Wire Harness Protector With Segmented Holding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wire harness protectors require multiple protectors and complex manufacturing steps, leading to increased costs and reduced workability due to the need for multiple workbenches and increased protector mounting, which complicates the routing and housing of electric wires in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A protector for wire harnesses with a body portion featuring multiple paths partitioned by a partition wall, including a holding piece, engaging piece, and intermediate piece that allows for holding electric wires without needing to mount the cover on each workbench, reducing the number of protectors required and enhancing workability by allowing the wire harness to be moved between workbenches without complete assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cover is mounted to the protector body before moving electric wires between workbenches, then the protector is secured and wires are protected, but the number of protectors increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric wire holding portion is divided into multiple segments (holding piece, engaging piece, intermediate piece) that can be independently positioned and fixed. This segmentation allows the cover to remain unmounted during wire transfer between workbenches, while still providing secure holding capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding piece is preliminarily positioned to pass through the upper side of the first path before the cover is mounted. This preliminary action enables the wire to be held securely even without the cover, allowing flexible movement between workbenches without completing the full assembly prematurely.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protectors are used to accommodate complex wire harness structures, then all wires can be housed, but the manufacturing cost increases and workability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The single protector body is designed with multi-functional paths (first path, second path, third path) that can accommodate various wire configurations. The partition wall with communication portion allows flexible wire routing options, enabling one protector to replace multiple protectors while maintaining adaptability to complex wire harness structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall includes a communication portion that creates a three-dimensional routing option for wires. Wires can pass through the communication portion from the first path to the second path, adding a vertical/dimensional routing capability that increases accommodation versatility without requiring additional protectors.
3Reliability
If the cover is mounted on each workbench to prevent protector detachment, then wires are securely protected, but the number of manufacturing steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding piece is preliminarily positioned through the first path and the engaging piece is preliminarily positioned through the second path before wire transfer. This preliminary positioning establishes secure holding capability without requiring cover mounting, enabling efficient wire transfer between workbenches while maintaining protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate piece acts as a mediator connecting the holding piece and engaging piece. It is fixable to the body portion and can block the communication portion, providing an additional layer of security and control for wire containment without requiring the cover to be mounted during intermediate manufacturing stages.
Data Source
AI summary
A protector includes a body portion defining a plurality of paths through which electric wires of a wire harness can pass, an electric holding portion and a cover portion. The electric wire holding portion includes a holding piece which can be disposed so as to pass through an upper side of a first path and extend toward a partition wall from a first side wall, an engaging piece which can be disposed so as to pass through a lower side of a second path and extend toward a second side wall from the partition wall, and an intermediate piece which connects the holding piece and the engaging piece, and is fixable to the body portion.