Wire Harness Vibration Suppression via Localized Covering Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive paths in wire harnesses for automobiles experience significant shaking due to vibrations during vehicle operation, leading to potential damage from the covering hitting the inner surface of the outer member.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating vibration suppressing portions with increased thickness in the covering of the conductive paths at specific positions within the tubular outer member to reduce the movable space and amplitude of shaking, thereby preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the conductive path is routed straightly in the outer member, then the wire harness can be easily installed and routed, but the conductive path shakes widely due to vibration causing the covering to hit the inner surface of the outer member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by forming vibration suppressing portions with increased thickness at specific locations along the conductive path, rather than uniformly increasing the covering thickness throughout. These localized thickened portions are positioned at prescribed intervals to provide vibration suppression exactly where needed, maintaining ease of routing in non-vibration areas while preventing shaking damage in vibration-prone areas.
2Reliability
If the covering thickness is increased to suppress vibration, then the conductive path shaking is reduced, but the overall size and flexibility of the wire harness may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying the local quality principle - instead of uniformly increasing the covering thickness which would affect the entire wire harness size and flexibility, the thickness is increased only at specific localized portions. This provides the necessary vibration suppression while minimizing the impact on overall wire harness dimensions and flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the conductive path is allowed to move freely in the outer member, then the wire harness can accommodate routing variations, but the movable space allows excessive shaking during vehicle operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating localized thickened portions of the covering that act as vibration suppression features at specific locations. These localized structures reduce the movable space of the conductive path precisely where vibration occurs, while leaving other portions free to accommodate routing variations, thus maintaining adaptability while preventing vibration damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A wire harness includes: a tubular outer member; and a conductive path which is inserted in and protected by the outer member. The conductive path includes a vibration suppressing portion which reduces a movable space of the conductive path at a prescribed position inside the outer member to suppress shaking of the conductive path. The vibration suppressing portion is formed by a partially increased thickness portion of a covering of the conductive path.