Wire harness

Abstract

Provided is a wire harness that uses a plurality of electric wires including insulated electric wires each having a flat portion and a low flat portion, can ensure a gap between the low flat portion and an adjacent electric wire, and can minimize the width occupied by an assembly of the electric wires at the portion of the flat portion. A wire harness (5), (5A) is provided with a plurality of electric wires including a center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire (1B) that is configured as an insulated electric wire, the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire (1B) having a flat portion and a low flat portion in the axial direction, the cross-section orthogonal to the axial direction using a flat shape that is long in the width direction in the flat portion, and the cross-section orthogonal to the axial direction using a flat shape that is long in the width direction in the low flat portion. A shape having a lower flatness than that of the flat portion is used in the low flat portion, and the position of the center of gravity (31) of the cross-section of the low flat portion is shifted in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape with respect to the position of the center of gravity (21) of the cross-section of the flat portion. The center-of-gravity shift electric wire (1B) is adjacent to the other electric wires in a second direction, which is a direction opposite to the first direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wire harness. BACKGROUND

[0002] In an insulated electric wire, a method of providing a flat portion and a low flat portion along the axial direction is proposed. The outer shape of the conductor in the cross section is flat in the flat portion and is a shape having a lower flatness than the flat portion, typically a substantially circular shape, in the low flat portion. Such an insulated electric wire having a flat portion and a low flat portion is disclosed, for example, in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2. In Patent Literature 1, a raw material flat wire composed of a flat shape as a whole is deformed to form a low flat portion, in contrast to Patent Literature 2 in which a wire having a circular cross section or the like is flattened to form a flat portion. Due to the difference in the manufacturing method, the detailed structure of the insulated electric wire, such as the distribution of the shape of the conductor wire in the flat portion and the low flat portion, differs.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS PATENT LITERATURE Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-156581 Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-77499 SUMMARY

[0004] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] The insulated electric wires disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 having a flat portion and a low flat portion can effectively utilize the shapes and characteristics of the flat portion and the low flat portion, respectively, and use each portion for an appropriate purpose. For example, the flat portion has high space saving properties in the height direction of the flat shape and has high bending flexibility, and thus can be appropriately used for laying the insulated electric wire while bending it along a prescribed path. On the other hand, the low flat portion utilizes a cross-sectional shape having a low flatness such as a circular shape, and can be appropriately used for mounting other components on the insulated electric wire. For example, in a case where a connector is mounted on the insulated electric wire, a portion where other components are mounted, such as a terminal portion, can be provided with a low flat portion. In this way, as components mounted on the insulated electric wire, such as terminals, connectors, and bundling components, even if a special component designed to be mounted on an insulated electric wire having a flat cross-sectional shape is not prepared, a general component used for a conventional general insulated electric wire having a low flatness, such as a round wire having a substantially circular cross section, can be directly applied. As a tool for mounting these components, even if a tool specifically used for processing an insulated electric wire having a flat cross-sectional shape is not used, a tool used in the processing of a conventional general insulated electric wire having a low flatness, such as a round wire, can be utilized.

[0006] However, in cases where multiple insulated wires are connected to a common connector to form a wire harness, or where multiple insulated wires with flat sections and low-flat sections are arranged in the width direction, the area occupied by the flat section is sometimes wider than the area occupied by the aggregate of low-flat sections due to the difference in width between the low-flat sections and the flat section. For example... Figure 5 As shown in Figure A, in the insulated wire 9 disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the position 21 of the center of gravity of the flat portion 2 and the position 31 of the center of gravity of the low flat portion 3 are aligned in a straight line. When multiple insulated wires 9 are arranged along the width direction, as shown in Figure A... Figure 5 As shown in Figure B, in adjacent insulated wires 21, it is sometimes necessary to arrange the insulated wires 9 with a gap p larger than the width w of the flat portion 2 between the centroids 31 of the low flat portion 3. In such cases, it is impossible to arrange the flat portions 2 of adjacent insulated wires 9 in contact with each other, resulting in a gap g between the adjacent flat portions 2. Therefore, compared to the case where adjacent insulated wires 9 are arranged in contact with each other on the flat portions 2, the width A' occupied by the aggregate of multiple insulated wires 9 in the flat portion 2 becomes larger. The necessity of setting a relatively large gap p between the centroids 31 of adjacent low flat portions 3, which is larger than the width w of the flat portion 2, may arise, for example, in cases where large components are used as waterproof plugs 6 embedded in the outer periphery of the insulated wires 9, or as terminals connected to the ends of the insulated wires 9.

[0007] Thus, by setting a predetermined interval p between the low flat sections 3, when the width A' occupied by the aggregate of multiple insulated wires 9 in the flat section 2 becomes larger, the wire harness occupies a large space in the width direction, making it difficult to save space in the width direction. In addition, when protective outer components such as metal braids, corrugated tubes, and stranded tubes are installed around the wire harness, large-diameter components are required for these components, which may lead to an increase in material costs.

[0008] In view of the above, the objective of the present invention is to provide a wire harness that uses multiple wires including insulated wires having a flat portion and a low flat portion, which can ensure the spacing between adjacent wires in the low flat portion, and suppress the width occupied by the cluster of wires in the flat portion to be small.

[0009] Methods for solving problems

[0010] The wire harness of the present disclosure is provided with a plurality of electric wires including a gravity center offset electric wire, the gravity center offset electric wire being composed as an insulated electric wire, the gravity center offset electric wire having: a conductor formed by twisting a plurality of wires; and an insulating covering covering an outer periphery of the conductor, the gravity center offset electric wire having a flat portion and a low flat portion in a manner that the wires and the insulating covering constituting the conductor are continuous with each other in an axial direction, a cross section of the gravity center offset electric wire orthogonal to the axial direction using a flat shape that is long in a width direction at the flat portion, and using a shape that is lower in flatness than the flat portion at the low flat portion, a position of a gravity center of the cross section of the low flat portion being offset in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape with respect to a position of a gravity center of the cross section of the flat portion, the gravity center offset electric wire being adjacent to other electric wires in a second direction that is a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0011] Inventive Effects

[0012] The wire harness of the present disclosure is a wire harness that uses a plurality of electric wires including an insulated electric wire having a flat portion and a low flat portion, and is capable of securing a space between adjacent electric wires at the low flat portion and suppressing a width occupied by a cluster of electric wires to be small at the flat portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 A1C is a schematic view showing an example of a gravity center offset electric wire constituting the wire harness of the present disclosure. Figure 1 A is a perspective view. Figure 1 B is a sectional view showing the flat portion corresponding to the A-A section in A, Figure 1 C is a sectional view showing the low flat portion corresponding to the B-B section in A. In each of the drawings, the wires constituting the conductor are omitted. Figure 1 C is a sectional view showing the low flat portion corresponding to the B-B section in A. In each of the drawings, the wires constituting the conductor are omitted. Figure 1 Figure 2 A is a plan view showing the gravity center offset electric wire of Figure 1 B2D is a plan view showing other examples of the gravity center offset electric wire. Figure 2 B2D is a plan view showing other examples of the gravity center offset electric wire. Figure 3 A, 3B are plan views schematically showing junctions of electric wires and connectors with respect to the wire harness of the present disclosure. Examples in which the electric wires constituting the wire harness are two and three, respectively, are shown. Figure 4 A, 4B are plan views schematically showing junctions of electric wires and connectors with respect to the wire harness of the present disclosure. Examples in which the electric wires constituting the wire harness are four in each case are shown, but the types of the electric wires used are different. Figure 5 A is a plan view showing an insulated electric wire in which the gravity center is not offset.​Figure 5 B represents only the use of Figure 5 A wire bundle of which the center of gravity of the insulating wire is not offset. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] [Explanation of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure]

[0015] First, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained.

[0016] The wire bundle of the present disclosure has the following structure.

[0017] [1] The wire bundle of the present disclosure is provided with a plurality of electric wires including a center-of-gravity offset electric wire, which is configured as an insulating electric wire, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire having: a conductor formed by twisting a plurality of wires; and an insulating covering covering the outer periphery of the conductor, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire having a flat portion and a low flat portion in the direction of an axis in such a manner that each of the wires constituting the conductor and the insulating covering are continuous with each other, a cross section of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire orthogonal to the direction of the axis using a flat shape that is long in the width direction at the flat portion, and using a shape that is lower in flatness than the flat portion at the low flat portion, the position of the center of gravity of the cross section of the low flat portion being offset relative to the position of the center of gravity of the cross section of the flat portion in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire being adjacent to other electric wires in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

[0018] The above-described wire bundle includes a center-of-gravity offset electric wire, the center of gravity of the low flat portion of which is offset relative to the center of gravity of the flat portion in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape. When the center-of-gravity offset electric wire is arranged along the width direction of the flat shape together with other electric wires to constitute a wire bundle, if it is arranged in such a manner that a second direction opposite to the first direction faces the electric wires arranged adjacent to each other, the low flat portion can be arranged separately from the other electric wires adjacent thereto by utilizing the offset of the center of gravity. Thus, the distance between the centers of gravity between the center-of-gravity offset electric wire and the electric wires adjacent thereto is larger in the low flat portion than in the flat portion. In the portion of the flat portion, the distance between the centers of gravity is small, and in correspondence thereto, the width of the area occupied by the center-of-gravity offset electric wire and the electric wires adjacent thereto as a cluster becomes small. In this way, by utilizing the offset of the center of gravity between the low flat portion and the flat portion in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire, a larger interval can be ensured between the low flat portion and the other electric wires adjacent thereto, and the width of the cluster of the electric wires in the portion of the flat portion can be suppressed to be small. Here, the other electric wires can be center-of-gravity offset electric wires or other kinds of electric wires, and in particular, in the case where a plurality of center-of-gravity offset electric wires are arranged, the distance between the centers of gravity of the low flat portions can be ensured to be larger than the width of the flat portion in the plurality of center-of-gravity offset electric wires.

[0019] In the gravity center offset electric wire, by suppressing the width occupied by the electric wire aggregate at the flat portion to be small, and increasing the interval between the low flat portion and the other electric wire adjacent thereto, it is possible to avoid the width of the wire bundle at the flat portion from becoming excessively large, and based on the necessity of using a large component as a waterproof plug, a terminal, or the like mounted to the low flat portion, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the required electric wire interval at the low flat portion. Further, by suppressing the width occupied by the electric wire aggregate at the flat portion to be small, it is possible to suppress the components such as the shield, the outer cover, and the like disposed at the outer periphery of the flat portion from becoming large.

[0020] [2] In the manner of the above [1], it can be that the gravity center offset electric wire contacts the other electric wire adjacent thereto in the second direction at the flat portion. In this case, the interval between the flat portion of the gravity center offset electric wire and the adjacent other electric wire is the smallest, and it is possible to suppress the width occupied by the electric wire aggregate at the flat portion to be particularly small.

[0021] [3] In the manner of the above [1] or [2], it can be that the gravity center offset electric wire has the low flat portion at the terminal portion, and is connected to a connector shared with the other electric wire at the low flat portion. Thus, by the shift of the gravity center in the gravity center offset electric wire, it is possible to suppress the width occupied by the electric wire aggregate to be small at a portion other than the terminal portion of the wire bundle, and to ensure a sufficiently large interval between the electric wires at the terminal portion. By ensuring the interval between the electric wires to be large at the terminal portion, the components mounted to the terminal portion of each electric wire such as a waterproof rubber, a terminal, or the like can use a large component, and a connector with a large interval between the poles can be mounted to the terminal of the electric wire group. When the low flat portion at the terminal portion is connected to a component such as a waterproof plug, a terminal, a connector, or the like, by the low flat portion having a cross-sectional shape with a low flatness, it is possible to use these components and mounting tools used for the conventional general round electric wire.

[0022] [4] In any one of the manners of the above [1] to [3], it can be that the wire bundle includes at least two gravity center offset electric wires, and the two gravity center offset electric wires are arranged in the width direction of the flat shape so that the outer edges in the second direction of each are directly opposite each other or are opposite each other with the other electric wire interposed therebetween. Thus, due to the shift of the gravity center, the low flat portions of the two gravity center offset electric wires are disposed apart from each other, and thus a large interval is ensured between the low flat portions, and the width occupied by the electric wire aggregate at the flat portion is suppressed to be small, and a higher effect is obtained. In the case where the electric wires constituting the wire bundle are only the two gravity center offset electric wires, the effect is particularly high, but in the case where other types of electric wires such as electric wires having a flat portion and a low flat portion formed without shifting the gravity center are interposed between the two gravity center offset electric wires, the effect thereof can also be enjoyed.

[0023] [5] In any of the above [1] to [4], the center-of-gravity offset electric wire can have a transition portion between the flat portion and the low flat portion, and an outer edge of the transition portion on the width direction outer side can have an angle with respect to the axis direction at least in the second direction. In this case, the position of the center of gravity can be gradually offset between the flat portion and the low flat portion by the angle of the outer edge of the transition portion with respect to the axis direction. In addition, by selecting the angle of the outer edge with respect to the axis direction in the second direction and the first direction, the positional relationship between the low flat portion and the flat portion in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire can be variously set in the above [6] to [8].

[0024] [6] In the above [5], the outer edge of the transition portion can be inclined with respect to the axis direction at least in the second direction. In this case, in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire, the position of the center of gravity can be gradually offset between the flat portion and the low flat portion by the inclination, and the load applied to the conductor and the insulating covering can be suppressed to be small, and the position of the center of gravity can be offset between the flat portion and the low flat portion.

[0025] [7] In the above [6], the outer edge of the transition portion can have an inclination with respect to the axis direction in both the first direction and the second direction, and the inclination in the first direction can be smaller than the inclination in the second direction. Thus, in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire, the position of the center of gravity can be gradually offset between the flat portion and the low flat portion by the difference in the inclination of the outer edges of both sides of the transition portion.

[0026] [8] Alternatively, in the above [6], the outer edge of the transition portion can extend along the axis direction in the first direction, and can have an angle with respect to the axis direction in the second direction. In this case, in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire, the offset between the center of gravity of the flat portion and the center of gravity of the low flat portion can be made large. Thus, in the low flat portion, the interval between the center-of-gravity offset electric wire and the adjacent electric wire can be easily enlarged. At this time, if the outer edge in the second direction is inclined, the load applied to the conductor and the insulating covering can be suppressed to be small, and the center of gravity can be offset between the flat portion and the low flat portion. On the other hand, if the outer edge in the second direction is not substantially inclined, and the angle of the outer edge in the second direction with respect to the axis direction is set to a right angle or an angle close to a right angle, the length of the transition portion can be suppressed to be small, and a large offset of the center of gravity can be formed between the flat portion and the low flat portion. Thus, the flat portion extends to the vicinity of the low flat portion, and the flat portion can be ensured to be long, and thus in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire, the flat portion can be effectively utilized for the space saving property, the bending flexibility, and the like.

[0027] [9] In any of the aspects of [1] to [8] described above, the entire region in the width direction of the low flat portion can be within the range of the width of the flat portion in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire. In this case, the load applied to the conductor and the insulating covering that constitute the center-of-gravity offset electric wire can be particularly small, and the position of the center of gravity is offset between the flat portion and the low flat portion. In addition, the region occupied by the entire center-of-gravity offset electric wire including the low flat portion and the flat portion in the width direction can be within the region of the width of the flat portion.

[0028]

[10] Alternatively, in any of the aspects of [1] to [8] described above, at least a part of the region in the width direction of the low flat portion can be offset in the first direction beyond the range of the width of the flat portion with respect to the flat portion in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire. In this case, a large offset of the center of gravity can be formed between the flat portion and the low flat portion in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire. With this large offset of the center of gravity, the spacing between the electric wires at the portion of the low flat portion can be ensured to be large in various arrangements, and the width of the aggregate in which a plurality of electric wires are arranged can be suppressed to be small at the portion of the flat portion.

[0029] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure]

[0030] Hereinafter, the wire harness of the embodiments of the present disclosure and the position offset electric wire included in such a wire harness will be described in detail using the drawings. In the present specification, regarding the shape and arrangement of each portion of the wire harness and the electric wire, in the concept of indicating the shape and arrangement of a member such as straight, parallel, perpendicular, and the like, an error of the geometric concept within a range allowed for the wire harness and the electric wire such as an offset of approximately ±15% in length and approximately ±15° in angle is included. In the present specification, the cross section of the electric wire means a cross section cut perpendicularly to the axial direction (lengthwise direction) unless otherwise specified.

[0031] The wire harness of the embodiments of the present disclosure is provided with a plurality of electric wires. Furthermore, these plurality of electric wires include a center-of-gravity offset electric wire having a prescribed structure. Hereinafter, the structure of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire included in the wire harness will be described first, and then the structure of the wire harness will be described.

[0032] [Structure of the Center-of-Gravity Offset Electric Wire]

[0033] In Figure 1 An example of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 constituting the wire harness of one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in A using a perspective view. In addition, Figure 1 B and 1C each show a cross-sectional view cut by Figure 1 A-A line and B-B line in A. Furthermore, Figure 2 A shows a plan view of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1.

[0034] The center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 of the present embodiment is configured as an insulated electric wire having a conductor 11 and an insulating covering 13. The conductor 11 is configured as a stranded wire in which a plurality of wires (omitted from the drawing) are stranded. The insulating covering 13 covers the outer periphery of the conductor 11 over the entire circumference. The center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 has a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3 in the axial direction (x direction). The flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 are integrally continuous in the axial direction of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1. That is, between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3, the respective wires that configure the conductor 11 are integrally continuous with each other. In addition, between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3, the insulating covering 13 that covers the conductor 11 is also integrally continuous with each other.

[0035] In the flat portion 2, the cross section of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 is in a flat shape. Here, the cross section being in a flat shape means that the length of the longest straight line among straight lines that pass through the cross section in parallel to the sides or the diameter that configure the cross section and that include the entire cross section in the range, that is, the width w, is greater than the length of a straight line that is orthogonal to the straight line and that includes the entire cross section in the range, that is, the height h. The cross section of the flat portion 2 can be configured by any specific shape as long as it is in a flat shape, but in the present embodiment, the cross section of the flat portion 2 has a shape that can be approximated to a rectangular shape. As a flat shape other than a rectangular shape, for example, an elliptical shape, an oblong shape, and a small judge shape (a shape in which a circular arc is joined to both ends of a rectangular shape) can be given. From the viewpoint of improving the space saving property and improving the continuity with the low flat portion 3, and the like, the aspect ratio w / h of the flat portion 2 can be, for example, 2 or more and 6 or less or so. In the flat portion 2, not only the outer shape of the entire cross section, but also the outer shape of the conductor 11 is in a flat shape. Hereinafter, in the entire region of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 including the low flat portion 3, the directions corresponding to the width and the height of the flat shape of the flat portion 2 will be referred to as the width direction (y direction) and the height direction (z direction), respectively. Figure 2 The plan view of A is a plan view obtained by observing the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 from the height direction (+z direction), and shows the state of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 in a plane (xy plane) that includes the axial direction and the width direction.

[0036] The low flat portion 3 has a shape in which the degree of flatness is lower than that of the flat portion 2. Here, the degree of flatness being low means that the aspect ratio (w' / h') of the width w' to the height h' of the cross section of the low flat portion 3 is small, and the degree to which the cross section is flat is low. The specific shape of the low flat portion 3 is not particularly limited, and in addition to a square shape, a circular shape, a hexagonal shape, and the like that can be approximated to a shape in which anisotropy is not present or is low, a shape that can be approximated to an oblong shape, an elliptical shape, an oblong circular shape, and the like in which the aspect ratio is smaller than that of the flat portion 2 can be exemplified. The degree of flatness of the low flat portion 3 is preferably as low as possible, and particularly preferably has an aspect ratio w' / h' of 1, and is a shape that can be approximated to a circular shape or a square shape. Furthermore, most preferably, the cross section can be approximated to a circular shape. However, if the aspect ratio w' / h' of the low flat portion 3 is set to be, for example, 2 or less, the effects that are brought about by the low flat portion 3 described later can be sufficiently obtained. In addition, it is sufficient if the aspect ratio w' / h' of the low flat portion 3 is approximately 20% or more and 70% or less with respect to the aspect ratio w / h of the flat portion 2. In the low flat portion 3, not only the outer shape of the cross section as a whole but also the outer shape of the conductor 11 is a shape in which the degree of flatness is lower than that of the flat portion 2. Furthermore, in the low flat portion 3, it is preferable that the width w' not be smaller than the height h' (it is sufficient if w' / h' ≥ 1). That is, it is preferable that the low flat portion 3 not have an oblong cross-sectional shape. However, it is not problematic if the low flat portion 3 has an oblong cross-sectional shape, and in this case, it is preferable that the aspect ratio h' / w' of the low flat portion 3 be smaller than the aspect ratio w / h of the flat portion 2. Furthermore, it is sufficient if the aspect ratio h' / w' of the low flat portion 3 is 2 or less, as with the aspect ratio w' / h' in the case of the oblong shape described above. In addition, it is sufficient if the aspect ratio h' / w' of the low flat portion 3 is approximately 20% or more and 70% or less with respect to the aspect ratio w / h of the flat portion 2.

[0037] In the gravity center offset electric wire 1 of the present embodiment, the position of the gravity center 31 of the cross section of the low flat portion 3 is offset from the position of the gravity center 21 of the cross section of the flat portion 2. Specifically, one direction along the width direction (the -y direction in the illustrated example) is set as the eccentric direction (first direction) D1, and the position of the gravity center 31 of the low flat portion 3 is offset from the position of the gravity center 21 of the flat portion 2 in the eccentric direction D1. Here, the positions of the gravity centers 21, 31 of the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 refer to the positions of the gravity centers in the cross-sectional outer shape as a figure, without taking into account the mass of the constituent material. Figure 2 In the plan view of A, as a straight line that connects the gravity centers in the cross sections of the respective positions along the axis direction, the gravity centers 21, 31 are respectively indicated.

[0038] A transition portion 4 is provided between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3. In the transition portion 4, the position of the gravity center of the cross section changes between the gravity center position 21 of the flat portion 2 and the gravity center position 31 of the low flat portion 3. Therefore, in the transition portion 4, the degree of flatness of the cross section changes between the degree of flatness of the flat portion 2 and the degree of flatness of the low flat portion 3.Figure 2 In the xy plane indicated by A, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 on the width direction outer side is inclined with respect to the axis direction of the center of gravity offset electric wire 1. In the center of gravity offset electric wire 1 of the present embodiment, the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 is offset from the outer edge of the flat portion 2 both in the eccentric direction D1 and in the opposite direction (second direction) D2 of the eccentric direction D1, and the outer edge of the transition portion 4 is inclined with respect to the axis direction on both sides of the eccentric direction D1 and the opposite direction D2. The inclination of the outer edge of the transition portion 4 is such that the low flat portion 3 side (front end side) on both sides in the width direction is directed toward the width direction inner side, but the degree of inclination is different. Specifically, the inclination of the outer edge of the transition portion 4 is smaller in the eccentric direction D1 than in the opposite direction D2, and the outer edge in the eccentric direction D1 extends more toward the axis direction than the outer edge in the opposite direction D2. In other words, when the angle between the outer edge of the transition portion 4 and the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 along the axis direction is assumed, there is a difference between the angle θ1 in the eccentric direction D1 and the angle θ2 in the opposite direction D2, and the angle θ1 in the eccentric direction D1 is larger. In the illustrated embodiment, the angles θ1, θ2 are obtuse angles, and 90° < θ2 < θ1 < 180°. In this way, if the transition portion 4 is provided as a region having a length along the axis direction, and is provided as a structure in which the position of the center of gravity changes gently in the transition portion 4, excessive load is not applied to the conductor 11 and the insulating cover 13 that constitute the center of gravity offset electric wire 1, and it is possible to provide an offset between the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 and the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3.

[0039] The offset amount L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 with respect to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2, that is, the distance between the two centers of gravity 21, 31 along the width direction is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the offset amount L is smaller than the width w of the flat portion 2. Also, the offset amount L of the center of gravity 31 is suppressed to a length in which the entire region in the width direction of the low flat portion 3 is within the range of the width w of the flat portion 2, and the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 is positioned on the width direction inner side than the outer edge of the flat portion 2 on both sides of the eccentric direction D1 and the opposite direction D2. The lower limit of the offset amount L of the center of gravity 31 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of sufficiently obtaining the effect of providing an offset of the center of gravity between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 described later, the offset amount L of the center of gravity 31 can be 1% or more, and further 3% or more, with respect to the width w of the flat portion 2. On the other hand, the offset amount L of the center of gravity 31 can be 100% or less with respect to the width w of the flat portion 2, but from the viewpoint of suppressing the load on the conductor 11 and the insulating cover 13 to be smaller, it can be suppressed to 25% or less in advance.

[0040] The center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 has a flat portion 2 having a flat cross-sectional shape, thereby exhibiting high space saving in the height direction. In addition, the flat portion 2 has high flexibility in the height direction. With these high space saving and flexibility, the flat portion 2 can be appropriately used for wiring to a narrow space, wiring to a prescribed path in a state close to other components, and the like. On the other hand, the low flat portion 3 has a cross-sectional shape with low flatness, and becomes a cross-sectional shape close to a conventional general round electric wire, so as a component mounted externally to the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 such as a terminal or a connector, a component with a special shape conforming to the flat shape is not prepared, and a component for a conventional round electric wire is easily applicable. As for a tool for performing the mounting of these components, a tool for a round electric wire is also applicable. Furthermore, as described in detail in the later harness item, in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 of the present mode, the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is offset with respect to the position of the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2, so that when the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 is arranged in the width direction together with other electric wires, in the low flat portion 2, a space can be ensured between the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 and an adjacent electric wire, and the width occupied by a cluster of electric wires is suppressed to be small at the position of the flat portion 3. In the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1, the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 have the above-described characteristics and coexist, so that the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 can be appropriately applied to a use in which a space in which wiring is possible such as in a vehicle is limited and a plurality of electric wires need to be clustered.

[0041] In the axial direction of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1, the position and the number of the low flat portions 3 are not particularly limited, and the low flat portions 3 can be provided at positions required for the mounting of other components such as a connector, and the like. As a preferable mode, a mode in which the low flat portions 3 are respectively provided on at least one side or both sides of the flat portion 2 in the axial direction of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 can be cited. For example, the low flat portions 3 can be provided at the terminal portions of one or both sides of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1, and the regions other than this can be flat portions 2. That is, in the case where the low flat portions 3 are provided at both terminal portions of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1, the region sandwiched by these low flat portions 3 can be a flat portion 2. In this case, as described in detail in the harness item, when the terminal portions of a plurality of electric wires are connected to a common connector, the low flat portions 3 can be appropriately used for the connection to the connector. On the other hand, the flat portion 2 can be appropriately used for the processing of the middle region and the like when the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 is laid. As another mode, the low flat portions 3 can be provided at a middle portion in the axial direction of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1, and such a mode can be appropriately used, for example, in the case where a plurality of electric wires arranged in the width direction are bundled at the middle portion using a band, a tube, or the like.

[0042] In the case where low flat portions 3 are provided on both sides in the axial direction with respect to a certain flat portion 2, in the two low flat portions 3, the direction in which the center of gravity 31 of the intermediate flat portion 2 is offset, that is, the eccentric direction Dl can be the same direction or the opposite direction between the two low flat portions 3. In addition, in the case where flat portions 2 are provided on both sides in the axial direction with respect to a certain low flat portion 3, with respect to each of the flat portions 2 on both sides, the direction in which the center of gravity 31 of the intermediate low flat portion 3 is offset can be the same direction or the opposite direction with respect to the flat portions 2 on both sides. In addition, in the case where the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 is provided with a plurality of flat portions 2 and / or low flat portions 3, respectively, the specific shape of the cross section, the aspect ratio, the direction in which the flat shape extends, and the like can be the same or different between the plurality of flat portions 2 and between the plurality of low flat portions 3.

[0043] In the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 of the present mode, the material, the wire diameter, and the conductor cross-sectional area of the wire that constitutes the conductor 11 are not particularly limited. As the material of the conductor 11, copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and the like can be exemplified. With respect to the conductor cross-sectional area, it is preferable to be increased to some extent in advance from the viewpoint of improving the effects of space saving and improvement of bending flexibility due to the provision of the flat portion 2 and the effects due to the provision of the low flat portion 3 in which the center of gravity 31 is offset. For example, the conductor cross-sectional area is preferably 10 mm 2 Further preferably, 30 mm 2 or more and 1.0 mm or less.

[0044] <Method for manufacturing center-of-gravity offset electric wire>

[0045] The center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 having the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 integrally can be manufactured from a raw flat electric wire in which the conductor 11 is deformed into a flat shape, as with the one described in Patent Document 1. The raw flat electric wire can be manufactured by compressing a conductor 11 of a cross-sectional circular shape made by twisting a plurality of wires into a flat shape, and covering the outer periphery of the conductor 11 with an insulating cover 13. Further, in a region of the raw flat electric wire along the axial direction, specifically, a region that should be the low flat portion 3, a force is applied from the outside in the width direction to the inside by using a jig or the like, and the conductor 11 is deformed. By the application of the force, the size in the width direction of the conductor 11 is reduced, and the flatness of the conductor 11 is reduced, and the low flat portion 3 can be formed. At this time, by setting the force applied from the outside in the direction as the counter eccentric direction D2 to be larger than the force applied from the outside in the direction as the eccentric direction Dl, the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 formed can be offset in the eccentric direction Dl with respect to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2.

[0046] Alternatively, the gravity center offset electric wire 1 can also be manufactured using a raw material round electric wire in which an insulating covering 13 is formed on the outer periphery of a conductor 11 that is twisted from a plurality of wire members into a circular cross section, as described in Patent Document 2. In this case, in the raw material round electric wire, in a region along a portion of the axial direction, specifically, a region that should be provided as the flat portion 2, a force is applied from the outside toward the inside in the direction of the height direction of the flat shape, deforming the conductor 11. By this application of force, the dimension of the conductor 11 in the height direction becomes smaller, the flatness of the conductor 11 rises, and the flat portion 2 can be formed. At this time, if a mold or the like is used to apply a force in the direction of the height direction of the flat shape, and a force is also applied in the direction of the width direction, the flat portion 2 is formed with a bias toward the direction of the counter eccentric direction D2, then in the resulting gravity center offset electric wire 1, a state can be obtained in which the gravity center 31 of the low flat portion 3 is offset from the gravity center 21 of the flat portion 2 in the eccentric direction D1.

[0047] Thus, the gravity center offset electric wire 1 of the present mode can be formed from a raw material flat electric wire, or can be formed from a raw material round electric wire, but of these, it is preferable to be formed from a raw material flat electric wire. This is because, in the case of forming the low flat portion 3 at a prescribed position with respect to the raw material flat electric wire, by adjustment of the applied force or the like, the low flat portion 3 is formed with the desired direction and offset amount L, and it is easy to form the offset of the gravity center 31. Further, this is because it is possible to suppress the load applied to the conductor 11, the insulating covering 13 accompanying the change in cross-sectional shape to be small. In particular, in the case of manufacturing a gravity center offset electric wire 1 in which the low flat portion 3 is provided in only a portion of the end portion of the gravity center offset electric wire 1, or the like, in which the area occupied by the low flat portion 3 is shorter than the area occupied by the flat portion 2, it is possible to appropriately adopt the method of using a raw material flat electric wire.

[0048] <Gravity center offset electric wire of other modes>

[0049] The gravity center offset electric wire of the wire harness constituting the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the mode of the gravity center offset electric wire 1 described in detail above, as long as it has the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3, and the position of the gravity center 31 of the low flat portion 3 is offset from the position of the gravity center 21 of the flat portion 2 in the eccentric direction D1 along the width direction of the flat shape. Hereinafter, a gravity center offset electric wire of a main example of other modes will be briefly described. The description of the structures common to the above-described gravity center offset electric wire 1 will be omitted.

[0050] In the gravity center offset electric wire 1 of the above-described mode, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 has an inclination with respect to the axial direction in both the eccentric direction D1 and the counter eccentric direction D2, but as long as the outer edge of the width direction outside of the transition portion 4 has an angle with respect to the axial direction of the gravity center offset electric wire at least in the counter eccentric direction D2, the mode of the transition portion 4 is not limited to the above-described mode. For example, it is also possible to form the transition portion 4 so that the outer edge of the width direction outside of the transition portion 4 has an angle with respect to the axial direction of the gravity center offset electric wire in the eccentric direction D1. Figure 2 B andFigure 2 C, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 has an angle θ2 with respect to the axis direction on the counter eccentric direction D2, and on the other hand, substantially no angle on the eccentric direction Dl, and extends linearly along the axis direction. In this case, the outer edge on the eccentric direction Dl side of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1A, 1B becomes a state of extending along the axis direction at the same width direction position as the outer edge of the flat portion 2 in the low flat portion 4, and thus, the outer edge on the eccentric direction Dl side of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1A, 1B is disposed at a position closer to the axis than the outer edge of the flat portion 2. Therefore, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1A, 1B can be configured in a manner as shown in FIG. 6. Figure 2 A, the outer edge on the eccentric direction Dl side of the low flat portion 3 is disposed at a position closer to the width direction inner side than the outer edge of the flat portion 2, and thus, the offset amount L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 with respect to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 can be increased. As a result, the effect due to the offset of the center of gravity 31 described later can be obtained more greatly.

[0051] As the manner of extending the outer edge on the eccentric direction Dl side of the transition portion 4 along the axis direction as described above, depending on the state of the outer edge on the counter eccentric direction D2, there can be Figure 2 A, and Figure 2 B, and the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B of C. Among these, Figure 2 In the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1A of B, in the transition portion 4, the outer edge on the counter eccentric direction D2 side extends obliquely with respect to the axis direction. That is, on the counter eccentric direction D2, the angle θ2 between the outer edge of the transition portion 4 and the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 along the axis direction is an obtuse angle. In this case, the outer edge on the eccentric direction Dl side of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1A is disposed at a position closer to the axis than the outer edge of the flat portion 2, and thus, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1A can be configured in a manner as shown in FIG. 6. Figure 2 A, the position of the center of gravity gradually changes in the transition portion 4, and thus, excessive load is not applied to the conductor 11, the insulating cover 13 configuring the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1A, and the offset amount L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 with respect to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 can be ensured to be large.

[0052] On the other hand, in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B of Figure 2 C, in the transition portion 4, the outer edge on the counter eccentric direction D2 side extends at an angle close to a right angle or a right angle with respect to the axis direction. That is, on the counter eccentric direction D2, the angle θ2 between the outer edge of the transition portion 4 and the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 along the axis direction is an angle of 90° or close to 90° (approximately 90° ± 10°). In this case, the length of the area occupied by the transition portion 4 along the axis direction of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B becomes a short length of zero or close to zero, and the low flat portion 3 and the flat portion 2 can be disposed close to each other. As a result, in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B of a prescribed length, the flat portion 2 can be formed to be long, and the characteristics of the flat portion 2 such as the height direction space saving property, the flexibility, and the like can be effectively utilized for the wiring of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B.

[0053] In the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1A of B described above, Figure 2In the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1, 1A, 1B of A, 2B, 2C, the entire region in the width direction of the low flat portion 3 is within the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. That is, the outer edges of the low flat portion 3 on both sides in the width direction are not disposed at positions further outward than the outer edges of the flat portion 2, and the entire region in the width direction of the transition portion 4 is also within the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. By being thus configured, the load applied to the conductor 11, the insulating covering 13 can be suppressed to be small, and the position of the center of gravity 21, 31 is offset between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3. In addition, the size in the width direction of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire as a whole can be suppressed to be small. On the other hand, it is also possible to configure, for example, as in Figure 2 As in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1C shown in D, at least a part of the region in the width direction of the low flat portion 3 is offset in the eccentric direction D1 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. In the illustrated manner, a part of the region of the low flat portion 3 on the eccentric direction D1 side in the width direction is offset in the eccentric direction D1 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2, and on both sides of the eccentric direction D1 and the counter eccentric direction D2, the outer edges in the width direction of the low flat portion 3 are offset in the eccentric direction D1 side more than the outer edges of the flat portion 2. The outer edges of the transition portion 4 are inclined in the width direction on both sides to the low flat portion 3 side (the front end side) in the direction of the eccentric direction D1, and a part of the region in the width direction of the transition portion 4 is also offset in the eccentric direction D1 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. In this case, as in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1C, the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is offset from the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2, and the load applied to the conductor 11, the insulating covering 13 can be suppressed to be small. In addition, the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is offset in the eccentric direction D1 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2, and the size in the width direction of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire as a whole can be suppressed to be small. On the other hand, it is also possible to configure, for example, as in Figure 4 As in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1 of A, the inclination of the outer edges of the transition portion 4 is smaller in the eccentric direction D1 than in the counter eccentric direction D2.

[0054] In the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1C, the amount of offset L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 from the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 is large, and thus can be used to configure, for example, the wire harness shown later Figure 2 As in the manner shown in B and the like, the wire harness can utilize the effects brought about by the offset of the center of gravity 31. In Figure 5 In the manner shown in D, the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is within the range of the width w of the flat portion 2, but it is also possible to configure so as to further increase the amount of offset L and offset the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 in the eccentric direction D1 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. Furthermore, it is also possible to configure so that the outer edges on both sides of the eccentric direction D1 and the counter eccentric direction D2 of the low flat portion 3 are offset in the eccentric direction D1 more than the outer edges on the eccentric direction D1 side of the flat portion 2.

[0055] <Structure of wire harness>

[0056] Next, a wire harness of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The wire harness of the embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a plurality of electric wires described above, including a center-of-gravity offset electric wire (for example, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1, 1A, 1B, 1C) having a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3 with a center of gravity 31 offset with respect to the flat portion 2. Also, in the wire harness, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire is arranged adjacent to other electric wires in the counter eccentric direction D2.

[0057] Here, the other electric wires can be center-of-gravity offset electric wires having a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3 with a center of gravity 31 offset with respect to the flat portion 2, or can be other kinds of electric wires. However, the wire harness preferably includes at least two center-of-gravity offset electric wires. In this case, the plurality of center-of-gravity offset electric wires included in the wire harness can be center-of-gravity offset electric wires of the same manner as each other, or can be mixed with center-of-gravity offset electric wires of a plurality of manners such as in the center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1, 1A to 1C. In addition, the kind of the other kinds of electric wires coexisting with the center-of-gravity offset electric wires is not particularly limited, and arbitrary electric wires such as flat electric wires, round electric wires, and the like can be used, and a plurality of kinds of electric wires such as Figure 3 A shown is an insulating electric wire (non-offset electric wire) 9 having a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3 but without offset between the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 and the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2.

[0058] In Figure 5 In A, a wire harness 5 of an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in a simplified plan view to represent the connection portions between a plurality of electric wires and a connector 51. The wire harness 5 includes two center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B having low flat portions 3 at the tip end portions. The two center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B are arranged in the width direction in such a manner that the outer edges of the respective counter eccentric directions D2 are opposite to each other. Also, although arbitrary, the two center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B are connected at the low flat portions 3 to the common connector 51, constituting a wire harness 5 provided with a multipolar connector. In the actual wire harness 5, a terminal is connected to the front end of each center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B, and the front end portion of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B to which the terminal is connected is housed in a connector housing, but in the drawing, the terminal is omitted and the position at which the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B is housed in the connector housing is shown as a pole position 52. Furthermore, in each center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B, although arbitrary, a waterproof plug (rubber plug) 6 is fitted and installed to the outer periphery of the low flat portion 3 in the vicinity of the connection site to the connector 51.

[0059] Here, as Figure 3As shown in Figure B, consider the case where only non-offset wires 9, which are not offset between the center of gravity 31 of the low flat section 3 and the center of gravity 21 of the flat section 2, are used as wires to form a wire harness 95. In this case, in the aggregate formed by two non-offset wires 9 arranged in the width direction, the distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat section 3 and the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat section 2 are equal. Considering the necessity of installing large waterproof plugs 6 and terminals in the low flat section 3, if it is necessary to make the pole spacing p between adjacent pole positions 52, that is, the distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat section 3 of adjacent non-offset wires 9, larger than the width w of the flat section 2, then the flat sections 2 are also arranged with a distance between their centers of gravity 21 that is larger than their own width w. That is, it is not possible to arrange the flat sections 2 of adjacent non-offset wires 9 in a state where the outer edges of their anti-eccentric direction D2 are in contact with each other, and gaps g are generated between these flat sections 2. Therefore, in the cluster of two unbiased wires 9, the width A' occupied by the flat portion 2 increases according to the pole spacing p that should be provided in the low flat portion 3. When the width of the area occupied by the wire assembly in the flat portion 2 increases, it becomes difficult to save space in the width direction of the wire bundle 95. In addition, components such as shielding parts such as metal braids, corrugated tubes, and stranded tubes, which are arranged on the outer periphery of the wire assembly, need to use large-diameter components, which increases the cost of these components.

[0060] In contrast, Figure 5 In the wiring harness 5 of the embodiment of this disclosure shown in Figure A, by using a center-center offset wire 1B whose position is offset from the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 relative to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2, the distance between adjacent center-center offset wires 1B can be ensured to be large, while the distance between the flat portions 2 can be suppressed to be small. In the wiring harness 5 of this embodiment, multiple center-center offset wires 1B are arranged such that adjacent low flat portions 3 are opposite to each other in their respective anti-eccentric directions D2. Therefore, the distance (p-pitch) between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 is larger than the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 in adjacent center-center offset wires 1B. That is, even if the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 is reduced, a larger distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 can be ensured than the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2. Therefore, in relation to, as Figure 3In the case of comparing the use of the non-offset electric wire 9 as in the wire harness 95 of B, even if the widths w, w' of the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 are each the same as the width of the non-offset electric wire 9, as the distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3, that is, the pole pitch in the connector 51, it is possible to secure the same prescribed distance p, and to suppress the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 to be small, and to suppress the width A occupied by the cluster of the two centers of gravity offset electric wires IB at the portion of the flat portion 2 to be small (A < A'). The distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 is the smallest in the case where the outer edges of the adjacent centers of gravity offset electric wires IB on the counter-offset direction D2 side of the flat portion 2 are in contact with each other, that is, in the case where substantially no gap g is provided, and is equal to the width w of the flat portion 2.

[0061] Thus, by using the center of gravity offset electric wire IB, as compared with the case of using the non-offset electric wire 9, it is possible to secure the distance between the low flat portions 3 of the plurality of electric wires to be large, and to suppress the distance between the electric wires at the portion of the flat portion 2 to be small, and to suppress the width A occupied by the cluster of the electric wires to be small. Since a large component is required to be installed as a component such as the waterproof plug 6, a terminal, or the like, even in the case where the common connector 51 in which the pole pitch p is larger than the width w of the flat portion 2 connects the plurality of center of gravity offset electric wires IB, by making the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 smaller than the pole pitch p, it is possible to keep the width A occupied by the cluster of these plurality of center of gravity offset electric wires IB at the portion of the flat portion 2 small. Thereby, it is possible to improve the space saving in the width direction of the wire harness 5, and as components such as various shields, exterior members, and the like that are arranged at the outer periphery of the cluster of the center of gravity offset electric wires IB, it is not necessary to use a component having a diameter that is excessively large, and it is possible to suppress the cost required for these components to be low. Note that in the illustrated mode, from the viewpoint of securing the required pole pitch p in the low flat portion 3 and suppressing the width A occupied by the cluster of the flat portion 2 to be as small as possible, and the like, the wire harness 5 is constituted using the center of gravity offset electric wire IB in which the outer edge of the transition portion 4 extends in the axis direction in the offset direction Dl and is at right angles to the axis direction in the counter-offset direction D2, but it is also possible to use the center of gravity offset electric wire of other modes as the center of gravity offset electric wires 1, IA, IC and the like described above.

[0062] In the above-described manner, the wire harness 5 includes only two center-of-gravity offset electric wires as electric wires, and the two center-of-gravity offset electric wires are arranged so that the outer edges of the counter eccentric directions D2 face each other directly, but in a wire harness including any number of electric wires of three or more, the center-of-gravity offset electric wires can be used to sufficiently ensure the spacing between the electric wires at the portion of the low flat portion 3 and to suppress the width occupied by the electric wires at the portion of the flat portion 2 to be small. In the case of including three or more electric wires, the outer edges of the counter eccentric directions D2 of the two center-of-gravity offset electric wires can be made to face each other with the other electric wires therebetween. In this case, as the other electric wires sandwiched therebetween, the center-of-gravity offset electric wires, non-offset electric wires 9, or other types of electric wires can be used.

[0063] Figure 4 B shows an example of a wire harness 5A including three electric wires. Here, of the three electric wires arranged in the width direction, center-of-gravity offset electric wires IB are arranged at both ends, and a non-offset electric wire 9 is arranged between these center-of-gravity offset electric wires IB. The two center-of-gravity offset electric wires IB have the outer edges of the counter eccentric directions D2 directed toward the inner side of the arrangement direction. In this manner, compared to a case in which three non-offset electric wires 9 are arranged with the same center-to-center distance as the distance (interpole spacing p) between the center-of-gravity offset electric wires IB at both ends and the non-offset electric wire 9 at the center of the low flat portion 3, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the adjacent flat portions 2 is suppressed to be small. Correspondingly, the width Al occupied by the cluster of the three electric wires at the portion of the flat portion 2 can be suppressed to be small. As the center-of-gravity offset electric wires arranged at both ends in the width direction, if insulated electric wires IC (hereinafter referred to as large offset electric wires IC) that offset in the eccentric direction Dl using at least a part of the range of the width of the low flat portion 3 that exceeds the width w of the flat portion 2 are used, the same interpole spacing p can be ensured in the low flat portion 3, and the width Al occupied by the cluster of the three electric wires at the portion of the flat portion 2 can be suppressed to be even smaller.

[0064] The number of non-offset electric wires 9 arranged between the center-of-gravity offset electric wires IB at both ends can be further increased. In this case, at least between the center-of-gravity offset electric wires IB at both ends and the non-offset electric wires 9 adjacent thereto, the distance (interpole spacing p) between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 can be sufficiently ensured, and the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 can be suppressed to be small. Depending on the amount of shortening of the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2, an effect of suppressing the width occupied by the cluster of all the electric wires at the portion of the flat portion 2 to be small can be obtained. As an example, in the case of the wire harness 5A shown in FIG. 6, if the number of non-offset electric wires 9 arranged between the center-of-gravity offset electric wires IB at both ends is increased to three, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 can be suppressed to be small, and the width Al occupied by the cluster of the three electric wires at the portion of the flat portion 2 can be suppressed to be small. Figure 4The wire harness 5B shown in A includes four electric wires. In this case, among the four electric wires arranged in the width direction, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B is arranged at both ends, and two non-offset electric wires 9 are arranged between these center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B. The distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 (the inter-pole distance) is ensured to be greater than the width w of the flat portion 2 at all three places. In this case, compared to the case where four non-offset electric wires 9 are arranged with the same inter-pole distance p, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 is not changed between the two non-offset electric wires 9 in the center, but the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 can be reduced between each of the center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B at both ends and the adjacent non-offset electric wire 9. Also, as a whole of the aggregation of the four electric wires, the width A2 occupied by the flat portion 2 at the portion thereof can be suppressed to be smaller.

[0065] In the case where four or more electric wires are arranged, if a large offset electric wire 1C is used, the required inter-pole distance is ensured in the low flat portion 3, and the width occupied by the aggregation of the electric wires at the portion of the flat portion 2 is suppressed to be smaller, and a higher effect can be obtained. In this case, it is sufficient to arrange the large offset electric wire 1C at least at both ends in the width direction in the electric wire group. In the case where the number of electric wires is more than four, in addition to the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B arranged in the center, a plurality of large offset electric wires 1C having different offset amounts L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 are prepared, and it is sufficient that the larger the offset amount L of the large offset electric wire 1C, the more the large offset electric wire 1C is arranged on the outer side in the arrangement direction. Figure 4 The wire harness 5C shown in B includes four electric wires, among which, as the two on the outer sides in the width direction, the large offset electric wires 1C are arranged, and, as the two in the middle, the center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B whose entire region in the width direction is within the width w of the flat portion 2 are arranged. Either of the center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B, 1C has the outer edge on the opposite center-of-gravity direction D2 side arranged toward the inner side in the arrangement direction of the electric wire group. The distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 is greater than the width w of the flat portion 2 (the inter-pole distance p) at all three places. In this case, compared to the case where four non-offset electric wires 9 are arranged with the same inter-pole distance p, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 can be suppressed to be smaller between the large offset electric wires 1C arranged on the outer sides in the width direction and the center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B arranged on the inner sides thereof and between the two center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B on the inner sides. Also, as a whole of the aggregation of the four electric wires, the width A3 occupied by the flat portion 2 at the portion thereof can be suppressed to be smaller than the width A2 in the case where the non-offset electric wires 9 are used as the electric wires arranged on the inner sides in the width direction and the center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B are arranged on both sides of these non-offset electric wires 9 as in A. ​ The width A2 in the case where the non-offset electric wires 9 are used as the electric wires arranged on the inner sides in the width direction and the center-of-gravity offset electric wires 1B are arranged on both sides of these non-offset electric wires 9 as in A is smaller than the width A3. In the case where the number of electric wires is more than four, in addition to the center-of-gravity offset electric wire 1B arranged in the center, a plurality of large offset electric wires 1C having different offset amounts L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 are prepared, and it is sufficient that the larger the offset amount L of the large offset electric wire 1C, the more the large offset electric wire 1C is arranged on the outer side in the arrangement direction.

[0066] In the wire harnesses 5, 5A to 5C of each of the above-described modes, as the center-of-gravity offset electric wire and the non-offset electric wire, an electric wire having a low flat portion 3 at a terminal end portion to which a connector 51 is connected is used, and a plurality of electric wires are in a state of being gathered by the connector 51 at the low flat portion 3. However, in the wire harnesses of the present disclosure, it is not limited to such a mode, and as long as an electric wire group composed of a plurality of electric wires including a center-of-gravity offset electric wire is provided, and in the electric wire group, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire is adjacent to other electric wires in the opposite eccentric direction D2, by using a case where the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 in the center-of-gravity offset electric wire is offset in the eccentric direction D1, it is possible to ensure a larger interval between the low flat portion 3 and the adjacent electric wire, and to suppress a smaller interval between the flat portion 2 and the adjacent electric wire, and thus it is also possible to suppress a smaller width of the electric wire group at the flat portion 2. As a mode of gathering the electric wire group including the center-of-gravity offset electric wire, in addition to the connection to the common connector 51, for example, a mode of bundling the electric wire group together using a tape, a tube, or the like at a position corresponding to the low flat portion 3 of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire can be cited. In this case, the low flat portion 3 can be provided at the terminal end portion of the center-of-gravity offset electric wire, or can be provided at an intermediate portion.

[0067] The above, the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, but the present application is not limited to any of the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made within the scope of the present application without departing from the spirit of the present application.

[0068] Above, as an object of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a wire harness is cited. Furthermore, the center-of-gravity offset electric wire of the above-described detailed description can be appropriately used as an insulated electric wire that can constitute such a wire harness. That is, when an insulated electric wire having a flat portion with a cross section in a flat shape is arranged together with other electric wires in a width direction of the flat shape to constitute a wire harness, it is a problem to provide an insulated electric wire that can ensure an interval between the low flat portion and the adjacent electric wire and suppress a smaller width of the electric wire group at the flat portion. It is possible to provide an insulated electric wire having the following structure.

[0069] [1'] An insulated electric wire having: a conductor formed by twisting a plurality of wires; and an insulating cover covering an outer circumference of the conductor, wherein the insulated electric wire has a flat portion and a low flat portion in a direction of an axis in a manner that each of the wires constituting the conductor and the insulating cover are continuous with each other, a cross section of the insulated electric wire orthogonal to the direction of the axis of the insulated electric wire uses a flat shape that is long in a width direction at the flat portion, and uses a shape that is lower in flatness than the flat portion at the low flat portion, a position of a center of gravity of the cross section of the low flat portion is offset in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape with respect to a position of a center of gravity of the cross section of the flat portion.

[0070] [2'] The insulated electric wire according to [1'], wherein, the low flat portion is provided at the end portion.

[0071] [3'] The insulated electric wire according to [1'] or [2'], wherein, the insulated electric wire has a transition portion between the flat portion and the low flat portion, an outer edge of the transition portion on the width direction outer side has an angle with respect to the axis direction at least in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0072] [4'] The insulated electric wire according to [3'], wherein, the outer edge of the transition portion is inclined with respect to the axis direction at least in the second direction.

[0073] [5'] The insulated electric wire according to [4'], wherein, the outer edge of the transition portion has an inclination with respect to the axis direction in both the first direction and the second direction, the inclination in the first direction is smaller than the inclination in the second direction.

[0074] [6'] The insulated electric wire according to [3'], wherein, the outer edge of the transition portion extends along the axis direction in the first direction, and the outer edge of the transition portion has an angle with respect to the axis direction in the second direction.

[0075] [7'] The insulated electric wire according to any one of [1'] to [6'], wherein, an entire region in the width direction of the low flat portion is within a range of the width of the flat portion.

[0076] [8'] The insulated electric wire according to any one of [1'] to [5'], wherein, at least a part of the region in the width direction of the low flat portion is offset to the first direction with respect to the flat portion beyond a range of the width of the flat portion.

[0077] Explanation of Reference Signs 1, 1A, 1B, 1C Center of gravity offset electric wire 11 Conductor 13 Insulating covering 2 Flat portion 21 Center of gravity of flat portion 3 Low flat portion 31 Center of gravity of low flat portion 4 transition 5, 5A, 5B, 5C cord 51 connector 52 pole position 6 waterproof plug 9 offset-free electric wire 95 cord g gap h height of flat portion h' height of low flat portion p pole interval w width of flat portion w' width of low flat portion x axis direction of center of gravity of offset-free electric wire y width direction z height direction A, A', A1 to A3 width of cord aggregate of electric wire at flat portion D1 eccentric direction (first direction) D2 counter eccentric direction (second direction) L offset amount of center of gravity of low flat portion with respect to center of gravity of flat portion θ1 angle of outer edge of transition in eccentric direction θ2 angle of outer edge of transition in counter eccentric direction

Claims

1. A wire harness comprising multiple wires, including a center-of-gravity offset wire. The center-of-gravity offset wire is constructed as an insulated wire. The center-of-gravity offset wire has: A conductor is formed by twisting together multiple wires; and Insulating coating, which covers the outer periphery of the conductor. The center-of-gravity offset wire has a flat portion and a low-flat portion along the axial direction such that the individual wires constituting the conductor and the insulation sheath are continuous with each other. The cross-section of the centroid-offset wire, orthogonal to the axial direction, uses a long, flat shape in the width direction in the flat portion, and a shape with a lower flatness than the flat portion in the lower flat portion. The position of the centroid of the cross section of the low flat portion is offset relative to the position of the centroid of the cross section of the flat portion in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape. The center-of-gravity offset wire is adjacent to other wires in a second direction, which is the opposite direction to the first direction.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein, The center-of-gravity offset wire contacts the other wires adjacent in the second direction at the flat portion.

3. The wire harness according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The center-of-gravity offset wire has a low-flat portion at its end, which is connected to a connector shared with the other wires.

4. The wire harness according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The wiring harness includes at least two of the aforementioned center-of-gravity offset wires. The two centroid-offset wires are arranged in the width direction of the flat shape such that their respective outer edges in the second direction are directly opposite each other or opposite each other with other wires sandwiched in between.

5. The wire harness according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The center-of-gravity offset wire has a transition section between the flat portion and the low-flat portion. The outer edge of the transition portion in the width direction has an angle relative to the axial direction at least in the second direction.

6. The wire harness according to claim 5, wherein, The outer edge of the transition portion is inclined relative to the axis direction at least in the second direction.

7. The wire harness according to claim 6, wherein, The outer edge of the transition portion is inclined relative to the axial direction in both the first and second directions. The tilt in the first direction is smaller than the tilt in the second direction.

8. The wire harness according to claim 6, wherein, The outer edge of the transition portion extends along the axial direction in the first direction and has an angle relative to the axial direction in the second direction.

9. The wire harness according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, In the center-of-gravity offset wire, the entire area in the width direction of the low flat portion is within the width range of the flat portion.

10. The wire harness according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, In the center-of-gravity offset wire, at least a portion of the low flat portion in the width direction is offset in the first direction relative to the flat portion, which extends beyond the width of the flat portion.

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