JP3200542B2 - Hose protector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hose protector, and more particularly to a hose protector suitable for protecting a brake hose for a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A brake hose for a vehicle is used with one end connected to a brake portion of a wheel. For this reason, it is necessary to route the brake hose in the tire house. In this case, since the space in the tire house is narrow, there is a possibility that the brake hose may interfere with peripheral components in the tire house due to vibration or the like during traveling of the vehicle.

For this reason, conventionally, a brake hose has been protected by a protector made of sponge or rubber. As a hose protector for protecting a hose, for example, a hose protector disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-66295 is conventionally known. The hose protector disclosed in the microfilm has an irregular shape in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface, and is formed of a cylindrical elastic member whose inner peripheral surface is fitted to the brake hose. When a hose protector with such a configuration is attached to a brake hose,
Direct interference between the mounting portion and surrounding components can be prevented.

[0004]

When a vehicle travels in a cold region, icing may occur on an exposed portion such as a brake hose. When icing occurs on the brake hose, disadvantages such as deterioration of steering performance due to interference between the icing and the wheels and the like occur, and it is desirable that the icing be removed promptly. When the above-mentioned conventional hose protector is mounted on a vehicle brake hose, the hose protector is deformed in the radial direction when the hose protector and surrounding parts interfere with each other. Since the outer peripheral surface of the hose protector is provided with an uneven shape, when the hose protector is deformed in the radial direction, the cross section of the concave portion is deformed. When the cross section of the concave portion is deformed, the icing adhered to the inside of the concave portion is separated from the surface of the concave portion, and the icing drops from the surface of the hose protector. The icing drop-off effect increases as the deformation of the hose protector increases. However,
Since the conventional hose protector is in close contact with the brake hose on the entire inner peripheral surface thereof, the rigidity in the radial direction is high, and it has been difficult to obtain sufficient deformation in the radial direction. In this sense, the above-described conventional hose protector was not always an ideal configuration as a mechanism for removing icing on the brake hose.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to protect the brake hose and to effectively remove icing by sufficiently deforming when it interferes with the surroundings. The purpose is to provide a simple hose protector.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a hose protector mounted on an outer periphery of a hose, wherein at least a part of an outer peripheral surface has irregularities, and at least a part of an inner periphery of a portion provided with the irregularities. This is achieved by a hose protector whose surface is spaced a predetermined distance from the outer circumference of the hose.

In the present invention, irregularities are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hose protector. The uneven shape is deformed when the hose protector is deformed in the radial direction. When the uneven shape is deformed, the icing fixed on the outer periphery is likely to fall off. Further, at least a part of the inner peripheral surface of the unevenness is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the hose by a predetermined distance. At a portion where the hose protector is separated from the hose, the radial rigidity of the hose protector is reduced. For this reason, in such a portion, when the hose protector and the surrounding interfere, a large deformation occurs in the radial direction of the hose protector. When a large deformation occurs in the hose protector in the radial direction, a large deformation occurs in the cross section of the concave portion of the uneven portion, and an external force acts on the icing fixed on the surface of the hose protector in a falling direction.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows the construction of a brake hose 12 to which a hose protector 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. The brake hose 12 is a flexible hose made of rubber or synthetic resin reinforced with fibers, wires, or the like, and has sockets 11 at both ends. The hose protector 10 is mounted on an intermediate portion of the brake hose 12.

FIG. 2 is a structural view of the hose protector 20. FIG. 2 shows the hose protector 20 in a partially cut state in order to clarify the internal structure of the hose protector 20. The hose protector 20 is a substantially cylindrical rubber member having a substantially constant thickness and formed such that the outer diameter and the inner diameter are larger at the center in the axial direction and smaller at both ends. The inner diameter of both ends of the hose protector 20 is provided slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the brake hose 12. Hose protector 20
Are fixed to the brake hose 12 by fitting these ends to the brake hose 12.

As described above, the hose protector 20 is provided so that the inner diameter increases toward the center in the axial direction. For this reason, a hollow portion 22 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the brake hose 12 and the outer peripheral surface of the hose protector 20 at an intermediate portion of the hose protector 20. A groove 24 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hose protector 20 in the axial direction and the circumferential direction.
Each is formed at substantially equal intervals. For this reason, on the surface of the hose protector 20, an uneven shape is formed at a portion where the groove 24 is formed and at a portion where the groove 24 is not formed. When the above-described hose protector 20 is mounted on the brake hose 12, a direct interference between the brake hose 12 and a peripheral portion is prevented at the mounting portion of the hose protector 20 of the brake hose 12.

FIG. 3 shows a hose protector 20 according to this embodiment.
An example is shown in which a brake hose 12 provided with a brake hose 12 is disposed in a tire house of a right front wheel portion. In FIG. 3, the brake mechanism 3
2 is mounted on a support member 36 fixed to the center of the wheel 34. The support member 36 is connected to a rack bar via a tie rod (not shown), and can move in the left-right steering direction according to a steering operation. The upper end of the shock absorber 38 is fixed to the vehicle body 40, and the lower end is connected to the support member 36 via a joint 42. One end of the brake hose 12 is attached to the brake mechanism 32 via the socket 11. The other end of the brake hose 12 is connected to a brake pipe 46 penetrating the vehicle body 40 and introduced into the tire house. Also,
The brake hose 12 is fixed to the vehicle body 40 by a mounting member 48 provided at a connection portion between the brake hose 12 and the brake pipe 46. Further, an intermediate portion of the brake hose 12 is fixed to the shock absorber 38 by an intermediate holder 50. Brake hose 1
2 is a mounting portion to the shock absorber 38 and the vehicle body 40
It is routed in a U-shape between it and the attachment site. The hose protector 20 includes a portion (hereinafter, referred to as a U-shaped portion) 1 of the brake hose 12 that is routed in a U-shape.
It is attached to the lowermost part of 2a.

According to such a configuration, the traveling vibration caused by the unevenness of the road surface during traveling of the vehicle is absorbed by the wheel 34 moving up and down. At this time, the shock absorber 38 expands and contracts to absorb the vibration, and the intermediate holder 50 moves up and down with the operation. When the steering is steered, the wheel 34 rotates about a vertical axis, and the shock absorber 38 also rotates about the axis with the rotation. At this time, the intermediate holder 50 rotates around the axis of the shock absorber 38.

As described above, while the vehicle is running, the intermediate holder 50 undergoes a vertical movement and a rotation about the axis relative to the vehicle body 40. In this case, both ends of the U-shaped portion 12a of the brake hose 12 relatively move, and the U-shaped portion 12a is deformed and moved. In particular,
When the shock absorber 38 is rotated by the steering operation and the up-down movement of the wheel 34 occurs in a state where the intermediate holder 50 for attaching the brake hose 12 to the shock absorber 38 is close to the vehicle body 40, the brake hose 12
There is a possibility that the lower end of the character portion 12a and a part of the vehicle body 40 in the tire house may interfere with each other.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a hose protector 20 is attached to the lower end of the U-shaped portion 12a. Therefore, the lower end of the U-shaped portion 12a and the vehicle body 40
Therefore, the brake hose 12 is appropriately protected from the interference. By the way, when a vehicle travels in a cold region during a snowmelt period or the like, the vehicle travels on a road surface wet by snowmelt, so that water drops adhere to exposed portions in the tire house due to splashing of water by the tires. In particular, the brake hose 12
Since water droplets attached to the U-shaped portion 12a gather at the lowermost portion of the U-shaped portion 12a, a large amount of water droplets easily adhere. When the vehicle travels with water droplets attached to the brake hose 12, the attached water droplets freeze due to the cooling effect of the traveling wind and the like, causing icing. At this time, a large amount of water droplets concentrate on the lowermost portion of the U-shaped portion 12a, so that large icing is easily formed. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Since the hose protector 20 is attached to the lowermost part of the hose protector 2a, icing easily occurs around the hose protector 20.
Such icing on the brake hose 12 may be restricted as soon as possible because the interference between the icing and the wheels may limit the maximum steering angle of the wheels.

On the other hand, in the hose protector 20 of the present embodiment, a sufficient protection function is ensured by providing the hollow portion 22 between the inner peripheral surface of the hose protector 20 and the outer peripheral surface of the brake hose 12. In addition, the circumferential rigidity of the hose protector 20 is suppressed to be low. Therefore, when the hose protector 20 interferes with the vehicle body 40, the hose protector 20 can be largely deformed radially inward. Hose protector 20 is the body 4
When returning to the non-interference state from the interference state with 0, the hose protector 20 deforms radially outward and returns to the initial shape. When the hose protector 20 is deformed radially outward,
The cross section of the groove 22 formed on the surface of the hose protector 20 changes from a state shown by a dotted line to a state shown by a solid line in FIG. In this case, the side walls 22a and 22b of the groove 22 move outward, and the bottom surface 22c moves upward.
An external force in the detaching direction acts on the icing fixed to the surface of the hose protector 20 due to the deformation of the groove 22.
As described above, the hose protector 20 can be largely deformed in the radial direction. For this reason, the amount of deformation of the groove 22 is large, and a large external force acts on the icing in the detaching direction. For this reason, according to the hose protector 20, a high icing and detaching effect can be obtained.

When the hose protector 20 and the vehicle body 40 interfere with each other, the hose protector 20 can be largely deformed in the radial direction, so that the shock accompanying the interference can be flexibly absorbed. For this reason, the hose protector 20 has an excellent effect in reducing abnormal noise generated at the time of interference and suppressing wear of the surface thereof, as compared with a hose protector arranged in close contact with the hose.

Also, as described above, the hose protector 20
Has a structure in which a hollow portion is provided inside a flexible rubber member, and thus has low rigidity against bending deformation. For this reason, even if the hose protector 20 is attached, the maneuverability of the brake hose 12 does not deteriorate.

Further, as described above, the hose protector 20
Is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the brake hose 12, the hose protector 20 can be deformed without deforming the brake hose 12. In addition,
The hose protector 20 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the hollow portion 22 is filled with air. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of air, a sponge, a working fluid, or the like is used. Buffer material.

Further, the above-described hose protector 20 has a configuration in which the groove 24 is formed on the outer peripheral surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By forming a ridge instead of the groove 24, The above-mentioned hose protector 20 may be configured so that the unevenness of the outer peripheral surface is reversed.

Further, the above-described hose protector 20
Is configured to be fitted to the brake hose 12 at both ends, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it is sufficient that the inner peripheral surface of the portion having the unevenness is separated from the hose. For example, as in a hose protector 50 shown in FIG. 6, an annular space 52 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the portion having the unevenness. Forming a hose protector 5
0 may be fitted to the brake hose 12 over the entire inner peripheral surface. According to such a configuration, the annular space 52
The same function as the hollow portion 22 described above is performed. For this reason,
Also with the hose protector 50, the same icing and detaching effect as that of the hose protector 20 can be obtained.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of the hose protector 60 of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a hose protector 60.
In order to clarify the internal structure of the hose protector 60, a part of the hose protector 60 is cut.

The hose protector 60 is a rubber member having an outer peripheral surface formed in a bellows shape and having a substantially constant thickness. The inner diameter of both ends of the hose protector 60 is provided slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the brake hose 12.
The hose protector 60 is fixed to the brake hose 12 by fitting both ends of the hose protector 60 to the brake hose 12. At an intermediate portion of the hose protector 60, a hollow portion 62 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the brake hose 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the hose protector 60 by forming the outer peripheral surface in a bellows shape. The hose protector 60 is provided such that the minimum diameter portion is larger than the outer diameter of the brake hose 12. Therefore, the hose protector 60 can be easily deformed without causing the inner peripheral surface of the bellows portion 64 to interfere with the outer peripheral surface of the brake hose 12.

According to this configuration, the brake hose 12
In the mounting portion of the hose protector 60, direct interference between the brake hose 12 and surrounding components can be prevented. Further, since the hollow portion 62 is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the hose protector 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the brake hose 12 as described above, the hose protector 60 can be easily deformed in the radial direction. Furthermore, according to the hose protector 60 of the present embodiment, when the hose protector 60 interferes with the vehicle body 40 or when the brake hose 12 vibrates while the vehicle is running, the hose protector 6
An opening and closing movement, that is, an axial movement is generated in the bellows portion 64 formed on the surface of the zero. When the bellows 64 is deformed, an external force in the falling direction acts on the icing fixed to the surface of the hose protector 60, and a force in the falling direction acts on water droplets attached to the surface of the hose protector 60. . For this reason, according to the hose protector 60, a high icing detachment effect and an effect of preventing icing from sticking and growing can be obtained.

The hose protector 60 can flexibly absorb the impact when it interferes with the peripheral parts.
It is similar to the hose protector 20 described above in that it can be deformed flexibly regardless of the rigidity of the hose. Therefore, even with the hose protector 60, it is possible to reliably realize the suppression of the abnormal noise at the time of the interference, the reduction of the abrasion of the surface, the prevention of the deterioration of the workability related to the operation of the brake hose 12, and the like.

In the above embodiment, the brake hose 12 corresponds to the above-described hose, the groove 24 corresponds to the concave portion of the above-described unevenness forming portion, and the bellows portion 64 corresponds to the above-described unevenness forming portion.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the hose protector is mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the hose, the hose can be protected from interference with the outside. Further, when the hose protector interferes with the outside, the hose protector can be greatly deformed, so that a large external force in the falling direction can be applied to icing on the surface of the hose protector. Therefore, according to the hose protector of the present invention, icing fixed to the surface of the hose can be effectively removed while reliably protecting the hose.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a brake hose to which a hose protector according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a hose protector according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which a brake hose to which the hose protector of the present embodiment is attached is disposed in a tire house at a right front wheel portion.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing icing on the hose protector of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating deformation of a groove when the hose protector of the present embodiment interferes.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a configuration in a case where a hose protector is fitted to a brake hose over the entire inner peripheral surface in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a configuration of a hose protector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Brake hose 20, 50, 60 Hose protector 22, 62 Hollow part 52 Annular space 24 Groove 64 Bellows part

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Fumio Ikeda Inventor No. 1 Nagahata Ochiai, Kasuga-cho, Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-8-338590 (JP, A) JP-A Sho 57-83787 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 61-66295 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 5-86090 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Utility Model 5-87397 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Utility Model 2-46194 (JP, U) U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65D 57/00 B60T 17/04

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hose protector mounted on an outer periphery of a hose, wherein at least a part of the outer peripheral surface has irregularities, and at least a part of an inner peripheral surface of the portion provided with the irregularities is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the hose by a predetermined distance. A hose protector characterized by being made.