JP2000287338A - Spacer housed in grommet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To soften striking at a time when an operator grips a grommet housed in a spacer. SOLUTION: The spacer 10 is inserted into the intermediate diameter cylindrical section of the grommet, in which a small diameter cylindrical section fast stuck to an inserted wire group, the intermediate diameter cylindrical section continued at one end of the small diameter cylindrical section and a large diameter cylindrical section being connected at another end of the intermediate diameter cylindrical section while having a car-body retaining groove are molded integrally, disperses the wire groups into the grommet and fills sections among the wire groups with a cutoff agent 3 filled into the grommet. Conical sections 11 and columnar sections 12 short in the axial direction at the diameter-expanding ends of the conical sections 11 are formed at that time, and recessed sections 11a, 12a into which the wire groups are passed at intervals in the circumferential direction are formed, continuing extending over the outer circumferential surfaces of the conical sections 11 from the outer circumferential surfaces of the columnar sections 12. The conical sections 11 are arranged on the large diameter cylindrical section side in the intermediate diameter cylindrical section, and the columnar sections 11 are arranged on the small diameter cylindrical section side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spacer accommodated in a grommet, and more particularly, to an interior of a grommet which is attached to a wire harness routed to an automobile and is mounted in a through hole of a vehicle body panel to stop water. In particular, when the grommet is passed through the through hole of the vehicle body panel, the spacer eliminates a hard foreign-body sensation caused by the spacer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A grommet is attached to a wire harness which is routed from an engine room of an automobile to a room through a through hole of a vehicle body panel, and the grommet is attached to a periphery of the through hole to prevent water from entering the room. ing. In this type of grommet, a waterproof agent may be filled between wires passing through the grommet in order to ensure waterproofness. As a water stopping agent, a urethane-based low viscosity (700
(cps) is used to increase the permeability of the water-stopping agent. However, if the number of wires exceeds 3, there is a space surrounded by the wires, and as the number of wires increases, the space between wires increases. It is difficult to fill the water blocking agent with the water.

For this reason, conventionally, a spacer 1 disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-251766 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B or a spacer 1 'as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, the wire group is dispersed by accommodating in the grommet 2 and passing the electric wire w through the electric wire distribution concave portion 1a provided in the spacer 1 at intervals in the circumferential direction. Enlarge to ensure that the waterproofing agent permeates between the wires.

[0004] The spacer 1 shown in FIGS.
1 ′ is a columnar shape having a length L of about 10 mm to 20 mm, and is provided with a large number of electric wire dispersion recesses 1 a, 1 a ′ cut in the axial direction at intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface thereof. After the wires are dispersed and passed through the spacers 1 and 1 ', the spacers and the wires are passed through the grommet 2 shown in FIG. The grommet 2 has a small-diameter cylindrical portion 2a that is brought into close contact with a group of wires to be inserted, a medium-diameter cylindrical portion 2b that is continuous with one end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 2a, and a vehicle body engaging groove 2c that is continuous with the other end of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 2b. A large-diameter cylindrical portion 2d provided with a rubber or an elastomer is integrally formed, and the spacers 1 and 1 'are housed in a medium-diameter cylindrical portion 2b for liquid storage, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is formed into a medium-diameter cylindrical portion. 2b is held in contact with the inner peripheral surface. In this state, the two-part curable water-stopping agent 3 is injected into the grommet 2 from the opening of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 2d. Inside the grommet 2, the electric wire dispersion recesses 1 of the spacers 1 and 1 ′
Since the electric wire w passing through a and 1a 'is dispersed before and after the spacers 1 and 1' to generate a large gap between the electric wires, the injected waterproofing agent 3 surely permeates into the gap between the electric wires, Then, it hardens, and the gap between the electric wires is stopped.

[0005]

As described above, by using the spacers 1 and 1 ', it is possible to reliably fill the gap between the electric wires with the water stopping agent 3 and to improve the water stopping performance.
The spacers 1 and 1 'are formed of a hard material (polypropylene) in order to maintain a constant capacity for housing the electric wires.
This hard spacer 1, 1 ′ is a grommet 2 medium diameter cylindrical portion 2.
b is in contact with the inner peripheral surface. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when grasping the grommet 2 and passing the grommet 2 through the through-hole 6 of the vehicle body panel 5, the operator grasps the outer peripheral surface of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 2d by hand (H), and 2d is squashed and inserted into the through hole 6. At that time, however, there is a problem that the hard spacers 1 and 1 'give a sense of resistance and deteriorate workability.

When the length L of the spacers 1 and 1 'is reduced, the sense of resistance can be reduced. However, when the spacers 1 and 1' are erected in a direction orthogonal to the wire group while passing through the wire group. However, the above-described length L is required, and if the length of the spacer is simply shortened, there arises a problem that the spacers 1 and 1 ′ tend to fall down.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and has as its object to prevent the spacer from falling down while reducing the resistance due to the spacer.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a small-diameter cylindrical portion which is brought into close contact with a group of electric wires to be inserted,
A medium-diameter cylinder portion that is continuous with one end of the small-diameter tube portion, and a large-diameter cylinder portion that is continuous with the other end of the medium-diameter cylinder portion and that has a vehicle body locking groove is integrally formed with the grommet. Inserted into the department,
A spacer for dispersing a group of electric wires inserted through the grommet and filling a waterproofing agent to be filled in the grommet between the group of electric wires, comprising: A spacer which is provided in the grommet and provided with a concave portion through which a group of electric wires passes continuously at an interval in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion to the outer peripheral surface of the conical portion. are doing.

Specifically, the length of the cylindrical portion is 3 mm to
7 mm, the length of the conical portion is about 7 mm to 15 mm, and the axial length of the conical portion and the columnar portion is sufficiently equivalent to the axial length (10 mm to 20 mm) of the conventional spacer. It has strength. Therefore, the spacer can be held in the direction orthogonal to the wire group, and the occurrence of falling can be prevented. On the other hand, since the length of the cylindrical portion that is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the grommet is shortened, it is possible to reduce the resistance caused by the spacer when an operator grips the grommet and passes the grommet through the through hole. Further, since the concave portion for dispersing the electric wires provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is continuously formed also on the outer peripheral surface of the conical portion, even if the length of the cylindrical portion is shortened, the electric wire group is also formed in the conical portion. Because of the dispersion, the function of the spacer can be sufficiently performed.

The spacer may be formed of polypropylene as in the prior art, or may be formed of urethane having a softer touch than polypropylene.

In the spacer accommodated in the above-mentioned medium-diameter cylindrical portion, the conical portion is arranged on the side of the large-diameter cylindrical portion in the medium-diameter cylindrical portion, and a large gap is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion, and the cylindrical portion is formed. It is preferable to dispose it on the small-diameter cylindrical portion side.

As described above, when the conical portion that leaves a large gap with the inner peripheral surface of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion is disposed on the large-diameter cylindrical portion side in the medium-diameter cylindrical portion, when the grommet is passed through the through-hole, an operator is required. Since the conical portion is located on the side to be pressed and crushed by hand, the sense of resistance due to the presence of the spacer can be further reduced.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same members as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The spacer 10 has the shape shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C and is integrally formed of polypropylene.
A conical part 11 and a cylindrical part 12 having a short axial direction are provided at the enlarged diameter end of the conical part 11. In the present embodiment, the length L1 of the conical portion 11 is 7 mm, the length L2 of the column portion 12 is 3 mm, and the total length of the spacer 10 is 10 mm.

Concave portions 12a and 11a are provided continuously from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 12 to the outer peripheral surface of the conical portion 11 at intervals in the circumferential direction to pass the wire group. This recess 11
1 (C), the bottom surfaces of the conical portion 11 gradually become deeper from the small-diameter end 11b of the conical portion 11 toward the cylindrical portion 12, and the concave portion 12 of the cylindrical portion 12 is formed.
a is the deepest and constant depth.

Further, at both ends of the cylindrical portion 12 on the opening side of the concave portion 12a, projecting portions 12b projecting in directions approaching each other are provided, so that an electric wire passing through the concave portion 12a is hard to come out of the concave portion 12a.

A conical portion 1 is provided at the axis of the spacer 10.
A through hole 13 is provided from 1 to the entire length of the cylindrical portion 12. The through holes 13 serve as flow holes for the water blocking agent 3. The diameter D of the through hole 13 is set in accordance with the amount of the electric wire to be inserted, and has a strength to hold the electric wire passing through the concave portions 11a and 12a on the outer peripheral surface, and the amount of the water stopping agent passing through the through hole 13. And the amount of the water blocking agent passing through the concave portions 11a and 12a on the outer periphery.

The spacer 10 is attached in a direction perpendicular to the wire group W through which the grommet 2 passes as in the prior art.
The wire group W is dispersed in the conical portion 11 and the concave portions 11a and 12a of the cylindrical portion 12, and is attached to the wire group W in advance. In this state, as shown in FIG. 2, the grommet 2 is inserted into the inside of the grommet 2 and positioned at the middle diameter cylindrical portion 2 b. At that time, the conical portion 11 is directed toward the large-diameter cylindrical portion 2d in the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 2b, and the cylindrical portion 12 is disposed toward the small-diameter cylindrical portion 2a. It is held in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the portion 2b.

In this state, a two-part curable waterproofing agent 3 is injected from the open end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 2d of the grommet. The injected waterproofing agent 3 is supplied to the spacer 10 in the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 2b.
And between the inner peripheral surface of the medium diameter cylindrical portion 2b and the small diameter cylindrical portion 2a through the through hole 13. In the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 2b, the wire group W
Since it is dispersed in the circumferential direction by 0 and a large gap is generated between adjacent electric wires, it is possible to reliably flow between the electric wires. After the required time has elapsed,
The cured water-stopping agent fills the space between the wires and between the wires and the inner peripheral surface of the grommet.

The grommet is inserted into the through hole 6 of the vehicle body panel 5.
When the worker passes through the through hole 6, the operator grips the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter tubular portion 2d from the medium-diameter tubular portion 2b of the grommet 2 and crushes the large-diameter tubular portion 2d. At this time, the conical portion 1 of the spacer 10
1 is located, so that a hard spacer 1
Thus, the grommet 2 can be inserted through the through-hole 6 without any foreign-body sensation due to zero.

On the other hand, a cylindrical portion 12 is provided on the small-diameter cylindrical portion side, and since the cylindrical portion 12 performs a more reliable water-stopping function than the conical portion 11, water is impregnated from the small-diameter cylindrical portion 2a side. Prevention can be assured, and there is no problem with water stopping performance.

In the above embodiment, the spacer is formed of polypropylene. However, the spacer may be formed of urethane. In this case, a soft feel can be given to the operator's hand. Needless to say, the length and diameter of the spacer can be changed according to the size of the grommet.

[0023]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a part of a conventional spacer having a columnar shape is obliquely cut to form a conical portion, so that the conical portion is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the grommet. Since the portion is reduced, it is possible to eliminate the feeling of a hard foreign object given to the operator's hand when the grommet is passed through the through hole of the vehicle body panel. Therefore, the grommet can be passed through the through hole with good operability, and the conical portion also has a concave portion for dispersing the electric wire connected to the cylindrical portion, so that the function of dispersing the electric wire of the spacer can be sufficiently performed. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a spacer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (A)
Is a perspective view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where an operator holds a grommet accommodating the spacer and passes the grommet through a through hole of a vehicle body panel.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing a conventional example.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing another conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional problem.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Grommet 2a Small-diameter tube portion 2b Medium-diameter tube portion 2d Large-diameter tube portion 3 Waterproofing agent 5 Body panel 6 Through hole 10 Spacer 11 Conical portion 12 Column portion 11a, 12a Concave portion for electric wire dispersion 13 Through hole W Electric wire

Claims (2)

[Claims] A small-diameter cylindrical portion that is brought into close contact with a group of electric wires to be inserted;
A medium-diameter cylinder portion that is continuous with one end of the small-diameter tube portion, and a large-diameter cylinder portion that is continuous with the other end of the medium-diameter cylinder portion and that has a vehicle body locking groove is integrally formed with the grommet. Inserted into the department,
A spacer for dispersing a group of electric wires inserted through the grommet and filling a waterproofing agent filled in the grommet between the group of electric wires, comprising: a conical portion; A spacer accommodated in a grommet, comprising: a concave portion for continuously passing an electric wire group at an interval in a circumferential direction from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion to the outer peripheral surface of the conical portion. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conical portion is disposed on the side of the large-diameter tube portion in the medium-diameter tube portion, a large gap is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the medium-diameter tube portion, and the cylindrical portion is disposed on the small-diameter tube portion side. A spacer housed in the grommet according to 1.