JP2001193895A - Protector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protector conformable and firmly mountable even if the diameter and shape of a tube is varied, or the length of the protecting range is changed. SOLUTION: A clamp 16 does not easily come off when fitted to a ferrule tube 14. A female joint 30 and a locking port 34 provided on the female joint 32 are engagingly locked by the claw part 26 of the clamp 16 to mount a cover 20 on the ferrule tube 14, so that the collision of a flying matter is prevented. The protector is divided into the clamp 16 to be fitted to the ferrule tube 14 and the cover 20 for protecting the ferrule tube 14, whereby a generally usable protector which is difficult to come off the ferrule tube 14 can be constituted. When a connecting claw 40 is connected to a connecting piece 38, the length of the cover 20 can be changed in conformation to the length of the protecting range.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a protector for preventing a member to be protected such as a fuel tube from colliding with a flying object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a fuel tube 14 for feeding fuel from a fuel tank 12 to an engine 18 is arranged on a floor panel of a vehicle. Since the bent portion 14A of the fuel tube 14 is partially exposed to the outside, a protector 60 having a C-shaped cross section is attached for the purpose of preventing collision of flying objects such as pebbles.

[0003] This protector 60 is a dedicated product adapted to the shape and length of the bent portion 14A, and has no versatility. Therefore, it cannot be mass-produced to reduce the manufacturing cost. Similarly, if the diameter of the fuel tube 14 changes, a special protector is required. Furthermore, since it is mounted on the fuel tube 14 only by the spring force of the substantially semi-cylindrical protector 60, the position may be shifted or deviated due to vibration or the like.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, the present invention is capable of coping with a change in the diameter and shape of a tube and a change in the length of a protection range, and of a protector which can be firmly mounted. The task is to provide

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, if the clamp is fitted to the protected member, the clamp cannot be easily removed from the protected member. The cover attached to the clamp prevents the collision of flying objects and protects the protected member. As described above, by dividing the member into the member that fits into the protected member and the member that protects the protected member, a protector that is hard to be detached from the protected member can be configured.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the engaging portion formed on the clamp engages with the engaged portion formed on the cover. As described above, by forming the clamp and the cover as separate bodies, and forming the clamps to be fitted to the protected member having various diameters, only the clamp needs to be replaced according to the diameter of the protected member. The cover can be easily diverted.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the covers can be connected to each other by the connecting means. According to this configuration, the protector can be connected on site according to the length of the protection range.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a gap is provided between the cover and the member to be protected by attaching the cover to the outer surface of the clamp. By providing a gap between the cover and the protected member in this way, the impact of a flying object colliding with the protected member is less likely to propagate to the protected member.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cover is elastically deformable according to the outer shape of the member to be protected. For example, if the cover is formed of a soft resin material or a bellows type, the cover can be easily deformed by following the shape of the bent portion, so that the degree of freedom of attachment is large and the versatility is enhanced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the clamp expands and contracts according to the external dimensions of the fitted protected member. Therefore, one type of clamp can be fitted to a protected member having a different outer shape.

[0011]

1 to 3 show a protector 10 according to a first embodiment.

The protector 10 includes a fuel tube 14 for feeding fuel from a fuel tank 12 to an engine 18.
And a bellows-like cover 20 attached to the clamp 16.

The clamp 16 has a semi-cylindrical receiving portion 22 which is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fuel tube 14. From the end of the receiving part 22, the vertical wall 28
Is standing. At the distal end of the vertical wall 28, the pressing pieces 24 extend obliquely toward the receiving portion 22 in a direction approaching each other.

A claw 26 projects from the outer surface of the vertical wall 28. The claw portions 26 are locked by rectangular locking holes 34 formed in the semi-cylindrical female joint 30 and the male joint 32, respectively. Thereby, the clamp 16 is fitted into the female joint 30 or the male joint 32.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
The inner diameter of the zero or male joint 32 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the receiving part 22 of the clamp 16, and when fitted, a slight gap L is generated near the claw part 26. Due to the semi-circular shape of the gap L and the cross-sectional shape, and furthermore, due to the elastic deformation of the holding piece 24, the clamp 16 expands and contracts as shown in FIG.
And can be fitted.

On the other hand, the female joint 30 and the male joint 3
Numerals 2 are provided on both ends of a bellows-shaped and semi-cylindrical cover 20. By forming a bellows shape that undulates in the longitudinal direction of the cover 20, stress is not concentrated,
The fuel tube 14 can be bent relatively easily, and can be flexibly deformed according to the degree of bending of the fuel tube 14.

A connecting piece 38 having a rectangular connecting port 36 extends from an end face of the female joint 30. When the female joint 30 and the male joint 32 abut each other, the connecting claw 40 projects from the end surface of the male joint 32 so as to be located at a position corresponding to the connecting piece 38. It is configured to be locked to the connection port 36.

Next, the operation of the protector according to the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, this protector 10
Connects the clamp 16 to the female joint 30 and the male joint 3
Press inside 2. Then, when the female joint 30 and the male joint 32 are elastically deformed outward and open, and the claw portion 26 is located at the locking port 34, the shape is restored as shown in FIG. The clamp 16 is locked, and the female joint 30 and the male joint 32 are connected.

When the bent portion of the fuel tube 14 is long as shown in FIG.
If A and the connection port 36 are connected, the female joint 30 and the male joint 32 are connected and can be used as the long protector 10.

Next, when the clamp 16 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fuel tube 14, the pressing piece 24 is bent inward and passes through the fuel tube 14. After passing through the fuel tube 14, as shown in FIG.
4 is elastically restored, and the fuel tube 14 is fitted between the receiving portion 22 and the pressing piece 24.

At this time, since a gap corresponding to the thickness of the receiving portion 22 is formed between the cover 20 and the fuel tube 14, the impact of a flying object colliding with the cover 20 propagates to the fuel tube 14. It becomes difficult to do.

Since the clamp 16 only needs to lock the claw portion 26 in the locking opening 34, the pressing piece 24 and the receiving portion 2 can be fitted to the fuel tubes 14 having different diameters.
If the size 2 is made, it can be fitted to fuel tubes of various sizes, and the versatility of the cover is enhanced.

Next, a protector 62 according to a second embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the second embodiment, the semi-cylindrical cover 44 is formed of a soft resin material, and is elastically deformed according to the shape of the fuel tube 14. Joint portions 42 corresponding to the male and female joints of the first embodiment are formed at the center portion and both end portions of the cover 44, and the inner peripheral surface of the joint portion 42 is one step lower than the inner peripheral surface of the cover 44. Is recessed. The joint portion 42 has a configuration in which the receiving portion 22 of the clamp 16 is fitted.

At the wall of the joint 42, a locking port 34 is provided.
Are formed so that the claw portion 26 of the clamp 16 is locked. The inner peripheral surface of the receiving portion 22 and the inner peripheral surface of the cover 44 are substantially flush.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the fuel tube 14 is formed by molding the cover 44 from a soft resin material.
It can be deformed to follow. In addition, by engaging the clamp 16 with the joint portion 42 of the cover 44 at a position where the clamp 16 has been inserted, there is no displacement in the longitudinal direction.

As in the case of the protector 64 shown in FIG. 7, in the case of the cover 46 without dropping, when the clamp 16 is mounted on the cover 46, it corresponds to the thickness of the receiving portion 22, as in the first embodiment. Since a gap is formed between the cover 46 and the fuel tube, it is difficult for the impact of a flying object colliding with the cover 46 to propagate to the fuel tube 14.

Further, in the present invention, the protector for protecting the fuel tube has been described. However, the use is not limited, and a pipe-shaped part that requires some protection can be used.

[0030]

According to the present invention, the protector having high versatility can be firmly mounted even if the diameter and the shape of the tube are different or the length of the protection range is changed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where the protector according to the first embodiment is attached to a fuel tube.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where the protector according to the first embodiment is attached to a fuel tube connected to a fuel tank.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the protector according to the first embodiment is attached to a fuel tube.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the protector according to the first embodiment is attached to a fuel tube.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a protector according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a protector according to a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state where a conventional protector is attached to a fuel tube connected to a fuel tank.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional protector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 Clamp 20 Cover 24 Holding piece 26 Claw part (engagement part) 34 Locking opening (engaged part) 38 Connection piece (connection means) 40 Connection claw (connection means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A protector attached to a protected member to prevent a collision of a flying object, comprising: a clamp capable of being fitted to the protected member; and a cover attached to the clamp and protecting the protected member. A protector characterized by having. 2. An engaging portion formed on the clamp, an engaged portion formed on the cover and engaging with the engaging portion,
The protector according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The protector according to claim 2, further comprising a connecting means for connecting the covers detachably. 4. The protector according to claim 2, wherein a gap is provided between the cover and the protected member by attaching the cover to an outer surface of the clamp. 5. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said cover is elastically deformable in accordance with an outer shape of said protected member.
The protector according to claim 4. 6. The protector according to claim 1, wherein the clamp expands and contracts according to an outer dimension of the fitted member to be protected.