JP2000115945A - Corrugated tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the diameter of a corrugated tube efficiently after inserting a wire harness into the corrugated tube, by forming a plurality of streaks of thin parts, and making it bendable in the radial direction from the thin parts. SOLUTION: A corrugated tube 1 is made from synthetic resin of a material, and has a bellows wall 5 composed of a peripheral ring wall 3 and a plurality of hollow ring protrusions 4 protruding from it. Thin parts 2 is formed by forming grooves 6 in the protrusions 4, and their bottom parts are on the same plane as the external surface of the peripheral wall 3. Tubular walls 71-75 in the shape of an arc partitioned into a plurality by the thin parts 2 are curvable (elastically deformable) or bendable (plastically deformable) making each thin part 2 a hinge. Accordingly, it is possible to perform diameter reducing of the corrugated tube swiftly and simply, since it is possible to bend the corrugated tube from its thin parts easily, after inserting a wire harness into the corrugated tube.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a corrugated tube having a slit for inserting a wire harness,
The diameter reduction operation after the insertion of the wire harness can be performed easily and reliably.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a conventional corrugated tube installed on a vehicle panel. The corrugated tube 21 is formed in a bellows cylindrical shape using a synthetic resin as a material. A wire harness 22 (FIG. 7) is inserted into the corrugated tube 21, and the wire harness 22 is protected by the corrugated tube 21 from external interference, rainwater, dust, and the like.

[0003] A slit 23 is formed in the corrugated tube 21 in the longitudinal direction, and the wire harness 22 is inserted into the corrugated tube 21 from the slit 23. For example, a resin tape is wound around the wire harness 22 (wound at a large pitch), or a binding band (not shown) is wound at intervals. The slit 23 is closed after the wire harness 22 is inserted, and the slit ends are joined to each other. In this state, the corrugated tube 21 is partially wound with a tape or a band clamp (not shown) and fixed to the vehicle panel 24 (FIG. 6).

However, in the above-mentioned conventional corrugated tube 21, the corrugated tube 21 is bent at a bent portion (the corner portion 25 or the corner portion 26) of the vehicle panel 24 shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, a slit is formed in the slit portion 23 at the bent portion 27 of the corrugated tube 21, and the electric wire 22 a constituting the wire harness 22 protrudes from the cracked portion 28 to the outside.
There was concern that interference with peripheral equipment and biting would occur.

Since the inner diameter of the corrugated tube 21 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the wire harness 22 with a margin, a gap is formed between the corrugated tube 21 and the wire harness 22, and the corrugated tube mounting of the vehicle is performed. There is a concern that a space is wasted around the part, and that the wire harness 22 rattles in the corrugated tube 21 to cause abnormal noise and the like. In order to solve these problems, it is very difficult to manufacture a corrugated tube (not shown) having a shape exactly matching the outer diameter of the wire harness 22 because there are many types of the wire harness 22, It was uneconomical.

On the other hand, as a conventional technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 7-135715, a structure as shown in FIG. 8 is used as a corrugated tube in which the opening of the slit portion 23 and the looseness of the wire harness 22 are prevented. It has been disclosed.

The corrugated tube 31 is formed such that one end 33 of the tube is lower in the slit portion 32 than the other end 34 of the tube.
The two tube ends 33 and 34 are wrapped (overlaid). A step 35 is formed at one tube end 33, and the tip of the other tube end 34 comes into contact with the step 35 and stops.

However, the corrugated tube 3
In 1, by wrapping the tube ends 33, 34, the opening of the slit portion 32 is suppressed to be small and the waterproof property is improved, but the corrugated tube 31 is free in the free state of the corrugated tube 31.
When a wire harness (not shown) is inserted into the corrugated tube 31 from the slit portion 32 in order to balance the inner diameter of the wire harness with a certain size (free diameter), the corrugated tube 31 has the same outer diameter as the wire harness. There has been a problem that the operation of reducing the diameter to the extent is very troublesome and time-consuming.

In other words, it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the corrugated tube 31 in order to prevent the corrugated tube 31 from returning to its original free diameter. ),
It is very difficult to reduce the diameter of the wire harness to the same size as the outer diameter of the wire harness as the corrugated tube 31 is long, as well as the operator's hand gets tired.

Further, as described above, the corrugated tube 31
However, in order to return to the original free diameter, a small portion of the wrap margin is likely to be generated partially, and if that portion is bent, there is a concern that the mouth may open and the wire may jump out. . Further, in this conventional example, since the step portion 35 is provided at one of the tube ends 33, there is a problem that the lap margin with the other tube end 34 is naturally restricted. Further, similarly to the previous example (FIG. 7), when the wire harness 22 (the wire harness in FIG. 8 is not shown) is inserted into the corrugated tubes 21 and 31 from the slits 23 and 32, the slit 2
There is a problem that the wire harness 22 and the wire harness 22 are not easily opened and the workability of inserting the wire harness 22 is poor.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and therefore, it is possible to efficiently reduce the diameter of a corrugated tube after inserting a wire harness into the corrugated tube, thereby reducing the burden on an operator. A corrugate that reduces the space required in the vehicle, reduces the opening of the slit, prevents the wires from sticking out and improves the waterproofness, and also improves the workability of inserting the wire harness. It is intended to provide a tube.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a corrugated tube having a slit portion for inserting a wire harness, wherein a plurality of thin portions are formed and a radial direction is formed from the thin portion. It is basically made to be able to bend (claim 1). It is also effective that the thin portion is formed straight in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube (claim 2). It is also effective that the thin portion is formed in a spiral shape (claim 3).

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show one embodiment of a corrugated tube according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the corrugated tube 1 is characterized in that a plurality of (four in this example) thin portions 2 are formed linearly in the longitudinal direction. The thin portion 2 is formed on the outer periphery of the bellows wall 5 of the cylindrical corrugated tube 1 by 9
It is formed at 0 ° equidistant.

The corrugated tube 1 is made of a synthetic resin, and has a general shape (bellows wall 5) composed of an annular peripheral wall 3 and a plurality of hollow annular convex portions 4 protruding from the peripheral wall 3. As shown in FIG. 2A, the portion 2 is formed by forming a groove 6 in the convex portion 4 and positioning the bottom (bottom surface) 6a of the groove 6 on the same plane as the outer surface of the peripheral wall 3. .

That is, the peripheral wall 3 integrally follows the bottom 6 a of the groove 6 and has the same diameter as the bottom 6 a of the groove 6.
The thickness of the peripheral wall 3 is equal to the thickness of the thin portion 2. Side walls 4a (FIG. 2 (a)) are formed integrally with the projections 4 on both sides of the groove 6,
The side wall 4a intersects the bottom 6a of the groove 6. The surrounding wall 3
It is also a valley with respect to the convex (peak) 4.

The thin portion 2 imparts radial flexibility to the corrugated tube 1. That is, it is possible arc-shaped tube wall 7 _{1-7 5} which is divided into a plurality by the thin portion 2 is bent the thin portion 2 as a hinge (elastic deformation) or bending (plastic deformation). Whether it is bent or bent depends on the material of the corrugated tube 1. “Bending” in the claims shall include both elastic deformation and plastic deformation.

The slit portion 8 of the corrugated tube 1 is shown in FIG.
Tube ends 9 on both sides as shown in the enlarged view of 1.₁, 9_TwoSand
7 tube wall 7₁, 7_TwoBut wrapped a little (overlapping)
It is configured. One tube end 9₁Convex part 4₁of
Inside the other tube end 9 _TwoConvex part 4_TwoHas entered
You. In this state, the corrugated tube 1 can be reduced in diameter.
You.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the thin portion 2 'can be formed thinner than the thickness of the peripheral wall 3. In this case, the groove 6 ′ of the projection 4 reaches the middle part in the thickness direction of the peripheral wall 3. With this structure, the flexibility, that is, the flexibility of the corrugated tube 1 (FIG. 1) from the thin portion 2 can be further enhanced. Side walls 4 of the protrusion 4 on both sides of the groove 6 '
Needless to say, there is a '.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), it is also possible to form the groove 6 "in a V-shape to form the thin portion 2".
The V-shaped groove 6 "may reach the peripheral wall 3. According to this structure, the width of the thin portion 2" becomes narrow (narrow), and the corrugated tube 1 ( The flexibility of FIG. 1) is enhanced, and when inserting the wire harness 10 (FIG. 3) into the corrugated tube 1 from the slit portion 8 (FIG. 1), the tube ends 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ (FIG. 1)
Can be opened outward at a large angle. Fig. 2 (a) (b)
In the case of, the tube ends 9 ₁ and 9 ₂ are also formed by the thin portions 2 and 2 ′.
(FIG. 1) is easily opened outward and inward, and a wire harness 10 (FIG. 3) is inserted into the corrugated tube 1.
Has good insertability.

[0021] As FIG. 3, the hand wire harness 10 after insertion through the slit portion 8 in the corrugated tube 1, arrow b, the tube wall 7 _3, 7 ₅ and 7 _1, 7 ₂ in the radial direction in the order of B , The corrugated tube 1 is reduced in diameter. Corrugated tube 1, the tube wall 7 _{1-7 5} to bend each thin portion 2 as a fulcrum, or bent, by close contact with the outer periphery of the wire harness 10 is reduced in diameter without a gap. This diameter reduction operation may be performed by converging the corrugated tube 1 with a binding unit such as a tape or a band clamp (not shown).

Since the corrugated tube 1 is easily bent in the radial direction by the thin portion 2, the work of reducing the diameter of the corrugated tube 1 is performed easily and reliably. Further, since the useless space 11 (FIG. 3) in the corrugated tube 1 is eliminated, space saving around the corrugated tube mounting portion of the vehicle is achieved. In addition, since the wire harness 10 does not rattle in the corrugated tube 1, abnormal noise or wire harness 10
Is also prevented. Furthermore, corrugated tube 1
Since the tube ends 9 ₁ and 9 ₂ are easily and surely wrapped, the opening of the slit portion 8 is reliably prevented, and the electric wires 10 a constituting the wire harness 10 are prevented from jumping out and the waterproofness is enhanced. .

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the corrugated tube according to the present invention. The corrugated tube 13 is characterized in that the thin portion 14 is formed in a spiral shape. The corrugated tube 13 is divided into spiral tube walls 16 _{1 to} 16 ₃ by a thin portion 14. The tube wall 16 ₁ to 16 ₃ are subsequently integrally in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube 13. The other configurations are the same as those of the previous example, and the detailed description is omitted by using the same reference numerals as those of the previous example.

The helical thin portion 14 is formed by forming a helical groove 15 in the convex portion 4 on the outer peripheral portion of the corrugated tube 13. The groove 15 crosses the projection 4 at an angle. The bottom (bottom) 15 a of the groove 15 continues on the same plane as the outer surface of the peripheral wall 3. 2A to 2C, the groove 15 may reach the peripheral wall 3 or may be formed in a V-shape.

From the slit portion 8 to the corrugated tube 13
After the wire harness 10 (FIG. 5) is inserted therein, the corrugated tube 13 is contracted by squeezing it with both hands in the opposite direction as shown by arrows C and D in FIG. At this time, one hand may feel as if the corrugated tube 13 is fixed.

The corrugated tube 13 is divided into spiral tube walls 16 _{1 to} 16 ₃ by the thin wall portion 14 and is provided with flexibility in the radial direction. The diameter is reduced or bent easily and reliably from the thin portion 14. The direction of the drawing force and the spiral thin portion 14,
That is, since the direction of the spiral tube walls 16 _{1 to} 16 ₃ divided by the thin portion 14 is the same, the diameter reduction operation is performed smoothly. As a result, the same effect as in the previous example is achieved.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the corrugated tube can be easily bent from the thin portion after the wire harness is inserted into the corrugated tube from the slit portion. The diameter reduction operation of the tube can be performed quickly and easily. Thereby, first, the slit portion is securely wrapped, and prevention of protrusion of the electric wire and improvement of waterproofness are achieved. Further, since the corrugated tube is reduced in diameter to the same diameter as the wire harness, rattling of the wire harness is eliminated, and abnormal noise and the like are prevented. Furthermore, unnecessary space in the corrugated tube is eliminated, and space saving around the corrugated tube mounting portion is achieved. In addition, since the corrugated tube can be reduced in diameter according to the wire harness having various outer diameters, the common use of the corrugated tube becomes possible, which is economical. In addition, since the slit portion is easily opened by bending the corrugated tube from the thin portion, the insertion work of the wire harness is facilitated and the insertion workability is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the corrugated tube is bent in the radial direction from a straight thin portion to be reliably reduced in diameter by a simple operation of simply pressing the corrugated tube in the radial direction. . Thereby, the same effect as that of the first aspect is obtained. Insertion work of wire harness
Since the slit part opens greatly from the straight thin part, it is very easy. According to the third aspect of the present invention, by squeezing the corrugated tube with both hands, the corrugated tube is bent in the radial direction from the helical thin portion and reliably reduced in diameter. The squeezing operation is easy to apply power and can be performed extremely easily in terms of work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a corrugated tube according to the present invention (circles are enlarged views of main parts).

FIGS. 2A to 2C are perspective views of a main part showing various forms of a thin portion.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a corrugated tube through which a wire harness is inserted is reduced in diameter.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the corrugated tube according to the present invention (the circle is an enlarged view of a main part).

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state where the corrugated tube through which the wire harness is inserted is reduced in diameter.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a conventional corrugated tube is arranged on a vehicle panel.

FIG. 7 shows one problem of a conventional corrugated tube.
FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view partially showing another conventional example (corrugated tube).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,13 Corrugated tube 2,14 Thin section 8 Slit section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A corrugated tube having a slit portion for inserting a wire harness, wherein a plurality of thin portions are formed, and the corrugated tube can be bent radially from the thin portion. 2. The corrugated tube according to claim 1, wherein the thin portion is formed straight in a longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube. 3. The corrugated tube according to claim 1, wherein the thin portion is formed in a spiral shape.