Patent Publication Number: US-2022227317-A1

Title: Arrangement structure of wiring member

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an arrangement structure of a wiring member. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of routing a wire harness between a vehicle body and a door. In Patent Document 1, an electrical wire bundle made up of a plurality of electrical wires bundled together is extended from the vehicle body to the door in a position away from a rotational axis of a door hinge. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-99974 
         Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-198742 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     When the electrical wires are disposed in a position away from the rotational axis of the door hinge as described in Patent Document 1, a route difference occurs in accordance opening and closing of the door. The electrical wires are normally disposed to be movable to absorb this route difference. In this case, when the electrical wire bundle made up of the plurality of electrical wires bundled together is routed between the vehicle body and the door as described in Patent Document 1, a movable amount of the electrical wires disposed in a position away from the rotational axis of the door hinge in the electrical wire bundle is larger than that of the electrical wires disposed closer to the door hinge. 
     Accordingly, an object is to provide a technique capable of reducing a movable amount of electrical wires disposed between two members rotatably connected to each other. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     An arrangement structure of a wiring member according to the present disclosure includes: a first member; a second member connected to the first member to be rotatable around a rotational axis; and a plurality of electrical wires having a part disposed at least between the first member and the second member, wherein the plurality of electrical wires are disposed in parallel to each other in a direction in which the rotational axis extends in the part of the plurality of electrical wires disposed between the first member and the second member. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, a movable amount of the electrical wires disposed between the first and second members rotatably connected to each other can be reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating an arrangement structure of a wiring member according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement structure cut along a II-II line in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a door in a closing state. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a flattened member. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the flattened member. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modification example of a route of a plurality of electrical wires. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Description of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described firstly. 
     An arrangement structure of a wiring member according to the present disclosure is as follows. 
     (1) An arrangement structure of a wiring member includes: a first member; a second member connected to the first member to be rotatable around a rotational axis; and a plurality of electrical wires having a part disposed at least between the first member and the second member, wherein the plurality of electrical wires are disposed in parallel to each other in a direction in which the rotational axis extends in the part of the plurality of electrical wires disposed between the first member and the second member. 
     The plurality of electrical wires are disposed in parallel to each other in the direction in which the rotational axis extends in the part of the plurality of electrical wires disposed between the first member and the second member, thus the electrical wire farther away from the axis than the other electrical wire hardly occurs in the plurality of electrical wires. Accordingly, a movable amount of the electrical wires disposed between the first and second members rotatably connected to each other can be reduced. 
     (2) In the arrangement structure of the wiring member, it is preferable that the first member is a vehicle body and the second member is a door. The reason is that the movable amount of the electrical wires disposed between the vehicle body and the door can be reduced. 
     (3) It is sufficient that in the arrangement structure of the wiring member, the plurality of electrical wires extend in parallel to each other also in the part of the plurality of electrical wires disposed in the door. The reason is that achievable is a configuration that the plurality of electrical wires extend in parallel to each other in a range from the part disposed in the door to the part disposed between the vehicle body and the door. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Specific examples of an arrangement structure of a wiring member of the present disclosure are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by claims, and it is intended that meanings equivalent to claims and all modifications within a scope of claims are included. 
     An arrangement structure of a wiring member according to an embodiment is described hereinafter.  FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating an arrangement structure  10  of a wiring member according to an embodiment.  FIG. 1  is a drawing of a door  30  viewed from an interior side in a state where the door  30  is opened in a vehicle.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement structure  10  cut along a II-II line in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view viewed from a direction similar to that in  FIG. 2 , and is a cross-sectional view of the door  30  in a closing state.  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are drawings viewed from an extension direction of a rotational axis P of a door hinge H. 
     The arrangement structure  10  of the wiring member includes a first member  20 , a second member  30 , and a plurality of electrical wires  40 . The first member  20  and the second member  30  are members connected to each other to be rotatable around the rotational axis P. The plurality of electrical wires  40  have a part disposed at least between the first member  20  and the second member  30 . The plurality of electrical wires  40  arc disposed in parallel to each other in a direction in which the rotational axis P) extends in the part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  disposed between the first member  20  and the second member  30 . The part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  disposed between the first member  20  and the second member  30  are referred to as the passage part hereinafter. A part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  disposed in the first member  20  is referred to as a first member arrangement part, and a part thereof disposed in the second member  30  is referred to as a second member arrangement part. 
     Used in the description hereinafter is an example that the first member  20  is a vehicle body  20  and the second member  30  is the door  30 . The vehicle body  20  and the door  30  are connected to each other to be rotatable (pivotable) with the door hinge H therebetween. The passage part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  is a part disposed between the vehicle body  20  and the door  30 . The plurality of electrical wires  40  are disposed in parallel to each other in a direction in which the rotational axis P (the pivot P) extends in the door hinge H in the passage part of the plurality of electrical wires  40 . 
     The door  30  includes an outer panel  32  and an inner panel  34 . The outer panel  32  is provided in a part of the door  30  facing an outer side of the vehicle to constitute an appearance of the vehicle. The door  30  further includes a design trim (not shown) attached inside the inner panel  34 . The door  30  may be the door  30  provided in a lateral portion of the vehicle body  20  or the door  30  provided in a rear portion of the vehicle body  20 . The rotational axis P of the door hinge H may mainly extend along a vertical direction or may mainly extend along a horizontal direction. 
     The plurality of electrical wires  40  are a member for supplying electrical power to a component attached to the door  30  from a battery attached to the vehicle body  20 , for example, or transmitting a signal between a component attached to the vehicle body  20  and a component attached to the door  30 . In the present example, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are covering wires  40  each including a core wire  42  and a covering  44  for covering the core wire  42  (refer to  FIG. 4 ). In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the number of the plurality of electrical wires  40  is four, but may be two or three, or five or more is also applicable. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the plurality of electrical wires  40  are arranged in the direction in which the rotational axis P extends in a single row. When the large number of the electrical wires  40  are arranged, the plurality of electrical wires  40  may be arranged in a plurality of rows away from each other in a direction of the rotational axis P and an extended line thereof. That is to say, when the large number of the electrical wires  40  are arranged, the plurality of electrical wires  40  may be arranged in the direction in which the rotational axis P extends in a plurality of rows in the passage part. It is sufficient that the plurality of electrical wires  40  are flatly arranged in the passage part. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the passage part in the plurality of electrical wires  30  is provided in a position away from the rotational axis P when viewed from the direction in which the rotational axis P extends. Thus, a route difference occurs in the plurality of electrical wires  40  and a length of the passage part changes between a case where the door  30  is in an open state and a case where the door  30  is in a closing state. An extra length part is provided in the plurality of electrical wires  40 , thus a difference in a length dimension of the passage part between the case where the door  30  is in the open state and the case where the door  30  is in the closing state can be absorbed. That is to say, the extra length part occurs in the plurality of electrical wires  40  when the length of the passage part is small (when the door  30  is the closing state). When the length of the passage part is increased (when the door  30  enters the open state), a part of the extra length part is used for the passage part, thus the length of the passage part can be increased. The extra length part may be provided in the passage part, the first member arrangement part, or the second member arrangement part. When the extra length part is provided in the first member arrangement part or the second member arrangement part, it is sufficient that the passage part is provided to be housed in and pulled out of the first member arrangement part or the second member arrangement part. 
     The plurality of electrical wires  40  are or are not passed through a hole at an end portion of the passage part, for example, in some cases. In the description herein, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are passed through a hole formed in the vehicle body  20  at one end portion of the passage part. In the description herein, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are not passed through a hole formed in the door  30  at the other end portion of the passage part. Specifically, a concave portion  36  concaved from a main surface (a surface directed to an inner side of a vehicle interior) toward a side surface (a surface directed to a front-back direction of the vehicle body  20 ) in the inner panel  34  of the door  30 . A part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  including the other end portion of the passage part is fitted in the concave portion  36  together with a door attachment part  60  described hereinafter. Accordingly, the other end portion of the passage part reaches the side surface (the surface directed to the front-back direction of the vehicle body  20 ) in the inner panel  34  of the door  30 , and then extends toward a side of the main surface in a curved form. The other end portion of the passage part reaches the inner side of the vehicle interior in relation to the main surface, and then extends along the main surface in a curved form. 
     The attaching member  50  is attached to the plurality of electrical wires  40 . The attaching member  50  includes a vehicle body attachment part  52 , a passage part protection part  56 , and the door attachment part  60 . The vehicle body attachment part  52  is a part provided in a region including one end portion of the passage part to attach a part including one end portion of the passage part to the vehicle body  20 . The passage part protection part  56  is a part provided in at least an intermediate portion of the passage part to protect the passage part. The door attachment part  60  is a part provided in a region including the other end portion of the passage part to attach a part including the other end portion of the passage part to the door  30 . The attaching member  50  may be an integrally-molded component or a member formed by a combination of a plurality of separately-molded components. 
     The vehicle body attachment part  52  is a member fitted into a hole formed in the vehicle body  20 . For example, the vehicle body attachment part  52  is formed into a cylindrical shape having a large-diameter cylindrical part  53  and a small-diameter cylindrical part  54 . The plurality of electrical wires  40  are passed inside the vehicle body attachment part  52 . The vehicle body attachment part  52  is an integrally-molded component formed of a material such as rubber or elastomer, for example. A member such as the vehicle body attachment part  52  fitted into the hole to cover and protect an outer periphery of the electrical wires  40  passed through the hole is also referred to as a grommet, for example. The plurality of electrical wires  40  are arranged in parallel to each other inside the vehicle body attachment part  52 . In this case, it is sufficient that a horizontal section in the vehicle body attachment part  52  is flatly formed in a direction in which the plurality of electrical wires  40  are arranged. 
     The large-diameter cylindrical part  53  is a part attached to the vehicle body  20 . A peripheral groove is formed in a peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical part  53 . A peripheral edge portion of the hole is fitted into the peripheral groove, thus the vehicle body attachment part  52  is fitted into the hole formed in the vehicle body  20  to be attached to the vehicle body  20 . 
     The small-diameter cylindrical part  54  is a part attached to the plurality of electrical wires  40 . For example, an adhesive tape, for example, is wound around the small-diameter cylindrical part  54  and a part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  extending from an end portion of the small-diameter cylindrical part  54  in a state where the plurality of electrical wires  40  is passed in the small-diameter cylindrical part  54 , thereby attaching the small-diameter cylindrical part  54  to the plurality of electrical wires  40 . 
     The large-diameter cylindrical part  53  of the vehicle body attachment part  52  is made up of a vehicle body locking part formed of a material such as rigid resin and a sealing part formed of a material such as rubber or elastomer, for example, in some cases. The vehicle body locking part includes a cylindrical part fitted into the hole formed in the vehicle body  20  and a locking claw formed to be elastically deformable on an outer surface of the cylindrical part. The locking claw is locked to a peripheral edge part of the hole formed in the vehicle body  20  from an inner side of the vehicle body  20  in a state where the cylindrical part is fitted into the hole formed in the vehicle body  20 . The sealing part is combined with the vehicle body locking part. The sealing part has annularly contact with the peripheral edge part of the hole formed in the vehicle body  20  in a whole circumferential direction from a side opposite to the locking claw to suppress ingress of water, for example, from the hole formed in the vehicle body  20  into the vehicle body  20 . 
     When there is a low necessity of suppressing the ingress of water, for example, from the hole formed in the vehicle body  20  into the vehicle body  20 , a member made of a material such as rubber or elastomer, for example, may not be adopted as the vehicle body attachment part  52 . 
     The passage part protection part  56  is formed into a cylindrical shape. The passage part protection part  56  is formed into a flat shape in a horizontal section. Herein, the length of the passage part is different between the case where the door  30  is in the open state and the case where the door  30  is in the closing state. A direction in which the passage part extends is different between the case where the door  30  is in the open state and the case where the door  30  is in the closing state. Thus, the passage part protection part  56  is formed to be able to be expanded, contracted, and bended. The passage part protection part  56  is formed into an accordion cylindrical shape, for example, thereby being able to be expanded, contracted, and bended. Herein, the passage part protection part  56  is integrally molded with the vehicle body attachment part  52 . Herein, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are arranged in parallel to each other inside the passage part protection part  56 . In this case, it is sufficient that the horizontal section in the passage part protection part  56  is flatly formed in a direction in which the plurality of electrical wires  40  are arranged. 
     The door attachment part  60  attaches the part including the other end portion of the passage part to the door  30 . The door attachment part  60  is formed into an L-like cylindrical shape. One end side part of the L-like shape is a part fitted into the concave portion  36  formed in the inner panel  34 . One end side part of the L-like shape is provided to be able to be fitted into the concave portion  36  formed in the inner panel  34  from an outer side of the inner panel  34 . The other end side part of the L-like shape spreads and extends along a main surface of the inner panel  34 . The part including the other portion of the passage part in the plurality of electrical wires  40  is passed in the door attachment part  60 , thus a route of the part including the other end portion of the passage part is regulated to have the L-like shape. For example, the door attachment part  60  includes a first part covering the plurality of electrical wires  40  arranged in parallel from one side and a second part covering the plurality of electrical wires  40  arranged in parallel from the other side. For example, the first part is integrally molded with the passage part protection part  56  and the vehicle body attachment part  52 . The second part is formed to have higher rigidity than the first part, and is attached to the inner panel  34 , for example. Herein, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are arranged in parallel to each other inside the door attachment part  60 . In this case, it is sufficient that the horizontal section in the door attachment part  60  is flatly formed in a direction in which the plurality of electrical wires  40  are arranged. 
     There may also be a case where the other end portion of the passage part is passed through the hole formed in the inner panel  34  of the door  30 . In this case, the door attachment part  60  is considered to be formed into a shape similar to that of the vehicle body attachment part  52  described above. 
     The plurality of electrical wires  40  may extend in a flat form while keeping the arrangement in the passage part in the first member arrangement part, or may also extend in a bundle to have a circular cross section. When the plurality of electrical wires  40  extend in the flat form in the first member arrangement part, the plurality of electrical wires  40  may be arranged side by side and fixed to a sheet-like member to keep the flat form. When the plurality of electrical wires  40  are bundled to have a circular cross section and extend in the first member arrangement part, it is applicable that the plurality of electrical wires  40  are not fixed to a sheet-like member but are bundled by a banding member, for example, thereby keeping a state of being bundled to have a circular cross section, or the plurality of electrical wires  40  flatly fixed to a sheet-like member are bended to have a form of so-called sushi roll to keep a state of being bundled to have a circular cross section, for example. 
     The plurality of electrical wires  40  extend in parallel to each other also in a part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  disposed in the door  30 . That is to say, the plurality of electrical wires  40  extend in a flat state while keeping the arrangement in the passage part in the second member arrangement part. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the second member arrangement part passes closer to the inner side of the vehicle interior in relation to the inner panel  34  of the door  30  toward each component of the door  30 . The design trim is provided closer to the inner side of the vehicle interior in relation to the inner panel  34 . The second member arrangement part extends through a portion between the inner panel  34  and the design trim. For example, the plurality of electrical wires  40  may be fixed side by side to a plate-like member provided between main surfaces of the inner panel  34  and the design trim to cover the main surface of the inner panel  34 , thereby keeping the flat form in the second member arrangement part. At this time, the second member arrangement part may be appropriately branched on a plate-like member  80  and extend toward each component of the door  30 . The plurality of electrical wires  40  may also extend in a bundle to have a circular cross section in the second member arrangement part. 
     The arrangement structure  10  of the wiring member is considered to have a flattened member for keeping the plurality of electrical wires  40  in a flat arrangement in the passage part. The flattened member is a member attached to the plurality of electrical wires  40  to keep the plurality of electrical wires  40  in a flat state. 
     For example, the flattened member is a sheet-like member  70  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Tn this case, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are fixed side by side to the sheet-like member  70 , thus the plurality of electrical wires  40  are held in the flat state. A fixing state of the electrical wires  40  and the sheet-like member  70  is not particularly limited, but also applicable is a configuration that a covering  44  and the sheet-like member  70  are directly fixed to each other by welding, for example, a configuration that the electrical wires  40  and the sheet-like member  70  are indirectly fixed to each other with an inclusion such as an adhesive agent or a double-sided adhesive tape, or a configuration that the electrical wires  40  are pressed against a sheet member by a sewing thread or a one-sided adhesive tape, for example. 
     For example, the flattened member is a plate-like member  80  in which a holding groove  82  is formed in a main surface as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In this case, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are housed in a groove formed in the plate-like member  80 , thus the plurality of electrical wires  40  are held in the flat state. One groove may be formed to collectively house the plurality of electrical wires  40 . It is also applicable that the plurality of grooves are formed, and the plurality of grooves house the plurality of electrical wires  40  separately in a plurality of groups, or house the plurality of electrical wires  40  separately one by one. It is sufficient that the plurality of electrical wires  40  are held in the holding groove  82  so as to be able to move along a longitudinal direction thereof. For example, it is considered that a blocking part  84  blocks an opening part of the holding groove in the state where the electrical wires  40  are housed in the holding groove  82  to hold the electrical wires  40  in the holding groove. In this case, the electrical wire  40  can move in the longitudinal direction in the holding groove, and the blocking part  84  can prevent the electrical wires  40  from coming out of the holding groove. The blocking part  84  may be formed of a rib  86 , which is provided to protrude from an area around the holding groove, crushed by a thermal pressurizing member  90  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , or formed by adhering an adhesive tape, for example. 
     The flattened member is a both side covering member covering and holding the plurality of electrical wires  40  from both sides. In this case, the both side covering member includes a first covering part and a second covering part each covering the plurality of electrical wires  40  from the both sides. A route keeping the plurality of electrical wires  40  in a flat form is formed between the first covering part and the second covering part. The door attachment part  60  described above is an example of the both side covering member. 
     A position where the flattened member is provided is not particularly limited. The flattened member may be provided in the passage part, the first member arrangement part, or the second member arrangement part. For example, the flattened member may be or may not be provided inside the passage part protection part  56 . For example, the flattened member may be or may not be provided inside the attaching member  50 . 
     According to the present disclosure, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are disposed in parallel to each other in the direction in which the rotational axis P extends in the part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  disposed between the first member  20  and the second member  30 , thus the electrical wire  40  farther away from the axis than the other electrical wire  40  hardly occurs in the plurality of electrical wires  40 . Accordingly, a movable amount of the electrical wires  40  disposed between the first and second members  20  and  30  rotatably connected to each other can be reduced. In this case, a shape of the passage part protection part  56  can be simplified. That is to say, a movable amount of the electrical wires  40  disposed between the first and second members  30  rotatably connected to each other can be reduced, thus a dimension of expansion and contraction of the passage part protection part  56  can be reduced, and the shape of the passage part protection part  56  is simplified. 
     The first member  20  is the vehicle body  20  and the second member  30  is the door  30 , thus the movable amount of the electrical wires  40  disposed between the vehicle body  20  and the door  30  can be reduced. The plurality of electrical wires  40  extend in parallel to each other also in the part of the plurality of electrical wires  40  disposed in the door  30 , thus achievable is a configuration that the plurality of electrical wires  40  extend in parallel to each other in a range from the part disposed in the door  30  to the part disposed between the vehicle body  20  and the door  30 . 
     [Additional Statement] 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modification example of a route of the plurality of electrical wires  40 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the plurality of electrical wires  40  are disposed in a position close to the rotational axis P in the passage part compared with the example described in the embodiment. There may be a case where the plurality of electrical wires  40  extend to overlap with the rotational axis P, that is to say, extend across an extension part of the rotational axis P. In these cases, a route difference in the passage part between the case where the door  30  is in the open state and the case where the door  30  is in the closing state is reduced, and the movable amount of the electrical wires  40  is reduced. Thus, the dimension of the expansion and contraction of the passage part protection part  56  can be reduced, and there may also be a case where the passage part protection part  56  needs not be expanded and contracted. As a result, the shape of the passage part protection part  56  can be simplified. Specifically, it is sufficient that the passage part protection part  56  is formed of a material such as rubber, elastomer, and a soft resin so as to be able to be bended, and it is also considered that a longitudinal section thereof does not have an accordion shape but has a flat shape, that is to say, the same horizontal section continues in the longitudinal direction. 
     Furthermore, in the above description, the plurality of electrical wires  40  are separated covering wires  40 , however, this configuration is not necessary. Some or all of the plurality of electrical wires  40  may be a flexible flat cable made up of a plurality of core wires  42  collectively covered by the common covering  44 , for example. 
     In the above description, the first member  20  is the vehicle body  20 , and the second member  30  is the door  30 , however, this configuration is not necessary. For example, the first member  20  may be a seating face part of a seat, and the second member  30  may be a backrest part of a seat. For example, the first member  20  may be a housing body part formed into a box-like shape in a box-like housing part such as an armrest, and the second member  30  may be a lid part covering an opening part of the housing body part in the box-like housing part such as the armrest. It is sufficient that the first member  20  and the second member  30  are rotatably connected to each other in a vehicle. 
     Each configuration described in the embodiment and each modification example can be appropriately combined as long as they are not contradictory. 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
               10  arrangement structure of wiring member 
               20  first member (vehicle body) 
               30  second member (door) 
               32  outer panel 
               34  inner panel 
               36  concave portion 
               40  electrical wire 
               42  core wire 
               44  covering 
               50  attaching member 
               52  vehicle body attachment part 
               53  large-diameter cylindrical part 
               54  small-diameter cylindrical part 
               56  passage part protection part 
               60  door attachment part 
               70  sheet-like member 
               80  plate-like member 
               82  holding groove 
               84  blocking part 
               86  rib 
             H door hinge 
             P rotational axis