JP4821983B2

JP4821983B2 - Electric cable

Info

Publication number: JP4821983B2
Application number: JP2006137641A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 道晃清水; 弘高江島; 幸雄鈴木; 研治中嶋; 良和早川; 陽二小林
Original assignee: Hitachi Cable Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Cable Ltd
Priority date: 2006-05-17
Filing date: 2006-05-17
Publication date: 2011-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-17
Also published as: JP2007311106A

Description

本発明は、電源線や信号線などの複数の電線を備えた電気ケーブルに関し、特に可とう性に優れた電気ケーブルに関する。 The present invention relates to an electric cable including a plurality of electric wires such as a power supply line and a signal line, and particularly relates to an electric cable excellent in flexibility.

自動車の電動化に伴い、電源線と信号線を備えた電気ケーブルが、自動車の振動や屈曲を多く受ける場所に配策されるようになっている。 With the electrification of automobiles, electric cables equipped with power supply lines and signal lines are being routed where they are subject to much vibration and bending of automobiles.

図３に従来技術の電気ケーブルの一例を示す。電気ケーブル２０は、電源線や信号線などの３本の電線２１と、電線２１に添えられた介在２３と、その外周のシース２２とからなる。３本の電線２１は撚り合わされて、束ねられている。シース２２は、ＥＰＤＭなどのゴム材、ポリウレタンなどの樹脂からなり、断面略円形に形成される。 FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional electric cable. The electric cable 20 includes three electric wires 21 such as a power supply line and a signal line, an interposition 23 attached to the electric wire 21, and a sheath 22 on the outer periphery thereof. The three electric wires 21 are twisted and bundled. The sheath 22 is made of a rubber material such as EPDM and a resin such as polyurethane, and has a substantially circular cross section.

各電線２１は、複数の導体線（本例では７本）を撚り合わせた導体部２４の周囲に絶縁層２５を設けたものである。各導体線は、細い銅線からなる素線を多数本束ねて構成されている。絶縁層２５は、ポリエチレン、塩化ビニル、ＥＴＦＥなどの樹脂からなり、断面略円形に形成される。電源線や信号線の用途、必要とされる特性に応じて、素線の径、束ねられて導体線を形成する素線の数、撚り線を形成する導体線の数が設定される。 Each electric wire 21 is provided with an insulating layer 25 around a conductor portion 24 formed by twisting a plurality of conductor wires (seven wires in this example). Each conductor wire is configured by bundling a number of strands made of thin copper wires. The insulating layer 25 is made of a resin such as polyethylene, vinyl chloride, or ETFE, and has a substantially circular cross section. The diameter of the strands, the number of strands that are bundled to form a conductor wire, and the number of conductor wires that form a stranded wire are set according to the use of the power supply line and signal line and the required characteristics.

電気ケーブルの可とう性を良くするために、撚り合わされて束ねられた電線の撚りピッチを小さくするなど、種々の構造が検討されている（例えば、特許文献１、２）。
特開２００５−１６６６１０号公報特開２００５−２０３１１７号公報 In order to improve the flexibility of an electric cable, various structures have been studied, such as reducing the twist pitch of wires twisted and bundled (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2005-166610 A JP-A-2005-203117

自動車の頻繁に屈曲運動が起こる場所に配策される電気ケーブルには、さらなる可とう性の良さが要求されている。 Electrical cables that are routed to places where frequent flexing motions of automobiles are required to have better flexibility.

そこで、本発明の目的は、可とう性を良くした電気ケーブルを提供することにある。 Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric cable with improved flexibility.

上記目的を達成するために、本発明の電気ケーブルは、複数の電線と、前記複数の電線の外周を覆うように設けられたシースとを備え、前記複数の電線の全部または一部の電線は、中空部を有する絶縁層と、導体線と前記導体線の外周に形成された被覆層とからなり、互いに非接触で前記絶縁層の内周に固着された複数の被覆導体線と、からなることを特徴とするものである。
To achieve the above object, an electrical cable of the present invention includes a plurality of electric wires, and a sheath which is provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the plurality of wires, all or part of the wire of said plurality of wires And an insulating layer having a hollow portion, and a conductor wire and a coating layer formed on the outer periphery of the conductor wire, and a plurality of coated conductor wires fixed to the inner periphery of the insulating layer in a non-contact manner. It is characterized by this.

電気ケーブルの可とう性を良くすることができる。 The flexibility of the electric cable can be improved.

以下、本発明の実施形態を図面に基づいて説明する。 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

（構成）図１は、本発明の電気ケーブルの一実施形態の断面図である。図２は、本発明の電気ケーブルの一実施形態に用いる電線の断面図である。 (Configuration) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the electric cable of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an electric wire used in an embodiment of the electric cable of the present invention.

電気ケーブル１０は、３本の電源線や信号線となる電線１１と、電線１１に添えられた介在１２と、その外周のシース１３とからなる。３本の電線１１は撚り合わされて束ねられている。介在１２は、ポリプロピレンなどの樹脂からなる紐状部材や繊維が用いられる。シース１３は、ＥＰＤＭ、クロロプレンなどのゴム材またはポリ塩化ビニル、ポリウレタンなどの樹脂からなり、断面略円形に形成される。 The electric cable 10 includes an electric wire 11 serving as three power supply lines and signal lines, an interposer 12 attached to the electric wire 11, and a sheath 13 on the outer periphery thereof. The three electric wires 11 are twisted and bundled. For the interposition 12, a string-like member or fiber made of a resin such as polypropylene is used. The sheath 13 is made of a rubber material such as EPDM or chloroprene or a resin such as polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane, and has a substantially circular cross section.

電線１１は、複数の被覆導体線１４（本実施形態では４本）と、複数の被覆導体線１４を内周に固着した中空部を有する絶縁層１５からなる。電線１１の断面において、複数の被覆導体線１４は互いに非接触で、絶縁層１５の内周に等間隔に配置されている。複数の被覆導体線１４は電線１１の長手方向に沿って絶縁層１５の内周にらせん状に設けられている。 The electric wire 11 includes a plurality of covered conductor wires 14 (four in this embodiment) and an insulating layer 15 having a hollow portion in which the plurality of covered conductor wires 14 are fixed to the inner periphery. In the cross section of the electric wire 11, the plurality of covered conductor wires 14 are not in contact with each other and are arranged at equal intervals on the inner periphery of the insulating layer 15. The plurality of covered conductor wires 14 are spirally provided on the inner periphery of the insulating layer 15 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wires 11.

被覆導体線１４は導体線１６とその外周に形成した被覆層１７からなる。導体線１６は銅線や銅合金線の撚り線からなる。被覆層１７はＥＰＤＭ、クロロプレンゴムなどの弾性に優れたゴム材からなり、導体線１６の外周に押し出し被覆して形成される。被覆層１７はゴム材にカーボンの粉末を添加して導電性としても良い。被覆導体線１４の被覆層１７が絶縁層１５と部分的に一体化されていることにより、被覆導体線１４は絶縁層１５に固着されている。 The covered conductor wire 14 includes a conductor wire 16 and a covering layer 17 formed on the outer periphery thereof. The conductor wire 16 is made of a stranded wire of a copper wire or a copper alloy wire. The covering layer 17 is made of a rubber material having excellent elasticity such as EPDM or chloroprene rubber, and is formed by extrusion covering the outer periphery of the conductor wire 16. The covering layer 17 may be made conductive by adding carbon powder to a rubber material. Since the covering layer 17 of the covering conductor wire 14 is partially integrated with the insulating layer 15, the covering conductor wire 14 is fixed to the insulating layer 15.

絶縁層１５はＥＰＤＭ、クロロプレンゴムなどの弾性に優れたゴム材からなり、好適には被覆導体線１４の被覆層１７と部分的に一体化するために被覆層１７と同じ材料を用いる。 The insulating layer 15 is made of a rubber material having excellent elasticity such as EPDM or chloroprene rubber, and preferably uses the same material as that of the covering layer 17 in order to be partially integrated with the covering layer 17 of the covering conductor wire 14.

各電線１１は、電源線や信号線などの用途、電気ケーブルの使用目的に応じて、電線１１の径、被覆導体線１４の数、被覆導体線１４の径、絶縁層１５内の被覆導体線１４の配置などは適宜設計変更できる。 Each electric wire 11 has a diameter of the electric wire 11, the number of the covered conductor wires 14, a diameter of the covered conductor wire 14, and a covered conductor wire in the insulating layer 15 according to the use such as the power supply line and the signal line and the purpose of using the electric cable. The arrangement of 14 can be appropriately changed.

複数の被覆導体線１４は全体で従来技術の電線の導体部の機能を果たす。被覆導体線１４の導体線１６の断面積は電線全体の導体部断面積の設計値を被覆導体線１４の数で除した値とする。本実施形態では被覆導体線１４は４本であるので、各被覆導体線１４の導体線１６の断面積は電線全体の導体部断面積の設計値の１／４とする。例えば、従来技術の電線において導体部の断面積が１５ｍｍ^２であるものを本実施形態の電線１１で実施する場合、各被覆導体線１４の導体線１６の断面積は３．７５ｍｍ^２である。 The plurality of covered conductor wires 14 function as a conductor portion of a conventional electric wire as a whole. The cross-sectional area of the conductor wire 16 of the covered conductor wire 14 is a value obtained by dividing the design value of the conductor cross-sectional area of the entire electric wire by the number of the covered conductor wires 14. In this embodiment, since there are four covered conductor wires 14, the cross-sectional area of the conductor wire 16 of each covered conductor wire 14 is set to 1/4 of the design value of the conductor cross-sectional area of the entire electric wire. For example, when a conventional electric wire having a conductor section having a cross-sectional area of 15 mm ² is implemented by the electric wire 11 of this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the conductor wire 16 of each coated conductor wire 14 is 3.75 mm ² .

電線１１の両端末において、複数の被覆導体線１４の導体線１６は電気的に接続されている。電線１１にある電気信号をその一端から入力したとき、電気信号は複数の被覆導体線１４に分かれて電線１１内を伝送する。電線１１の他端において電気信号は合流して出力され、電線１１の接続された電気機器へ送られる。 At both ends of the electric wire 11, the conductor wires 16 of the plurality of covered conductor wires 14 are electrically connected. When an electric signal in the electric wire 11 is input from one end thereof, the electric signal is divided into a plurality of coated conductor wires 14 and transmitted through the electric wire 11. At the other end of the electric wire 11, the electric signals are merged and output and sent to the electric device to which the electric wire 11 is connected.

次に電線１１の製造方法について説明する。図２において、点線で描かれた１８は介在線、１９は中心介在線である。第１の工程として、中心介在線１９の外周に被覆導体線１４と介在線１８とをらせん状に巻きつけて撚り線を形成する。被覆導体線１４と介在線１８は交互に並ぶように配置する。第２の工程として、第１の工程で形成した撚り線の外周に、ＥＰＤＭ、クロロプレンゴムなどのゴム材を押し出し被覆して絶縁層１５を形成する。この工程において、絶縁層１５と被覆導体線１４の被覆層１７は熱により部分的に一体化される。第３の工程として、絶縁層１５内の中心介在線１９を引き抜く。これにより電線１１の中心に中空部が形成される。中心介在線１９はその外周に潤滑層が形成され、引き抜き易くなっている。第４の工程として、絶縁層１５内の介在線１８を引き抜く。これにより被覆導体線１４間に中空部が形成される。介在線１８はその外周に潤滑層が形成され、引き抜き易くなっている。介在線１８の潤滑層は第２の工程で被覆層１５と熱により一体化されない材料を使用する。 Next, the manufacturing method of the electric wire 11 is demonstrated. In FIG. 2, 18 drawn with a dotted line is an intervening line, and 19 is a central intervening line. As a first step, the coated conductor wire 14 and the interposed wire 18 are spirally wound around the outer periphery of the central interposed wire 19 to form a stranded wire. The covered conductor wires 14 and the intervening wires 18 are arranged so as to be alternately arranged. As the second step, the insulating layer 15 is formed by extruding and covering a rubber material such as EPDM or chloroprene rubber on the outer periphery of the stranded wire formed in the first step. In this step, the insulating layer 15 and the covering layer 17 of the covering conductor wire 14 are partially integrated by heat. As a third step, the central intervening line 19 in the insulating layer 15 is pulled out. Thereby, a hollow part is formed in the center of the electric wire 11. The center intervening wire 19 has a lubricating layer formed on the outer periphery thereof, and is easily pulled out. As a fourth step, the interposition wire 18 in the insulating layer 15 is pulled out. As a result, a hollow portion is formed between the covered conductor wires 14. The intervening wire 18 has a lubricating layer formed on the outer periphery thereof, and is easily pulled out. The lubricating layer of the interposition wire 18 uses a material that is not integrated with the coating layer 15 by heat in the second step.

（作用）以上のように、本実施形態の電気ケーブルでは、使用する電線の内部に中空部が設けられており、電気ケーブルに屈曲が加わったとき屈曲に応じて電線が変形することができる。これにより電気ケーブルが屈曲した際の応力が低減され、電気ケーブルの可とう性を良くすることができる。 (Operation) As described above, in the electric cable of this embodiment, the hollow portion is provided in the electric wire to be used, and when the electric cable is bent, the electric wire can be deformed according to the bending. As a result, the stress when the electric cable is bent is reduced, and the flexibility of the electric cable can be improved.

また、本実施形態では、電線の被覆導体線と絶縁層は、被覆導体線の被覆層と絶縁層が部分的に一体化されて、固着されている。電気ケーブルに屈曲が加わって電線が変形したときに、絶縁層内で被覆導体線が移動して他の被覆導体線の間にはまり込むといった被覆導体線の配置の変化が生じない。これにより、電気ケーブルの可とう性を良くすることができる。 In the present embodiment, the coated conductor wire and the insulating layer of the electric wire are fixed so that the coated layer and the insulating layer of the coated conductor wire are partially integrated. When the electric cable is bent and the electric wire is deformed, there is no change in the arrangement of the covered conductor wire such that the covered conductor wire moves in the insulating layer and fits between other covered conductor wires. Thereby, the flexibility of an electric cable can be improved.

また、本実施形態では、電線の絶縁層を弾性にすぐれたゴム材で形成している。電線は電気ケーブルが屈曲して変形した後に、絶縁層の弾性によって元の断面略円形の形状に戻る。これにより、電気ケーブルの可とう性を良くすることができる。 In the present embodiment, the insulating layer of the electric wire is formed of a rubber material having excellent elasticity. After the electric cable is bent and deformed, the electric wire returns to the original circular shape by the elasticity of the insulating layer. Thereby, the flexibility of an electric cable can be improved.

また、本実施形態では、電線の被覆導体線の被覆層を弾性にすぐれたゴム材で形成している。電線は電気ケーブルが屈曲して変形した後に、被覆導体線の被覆層の弾性によって元の断面略円形の形状に戻る。これにより、電気ケーブルの可とう性を良くすることができる。 In the present embodiment, the covering layer of the covered conductor wire of the electric wire is formed of a rubber material having excellent elasticity. After the electric cable is bent and deformed, the electric wire returns to the original circular shape due to the elasticity of the covering layer of the covered conductor wire. Thereby, the flexibility of an electric cable can be improved.

また、本実施形態では、電線の絶縁層の内周に被覆導体線が電線の長手方向に沿ってらせん状に設けられている。これにより、電気ケーブルに屈曲が加わったとき、電線はその屈曲方向に関係なく同様に屈曲に応じて変形できるので、電気ケーブルの可とう性を良くすることが出来る。 Moreover, in this embodiment, the covered conductor wire is spirally provided along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire on the inner periphery of the insulating layer of the electric wire. As a result, when the electric cable is bent, the electric wire can be deformed according to the bending similarly regardless of the bending direction, so that the flexibility of the electric cable can be improved.

（変形例）本発明は上記実施形態に限られず、電気ケーブルのシース内の電源線や信号線となる電線の数、大きさ、シース内における電線の配置などは、電線の設置箇所や使用目的に応じて、適宜設計変更できる。 (Modification) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the number and size of the power lines and signal lines in the sheath of the electric cable, the arrangement of the wires in the sheath, etc. The design can be changed as appropriate.

また、本発明は上記実施形態に限られず、電気ケーブルのシース内の複数の電線のうち一部の電線に上記実施形態で説明した内部に中空部を設けた電線を使用しても良い。 In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and an electric wire having a hollow portion provided in the inside described in the above embodiment may be used for some of the plurality of electric wires in the sheath of the electric cable.

（応用例）本発明の電気ケーブルは、ロボットや自動車の可動機器に接続する電気ケーブルとして使用できる。自動車においては、電動ブレーキハーネスやインホイールモータ用ハーネスのような振動や屈曲が頻繁に加わる電気ケーブルに適用できる。 (Application example) The electric cable of the present invention can be used as an electric cable connected to a movable device of a robot or an automobile. In automobiles, the present invention can be applied to electric cables that are frequently subjected to vibration and bending, such as electric brake harnesses and harnesses for in-wheel motors.

本発明の電気ケーブルの一実施形態の断面図である。It is sectional drawing of one Embodiment of the electric cable of this invention. 本発明の電気ケーブルの一実施形態に用いる電線の断面図である。It is sectional drawing of the electric wire used for one Embodiment of the electric cable of this invention. 従来の電気ケーブルの一例の断面図である。It is sectional drawing of an example of the conventional electric cable.

Explanation of symbols

１０電気ケーブル
１１電線
１２介在
１３シース
１４被覆導体線
１５絶縁層
１６導体線
１７被覆層
１８介在線
１９中心介在線
２０電気ケーブル
２１電線
２２シース
２３介在
２４導体部
２５絶縁層 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electric cable 11 Electric wire 12 Interposition 13 Sheath 14 Covered conductor wire 15 Insulation layer 16 Conductor wire 17 Cover layer 18 Interposition wire 19 Center intervention wire 20 Electric cable 21 Electric wire 22 Sheath 23 Interposition 24 Conductor part 25 Insulation layer

Claims

Multiple wires,
A sheath which is provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the front Symbol plurality of wires,
Equipped with a,
All or some of the plurality of wires are
An insulating layer having a hollow portion;
A plurality of coated conductor wires, each comprising a conductor wire and a coating layer formed on the outer periphery of the conductor wire, and fixed to the inner periphery of the insulating layer in a non-contact manner;
Electrical cable, comprising the.

The electric cable according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is made of a rubber material having elasticity.

The electric cable according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is made of EPDM or chloroprene rubber.

The electric cable according to claim 1, wherein the covering layer is made of an elastic rubber material.

The electric cable according to claim 1, wherein the covering layer is made of EPDM or chloroprene rubber.

The electric cable according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer and the covering layer are made of the same material.

The electric cable according to claim 1, wherein the coated conductor wire is fixed to the inner periphery of the insulating layer in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire.

Electrical cables, electric cable according to claims 1-7 or Re noise, which is a electric brake harness or in-wheel motor harness.