Wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness capable of reducing a width occupied by an aggregate of wires at a place of a flat part while securing a clearance between adjacent wires in a low flat part using a plurality of wires including an insulated wire having a flat part, and a low flat part.SOLUTION: Wire harnesses 5, 5A each includes a plurality of wires including a centroid-shifted wire 1B, where the centroid-shifted wire 1B has a flat part, and a low flat part along an axial direction, a section orthogonal to an axial direction of the flat part has a flat shape long in a width direction, and a section orthogonal to an axial direction of the low flat part has a shape having a lower flat degree than that of the flat part, a position of a centroid 31 of the section of the low flat part is shifted in a first direction along a width direction of the flat shape to a position of a centroid 21 of the section of the flat part, and the centroid-shifted wire 1B is adjacent to other wires in a second direction of an adverse direction to the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] A configuration has been proposed in which a flat portion and a low flat portion are provided along the axial direction of an insulated electric wire. The outer shape of the conductor in a cross section is flat in the flat portion, and is less flat than the flat portion, typically approximately circular, in the low flat portion. Insulated electric wires having this type of flat portion and low flat portion are disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. In Patent Document 1, the low flat portion is formed by deforming a raw flat electric wire having a flat shape as a whole, whereas in Patent Document 2, the flat portion is formed by crushing an electric wire having a circular cross section or the like. Due to the difference in manufacturing method, there are differences in 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. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-156581 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-77499 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Insulated electric wires having a flat portion and a low flat portion as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be used for suitable applications by utilizing the shapes and characteristics of the flat portion and the low flat portion. For example, the flat portion has high space saving properties in the height direction of the flat shape and high bending flexibility, so that it can be suitably used to arrange the insulated electric wire in a predetermined path while bending it. On the other hand, the low flat portion can be suitably used to attach other members to the insulated electric wire by utilizing its cross-sectional shape with low flatness, such as a circular shape. For example, the low flat portion may be provided on the insulated electric wire at a location where other members are attached, such as a terminal portion when a connector is attached to the insulated electric wire. In this way, it is possible to directly apply general-purpose members used for conventional insulated electric wires with low flatness, including round electric wires with a substantially circular cross section, as members to be attached to the insulated electric wire, without preparing special members designed to be attached to an insulated electric wire with a cross-sectional flat shape, such as terminals, connectors, and bundling members. As for the tools used to attach these components, it is not necessary to use tools specialized for processing insulated electric wires with a flat cross-sectional shape; instead, tools that have traditionally been used for processing insulated electric wires with a low degree of flatness, such as round electric wires, can be used.

[0005] However, when a plurality of insulated electric wires having flat portions and low flat portions are arranged in a line in the width direction, such as when a wire harness is constructed by connecting a plurality of insulated electric wires to a common connector, the area occupied by the flat portions may be wider than the area occupied by the assembly of the low flat portions due to the difference in width between the low flat portions and the flat portions. As shown in FIG. 5A, in an insulated electric wire 9 as 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. When arranging a plurality of insulated electric wires 9 in the width direction, as shown in FIG. 5B, it may be necessary to arrange the insulated electric wires 9 with a gap p larger than the width w of the flat portion 2 between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 of adjacent insulated electric wires 21. In such a case, the flat portions 2 of adjacent insulated electric wires 9 cannot be arranged in contact with each other, and a gap g is generated between the adjacent flat portions 2. As a result, the width A' that the assembly of multiple insulated wires 9 occupies at the flat portion 2 becomes larger than when adjacent insulated wires 9 are arranged in contact with each other at the flat portion 2. The need to provide a relatively large gap between the centers of gravity 31 of adjacent low flat portions 3, such as gap p that is larger than the width w of the flat portion 2, may arise, for example, when using a large waterproof plug 6 that is fitted around the outer periphery of the insulated wire 9 or a large terminal that is connected to the end of the insulated wire 9.

[0006] In this way, by providing a predetermined interval p between the low flat portions 3, if the width A' occupied by the assembly of the multiple insulated wires 9 at the location of the flat portion 2 becomes large, the wire harness will occupy a large space in the width direction, making it difficult to reduce the space of the wire harness in the width direction. Also, when providing members such as a shielding material such as a metal braid or a protective exterior material such as a corrugated tube or a twisted tube around the outer periphery of the wire harness, it becomes necessary to use members with a large diameter, which may lead to an increase in material costs.

[0007] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness that uses a plurality of electric wires including insulated electric wires having flat portions and low flat portions, and that can reduce the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires at the flat portions while ensuring spacing between adjacent electric wires at the low flat portions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The wire harness of the present disclosure includes a plurality of electric wires including a center-of-gravity-offset electric wire, the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire having a conductor in which a plurality of strands are twisted together and an insulating coating covering the outer circumference of the conductor, the strands constituting the conductor and the insulating coating being continuous with each other, the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire having a flat portion and a low flat portion along an axial direction, the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction having a flat shape that is elongated in the width direction in the flat portion and a shape with a lower flatness in the low flat portion than the flat portion, the position of the center of gravity of the cross section in the low flat portion being shifted in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape with respect to the position of the center of gravity of the cross section in the flat portion, and the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire is adjacent to other electric wires in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The wire harness of the present disclosure uses a plurality of electric wires including insulated electric wires having a flat portion and a low flat portion, and is a wire harness that can reduce the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires at the flat portion while ensuring spacing between adjacent electric wires in the low flat portion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams showing an example of a center-of-gravity-offset electric wire constituting a wire harness according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1A is a perspective view. Fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing a flat portion corresponding to cross section AA in Fig. 1A, and Fig. 1C is a cross-sectional view showing a low flat portion corresponding to cross section BB in Fig. 1A. In each drawing, the wires constituting the conductor are omitted. [Diagram 2]Fig. 2A is a plan view showing the electric wire with a shifted center of gravity of Fig. 1. Figs. 2B to 2D are plan views showing electric wires with a shifted center of gravity of other embodiments. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B are plan views each showing a schematic diagram of a joint between an electric wire and a connector in a wire harness according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively showing an example in which the wire harness includes two electric wires and an example in which the wire harness includes three electric wires. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are plan views each showing a schematic diagram of a joint between an electric wire and a connector in a wire harness according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which four electric wires are included in the wire harness, but the types of electric wires used are different. [Diagram 5] Fig. 5A is a plan view showing an insulated electric wire having no deviation in center of gravity, and Fig. 5B shows a wire harness using only the insulated electric wire having no deviation in center of gravity of Fig. 5A.

[0011] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The wire harness of the present disclosure has the following configuration.

[0012] [1] A wire harness according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of electric wires including a center-of-gravity-offset electric wire, the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire having a conductor in which a plurality of strands are twisted together and an insulating coating covering an outer periphery of the conductor, the strands constituting the conductor and the insulating coating being continuous with each other, the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire having a flat portion and a low flat portion along an axial direction, the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction having a flat shape that is elongated in a width direction in the flat portion and a shape with a lower flatness in the low flat portion than the flat portion, the position of the center of gravity of the cross section in the low flat portion being shifted in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape with respect to the position of the center of gravity of the cross section in the flat portion, and the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire is adjacent to other electric wires in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

[0013] The wire harness includes a center-of-gravity-offset electric wire, and the center of gravity of the low flat portion is offset from the center of gravity of the flat portion in a first direction along the width direction of the flat shape of the flat portion with respect to the center of gravity of the low flat portion. When the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire is arranged with other electric wires along the width direction of the flat shape to form a wire harness, the low flat portion can be arranged away from the other adjacent electric wires by utilizing the offset of the center of gravity. Therefore, the distance between the centers of gravity of the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire and the adjacent electric wires is larger in the low flat portion than in the flat portion. In the location of the flat portion, the width of the area occupied by the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire and the adjacent electric wires as an assembly is reduced in response to the smaller distance between the centers of gravity. 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, it is possible to reduce the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires at the flat portion while ensuring a large gap between the adjacent electric wires in the low flat portion. Here, the other electric wires may be center-of-gravity-offset electric wires or other types of electric wires, but particularly when multiple center-of-gravity-offset electric wires are arranged side by side, it is possible to ensure that the distance between the centers of gravity of the low flat portions in the multiple center-of-gravity-offset electric wires is larger than the width of the flat portions.

[0014] In the offset-center-of-gravity electric wire, by keeping the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires small at the flat portion while keeping the distance between the low flat portion and the adjacent other electric wires large, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the electric wire distance required at the low flat portion based on the need to use large waterproof plugs, terminals, and other members to be attached to the low flat portion while avoiding an excessive increase in width of the wire harness at the flat portion. In addition, by keeping the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires small at the flat portion, it is possible to prevent members to be placed around the periphery of the flat portion, such as shielding materials and exterior materials, from becoming large.

[0015] [2] In the above-mentioned aspect [1], the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire may be in contact with the adjacent other electric wire in the second direction at the flat portion. In this case, the distance between the flat portion of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire and the adjacent other electric wire is minimized, and the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires at the flat portion can be particularly small.

[0016] [3] In the above-mentioned aspect [1] or [2], the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire may have the low flat portion at the terminal portion, and the low flat portion may be connected to a common connector with the other electric wires. In this case, by utilizing the offset of the center of gravity of the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire, it is possible to ensure a sufficiently large gap between the electric wires at the terminal portion while keeping the width of the assembly of electric wires small at a portion other than the terminal portion of the wire harness. By ensuring a large gap between the electric wires at the terminal portion, it is possible to use large waterproof rubbers, terminals, and other members to be attached to the terminal portion of each electric wire, or to attach a common connector with a large pole gap to the terminal of the group of electric wires. When connecting members such as waterproof plugs, terminals, and connectors to the low flat portion of the terminal portion, it is possible to utilize those members and installation tools that are conventionally used for general round electric wires, by utilizing the low flat portion having a cross-sectional shape with low flatness.

[0017] [4] In any one of the above aspects [1] to [3], the wire harness may include at least two of the center-of-gravity-offset electric wires, and the two center-of-gravity-offset electric wires may be arranged in the width direction of the flat shape with their outer edges in the second direction directly facing each other or facing each other with another electric wire sandwiched therebetween. In this case, the low flat portions of the two center-of-gravity-offset electric wires are arranged apart from each other due to the offset of the center of gravity, so that it is highly effective in keeping the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires at the flat portions small while ensuring a large gap between the low flat portions. This effect is particularly high when the electric wires constituting the wire harness are only two center-of-gravity-offset electric wires, but the effect can also be enjoyed when another type of electric wire, such as an electric wire having a flat portion and a low flat portion without offsetting the center of gravity, is interposed between the two center-of-gravity-offset electric wires.

[0018] [5] In any one of the above aspects [1] to [4], the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire may have a transition portion between the flat portion and the low flat portion, and the outer edge of the transition portion on the outer side in the width direction may have an angle with respect to the axial direction at least in the second direction. In this case, the offset of the center of gravity between the flat portion and the low flat portion can be easily achieved by utilizing the angle that the outer edge of the transition portion makes with respect to the axial direction. In addition, by selecting the angle that the outer edge makes with respect to the axial 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-shifted electric wire can be set in various ways, including the aspects [6] to [8] below.

[0019] [6] In the above aspect [5], the outer edge of the transition portion may be inclined with respect to the axial direction at least in the second direction. In this case, in the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire, the inclination is utilized to gradually shift the position of the center of gravity between the flat portion and the low flat portion, thereby forming a shift in the position of the center of gravity between the flat portion and the low flat portion while keeping the load applied to the conductor and the insulating coating small.

[0020] [7] In the above aspect [6], the outer edge of the transition portion may have an inclination with respect to the axial direction in both the first direction and the second direction, and the inclination may be smaller in the first direction than in the second direction. In this way, in the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire, the difference in inclination of the outer edges on both sides of the transition portion can be utilized to easily form a shift in the position of the center of gravity between the flat portion and the low flat portion.

[0021] [8] In the embodiment of [6] above, the outer edge of the transition portion may extend along the axial direction in the first direction and have an angle with respect to the axial direction in the second direction. In this case, in the center-of-gravity-shifted 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 formed large. This makes it easier to widen the gap between the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire and the adjacent electric wire in the low flat portion. In this case, if the outer edge in the second direction is inclined, the offset of the center of gravity can be formed between the flat portion and the low flat portion while keeping the load applied to the conductor and the insulating coating small. On the other hand, if the outer edge in the second direction is not substantially inclined and the angle that the outer edge in the second direction makes with respect to the axial direction is a right angle or an angle close to it, a large offset of the center of gravity can be formed between the flat portion and the low flat portion while keeping the length of the transition portion small. As a result, the flat portion extends right up to the vicinity of the low flat portion, and by ensuring a long flat portion, the properties of the flat portion, such as space saving and bending flexibility, can be effectively utilized in a wire with an offset center of gravity.

[0022] [9] In any one of the above aspects [1] to [8], in the above-mentioned center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire, the low flat portion may have an entire widthwise area within the width range of the flat portion. In this case, a shift in the position of the center of gravity can be formed between the flat portion and the low flat portion while keeping the load applied to the conductor and insulating coating constituting the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire particularly small. In addition, the area occupied in the widthwise direction by the entire center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire including the low flat portion and the flat portion can be contained in a narrow area within the width range of the flat portion.

[0023]

[10] Alternatively, in any one of the above aspects [1] to [8], in the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire, at least a part of the width direction of the low flat portion may be shifted in the first direction with respect to the flat portion beyond the range of the width of the flat portion. In this case, a large center-of-gravity shift can be formed between the flat portion and the low flat portion in the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire. By utilizing this large center-of-gravity shift, in various arrangements, the width of an assembly in which multiple electric wires are arranged can be kept small at the flat portion while ensuring a large gap between the electric wires at the low flat portion.

[0024] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] The wire harness according to the embodiment of the present disclosure and the misaligned electric wire included in the wire harness will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the concepts of straight line, parallel, vertical, etc., which indicate the shape and arrangement of each part of the wire harness and electric wire, include errors from the geometric concepts within the range allowed for this type of wire harness and electric wire, such as deviations of about ±15% in length and about ±15° in angle. In this specification, the cross section of the electric wire refers to a cross section cut perpendicular to the axial direction (longitudinal direction), unless otherwise specified.

[0025] A wire harness according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of electric wires. The plurality of electric wires includes a center-of-gravity-offset electric wire having a predetermined configuration. In the following, the configuration of the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire included in the wire harness will be described first, and then the configuration of the wire harness will be described.

[0026] <Configuration of a cable with an offset center of gravity> Fig. 1A shows a perspective view of an example of a gravity-offset electric wire 1 constituting a wire harness according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1B and Fig. 1C show cross-sectional views taken along lines AA and BB in Fig. 1A, respectively. Fig. 2A shows a plan view of the gravity-offset electric wire 1.

[0027] The center-offset electric wire 1 according to this embodiment is configured as an insulated electric wire having a conductor 11 and an insulating coating 13. The conductor 11 is configured as a twisted wire in which a plurality of strands (not shown) are twisted together. The insulating coating 13 covers the entire outer circumference of the conductor 11. The center-offset electric wire 1 has a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3 along the axial direction (x direction). The flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 are integrally continuous along the axial direction of the center-offset electric wire 1. That is, the strands constituting the conductor 11 are integrally continuous with each other between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3. In addition, the insulating coating 13 covering the conductor 11 is also integrally continuous with each other between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3.

[0028] In the flattened portion 2, the cross section has a flat shape. Here, the cross section has a flat shape refers to a state in which the width w, which is the length of the longest straight line among the straight lines that cross the cross section parallel to the sides or diameters that constitute the cross section and include the entire cross section, is greater than the height h, which is the length of the straight line that is perpendicular to the straight line and includes the entire cross section. The cross section of the flattened portion 2 may have any specific shape as long as it is flat, but in this embodiment, the cross section of the flattened portion 2 has a shape that can be approximated to a rectangle. Examples of flat shapes other than a rectangle include an ellipse, an oval, and an oval (a shape in which arcs are joined to both ends of a rectangle). From the viewpoint of improving space saving and improving continuity with the low flat portion 3, the aspect ratio w / h of the flattened portion 2 is preferably, for example, 2 or more and 6 or less. In the flattened portion 2, not only the outer shape of the entire cross section but also the outer shape of the conductor 11 has a flat shape. Hereinafter, in the entire area of ​​the gravity-center-shifted electric wire 1, including the low flatness portion 3, the directions corresponding to the width and height of the flat shape of the flattened portion 2 are referred to as the width direction (y direction) and the height direction (z direction), respectively. The plan view of Fig. 2A is a plan view of the gravity-center-shifted electric wire 1 as seen from the height direction (+z direction), and shows the state of the gravity-center-shifted electric wire 1 in a plane (xy plane) including the axial direction and the width direction.

[0029] The low flat portion 3 has a cross section with a lower flatness than the flat portion 2. Here, the low flatness means that the aspect ratio in the cross section (w' / h', where w' is the width of the cross section of the low flat portion 3 and h' is the height) is small, and the cross section is low in flatness. The specific shape of the low flat portion 3 is not particularly limited, and examples include shapes that can be approximated to figures with no anisotropy or low anisotropy, such as a square, a circle, or a hexagon, as well as shapes that can be approximated to a rectangle, an ellipse, an oval, or the like, which has a smaller aspect ratio than the flat portion 2. The lower the flatness of the low flat portion 3, the better, and a shape that has a cross section with an aspect ratio w' / h' of 1 and that can be approximated to a circle or a square is particularly preferable. Furthermore, a shape that can be approximated to a circle is most preferable. However, if the aspect ratio w' / h' in the low flat portion 3 is set to, for example, 2 or less, the effect of forming the low flat portion 3 described later can be sufficiently obtained. Moreover, the aspect ratio w' / h' of the low flat portion 3 may be set to be approximately 20% or more and 70% or less of the aspect ratio w / h of the flat portion 2. In the low flat portion 3, not only the overall cross-sectional shape but also the outer shape of the conductor 11 has a shape with a lower flatness than the flat portion 2. In the low flat portion 3, it is preferable that the dimension w' in the width direction is not smaller than the dimension h' in the height direction (w' / h' ≧ 1). In other words, it is preferable that the low flat portion 3 does not have a vertically elongated cross-sectional shape. However, this does not prevent the low flat portion 3 from having a vertically elongated cross-sectional shape, and in that case, it is preferable that the aspect ratio h' / w' of the low flat portion 3 is smaller than the aspect ratio w / h of the flat portion 2. Furthermore, the aspect ratio h' / w' of the low flat portion 3 may be set to be 2 or less, similar to the aspect ratio w / h in the case of the horizontally elongated shape described above. Moreover, the aspect ratio h′ / w′ of the low flat portion 3 may be set to about 20% or more and 70% or less of the aspect ratio w / h of the flat portion 2 .

[0030] In the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1 according to the present embodiment, the position of the center of gravity 31 of the cross section in the low flat portion 3 is shifted from the position of the center of gravity 21 of the cross section in the flat portion 2. Specifically, one direction along the width direction (-y direction in the illustrated example) is defined as an eccentric direction (first direction) D1, and the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is shifted in the eccentric direction D1 with respect to the position of the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2. Here, the positions of the centers of gravity 21, 31 of the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 refer to the positions of the centers of gravity in the cross-sectional outline as a figure without taking into account the masses of the constituent materials. In the plan view of FIG. 2A, the centers of gravity 21, 31 are each shown as a straight line connecting the centers of gravity in the cross section at each position along the axial direction.

[0031] 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 center of gravity of the cross section changes between the center of gravity position 21 in the flat portion 2 and the center of gravity position 31 in the low flat portion 3. Therefore, in the xy plane shown in FIG. 2A, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 on the outer side in the width direction has an angle with respect to the axial direction of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1. In the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1 according to this embodiment, there is a deviation between the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 and the outer edge of the flat portion 2 in both the eccentric direction D1 and the anti-eccentric direction (second direction) D2, which is the direction opposite to the eccentric direction D1, and the outer edge of the transition portion 4 is inclined with respect to the axial direction on both sides of the eccentric direction D1 and the anti-eccentric direction D2. The inclination of the outer edge of the transition portion 4 is in a direction toward the inside in the width direction on the low flat portion 3 side (tip side) on both sides in the width direction, but the degree of inclination is mutually different. Specifically, the inclination of the outer edge of the transition portion 4 is smaller in the eccentric direction D1 than in the anti-eccentric direction D2, and the outer edge in the eccentric direction D1 extends closer to the axial direction than the outer edge in the anti-eccentric 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 axial direction is assumed, there is a difference between the angle θ1 in the eccentric direction D1 and the angle θ2 in the anti-eccentric direction D2, and the angle θ1 in the eccentric direction D1 is larger. In the illustrated embodiment, the angles θ1 and θ2 are obtuse angles, and are 90°<θ2<θ1<180°. In this way, if the transition portion 4 is provided as a region having a length along the axial direction and the position of the center of gravity changes gradually within the transition portion 4, a shift can be provided between the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 and the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 without applying an excessive load to the conductor 11 and the insulating coating 13 constituting the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1.

[0032] The deviation amount L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 relative to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2, that is, the distance between the centers of gravity 21, 31 along the width direction, is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the deviation amount L is smaller than the width w of the flat portion 2. Furthermore, the deviation amount L of the center of gravity 31 is restricted to a length such that the entire width direction area of ​​the low flat portion 3 falls within the range of the width w of the flat portion 2, and the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 is located on the inner side in the width direction than the outer edge of the flat portion 2 on both sides of the eccentric direction D1 and the anti-eccentric direction D2. The lower limit of the deviation amount L of the center of gravity 31 is not particularly determined, but from the viewpoint of fully obtaining the effect of providing a deviation of the center of gravity between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 as described later, it is preferable that the deviation amount L of the center of gravity 31 is 1% or more, and further 3% or more, relative to the width w of the flat portion 2. On the other hand, the deviation L of the center of gravity 31 may be 100% or less of the width w of the flattened portion 2, but from the viewpoint of keeping the load on the conductor 11 and the insulating coating 13 small, it is preferable to keep it to 25% or less.

[0033] The offset-center-of-gravity electric wire 1 has a flat portion 2 having a flat cross-sectional shape, and thus exhibits high space-saving properties. The flat portion 2 also has high flexibility in the height direction. By utilizing these high space-saving properties and flexibility, the flat portion 2 can be suitably used for wiring in a narrow space, wiring in a state close to other members, and wiring along a predetermined path. On the other hand, the low-flat portion 3 has a cross-sectional shape with a low degree of flatness, which is close to a cross-sectional shape of a conventional general round electric wire. Therefore, it is easy to apply external members such as terminals and connectors for conventional round electric wires to be attached to the offset-center-of-gravity electric wire 1 without preparing members with special shapes to match the flat shape. Tools for attaching these members can also be applied. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later in the section on wire harnesses, in the gravity-offset electric wire 1 according to this embodiment, the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is offset from the position of the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2, so that when the gravity-offset electric wire 1 is arranged in the width direction together with other electric wires, the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires can be kept small at the flat portion 3 while ensuring a gap between adjacent electric wires in the low flat portion 2. In the gravity-offset electric wire 1, the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 each have the above-mentioned characteristics and coexist, so that the gravity-offset electric wire 1 can be suitably applied to applications where the space available for wiring is limited and where multiple electric wires need to be assembled, such as inside an automobile.

[0034] The positions and number of the low flat portions 3 in the axial direction of the gravity-center-offset electric wire 1 are not particularly limited, and the low flat portions 3 may be provided at locations required for mounting other members such as connectors. A preferred embodiment is one in which the low flat portions 3 are provided on at least one side or both sides of the flat portion 2 along the axial direction of the gravity-center-offset electric wire 1. For example, the low flat portions 3 may be provided on one or both terminal portions of the gravity-center-offset electric wire 1, and the area sandwiched between the low flat portions 3 may be the flat portion 2. In this case, as will be described in detail in the section on wire harnesses, when a common connector is connected to the terminals of a plurality of electric wires, the low flat portions 3 can be suitably used for connection to the connector. On the other hand, the flat portions 2 can be suitably used for routing in the middle area or the like when routing the gravity-center-offset electric wire 1. As another embodiment, a low flat portion 3 may be provided in the middle of the axial direction of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1. Such an embodiment can be suitably used, for example, when bundling multiple electric wires arranged in the width direction at their middle portions using a bundling material such as a tape or a tube.

[0035] When low flat portions 3 are provided on both sides of a certain flat portion 2 in the axial direction, the direction in which the center of gravity 31 of the two low flat portions 3 is shifted from the intermediate flat portion 2, i.e., the eccentric direction D1, may be the same or opposite between the two low flat portions 3. When flat portions 2 are provided on both sides of a certain low flat portion 3 in the axial direction, the direction in which the center of gravity 31 of the intermediate low flat portion 3 is shifted from each of the flat portions 2 on both sides may be the same or opposite between the flat portions 2 on both sides. When a plurality of flat portions 2 and / or low flat portions 3 are provided in the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1, the specific configurations, such as the specific shape and aspect ratio of the cross section, the direction in which the flat shape extends, and the like, may be the same or different between the plurality of flat portions 2 and between the plurality of low flat portions 3.

[0036] In the electric wire 1 with an offset center of gravity according to this embodiment, the material and wire diameter of the strands constituting the conductor 11, and the conductor cross-sectional area are not particularly limited. Examples of the material of the conductor 11 include copper, copper alloy, aluminum, and aluminum alloy. It is preferable that the conductor cross-sectional area is relatively large from the viewpoint of enhancing the space-saving effect and bending flexibility improvement effect of providing the flat portion 2, and the effect of providing the low flat portion 3 with the offset center of gravity 31. For example, the conductor cross-sectional area is 10 mm 2 More than that, even 30mm 2 The outer diameter of the wire constituting the conductor 11 is preferably in the range of 0.3 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, for example.

[0037] <Manufacturing method for cables with offset center of gravity> The offset-center-of-gravity electric wire 1 having the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 integrally therewith can be manufactured from a raw flat electric wire in which a conductor 11 is deformed into a flat shape, as described in Patent Document 1. The raw flat electric wire can be manufactured by compressing the conductor 11, which is a circular cross section formed by twisting a plurality of strands, into a flat shape and covering the outer periphery of the conductor 11 with an insulating coating 13. Then, in a part of the raw flat electric wire along the axial direction, specifically in a region to be the low flat portion 3, a force is applied from the outside of the raw flat electric wire from the outside to the inside along the width direction to deform the conductor 11. By applying this force, the dimension of the conductor 11 in the width direction is reduced, the flatness of the conductor 11 is reduced, and the low flat portion 3 can be formed. In this case, by using a mold or the like to set the force applied from the outside in the anti-eccentricity direction D2 to be greater than the force applied from the outside in the eccentricity direction D1, the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 to be formed can be shifted in the eccentricity direction D1 relative to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2.

[0038] Alternatively, the gravity-center-offset electric wire 1 can be manufactured using a raw round electric wire in which an insulating coating 13 is formed on the outer circumference of a conductor 11 having a circular cross section formed by twisting together a plurality of strands, as described in Patent Document 2. In this case, a force is applied to a part of the raw round electric wire along the axial direction, specifically, to a part of the region to be the flattened portion 2, from the outside to the inside in the height direction of the flattened shape, to deform the conductor 11. The application of this force reduces the height dimension of the conductor 11, increases the flatness of the conductor 11, and forms the flattened portion 2. At this time, by using a mold or the like to apply a force in the height direction of the flattened shape and also in the width direction, so that the flattened portion 2 is formed with a bias in the anti-eccentricity direction D2, the gravity-center-offset electric wire 1 obtained can be formed in a state in which the center of gravity 31 of the low flattened portion 3 is shifted in the eccentricity direction D1 with respect to the center of gravity 21 of the flattened portion 2.

[0039] Thus, the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1 according to this embodiment may be formed from either the raw flat electric wire or the raw round electric wire, but it is preferable to form it from the raw flat electric wire. This is because, when forming the low flat portion 3 at a predetermined position on the raw flat electric wire, it is easy to form the shift of the center of gravity 31 in the desired direction and with the desired amount of shift L for the low flat portion 3 to be formed by adjusting the force applied. Also, this is because the load applied to the conductor 11 and the insulating coating 13 due to the change in the cross-sectional shape can be kept small. In particular, when manufacturing the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1 in which the area occupied by the low flat portion 3 is shorter than the area occupied by the flat portion 2, such as when the low flat portion 3 is provided only in a partial area of ​​the terminal portion of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1, the method using the raw flat electric wire can be suitably adopted.

[0040] <Other types of off-center cables> The center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire constituting the wire harness according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the form of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1 described in detail above, so long as it has a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3, and the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is shifted in the eccentric direction D1 along the width direction of the flat shape with respect to the position of the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2. Main examples of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire according to other forms will be briefly described below. Descriptions of configurations common to the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1 described above will be omitted.

[0041] In the gravity-center-shifted electric wire 1 according to the above embodiment, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 is inclined with respect to the axial direction in both the eccentric direction D1 and the anti-eccentric direction D2, but the embodiment of the transition portion 4 is not limited to the above as long as the outer edge of the transition portion 4 on the outer side in the width direction has an angle with respect to the axial direction of the gravity-center-shifted electric wire at least in the anti-eccentric direction D2. For example, as in the gravity-center-shifted electric wires 1A and 1B shown in Fig. 2B and Fig. 2C, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 may have an angle θ2 with respect to the axial direction in the anti-eccentric direction D2, but has substantially no angle in the eccentric direction D1 and extends linearly along the axial direction. In this case, the outer edge of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1A, 1B on the eccentricity direction D1 side extends in the axial direction at the same widthwise position as the outer edge of the flat portion 2 in the low flat portion 4, so that the amount of deviation L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 from the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 can be made larger than when the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 on the eccentricity direction D1 side is positioned widthwise inward of the outer edge of the flat portion 2 as in the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1 of Fig. 2A. As a result, the effect due to the deviation of the center of gravity 31 described later can be obtained more significantly.

[0042] In this way, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 in the eccentric direction D1 extends along the axial direction, and depending on the state of the outer edge in the anti-eccentric direction D2, both the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1A in FIG. 2B and the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1B in FIG. 2C can be used. In the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1A in FIG. 2B, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 in the anti-eccentric direction D2 extends at an incline with respect to the axial direction. That is, in the anti-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 axial direction is an obtuse angle. In this case, as in the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1 in FIG. 2A, the position of the center of gravity gradually changes in the transition portion 4, and therefore the amount of shift L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 relative to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 can be secured large without applying an excessive load to the conductor 11 and the insulating coating 13 constituting the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1A.

[0043] On the other hand, in the offset-center-of-gravity electric wire 1B of FIG. 2C, the outer edge of the transition portion 4 in the anti-eccentricity direction D2 faces at a right angle or a close angle to the axial direction. That is, in the anti-eccentricity 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 axial direction is 90° or a close angle (approximately 90°±10°). In this case, the length of the area that the transition portion 4 occupies along the axial direction of the offset-center-of-gravity electric wire 1B becomes zero or close to zero, and the low flat portion 3 and the flat portion 2 can be arranged close to each other. Then, in the offset-center-of-gravity electric wire 1B of a predetermined length, the flat portion 2 can be formed long, and the characteristics of the flat portion 2, such as space saving in the height direction and flexibility, can be effectively utilized in the routing of the offset-center-of-gravity electric wire 1B.

[0044] In the above-described center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1, 1A, and 1B of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the entire width direction of the low flat portion 3 is within the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. In other words, the outer edges of both sides of the low flat portion 3 in the width direction are not disposed outside the outer edges of the flat portion 2, and the entire width direction of the transition portion 4 is also within the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. With this configuration, it is possible to form a shift at the position of the center of gravity 21, 31 between the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 while keeping the load applied to the conductor 11 and the insulating coating 13 small. In addition, it is possible to keep the width direction dimension of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire small as a whole. On the other hand, as in the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1C shown in FIG. 2D, at least a part of the width direction of the low flat portion 3 may be shifted in the eccentric direction D1 with respect to the flat portion 2 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. In the illustrated embodiment, a portion of the low flat portion 3 in the width direction on the eccentric direction D1 side is offset toward the eccentric direction D1 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2, and the outer edge of the low flat portion 3 in the width direction is offset toward the eccentric direction D1 from the outer edge of the flat portion 2 on both sides of the eccentric direction D1 and the anti-eccentric direction D2. The outer edge of the transition portion 4 is inclined toward the eccentric direction D1 on the low flat portion 3 side (tip side) on both sides of the width direction, and a portion of the width direction of the transition portion 4 is also offset toward the eccentric direction D1 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. In this case as well, the inclination of the outer edge of the transition portion 4 in the eccentric direction D1 is smaller than that in the anti-eccentric direction D2.

[0045] In the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1C, the amount of shift L of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 relative to the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 is large, and therefore the wire harness can be used to configure various types of wire harnesses, such as the type shown in FIG. 4B, which will be described later, and the effect of the shift of the center of gravity 31 can be utilized. In the type shown in FIG. 2D, 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 the amount of shift L may be further increased so that the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is shifted in the eccentric direction D1 beyond the range of the width w of the flat portion 2. Furthermore, the low flat portion 3 may be configured such that both outer edges in the eccentric direction D1 and the anti-eccentric direction D2 exceed the outer edge of the flat portion 2 on the eccentric direction D1 side and are shifted toward the eccentric direction D1.

[0046] <Wire harness configuration> Next, a wire harness according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The wire harness according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of electric wires including the above-described center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires (e.g., the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C) having a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3 whose center of gravity 31 is shifted from the flat portion 2. In the wire harness, the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires are arranged adjacent to other electric wires in the anti-eccentricity direction D2.

[0047] Here, the other electric wire may be a center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire having a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3 whose center of gravity 31 is shifted from the flat portion 2, or may be another type of electric wire. However, it is preferable that the wire harness includes at least two center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires. In this case, the plurality of center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires included in the wire harness may be of the same form, or may be of a plurality of forms, such as the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1, 1A to 1C. In addition, the type of the other type of electric wire that coexists with the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire is not particularly limited, and any electric wire such as a flat electric wire or a round electric wire can be used. However, it is preferable to use an insulated electric wire (non-shifted electric wire) 9 having a flat portion 2 and a low flat portion 3, but no shift between the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 and the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2, as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0048] FIG. 3A shows a simplified plan view of a connection portion between a plurality of electric wires and a connector 51 in a wire harness 5 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wire harness 5 includes two center-of-gravity-offset electric wires 1B having a low flat portion 3 at the end portion. The two center-of-gravity-offset electric wires 1B are arranged side by side in the width direction with their outer edges in the anti-eccentricity direction D2 facing each other. The two center-of-gravity-offset electric wires 1B are optionally connected to a common connector 51 at the low flat portion 3 to form the wire harness 5 having a multi-pole connector. In an actual wire harness 5, a terminal is connected to the tip of each of the center-of-gravity-offset electric wires 1B, and the tip portion of the center-of-gravity-offset electric wires 1B connected to the terminal is accommodated in a connector housing. However, in the figure, the terminals are omitted, and the position where the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire 1B is accommodated in the connector housing is shown as a pole position 52. Furthermore, in each of the offset-center-of-gravity electric wires 1B, a waterproof plug (rubber plug) 6 is attached by fitting it onto the outer periphery of the low flat portion 3 in the vicinity of the connection point to the connector 51, although this is optional.

[0049] Here, as shown in Fig. 5B, a case will be considered in which a wire harness 95 is constructed using only non-shifted electric wires 9 in which there is no misalignment between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 and the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2. In this case, in an assembly in which two non-shifted electric wires 9 are arranged in the width direction, the distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 between the two non-shifted electric wires 9 is equal to the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2. If the pole interval p between adjacent pole positions 52, i.e., the distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 of adjacent center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B, must be made larger than the width w of the flat portions 2 due to the need to attach large waterproof plugs 6 and terminals to the low flat portions 3, the flat portions 2 will also be arranged with a distance between their centers of gravity 21 greater than their own width w. In other words, the flat portions 2 of adjacent non-slip electric wires 9 cannot be arranged with their outer edges in the anti-eccentricity direction D2 in contact with each other, and a gap g is generated between the flat portions 2. In this case, in an assembly of two non-slip electric wires 9, the width A' occupied by the flat portions 2 becomes large according to the pole interval p to be provided in the low flat portion 3. If the width of the area occupied by the electric wire group at the flat portions 2 becomes large, it becomes difficult to reduce the space of the wire harness 95 in the width direction. In addition, it becomes necessary to use large-diameter members, such as a shielding material such as a metal braid, and a protective exterior material such as a corrugated tube or a twisted tube, for the members to be arranged on the outer periphery of the electric wire group, and the cost required for these members increases.

[0050] In contrast, in the wire harness 5 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 3A, by using the center-of-gravity-shifted wire 1B in which the position of the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is shifted with respect to the position of the center of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2, in the adjacent center-of-gravity-shifted wires 1B, while ensuring a large distance between the low flat portions 3, the distance between the flat portions 2 can be suppressed to be small. In the wire harness 5 according to the present embodiment, since a plurality of center-of-gravity-shifted wires 1B are arranged with adjacent low flat portions 3 facing each other in their respective anti-eccentric directions D2, in the adjacent center-of-gravity-shifted wires 1B, the distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3 (the pole interval p) becomes larger than the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2. That is, even if the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 is made small, a larger distance than that between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 is ensured between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat portions 3. Therefore, when compared with the form using the non-shifted wire 9 as in the wire harness 95 of FIG. 5B, even if the widths w and w' of the flat portion 2 and the low flat portion 3 are the same as those of the non-shifted wire 9, while ensuring a predetermined same distance p as the pole interval in the connector 51, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 can be suppressed to be small, and the width A occupied by the aggregate of the two center-of-gravity-shifted wires 1B at the flat portion 2 can be suppressed to be small (A < A'). The distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portion 2 becomes the smallest and equal to the width w of the flat portion 2 when the adjacent center-of-gravity-shifted wires 1B are brought into contact with each other at the outer edges on the anti-eccentric direction D2 side of the flat portion 2, that is, when the gap g is not substantially provided.

[0051] In this way, by using the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1B, the distance between the low flat portions 3 of the electric wires can be increased while keeping the interval between the electric wires small at the flat portions 2, and the width A occupied by the assembly of the electric wires can be kept small, compared to the case of using the non-shifted electric wire 9. Even when the plurality of center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B are connected to a common connector 51 having a pole interval p larger than the width w of the flat portions 2 due to the need to attach large components such as the waterproof plug 6 and terminals, the width A occupied by the assembly of the plurality of center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B at the flat portions 2 can be kept small by making the interval between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 smaller than the pole interval p. This improves the space saving in the width direction of the wire harness 5, and eliminates the need to use excessively large diameter components such as various shielding materials and exterior materials to be arranged on the outer periphery of the assembly of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B, thereby keeping the cost required for these components low. In the illustrated embodiment, from the viewpoint of keeping the width A occupied by the aggregate of flat portions 2 as small as possible while ensuring the necessary pole spacing p in the low flat portion 3, the wire harness 5 is constructed using a center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1B in which the outer edge of the transition portion 4 extends along the axial direction in the eccentric direction D1 and is perpendicular to the axial direction in the anti-eccentric direction D2. However, other shapes of center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires may be used, including the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1, 1A, and 1C described above.

[0052] In the embodiment described above, the wire harness 5 includes only two center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires as electric wires, and the two center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires are arranged so that their outer edges in the anti-eccentricity direction D2 directly face each other, but even in a wire harness including any number of electric wires (three or more), the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires can be used to reduce the width of the electric wires in the flat portion 2 while ensuring a sufficient distance between the electric wires in the low flat portion 3. When three or more electric wires are included, it is preferable to place the outer edges of the two center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires in the anti-eccentricity direction D2 opposite each other with another electric wire sandwiched therebetween. In this case, the other electric wire sandwiched therebetween may be a center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire or another type of electric wire such as a non-shifted electric wire 9.

[0053] FIG. 3B shows an example of a wire harness 5A including three electric wires. Here, of the three electric wires arranged in the width direction, a center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1B is arranged at each end, and one non-shifted electric wire 9 is arranged between the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B. The outer edges of the two center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B in the anti-eccentricity direction D2 are directed inward in the arrangement direction. In this embodiment, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the adjacent flat portions 2 is kept small compared to the case where three non-shifted electric wires 9 are arranged at the same center-of-gravity distance as the distance (pole interval p) between the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B on both sides and the center non-shifted electric wire 9. Accordingly, the width A1 occupied by the assembly of the three electric wires at the location of the flat portion 2 can be kept small. If an insulated electric wire 1C (hereinafter referred to as a large-shifted electric wire 1C) in which at least a portion of the widthwise region of the low flat portion 3 is shifted in the eccentric direction D1 beyond the width w of the flat portion 2 is used as the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire to be placed at both ends in the width direction, it is possible to further reduce the width A1 occupied by the assembly of three electric wires at the flat portion 2 while maintaining the same pole spacing p in the low flat portion 3.

[0054] The number of non-shifted electric wires 9 arranged between the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B at both ends may be further increased. Even in this case, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flattened parts 2 can be kept small while at least the distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat parts 3 (pole interval p) between the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B at both ends and the non-shifted electric wires 9 adjacent thereto can be sufficiently secured, and the effect of keeping the width occupied by the assembly of all electric wires at the location of the flattened parts 2 small according to the shortened distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flattened parts 2 can be obtained. As an example, FIG. 4A shows a wire harness 5B including four electric wires. Here, of the four electric wires arranged in the width direction, the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B are arranged at both ends, and two non-shifted electric wires 9 are arranged between the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B. As the distance between the centers of gravity 31 of the low flat parts 3 (pole interval), an interval p larger than the width w of the flattened parts 2 is secured at all three locations. In this case, compared to the case where four non-shifted electric wires 9 are arranged side by side with the same pole interval p, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 between the two central non-shifted electric wires 9 remains unchanged, but the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flat portions 2 between each of the center-shifted electric wires 1B at both ends and the adjacent non-shifted electric wire 9 can be made smaller. As a result, the width A2 occupied by the flat portions 2 of the entire assembly of four electric wires can be kept small.

[0055] When four or more electric wires are arranged side by side, the use of the large-shifted electric wire 1C can provide a more effective way of minimizing the width of the assembly of electric wires at the flat portion 2 while ensuring the necessary pole spacing in the low flat portion 3. In this case, the large-shifted electric wire 1C may be arranged at least at both ends in the width direction of the electric wire group. In the wire harness 5C shown in FIG. 4B, the large-shifted electric wire 1C is arranged as the two outer wires in the width direction of the four electric wires, and the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1B, whose entire width direction of the low flat portion 3 falls within the range of the width w of the flat portion 2, is arranged as the two in between. The outer edge of each of the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B and 1C on the anti-eccentricity direction D2 side is arranged toward the inside of 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 at all three points (pole spacing p). In this case, the distance between the centers of gravity 21 of the flattened portions 2 can be reduced both between the large-displacement electric wire 1C arranged on the outer side in the width direction and the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1B arranged on the inner side thereof, and between the two inner center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B, as compared with the case where four non-shifted electric wires 9 are arranged side by side with the same pole interval p. Then, the width A3 occupied by the flattened portions 2 as a whole assembly of four electric wires can be reduced even smaller than the width A2 in the case where the non-shifted electric wires 9 are used as the electric wires arranged on the inner side in the width direction as shown in FIG. 4A and the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wires 1B are arranged on both sides of the non-shifted electric wires 9. When the number of electric wires is more than four, in addition to the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire 1B arranged in the center, multiple types of large-displacement electric wires 1C with different amounts of displacement L of the centers of gravity 31 of the low flattened portions 3 may be prepared, and the large-displacement electric wires 1C with larger amounts of displacement L may be arranged on the outer side in the arrangement direction.

[0056] In each of the wire harnesses 5, 5A to 5C described above, the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire and the non-shifted electric wire have the low flat portion 3 at the terminal portion, and the connector 51 is connected to the terminal portion, and the plurality of electric wires are bundled together by the connector 51 at the low flat portion 3. However, the wire harness of the present disclosure is not limited to such a form, and has an electric wire group including a center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire, and if the center-of-gravity-shifted electric wire in the electric wire group is adjacent to other electric wires in the anti-eccentricity direction D2, it is possible to keep the interval between the adjacent electric wires small in the flat portion 2 while ensuring a large interval between the adjacent electric wires in the low flat portion 3 by utilizing the fact that the center of gravity 31 of the low flat portion 3 is shifted in the eccentricity direction D1, and thereby keep the width occupied by the electric wire group at the flat portion 2 small. As a means for bundling a group of electric wires including the off-center electric wire, other than connecting to a common connector 51, for example, the group of electric wires may be bundled together at a location corresponding to the low flat portion 3 of the off-center electric wire using a bundling material such as a tape or a tube. In this case, the low flat portion 3 may be provided at the end portion or in the middle portion of the off-center electric wire.

[0057] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0058] In the above, a wire harness has been cited as an object of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the center-of-gravity-offset electric wire described in detail above can be suitably 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 flat cross section is arranged together with other electric wires in the width direction of the flat shape to constitute a wire harness, it is possible to provide an insulated electric wire having the following configuration, which aims to provide an insulated electric wire that can reduce the width occupied by the assembly of electric wires at the flat portion while ensuring a gap between adjacent electric wires at the low flat portion.

[0059] [1'] A conductor having multiple strands twisted together; An insulated wire having an insulating coating that covers an outer periphery of the conductor, The wires constituting the conductor and the insulating coating are connected to each other, and have a flat portion and a low flat portion along an axial direction, a cross section of the insulated wire perpendicular to an axial direction of the insulated wire has a flat shape that is elongated in a width direction at the flat portion, and has a shape with a lower flatness at the low flat portion, an insulated electric wire in which a position of a center of gravity of the cross section at the low flatness portion is shifted in a first direction along the width direction of the flattened shape with respect to a position of a center of gravity of the cross section at the flatness portion.

[0060] [2'] The insulated wire according to [1'], having the low flat portion at a terminal portion.

[0061] [3'] the insulated wire has a transition portion between the flat portion and the lower flat portion, The insulated electric wire according to [1'] or [2'], wherein an outer edge of the transition portion on an outer side in the width direction has an angle with respect to the axial direction at least in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

[0062] [4'] The insulated wire according to [3'], wherein the outer edge of the transition portion is inclined with respect to the axial direction at least in the second direction.

[0063] [5'] the outer edge of the transition portion has an inclination with respect to the axial direction in both the first direction and the second direction; The insulated wire according to [4'], wherein the inclination is smaller in the first direction than in the second direction.

[0064] [6'] the outer edge of the transition portion In the first direction, the first member extends along the axial direction, The insulated wire according to [3'], wherein the second direction has an angle with respect to the axial direction.

[0065] [7'] The insulated wire according to any one of [1'] to [6'], wherein the entire area in the width direction of the low flat portion is within the width range of the flat portion.

[0066] [8'] The insulated electric wire according to any one of [1'] to [5'], wherein at least a portion of a widthwise region of the low flat portion is shifted in the first direction relative to the flat portion beyond the width range of the flat portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1,1A,1B,1C Offset center of gravity wire 11 Conductor 13 Insulation coating 2 Flat part 21 Center of gravity of flat part 3 Low flat part 31 Center of gravity of low flat section 4 Transition section 5,5A,5B,5C Wire harness 51 Connector 52 pole position 6. Waterproof plug 9. No-slip wire 95 Wire Harness g void h Height of flat part h' Height of the low flat part p Pole spacing w Width of flat part w' Width of the low flat part x Center of gravity shift in the axial direction of the wire y Width direction z Height direction A, A', A1 to A3 Width of the wire assembly at the flat part D1 Eccentric direction (first direction) D2 Anti-eccentric direction (second direction) L Displacement of the center of gravity of the low flat part from the center of gravity of the flat part θ1 Angle of the outer edge of the transition section in the eccentric direction θ2 Angle of the outer edge of the transition section in the anti-eccentric direction

Claims

1. A plurality of electric wires including an electric wire having a center of gravity offset, The center-of-gravity-offset electric wire is A conductor in which a plurality of strands are twisted together; and an insulating coating that covers an outer periphery of the conductor. The wires constituting the conductor and the insulating coating are connected to each other, and have a flat portion and a low flat portion along an axial direction, A cross section perpendicular to the axial direction has a flat shape that is elongated in the width direction in the flat portion, and has a shape with a lower flatness in the low flat portion than the flat portion, a position of a center of gravity of the cross section in the low flat portion is shifted 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 in the flat portion, The wire harness, wherein the center-of-gravity-displaced electric wire is adjacent to another electric wire in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein the gravity-offset electric wire is in contact with the other electric wire adjacent to the gravity-offset electric wire in the second direction at the flat portion.

3. 3 . The wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein the gravity-offset electric wire has the low flat portion at a terminal portion, and is connected to a connector common to the other electric wires at the low flat portion. 4 .

4. The wire harness includes at least two of the gravity-shifted electric wires, 3. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the two center-of-gravity-displaced electric wires are arranged in a width direction of the flattened shape with their outer edges in the second direction directly facing each other or with another electric wire sandwiched therebetween.

5. The offset-center-of-gravity electric wire has a transition portion between the flat portion and the low flat portion, 3 . The wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein an outer edge of the transition portion on an outer side in the width direction has an angle with respect to the axial direction at least in the second direction. 4 .

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

7. The outer edge of the transition portion has an inclination with respect to the axial direction in both the first direction and the second direction, The wire harness according to claim 6 , wherein the inclination is smaller in the first direction than in the second direction.

8. The outer edge of the transition portion is In the first direction, the first member extends along the axial direction, The wire harness according to claim 6 , wherein the second direction has an angle with respect to the axial direction.

9. In the above-mentioned center-of-gravity-offset electric wire, The wire harness according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an entire area of ​​the low flat portion in a width direction falls within a width range of the flat portion.

10. In the above-mentioned center-of-gravity-offset electric wire, 3 . The wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a width direction of the low flat portion is shifted in the first direction with respect to the flat portion beyond a width range of the flat portion. 4 .

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