JP2000243163A - Grommet and method for mounting it on panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the mounting performance and noise insulating performance of a grommet. SOLUTION: This grommet 10 is equipped with an expanding-bore tube part 12 and a large-bore tube part 13, in continuity with a small-bore tube part 11 allowing a wire harness to tightly pass therethrough, equipped with a fold back part 14 folded back from a joining point of the expanding-bore tube part 12 to the large-bore tube part 13 and, in continuity therewith, a thick- walled large-bore part 15, equipped with a lock piece 16 and a panel fit groove 17, and further equipped with a noise insulating wall 18 projecting from the large-bore tube part 13. The grommet 10 is molded with the fold back part 14, etc., turned inside out at the time of molding. When the grommet 10 is mounted on a vehicle body panel P, it is put through a panel through hole Pa with the large-bore tube part 13 in the lead, thus the thick-walled large-bore part 15, etc., are turned over in order by making contact with the vehicle body panel P, etc., and fitted to the vehicle body panel P, and the noise insulating wall 18 makes pressing contact with an inner circumferential surface 15d of the thick-walled large-bore part 15 in the mounted state of the grommet 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a grommet and a method of attaching the grommet to a panel. More specifically, the invention relates to a vehicle body panel which is attached to a wire harness routed to an automobile to partition an outdoor (engine room, etc.) from an interior. A grommet for waterproofing into a room through a through-hole formed in a vehicle body is particularly intended to improve workability in mounting to a vehicle body panel and sound insulation in a mounted state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a grommet of this type is integrally formed of rubber or elastomer, and has a small-diameter cylindrical portion which is in close contact with a wire harness, and a large-diameter portion connected to one end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion. The outer peripheral surface is provided with a locking groove for closely locking the through hole of the vehicle body panel. In this type of grommet, a large number of grommets have been conventionally proposed in order to improve the workability of attaching the grommet to a vehicle body panel.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-212867, FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) and 6 (a) show an improved workability of attaching a grommet to a vehicle body panel.
Grommets shown in (e) to (e) have been proposed. The grommet 1 includes a large-diameter cylinder 1c having a small-diameter cylinder 1a and a panel fitting groove 1b, and a tapered cylinder 1d connecting the large-diameter cylinder 1c and the small-diameter cylinder 1a. And a plurality of panel-contacting holding pieces 1e that protrude outward from an edge of the tapered cylindrical portion and are divided in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (e), the grommet 1 is attached to the panel P through the wire harness W / H in the original state shown in FIG. 6 (a).
As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the tapered tubular portion 1d is pushed inward, the panel pressing piece 1e and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 1c are turned over, and the panel pressing piece 1e is protruded in a state of being closed inward, and the panel is fitted. The groove 1b is opened inward. In this state, the wire harness W / H fixed to the grommet 1 is connected to the panel P as shown in FIGS.
In the through hole Pa, first, a pressing piece 1e protruding inward.
Pass through. The panel pressing piece 1e that has passed through the through hole Pa is shown in FIG.
As shown in (d), the tapered tubular portion 1d and the small-diameter tubular portion 1a connected to the panel holding piece 1e pass through the through-hole Pa, and the large-diameter tubular portion 1c does not pass through the through-hole Pa. Remains. When the wire harness W / H is further pulled in this state, the grommet 1 fixed to the wire harness W / H returns to its original state by extending the tapered tubular portion 1d as shown in FIG. At the same time, the original state is such that the panel pressing piece 1e projects outward from the tip of the tapered cylindrical portion 1d. Panel holding piece 1 restored to its original state
e comes into contact with the panel P, and the panel fitting groove 1d is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the panel through-hole Pa, so that the grommet 1 is attached to the panel P.

[0005]

The grommet 1 having the above-described structure is turned upside down from the original state, and the diameter of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 1c and the panel holding piece 1e is reduced to pass through the panel through hole Pa.
Although the grommet can be easily attached to the panel with a small force in order to return to the original state after the penetration, there is an advantage that the grommet 1 needs to be turned upside down before the attachment, so that there is a problem that the attachment is troublesome. Further, since the reversal from the inverted state to the current state is performed by pulling the wire harness, there is no sense of moderation of the reversal, a feeling of completion of the installation is not obtained much, and there is a problem that the attachment confirmation is inferior.

Further, only one position of the tapered cylindrical portion 1d of the grommet 1 plays a role of closing the panel through-hole Pa, and this tapered cylindrical portion 1d is used when passing through the panel through-hole Pa. Because of the reversal, the wall thickness is not too large, and therefore, there is a problem that noise such as an engine rotation sound and a road noise from the engine room side infiltrates the inside of the vehicle, and it is difficult to reliably insulate the sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to reduce the time and effort required for mounting the panel, and to easily attach the grommet to the panel while maintaining a good mountability to the panel. Is the first issue. Another object is to improve the sound insulation of the grommet in the mounted state.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a grommet which is formed of rubber or an elastomer, is attached through a wire harness, and is mounted in a through hole of a vehicle body panel. A thin-walled small-diameter cylindrical portion that closely penetrates a harness, a thin-walled enlarged-diameter cylindrical portion connected to one end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion, and a long thin-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion connected to a tip of the enlarged-diameter cylindrical portion. Branching from a continuation point of the large-diameter tube portion and the large-diameter tube portion so that the large-diameter tube portion can be inverted from the large-diameter tube portion to the small-diameter tube portion. A folded portion surrounding the space, a thick large-diameter cylindrical portion formed continuously from the tip of the folded portion,
From the outer periphery of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion, a locking piece that projects obliquely outward to the large-diameter cylindrical portion in a state where the folded portion is inverted,
A panel fitting groove recessed in the outer periphery of the base portion continuous with the locking piece of the thick-walled large-diameter tube portion, and protruding radially outward from the entire periphery of the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter tube portion, On the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion, a sound-insulating wall is provided with which the tip abuts.In a molded state, the folded portion is located on the large-diameter cylindrical portion side, and the locking piece surrounds the large-diameter cylindrical portion, A grommet in which a thick large-diameter cylindrical portion surrounds the locking piece is provided.

As described above, the grommet of the present invention is formed such that the folded portion and the like to be inverted at the time of mounting are positioned on the large-diameter cylindrical portion side during molding and are turned upside down. The mounting operation can be performed in this state without turning over the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion, and the labor required for turning over can be saved. In addition, by molding in an inverted state as described above, there is no interference around the small-diameter cylindrical portion, and the sound-insulating wall, which could not be conventionally formed, can be easily formed on the small-diameter cylindrical portion without using a complicated molding die. It can be formed on the outer peripheral surface. When the sound insulation wall is in a state where the folded portion and the like are inverted and attached to the vehicle body panel, the end of the sound insulation wall contacts the inner peripheral surface of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion to form a space between the folded portion and the wall. By this space and the two walls of the sound insulation wall and the folded portion, noise in the engine room can be reliably shut off.

A groove having a V-shaped cross section is provided on the terminal side surface of the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion at intervals in the circumferential direction so that the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion is turned to the small-diameter cylindrical portion side from the inverted state. You may make it reverse easily and return.

The locking piece is provided at a distance from the outer periphery of the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion in the circumferential direction, and does not overlap with the locking piece on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion. As described above, the blades protrude at intervals in the circumferential direction, and these blades are used as a guide piece and a reinforcing piece for the large-diameter cylindrical portion when the large-diameter cylindrical portion is passed through the panel through hole.

As described above, by protruding the blade portion on the outer periphery of the large-diameter cylindrical portion, the rigidity of the large-diameter cylindrical portion itself is improved, and the large-diameter cylindrical portion can be stably mounted even when a pulling force is applied to the grommet. Can be. Further, since the grommet can be used as a guide when the grommet is passed through the panel through-hole, mounting can be facilitated. When the blades are provided in this manner, the locking pieces and the blades interfere with each other when the locking pieces before mounting are turned upside down, so that the locking pieces are provided between the respective blades so that both are compatible. Can be provided.

It is preferable that a pressure contact piece in the orthogonal direction is provided at the tip of the sound insulation wall, and the pressure contact piece is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion. By doing so, the contact area with the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion is increased and the pressure contact is made, so that the airtightness is further improved and the sound insulation can be improved.

The present invention also provides a method of mounting the grommet on a panel, in which a wire harness is passed through the grommet in a molded state, and in this state, the wire harness is passed through the panel through hole from the large-diameter cylindrical portion. At the time when the peripheral edge and peripheral surface of the panel through hole came into contact with the turned thick large-diameter cylindrical part,
The thick large-diameter cylindrical portion is inverted, the locking piece projects obliquely outward, the periphery of the panel through hole fits into the panel fitting groove, and finally the folded portion itself moves toward the small-diameter cylindrical portion. Flipped,
The folded portion surrounds the small-diameter tube portion and the large-diameter tube portion with a space therebetween, and the end of the sound insulation wall of the small-diameter tube portion is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the thick large-diameter tube portion.

Since the grommet is formed upside down, it is inserted only into the panel through-hole, and the peripheral edge of the panel through-hole and the surrounding panel surface come into contact with each other, so that the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion, The locking piece and the folded portion are inverted and can be easily attached. In addition, the locking piece is located outside the large-diameter cylindrical portion at the time of molding, so that the peripheral edge of the panel through hole is guided to the panel fitting groove. By pushing it in, fitting can be facilitated. Furthermore, when the thick large-diameter tubular portion connected to one side of the folded portion is fitted to the vehicle body panel and the folded portion is inverted, the large-diameter tubular portion comes out so as to jump out to the indoor side, so that the recoil is large. Therefore, the feeling at the time of mounting is improved, and the completion of mounting can be reliably recognized.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the grommet of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The grommet 10 shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B) has a shape attached to the vehicle body panel P, and shows a state inverted from the molded state shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B). The grommet 10 is formed from a flexible rubber or elastomer.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B), the grommet 10 has a thin small-diameter cylindrical portion 11 which is in close contact with the outer periphery of the wire harness W / H, and is continuous with one end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11. It has a thin-walled enlarged-diameter tube portion 12 and a long thin-walled large-diameter tube portion 13 continuous with the tip of the small-diameter tube portion 12 to form a basic shape. The outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 is provided with four blades 19 projecting at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the distal end of the large-diameter portion 13 of the blade 19 has a tip, It is tapered at an angle. By providing the blade portion 19 in this way, the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 can be reinforced to increase rigidity.

A folded portion 14 is formed by branching from a continuous point 12a between the large-diameter cylindrical portion 12 and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13. The folded portion 14 is reversible from the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11. When the folded portion 14 is inverted toward the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11, a space S is formed between the enlarged-diameter cylindrical portion 12 and the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11. And surround it. A thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15 is formed continuously from the tip of the folded portion 14, and a terminal side surface 15b of the distal end 15a of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15 is circumferentially spaced apart in cross section. Are provided with V-shaped grooves 15c.

From the outer periphery of the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion 15, the locking pieces 16 are formed at four positions so as to project obliquely outward toward the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 with the folded portion 14 turned upside down. are doing. These locking pieces 16 are positioned between the respective blade portions 19 on the outer periphery of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 so that the locking pieces 16
And the positions where the wing portions 19 are provided do not overlap each other.

Further, the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 1 of the locking piece 16
A panel fitting groove 17 is recessed in the outer periphery of the base on the fifth side, and a rib 20 of about 1 mm protrudes from the center of the bottom surface 17a of the panel fitting groove 17. Further, the sound insulation wall 18 is formed so as to protrude radially outward from the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11, and the pressure contact piece 18 a is formed from the end of the sound insulation wall 18 in the direction orthogonal to the sound insulation wall 18 over the entire circumference. Provided. Since the sound insulating wall 18 is formed in a state where the folded portion 14 and the like are turned upside down, there is no interference around the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11. Therefore, the sound insulating wall 18 is formed without using a complicated mold. It can be easily molded.

The inner diameter of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the wire harness W / H to be mounted.
At the time of mounting, the inner peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11 has a wire harness W / H.
To be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface. Further, the outer diameter L1 of the blade portion 19 provided on the outer periphery of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 is made slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the panel through hole Pa of the body panel P to be attached, so that the grommet 10 can be attached to the body panel P. As a guide, the blades 19 are prevented from excessively contacting the inner peripheral edge of the panel through-hole Pa and causing resistance.

The height dimension of the sound insulating wall 18 provided on the outer periphery of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11 is such that the thicker large-diameter cylindrical portion 1 is thicker than the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11 with the grommet 10 attached to the panel.
5 is set to be slightly longer than the distance L2 to the inner peripheral surface 15d, and the pressure contact piece 18a at the tip of the sound insulation wall 18 is securely pressed against the inner peripheral surface 15d of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15. Like that.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a state in which the grommet 10 is formed. The folded portion 14 is turned upside down and is located on the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 side. At the time of attachment, the inner peripheral surface 14a on the inner peripheral side is in a state of being exposed to the outside. Further, the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15 continuing to the tip of the folded portion 14 is directed outwardly due to the difference in thickness from the folded portion 14 and the positional relationship of the locking piece 16 protruding from the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15. It has been launched almost vertically. The distal end portion 15a of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15 surrounds the locking piece 16 as a shape that is formed around the distal end side of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 by forming the panel fitting groove 17 to be concave. This locking piece 1
Reference numeral 6 surrounds the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 along the outer peripheral surface from the center to the distal end side of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13.

The method of using the grommet 10 formed in the above-described shape is as follows.
Is passed through the grommet 10, and the opening end side of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11 and the wire harness W / H are wound and fixed with the tape 25. Next, a sealing agent is filled from the opening end side of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3A, the grommet 10 is passed through the large-diameter tubular portion 13 from the engine room X to the vehicle body panel P in the direction of the arrow in the figure. At this time, since the blade portion 19 serves as a guide piece, the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 can be easily passed through the panel through hole Pa of the vehicle body panel P.

When passing through the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 as described above, as shown in FIG. 3B, the peripheral edge P1 and the peripheral surface of the panel through-hole Pa are in close proximity to the end of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15. When it comes into contact with and is caught and further passes through the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 from the above state, the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15 is inverted toward the small-diameter cylindrical portion 13 and the locking piece 16 projects obliquely outward.
The panel peripheral edge P1 is pushed into the panel fitting groove 17 and fitted. When the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15 is inverted, the groove 15c of the terminal side surface 15b expands and the peripheral length of the terminal side surface 15b is extended, so that it can be easily inverted.

When the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 is further advanced toward the inside Y of the vehicle from the above state, the folded portion 14 is finally turned to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11 side. At the time of this inversion, since the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion 15 continuous with one side of the folded portion 14 has already been fitted to the vehicle body panel P as described above, Is fixed, and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 connected to the other end of the folded portion 14 vigorously comes out to the indoor side Y by a reaction due to the inversion. Thus, the grommet 10 is attached to the vehicle body panel P as shown in FIG.

In the mounted state as described above, the folded portion 14 surrounds the small-diameter tube portion 11 and the large-diameter tube portion 12 with a space S therebetween, and the inner peripheral surface 15 d of the thick large-diameter tube portion 15.
The pressure contact piece 18a at the tip of the sound insulation wall 18 of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 11
Are in contact without any gap. In this state, noise entering from the engine room X can be reliably sound-insulated by the sound-insulating wall 18, the space S, and the folded portion 14. Further, in the panel fitting groove 17, the rib 20 is formed in the panel through hole P of the vehicle body panel P.
Since it is pressed against a, the sealing property can be improved.

The grommet 10 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the number of blades 19 provided on the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 is increased or decreased, and the number of the locking pieces 16 is increased or decreased correspondingly. You may make it. In addition, if guide and reinforcement of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 13 are not particularly required, the blade portion 19 may not be provided. Also, as shown in FIG. 4A, the pressure contact piece 18a provided at the tip of the sound insulation wall 18 is also a pressure contact piece 18a 'having an inverted J-shaped cross section, and a thick large-diameter cylinder at the curved portion 18b'. The degree of pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface 15d of the portion 15 may be absorbed to further increase the hermeticity. Further, when the dimensional accuracy and the like are good, etc., as shown in FIG.
May be directly pressed against the inner peripheral surface 15d without providing a pressure-contacting piece at the tip end.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, the grommet of the present invention, in a molded state, has a folded portion, a large-diameter large-diameter cylindrical portion, a locking piece, and a panel fitting which are involved in fitting to a vehicle body panel. Since the groove is turned upside down, when mounting to the vehicle body panel, the mounting is performed in this state, so that the labor for mounting can be reduced. In addition, when the attachment is completed, the large-diameter cylindrical portion vigorously comes out of the room, so that the feeling of the completion of the attachment due to the recoil can be improved.

Further, the through hole of the vehicle body panel is securely sealed by the double wall of the sound insulation wall and the folded portion and the space provided between the double wall, so that the noise from the engine room side is reduced. Sound insulation can be ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a grommet according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle body panel, and FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a molded state of a grommet of the present invention,
(A) is a perspective view, (B) is a sectional view.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing a procedure for attaching the grommet to a vehicle body panel.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing modified examples of the sound insulating wall.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing a conventional example.

6 (a) to 6 (e) are views showing the mounting method of the above-mentioned conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Grommet 11 Small diameter cylinder part 12 Large diameter cylinder part 13 Large diameter cylinder part 14 Folding part 15 Thick large diameter cylinder part 16 Engagement piece 17 Panel fitting groove 18 Sound insulation wall 19 Blade part 20 Rib P Body panel Pa Panel through hole W / H Wire harness

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A grommet formed of rubber or elastomer, which is attached by penetrating a wire harness and mounted in a through hole of a vehicle body panel, a thin-walled small-diameter cylindrical portion through which the wire harness is closely attached and penetrated; A thin-walled large-diameter tube portion that is continuous with one end of the small-diameter tube portion, a long thin-walled large-diameter tube portion that is continuous with the end of the large-diameter tube portion, and a continuation of the large-diameter tube portion and the large-diameter tube portion A turning portion that branches off from a point and is reversible from the large-diameter tube portion side to the small-diameter tube portion side, and in a reversed state, surrounds the enlarged-diameter tube portion and the small-diameter tube portion with a space therebetween; A thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion formed more continuously, and a locking piece projecting obliquely outward from the outer periphery of the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion toward the large-diameter cylindrical portion in a state where the folded portion is inverted. A panel recessed on the outer periphery of the base portion that is continuous with the locking piece of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion; A mating groove, and a sound insulating wall protruding radially outward from the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion, and having a tip in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion. A grommet in which a folded portion is located on the side of the large-diameter cylindrical portion, a locking piece surrounds the large-diameter cylindrical portion, and a thick large-diameter cylindrical portion surrounds the locking piece. 2. The locking piece is provided at an interval in the circumferential direction from the outer periphery of the thick-walled large-diameter cylindrical portion. The blades are projected at intervals in the circumferential direction so as not to overlap, and these blades are used as guide pieces and reinforcing pieces for the large-diameter cylindrical portion when the large-diameter cylindrical portion is passed through the panel through hole. The grommet according to 1. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a pressure contact piece in the orthogonal direction is provided at a tip of the sound insulation wall, and the pressure contact piece is pressed against an inner peripheral surface of the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion. Grommet. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The grommet is attached to the panel according to the item, wherein the wire harness is attached in a molded state, and in this state, the wire is passed through the panel through hole from the large-diameter cylindrical portion side, and the periphery and the peripheral surface of the panel through hole are formed. At the time of contact with the turned-up thick large-diameter cylindrical portion, the thick large-diameter cylindrical portion is inverted, and the locking pieces protrude obliquely outward and the peripheral edge of the panel through hole is formed in the panel fitting groove. Finally, the folded part itself is inverted to the small-diameter cylindrical part side, and the folded part surrounds the small-diameter cylindrical part and the large-diameter cylindrical part with a space, and the tip of the sound insulation wall of the small-diameter cylindrical part is thick. A method of attaching a grommet to a panel, wherein the grommet is brought into contact with an inner peripheral surface of a diameter cylindrical portion.