JP2007080622A - Shield conductor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize shortening of time that is necessary for connecting a flexible cylindrical member with a metal pipe constituting a shield member. <P>SOLUTION: A shield conductor A is the conductor 10 surrounded by the cylindrical shield member 20 in which the shield member 20 is arranged to have a form wherein end parts of the metal pipe 21 and the flexible cylindrical member 22 are mutually connected conductively. The flexible cylindrical member 22 is adhered to the metal pipe 21 in a pinched form between the peripheral face of the metal pipe 10 and the peripheral face of a caulking ring 30. Since the flexible cylindrical member 22 and the metal pipe 21 are connected by caulking of the caulking ring 30, the connecting time can be shortened in comparison with a welding method. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a shield conductor.

  For example, when connecting devices such as an inverter device and a motor in an electric vehicle, a conductor having a shielding function is used. As this type of conductor, the wire side terminal is fixed to the end of the conductor of the shielded wire, the wire side terminal is connected to the device side terminal provided in the shield case of the device, and the shield layer of the shielded wire Is connected to the shield case via a conductive connecting member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in such a conductor, the work of inserting the wire-side terminal into the shield case and the work of connecting the connecting member to the shield case must be repeated as many times as the number of terminals (ie, the number of shielded wires). There is a problem that it takes time and effort.

Therefore, it is conceivable to use an electric wire that does not have a shield layer, and to cover the electric wire collectively with a flexible cylindrical shield member made of a braided wire knitted with a fine metal wire. According to this collective shield type conductor, the work of connecting the shield function portion (shield member) to the shield case is performed only once regardless of the number of wires, so that workability is improved.
JP 11-26093 A

As described above, the conductor in which the plurality of electric wires are surrounded by the shield member is routed along a route exposed outside the vehicle and a bent route in a narrow space inside the vehicle. In the region of the conductor that is routed outside the vehicle body, the shield member is required to have a function of protecting the electric wire from stepping stones, etc., and in the region that is routed in a narrow space in the vehicle, the flexibility of bending flexibly. Required for shield members.
In view of such circumstances, it is conceivable to use a shield pipe made of a metal pipe as a shield member for the outside of the vehicle and use a flexible cylindrical member made of a braided wire or the like as the shield member for the inside of the vehicle.
In this case, since the metal pipe and the flexible cylindrical member both have a shielding function, they need to be connected to each other so as to be conductive. As the connection means, a method of fixing the metal pipe and the flexible cylindrical member by welding can be considered, but the connection method by welding has a problem that it takes time.
The present invention has been invented in view of the above circumstances, and aims to shorten the time required to connect the metal pipe constituting the shield member and the flexible cylindrical member.

  As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a conductor is surrounded by a cylindrical shield member, and the shield member is an end portion of a metal pipe and a flexible cylindrical member. The flexible cylindrical member is fixed to the metal pipe in a form sandwiched between the peripheral surface of the metal pipe and the peripheral surface of the caulking ring. It has the characteristics in the place.

  A second aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the invention, the caulking is formed continuously over the entire circumference.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the flexible cylindrical member is overlaid on an outer periphery of the metal pipe, and the caulking ring is the flexible cylindrical shape. It is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the member, and is characterized in that the caulking ring is crimped in a reduced diameter deformed form.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, when the caulking ring is deformed in a reduced diameter, an extra length portion of the caulking ring is projected to the outer peripheral side to form an ear portion. However, it has characteristics.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the caulking ring is a surface over a predetermined region along a length direction of the flexible cylindrical member. It is characterized by a strip shape that can be contacted.

  A sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the metal pipe has a circular cross section in any one of the first to fifth aspects.

<Invention of Claim 1>
Since the flexible cylindrical member and the metal pipe are connected by caulking, the connection time can be shortened compared to the welding method.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the caulking is a continuous form over the entire circumference, the fixing strength is higher than that of the substantially C-shaped caulking in which a part in the circumferential direction is interrupted.

<Invention of Claim 3>
When the caulking ring is arranged on the inner side of the metal pipe and caulked while being expanded in diameter, the caulking ring becomes thin, and there is a concern about the reliability of the fixing strength. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the caulking ring is deformed in a reduced diameter, the thickness of the caulking ring does not need to be reduced, and there is no possibility that the fixing strength of the caulking ring is lowered.

<Invention of Claim 4>
In the state where the caulking ring is deformed in a reduced diameter, the extra length portion of the caulking ring is protruded to the outer peripheral side as an ear portion without protruding to the inner peripheral side (flexible cylindrical member side). Can be made to adhere almost uniformly to the outer periphery of the flexible cylindrical member over the entire circumference.

<Invention of Claim 5>
Since the caulking ring and the flexible tubular member are in close contact with each other over a predetermined region along the length of the flexible tubular member, the fixing strength is higher than that in the form of close contact with the line contact. Excellent reliability.

<Invention of Claim 6>
The pressing force when caulking the caulking ring is applied to the peripheral surface of the metal pipe in the radial direction. However, since the metal pipe has a circular cross section and high rigidity, the peripheral surface of the metal pipe There is no need to address the support member.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The shield conductor A of the present embodiment is configured to shield the three conductors 10 at a time by inserting the three conductors 10 into the shield member 20.
The conductor 10 includes a core wire 11 made of a single core wire or a stranded wire made of metal (for example, copper, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, etc.) having a circular cross-sectional shape, and an insulating coating 12 that covers the outer periphery of the core wire 11. Consists of configured wires.

The shield member 20 is configured such that the ends of the metal pipe 21 and the flexible cylindrical member 22 are connected to each other so as to be conductive.
The metal pipe 21 has a conductor protecting function in addition to the shielding function, and is suitable for being routed outside the automobile where a stepping stone or the like may hit. Examples of the material of the metal pipe 21 include aluminum alloy, stainless steel, copper, and copper alloy. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the metal pipe 21 is a perfect circle, and the thickness is also constant over the entire circumference. That is, the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the metal pipe 21 form a concentric circle. Moreover, the outer peripheral surface (surface to which the flexible cylindrical member 22 adhere | attaches) of the edge part of the metal pipe 21 is a smooth circular arc surface. In addition, when the material of the metal pipe 21 is iron, you may give galvanization etc. as a rust prevention means. In the metal pipe 21, the three conductors 10 described above are inserted in a stacked manner (so that a line connecting the centers of the conductors 10 forms a substantially equilateral triangle).

  On the other hand, the flexible cylindrical member 22 is formed of a braided wire obtained by knitting fine wires made of metal (for example, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, copper, copper alloy, etc.) in a mesh shape, bending deformation such as bending, and the length direction. Both of the expansion / contraction deformation and the deformation for increasing / decreasing the diameter are highly flexible. This flexible cylindrical member 22 is suitable for being routed by a route bent in a narrow space such as in the engine room of an automobile.

  The metal pipe 21 and the flexible cylindrical member 22 are connected using one caulking ring 30. The caulking ring 30 is made of metal (for example, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, copper, copper alloy, etc.) and has a circular shape that is continuous over the entire circumference. Further, the caulking ring 30 has a strip shape having a predetermined dimension in the axial direction (the length direction of the metal pipe 21 and the flexible cylindrical member 22 in the connected state), and is a flexible cylindrical member. The surface contact is possible over a predetermined area along the length direction of 22. Further, the inner diameter of the crimping ring 30 before connection (before crimping) is larger than the outer diameter of the metal pipe 21. In addition, the surface of the crimping ring 30 is subjected to trivalent chromate plating for the purpose of rust prevention.

Next, the process of connecting the metal pipe 21 and the flexible cylindrical member 22 will be described.
The flexible tubular member 22 is passed through the caulking ring 30 in advance, and the end of the flexible tubular member 22 is covered substantially concentrically with the outer periphery of the end of the metal pipe 21 in the radial direction. Overlapping. The overlapping dimension in the length direction (axis line) direction at this time is made larger than the width dimension of the caulking ring 30. Next, the caulking ring 30 that is externally fitted to the flexible cylindrical member 22 is slid toward the metal pipe 21, and is positioned in the overlapping region of the metal pipe 21 and the flexible cylindrical member 22. Thereby, it will be in the state where the metal pipe 21, the flexible cylindrical member 22, and the crimping ring 30 were piled up substantially concentrically in order toward the outside from the inside.

  Next, the upper and lower molds 41 and 42 for caulking are opened, and the metal pipe 21, the flexible cylindrical member 22 and the caulking ring 30 are placed in the semicircular recesses 43 of the both molds 41 and 42. set. At this time, the core is not set inside the metal pipe 21. When the molds 41 and 42 are brought close to each other and clamped, the caulking ring 30 is pressed against the inner surface of the semicircular recess 43 to reduce the diameter, and the extra length portion of the caulking ring 30 protrudes to the outer peripheral side. A pair of ears 31 is formed. The ear portion 31 is formed in a tightly folded shape while being accommodated in the relief recesses 44 on both the left and right edges of the semicircular recesses 43 on the opposing surfaces of the molds 41 and 42. Further, a vertical clamping force acts on the outer periphery of the metal pipe 21 from the molds 41 and 42 via the caulking ring 30, but the metal pipe 21 is kept almost circular without being deformed.

  As described above, the flexible cylindrical member 22 is sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the caulking ring 30 almost uniformly over the entire circumference in the radial direction. On the other hand, it is fixed in a state in which it is detachable and conductive. When the connection between the metal pipe 21 and the flexible cylindrical member 22 is completed and the shield member 20 is completed, the molds 41 and 42 are opened, and the shield member 20 is taken out. Thereafter, the three conductors 10 are inserted into the shield member 20, and bending or terminal processing of the conductors 10 is performed as necessary.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the flexible cylindrical member 22 is fixed to the metal pipe 21 in a form sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the caulking ring 30. In addition, since the flexible cylindrical member 22 and the metal pipe 21 are connected by caulking of the caulking ring 30, the connection time can be shortened as compared with the welding method.
Further, since the caulking ring 30 has a continuous shape over the entire circumference, the caulking ring 30 is superior in fixing strength as compared with a substantially C-shaped caulking ring in which a part in the circumferential direction is interrupted.

  In addition, when the caulking ring is disposed inside the metal pipe 21 and caulked while being expanded in diameter, the caulking ring becomes thin due to deformation, and thus there is a concern about the reliability of the fixing strength. In the embodiment, the flexible cylindrical member 22 is overlapped on the outer periphery of the metal pipe 21, the caulking ring 30 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the flexible cylindrical member 22, and the caulking ring 30 is deformed by reducing its diameter. Since it is made to attach, the thickness of the crimping ring 30 does not need to be thin, and there is no possibility that the fixing strength of the crimping ring 30 is lowered.

  Further, in a state where the caulking ring 30 is deformed in a reduced diameter, the extra length portion of the caulking ring 30 is not projected to the inner peripheral side of the caulking ring 30 (the side in contact with the flexible tubular member 22). Since it protruded to the outer peripheral side as the ear | edge part 31, the crimping ring 30 can be contact | adhered to the outer periphery of the flexible cylindrical member 22 substantially uniformly over the perimeter, and, by extension, a flexible cylindrical member 22 can be uniformly sandwiched between the metal pipe 21 and the caulking ring 30 over the entire circumference.

Further, since the caulking ring 30 and the flexible cylindrical member 22 are in close contact with each other over a predetermined region along the length direction of the flexible cylindrical member 22, they are in close contact with each other in a line contact state. Compared to the embodiment, the reliability of the fixing strength is excellent.
Further, the pressing force when caulking the caulking ring 30 is applied to the peripheral surface of the metal pipe 21 in the radial direction, but the metal pipe 21 has a circular cross section and has high rigidity. A supporting member such as a core is not assigned to the peripheral surface of the metal pipe 21.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the above embodiment, the flexible tubular member is a braided wire obtained by braiding a plurality of fine metal wires into a net shape. However, according to the present invention, not only the braided wire but also a conductive metal foil or a spirally wound conductive material. Can be used as a flexible cylindrical member.
(2) In the above embodiment, the number of conductors inserted through one metal pipe is three, but according to the present invention, the number of conductors inserted through one metal pipe is one, two, It may be a book or four or more.
(3) In the above embodiment, one caulking ring is used as a means for fixing one flexible cylindrical member. However, according to the present invention, one flexible cylindrical member is fixed by a plurality of caulking rings. May be.
(4) In the above embodiment, two ears are formed when the caulking ring is deformed to reduce the diameter, but according to the present invention, the number of ears formed is one or three or more. It may be.
(5) In the above-described embodiment, the caulking is continuous over the entire circumference. However, according to the present invention, the caulking may be substantially C-shaped with a break in the circumferential direction.
(6) In the above-described embodiment, the caulking ring has a band plate shape capable of surface contact over a predetermined region along the length direction of the flexible cylindrical member. The caulking ring may be a ring shape having a circular cross section, and the caulking ring may be in line contact with the flexible cylindrical member.
(7) In the above embodiment, the flexible cylindrical member is fixed to the outer periphery of the metal pipe. However, according to the present invention, the flexible cylindrical member may be fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the metal pipe.
(8) In the above embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the metal pipe is circular. However, according to the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the metal pipe may be non-circular (for example, elliptical or oval).
(9) In the above embodiment, the caulking ring is crimped without setting the core inside the metal pipe. However, according to the present invention, the core is set on the outer periphery of the metal pipe with the core set inside the metal pipe. A caulking ring may be caulked.
(10) In the above embodiment, the contact surface of the flexible tubular member in the metal pipe is made smooth, but according to the present invention, an uneven portion is formed on the contact surface of the flexible tubular member in the metal pipe. May be. By forming such a concavo-convex portion, the flexible tubular member can be hooked when subjected to a tensile force in the length direction, so that connection reliability is increased.
(11) In the above-described embodiment, the metal pipe is hardly crushed and deformed when caulking is caulked. However, according to the present invention, the metal pipe is slightly crushed and deformed when caulking is caulked. It may be.
(12) Although the electric wire is a conductor in the above embodiment, according to the present invention, a member having a heat radiation function such as a heat pipe can be used as the conductor.

Longitudinal sectional view of Embodiment 1 XX sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing showing the connection process of a metal pipe and a flexible cylindrical member Sectional drawing showing the connection completion state of a metal pipe and a flexible cylindrical member

Explanation of symbols

A ... Shield conductor 10 ... Conductor 20 ... Shield member 21 ... Metal pipe 22 ... Flexible cylindrical member 30 ... Caulking 31 ... Ear part

Claims (6)

The conductor is surrounded by a cylindrical shield member,
The shield member is configured to connect the end portions of the metal pipe and the flexible cylindrical member so as to be conductive,
A shield conductor, wherein the flexible cylindrical member is fixed to the metal pipe in a form sandwiched between a peripheral surface of the metal pipe and a peripheral surface of a caulking ring. The shield conductor according to claim 1, wherein the caulking is continuous over the entire circumference. The flexible cylindrical member is stacked on the outer periphery of the metal pipe, and the caulking ring is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the flexible cylindrical member,
The shield conductor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the crimping ring is crimped in a reduced diameter deformed form. 4. The shield conductor according to claim 3, wherein, when the caulking ring is deformed in a reduced diameter, an extra portion of the caulking ring protrudes toward an outer peripheral side to form an ear part. The said crimping ring has comprised the strip | belt plate shape which can carry out surface contact over the predetermined area | region along the length direction with respect to the said flexible cylindrical member. Any one of the shield conductors. The shield conductor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the metal pipe has a circular cross section.

Images