Wire Harness Path Regulating Member for Flexible Wiring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wire harnesses require significant time and cost to change wiring paths due to the need for remaking molds for protectors, which are resin molded articles with open sides, making it difficult to modify the wiring configuration efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A wire harness design that uses a path regulating member with higher flexural rigidity than the wires, allowing for two-dimensional or three-dimensional bending to easily change the wiring path, with an electromagnetic shielding member covering the path regulating member and wires fixed using multiple fixation members, enabling flexible reconfiguration without the need for mold remaking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a protector (resin molded article) is used to regulate the wiring path, then the wiring path can be regulated, but changing the wiring path requires remaking molds which increases cost and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of changing wiring pathVSAvoidtime required for mold remaking
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the path regulation function from the fixed protector structure into a separate path regulating member that can be independently configured. This allows the wiring path to be segmented and reconfigured without remaking the entire protector mold, enabling flexible path changes while maintaining the protective function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The path regulating member is designed to be bendable in two dimensions or three dimensions, providing dynamic adaptability to different wiring path requirements. This dynamic characteristic allows the same path regulating member to be reused for different path configurations without requiring new molds, thus reducing time and cost for path changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the path regulating member is made flexible to allow bending, then the wiring path can be easily changed, but the structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of path regulationVSAvoidstructural strength of path regulating member
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The path regulating member is constructed from composite materials or a metal material that provides both the necessary flexibility for bending and the structural strength to maintain its shape and protect the wires. This composite structure enables the member to be bent into different configurations while retaining sufficient strength to perform its protective and regulatory functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If an electromagnetic shielding member is added to cover the wires, then electromagnetic noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic noise interferenceVSAvoidcomplexity of wire harness structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electromagnetic shielding member is merged with the path regulating member or integrated into the existing wire harness structure, combining the path regulation function with the electromagnetic shielding function in a single integrated component. This merging approach provides electromagnetic noise protection while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The path regulating member is designed to serve multiple functions: it regulates the wiring path, provides structural support, and when made of metal material, provides electromagnetic shielding. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still providing electromagnetic noise reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3719944B1Wire harness
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS LTD
  • EP3719944B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3719944B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3719944B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A wire harness (10) includes: a wire (11) including a core wire and an insulating covering that covers the core wire; a braided member (12) that covers and electromagnetically shields at least the core wire; a path regulating member (13) that has higher flexural rigidity than the wire (11) and that is formed in an elongated shape; and an exterior member (15) that covers the wire (11, the braided member (12), and the path regulating member (13). The wire (11) is fixed along the path regulating member (13). (FIG 1)