JP2021136722A - Protector and wiring harness - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a protector that makes it difficult to create a gap between the protector and an electric wire without changing the thickness of a foaming material layer according to the electric wire diameter.SOLUTION: A protector 13 includes a wall portion W (bottom wall portion 21, side wall portions 22, 23, and upper wall portion 24) forming an electric wire insertion portion 30 through which an electric wire 11 is passed, and a protruding wall portion 32 protruding from the inner surface of the wall portion W into the electric wire insertion portion 30. The electric wire insertion portion 30 includes an accommodating section in which a foaming material 12 wound around the electric wire 11 is accommodated. The protruding wall portion 32 is provided in the accommodating section and is configured to be able to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present disclosure relates to protectors and wire harnesses.

For example, the wire harness for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1 includes a protector through which an electric wire is passed. The protector protects the wire from the outside by covering the outer circumference of the wire.

JP-A-2019-47606

In the wire harness as described above, it is conceivable that the foam material is wound around the outer periphery of the portion passing through the protector of the electric wire, and the gap between the protector and the electric wire is filled with the foam material. However, the diameter of the wire passing through the protector may differ depending on the grade of the car, etc., and if the diameter of the wire is small, even if the foam material is wrapped around the outer circumference of the wire, there will be a gap between the protector and the wire. It may not be completely filled with the foam material. In this case, it is possible to fill the gap by increasing the thickness of the foaming material layer by increasing the number of turns of the foaming material, but the thickness of the foaming material layer is changed according to the wire diameter. Correspondence leads to deterioration of workability.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protector and a wire harness capable of making it difficult to form a gap between the foam material layer and the electric wire without changing the thickness of the foaming material layer according to the electric wire diameter.

The protector of the present disclosure includes a wall portion forming an electric wire insertion portion through which an electric wire of a wire harness is passed, and a protruding wall portion protruding from the inner surface of the wall portion into the electric wire insertion portion. It has an accommodating section in which the foam material wound around the electric wire is accommodated, and the protruding wall portion is provided in the accommodating section and is configured to be able to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foam material.

Further, the wire harness of the present disclosure includes the protector, an electric wire passed through the electric wire insertion portion of the protector, and a foaming material wound around the electric wire and accommodated in the accommodation section, and the protector. The protruding wall portion of the above is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foam material.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a protector and a wire harness capable of making it difficult to form a gap between the foam material layer and the electric wire without changing the thickness of the foaming material layer according to the electric wire diameter. It becomes.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the wire harness of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG.

[Explanation of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
The protectors of this disclosure are
[1] A wall portion forming an electric wire insertion portion through which an electric wire of a wire harness is passed and a protruding wall portion protruding from the inner surface of the wall portion into the electric wire insertion portion are provided, and the electric wire insertion portion is the electric wire. It has an accommodating section in which the foam material wound around the cable is accommodated, and the protruding wall portion is provided in the accommodating section and is configured to be able to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foam material.

According to this configuration, the gap between the inner surface of the wall portion of the protector and the foaming material can be closed by the protruding wall portion protruding from the inner surface of the wall portion. This makes it possible to make it difficult to create a gap between the protector and the electric wire without changing the thickness of the foaming material layer according to the diameter of the electric wire. Then, by closing the gap between the protector and the electric wire with a foaming material and a protruding wall portion, it is possible to suppress the flow of air through the gap, and as a result, it may occur when air passes through the gap. It is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise.

[2] The wall portion is formed in a tubular shape so as to surround the entire circumferential direction of the electric wire, and the wall portion and the electric wire insertion portion have a shape extending along the insertion direction of the electric wire and accommodate the electric wire. The section is set at the end of the electric wire insertion portion in the insertion direction.

According to this configuration, even if the wall portion of the protector surrounds the entire circumferential direction of the electric wire, the accommodating section in which the foam material is accommodated is set at the end of the electric wire insertion portion in the insertion direction. The foaming material contained in the can be easily visually confirmed.

[3] A plurality of the protruding wall portions are arranged side by side in the accommodation section along the insertion direction of the electric wire.
According to this configuration, even if the position of the foaming material is deviated in the length direction of the electric wire, the gap between the inner surface of the wall portion of the protector and the foaming material is caused by any one of the plurality of protruding wall portions. Can be closed.

[4] The electric wire insertion portion has a quadrangular cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the insertion direction of the electric wire, and the protruding wall portions are provided at four corners of the electric wire insertion portion, respectively.
When the cross-sectional shape of the foam material wound around the electric wire is circular, gaps are likely to occur between the foam material and the four corners of the electric wire insertion portion. However, according to the above configuration, the four corners of the electric wire insertion portion are likely to occur. It is possible to close the gap between the foaming material and the foaming material at each corner by the protruding wall portion provided in each portion.

[5] The tip of the protruding wall portion has an arc shape when viewed from the insertion direction of the electric wire.
According to this configuration, the protruding wall portion can be suitably brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foam material having a circular cross section.

[6] Further, the wire harness of the present disclosure includes the protector, an electric wire passed through the electric wire insertion portion of the protector, and a foaming material wound around the electric wire and accommodated in the accommodating section. , The protruding wall portion of the protector is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material.

According to this configuration, the gap between the inner surface of the wall portion of the protector and the foaming material can be closed by the protruding wall portion protruding from the inner surface of the wall portion. This makes it possible to make it difficult to create a gap between the protector and the electric wire without changing the thickness of the foaming material layer according to the diameter of the electric wire. Then, by closing the gap between the protector and the electric wire with a foaming material and a protruding wall portion, it is possible to suppress the flow of air through the gap, and as a result, it may occur when air passes through the gap. It is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise.

[7] The foaming material is formed of a semi-closed cell foam.
According to this configuration, it is possible to suitably fill the gap between the protector and the electric wire with the foaming material made of the semi-closed cell foam, and as a result, the generation of abnormal noise that can be generated by the passage of air through the gap. Can be suitably suppressed.

[Details of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
Specific examples of the protector and the wire harness of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wire harness 10 for a vehicle of the present embodiment covers the electric wire 11, the foaming material 12 wound around the outer circumference of the electric wire 11, and a part of the foaming material 12 and the electric wire 11. It includes a protector 13. The protector 13 is fixed to a vehicle body (not shown). The protector 13 protects the electric wire 11 from the outside and guides the electric wire 11 along a predetermined route.

The electric wire 11 has, for example, a configuration in which at least one electric wire is passed through a tubular exterior member or the like.
The foaming material 12 is formed by winding a sheet-shaped foaming material around the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 11. The foaming material 12 has an adhesive layer (not shown) on one side of the sheet-shaped foaming material, and is fixed to the electric wire 11 by the adhesive layer. The electric wire 11 is formed so that the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the length direction is substantially circular, and the cross-sectional shape of the foam material 12 wound around the electric wire 11 is also substantially circular.

Further, the foam material 12 is formed of, for example, a semi-closed cell foam containing EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) as a main component. EPDM has strong resistance to water and has the property of being resistant to deterioration even in an environment exposed to water. In addition, the semi-closed cell foam has a part lacking in water stopping because some of the bubbles inside are continuously formed, but the bubbles that are continuously formed are crushed by compression, so that the bubbles are crushed. Sufficient water stoppage can be ensured.

(Protector 13)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the protector 13 is, for example, an injection-molded product made of a synthetic resin material. The protector 13 includes a main body portion 14 and a cover portion 15 that closes the upper opening 14a of the main body portion 14. In the drawing, the X-axis in the XYZ axes orthogonal to each other represents the length direction X of the protector 13, the Y-axis represents the width direction Y of the protector 13, and the Z-axis represents the height direction Z of the protector 13. There is. The length direction X of the protector 13 coincides with the insertion direction of the electric wire 11.

The main body portion 14 of the protector 13 includes a bottom wall portion 21 and a pair of side wall portions 22 and 23 extending from the bottom wall portion 21. The bottom wall portion 21 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the height direction Z of the protector 13. The pair of side wall portions 22, 23 extend in the same direction as each other along the height direction Z of the protector 13. Further, the pair of side wall portions 22, 23 face each other in the width direction Y of the protector 13. The side wall portions 22 and 23 of the present embodiment have a flat plate shape orthogonal to the width direction Y.

The upper opening 14a of the main body 14 is an opening between the open ends of the side wall portions 22 and 23 in the height direction Z. The cover portion 15 has an upper wall portion 24 that closes the upper opening 14a of the main body portion 14. The upper wall portion 24 faces the bottom wall portion 21 in the height direction Z. The upper wall portion 24 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the height direction Z of the protector 13.

The cover portion 15 of the present embodiment is integrally formed with the main body portion 14. Specifically, the upper wall portion 24 of the cover portion 15 is connected to the side wall portion 22 of the main body portion 14 via the hinge portion 25. The upper wall portion 24 is rotatable about the hinge portion 25 between the position of closing the upper opening 14a of the main body portion 14 and the opening position of opening the upper opening 14a shown in FIG. .. Further, the cover portion 15 includes a locking portion 27 that locks to the locked portion 26 of the side wall portion 23 in a state where the upper wall portion 24 closes the upper opening 14a. By locking the locking portion 27 and the locked portion 26, the upper wall portion 24 is fixed to the main body portion 14 at a position that closes the upper opening 14a.

(Electric wire insertion part 30)
The bottom wall portion 21, the side wall portions 22, 23, and the upper wall portion 24 form a wall portion W forming an electric wire insertion portion 30 through which the electric wire 11 is passed. The wall portion W including the bottom wall portion 21, the side wall portions 22, 23, and the upper wall portion 24 is formed over substantially the entire length direction X of the protector 13. Further, the wall portion W has a square tubular shape when viewed from the length direction X, and is configured to surround the entire circumferential direction of the electric wire 11. That is, the space inside the wall portion W is configured as the electric wire insertion portion 30. An electric wire 11 is inserted into the electric wire insertion portion 30 along the length direction X. That is, the electric wire insertion portion 30 has a quadrangular cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the insertion direction (length direction X) of the electric wire 11. Further, the wall portion W and the electric wire insertion portion 30 have a shape extending along the insertion direction of the electric wire 11.

The electric wire insertion portion 30 has an accommodation section S in which the foaming material 12 wound around the electric wire 11 is accommodated. The accommodation section S is set at the end portion 30a of the electric wire insertion portion 30 in the length direction X. The protector 13 includes two projecting wall groups 31 in the accommodation section S. A fixed piece 28 extending in the length direction X is formed at the end 30a of the electric wire insertion portion 30. The electric wire 11 drawn from the end 30a of the electric wire insertion portion 30 is fixed to the fixing piece 28 by a binding band or an adhesive tape (not shown).

(Protruding wall portion 32)
The two projecting wall portions 31 are arranged side by side in the accommodation section S along the insertion direction (length direction X) of the electric wire 11. One protruding wall group 31 is provided at the end 30a of the wire insertion portion 30 in the length direction X (that is, the end of the wall W in the length direction X), and the other protruding wall group 31 is It is provided at a position inside the end portion 30a of the electric wire insertion portion 30 in the length direction X. Each of the two projecting wall groups 31 includes four projecting wall portions 32.

In each protruding wall portion group 31, the four protruding wall portions 32 are provided at the four corner portions 33 and 34 of the electric wire insertion portion 30 having a quadrangular shape in the length direction X-view. Further, each protruding wall portion 32 is formed so as to project from the inner surface of the wall portion W into the electric wire insertion portion 30.

More specifically, of the four protruding wall portions 32 in each protruding wall portion group 31, the two protruding wall portions 32 are formed on the two corner portions 33 formed by the bottom wall portion 21 and the side wall portions 22, 23. Each is provided. One of the protruding wall portions 32 provided on each corner portion 33 is integrally formed with the bottom wall portion 21 and the side wall portion 22, and the other is integrally formed with the bottom wall portion 21 and the side wall portion 23. Has been done.

The remaining two protruding wall portions 32 in each protruding wall portion group 31 are provided at two corner portions 34 formed by the upper wall portion 24 and the side wall portions 22, 23, respectively. The protruding wall portion 32 provided at each corner portion 34 is integrally formed with the upper wall portion 24, and projects from the inner side surface of the upper wall portion 24 into the electric wire insertion portion 30. Further, in each projecting wall portion group 31, the forming positions of the four projecting wall portions 32 in the length direction X are the same as each other.

Each protruding wall portion 32 has a plate shape substantially orthogonal to the length direction X. The tip portion 32a, which is the end portion of each protruding wall portion 32 on the inner side in the radial direction (the center side of the electric wire insertion portion 30), has an arc shape when viewed from the length direction X. Further, the plate thickness (thickness in the length direction X) at the tip portion 32a of each protruding wall portion 32 is formed so as to become thinner toward the tip (inner end in the radial direction). Then, the tip portion 32a of each protruding wall portion 32 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material 12 wound around the electric wire 11 so as to bite into the outer peripheral surface. Each protruding wall portion 32 is provided so as to close the gap between the foam material 12 and the inner surface of the wall portion W.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
The gap between the electric wire 11 and the inner surface of the wall portion W is filled with the foaming material 12. As a result, the flow of air passing through the gap is suppressed, and as a result, the generation of abnormal noise (wind noise) that may occur when air passes through the gap is suppressed.

Here, the diameter of the electric wire 11 (the number of wires included in the electric wire 11) may differ depending on the grade of the vehicle and the like, but there is a desire to use the protector 13 having the same shape for general purposes regardless of the grade. Further, for good workability, there is a demand that the thickness of the layer of the foaming material 12 (the number of turns of the foaming material 12, etc.) be made uniform regardless of the diameter of the electric wire 11. Therefore, in the protector 13 of the present embodiment, even when the diameter of the electric wire 11 is small, each protruding wall portion 32 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material 12 without changing the protector 13 or the foaming material 12. Each protruding wall portion 32 can close the gap between the inner surface of the wall portion W and the foaming material 12. Further, since each protruding wall portion 32 bites into the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material 12, each protruding wall portion 32 can suppress a displacement of the electric wire 11 including the foaming material 12 in the length direction X.

Further, the electric wire insertion portion 30 of the present embodiment has a quadrangular cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the insertion direction of the electric wire 11, while the foam material 12 wound around the electric wire 11 has a circular cross-sectional shape. Therefore, when the diameter of the electric wire 11 is small, a gap is likely to occur between the four corner portions 33 and 34 of the electric wire insertion portion 30 and the foaming material 12. Therefore, by providing the protruding wall portions 32 at each of the four corner portions 33, 34 of the electric wire insertion portion 30, the gaps between the foaming materials 12 at the corner portions 33, 34 are suitably closed by the protruding wall portions 32. It is possible. Further, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the assembling property when assembling the large-diameter electric wire 11 to the electric wire insertion portion 30 is better than that of the configuration in which the size of the electric wire insertion portion 30 itself is small. There is.

The effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) The protruding wall portion 32 protruding from the inner surface of the wall portion W of the protector 13 into the electric wire insertion portion 30 is configured to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material 12 wound around the electric wire 11. According to this configuration, the gap between the inner surface of the wall portion W of the protector 13 and the foaming material 12 can be closed by each protruding wall portion 32. As a result, even if the thickness of the layer of the foaming material 12 is not changed by increasing the number of turns of the foaming material 12 according to the diameter of the electric wire 11, it is difficult to generate a gap between the protector 13 and the electric wire 11. Is possible. Then, by closing the gap between the protector 13 and the electric wire 11 with the foaming material 12 and the protruding wall portion 32, it is possible to suppress the flow of air through the gap, and as a result, the air passes through the gap. This makes it possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise that may occur.

(2) The wall portion W including the bottom wall portion 21, the side wall portions 22, 23, and the upper wall portion 24 is formed in a tubular shape so as to surround the entire circumferential direction of the electric wire 11. The wall portion W and the electric wire insertion portion 30 have a shape extending along the insertion direction of the electric wire 11. The accommodation section S of the electric wire insertion portion 30 is set at the end portion 30a of the electric wire insertion portion 30 in the insertion direction. According to this configuration, even if the wall portion W of the protector 13 surrounds the entire circumferential direction of the electric wire 11, the accommodating section S in which the foaming material 12 is accommodated is at the end portion 30a of the electric wire insertion portion 30 in the insertion direction. Since it is set, it is possible to easily visually confirm the foaming material 12 accommodated in the accommodating section S.

(3) A plurality of projecting wall portions 32 are arranged side by side in the accommodation section S along the insertion direction of the electric wire 11. According to this configuration, even when the position of the foaming material 12 is deviated in the length direction of the electric wire 11, the wall portion W is caused by any one of the plurality of protruding wall portions 32 arranged in the length direction of the electric wire 11. It is possible to close the gap between the inner surface of the foam material 12 and the foam material 12.

(4) The electric wire insertion portion 30 has a quadrangular cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the insertion direction of the electric wire 11, and the protruding wall portions 32 are provided at the four corner portions 33 and 34 of the electric wire insertion portion 30, respectively. When the cross-sectional shape of the foaming material 12 wound around the electric wire 11 is circular, gaps are likely to occur between the four corners 33 and 34 of the electric wire insertion portion 30 and the foaming material 12, but the four corners 33 and 34 are likely to occur. Each of the protruding wall portions 32 provided in the above can close the gap between the corner portions 33 and 34 and the foaming material 12.

(5) The tip portion 32a of the protruding wall portion 32 has an arc shape when viewed from the insertion direction of the electric wire 11. According to this configuration, the protruding wall portion 32 can be suitably brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material 12 having a circular cross section.

(6) The foam material 12 is formed of a semi-closed cell foam. According to this configuration, it is possible to suitably fill the gap between the protector 13 and the electric wire 11 by the foaming material 12 made of the semi-closed cell foam, and as a result, the difference that can occur due to the passage of air through the gap. It is possible to suitably suppress the generation of sound.

(7) The protruding wall portion 32 has a plate shape that intersects the insertion direction of the electric wire 11. Thereby, the gap between the foaming material 12 and the inner surface of the wall portion W can be suitably closed by the protruding wall portion 32. Further, as a result, the protruding wall portion 32 can be suitably bitten into the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material 12, and as a result, the load required to close the cover portion 15 can be reduced.

(8) The plate thickness (thickness in the length direction X) at the tip portion 32a of the protruding wall portion 32 is formed so as to become thinner toward the tip (inner end in the radial direction). As a result, the protruding wall portion 32 can be suitably bitten into the outer peripheral surface of the foam material 12, and as a result, the load required to close the cover portion 15 can be reduced.

This embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
-In the above embodiment, the foam material 12 is formed of a semi-closed cell foam containing EPDM as a main component, but in addition to this, for example, the foam material 12 is formed of a closed cell foam containing EPDM as a main component. You may. Further, the foam material 12 may be formed of urethane.

The number of projecting wall portions 31 and the number of projecting wall portions 32 in each projecting wall portion group 31 are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the configuration such as the shape of the electric wire insertion portion 30 (wall portion W) may be used. , The length of the accommodation section S (the length of the foam material 12) and the like may be appropriately changed.

The cover portion 15 of the above embodiment is integrally formed with the main body portion 14 of the protector 13, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the cover portion 15 may be separated from the main body portion 14.

10 Wire harness 11 Wire 12 Foam material 13 Protector 14 Main body 14a Top opening 15 Cover 21 Bottom wall 22,23 Side wall 24 Top wall 25 Hinging 26 Locked 27 Locking 28 Fixing piece 30 Wire insertion Part 30a End 31 Protruding wall group 32 Protruding wall 32a Tip 33, 34 Square S Containment section W Wall X Length direction Y Width direction Z Height direction

Claims (7)

The wall part that forms the wire insertion part through which the wire of the wire harness is passed,
A protruding wall portion that projects from the inner surface of the wall portion into the electric wire insertion portion is provided.
The electric wire insertion portion has an accommodating section in which the foam material wound around the electric wire is accommodated.
The protruding wall portion is provided in the accommodating section and is configured to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foaming material. The wall portion is formed in a tubular shape so as to surround the entire circumferential direction of the electric wire.
The wall portion and the electric wire insertion portion have a shape extending along the insertion direction of the electric wire.
The protector according to claim 1, wherein the accommodating section is set at the end of the electric wire insertion portion in the insertion direction. The protector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the protruding wall portions are arranged side by side in the accommodation section along the insertion direction of the electric wire. The electric wire insertion portion has a quadrangular cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the insertion direction of the electric wire.
The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protruding wall portion is provided at each of the four corner portions of the electric wire insertion portion. The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tip end portion of the protruding wall portion has an arc shape when viewed from the insertion direction of the electric wire. The protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The electric wire passed through the electric wire insertion portion of the protector and the electric wire
A foaming material wound around the electric wire and accommodated in the accommodating section is provided.
A wire harness in which the protruding wall portion of the protector is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foam material. The wire harness according to claim 6, wherein the foam material is made of a semi-closed cell foam.

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