage risk without compromising installation ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide incorporates flexible components or thin-walled structures that can bend and conform to tight spaces while still providing adequate support and guidance for the wire. This flexibility allows easy installation in constrained environments while the guide's structural integrity prevents wire damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS9488297B1Guides for and methods of forming a wire harness
Publication Date: 2016.11.08 THE BOEING CO
  • US9488297B1 patent drawing
  • US9488297B1 patent drawing
  • US9488297B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A guide 100 for a wire harness 610 is disclosed. The guide 100 comprises a first surface 120; a second surface 130, at least a second portion 132 of which is parallel to at least a first portion of the first surface 120; a contoured surface 140 between the first surface 120 and the second surface 130; and a plurality of through, circumferentially enclosed openings 170 extending from the first surface 120 to the second surface 130. The contoured surface 140 has a non-linear central axis 141 parallel to at least the first portion 122 of the first surface 120 and to at least the second portion 132 of the second surface 130. Further, the contoured surface 140 has a concave cross-section 142.