JP2012223006A - Electric wire protector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric wire protector that is applicable to various branching configurations of an electric cable and can be manufactured at a low cost.SOLUTION: An electric wire protector 10 is formed by winding a strip plate made of an insulating material in a coil shape. Each of coil portions 151 to 155, constituting one winding portion in a circumferential direction, has a bent portion 16 in a portion in the circumferential direction. Each of the bent portions 16 of the coil portions 151 to 155, which constitute an edge portion 11 of the electric wire protector 10, is formed at a position where each thereof is stacked in an axial direction while bending like an approximately chevron shape. The bent portions 16 in the coil portions 151 to 155 arranged around a branch line branching region 8 of the electric cable 1 extend in the circumferential direction, so that an inner peripheral shape of the coil portions becomes gradually larger toward an electric connector side depending on each of branch lines 1a, 1b, and 1c, which branches in an approximately fan shape.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric wire protector, and more particularly, to an electric wire protector that is arranged around a trunk portion of an electric cable including a plurality of branch cables and around a branch branch region to protect the electric cable.

  Conventionally, an electric cable 1 and an electric connector 2 as shown in FIG. 5 are known. Such an electric cable 1 and an electric connector 2 are used to exchange power by electrically connecting an inverter and a motor mounted on an electric vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle, for example.

  The electric cable 1 has a trunk portion 3 in which, for example, three branch lines 1a, 1b, and 1c are bundled by a binding member such as a tape, a band, a clip, and a corrugated tube. The ends of the branch lines 1a, 1b, and 1c that branch out from the main line portion 3 and expand in a substantially fan shape are connected to the electrical connector 2 in a state where they are arranged in a horizontal row at intervals.

  The electrical connector 2 is generally formed of a resin molded product that is an insulating material. In the electrical connector 2, the branch lines 1a, 1b, 1c are held in a state of being aligned in parallel with each other, and metal terminal plates 4a, 4b, crimped to the conductors exposed at the ends of the branch lines 1a, 1b, 1c, respectively. 4 c protrudes from the end face of the electrical connector 2.

  Through holes 5 are respectively formed at the end portions of the metal terminal plates 4a, 4b, and 4c protruding from the electrical connector 2, and electric devices such as U phase, V phase, and W of an inverter are formed through the through holes 5, respectively. It is fixed to the three output terminals corresponding to the phases by screwing. Further, mounting tabs 7 having through holes 6 are formed on both sides of the electrical connector 2, and the electrical connector 2 is connected to the inverter by fastening the through holes 6 to the inverter housing with screws or the like. Fixed.

  In FIG. 5, only the end of the electric cable 1 on the inverter side is shown, but the end of the electric cable 1 on the motor side can also be configured in the same manner, or depending on the configuration of the connection terminals of the motor. 5 may be connected to the motor via an electrical connector different from 5.

  In an electric vehicle, the electric cable 1 is often routed through a narrow space in a space where motors and power conversion devices are mounted in close proximity. In order to prevent direct contact with the body or the like), they are bound with a tape or the like or covered with a tube or a sheath.

  In addition, the ends of the branch lines 1a, 1b, and 1c are exposed in a region 8 (hereinafter, referred to as a branch line branch region as appropriate) where a plurality of branch lines branch from the trunk portion 3 of the electric cable 1 and expand in a substantially fan shape. Since the above-described contact with the vehicle constituent members may occur, the branch region 8 has been conventionally protected by providing an electric wire protector made of a resin molded product.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-306733 (Patent Document 1) discloses a protector that aims to reduce the size of a protector that is externally mounted on a branching portion where a branch line branches from a trunk wire tip of a wire harness. This protector is a protector that is externally mounted on a portion where two or more branch lines branch off from the trunk wire distal end of the wire harness, and the base end opening position on the fan-shaped fulcrum side is formed on the inner surface of the branch portion of the main body and the cover. A main-line containing portion comprising an arc-shaped recess portion fitted on the main line from the branch line to the front end of the branch line, and a guide portion projecting from both ends of the recess portion. The main body and the cover are connected to the split end of the cylindrical portion for one end of the branch tube portion via a thin hinge portion. In addition, it is described that a locking portion and a locked portion that are coupled to each other are provided on the outer divided end of the other-side end branch tube portion and the fan-shaped side ends of the branching tube portion.

JP 2007-306733 A

  Depending on the state of power conversion equipment such as inverters and the electrical cables connected to the vehicle, the three branch cables are bound in a substantially triangular shape, and three are arranged in a row at intervals. There are various forms that change. For example, the thickness of each branch cable may be different, or the interval between three branch cables that are branched and connected to the electrical connector may be different. In such a case, even if the protector of the above-mentioned patent document 1 is adapted to one type of branching form, it is not compatible with other branching forms, so various cable protectors designed for each form are manufactured. There is a need. Then, since such a cable protector is generally manufactured by molding a resin material with a mold, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire protector that can be adapted to various branch-type electric cables and can be manufactured at low cost.

  The electric wire protector according to the present invention is formed by winding a strip-shaped flat plate made of an insulating material into a coil shape, and the electric wire is branched into a substantially fan shape around the trunk portion of the electric cable including a plurality of branch lines and from the trunk portion. A wire protector disposed around each branch line in the branch line branch region connected to the connector, each coil part constituting one turn in the circumferential direction has a bent part in a part in the circumferential direction, Each bent portion is formed in a position overlapping in the axial direction between the coil portions in a state of being bent in a substantially mountain shape, and a plurality of coil portions arranged around the trunk portion of the electric cable are the bent portions. While the inner circumferential shape is reduced by narrowing in the circumferential direction, the plurality of coil portions arranged around the branch line branching region have a substantially fan-shaped inner circumferential shape by spreading the bent portions in the circumferential direction. Before branching to Is intended to deform gradually increases toward the electrical connector side depending on each branch.

  In the electric wire protector according to the present invention, the bent portion of each coil portion includes two side portions connected at the apex portion in the axial direction, and an incision portion is formed on the outer edge portion of each side portion, A string-like or thread-like thin wire member that extends in the axial direction while passing in a zigzag manner through the cut portion formed in the bent portion of each coil portion is provided, and by loosening the thin wire member, the bent portion is moved in the circumferential direction. It may be configured to be spread.

  In this case, two cut portions in the bent portion are formed adjacent to each side portion, and the distal end on the insertion side of the thin wire member of the partition portion partitioning the two cut portions is the insertion opening of the cut portion. It is preferable to make it protrude so as to narrow the width. In this case, the tip of the partition portion may be formed in a substantially arrow shape.

  Moreover, the electric wire protector which concerns on this invention WHEREIN: The said bending part may be formed by bend | folding in a mountain shape at three bending locations, and each bending location may be formed as a thin part in each coil part.

  Furthermore, the electric wire protector which concerns on this invention WHEREIN: The protector end part which the inner peripheral shape was extended along the said branch line branch area | region may be fixed to the said electrical connector by winding an adhesive tape.

  According to the wire protector of the present invention, each coil portion of the wire protector formed by winding a strip-shaped flat plate made of an insulating material into a coil shape has a bent portion, and is arranged around the trunk portion of the electric cable. While the plurality of coil portions are narrowed in the circumferential direction because the bent portions are narrowed in the circumferential direction, the bent portions are arranged in the circumferential direction in the plurality of coil portions arranged around the branch branch region of the electric cable. By expanding, the inner peripheral shape gradually deforms toward the electric connector side according to the substantially fan-shaped form of the branch line branch region, so the thickness of the main line part, the thickness of the branch line, the branch line branch interval, etc. are different. It is possible to flexibly adapt to the branch type electric cable. Therefore, one electric wire protector can be used for protection of trunk portions and branch line branch regions of various electric cables, and the manufacturing cost of the electric wire protector can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the end surface and side surface of the electric wire protector which are one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged view which shows the bending part formed in each coil part in the electric wire protector of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view including a wire cross section along the line AA in FIG. 2, showing a cut portion formed in a bent portion. It is a figure which shows the end surface and side surface of a protector edge part arrange | positioned around the branch line branch area | region of an electric cable. It is a top view which shows an electrical cable and the electrical connector connected with this.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this description, specific shapes, materials, numerical values, directions, and the like are examples for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and can be appropriately changed according to the application, purpose, specification, and the like.

  The electric wire protector of the present embodiment can be suitably applied to an electric cable that electrically connects an inverter and a motor mounted on an electric vehicle, but is not limited to this, for example, in an installation panel of an automobile You may apply to the branch line branch area | region of the wired wiring harness, and may be applied to the electrical cable used with electric machines, such as industrial machines other than a motor vehicle, and a robot.

  Further, in the following description, the same or corresponding components as those of the electric cable 1 and the electric connector 2 described above with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows an end face (upper figure) and a side face (lower figure) of an electric wire protector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wire protector 10 is formed, for example, by winding a strip-shaped flat plate 12 made of an insulating material such as resin or rubber into a coil shape. The wire protector 10 is configured by a plurality of coil portions corresponding to one turn in the circumferential direction or a plurality of coil portions in the axial direction. In FIG. 1, coil portions 141 to 145 corresponding to five turns are illustrated.

  The electric wire protector 10 can be obtained by cutting a necessary portion corresponding to the length of the electric cable 1 from a long strip-shaped flat plate 12 continuously formed in a coil shape. Such a continuous molded body from which the wire protector 10 is cut out continuously performs, for example, injection molding, formation of a cut portion and a thin-walled portion, bending processing of a bent portion, winding around a rod-shaped mold, and the like. Can be molded long. Therefore, compared with the case where one or a plurality of wire protectors are formed by a plurality of molds that can be divided, the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced.

  The inner peripheral shape of the wire protector 10 is formed in an oval shape having a size suitable for accommodating the trunk portion 3 of the electric cable 1 in which the three branch cables 1a, 1b, 1c are bundled in a substantially triangular shape. Has been. Moreover, each coil part 141-145 which comprises an electric wire protector is wound so that it may each adjoin with the appropriate space | interval d in the axial direction.

  Each coil part 141-145 which the electric wire protector 10 comprises has the bending part 16 in a part of circumferential direction, respectively. The bent portion 16 is provided at two locations facing each other in the short side direction of each coil portion having a substantially oval shape in plan view, and only the one bent portion 16 passes a thin wire member to be described later. A notch is formed. Further, each bent portion 16 is formed at a position overlapping in the axial direction between the respective coil portions 141 to 145 in a state of being bent into a substantially V-shaped (or substantially inverted V-shaped) mountain shape. However, the bent shape of the bent portion 16 is not limited to a substantially V shape, and may be formed in a mountain shape having another shape such as a substantially U shape or a substantially rectangular shape.

  2 and 3 show the whole or part of the bent portion 16 in an enlarged manner. As shown in FIG. 2, the bent portion 16 includes two side portions 18 a and 18 b that are connected by an axial apex portion 17, and each side portion 18 a and 18 b is bent into a substantially triangular mountain shape. Three thin-walled portions 20 are formed on each strip half-circumference on the strip-shaped flat plate 12 constituting each coil portion 141-145. Specifically, there are two thin portions 20 located on both sides of the bent portion 16 and one thin portion 20 corresponding to the axial apex portion 17 of the bent portion 16. The thickness of each thin portion 20 is reduced by forming a groove 22 having a substantially semicircular cross section on the surface of the belt-like flat plate 12.

  Thus, by forming the thin portion 20 in advance, the bending portion 16 can be easily bent at an accurate position. In order to form the thin portion 20, the groove 22 is preferably formed on the surface in the bending direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be formed on at least one flat plate surface as long as the thickness of the bent portion is reduced.

  In addition, in order to prescribe the bending place in each coil part 141-145, it replaces with the said groove | channel 22, or in addition to this, the width | variety (perpendicular to a longitudinal direction) of the strip | belt-shaped flat plate 12 is formed shorter than another part. Alternatively, it may be easily bent by forming a plurality of through holes side by side in the width direction.

  Referring to the upper diagram of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, cut portions 24 are formed at the radially outer edges of the two side portions 18 a and 18 b forming the bent portion 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the cut portion 24 includes two cut portions 24 a and 24 b partitioned by a partition portion 26. The tip of the partition portion 26 is formed in a substantially arrow shape and has portions protruding on both sides. Thereby, the opening width w on the insertion side when the cut portions 24 a and 24 b are inserted and arranged in the thin wire member 30 described later is narrowed so as to be smaller than the diameter of the thin wire member 30. At the time of inserting the thin wire member 30, since at least one of the partition portion 26 and the thin wire member 30 can be deformed, the thin wire member 30 is pushed into the cut portions 24a and 24b from the openings narrowed as described above. be able to.

  In this way, the tip 27 of the partition portion 26 between the notches 24a and 24b is formed in a substantially arrow shape, so that when the thin wire member 30 is inserted into the notches 24a and 24b, the inclined surface of the tip of the partition portion 26 is provided. Therefore, once the thin wire member 30 is disposed in the cut portions 24a and 24b, the protruding portion at the tip of the partition portion 26 is warped and is difficult to come off. Can do. However, the shape of the distal end 27 of the partition portion 26 is not limited to a substantially arrow shape, and the insertion opening width is narrowed by projecting from the side surface of the partition portion in another shape such as a semicircular shape or a rectangular shape. Also good.

  In the wire protector 10 according to the present embodiment, a string-like or thread-like thin wire member 30 is provided that extends in the axial direction while passing through the notches 24 formed in the bent portions 16 of the coil portions 141 to 145 in a zigzag shape. It has been. The thin wire member 30 is preferably configured by a thin wire material having flexibility such as a resin wire, a natural fiber string or a thread. The thin wire member 30 plays a role of maintaining or regulating the inner peripheral shape of the wire protector 10 to a desired size and shape according to the electric cable 1 accommodated therein.

  Referring to the lower diagram of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the way of passing the thin wire member 30 from the third coil portion 143 to the fourth coil portion 144 will be described as an example. The thin wire member 30 is a bent portion of the third coil portion 143. 16, it passes from the back surface to the front surface through one notch portion 24 b in one side portion 18 b, and immediately turns back from the front surface to the back surface through the adjacent notch portion 24 a, and from there to 1 of the other side portion 18 a. It passes from the back surface to the front surface through the two cut portions 24a. Then, the thin wire member 30 crosses to the opposite side of the third coil part 143, turns back from one cut part 24b of the side part 18a of the bent part 16 of the third coil part 143 through the other cut part 24a, It passes through one cut portion 24a of the side portion 18b of the fourth coil portion 144.

  In this way, the thin wire member 30 is folded back at the side portion 18a or 18b through the two cut portions 24a and 24b at the bent portion 16 of each coil portion, and passes through one cut portion 24a of the side portion 18b or 18a. Then, it passes continuously to the bent portion 16 of the next coil portion.

  In this way, the fine wire member 30 is zigzag between the coil portions 141 to 145 adjacent in the axial direction so as to pass through the notched portions 24 of the respective bent portions. The bending state or the bending angle of the angle-shaped bent portion 16 can be maintained in a state of being narrowed in the circumferential direction, whereby the inner peripheral shape of the wire protector 10 is set to the thickness of the trunk portion 3 of the electric cable 1. The size and shape can be maintained accordingly.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a state in which the wire protector 10 of the present embodiment is arranged around the branch line branch region 8 of the electric cable 1 will be described. FIG. 4 shows an end face (upper figure) and a side face (lower figure) of the protector end portion 11 arranged in the branch branch region 8 of the electric cable 1 in the wire protector 10.

  The wire protector 10 has substantially the same configuration as described above over the entire axial length. The difference is that the end 30a of the thin wire member 30 extends from the protector end 11 to the outside in the axial direction with a margin. Here, an example is shown in which the protector end portion 11 is composed of five coil portions 15 (151 to 155).

  In the branch line branch region 8 of the electric cable 1, the three branch cables 1a, 1b, 1c branch from the main line part 3 and spread in a substantially fan shape, and are arranged in a horizontal row at a predetermined interval, respectively. Link. Therefore, the protector end portion 11 of the wire protector 10 arranged around the branch line branch region 8 of the electric cable 1 also has an inner peripheral shape corresponding to the spreading form of the branch cables 1a, 1b, 1c arranged in a row. It is deformed to gradually increase toward the side.

  Specifically, the thin wire member 30 is loosened at the protector end portion 11 so that the bending state or the bending angle of the bent portions 16 of the coil portions 151 to 155 spreads in the circumferential direction. Thereby, the arrangement | sequence direction of each branch line cable 1a, 1b, 1c from the short oval shape corresponding to the circumference | surroundings of the trunk part 3 of the electric cable 1 from the inner peripheral shape of the coil parts 151-155 which comprise the protector end part 11 It can be gradually and greatly deformed into an elongated oval shape.

  The wire protector 10 can be fixed to the electrical connector 2 by, for example, winding an adhesive tape in a state where the protector end 11 of the wire protector 10 is spread as described above and arranged around the branch branch region 8 of the electrical cable 1. it can.

Further, the end portion 30a of the thin wire member 30 that finally becomes surplus may be wound around the electrical connector 2 and tied. This can prevent the shape of the protector end 11 of the wire protector 10 from changing due to further loosening of the thin wire member 30, and more reliably prevent the wire protector 10 from being displaced from the electrical connector 2. Can do.

  Furthermore, before fixing the wire protector 10 to the electrical connector 2, the end 30a of the protector thin wire member 30 is pulled so that the inner peripheral edge of the protector end 11 is pressed against the outer branch cables 1a and 1c with an appropriate pressing force. It may be fixed with an adhesive tape or the like after it has been brought into contact. If it does in this way, the electric protector 10 will be firmly fixed to the branch line branch area | region 8 of the electric cable 1 also by the press-contact force of the protector edge part 11 with respect to a branch line cable.

  As described above, according to the wire protector 10 of the present embodiment, the coil portions 14 and 15 of the wire protector 10 formed by winding a strip-shaped flat plate made of a resin material into a coil shape have bent portions, respectively. The plurality of coil portions 14 arranged around the trunk portion 3 of the cable 1 have a smaller inner peripheral shape because the bending state or the bending angle of the bent portion 16 is narrowed in the circumferential direction, while the branch line of the electric cable 1 In the plurality of coil portions 15 arranged around the branch region 8, the bending state or the bending angle of the bent portion 16 spreads in the circumferential direction, so that the inner peripheral shape corresponds to the substantially fan-shaped form of the branch branch region 8. For the electric cable 1 of various branching forms in which the thickness of the trunk portion 3, the thicknesses of the branch cables 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, the branch line branching intervals, and the like are different. It can be flexibly adapted. Therefore, one electric wire protector 10 can be used for protection of trunk portions and branch line branch regions of various electric cables, and the manufacturing cost of the electric wire protector 10 can be reduced.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, it can protect with the one electric wire protector 10 over the full length of the electric cable 1 containing the trunk line part 3 and the branch line branch area | region 8 of the both ends, and it is special protector for the branch part of an electric cable. No need to prepare. Therefore, the cost reduction effect by reducing the number of parts can also be expected.

  In addition, the electric wire protector which concerns on this invention is not limited to the structure of above-described embodiment, A various change or improvement is possible.

  For example, the example in which the wire protector 10 is applied to the electric cable 1 including the three branch cables 1a, 1b, and 1c has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and two or four or more branch cables are used. May be used for protection of branch branch regions of electrical cables including:

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the two cut | notch parts 24 were formed in the two edge parts 18a and 18b which comprise the one bending part 16, it is not limited to this, For example, the thin wire member 30 is used. Only one notch may be formed in the side that passes only once when passing as described above, or each side adjacent to each other by forming one notch in each of the sides 18a and 18b. The thin wire members may be arranged in a zigzag shape so as to pass through the bent portions 16 sequentially in the opposite direction.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated as what protects both the trunk part 3 and the branch line branch area | region 8 of the electric cable 1 with the electric wire protector 10, it is not limited to this, An electric cable is formed with the electric wire protector of the said structure. It is also possible to cover and protect only the periphery of the branch line branch region and the periphery of the trunk line portion adjacent to the branch line branch region. In this case, most of the trunk portion of the electric cable is conventionally known tape, clip, tube, sheath, etc. It is sufficient to use a configuration that binds and protects.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although demonstrated as what regulates the shape of an electric wire protector with the thin wire member 30, it is not limited to this, The bending location of the strip | belt-shaped flat plate which comprises a bending part has deformed plastically. Thus, when the bent shape once determined by applying an external force is maintained as it is, the formation of the thin wire member itself and the cut portion therefor can be omitted, and the cost can be further reduced.

  1 Electrical cable, 1a, 1b, 1c Branch or branch cable, 2 Electrical connector, 3 Trunk section, 4a, 4b, 4c Metal terminal plate, 5, 6 Through hole, 7 Mounting tab, 8 Branch branch area, 8 Branch branch area DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electric wire protector, 11 Protector edge part, 12 Strip flat plate, 14, 141-145 Coil part, 15, 151-155 Coil part, 16 Bending part, 17 Axial direction vertex part, 18a, 18b Side part, 20 Thin part , 22 Groove, 24, 24a, 24b Notch, 26 Partition, 27 Tip, 30 Fine wire member, 30a End.

Claims (6)

A branch line branch region formed by winding a strip-shaped flat plate made of an insulating material into a coil shape, and surrounding the trunk portion of an electric cable including a plurality of branch lines and branching from the trunk portion into a substantially fan shape and connecting to the electrical connector. An electric wire protector arranged around each branch line in
Each coil part constituting one turn in the circumferential direction has a bent part in a part in the circumferential direction, and each bent part is overlapped in the axial direction between the coil parts in a state of being bent in a substantially mountain shape. The plurality of coil portions arranged around the trunk portion of the electric cable have a smaller inner peripheral shape because the bent portion is narrowed in the circumferential direction, while the periphery of the branch line branch region The plurality of coil portions arranged in the shape are deformed so that the inner circumferential shape gradually increases toward the electrical connector according to the branch lines that branch into the substantially fan shape as the bent portion spreads in the circumferential direction. ,
Electric wire protector. The wire protector according to claim 1,
The bent part of each coil part includes two side parts that are connected at the apex part in the axial direction, and an outer edge part of each side part is formed with a cut part, and the bent part of each coil part is A string-like or thread-like fine wire member extending in the axial direction while passing through the formed cut portion in a zigzag shape is provided, and the bent portion is configured to be expanded in the circumferential direction by loosening the fine wire member. A wire protector characterized by that. The wire protector according to claim 2,
Two cuts in the bent part are formed adjacent to each side part, and the tip on the insertion side of the thin wire member of the partition part partitioning the two cut parts narrows the insertion opening width of the cut part. The wire protector is characterized by protruding like this. The wire protector according to claim 3,
An electric wire protector, wherein a tip of the partition part is formed in a substantially arrow shape. In the electric wire protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The electric wire protector, wherein the bent portion is formed by being bent into a mountain shape at three bent portions, and each bent portion is formed as a thin portion in each coil portion. In the electric wire protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An electric wire protector characterized in that an end portion of a protector whose inner peripheral shape is expanded along the branch line branch region is fixed to the electric connector by winding an adhesive tape.

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