Wire Harness Tolerance Absorbing Structure with Movable Inner Holder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wire harness fixing structures on vehicles do not allow for tolerance absorption, leading to poor workability and potential assembling failures due to rigid fixation, which prevents the accommodation of assembling tolerance on the vehicle side.

Innovation Solution

A tolerance absorbing structure for wire harnesses featuring a cylindrical shield shell with a movable inner holder and a supporting piece that allows for axial movement, along with elastic engagement mechanisms to secure the inner holder within the shield shell, enabling the wire harness to adjust to the vehicle's assembly tolerance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wire is fixed rigidly to the vehicle panel using conventional fixing structures, then the wire is securely held in place, but the assembling tolerance of the vehicle side cannot be absorbed, leading to poor assembling workability and potential assembling failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembling reliabilityVSAvoidassembling workability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the rigid fixed structure into a movable structure. The holder member is designed to move along the wire in the axial direction within a movable range, allowing the wire harness assembly to adapt to vehicle side assembling tolerances while maintaining secure fixation. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between secure fixation and assembling workability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the wire is fixed rigidly to the vehicle panel, then the wire position is stable, but the tolerance of the wire and assembling tolerance of assembled parts cannot be absorbed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire position stabilityVSAvoidtolerance absorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holder member is designed with movable capability along the wire axis, enabling the system to dynamically adjust to tolerance variations while maintaining stable wire positioning during operation. The movable range allows absorption of both wire tolerance and vehicle side assembling tolerance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positional parameter of the holder member along the wire axis, allowing it to move within a defined movable range. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to tolerance variations in wire dimensions and vehicle side assembly, while maintaining stable electrical connections and wire positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a flexible holder member is used to wrap and fix the wire, then the wire can be secured, but the assembling tolerance still cannot be absorbed due to fixed positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire securing capabilityVSAvoidassembling tolerance absorption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holder member is designed to move along the wire in the axial direction within a movable range, transforming the static fixed structure into a dynamic adjustable structure. This enables the holder to secure the wire while simultaneously absorbing assembling tolerances of the vehicle side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 structure prevents assembling failures by allowing the wire harness to accommodate assembly tolerance, improving workability and reducing the risk of errors during mounting, while also saving space.

Implementation Method 1

the lance elastically deforms and enters into the fitting space. Then, when the lance moves over the lance engagement part, the lance engages with the lance engagement part due to the elastic restoring force thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2429864B1Tolerance absorbing structure for wire harness
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP2429864B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2429864B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2429864B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

To provide a tolerance absorbing structure for a wire harness which can prevent in advance the assembling failure at the time of mounting wires on a vehicle and also can improve the assembling workability. The tolerance absorbing structure includes a shield shell 29 which is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to have a fitting space therein and has a supporting piece 41 to be fastened by a vehicle stud bolt 39 and protruding in the direction perpendicular to the axis line of the fitting space, and an inner holder 31 which is fitted into the fitting space of the shield shell 29 along the axis line direction thereby to be held in a manner of being restricted from being separated from the shield shell 29 and has a wire holding hole extending in the axis line direction for fixing wires 23, 23 inserted therein, wherein the inner holder 31 is held within the fitting space of the shield shell 29 so as to have a movable space in the axis line direction.