JP2012029423A - Wire harness - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wire harness which securely protects wires while preventing increase of the diameter size and the number of components.SOLUTION: A wire harness 1 comprises: a cylinder 12 formed by combining two long metal plates 121 and 122, which are folded at both ends in a short side direction; and an insulation coat 13 covering the outer peripheral of the cylinder 12. A group of flat cables 11 is inserted into the cylinder 12. The cylinder 12 functions as a shield layer of the flat cables 11 as well as a protective layer.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wire harness that bundles electric wires.

  In various vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles, wire harnesses in which electric wires for connecting various electrical components mounted on the vehicles are bundled are arranged in various places. In wire harnesses arranged in various places in a vehicle, it is necessary to provide a device for protecting the electric wires from damage caused by external factors.

  Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a corrugated tube is provided as an electric wire protection member. Here, the electric wire is inserted into the corrugated tube with a braided shield if necessary. In general, the braided shield is made by wrapping an electric wire with a braided wire (a net-like shield layer in which a thin conducting wire is knitted).

JP 2010-12868 A

  According to the configuration of Patent Document 1, although the electric wire is appropriately protected by being inserted into the corrugated tube, the diameter size of the wire harness is increased by the thickness of the corrugated tube, so that the space efficiency is deteriorated. was there. Moreover, since the number of parts which comprise a wire harness increases, it was disadvantageous also in terms of cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness capable of reliably protecting an electric wire while suppressing an increase in diameter and avoiding an increase in the number of parts.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a long cylindrical body formed in a cylindrical shape by combining a plurality of long metal plates, an electric wire inserted into the cylindrical body, and an outer periphery of the cylindrical body. And an insulation coating for covering and covering.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the wire harness according to the first aspect, wherein the cylindrical body includes two metal plates having bent portions formed at both ends in a short direction, and the bent portions are It has a structure that is directed to the opponent and combined.

  3rd aspect of this invention is a wire harness which concerns on a 2nd aspect, Comprising: The said cylinder is formed between the said bending parts of the 1st metal plate with a relatively long width | variety of a short direction. The groove-shaped space has a structure in which a second metal plate having a relatively short width in the short direction is fitted.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the wire harness according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the metal plate has a wave in which peaks and valleys alternately appear along a longitudinal direction thereof. It is a board.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the wire harness according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the electric wire is a flat cable.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is a wire harness according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the core of the electric wire has a shape of a terminal whose end is connected to a connection partner of the wire harness. It is a processed conductor plate.

  According to the 1st-6th aspect, the elongate cylinder formed by combining a some metal plate functions as a protective layer of an electric wire while functioning as a shield layer of an electric wire. Further, since the insulating coating covering the outer periphery of the cylinder functions as a fastening member for fastening a plurality of metal plates, a screw structure for fastening the metal plates is not required. Therefore, while suppressing the increase in the diameter size of the wire harness and avoiding an increase in the number of members, the electric wire can be reliably protected.

  In particular, according to the fourth aspect, the metal plate is a corrugated plate in which peaks and valleys appear alternately along the longitudinal direction thereof, so that the cylindrical body formed by combining them has a bellows structure. . Therefore, a wire harness that is easy to bend and easy to handle is realized.

It is sectional drawing of a wire harness. It is a partially notched top view of a wire harness. It is a partially notched top view of the wire harness which concerns on a modification. It is sectional drawing of the wire harness which concerns on a modification. It is a partially notched top view of the wire harness which concerns on a modification.

<1. Wire harness 1>
The wire harness 1 according to this embodiment is routed in various vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles. The configuration of the wire harness 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness 1. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the wire harness 1.

  The wire harness 1 includes a plurality of bundled electric wires. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the electric wire provided in the wire harness 1 is a flat cable 11. The flat cable 11 is a cable having a flat cross section, and includes a structure in which a sheath (protective outer coating) 112 is applied to a plurality of core wires 111 arranged in parallel.

  The wire harness 1 includes a long cylindrical body 12 into which a plurality of flat cables 11 are inserted, and an insulating coating 13 that covers and surrounds the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 12.

<Cylinder 12>
The cylindrical body 12 is formed by combining two long metal plates (a first metal plate 121 and a second metal plate 122).

  Each of the metal plates 121 and 122 has a shape in which both ends in the width direction (a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) are bent. The length of one metal plate 121 in the width direction is shorter than the length of the other metal plate 122 in the width direction. Each of the metal plates 121 and 122 is relatively wide in a groove-like space formed between the bent portions of the relatively wide metal plate (the wide metal plate 122) with the respective bent portions facing the other. By fitting a narrow metal plate (narrow metal plate 121), a cylindrical shape is formed. That is, by combining the two long metal plates 121 and 122, the cylindrical body 12 having a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extending direction is formed.

  However, when the metal plates 121 and 122 are combined into a cylindrical shape, the group of flat cables 11 are sandwiched between the metal plates 121 and 122. As a result, the group of flat cables 11 are inserted into the cylindrical body 12. The flat cable 11 inserted into the cylindrical body 12 is surrounded by the metal plates 121 and 122 at the periphery (periphery perpendicular to the extending direction). Thus, external leakage of electrical noise of the group of flat cables 11 is prevented, and the group of flat cables 11 is protected from damage due to external factors. That is, the cylindrical body 12 functions as a shield layer for the group of flat cables 11 inserted into the cylindrical body 12 and also functions as a protective layer for the group of flat cables 11.

  In addition, the side wall of the cylinder 12 formed by combining the pair of metal plates 121 and 122 is formed by overlapping the bent portion of the narrow metal plate 121 and the bent portion of the wide metal plate 122. Therefore, the functions as the shield layer and the protective layer are particularly reliable. However, the two bent portions forming the same side wall are not necessarily in contact with each other, and may be close to each other with a gap.

<Insulation coating 13>
The insulating coating 13 is formed by coating the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 12 (the cylindrical body 12 into which the flat cable 11 is inserted) with an insulating material. When the outer periphery of the cylinder 12 is covered (covered) with the insulating coating 13, the two metal plates 121 and 122 forming the cylinder 12 are fastened.

  Thus, since the insulating coating 13 functions as a fastening member that fastens the pair of metal plates 121 and 122, a screw structure or the like for fastening the metal plates 121 and 122 becomes unnecessary. Further, in a wire harness arranged in a vehicle, particularly at a position where it can be easily touched by the user of the vehicle, it is preferable because the user feels anxiety associated with an electric shock when the metal layer is exposed. However, in the wire harness 1, since the insulating coating 13 is formed on the outermost layer, there is also an advantage that such anxiety is not given to the user. In other words, the insulating coating 13 also functions as an exterior member for making the appearance of the wire harness 1 preferable for the user.

<2. Effect>
According to the wire harness 1 according to the above embodiment, the cylindrical body 12 functions as a shield layer of the flat cable 11 and also functions as a protective layer of the flat cable 11. Further, since the insulating coating 13 functions as a fastening member that fastens the pair of metal plates 121 and 122, a screw structure for fastening the metal plates 121 and 122 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, in the wire harness 1 according to the above embodiment, the flat cable 11 can be reliably protected while suppressing an increase in the diameter size and avoiding an increase in the number of members.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the metal plates 121 and 122 are combined into a cylindrical shape, the group of flat cables 11 is sandwiched between the metal plates 121 and 122 so that the group of flat cables 11 can be connected. It can be set as the state penetrated in the cylinder 12. FIG. For example, when shielding an electric wire using a braided wire, it takes a lot of work to insert the electric wire into a braided braided wire, but in the above embodiment, such a laborious operation is not necessary. It becomes. Also, as a matter of course, the braided wire can not be expected to function as a protective layer for the wire. It is necessary to pass through the protective member. Therefore, when a braided wire is used, an increase in the diameter size of the wire harness and an increase in the number of members are inevitable.

  Moreover, since the wire harness 1 which concerns on said embodiment has ensured the high protection performance, for example in a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, a motor and an inverter, a motor and a battery, an inverter and a battery, etc. are connected, respectively. It is suitable for use as a wire harness that bundles high-voltage wires. Further, it is also suitable for use as a wire harness that is routed at a position that is susceptible to damage caused by rock jumping (for example, a wire harness that is routed under the floor of the vehicle body outside the vehicle body frame). Moreover, since the insulation coating 13 that functions as an exterior member of the wire harness 1 for giving a sense of security to the vehicle user is formed, it can be used as a wire harness that is routed in a position where it can be easily touched by the user's eyes. Is also suitable. Thus, according to the above embodiment, a wire harness with very high versatility can be obtained.

<3. Modification>
<3-1. Modified example of metal plate>
In the above embodiment, the pair of metal plates 121 and 122 forming the cylindrical body 12 are flat plates. However, the metal plates 121 and 122 may be corrugated plates.

  FIG. 3 shows a partially cutaway plan view of the wire harness 1a when a corrugated plate is used as the metal plate. In the wire harness 1a shown here, the two metal plates 121a and 122a are formed of corrugated plates in which peaks and valleys appear alternately along the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the cylinder 12a formed by the pair of metal plates 121a and 122a has a form (bellows structure) in which the diameter is alternately increased and decreased along the extending direction (axial direction). According to this structure, the wire harness 1a which is easy to bend and is easy to handle is implement | achieved.

<3-2. Modifications related to electric wires>
In said embodiment, although the electric wire with which the wire harness 1 is provided was the flat cable 11, the electric wire with which the wire harness 1 is provided is not restricted to this. For example, a round cable with a circular cross section may be used. Further, it may be a type of electric wire formed by combining stretched metal, or a type of electric wire formed by punching a metal plate (for example, a conductor plate typified by a bus bar). Also good. Moreover, a high voltage electric wire may be sufficient and a low voltage electric wire may be sufficient.

  4 and 5 respectively show a cross-sectional view and a partially cutaway plan view of a wire harness 1b including a bus bar 14 as an electric wire. In the wire harness 1b shown here, a plurality of bus bars 14 are inserted into the cylindrical body 12 formed by a pair of metal plates 121 and 122. The bus bar 14 is a member that is molded by punching a metal plate, and a sheath is applied to the extending portion except for the end portion. Moreover, the edge part of the bus-bar 14 is processed into the shape of the terminal connected to the connection other party (electric equipment etc. which become a connection object) of the said wire harness 1b. In the example of FIG. 5, a through hole 141 is formed at the end of the bus bar 14, and thus the end is shaped like a ring-type terminal. Note that the end portion may have a terminal shape other than this (for example, a branched shape (the shape of a Y-type terminal)).

  The bus bar 14 functions as a so-called electric wire with terminal fittings. In other words, in the case of a type of electric wire that is formed by combining stretched metal, a terminal fitting (a metal plate member processed into the shape of a terminal connected to a connection partner) is crimped to the end of the wire. However, in the bus bar 14, the shape processing can be directly applied to the end portion thereof, so that the operation of attaching the terminal fitting is not necessary. That is, in the wire harness 1b that bundles the bus bars 14, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to attach a terminal fitting to the end of each electric wire bundled by the wire harness 1b.

<3-3. Other variations>
The shape of the pair of metal plates 121 and 122 is not limited to the shape according to the above embodiment as long as it is a shape that becomes a cylindrical shape when combined.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the length of one metal plate 121 in the width direction is shorter than the length of the other metal plate 122 in the width direction. The lengths in the width direction may be equal to each other. In this case, each metal plate may be formed in a cylindrical shape by fitting each metal plate so that the respective bent portions are directed to the other party and the respective bent portions are alternately arranged. That is, one bent portion of each metal plate is fitted into a groove-shaped space formed between the bent portions of the other metal plate, and the other bent portion is disposed outside the groove-shaped space. Thus, a cylindrical shape may be formed.

  Further, for example, the wide metal plate 122 according to the above-described embodiment may have a shape in which both ends in the width direction are not bent. In this case, a cylindrical shape is formed by disposing a flat wide metal plate between the bent portions of the narrow metal plate 121. Further, for example, each metal plate may have a shape in which the length in the width direction is made equal and only one end in the width direction is bent. In this case, the bent portion of each metal plate comes into contact with the flat portion of the other metal plate, thereby forming a cylindrical shape.

1, 1a, 1b Wire harness 11 Flat cable 12, 12a Tube 13 Insulation coating 14 Bus bar

Claims (6)

A long cylindrical body formed by combining a plurality of long metal plates into a cylindrical shape;
An electric wire inserted into the cylinder,
An insulating coating covering the outer periphery of the cylindrical body;
Wire harness comprising The wire harness according to claim 1,
The cylinder is
A wire harness having a structure in which two metal plates each having a bent portion formed at both ends in a short length direction are combined with each of the bent portions facing each other. The wire harness according to claim 2,
The cylinder is
A structure in which a second metal plate having a relatively short width in the short direction is fitted in a groove-like space formed between the bent portions of the first metal plate having a relatively long width in the short direction. Wire harness having The wire harness according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A wire harness in which the metal plate is a corrugated plate in which peaks and valleys appear alternately along the longitudinal direction. The wire harness according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A wire harness in which the electric wire is a flat cable. The wire harness according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The core wire of the said electric wire is a wire harness which is a conductor board processed into the shape of the terminal in which an edge part is connected to the connection other party of the said wire harness.

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