Patent Publication Number: US-10790655-B2

Title: Grommet

Description:
This is a Division of application Ser. No. 15/338,713 filed on Oct. 31, 2016, which in turn is a Division of application Ser. No. 14/324,661 filed Jul. 7, 2014, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-140911 filed Jul. 4, 2013. The disclosure of the prior applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a grommet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, for hybrid cars and electric cars, wiring is often arranged by inserting a wire harness routed, for example, between the battery and the inverter, or between the inverter and the motor, into a metal pipe. The metal pipe is disposed under the floor of the automobile body along the front-back direction. This metal pipe has the function to shield the wire and the function to protect it from air-borne stones and the like. After being guided into the engine compartment, the metal pipe may be connected to the inverter side via a metal braid portion. The metal braid portion, which is formed by braiding metal strands into a mesh form, is attached to cover an end portion of the metal pipe, and is connected to the end portion by being crimped with a crimp ring. Additionally, a waterproof grommet made of a rubber material may be fitted to the connection portion between the metal pipe and the metal braid portion, as depicted, for example, in FIG. 1 of JP 2006-311699A. 
     SUMMARY 
     Meanwhile, it is conceivable that high pressure wash water is also splashed to a place where a grommet may be attached. However, the above-described conventional structure cannot sufficiently cope with such a situation, and there is the concern that the sealing between the corrugated tube and the grommet, and between the pipe and the grommet may be reduced over time. 
     The embodiments described herein have been completed in view of the above-described situation, and it is an object of the embodiments to provide a grommet that can achieve enhanced waterproofness. 
     A grommet according to one embodiment is a grommet that is attached to cover, for example, a pipe, inside which a wire is inserted, and, for example, a corrugated tube, so as to form a bridge therebetween, the corrugated tube being formed in a flexible bellows by alternately repeating ridges and troughs, and in which the wire drawn from an end portion of the pipe may be accommodated, including: a pipe-side end portion that may be formed in a tubular shape capable of being sealingly connected to an outer circumferential side of the pipe; a corrugated-side end portion that may be formed in a tubular shape capable of being sealingly connected to an outer circumferential side of the corrugated tube; and a plurality of sealing lips that may be provided on inner surfaces of the corrugated-side end portion and the pipe-side end portion so as to contact, for example, closely contact, to an outer surface of the pipe or the troughs of the corrugated tube, at least those of the sealing lips that are disposed at the pipe-side end portion being disposed inside and outside a width region that is fastened by a fastening band disposed on an outer surface of the pipe-side end portion. 
     The sealing lips located inside the width region of the fastening band are susceptible to degradation due to the influence of the fastening force of the fastening band, and tend to undergo a reduction in the sealing function over time. Nevertheless, the embodiments described herein are also effective in maintaining the sealing function over time because sealing lips are also disposed outside the width region of the fastening band, and thereby, these lips can function as auxiliary lips. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing an area around a portion where a grommet is attached; 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the grommet; 
         FIG. 2B  is a zoomed-in view of a portion of the grommet in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2C  is a zoomed-in view of a portion of the grommet in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view at the portion where the grommet is attached; 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the grommet; 
         FIG. 4B  is a zoomed-in view of a portion of the grommet in  FIG. 4A ; and 
         FIG. 4C  is a zoomed-in view of a portion of the grommet in  FIG. 4A . 
     
    
    
     EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment will now be described. 
     In the grommet according to the preferred embodiment, a tapered surface may be formed at a leading end portion of the outer surface of at least the pipe-side end portion of the pipe-side end portion and the corrugated-side end portion. 
     The grommet may be attached in a state in which it spans opposite ends on the pipe side and the corrugated tube side. In this case, assuming, for example, that high pressure wash water is dashed to the end face of at least the pipe-side end portion of the pipe-side end portion and the corrugated-side end portion, the end face is likely to receive the pressure of the high pressure wash water if it is formed so as to rise steeply. Accordingly, there is the possibility that the end face portion may be lifted, causing the wash water to enter inside the grommet. In this respect, with the above-described configuration, the high pressure wash water can be released along the taper of the tapered surface. Therefore, the lifting of the end face portion can be effectively reduced, thus maintaining the sealing function of the grommet. 
     Preferably, a portion that is located on the inner surface of the corrugated-side end portion and that is included within the width region fastened by the fastening band may be provided with: the sealing lips; and a restraining receiving portion against which a protruding end face of the ridges of the corrugated tube abuts so as to restrain collapsing of the sealing lips. 
     With this configuration, even if the fastening band excessively fastens the corrugated-side end portion of the grommet, the fastening force is received by the protruding end face of the ridge of the corrugated tube, and therefore, the sealing lips will not be excessively collapsed. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain the sealing function of the sealing lips. 
     Embodiment 1 
     Next, Embodiment 1 of the grommet will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a grommet G 1  that is provided in the routing path of a wire harness WH that connects a battery mounted in, for example, a vehicle compartment on, for example, the rear side to an inverter mounted in an engine compartment in, for example, a hybrid car. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wire harness WH may be made up of a plurality of wires. A part of the wire harness WH is inserted into a shield pipe  1  that may be made of a conductive metal. For example, the shield pipe  1  may be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and may be disposed under the floor of the vehicle body. Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the leading end of the shield pipe  1  may be flared in, for example, a trumpet shape to form a flared portion  2 . 
     One end of a metal braid portion  3  may be connected to one end portion of the shield pipe  1 . The metal braid portion  3  may be formed by braiding, for example, copper-based metal strands having, for example, tin-plated surfaces into, for example, a mesh-like, long tubular shape. The wires that have been drawn from the shield pipe  1  may be inserted in the metal braid portion  3 . The metal braid portion  3  may be attached to cover the outer surface of the shield pipe  1 , and may be crimped, for example, fixedly crimped, using, for example, crimp ring  4 . 
     The crimp ring  4  may be a known crimp ring. In its natural state, a part of a ring-shaped main portion  4 A of the crimp ring  4  is widened radially outward and protrudes as a crimp portion  4 B. At the time of fastening the crimp ring  4 , the main portion  4 A can be shifted to a reduced diameter state by, for example, pinching the basal portions of the crimp portion  4 B to move close to each other, and thereby, the metal braid portion  3  may be, for example, fixedly crimped to the shield pipe  1 . 
     The metal braid portion  3  may be inserted in the corrugated tube  5  except for a part of its area on the side connected to the shield pipe  1 , and an end portion of the metal braid portion  3  that may extend all the way to the connection to an inverter (not shown). Thus, the shielding properties of the wire harness WH are ensured over the length for which the shield pipe  1  and the metal braid portion  3  are provided. 
     The corrugated tube  5  may be formed of, for example, a synthetic resin material and may be in a unitary and elongated tube shape. The circumferential surface of the corrugated tube  5  may be formed in a bellows shape in which ridges  5 A and troughs  5 B may be repeated, and has good flexibility. The grommet G 1  that accommodates the metal braid portion  3  exposed from the corrugated tube  5  is attached between the corrugated tube  5  and the shield pipe  1 , bridging the corrugated tube  5  and the shield pipe  1 . 
     The grommet G 1  may be formed of, for example, a rubber material, for example, a ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) as, for example, a unitary body. The axial central portion of the grommet G 1  may serve as a base portion  6 , and an accommodating portion  7  that bulges radially outward and over a predetermined length range in the circumferential direction may be formed on a part of the base portion  6 . The crimp portion  4 B of the crimp ring  4  may be accommodated in the interior space of the accommodating portion  7 . 
     A pipe-side end portion  8  may be formed on one end side of the grommet G 1 , and a corrugated-side end portion  9  may be formed on the other end side thereof. Both the pipe-side end portion  8  and the corrugated-side end portion  9  may be formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. The pipe-side end portion  8  allows an end portion of the shield pipe  1  to be inserted inside and the corrugated-side end portion  9  can be fitted on the outer circumferential side of the corrugated tube  5 . 
     Two ring-shaped protrusions  10  may be formed at an interval around the entire circumference of the outer surface of the pipe-side end portion  8  at positions that may be near the end portion. The portion between the two protrusions  10  may serve as an attachment groove  11  for positioning a fastening band  12 . The width of the attachment groove  11  may be set to be slightly wider than the width of the fastening band  12 . 
     Since the fastening band  12  may be a known fastening band, a general description of a fastening band is provided. The fastening band  12  may be formed of a synthetic resin material, and may preferably in a unitary and band-shaped body. At one end portion of the fastening band  12 , a lock portion  13  may be formed that allows the other end side of the fastening band  12  to be inserted therethrough. On the other end side, a number of locking edges that may be serrated (not shown) may be formed along the length direction. Additionally, flexible locking pawls (not shown) may be formed inside the lock portion  13 . Pulling the other end side that is passed through the lock portion  13  causes the locking pawls to be selectively locked to the locking edges. This allows for the pipe-side end portion  8  to be tied and, for example, fixedly fastened to the shield pipe  1 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , a plurality of pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4  may be provided on the inner surface of the pipe-side end portion  8 . The pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4  may be formed integrally and protrudingly around the entire circumference, and each of them may contact, for example, closely contact, the outer surface of the shield pipe  1  to provide sealing. In the present embodiment, the pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4  may comprise one (first lip  14 - 1 ) provided at the opening edge of the pipe-side end portion  8 , one (second lip  14 - 2 ) provided at a portion below, for example, directly below, the axial central portion of the attachment groove  11 , one (third lip  14 - 3 ) provided at a portion displaced, for example, slightly inward from a portion below, for example, directly below the protrusion  10  located away from the opening edge, and one (fourth lip  14 - 4 ) provided at a portion displaced further inward from the third lip  14 - 3 . Thus, for example, in the present embodiment, only the second lip  14 - 2  may be located in a width region (the region within the range indicated by W in  FIG. 3 ) that is fastened with the fastening band  12 , and the other lips may be disposed so as to be displaced from that width region and may function as auxiliary lips. Furthermore, the protruding heights of the pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4  may be made uniform. 
     Additionally, a pipe-side tapered surface  15  may be formed at the leading end of the outer surface of the pipe-side end portion  8 . That is, an annular rising surface  18  that rises at a substantially right angle to the axis may be formed on the end face of the pipe-side end portion  8 . Also, the above-described pipe-side tapered surface  15  may be formed around the entire circumference, from the outer circumferential edge of the rising surface  18  to the top portion of the protrusion  10  located on the leading end side. 
     On the other hand, a mount groove  16  for positioning the fastening band  12  may be recessed around the circumference, for example, the entire circumference of the axial central portion on the outer surface of the corrugated-side end portion  9 . A corrugated-side tapered surface  17  may also be formed at the leading end of the outer surface of the corrugated-side end portion  9 . That is, an annular rising surface  19  that rises at a substantially right angle to the axis may be formed on the end face of the corrugated-side end portion  9 . Also, the above-described corrugated-side tapered surface  17  may be formed around the circumference, for example, the entire circumference at a predetermined locking angle from the outer circumferential edge of the rising surface  19 . In the present embodiment, the inclination angle α 1  of the pipe-side tapered surface  15  may be set to be smaller than the inclination angle α 2  of the corrugated-side tapered surface  17  (α 1 &lt;α 2 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , a plurality of corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4  may be provided on the inner surface of the corrugated-side end portion  9 . The corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4  may be provided at a uniform pitch in order from the one provided at the opening edge of the corrugated-side end portion  9  to the inner side. This pitch may be the same as the pitch of the ridges  5 A and the troughs  5 B of the corrugated tube  5 . The protruding height of the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4  may be set to be higher than that of the pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4 . In a state in which the end portion of the corrugated tube  5  may be inserted in the corrugated-side end portion  9 , the protruding end portions of the corrugated-side sealing lips contact, for example, closely contact to the bottom faces of the troughs  5 B of the corrugated tube  5  to provide sealing. 
     Of the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4 , the two sealing lips ( 20 - 2 ,  20 - 3 ) located at the center may be positioned such that they may be at least partly included within the width region of the fastening band  12  that securely fastens the corrugated-side end portion  9  within the mount groove  16 , whereas the corrugated-side sealing lip  20 - 1  provided at the opening edge and the corrugated-side sealing lip  20 - 4  provided at the innermost portion may be both positioned outside the width region W, and may function as auxiliary lips. 
     Furthermore, one of the ridges  5 A of the corrugated tube  5  may be positioned within the width region W of the fastening band  12  at the corrugated-side end portion  9 . In  FIG. 3 , the ridge  5 A may be positioned substantially directly below the fastening band  12 , and the ridge  5 A may abut against the portion of the inner surface of the corrugated-side end portion  9  that may be located between the two corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 2  and  20 - 3  positioned within the width region W. Thus, this portion can function as a restraining receiving portion  21  that avoids an excessive collapsing of the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4  included within the width region W in the case where the fastening band  12  may be excessively fastened. 
     In the present embodiment 1, the grommet G 1  may be mounted, for example, in the following manner. First, a part of the metal braid portion  3  inserted in the corrugated tube  5  may be pulled outside, and may be attached to cover the outer surface of an end portion of the shield pipe  1 . Then, the crimp ring  4  that has been previously fitted to the shield pipe  1  side may be moved to the covered portion. By crimping the crimp portion  4 B of the crimp ring  4  in this state, the metal braid portion  3  may be crimped, for example, fixedly crimped to the shield pipe  1 . 
     Thereafter, the grommet G 1  that has been previously fitted to the shield pipe  1  side or the corrugated tube  5  side may be moved toward the crimped area of the metal braid portion  3 . Then, while the crimp portion  4 B of the crimp ring  4  is being accommodated in the accommodating portion  7  of the grommet G 1 , the corrugated-side end portion  9  may be attached to cover the outer circumferential side of the end portion of the corrugated tube  5  and the pipe-side end portion  8  may be attached to cover the outer circumferential side of the shield pipe  1 . Thereby, the grommet G 1  may be attached so as to span the shield pipe  1  and the corrugated tube  5 . 
     At this time, the pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4  may contact, for example, closely contact, the outer surface of the shield pipe  1  at the pipe-side end portion  8 , and the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4  may enter the corresponding troughs  5 B of the corrugated tube  5  and contact, for example, closely contact, the respective bottom faces at the corrugated-side end portion  9 . 
     Finally, the fastening band  12  may be fastened within the attachment groove  11  of the pipe-side end portion  8 , and the fastening band  12  may be fastened in the mount groove  16  at the corrugated-side end portion  9 . Thereby, the mounting of the grommet G 1  may be completed. 
     With the grommet G 1  mounted in the above-described manner, it is possible to prevent water from entering between the grommet G 1  and the shield pipe  1  or between the grommet G 1  and the corrugated tube  5  by using, for example, the pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4  and, for example, the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4 . 
     At the pipe-side end portion  8  and the corrugated-side end portion  9 , the pipe-side sealing lip  14 - 2  and the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 2  and  20 - 3  may be included within the width regions W of the fastening bands  12  or may be positioned below, for example, directly below. Accordingly, an appropriate sealing pressure can be applied to the pipe-side sealing lip  14 - 2  and the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 2  and  20 - 3  as long as the fastening bands  12  are appropriately fastened. Even if the fastening band  12  is excessively fastened on the corrugated tube  5  side, the ridge  5 A of the corrugated tube  5  may be positioned below, for example, directly below, the fastening band  12  so as to abut against the restraining receiving portion  21 . Thus, the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 2  and  20 - 3  will not be collapsed excessively, and the sealing properties are achieved. 
     Since compressive pressure constantly acts from the fastening bands  12  on the pipe-side sealing lip  14 - 2  and the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 2  and  20 - 3  that may be included within the width regions of the fastening bands  12 , it is conceivable that these sealing lips may deteriorate over time, resulting in a reduction in the sealing function. However, in the present embodiment, the pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1 ,  14 - 3 , and  14 - 4  and the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  and  20 - 4  may be also positioned outside the width regions W of the corresponding fastening bands  12  so as to sandwich the width regions W. The lips that may be located outside the width regions W slowly undergo deterioration over time, and may be effective in maintaining the sealing properties for a long time. It is preferable that this structure is provided at the pipe-side end portion  8  to which high pressure wash water may be splashed. 
     Furthermore, when considering sealing properties, it is possible that high pressure wash water may be splashed to the end face of the pipe-side end portion  8 . It is also possible that the wash water is splashed to the end face of the corrugated-side end portion  9 . Conventionally, this end face may have a large area of the rising surface that rises at a right angle to the axis, and therefore, there is the possibility that the end face may be lifted, allowing entry of water. However, in the present embodiment, the provision of the corrugated-side tapered surface  17  in addition to the pipe-side tapered surface  15  makes the areas of the rising surfaces  18  and  19  sufficiently smaller than those of the conventional configuration. In addition, the pressure of high pressure wash water may be released along the two tapered surfaces  15  and  17 , and it is therefore possible to reliably reduce situations where the end faces of the two end portions  8  and  9  of the grommet G 1  may be lifted, and maintain the sealing properties. 
     Furthermore, since the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4  that may be formed at the opening edge enter the troughs  5 B of the corrugated tube  5  at the corrugated-side end portion  9 , this also suppresses the occurrence of the lifting. In view of this, in the present embodiment, the lifting does not easily occur even if the inclination angle α 2  of the corrugated-side tapered surface  17  is set to be larger than the inclination angle α 1  of the pipe-side tapered surface  15 . Accordingly, the thickness of the corrugated-side end portion  9  can be increased more than that of the pipe-side end portion  8 . The corrugated tube  5  side may be the side on which the wire routing direction can be appropriately changed. Accordingly, it may be useful for the purpose of ensuring the followability to the corrugated tube  5  that a certain amount of thickness is ensured for the corrugated-side end portion  9  at the time of changing the routing direction so as to be able to increase rigidity. 
     Conventionally, the corrugated-side end portion  9  may be connected to the corrugated tube  5  by tape winding without using the fastening band  12 . However, it has been pointed out that such tape winding has lower connection reliability due to operational variations. Fastening using the fastening band  12  as in the present embodiment can relatively easily provide a constant fastening force by using, for example, a jig or the like. Thus, a higher connection reliability may be achieved. Furthermore, although tape winding may cause the problem of tape deterioration over time, the present embodiment may not have such a problem. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  shows a modification of the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4  and the pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4 . In a grommet G 2  as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , of the corrugated-side sealing lips  20 - 1  to  20 - 4  and the pipe-side sealing lips  14 - 1  to  14 - 4 , the pipe-side sealing lip  14 - 1  and the corrugated-side sealing lip  20 - 1  that may be located at the opening edges may be set to have a higher protruding height than others. The reason for this is to cope with the possibility that the entire opening edges of the pipe-side end portion  8  and the corrugated-side end portion  9  may be flared when the fastening bands  12  are fastened, and the sealing functions of the corrugated-side sealing lip  20 - 1  and the pipe-side sealing lip  14 - 1  located at the opening edges may be reduced. 
     This can also contribute to an improvement in the sealing properties of the grommet G 2 . 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and shown in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. 
     Although the metal braid portion  3  and the corrugated tube  5  may be formed separately in the above-described embodiment, the metal braid portion  3  may be, for example, inserted in the corrugated tube  5  and formed integrally therewith. 
     Although the shield pipe  1  may be formed only of a metal material in the above-described embodiment, the shield pipe  1  may be formed, for example, by inserting a metal tubular body in a resin pipe. 
     The shield pipe  1  and the metal braid portion  3  may be provided along the routing region of the wire harness WH to ensure the shielding function in the above-described embodiment. However, in the case of using the present embodiment under conditions that do not require shielding, the pipe may not be a conductive metal and the metal braid portion  3  may be omitted.