Wire Harness Internal Pressure Adjuster for Water-Stopping

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wire harnesses face challenges in achieving a water-stopping property in a simpler manner, particularly in preventing water infiltration and pressure differences within the insulation covering portion.

Innovation Solution

A wire harness configuration that includes a water-stopping terminal at one end and a low water-stopping terminal at the other end, along with an internal pressure adjuster featuring a vent covered by a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, which adjusts internal pressure and prevents water infiltration by allowing air flow while blocking liquids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a water-stopping terminal is used to prevent water infiltration, then water-stopping property is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater-stopping propertyVSAvoidcomplexity of water-stopping treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wire harness is divided into multiple segments with different water-stopping properties: a first wire harness segment with high water-stopping property and a second wire harness segment with low water-stopping property. This segmentation allows water-stopping treatment to be applied selectively rather than uniformly throughout the entire wire harness, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the wire harness are assigned different water-stopping qualities based on their specific functional requirements and environmental exposures. The first segment receives comprehensive water-stopping treatment (e.g., waterproof coatings, sealed connectors) while the second segment uses simpler protection, optimizing both reliability and manufacturing simplicity through localized quality differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If uniform high water-stopping treatment is applied to all terminals, then water-stopping property is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater-stopping propertyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The wire harness is divided into multiple segments with different water-stopping properties: a first wire harness segment with high water-stopping property and a second wire harness segment with low water-stopping property. This segmentation allows water-stopping treatment to be applied selectively rather than uniformly throughout the entire wire harness, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying full water-stopping treatment uniformly to all terminals, the invention applies partial water-stopping action only where necessary (first segment), using simpler or no treatment in other areas (second segment). This partial action approach reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while still achieving adequate water-stopping protection for the critical portions of the wire harness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If water-stopping treatment is applied to all terminals, then water-stopping property is improved, but the impact of pressure differences cannot be minimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater-stopping propertyVSAvoidpressure difference impact on terminals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The wire harness is divided into multiple segments with different water-stopping properties: a first wire harness segment with high water-stopping property and a second wire harness segment with low water-stopping property. This segmentation allows water-stopping treatment to be applied selectively rather than uniformly throughout the entire wire harness, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the wire harness are assigned different water-stopping qualities based on their specific functional requirements and environmental exposures. The first segment receives comprehensive water-stopping treatment (e.g., waterproof coatings, sealed connectors) while the second segment uses simpler protection, optimizing both reliability and manufacturing simplicity through localized quality differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively achieves a water-stopping property across the wire harness, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs by simplifying the water-stopping treatment, especially at the low water-stopping terminal, and minimizing the impact of pressure differences on the terminals.

Implementation Method 1

a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the vent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMoisture permeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS11358544B2Wire harness including internal pressure adjuster

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A wire harness includes: a wire routing material including an insulation covering portion having an insulation property and a conductor having conductivity and covered with. the insulation covering portion; a water-stopping terminal disposed at at least one end of the wire routing material and having a water-stopping property; and an internal pressure adjuster including a vent disposed at a middle position of the wire routing material so as to bring the inside and the outside of the insulation covering portion into communication, and a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the vent. As a result, the wire harness can appropriately achieve the water-stopping property in the entire wire harness.