External cover material for wire harness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9732888-B2
Application number	US-201214380503-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2012
Priority date	Feb 24, 2012
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide better configurations of a partition-attached metal pipe as an external cover material for a wire harness, including: a metal pipe through which a wire harness including a plurality of electrical wires can be inserted; and a separate metal partition member that is to be assembled by being inserted into the pipe; wherein a plurality of electrical wire insertion spaces that are partitioned by the partition member and a circumferential wall of the pipe are provided continuously in an axial direction of the pipe.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An external cover material for a wire harness, comprising:
a metal pipe through which a wire harness including a plurality of electrical wires can be inserted; and
a separate metal partition member that is to be assembled by being inserted into the pipe;
wherein a plurality of electrical wire insertion spaces that are partitioned by the partition member and a circumferential wall of the pipe are provided continuously in an axial direction of the pipe,
wherein fitting depressions, into which projecting edges at an outer circumference of partition plates of the partition member are fitted, extend in the axial direction in an inner circumferential face of the pipe, and are provided in the inner circumferential face of the pipe at a constant pitch in a circumferential direction of the pipe,
wherein the edges at the outer circumference of the partition plates are fitted into the fitting depressions at any position of the fitting depressions provided at the constant pitch, and
wherein each of the fitting depressions comprises a depression having a trapezoidal shape in which both side faces widen in an inward radial direction of the pipe.

2. The external cover material for a wire harness, according to claim 1 ,
wherein the pipe and the partition member are produced by extrusion molding of molten metal such as aluminum-based metal,
wherein the pipe is constituted only by a circumferential wall surrounding a hollow portion, and has any one of a circular, a substantially flat oval, or an elliptical cross-section, and
wherein the partition member is shaped such that a plurality of partition plates are radially connected to each other, or such that a plurality of partition plates are provided as teeth that project from a coupling plate.

3. The external cover material for a wire harness, according to claim 1 ,
wherein the electrical wires of the wire harness are separately inserted into the plurality of electrical wire insertion spaces that are partitioned by the partition member,
wherein an adhesive tape or a cable tie is wound around to fix the inserted electrical wires and the partition member, and
wherein the partition member holding the electrical wires is inserted through the pipe.

4. The external cover material for a wire harness, according to claim 3 , wherein winding cut-outs are provided at an outer circumference of the partition plates at intervals in a length direction of the partition plates.

5. The external cover material for a wire harness, according to claim 1 , wherein a wall thickness of the partition plates of the partition member have a smaller wall thickness than a wall thickness of the pipe.

6. The external cover material for a wire harness, according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the partition member is longer than a length of the pipe.

7. The external cover material for a wire harness, according to claim 1 , wherein at least both ends in a length direction of the pipe are partially crimped, so that edges at an outer circumference of the partition member are pressed against and fixed to an inner circumferential face of the pipe.

8. The external cover material for a wire harness, according to claim 1 , wherein each of the partition plates of the partition member have a bent portion along a radial length of each of the partition plates.

9. An external cover material for a wire harness, comprising:
a metal pipe through which a wire harness including a plurality of electrical wires can be inserted; and
a separate metal partition member that is to be assembled by being inserted into the pipe,
wherein a plurality of electrical wire insertion spaces that are partitioned by the partition member and a circumferential wall of the pipe are provided continuously in an axial direction of the pipe, and
wherein the pipe is swaged throughout the length of the pipe, or at least both ends in the length direction of the pipe are partially crimped, so that edges at an outer circumference of the partition member are pressed against and fixed to an inner circumferential face of the pipe,
wherein fitting depressions, into which projecting edges at an outer circumference of partition plates of the partition member are fitted, extend in the axial direction in an inner circumferential face of the pipe, and are provided in the inner circumferential face of the pipe at a constant pitch in a circumferential direction of the pipe
wherein each of the fitting depressions comprises a depression having a trapezoidal shape in which both side faces widen in an inward radial direction of the pipe.

10. A method for attaching an external cover material to a wire harness, comprising:
inserting separated electrical wires of a wire harness into spaces that are partitioned by the partition member;
fixing the electrical wires and the partition member using a tape or a cable tie;
inserting the partition member holding the electrical wires through the pipe;
drawing or partially crimping the pipe, thereby fixing the partition member and the pipe, and then bending the pipe according to a form in which the wire harness is to be arranged; and
providing fitting depressions in the inner circumferential face of the pipe at a constant pitch in a circumferential direction of the pipe, the fitting depressions being where projecting edges at an outer circumference of partition plates of the partition member are fitted, and extend in the axial direction in an inner circumferential face of the pipe, each of the fitting depressions comprises a depression having a trapezoidal shape in which both side faces widen in an inward radial direction of the pipe.

11. The method for attaching the external cover material to the wire harness, according to claim 10 , further comprising:
fitting an outer edge of each of a plurality of partition plates of the partition member is into a respective fitted depression of the pipe.

12. The method for attaching the external cover material to the wire harness, according to claim 10 , further comprising:
pressing an inner circumferential face of a circumferential wall of the pipe against an outer edge of each of plurality of partition plates of the partition member.

13. The method for attaching the external cover material to the wire harness, according to claim 10 , further comprising:
prior to inserting the partition member into the pipe, bending, each of a plurality of partition plates of the partition member along a radial length of each of the plurality of partition plates.

Assignees

• Shiga Kouki
• Sugino Hidetoshi
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems

Inventors

• Shiga Kouki
• Sugino Hidetoshi

Classifications

• H02G3/0481

  with a circular cross-section (H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01B19/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing insulators or insulating bodies {(manufacture of porcelain for electric insulation C04B33/26)} · CPC title

• F16L9/02 Primary

  of metal (F16L9/16 - F16L9/22 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title

• B60R16/0215 Primary

  Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor · CPC title