Wire Harness Path Regulator Locking Against Clamp Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire harness configurations face issues with path regulating members rotating relative to fixing members, leading to exposure and reduced durability due to potential contact with the ground, which can compromise the integrity of the wire harness.
Innovation Solution
A wire harness design featuring a path regulating member with an insertion port and end portions, coupled with a fixing member that includes an engagement portion to prevent rotation, ensuring the path regulating member is securely attached to the vehicle body, thereby preventing exposure and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a path regulating member is held by a fixing member such as a belt clamp, then the wire harness can be fixed to the vehicle body, but the path regulating member may rotate in the circumferential direction relative to the fixing member
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing member includes a protrusion with an asymmetric cross-sectional shape that corresponds to a recess in the path regulating member. This asymmetric geometry prevents rotational movement by ensuring that the protrusion can only engage with the recess in a specific orientation, thereby eliminating the rotational instability while maintaining ease of fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a new dimensional constraint by adding the protrusion-recess interface feature that operates in the circumferential dimension. This additional geometric feature transforms the fixing mechanism from one that only constrains radial movement to one that also prevents rotational movement, solving the stability issue without compromising fixation ease.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the path regulating member rotates relative to the vehicle body, then a section of the corrugated tube becomes exposed to the outside, but this rotation reduces the durability of the wire harness
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric protrusion-recess configuration ensures that the path regulating member can only be positioned in one specific orientation relative to the fixing member and vehicle body. This prevents the rotational exposure of the corrugated tube while maintaining reliable durability, as the asymmetric geometry physically constrains the member from rotating into harmful positions.
3Device complexity
If a simple belt clamp is used to hold the path regulating member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the path regulating member cannot be securely prevented from rotating
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion feature is integrated directly into the belt clamp structure, merging the rotational prevention function with the existing fixing mechanism. This combination approach adds rotational stability without requiring a separate complex device, thereby maintaining relatively simple device complexity while achieving the desired stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A wire harness including: an electric wire; an exterior tube that covers an outer periphery of the electric wire; a path regulator that extends along a lengthwise direction of the exterior tube while covering a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the exterior tube, and regulates a path along which the electric wire is routed; and a fixing member that holds the path regulator and is fixed to a vehicle body.