JP2001119836A - Joint for corrugated tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the slots of a corrugated tube from expanding, when an electric wire is bent outside a joint. SOLUTION: A junction 10 is provided with a base part 12 surrounding a branch point W of a trunk line Wa of a wire harness W and a branch line Wc, and a plurality of cylindrical parts 13, which stretch from the base part 12 and make the trunk line Wa or the branch line Wb penetrate. The cylindrical part 13 is provided with a holding part 15, which is externally inserted in the end portion of a corrugated tube T, and a bellows type flexible part 16 which is positioned on the branching point Wc side from the holding part 16. When the trunk line Wa or the branch line Wb is bent in the vicinity of the branching point Wc, the direction of the holding part 15 to the base part 12 may be changed while the bellows type flexible part 16 is bent and deformed. Thereby bending deformation of the corrugate tube T can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a joint for a corrugated tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a wire harness, a branch line may be branched in the middle of a trunk line. In this case, 2
A total of three lines, one trunk line and one branch line, extend, and a protective corrugated tube is fitted over each of these three lines over a certain length from the branch point. Here, it is necessary to prevent the corrugated tubes from shifting in the length direction, and as a means for this, conventionally, a method of fixing the end of each corrugated tube on the branch point side to a main line or a branch line with an adhesive tape is used. Had been. However, the method using the tape winding is not only time-consuming, but also requires time-consuming work of unwinding the tape at the time of maintenance of the branch point, which has a serious problem in terms of workability.

[0003] The applicant of the present application has come to think that the terminals on the branch point side of the corrugated tube are connected to each other.
As a connecting means, a joint disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-84611 has been devised. This is a form in which three cylindrical portions are joined in a T-shape by combining two half bodies connected by a hinge, and a corrugated tube externally fitted to a main line and a branch line is provided in each cylindrical portion. Are inserted inside, and the retaining portion formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion is prevented from coming off, so that the three corrugated tubes are connected by the joint. According to such a joint,
At the time of connecting or disconnecting the corrugated tube, it is only necessary to combine or separate the halves, so that the operation can be simplified.

[0004]

When assembling a wire harness provided with a branch line to an automobile, it may be easier to work by partially bending a trunk line or a branch line depending on an installation place. When the trunk line or the branch line is bent in the above-described joint, the corrugated tube is also bent together outside the joint. Here, the corrugated tube will be described. The corrugated tube has a split groove along its length direction, and when fitted externally to the wire harness, the split groove is expanded so as to fit externally to the wire harness. After the outer fitting, the split groove is closed by the elastic restoring force. When such a corrugated tube is bent, the split groove expands, and the wire harness may be exposed outside the corrugated tube therefrom.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to prevent a split groove of a corrugated tube from expanding when an electric wire is bent outside a joint.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a bellows-shaped corrugated tube individually fitted to a trunk line constituting a wire harness and a branch line branched from the trunk line is connected to each other. A base portion surrounding the branch point of the trunk line and the branch line, and a plurality of cylindrical portions extending from the base portion and penetrating the trunk line or the branch line, and the cylindrical portion is externally fitted to an end of the corrugated tube. And a bellows-shaped flexible portion located closer to the branch point than the holding portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the axial movement of the corrugated tube can be restricted by fitting a concave portion on the outer periphery of the corrugated tube into the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion. The configuration is such that a restricting portion is formed. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the inner peripheral convex portion of the bellows-like flexible portion serves as the regulating portion.

[0008]

When the trunk line or the branch line is bent near the branch point, the direction of the holding portion with respect to the base portion can be changed while bending the bellows-like flexible portion. Good. With this configuration, the corrugated tube extending from the holding portion can be kept straight.

[0009] The corrugated tube can be held by the restricting portion, so that troublesome fixing work by winding the tape is not required. [Invention of claim 3] Since the convex portion on the inner periphery of the bellows-like flexible portion also has the function of restricting the movement of the corrugated tube, a dedicated restricting portion is provided on the inner periphery of the holding portion separately from the bellows-like flexible portion. The shape of the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion can be simplified as compared with the case of forming the above.

[0010]

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The wire harness W is composed of a trunk line Wa in which a plurality of electric wires are bundled, and a branch line Wb in which a part of the electric wire constituting the trunk line Wa is branched off from the trunk line Wa. Two trunk lines Wa and one branch line Wb extend from the branch point Wc,
Corrugated tubes T are individually fitted to the trunk lines Wa and the branch lines Wb, respectively. The corrugated tube T has a cylindrical shape as a whole and has a bellows shape over its entire length, and can be freely deformed while bending its axis. In such a corrugated tube T,
One split groove Ts extending in the axial direction is formed over the entire length, and when externally fitted to the trunk line Wa and the branch line Wb, the split groove Ts is opened and the trunk line Wa or the branch line Ws is opened therefrom.
b can be accommodated in the corrugated tube T. The three corrugated tubes T externally fitted to the main line Wa and the branch lines Wb are connected at their ends on the branch point Wc side by a joint 10 for a corrugated tube (hereinafter referred to as a joint). In the axial direction with respect to the trunk line Wa or the branch line Wb.

Next, the joint 10 will be described. Fitting 1
Numeral 0 is made of a synthetic resin, and has a form in which three cylindrical portions 13 are abutted in a T-shape by combining two half bodies 11A and 11B connected by a hinge 14. The appearance of the joint 10 immediately after molding is as shown in FIG. 1 and the two half bodies 11A and 11B are open. Each half body 11A, 11B is
A, 12B, three semi-cylindrical portions 13A, 13B are extended in a T-shape.
Are connected by two hinges 14 which are inserted between the half bases 12A and 12B flush with the mating surface.

The semi-cylindrical portions 13A and 13B are each provided with a half-holding portion 15 extending from the half-base portions 12A and 12B.
A, 15B and half bellows-like flexible portions 16A, 16B located closer to the half bases 12A, 12B than the half holders 15A, 15B. Half-split holding unit 15A,
The inner diameter of 15B is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the corrugated tube T, and a plurality of regulating portions 18 extending in the circumferential direction are formed on the inner periphery of the half-split holding portions 15A, 15B in the axial direction. The restricting portion 18 is shaped and dimensioned so that it can be fitted into the concave portion Ta on the outer periphery of the corrugated tube T without play. Half bellows-like flexible portions 16A, 16
B is thinner than the half-split holding parts 15A and 15B,
It can be freely deformed to bend its axis.

On one half body 11A, there is formed a locking piece 17A projecting from the outer periphery near the mating surface of the half base 12A and all the half holding portions 15A at a substantially right angle to the mating surface. On the other half body 11B, a locking projection 17B is formed on the outer periphery near the mating surface of the half base part 12B and the half holding part 15B. The locking pieces 17A and the locking projections 17B are connected to the two halves 11A, 1A.
The two halves 11A and 11B are held in a combined state by engaging with each other when the 1B is combined.

In the united state, as shown in FIG. 3, the united half-split bases 12A and 12B constitute a base 12 surrounding the branch point Wc of the wire harness W, and the united semi-cylindrical units 13A and 13B are joined together. The cylindrical portion 13 that penetrates the trunk line Wa and the branch line Wb is configured. In addition, each cylindrical portion 13
In the above, the half-holding portions 15A and 15B are united with each other to form a cylindrical holding portion 15 fitted to the end of the corrugated tube T, and the half-fold bellows-like flexible portion 1 is formed.
6A and 16B are united to form a cylindrical bellows-shaped flexible portion 16
Is configured.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When assembling the joint 10 to the corrugated tube T externally fitted to the main line Wa and the branch line Wb of the wire harness W, the main line Wa and the corrugated tube T externally fitted to the main line Wa are made substantially straight, and the main line Wa and the branch line Wb are externally fitted thereto. The corrugated tube T is set so as to be substantially perpendicular to the trunk line Wa, and the wire harness W and the corrugated tube T are set on one half body 11A of the joint 10 which is opened (see FIG. 2). ). At this time, the trunk line W
a and the branch point Wc of the branch line Wb is disposed on the half-split base portion 12A, and the end of the corrugated tube T on the branch point Wc side is placed on the half-split holding portion 15A and regulated to the concave portion Ta on the outer periphery of the corrugate tube T. The part 18 is fitted. The corrugated tube T is positioned so as not to cover the half bellows-like flexible portion 16A.

In this state, the other half body 11B is inverted while bending and deforming the hinge 14 so as to cover the half body 11A on which the wire harness W and the corrugated tube T are set from above. And locked by the engagement of the locking piece 17A and the locking projection 17B. By this combining operation, the half base 12B of the inverted half body 11B covers and hides the branch point Wc, and the half holding part 15B moves the corrugated tube T
And the regulating portion 18 is fitted into the concave portion Ta on the outer periphery thereof.

With the above, the assembly of the joint 10 is completed, and the trunk line Wa and the branch line Wb of the wire harness W are arranged in a substantially T-shape. At this time, the corrugated tube T
Of the corrugated tube T is held in a state where the play of the corrugated tube T is abutted against the inner circumference of the holding portion 15, so that the end portion of Is also regulated. From this state, when changing the wiring direction of the trunk line Wa or the branch line Wb from the T-shape, the holding unit 1 holding the corrugated tube T is used.
The bellows-like flexible portion 16 located closer to the branch point Wc than 5 is
What is necessary is just to deform | transform so that an axis may be bent. In this manner, the trunk line Wa or the branch line Wb (only one trunk line Wa in FIGS. 3 and 4) can be freely changed in direction while being bent in the bellows-like flexible portion 16. Due to the deformation of the bellows-like flexible portion 16, the holding portion 15 changes its direction, and the corrugated tube T held by the holding portion 15 also changes its orientation in the same direction as the holding portion 15, so that the corrugated tube T is bent and deformed. You don't have to.

When the bellows-shaped flexible portion 16 is bent, no bending force acts on the corrugated tube T because the corrugated tube T does not exist in the bellows-shaped flexible portion 16. Therefore, it is not necessary to receive the bending resistance due to the elastic restoring force of the corrugated tube T, and the workability is excellent. As described above, in the present embodiment, since the bellows-like flexible portion 16 is provided in the joint 10, the corrugated tube T is kept straight when the trunk line Wa or the branch line Wb is bent near the branch point Wc. Enabled. This prevents the split groove Ts from expanding due to the bending deformation of the corrugated tube T, and reliably prevents the wire harness W from being exposed to the outside of the corrugated tube T from the expanded split groove Ts.

Further, a regulating portion 18 is formed on the holding portion 15, and the corrugated tube T is held by the holding portion 1 by the regulating portion 18.
Since the floating movement of the corrugated tube 5 is restricted, the troublesome work of winding the adhesive tape from the outer periphery of the holding portion 15 to the outer periphery of the exposed portion of the corrugated tube T in order to hold the corrugated tube T becomes unnecessary. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the joint 20 of the present embodiment, the means for restricting the movement of the corrugated tube T with respect to the holding portion 15 is different from that of the first embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and
The description of the operation and the effect is omitted.

In the second embodiment, the regulating portion 18 is not formed on the inner periphery of the holding portion 15, and instead, the convex portion 16a on the inner periphery of the bellows-like flexible portion 16 functions as a regulating portion. . That is, the uneven shape and dimensions of the inner periphery of the bellows-like flexible portion 16 are set in accordance with the uneven shapes and dimensions of the outer periphery of the corrugated tube T. Thereby, the bellows-like flexible portion 16
The convex portion 16a and the concave portion 16b are fitted without looseness to the concave portion Ta and the convex portion Tb of the corrugated tube T, and the corrugated tube T regulates the axial and radial movement of the bellows-like flexible portion 16. It will be in the state that was done.

When changing the direction of the trunk line or the branch line, the bellows-like flexible portion 16 and the end of the corrugated tube T may be integrally bent and deformed. Also at this time, the holding unit 1
Since 5 changes the direction, it is not necessary to cause bending deformation in a portion of corrugated tube T extending from holding portion 15 to the outside. In the bellows-shaped flexible portion 16, the end of the corrugated tube T is bent and deformed. However, in the holding portion 15, the shape of the corrugated tube T is adjusted to a straight shape. There is no possibility that the exposed portion is affected by bending in the bellows-like flexible portion 16.

In the second embodiment, the bellows-like flexible portion 1
6 has a function of restricting the movement of the corrugated tube T because the convex portion 16a on the inner periphery of 6 has a function of restricting the movement of the corrugated tube T. In addition, the shape of the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 13 can be simplified. [Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the case where the joint has a T-shape has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where the joint has a "Y" -shape or a "+"-shape. (2) In the above embodiment, the half bodies were connected by hinges.
According to the present invention, the half body may be a separate part. (3) In the above embodiment, the bellows-shaped flexible portions are formed on all the cylindrical portions. However, according to the present invention, the bellows-shaped flexible portions may be formed only on any one of the plurality of cylindrical portions.

(4) In the above embodiment, the retaining portion for retaining the corrugated tube was formed in the cylindrical portion. However, according to the present invention, the retaining portion was not formed in the cylindrical portion, and the tape was wound by tape. The corrugated tube may be prevented from coming off.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a bellows-like flexible portion is bent.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of Embodiment 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 W: wire harness Wa: trunk line Wb: branch line Wc: branch point T: corrugated tube Ta: concave portion on the outer periphery of corrugated tube 10: joint for corrugated tube 12: base portion 13: cylindrical portion 15: holding portion 16: bellows-shaped flexible portion 18: regulating part 20: joint for corrugated tube 16a: convex part on the inner periphery of corrugated tube (regulating part)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A corrugated tube connecting a trunk line constituting a wire harness and a branch line branched from the trunk line, the bellows-shaped corrugated tubes being individually fitted to each other, and a base portion surrounding a branch point of the trunk line and the branch line. And a plurality of cylindrical portions extending from the base portion and penetrating the trunk line or the branch line. The cylindrical portion has a holding portion fitted to an end of the corrugated tube, A corrugated tube joint comprising: a bellows-like flexible portion located on a branch point side. 2. A restricting portion is formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion, the restricting portion being capable of restricting play in the axial direction of the corrugated tube by fitting a concave portion on the outer periphery of the corrugated tube. The joint for a corrugated tube according to claim 1, wherein 3. The joint for a corrugated tube according to claim 2, wherein a convex portion on the inner periphery of the bellows-like flexible portion is the restricting portion.