JP2008048525A - Structure for absorbing extra length of wire harness - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the structure simple and compact while enhancing the bending durability of wire harness. <P>SOLUTION: A tubular member 1 of small diameter and a tubular member 2 of large diameter are made to engage slidably in the axial direction, the bend 6 of wire harness 5 is contained inside of both tubular members and the bend is elongated/contracted together with both tubular members. The bend 6 is a spiral winding portion. Both tubular members 1 and 2 are slid while being positioned by a slide engaging portion 15 and a guide portion 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a surplus length absorbing structure for a wire harness that absorbs a surplus length by expanding and contracting a power supply wire harness with the movement of a movable structure such as an automobile door or a slide seat.

  3 (a) and 3 (b) show an embodiment of a conventional wire harness surplus length absorption structure (see Patent Document 1).

  In this structure, a substantially triangular case 64 is mounted on a rotating front door 61 of an automobile, and the wire harness 65 is accommodated in a substantially V shape in the case when the door 61 is closed. The wire harness 65 is urged in the accommodation direction at 66, and the wire harness 65 is pulled out from the case 64 against the urging of the spring 66 in the opened state of the door 61. One of the wire harnesses 65 is connected to an auxiliary machine or the like in the door, and the other is connected to the vehicle body 63 side, so that power is always supplied to the auxiliary machine or the like.

  4 (a) and 4 (b) show another form of the conventional wire harness surplus length absorbing structure (see Patent Document 2).

  In this structure, a horizontally long case 73 is mounted on a slide door 72 of an automobile, a slider 75 is slidably engaged with a guide rail 74 of the case 73, and a wire harness 76 is substantially J-shaped or U-shaped in the case. While the wire harness 76 is bent and accommodated, one end of the wire harness 76 is fixed to the slider 75, the other end is fixed to the case 73, and the slider 75 moves as the slide door 72 opens and closes to absorb the extra harness length. To do. One of the wire harnesses 76 is connected to an auxiliary machine or the like in the door, and the other is connected to the vehicle body 71 side so that power is always supplied to the auxiliary machine or the like.

  FIG. 5 shows another form of a conventional wire harness surplus length absorbing structure (see Patent Document 3).

In this structure, one end of a wire harness 83 is connected to a slide seat 82 of an automobile, a case 84 is mounted on a floor 81 of a vehicle body, and the wire harness 83 is bent and accommodated in a substantially J or U shape in the case. The other end of the wire harness 83 is connected to the floor wire harness 85 while being fixed to the case 84. The wire harness 83 expands and contracts as the seat 82 slides to absorb the extra length, and power is always supplied to the auxiliary equipment in the seat. Is done.
JP-A-10-181474 (FIGS. 1 and 7) JP 2001-171443 A (FIG. 4) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-59745 (FIG. 7)

  However, in the prior art shown in FIG. 3, since the wire harness 65 is bent in a substantially V shape in the case 64, there is a concern that the bending durability of the wire harness 65 may be reduced, and the structure is limited by the case 64. There was a problem of enlargement.

  In the prior art shown in FIG. 4, although the sliding amount of the sliding door 72 can be accommodated, since the wire harness 76 is bent in a substantially J or U shape, the bending durability of the wire harness 76 is reduced. There were concerns that it would decrease, and there was a problem that the structure would be enlarged by the case 73.

  Further, in the prior art of FIG. 5 described above, although it is possible to cope with a long slide amount of the seat 82, the wire harness 83 is bent in a substantially U shape within the case 84. There was a problem that the structure would be enlarged due to the concern that it would decrease or the case 84.

  In view of the above points, the present invention arranges a wire harness in a movable structure such as a rotary door, a sliding door, a seat, etc., and the extra length of the wire harness as the movable structure moves. The object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness surplus length absorption structure that can simplify and compact the structure and increase the durability associated with repeated bending of the wire harness. And

  In order to achieve the above object, a surplus length absorption structure for a wire harness according to claim 1 of the present invention is such that a small-diameter cylindrical member and a large-diameter cylindrical member are slidably engaged with each other in the axial direction. A bent portion of the wire harness is accommodated inside, and the bent portion expands and contracts together with the both cylindrical members.

  With the above configuration, the bent portion of the wire harness is compressed in both the cylindrical members (more precisely, in the small-diameter cylindrical portion) when both the cylindrical members are compressed, and the bent portion of the wire harness is compressed in both the cylindrical members when both the cylindrical members are extended. Elongate. The harness part following the bent part is fixed on the end side of both the cylindrical members. As the bent portion, a spiral wound portion, a corrugated bent portion, a bent portion folded in a U-shape or the like can be used. The bent portion is safely protected from interference with the outside in the cylindrical member. One cylindrical member is connected to a fixed structure, or a harness portion derived from one cylindrical member is fixed to the fixed structure, and the other cylindrical member is connected to a movable structure, or derived from the other cylindrical member. The harness part thus fixed is fixed to the movable structure, and both the tubular members are expanded and contracted together with the bent portion of the wire harness as the movable structure moves in the forward and reverse directions.

  A surplus length absorption structure for a wire harness according to a second aspect is characterized in that in the surplus length absorption structure for a wire harness according to the first aspect, the bent portion is a spiral winding portion.

  By the said structure, the winding part of a wire harness expands / contracts to an axial direction, maintaining spiral shape simultaneously with expansion / contraction of both cylinder members. At the time of extension, the outer diameter of the winding portion is reduced and the pitch of the winding portion is increased.

  The surplus length absorption structure of the wire harness according to claim 3 is the surplus length absorption structure of the wire harness according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the both cylindrical members slide while being positioned by the slide engagement portion and the guide portion. It is characterized by.

  With the above configuration, even when a circumferential rotational force is applied to the tubular member when the bent portion of the wire harness is expanded or contracted, both the tubular members are fixed in the circumferential direction by the engagement of the slide engaging portion and the guide portion (the shaft Since the cylindrical member is prevented from rotating, the bending operation of the wire harness is smoothly and reliably performed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since both the cylindrical members are compressed together with the wire harness and shortened to the length of either one of the cylindrical members, the extra length absorbing structure is made compact in the axial direction. Further, since a spring member, a slider, or the like in the conventional extra length absorbing structure is not used, the structure is simplified and the cost is reduced.

  According to invention of Claim 2, since the winding part of a wire harness expands and contracts with a helical shape, compared with the case where a wire harness is bent in V shape or U shape like the past, it is in a winding part. Such stress is small, the bending durability of the wire harness is improved, and the reliability of constant power supply is increased. Further, by accommodating the spirally wound portion in the cylindrical tube member, the structure is further reduced as compared with the case where the rectangular tube member is used.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, both the cylindrical members slide while being positioned in the axial direction, so that the bending operation of the bent portion of the wire harness is smoothly and reliably performed with a small force, and the extra length of the harness is absorbed and constantly Power supply reliability is improved.

  1 to 2 show an embodiment of a surplus length absorbing structure for a wire harness according to the present invention.

  In this structure, a small-diameter cylindrical member 1 and a large-diameter cylindrical member 2 are slidably fitted, and the wire harness 5 is spirally wound (bent) around the inner spaces 3 and 4 of both the cylindrical members 1 and 2. The straight portion 7 that continues to one side of the spirally wound portion (bent portion) 6 is inserted and fixed to the end wall 9 side of the small-diameter cylindrical member 1, and the straight portion 8 that follows the other end of the wound portion 6 is The large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is inserted and fixed to the end wall 10 side. Both the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are preferably formed of a synthetic resin (more preferably, the inner wire harness 5 can be visually observed if it is transparent).

  The small-diameter cylindrical member 1 is composed of a peripheral wall 11 having a circular cross section and an end wall 9 that closes one end of the peripheral wall 11, and the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is a peripheral wall 12 having a circular cross section and an end wall that closes the other end of the peripheral wall 12. 10. The outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter peripheral wall 11 is slidably in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter peripheral wall 12. The other end of the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 and one end of the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 are circular openings 13 and 14, and the opening end of the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 ( (Tip) 13 is inserted, and both openings 13 and 14 communicate with each other.

  Two positioning projections (sliding engagement portions) 15 are provided symmetrically on the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 on the opening end (tip) side of the small-diameter peripheral wall 11, and the large-diameter peripheral wall 12 is axially (longitudinal). Two slit holes (guide portions) 16 are provided symmetrically, and the protrusions 15 are slidably engaged with the slit holes 16. The slit hole 16 is formed in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the peripheral wall 12 except for both ends of the peripheral wall 12, and the strength of the peripheral wall 12 is ensured.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the protrusion 15 of this example is formed in a claw-like shape with flexibility between the slits 17 by inserting a pair of short slits 17 in the axial direction in the small-diameter peripheral wall 11. It is comprised by the inclined nail | claw 15a which protruded outside, and the flexible support piece 15b following this nail | claw 15a. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible protrusion 15 gets over the inner peripheral surface of the opening end 14 of the large-diameter peripheral wall 12 and engages with the slit hole 16. Even if the protrusion 15 does not have flexibility, the protrusion 15 can be engaged with the slit hole 16 while the small-diameter peripheral wall 11 is bent inward.

  The end walls 9 and 10 of both the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are provided with holes 18 and 19 through which the wire harness 5 is inserted, and fixed in a state where the wire harness 5 is led out to the outside following the holes 18 and 19. Fixing plates (harness fixing portions) 20 and 21 for projecting are projected in the axial direction on the outer surfaces of the end walls 9 and 10. The straight portions 7 and 8 of the wire harness 5 are fixed to the fixing plates 20 and 21 by a fixing member such as an adhesive tape 22 or a band.

  Both the tubular members 1 and 2 constitute a harness surplus length absorber 23 as an expansion / contraction member, and the harness surplus length absorber 23 and the wire harness 5 constitute a wire harness assembly 24. The wire harness 5 is preferably configured by covering a plurality of insulating coated electric wires with a protective tube such as a flexible mesh tube made of synthetic resin. A plurality of electric wires can be roughly wound with a tape without using a protective tube, or a single cabtire cable can be used as the wire harness 5.

  For example, the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 is fixed to a fixed structure (not shown), and the harness portion 8 led out from the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is fixed to the movable structure (not shown). It is also possible to fix the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 instead of the harness portion 8 to the movable structure. For example, the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are rotatably fixed to the structures on end walls 9 and 10 via brackets (not shown). It is also possible to fix the harness portions 7 and 8 led out from the cylindrical members 1 and 2 to the structures without fixing the cylindrical members 1 and 2 to the structures.

  Even if the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are not fixed, the winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5 has an elastic force (restoring force) in the compression direction, so that it can be smoothly restored from the straight state of FIG. 1 to the compressed state of FIG. To do. This elastic force reduces the moving operation force of the movable structure to some extent.

  In the extended state of the cylindrical members 1 and 2 and the winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5 in FIG. 1, the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 or the harness portion 7 led out from the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 is fixed to the structure side, and the movable structure It is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing interference between the winding portion 6 and the front end 13 of the small diameter cylindrical portion 1 that the large diameter cylindrical member 2 moves in the compression direction along the outer surface of the small diameter cylindrical member 1 with the movement. .

  In FIG. 1, the winding portion 6 extended spirally at a large pitch is spiraled in both cylindrical members in accordance with the compression operation of the cylindrical member in FIG. 2 (which may be the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 or the small-diameter cylindrical member 1). It is compressed in the cylindrical member axial direction while being wound in a shape. The protrusion 15 located at the rear end of the slit hole 16 in FIG. 1 slides along the slit hole 16 and moves to the front end of the slit hole 16.

  Engaging the protrusion 15 with the slit hole 16 prevents the cylindrical members 1 and 2 from rotating in the circumferential direction, and defines the extended end position and the compressed end position of the cylindrical members 1 and 2. Since the cylindrical members 1 and 2 do not rotate in the circumferential direction, the winding portion 6 is prevented from being twisted and the like, and a smoother expansion and contraction operation is possible.

  It is also possible to provide a slit groove (not penetrating outside) as a guide portion instead of the slit hole 16. It is also possible to provide a slit groove on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical member 1 and provide a protrusion (15) on the inner surface of the large diameter cylindrical member 2.

  Further, even when the slit hole 16 and the protrusion 15 are eliminated and the cylindrical members 1 and 2 can be turned in the circumferential direction in the fitted state, the twisting reaction force in the circumferential direction of the winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5 is sufficient. The positions of the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are automatically defined to some extent. In this case, it is preferable to provide a stopper flange or the like on the open end side of the cylindrical members 1 and 2 in order to prevent the cylindrical members 1 and 2 from coming off.

  2 is pulled relatively from the compressed state of FIG. 2, or the harness portions 7 and 8 led out from the both cylindrical members 1 and 2 are relatively pulled to obtain the extended state of FIG. The winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5 is always safely protected from interference with the outside and the like inside the cylindrical members 1 and 2.

  Moreover, the winding part 6 of the wire harness 5 is accommodated in the small diameter cylindrical member 1 in the compressed state of FIG. 2, and the outer peripheral surface of the winding part 6 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical member 1. Is prevented, and accordingly, abnormal noise during wear of the vehicle and wear of the winding portion 6 are prevented. In the straight state of FIG. 1, there is a large gap between the outer peripheral surface of the winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5 and the inner peripheral surfaces of the two cylindrical members 1, 2. Abnormal noise and wear due to the interference are not likely to occur.

  The wire harness surplus length absorbing structure using the harness surplus length absorber 23 is, for example, a car door (see the conventional example in FIG. 3), a car slide door (see the conventional example in FIG. 4), It can be applied to a slide sheet of an automobile (see the conventional example in FIG. 5).

  When applied to a rotary door (movable structure), for example, in the example of FIG. 3, the inner wall 62 of the door 61 and the end wall 9 of the small diameter cylindrical member 1 of the harness surplus length absorber 23 (FIG. 1). The side is pivotally connected with a bracket or the like (not shown), or the harness portion 7 led out from the small diameter cylindrical member 1 is fixed to the inner panel 62 side, and the vehicle body (fixed structure) 63 is The end wall 10 side of the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is rotatably connected by a bracket or the like (not shown), or the harness portion 8 led out from the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is fixed to the vehicle body side. The harness extra length absorber 23 is horizontally disposed, the harness portion 7 led out from the small diameter cylindrical member 1 is extended and routed to the door 61 side, and the harness portion 8 led out from the large diameter cylindrical member 2 is connected to the vehicle. Extend the cable to the body 63 side.

  Alternatively, the end wall 10 side of the large diameter cylindrical member 2 is fixed to the vehicle body 63 side, or the harness portion 8 led out from the large diameter cylindrical member 2 is fixed to the vehicle body side, and the small diameter cylindrical member 1 is fixed. The end wall 9 side is fixed to the door 61 side, or the harness portion 7 led out from the small diameter cylindrical member 1 is fixed to the door side. Thus, for example, when the door 61 is opened, both the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are extended (compressed) together with the winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5, and when the door 61 is closed, the both cylindrical members 1 and 2 are combined with the winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5. Compress (decompress).

  When applied to a sliding door (movable structure), for example, in the example of FIG. 4, the end wall 9 of the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 of the harness surplus absorber 23 (FIG. 1) on the vehicle body (fixed structure) 71 side. The side is pivotally connected with a bracket or the like (not shown), or the harness portion 7 led out from the small diameter cylindrical member 1 is fixed to the vehicle body side, and the large diameter cylindrical member 2 is attached to the slide door 72. The end wall 10 side is rotatably connected with a bracket or the like, or the harness portion 8 led out from the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is fixed to the slide door side, and the harness surplus length absorber 23 is disposed horizontally. .

  Alternatively, the small-diameter cylinder member 1 is connected to the slide door side, or the harness portion 7 led out from the small-diameter cylinder member 1 is fixed to the slide door side, and the large-diameter cylinder member 2 is fixed to the vehicle body side. Alternatively, the harness portion 8 led out from the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is fixed to the vehicle body side. Thus, for example, when the slide door 72 is closed, both the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are extended (compressed) together with the winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5, and when the slide door 61 is opened, the both cylindrical members 1 and 2 are connected to the winding portion of the wire harness 5. 6 (compressed).

  When applied to a slide sheet (movable structure), for example, in the example of FIG. 5, the end wall 9 of the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 of the harness surplus absorber (FIG. 1) is placed on the floor 81 of the vehicle body (fixed structure). The side is pivotally connected by a bracket or the like, or the harness portion 7 led out from the small diameter cylindrical member 1 is fixed to the floor side, and the end wall 10 side of the large diameter cylindrical member 2 is bracketed to the slide seat 82 For example, the harness portion 10 that is pivotally connected or is led out from the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is fixed to the slide seat side.

  Alternatively, the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 is connected to the slide seat side, or the harness portion 7 led out from the small-diameter cylindrical member 1 is fixed to the seat side, and the large-diameter cylindrical member 2 is connected to the floor side, or large The harness portion 8 led out from the cylindrical member 2 having a diameter is fixed to the floor side. Thus, for example, both the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are compressed (expanded) together with the winding portion 6 of the wire harness 5 when the slide sheet 82 moves forward, and both the cylindrical members 1 and 2 are wound around the winding portion of the wire harness 5 when the slide sheet 82 moves backward. 6 is expanded (compressed) together.

  In the above-described embodiment, the wire harness 5 is spirally wound and accommodated in both the cylindrical members. For example, the U-shaped, J-shaped, and wave are not wound in both the cylindrical portions without winding the wire harness 5 spirally. It is also possible to accommodate it by bending it into a shape or the like. For example, in the case of bending in a U-shape, the number of the bent portions is not limited to one, but may be two or more (in a range where the bent portions do not interfere with each other). In the case of a waveform, it is also possible to compress each bent portion so as to be folded.

  The bent part such as U-shape or corrugated shape is stretched almost straight or slightly bent when both cylindrical members 1 and 2 are stretched, and returns to the original bent state when both cylindrical members 1 and 2 are compressed. To do. In the case of a waveform, it returns smoothly due to the elastic force of each bent portion.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the cylindrical cylindrical members 1 and 2 were used, it is also possible to use cylindrical members, such as a rectangular cylinder shape, instead of a cylindrical shape. When the wire harness 5 is bent not in a spiral shape but in a waveform, a U shape, or the like, the cylindrical members 1 and 2 have a rectangular cross section so that the wire harness 5 can be stored better. The term “cylinder member” as used in the claims includes a circular cross section, a rectangular shape, and the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the end walls 9 and 10 are provided on the respective cylindrical members 1 and 2. It is also possible to provide the harness fixing plates 20 and 21 on the peripheral walls 11 and 12 of the cylindrical member using a cylindrical member.

1 shows an embodiment of a surplus length absorbing structure for a wire harness according to the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a cross-sectional view. Similarly, the state at the time of harness compression of the extra length absorption structure of a wire harness is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is sectional drawing. 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a conventional wire harness surplus length absorption structure, in which FIG. 1A is an overall perspective view, and FIG. The other form of the surplus length absorption structure of the conventional wire harness is shown, (a) is a front view of a door closed state, (b) is a front view of a door open state. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other form of the surplus length absorption structure of the conventional wire harness.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Small diameter cylindrical member 2 Large diameter cylindrical member 5 Wire harness 6 Winding part (bending part)
15 Projection (slide engagement part)
16 Slit hole (guide part)

Claims (3)

  A small-diameter cylindrical member and a large-diameter cylindrical member are slidably engaged in the axial direction, the bent portions of the wire harness are accommodated inside both cylindrical members, and the bent portions expand and contract together with the both cylindrical members. The extra length absorption structure of the wire harness.   The surplus length absorbing structure for a wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion is a spiral winding portion.   The extra length absorbing structure for a wire harness according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the both cylindrical members slide while being positioned by the slide engaging portion and the guide portion.

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