JP2010257729A - Flat cable - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flat cable, which is configured to suppress fusing between insulators covering a conductor when stored in a wound state. <P>SOLUTION: The outer circumference of a plurality of conductors 12, 12, 12... mutually spaced and disposed in parallel is covered with an insulator 14. A linear projecting part 16 is formed on at least one surface of the insulator 14 along the axial direction, and the area of the part where the projecting part 16 is formed of the surface with the projecting part 16 formed thereon is set smaller than the area of the part free from the projecting part 16. The projecting part 16 is preferably formed on the surface of the insulator 14 above the conductor 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flat cable in which a plurality of conductors are arranged in parallel in a planar shape.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, a flat cable 30 is known in which a plurality of conductors 32, 32... Are arranged in parallel and in a planar shape, and the plurality of conductors 32 are covered with an insulator 34. (For example, Patent Document 1). In addition, in such a flat cable, a flat cable having a notch at a predetermined position on the surface is also known in order to enable easy division by a predetermined number of conductors (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2003-323928 A JP 2007-42512 A

  Since the flat cable is usually long, it may be stored in a state of being wound around a drum or the like, or wound in a spiral shape without using a drum or the like. Since the surface of a conventional flat cable is flat, when it is wound, one surface and the other surface are in close contact with each other. Then, for example, when the temperature at the time of storage becomes high, there is a possibility that the insulator on one surface and the insulator on the other surface are fused on the closely contacted surface.

  The flat cable 30 of Patent Document 1 is likely to be in close contact with the entire one surface and the entire other surface, and is particularly likely to be fused. Moreover, although the flat cable of patent document 2 has a part which does not contact | adhere to a part of surface by a notch, since there are still many parts closely_contact | adhered, there exists a large possibility of melt | fusion.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a flat cable in which fusion of insulators covering conductors is suppressed during storage in a wound state.

  A flat cable according to the present invention is a flat cable formed by covering an outer periphery of a plurality of conductors that are spaced apart from each other and arranged in parallel, and at least one surface has a protrusion along an axial direction. In the surface on which the protrusions are formed, the area of the portion where the protrusions are formed is smaller than the area of the portion where the protrusions are not formed.

  In the flat cable which concerns on this invention, it is desirable for the protrusion to be formed in the insulator surface on a conductor. The ridge may be formed only on one surface of the flat cable, or may be formed on both surfaces. When the ridge is formed on both surfaces, the sum of the area of the portion where the ridge is formed on one surface and the area of the portion where the ridge is formed on the other surface is It is preferable that the difference between the area of the portion where the protrusion is not formed on the surface and the area of the portion where the protrusion is formed on the other surface is smaller. Moreover, it is preferable that the pattern of the ridge formed on one surface is different from the pattern of the ridge formed on the other surface.

  According to the flat cable of the present invention, the protrusion is formed along the axial direction on at least one surface, and the area of the portion where the protrusion is formed on the surface where the protrusion is formed is Since it is made smaller than the area of the part in which the strip is not formed, the contact area between one surface and the other surface of the flat cable is small when stored in a wound state. Thereby, when the temperature at the time of storage becomes high, for example, the fusion of the insulators covering the conductor can be suppressed.

  At this time, if the ridge is formed on the surface of the insulator on the conductor, the core portion made of the conductor is under the ridge, so that the force for supporting the ridge is large. Thereby, a protrusion becomes difficult to collapse and the raise of the contact area in a protrusion is suppressed. Moreover, since it becomes difficult for a protrusion to collapse, a possibility that one surface and the other surface may contact with surfaces other than a protrusion is also reduced.

  And in the case where the ridge is formed on both surfaces of the flat cable, the area of the portion where the ridge is formed on one surface and the area of the portion where the ridge is formed on the other surface, Is smaller than the difference between the area of the part where the protrusions are not formed on one surface and the area of the part where the protrusions are formed on the other surface, The contact area between one surface of the flat cable and the other surface is small. Thereby, when the temperature at the time of storage becomes high, for example, the fusion of the insulators covering the conductor can be suppressed.

  In addition, in the case where the ridge is formed on both surfaces of the flat cable, the pattern of the ridge formed on one surface and the pattern of the ridge formed on the other surface are different, It is easy to distinguish between one side and the other side. Thereby, it is possible to route the flat cable while confirming that the twist does not occur.

  Further, even when the ridge is formed only on one surface of the flat cable, it is easy to distinguish one surface from the other surface. Therefore, it is possible to route the flat cable while confirming that no twisting occurs.

It is a perspective view showing the flat cable which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view showing the flat cable which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is the cross-sectional view which showed the state by which the flat cable which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention was wound, and one surface and the other surface are contacting. It is the cross-sectional enlarged view which showed the shape of the other protrusion. It is the cross-sectional view which showed the shape of the other insulator. It is the cross-sectional view which showed the shape of the other conductor. It is a cross-sectional view showing the flat cable which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the cross-sectional view which showed the pattern of the other protrusion. It is the cross-sectional view which showed the state by which the flat cable which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention was wound, and one surface and the other surface are contacting. It is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional flat cable.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flat cable according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the flat cable 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the flat cable 10 according to the first embodiment is obtained by covering the outer periphery of a plurality of conductors 12, 12. It is composed of

  A protrusion 16 is formed on one surface of the flat cable 10 along the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 16 has the shortest distance from the plane A formed by a plurality of conductors 12 arranged in a parallel plane on the surface of the insulator 14 on which the protrusion 16 is formed. It is the part which protrudes from the plane B including the part b and parallel to the plane A. The protrusion 16 has a continuous protrusion shape along the axial direction, and has an advantage that it is easy to manufacture because it can be continuously manufactured by extrusion molding or the like as compared with a protrusion having a discontinuous shape.

  At this time, it is important that the area of the portion where the protrusion 16 is formed on the surface where the protrusion 16 is formed is smaller than the area of the portion where the protrusion 16 is not formed. Since the shape of the flat cable 10 is continuous in the axial direction, the size of the area of the portion where the ridge 16 is formed and the size of the area of the portion where the ridge 16 is not formed are This can be explained by the length in the cross section in the orthogonal direction.

Referring to a cross section of the flat cable 10 shown in FIG. 2, the length in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction corresponding to the area of the portion where protrusions 16 are formed is X _1, X _2, protrusions 16 are formed The lengths in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction corresponding to the area of the part that is not performed are Y ₁ , Y ₂ , and Y ₃ . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, (X ₁ + X ₂ ) <(Y ₁ + Y ₂ + Y ₃ ).

  The flat cable 10 is long and is usually stored in a state of being wound around a drum or the like, or wound in a spiral shape without using a drum or the like. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the flat cable 10 is stored in a state where one surface and the other surface are in contact with each other. Since the protrusion 16 is formed in the flat cable 10 and the area of the portion where the protrusion 16 is formed is smaller than the area of the portion where the protrusion 16 is not formed, the protrusion 16 is formed. The contact area between one surface and the other surface is smaller than when not. Thereby, when the temperature at the time of storage becomes high, for example, the fusion of the insulators 14 covering the conductor 12 is suppressed.

  The ridge 16 is preferably formed on the surface of the insulator 14 on the conductor 12. In this case, since the core portion made of the conductor 12 exists under the ridge 16, the force for supporting the ridge 16 as compared with that formed on the surface of the insulator 14 in the region where the conductor 12 does not exist. Is big. Then, for example, even when the winding force is strong during storage and a strong compressive force acts on one surface where the ridge 16 is formed from the other surface, the ridge 16 is not easily crushed, and the ridge 16 portion. The increase in the contact area in the is suppressed. In addition, since the protrusions 16 are less likely to be crushed, the risk of contact between one surface and the other surface other than the protrusion 16 portion is reduced. Thereby, the raise of the contact area of one surface and the other surface is suppressed.

  In the flat cable 10, the protrusion 16 is formed only on one surface. Therefore, it is easy to distinguish between one surface and the other surface. If it does so, since it can confirm that it is one side or the other side at the time of wiring of a flat cable, it will be hard to produce the twist of the flat cable 10, and it can wire in a correct direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the protrusion 16 may be a semicircular cross section, and as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (d), the cross section is a square shape, a triangular shape, Various shapes such as a trapezoidal shape, a so-called mushroom shape may be used. Moreover, the combination of these shapes may be sufficient. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 (b), the shape of the protrusion 16 may be a tapered shape in which a portion farther from the surface than the surface of the insulator 14 is smaller, or FIG. 4 (c). As shown in (d), the tip 14 may be larger in the portion farther from the surface than in the vicinity of the surface of the insulator 14. When the shape of the protrusion 16 is a tapered shape, the contact area between one surface and the other surface can be particularly reduced. In this case, fusion between the insulators 14 is easily suppressed.

  The shape of the insulator 14 is not particularly limited. As shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the insulator 14 may be a quadrangular shape whose cross section has corners, or an elliptical shape whose cross section has no corners as shown in FIG. good.

  The shape of the conductor 12 is not particularly limited. As shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the conductor 12 may be a flat shape constituted by one flat material, or may be a flat shape constituted by combining a plurality of strands. It is preferable that the adjacent strands are in contact with each other. The shape of the strand is preferably a round shape.

  As a flat shape configured by combining a plurality of strands, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), a shape in which a plurality of strands 12a are arranged in a parallel plane (for example, FIG. 6 (a)). Then, five strands 12a are arranged.) As shown in FIG. 6B, a shape in which the strands 12a are arranged in parallel and in a planar shape is laminated in two layers, as shown in FIG. 6C. Thus, the shape (for example, six strands 12b are arranged in Drawing 6 (c)) where the twisted wires 12b formed by twisting together a plurality of strands 12a were arranged in a plane in parallel, FIG. As shown to (d), the shape etc. which laminated | stacked the shape which arranged the twisted wire 12b in parallel in 2 layers can be mentioned. Moreover, the shape which laminated | stacked the shape which arranged the strand 12a and the twisted wire 12b in parallel planarly on three or more layers may be sufficient.

  In particular, one strand 12a constituting the stranded wire 16b is made thinner (for example, the strand diameter is 0.60 mm or less), and the stranded wire 16b is laminated in two or more layers. Can improve the flexibility and flexibility by thinning, and reduce the wiring space by reducing the conductor width accompanying the lamination. Further, even when the strands are made thin, the number of conductor supplies can be reduced by using twisted wires. Furthermore, productivity can be improved by using the existing round strand.

  Next, a flat cable according to the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the flat cable 20 according to the second embodiment is configured by covering the outer periphery of a plurality of conductors 12, 12... With an insulator 14, and on both surfaces along the axial direction. Thus, the ridge 16 is formed. Also in the flat cable 20, it is important that the area of the portion where the protrusions 16 are formed is smaller than the area of the portion where the protrusions 16 are not formed on one surface. Further, the protrusion 16 is preferably formed on the surface of the insulator 14 on the conductor 12.

  In the flat cable 20, the pattern of the ridges 16 formed on one surface and the pattern of the ridges 16 formed on the other surface may be the same or different.

  When the pattern of the ridges 16 formed on each surface is the same, when the flat cable 20 is wound, the ridges 16 on one surface and the ridges 16 on the other surface easily come into contact with each other. The contact portion between one surface and the other surface tends to be only the protrusion 16 portion. That is, the ridges 16 are formed on the other surface, and the number of the ridges 16 between the one surface and the other surface opposed to the flat cable 10 having the ridges 16 only on one surface is as follows. Even if it increases, since the number of contact locations does not change, the contact area is unlikely to increase. Therefore, an increase in contact area due to the formation of the protrusions 16 on the other surface can be suppressed.

  When the patterns of the protrusions 16 formed on the respective surfaces are different, it is easy to distinguish one surface from the other surface, and the flat cable 20 can be easily routed in the correct direction. From this point of view, preferably, the pattern of the protrusions 16 formed on each surface is different.

  The pattern of the ridges 16 is constituted by the number of the ridges 16, the arrangement of the ridges 16, the shape of the ridges 16, or a combination thereof in one plane. When these are all the same, the pattern of the ridges 16 is the same, and when any one of them is different, the pattern of the ridges 16 is different.

  For example, in FIG. 7, two ridges 16 each having a semicircular cross section are formed at both ends on one surface and the other surface. That is, in FIG. 7, since the number of the protrusions 16, the arrangement of the protrusions 16, and the shape of the protrusions 16 are exactly the same on one surface and the other surface, the pattern of the protrusions 16 is the same. Further, for example, in FIG. 8, one protrusion 16 having a semicircular cross section is formed in the center portion on one surface, whereas the cross section is semicircular on the other surface. Two ridges 16 are formed at both ends. That is, in FIG. 8, the shape of the ridges 16 is the same on one surface and the other surface, but the number of the ridges 16 and the arrangement of the ridges 16 are different. Is different.

  The flat cable 20 is also usually stored in a state of being wound around a drum or the like, or in a state of being spirally wound without using a drum or the like. As a result, the flat cable 20 is also stored in a state where one surface and the other surface are in contact with each other. The flat cable 20 has protrusions 16, and on one surface, the area of the portion where the protrusions 16 are formed is smaller than the area of the portion where the protrusions 16 are not formed. The contact area between one surface and the other surface is smaller than when the protrusion 16 is not formed. Thereby, when the temperature at the time of storage becomes high, for example, the fusion of the insulators 14 covering the conductor 12 is suppressed.

  At this time, the sum of the area of the portion where the ridges 16 are formed on one surface and the area of the portion where the ridges 16 are formed on the other surface is the ridge 16 formed on one surface. It is preferable that the difference between the area of the part not formed and the area of the part where the protrusions 16 are formed on the other surface is smaller. As a result, the contact area between one surface and the other surface of the flat cable can be reduced, so that, for example, when the temperature during storage increases, the fusion of the insulators 14 covering the conductor 12 is suppressed. It is done.

  Similar to the flat cable 10, the shape of the flat cable 20 is also continuous in the axial direction. Therefore, the area of the portion where the protrusion 16 is formed and the area of the portion where the protrusion 16 is not formed are large. This can be explained by the length in the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

This will be described with reference to a cross-sectional view (FIG. 9) showing a state in which the flat cable 20 is wound and one surface is in contact with the other surface. The lengths in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction corresponding to the area of the portion where the protrusions 16 are formed are X ₁ and X ₂ , and in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction corresponding to the area of the portion where the protrusions 16 are not formed. The length is Y ₁ , Y ₂ , Y ₃ . Then, the other surface, the length in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction corresponding to the area of the portion where protrusions 16 are formed is Z _1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, it is preferable that (X ₁ + X ₂ + Z ₁ ) <(Y ₁ + Y ₂ + Y ₃ −Z ₁ ).

  In the flat cable 20, the shape of the protrusion 16, the shape of the insulator 14, and the shape of the conductor 12 can include the same shapes as those described in the flat cable 10.

  In the present invention, the material of the conductor 12 is not particularly limited. Examples of the material of the conductor 12 include general copper, copper alloy, aluminum, and aluminum alloy. Examples of copper and copper alloys include oxygen-free copper, tough pitch copper, and phosphor bronze. The conductor 12 may be soft or hard. The conductor 12 may be subjected to metal plating such as tin or nickel.

  The thickness of the conductor 12 is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 0.02 to 5 mm. Furthermore, it is preferably within a range of 0.03 to 3 mm. If the thickness of the conductor 12 is reduced, extrusion coating is difficult. On the other hand, if the thickness is increased, the flexibility of the flat cable tends to be lowered. Further, the width of the conductor 12 may be appropriately determined according to the purpose.

  When the thickness of the conductor 12 is, for example, 1 mm or more, it is preferable to configure the conductor by combining a plurality of strands from the viewpoint of suppressing a decrease in flexibility. This is because by combining a plurality of strands, the cross-sectional area of each strand can be reduced, so that the stress per strand can be reduced, and flexibility and flexibility are improved. At this time, the plurality of strands may constitute a stranded wire. That is, the conductor may be formed by arranging one or two or more stranded wires made of a plurality of strands. Also in this case, the conductor is composed of a plurality of strands as a whole.

  Any material may be used for the insulator 14 as long as the outer periphery of the conductor 12 can be extrusion coated. For example, polymers such as resins and rubbers can be mentioned, and there is no particular limitation. Only one type of resin or rubber may be used, or two or more types may be combined. At this time, resin and rubber can be combined.

  The resin constituting the insulator 14 may be a synthetic resin or a natural resin. A thermoplastic resin is preferable. Preferable examples include olefin resins, thermoplastic polyurethane resins, engineering plastics, thermoplastic elastomers, vinyl chloride resins and the like.

  Examples of the olefin resin include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA), ethylene-ethyl acrylate (EEA), ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA), ethylene-methyl methacrylate (EMMA). ), Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and the like.

  Examples of the engineering plastic include polyamide resin (PA), polyester resin, polysulfone resin, polyarylate resin, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin, polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin, polycarbonate (PC), and the like. Examples of the polyester resin include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

  Thermoplastic elastomers include olefin elastomers (TPO), styrene elastomers (SEBS, etc.), amide elastomers, ester elastomers, urethane elastomers, ionomers, fluorine elastomers, 1,2-polybutadiene, trans-1,4. -Polyisoprene etc. are mentioned.

  Examples of the rubber include ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR), butadiene rubber (BR), and isoprene rubber (IR).

  In order to improve various physical properties, functional groups may be introduced (modified) into the resin or rubber. For example, functional groups such as a carboxyl group, an acid anhydride group, an epoxy group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an alkenyl cyclic imino ether group, and a silane group can be introduced.

  When the material constituting the insulator 14 is, for example, a silane-modified olefin resin, silane crosslinking can be performed by bringing water vapor into contact therewith. Since the protrusions 16 are formed on the surface of the insulator 14, a gap is formed between the stacked cables when the flat cable is wound. Therefore, in this case, the silane-modified olefin resin can be silane-crosslinked in a rolled state.

  A filler such as a flame retardant can be added to the resin or rubber as necessary. As filler, metal powder, carbon black, graphite, carbon fiber, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, barium ferrite, strontium ferrite, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide , Calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, barium sulfate, talc, clay, mica, calcium silicate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, glass fiber, calcium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, wood fiber, fullerene, carbon Examples thereof include nanotubes and melamine cyanurate. These may use only 1 type and may combine 2 or more types.

  In the insulator 14, an additive generally used for a molding material may be blended. Examples of such additives include antioxidants, metal deactivators (copper damage inhibitors), UV absorbers, UV masking agents, processing aids (lubricants, waxes, etc.), and coloring pigments. Can do.

  The thickness of the insulator 14 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.02 to 5 mm from the surface of the conductor 12. If it is less than 0.02 mm, the thickness is thin, so the reliability as an insulator is likely to be lowered. On the other hand, if it is larger than 5 mm, the thickness is so thick that the flexibility of the flat cable is likely to be lowered.

  The flat cable which concerns on this invention can be manufactured by arranging the some conductor 12 in parallel and coat | covering the outer periphery with the insulator 14, for example. As a method of covering the outer periphery of the conductor 12 with the insulator 14, an extrusion molding method or a lamination method may be used. The extrusion coating method is preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the number of manufacturing steps. For example, in the extrusion molding method, the protrusion 16 of the insulator 14 can be easily formed by making the shape of the die a desired shape. The flat cable according to the present invention can be manufactured on a continuous production line by any of the extrusion coating method and the laminating method.

  In the case where the insulating material is crosslinked with silane, for example, in the extrusion molding method, water vapor may be continuously contacted immediately after extrusion, or after the extrusion, it is wound around a drum or the like, or a drum or the like is not used. Water vapor may be contacted in a spiral state.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

10, 20 Flat cable 12 Conductor 12a Wire 12b Stranded wire 14 Insulator 16 Projection

Claims (5)

A flat cable formed by covering an outer periphery of a plurality of conductors arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other,
A protrusion is formed along the axial direction on at least one surface,
A flat cable characterized in that, on the surface on which the ridge is formed, an area of a portion where the ridge is formed is smaller than an area of a portion where the ridge is not formed.   The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed on an insulator surface on the conductor.   The ridge is formed on both surfaces, and the sum of the area of the portion where the ridge is formed on one surface and the area of the portion where the ridge is formed on the other surface is The flat cable according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flat cable is smaller than a difference between an area of a portion where no protrusion is formed on the surface and an area of a portion where the protrusion is formed on the other surface.   2. The protrusion is formed on both surfaces, and the pattern of the protrusion formed on one surface is different from the pattern of the protrusion formed on the other surface. The flat cable in any one of 3.   The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed on only one surface.

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