Wire harness mounting assembly

The present teachings provide for a wire harness mounting assembly including a first retention member, a first guide member, a second retention member, and a second guide member. The first retention member and the first guide member are each configured to be spaced apart from the second retention member and the second guide member to suspend a wire harness across a space defined therebetween.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a wire harness mounting assembly.

BACKGROUND

A wire harness can be used in a variety of applications for a variety of different purposes, such as to protect and direct one or more wires between two points. For example, a wire harness can be used to protect and direct wiring extending from an electrical connector to a fan or blower configured to direct airflow to a radiator for cooling an engine, such as a motor vehicle engine. In such an application, it is often desirable to secure the wire harness as close to the radiator tank as possible without the wire harness sagging along its length, and in a manner that will permit easy installation of the wire harness with the radiator tank already installed. A wire harness mounting assembly able to provide these advantages would thus be desirable.

SUMMARY

The present teachings provide for a wire harness mounting assembly including a first retention member, a first guide member, a second retention member, and a second guide member. The first retention member and the first guide member are each configured to be spaced apart from the second retention member and the second guide member to suspend a wire harness across a space defined therebetween.

The present teachings also provide for a wire harness mounting assembly including a first mounting bracket and a second mounting bracket spaced apart from the first mounting bracket. The first mounting bracket includes a first retention member and a first guide member. The second mounting bracket includes a second retention member and a second guide member. At least one of the first guide member and the second guide member are orientated to direct a wire harness extending therebetween away from a longitudinal axis extending between the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket such that the wire harness is offset from the longitudinal axis at a point between the first guide member and the second guide member.

The present teachings further provide for a wire harness mounting assembly including a first mounting bracket having a first side facing a radiator tank when the first mounting bracket is positioned at the radiator tank, a second side opposite to the first side, and a first wire harness guide member. A first retention member including a first coupling member is configured to extend through an opening defined by the first mounting bracket and engage the first side. A first wire harness securing member is configured to mount a wire harness at the second side. A second mounting bracket is spaced apart from the first mounting bracket and includes a first side facing the radiator tank when the second mounting bracket is coupled to the radiator tank. A second side is opposite to the first side. The second wire harness guide member is angled towards the radiator tank when the second mounting bracket is coupled to the radiator tank to direct the wire harness towards the radiator tank and away from a longitudinal axis extending between the first and the second mounting brackets. A second retention member includes a second coupling member configured to extend through an opening defined by the second mounting bracket and removably engage the first side thereof. A second wire harness securing member is configured to mount the wire harness at the second side of the second mounting bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With initial reference toFIG. 1, a wire harness mounting assembly according to the present teachings is generally illustrated at reference numeral10. The wire harness mounting assembly10is configured to mount a wire harness12proximate to a radiator tank14of a radiator core16. A fan or blower18is mounted at the radiator core16and is configured to direct airflow to the radiator core16. The fan18is housed within a fan shroud20. Although the wire harness mounting assembly10is illustrated and described herein as being configured to support and secure the wire harness12proximate to the radiator tank14, which is configured to permit the flow of engine coolant therethrough, the wire harness mounting assembly10can be used in any other suitable application where it is desirable to retain a wire harness at a particular location and/or orientation.

The wire harness12generally includes a flexible tube30, which is configured to protect and direct wires extending therethrough. For example and as illustrated inFIG. 1, the flexible tube30extends from a fan connector32to an electrical connector34in order to protect wires that extend therethrough and conduct current to power the fan18. The wire harness mounting assembly10is configured to direct the flexible tube30along the radiator tank14and to retain the flexible tube30in close proximity to the radiator tank14, as described further herein.

At the fan shroud20, a fan shroud guide36retains the flexible tube30against the fan shroud20. The fan shroud guide36can be any suitable coupling or retention member, such as a clip including a pair of opposing flanges as illustrated. An additional wire harness38extends from the electrical connector34to a side of the radiator tank14that is opposite to the fan18in order to, for example, direct wiring to another fan (not shown) at an opposite side of the radiator core16.

The wire harness mounting assembly10generally includes a first mounting bracket40and a second mounting bracket42. The first mounting bracket40is also referred to herein as a fan shroud bracket. With continued reference toFIG. 1and additional reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the first mounting bracket40generally includes a base member50, an inner vertical flange52, and an outer vertical flange54, which together are generally portions of a first guide member. The inner vertical flange52includes an inner surface56facing the radiator tank14and an outer surface58, which is opposite to the inner surface56and thus faces away from the radiator tank14. The outer vertical flange54extends from the base member50, and extends generally perpendicular to the base member50. The inner vertical flange52also extends generally perpendicular to the base member50, and may extend from the base member50at a location offset from the base member50. Although the first mounting bracket40is illustrated as being integral with the fan shroud20, the first mounting bracket40can be separate therefrom, and mounted in any suitable manner. For example, the first mounting bracket40can be mounted directly to the radiator tank14.

The first mounting bracket40further includes a first retention member60a. With reference toFIG. 4A, the first retention member60agenerally includes a body62, a wire harness securing member64, and a first coupling member66a. The wire harness securing member64can be any suitable member for coupling the wire harness12to the first retention member60a, such as a tie strap as illustrated. The wire harness securing member64extends from the body62and is received by the body62at a distal end thereof in order to define a loop configured to accommodate the wire harness12therethrough. Upon tightening the wire harness securing member, the loop becomes smaller in order to securely wrap around the wire harness12and secure the wire harness12to the first retention member60a. The wire harness securing member64can be tightened against the wire harness12to secure the wire harness12longitudinally along axis A (FIGS. 1 and 2) and prevent any sag in wire harness12along axis A away from the radiator tank14. Thus the wire harness securing member64can provide control over the amount or length of the wire harness12extending between the first and second mounting brackets40and42.

The coupling member66aincludes a vertical member68and a plurality of horizontal members70each mounted to the vertical member68and extending generally perpendicular thereto. Together the vertical member68and the horizontal members70provide the coupling member66awith generally a fir tree configuration. The horizontal members70are generally flexible, and are configured to flex when inserted through an opening defined by the inner vertical flange52, and expand once passed through the opening in order to secure the first retention member60ato the inner vertical flange52.

With reference toFIG. 4B, a second retention member60bis illustrated. The second retention member60bcan be used in place of the first retention member60a. The second retention member60bincludes the body62and the wire harness securing member64of the first retention member60a, but a coupling member66b, that is different from the coupling member66a.

The coupling member66bincludes a pair of feet72aand72b, and is sometimes referred to as a “rosebud” clip. Each foot72aand72bincludes an elongated portion74with an angled portion76at a distal end thereof. Each one of the elongated portions74are generally flexible so as to flex together when inserted through an opening, such as the opening defined in the inner vertical flange52. Upon passing through the opening, the elongated portions74will expand back to their original position and the angled portions76will abut portions of the inner surface56surrounding the opening in order to retain the first retention member60ato the inner vertical flange52, for example.

When either the first or second retention members60aand60bare mounted to the first mounting bracket40, the coupling members66aor66bextend through an opening defined in the inner vertical flange52, such that the body62and the wire harness securing member64are on a side of the inner vertical flange52opposite to the radiator tank14. The coupling members66aand66bare in cooperation of the inner surface56in order to secure the first retention member60aor the second retention member60brespectively to the inner vertical flange52.

The second mounting bracket42is spaced apart from the first mounting bracket40, and can be directly mounted to the radiator tank14as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3. The second mounting bracket42generally includes an inner surface90and an outer surface92, which is opposite to the inner surface90. The inner surface90faces the radiator tank14, and the outer surface92faces away from the radiator tank14. The second mounting bracket42further includes a second guide member94at an end of the second mounting bracket42closest to the first mounting bracket40. The second mounting bracket42is also referred to as a second guide member.

The second guide member94generally includes a base96, an inner vertical flange98, and an outer vertical flange100. The inner vertical flange98and the outer vertical flange100are spaced apart from one another to accommodate the wire harness12therebetween. The inner and outer vertical flanges98and100extend from the base96, and are each generally perpendicular to the base96. The inner vertical flange98is closer to the radiator tank14than the outer vertical flange100is, and the inner vertical flange98can include the inner surface90of the second mounting bracket42. The second guide member94is angled towards the radiator tank14in order to direct the wire harness12towards the radiator tank14, as described further herein. Like the first mounting bracket40, the second mounting bracket42includes a suitable retention member, such as either the retention member60aor the retention member60b, which can be mounted thereto during installation of the wire harness mounting assembly.

The first and second mounting brackets40and42are spaced apart and generally aligned along axis A, as illustrated inFIG. 2. The second guide member94is angled along axis B, which intersects axis A, as also illustrated inFIG. 2, for example. More specifically, the inner and outer vertical flanges98and100and the base96do not extend along the axis A, and are angled such that they extend from the remainder of the second mounting bracket42towards the radiator tank14along axis B, which is angled with respect to axis A towards the radiator tank14. The second guide member94thus directs the flexible tube30of the wire harness12towards the radiator tank14. Controlled spacing of the retention member60aof the first mounting bracket40and the retention member60aof the second mounting bracket42along the length of the flexible tube30, in conjunction with the interface between the flexible tube30and the second guide member94, helps prevent sagging of the flexible tube30between the first and the second mounting brackets40and42. The wire harness securing member64of each one of the retention members60acan tightly secure the wire harness12to prevent axial movement of the wire harness12and prevent sagging between the first and the second mounting brackets40and42. Because the second guide member94directs the flexible tube30along axis B towards the radiator tank14, the flexible tube30will not extend directly along the axis A between the first and second mounting brackets40and42along its entire length, and thus will be offset from the axis A towards the radiator tank14along at least a portion of a length of the flexible tube30between the first and second mounting brackets40and42.

The outer vertical flange54of the first mounting bracket40may also be angled towards the radiator tank14in order to direct the wire harness12towards the radiator tank14, in addition to the second guide member94being angled along axis B as described above. Furthermore, the second guide member94need not be angled along axis B if the outer vertical flange54is angled towards the radiator tank14, and thus the second guide member94may be angled and arranged such that it extends parallel to or along axis A, for example. If only the second guide member94is angled towards the radiator tank14, then the portion of the wire harness12between the first and second mounting brackets40and42that is closest to the radiator tank14will be offset from a midpoint C along the axis A between the first and second mounting brackets40and42on a side of the midpoint C closest to the second mounting bracket42.

During installation, the retention members60aor60bcan be coupled to the first and second mounting brackets40and42respectively with the wire harness12already mounted thereto. Alternatively, the wire harness12can be connected to the retention members60aor60bafter the retention members60aor60bare coupled to the first and second mounting brackets40and42. Because the retention members60aor60bare coupled to the first and second mounting brackets40and42by inserting them into openings from a side of the first and second mounting brackets40and42opposite to the radiator tank14, the retention members60aor60bcan be secured in place after the first and second mounting brackets40and42are already installed at the radiator tank14. The retention members60aand60band the mounting brackets40and42can thus also be arranged in close proximity to the radiator tank14with little clearance required therebetween.