Branch structure for wire harness

Abstract

To provide a branch structure for a wire harness that allows an external member to be easily provided in a branch part of the wire harness while controlling manufacturing costs.SOLUTION: A branch structure BS1 for a wire harness comprises: a trunk line 10 and a branch line 20 of a wire harness WH1; first and second corrugated tubes 1 and 30; and a protection tube 40. The branch line 20 branches from the trunk line 10 on a one end 51 side of a branch part 50 of the wire harness WH1. The first and second corrugated tubes 1 and 30 cover the trunk line 10 on the one end 51 and the other end 52 side of the branch part 50, respectively. The protection tube 40 covers the branch line 20. The first corrugated tube 1 includes: a branch coated part 5 that covers the branch part 50; and a notch hole part 7 through which the branch line 20 covered by the protection tube 40 is passed. An open end part 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 is fixed to an open end part 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 with the open end part 6 covering the open end part 36 of the second corrugated tube 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a branch structure of a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art When a wire harness is installed in a vehicle, the wire harness may be provided with a branch portion. The branch portion includes a main line of the wire harness and a branch line of the wire harness branched off from the main line.

[0003] In general, at a branch portion of a wire harness, an exterior member is separately provided to protect a bundle of electric wires forming a trunk line and a bundle of electric wires forming a branch line branched off from the trunk line.

[0004] The exterior member disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a main wire accommodating chamber and a branch wire accommodating chamber connected to the main wire accommodating chamber. With this configuration, the main wire at the branch portion is accommodated in the main wire accommodating chamber, and the branch wire at the branch portion is accommodated in the branch wire accommodating chamber, so that the exterior member can be easily provided at the branch portion of the wire harness. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-53753 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the exterior member disclosed in Patent Document 1, the sizes of the main wire accommodating chamber and the branch wire accommodating chamber are set according to the sizes of the main wires and branch wires to be accommodated.

[0007] For this reason, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of exterior members for each combination of trunk line size and branch line size, and the increased number of parts may result in increased manufacturing costs.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the conventional techniques, and an object of the present invention is to provide a branch structure for a wire harness that can easily provide an exterior member at a branch portion of the wire harness while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A branching structure of a wire harness according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a trunk wire of a wire harness, a branch wire of the wire harness branching off from the trunk wire at a branching portion of the wire harness, a first tube covering the trunk wire at one end side of the branching portion, a second tube covering the trunk wire at the other end side of the branching portion, and a third tube covering the branch wire. the branch line branches off from the trunk line at one end side of the branching portion, the first pipe has a covering portion that covers the branching portion and has an open end that is located at the other end of the branching portion, and a cutout hole portion that is provided in the covering portion and has an introduction area that opens to the outside and a storage area that communicates with the introduction area, the length of the introduction area in the longitudinal direction of the first pipe is equal to or greater than the length of the open end, the branch line covered by the third pipe passes through the cutout hole portion while being introduced into the storage area via the introduction area, the second pipe has an open end that is located at the other end of the branching portion, and the open end of the first pipe is fixed to the open end of the second pipe by a fixing member while covering the open end of the second pipe. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a branch structure of a wire harness that can easily provide an exterior member at a branch portion of the wire harness while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first corrugated tube according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the first corrugated tube according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a branch portion of the wire harness according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the branch structure of the wire harness according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view of a first corrugated tube according to a modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a branch portion of a wire harness according to a modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a branch structure of a wire harness according to a modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the method for fixing the first corrugated tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios. Also, the same or similar symbols are used for the same functions and configurations, and the explanations thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0013] [Wire harness branching section] First, the configuration of the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1. Specifically, Fig. 4 is a side view of the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 before the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 is covered with a first corrugated tube 1 described later. In Fig. 4, the first corrugated tube 1 is indicated by a dashed line in order to clarify the positional relationship between the first corrugated tube 1 and a second corrugated tube 30 described later.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 4, the wire harness WH1 is composed of a bundle of electric wires in which a plurality of electric wires are bundled, and includes a trunk line 10, a branch line 20, and a branching portion 50. At the branching portion 50, the branch line 20 branches off from the trunk line 10. The branching portion 50 has one end 51 and the other end 52. The branch line 20 branches off from the trunk line 10 at the one end 51 side of the branching portion 50. In this embodiment, the branch line 20 extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the trunk line 10. Note that the direction in which the branch line 20 extends is not limited to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the trunk line 10, and can be appropriately set according to the environment inside the vehicle in which the wire harness WH1 is arranged.

[0015] 4, the trunk line 10 arranged on one end 51 side of the branching section 50 is shown as trunk line 10A, and the trunk line 10 arranged on the other end 52 side of the branching section 50 is shown as trunk line 10B. In the following description, the trunk line 10 arranged on one end 51 side of the branching section 50 will be referred to as trunk line 10A as appropriate. Similarly, the trunk line 10 arranged on the other end 52 side of the branching section 50 will be referred to as trunk line 10B as appropriate.

[0016] The trunk line 10A and the branch portion 50 are covered by a first corrugated tube 1. The trunk line 10B is covered by a second corrugated tube 30. The branch line 20 is covered by a protective tube 40 described below. The first corrugated tube 1, the second corrugated tube 30, and the protective tube 40 are also referred to as a first tube body, a second tube body, and a third tube body, respectively.

[0017] [First corrugated tube] Next, the configuration of the first corrugated tube 1 will be described. In this embodiment, a branch covering portion 5 of the first corrugated tube 1, which will be described later, is used as an exterior member provided at a branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1. Fig. 1 is a side view of the first corrugated tube 1. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the first corrugated tube 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 1.

[0018] 1 to 3 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. The Y direction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 corresponds to the width direction of the first corrugated tube 1 and is perpendicular to the X direction. The Z direction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 corresponds to the height direction of the first corrugated tube 1 and is perpendicular to the X and Y directions.

[0019] The +X side and -X side shown in Figs. 1 to 3 respectively correspond to the front and rear of the first corrugated tube 1. The +Y side and -Y side shown in Figs. 1 to 3 respectively correspond to the left and right of the first corrugated tube 1 when facing the front of the first corrugated tube 1. The +Z side and -Z side shown in Figs. 1 to 3 respectively correspond to the top and bottom of the first corrugated tube 1.

[0020] 1 to 3, the first corrugated tube 1 is formed in a bellows shape with annular peaks 2 and annular valleys 3 arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. The inner diameter of the first corrugated tube 1 corresponds to the diameter of the electric wire bundle that forms the trunk line 10A of the wire harness WH1.

[0021] The first corrugated tube 1 has a slit 4 and a branched covering portion 5. The slit 4 extends along the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. The first corrugated tube 1 accommodates a trunk wire 10A of the wire harness WH1 therein through the slit 4, as described below.

[0022] In this embodiment, the slits 4 are provided on the side surface (-Y side) of the first corrugated tube 1. The location where the slits 4 are provided is not limited to the side surface (-Y side) of the first corrugated tube 1. The slits 4 are provided at appropriate positions according to the manufacturing requirements of the wire harness WH1.

[0023] The branch covering portion 5 is a portion that covers the branch portion 50 when the first corrugated tube 1 accommodates the trunk line 10A and the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 inside (see Figs. 4 and 5). The branch covering portion 5 is also called a covering portion. The branch covering portion 5 has an open end 6 and a cutout hole portion 7.

[0024] The open end 6 is located on the +X side of the branch covering portion 5, and the first corrugated tube 1 has an open end 1a at one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. When the first corrugated tube 1 accommodates the trunk line 10A and the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 inside, the open end 6 is disposed at the other end 52 of the branch portion 50 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0025] The cutout hole portion 7 is provided in the branch covering portion 5 by cutting out a part of the branch covering portion 5 in a rectangular shape by a predetermined length from the open end 1a of the first corrugated tube 1 along the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1 (see FIG. 2). With this configuration, the cutout hole portion 7 penetrates the branch covering portion 5 and communicates between the inside and outside of the first corrugated tube 1 (see FIG. 3). The width of the cutout hole portion 7 (the length along the width direction of the first corrugated tube 1) corresponds to the outer diameter of the protective tube 40.

[0026] In this embodiment, the cutout hole portion 7 is provided in the bottom surface (-Z side) of the first corrugated tube 1. The location where the cutout hole portion 7 is provided is not limited to the bottom surface (-Z side) of the first corrugated tube 1. The cutout hole portion 7 is provided in an appropriate position depending on the direction in which the branch wires 20 of the wire harness WH1 extend.

[0027] The cutout hole portion 7 has an introduction area 71 and a storage area 72. The introduction area 71 is located on the +X side of the cutout hole portion 7, and has an open end 73 of the cutout hole portion 7 at one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. In a bottom view of the first corrugated tube 1, the open end 73 of the cutout hole portion 7 overlaps a part of the open end 1a of the first corrugated tube 1. With this configuration, the introduction area 71 is open to the outside.

[0028] In this embodiment, the length of the introduction region 71 in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1 is equal to the length of the open end 6. Note that the length of the introduction region 71 in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1 is not limited to being equal to the length of the open end 6, and may be any length that is equal to or greater than the length of the open end 6.

[0029] The storage area 72 is located on the -X side of the cutout hole portion 7, and communicates with the introduction area 71. The storage area 72 has a closed end 74 of the cutout hole portion 7 at one end (-X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1.

[0030] In this embodiment, the length of the storage area 72 in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1 corresponds to the outer diameter of the protective tube 40. Note that in this embodiment, the closed end 74 is formed parallel to the width direction of the first corrugated tube 1, but is not limited to this. The closed end 74 may be formed along the shape of the protective tube 40.

[0031] As described later, the branch wire 20 of the wire harness WH1 covered with the protective tube 40 passes through the cutout hole portion 7 in a state where it is introduced into the accommodation area 72 via the introduction area 71 (see FIG. 5). In FIG. 2, the position where the protective tube 40 is accommodated in the accommodation area 72 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0032] In this embodiment, the positional relationship between the opening end 1a, the branch covering portion 5, the opening end portion 6, the notched hole portion 7, the introduction region 71, and the storage region 72 is as follows.

[0033] The open end 1a corresponds to one side surface (+X side) of the first peak 2, counting from one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. The branch covering portion 5 corresponds to the region between the open end 1a and one side surface 1c (-X side) of the fifth peak 2, counting from one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. The open end portion 6 corresponds to the region between the open end 1a and one side surface 1b (+X side) of the third peak 2, counting from one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1.

[0034] The cutout hole portion 7 is provided on the bottom surface of a region between the opening end 1a and the other side surface 1d (+X side) of the fifth peak 2 counting from one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. The introduction region 71 is provided on the bottom surface of a region between the opening end 1a and one side surface 1b (+X side) of the third peak 2 counting from one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1. The storage region 72 is provided on the bottom surface of a region between one side surface 1b (+X side) of the third peak 2 and the other side surface 1d (+X side) of the fifth peak 2 counting from one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1.

[0035] In the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1, the length D1 of the cutout hole portion 7 is equal to the sum of the length D2 of the introduction region 71 and the length D3 of the storage region 72. In this embodiment, in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1, the length D2 of the introduction region 71 is equal to the length of the open end 6. The length of the open end 6 includes at least a length required to attach a fixing member 60 (described later) to the first corrugated tube 1. The positional relationship between the open end 1a, the branch covering portion 5, the open end 6, the cutout hole portion 7, the introduction region 71, and the storage region 72 is not limited to the above-mentioned relationship, and can be appropriately set according to the manufacturing requirements of the wire harness WH1.

[0036] [Second corrugated tube] Next, the configuration of the second corrugated tube 30 will be described. As shown in Fig. 4, the second corrugated tube 30 is formed in a bellows shape in which annular peaks 32 and annular valleys 33 are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the second corrugated tube 30. The inner diameter of the second corrugated tube 30 corresponds to the diameter of the bundle of electric wires forming the trunk 10B of the wire harness WH1. The outer diameter of the second corrugated tube 30 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first corrugated tube 1.

[0037] The second corrugated tube 30 has an open end 36 at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the second corrugated tube 30. When the second corrugated tube 30 accommodates the trunk wire 10B of the wire harness WH1 inside, the open end 36 is disposed at the other end 52 of the branch portion 50 (see FIG. 4). The open end 36 has an open end 30a of the second corrugated tube 30 at one end in the longitudinal direction of the open end 36.

[0038] The second corrugated tube 30 has a slit (not shown) extending along the longitudinal direction of the second corrugated tube 30. As described later, the second corrugated tube 30 accommodates the trunk wire 10B of the wire harness WH1 therein through the slit.

[0039] In this embodiment, the positional relationship between the opening end 30a and the opening end 36 is as follows. The opening end 30a corresponds to one side surface (one end side) of the first peak portion 32, counting from one end in the longitudinal direction of the second corrugated tube 30. The opening end 36 corresponds to a region between the opening end 30a and one side surface (one end side) of the third peak portion 32, counting from one end in the longitudinal direction of the second corrugated tube 30. Note that the positional relationship between the opening end 30a and the opening end 36 is not limited to the above-mentioned relationship, and can be set appropriately depending on the manufacturing requirements of the wire harness WH1.

[0040] [Protective tube] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the protective tube 40. As shown in Fig. 4, the protective tube 40 accommodates the branch wire 20 of the wire harness WH1 inside. The inner diameter of the protective tube 40 is set to a size capable of accommodating the bundle of electric wires forming the branch wire 20 of the wire harness WH1.

[0041] [Wire harness branching structure] Next, the configuration of the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness. Specifically, Fig. 5 is a side view of the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness after the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 is covered with the first corrugated tube 1.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness includes a first corrugated tube 1, a main wire 10 and a branch wire 20 of a wire harness WH1, a second corrugated tube 30, and a protective tube 40.

[0043] The branch wire 20 branches off from the trunk wire 10 at one end 51 of the branching portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 (see FIG. 4). The first corrugated tube 1 covers the trunk wire 10 (trunk wire 10A) at one end 51 of the branching portion 50 of the wire harness WH1. The second corrugated tube 30 covers the trunk wire 10 (trunk wire 10B) at the other end 52 of the branching portion 50 of the wire harness WH1. The protective tube 40 covers the branch wire 20.

[0044] The branch covering portion 5 of the first corrugated tube 1 covers a branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1. In an accommodation area 72 of the cutout hole portion 7 of the first corrugated tube 1, a branch wire 20 covered with a protective tube 40 passes through the cutout hole portion 7. At the other end 52 of the branch portion 50, an open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 is fixed to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 by a fixing member 60 in a state in which the open end 6 covers the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30.

[0045] The fixing member 60 is, for example, a fixing tape. In this embodiment, the fixing member 60 is wrapped around a region where the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covers the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 and a region in the vicinity of the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 exposed from the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1.

[0046] The fixing member 60 may be wrapped around only an area where the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covers the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30, thereby fixing the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30. In this case, the fixing member 60 may be a fixing band instead of a fixing tape.

[0047] Furthermore, when there is a large difference between the inner diameter of the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 and the outer diameter of the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30, a tape or the like may be wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 to provide an appropriate thickness. This makes it possible to minimize the gap between the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 and the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30.

[0048] Furthermore, when the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 is fixed to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 by the fixing member 60, if a gap exists between the cutout hole portion 7 and the protective tube 40, the gap may be sealed with tape or the like.

[0049] [How to install the first corrugated tube] Next, a method of assembling the first corrugated tube 1 in the branching structure BS1 of the wire harness will be described. As shown in Fig. 4, in a state where the branch wire 20 branches off from the trunk wire 10 at one end 51 of the branching portion 50, the trunk wire 10 (trunk wire 10B) arranged at the other end 52 of the branching portion 50 is accommodated in the second corrugated tube 30 through a slit in the second corrugated tube 30. Similarly, in a state where the branch wire 20 branches off from the trunk wire 10 at one end 51 of the branching portion 50, the branch wire 20 is inserted into and accommodated in the protective tube 40.

[0050] In this state, the trunk line 10 (trunk line 10A) arranged on one end 51 side of the branching portion 50 is accommodated in the first corrugated tube 1 through the slit 4 of the first corrugated tube 1. With the trunk line 10A accommodated in the first corrugated tube 1, the branching portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 is located outside the open end 1a of the first corrugated tube 1.

[0051] In this state, the branch wire 20 accommodated in the protective tube 40 is introduced into the accommodation area 72 through the introduction area 71 of the cutout hole portion 7. Accordingly, the branch portion 50 is also inserted into the first corrugated tube 1. As a result, the branch portion 50 is accommodated in the first corrugated tube 1, and the branch wire 20 accommodated in the protective tube 40 passes through the cutout hole portion 7.

[0052] With the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 housed in the first corrugated tube 1, the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covers the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30. In this state, the fixing member 60 is wrapped around at least an area where the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covers the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30, and the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 is fixed to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30. As a result, in the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness, the first corrugated tube 1 is assembled to an assembly of the trunk wire 10 and the branch wires 20 of the wire harness WH1, the second corrugated tube 30, and the protective tube 40.

[0053] [Actions and Effects] According to this embodiment, the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness includes a first corrugated tube 1, a trunk wire 10 and a branch wire 20 of the wire harness WH1, a second corrugated tube 30, and a protective tube 40. At a branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1, the branch wire 20 branches off from the trunk wire 10. The first corrugated tube 1 covers the trunk wire 10 (trunk wire 10A) on one end 51 side of the branch portion 50. The second corrugated tube 30 covers the trunk wire 10 (trunk wire 10B) on the other end 52 side of the branch portion 50. The protective tube 40 covers the branch wire 20. The branch wire 20 branches off from the trunk wire 10 on one end 51 side of the branch portion 50.

[0054] The first corrugated tube 1 has a branch covering portion 5 and a cutout hole portion 7. The branch covering portion 5 covers the branch portion 50 and has an open end portion 6 disposed at the other end 52 of the branch portion 50. The cutout hole portion 7 is provided in the branch covering portion 5 and has an introduction region 71 that opens to the outside, and a storage region 72 that communicates with the introduction region 71. The length of the introduction region 71 in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1 is equal to or greater than the length of the open end portion 6. The branch wire 20 covered by the protective tube 40 passes through the cutout hole portion 7 while being introduced into the storage region 72 via the introduction region 71.

[0055] The second corrugated tube 30 has an open end 36 disposed at the other end 52 of the branch portion 50. The open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 is fixed to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 by a fixing member 60 in a state in which the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covers the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30.

[0056] With the above-mentioned configuration, the branch portion 50 is accommodated in the first corrugated tube 1 simply by introducing the branch wire 20 covered with the protective tube 40 into the cutout hole 7 provided in the branch covering portion 5 of the first corrugated tube 1. Therefore, the branch portion 50 can be covered with the branch covering portion 5.

[0057] This allows the branch covering portion 5 of the first corrugated tube 1 to be easily provided as an exterior member at the branch portion 50. This eliminates the need to prepare multiple exterior members for each combination of trunk line size and branch line size, making it possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0058] Furthermore, with the above-described configuration, at the other end 52 of the branching portion 50, the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 is fixed to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 by the fixing member 60 in a state in which the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covers the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30. Here, the size of the second corrugated tube 30 can be set to a size suitable for the diameter of the bundle of electric wires forming the trunk line 10 (trunk line 10B) arranged on the other end 52 side of the branching portion 50. This makes it possible to minimize the gap between the second corrugated tube 30 and the trunk line 10B inside the second corrugated tube 30.

[0059] For this reason, when the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 is fixed to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 using the fixing member 60, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a dent in the second corrugated tube 30. Therefore, the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 can be easily fixed to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 using the fixing member 60.

[0060] In this manner, according to the branching structure BS1 of the wire harness, an exterior member can be easily provided at the branching portion 50 of the wire harness WH1 while suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0061] As a method of providing an exterior member at the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1, it is possible to wrap a thick tape around the branch portion 50. However, since the thick tape does not stretch easily, it is difficult to wrap the thick tape around the branch portion 50 without gaps. In addition, the method of winding the thick tape may change depending on the diameter of the electric wire bundle forming the trunk line 10 and the diameter of the electric wire bundle forming the branch line 20 at the branch portion 50. In this case, it is not possible to provide an exterior member at the branch portion 50 in the same operation, which reduces work efficiency.

[0062] In contrast, in the present embodiment, the method of attaching the first corrugated tube 1 does not change depending on the diameter of the electric wire bundle forming the trunk line 10 and the diameter of the electric wire bundle forming the branch line 20 at the branching portion 50. Therefore, the exterior member can be provided at the branching portion 50 through the same operation, and a decrease in work efficiency can be suppressed.

[0063] As another method of providing an exterior member at the branch portion 50 of the wire harness WH1, it is possible to cover the trunk lines 10A, 10B and the branch portion 50 only with the first corrugated tube 1 without using the second corrugated tube 30. However, in this case, the diameter of the bundle of electric wires forming the trunk line 10B is smaller than the diameter of the bundle of electric wires forming the trunk line 10A, so that a gap between the first corrugated tube 1 and the trunk line 10B becomes large inside the first corrugated tube 1. Therefore, when the wire harness WH1 is fixed to a vehicle body or the like by wrapping a fixing tape around the first corrugated tube 1 at the other end 52 side of the branch portion 50, a dent may occur in the first corrugated tube 1. In this case, it becomes difficult to wrap the fixing tape around the first corrugated tube 1, and the work efficiency decreases.

[0064] In contrast to this, in this embodiment, the second corrugated tube 30 having an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the electric wire bundle forming the trunk line 10B is used on the other end 52 side of the branching portion 50. This makes it possible to minimize the gap between the second corrugated tube 30 and the trunk line 10B inside the second corrugated tube 30. Therefore, even when the wire harness WH1 is fixed to a vehicle body or the like by wrapping a fixing tape around the second corrugated tube 30 on the other end 52 side of the branching portion 50, it is possible to avoid the second corrugated tube 30 from being dented, and to suppress a decrease in work efficiency.

[0065] In this embodiment, the branch covering portion 5 of the first corrugated tube 1 can be provided as an exterior member at the branch portion 50 in a single operation. Therefore, this embodiment is also applicable to automatic production of the wire harness WH1.

[0066] According to this embodiment, the first corrugated tube 1 is formed with slits 4 extending along the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 1 .

[0067] With the above-mentioned configuration, the first corrugated tube 1 can accommodate the trunk wire 10A through the slit 4. Therefore, the first corrugated tube 1 can accommodate the trunk wire 10A easily.

[0068] According to this embodiment, the first corrugated tube 1 is formed in a bellows shape with annular peaks 2 and annular valleys 3 alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the second corrugated tube 30 is formed in a bellows shape with annular peaks 32 and annular valleys 33 alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction.

[0069] With the above-described configuration, it is possible to use generally used corrugated tubes as the first corrugated tube 1 and the second corrugated tube 30. This makes it possible to further suppress an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0070] [Variations] In the above-described embodiment, the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness in which the number of branch wires branching off from the trunk wire of the wire harness at the branch portion of the wire harness is one has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of branch wires may be multiple. In this modified example, a branch structure BS2 of the wire harness in which the number of branch wires branching off from the trunk wire of the wire harness at the branch portion of the wire harness is two will be described.

[0071] First, a configuration of the branching portion 150 of the wire harness WH2 according to this modified example will be described. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the branching portion 150 of the wire harness WH2. Specifically, Fig. 8 is a side view of the branching portion 150 of the wire harness WH2 before the branching portion 150 of the wire harness WH2 is covered with a first corrugated tube 101 described later. In Fig. 8, the first corrugated tube 101 is indicated by a dashed line in order to clarify the positional relationship between the first corrugated tube 101 and a second corrugated tube 130 described later.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 8, the wire harness WH2 includes a trunk line 110, branch lines 120A and 120B, and a branching portion 150. At the branching portion 150, the branch lines 120A and 120B branch off from the trunk line 110. The branching portion 150 has one end 151 and the other end 152. The branch lines 120A and 120B branch off from the trunk line 110 at the one end 151 side of the branching portion 150. In this embodiment, the branch lines 120A and 120B extend in opposite directions to each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the trunk line 110. Note that the direction in which each of the branch lines 120A and 120B extends is not limited to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the trunk line 110, and can be appropriately set according to the environment inside the vehicle in which the wire harness WH2 is arranged.

[0073] 8, the trunk line 110 arranged on one end 151 side of the branching portion 150 is shown as trunk line 110A, and the trunk line 110 arranged on the other end 152 side of the branching portion 150 is shown as trunk line 110B. In the following description, the trunk line 110 arranged on one end 151 side of the branching portion 150 will be referred to as trunk line 110A as appropriate. Similarly, the trunk line 110 arranged on the other end 152 side of the branching portion 150 will be referred to as trunk line 110B as appropriate.

[0074] The trunk line 110A and the branch portion 150 are covered with a first corrugated tube 101. The trunk line 110B is covered with a second corrugated tube 130. The branch lines 120A and 120B are covered with protective tubes 140A and 140B, respectively, which will be described later. The first corrugated tube 101, the second corrugated tube 130, and the protective tubes 140A and 140B are also referred to as a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, respectively.

[0075] Next, the configuration of the first corrugated tube 101 will be described. In this embodiment, a branch covering portion 105 of the first corrugated tube 101, which will be described later, is used as an exterior member provided at the branch portion 150 of the wire harness WH2. Fig. 6 is a side view of the first corrugated tube 101 according to this modification. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 6. Note that the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are set in the same manner as the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, respectively.

[0076] 6 and 7, the first corrugated tube 101 is formed in a bellows shape in which annular peaks 102 and annular valleys 103 are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101. The inner diameter of the first corrugated tube 101 corresponds to the diameter of the electric wire bundle forming the trunk line 110A of the wire harness WH2.

[0077] The first corrugated tube 101 has a slit 104 and a branched covering portion 105. The slit 104 extends along the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101. The first corrugated tube 101 accommodates therein a trunk wire 110A of the wire harness WH2 through the slit 104.

[0078] In this modification, the slits 104 are provided on the side surface (-Y side) of the first corrugated tube 101. Note that the location where the slits 104 are provided is not limited to the side surface (-Y side) of the first corrugated tube 101. The slits 104 are provided at appropriate positions according to the manufacturing requirements of the wire harness WH2.

[0079] The branch covering portion 105 is a portion that covers the branch portion 150 when the first corrugated tube 101 accommodates the trunk line 110A of the wire harness WH2 and the branch portion 150 therein. The branch covering portion 105 is also called a covering portion. The branch covering portion 105 has an open end 106 and cutout hole portions 107A and 107B.

[0080] The open end 106 is located on the +X side of the branch covering portion 105, and the first corrugated tube 101 has an open end 101a at one end (+X side) in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101. When the first corrugated tube 101 accommodates the trunk line 110A and the branch portion 150 of the wire harness WH2 therein, the open end 106 is disposed at the other end 152 of the branch portion 150 (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0081] Each of the cutout holes 107A and 107B is provided in the branch covering portion 105 by cutting out a part of the branch covering portion 105 in a rectangular shape by a predetermined length from the open end 101a of the first corrugated tube 101 along the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101. With this configuration, the cutout holes 107A and 107B penetrate the branch covering portion 105 and communicate between the inside and outside of the first corrugated tube 101 (see FIG. 7). The widths of the cutout holes 107A and 107B (the length along the width direction of the first corrugated tube 101) correspond to the outer diameters of the protective tubes 140A and 140B, respectively.

[0082] In this modification, the notched holes 107A and 107B are provided in the bottom surface (-Z side) and top surface (+Z side) of the first corrugated tube 101, respectively. Note that the locations where the notched holes 107A and 107B are provided are not limited to the bottom surface (-Z side) and top surface (+Z side) of the first corrugated tube 101. The notched holes 107A and 107B are provided in appropriate positions depending on the directions in which the branch wires 120A and 120B of the wire harness WH1 extend.

[0083] The cutout hole portion 107A has an introduction area 171A and a storage area 172A (see FIG. 6). The introduction area 171A is located on the +X side of the cutout hole portion 107A and opens to the outside. The storage area 172A is located on the -X side of the cutout hole portion 107A and communicates with the introduction area 171A.

[0084] In this modification, the length of the introduction region 171A in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101 is equal to the length of the open end 106. Note that the length of the introduction region 171A in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101 is not limited to being equal to the length of the open end 106, and may be equal to or greater than the length of the open end 106. Also, in this modification, the length of the storage region 172A in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101 corresponds to the outer diameter of the protective tube 140A.

[0085] The cutout hole portion 107B has an introduction area 171B and a storage area 172B (see FIG. 6). The introduction area 171B is located on the +X side of the cutout hole portion 107B and opens to the outside. The storage area 172B is located on the -X side of the cutout hole portion 107A and communicates with the introduction area 171B.

[0086] In this modification, the length of the introduction region 171B in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101 is equal to the length of the open end 106. Note that the length of the introduction region 171B in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101 is not limited to being equal to the length of the open end 106, and may be equal to or greater than the length of the open end 106. Also, in this modification, the length of the storage region 172B in the longitudinal direction of the first corrugated tube 101 corresponds to the outer diameter of the protective tube 140B.

[0087] As described below, the branch wire 120A of the wire harness WH2 covered by the protective tube 140A penetrates the cutout hole portion 107A in a state where it is introduced into the accommodation area 172A via the introduction area 171A (see FIG. 9). Similarly, the branch wire 120B of the wire harness WH2 covered by the protective tube 140B penetrates the cutout hole portion 107B in a state where it is introduced into the accommodation area 172B via the introduction area 171B (see FIG. 9).

[0088] Next, the configuration of the second corrugated tube 130 will be described. As shown in Fig. 8, the second corrugated tube 130 is formed in a bellows shape in which annular peaks 132 and annular valleys 133 are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the second corrugated tube 130. The inner diameter of the second corrugated tube 130 corresponds to the diameter of the electric wire bundle forming the trunk line 110B of the wire harness WH2. The outer diameter of the second corrugated tube 130 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first corrugated tube 101.

[0089] The second corrugated tube 130 has an open end 136 at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the second corrugated tube 130. When the second corrugated tube 130 accommodates the trunk wire 110B of the wire harness WH2 inside, the open end 136 is disposed at the other end 152 of the branch portion 150. The open end 136 has an open end 130a of the second corrugated tube 130 at one end in the longitudinal direction of the open end 136.

[0090] The second corrugated tube 130 has a slit (not shown) extending along the longitudinal direction of the second corrugated tube 130. The second corrugated tube 130 accommodates the trunk wire 110B of the wire harness WH2 therein through the slit.

[0091] Next, the configuration of the protective tubes 140A and 140B will be described. As shown in Fig. 8, the protective tubes 140A and 140B accommodate the branch wires 120A and 120B of the wire harness WH2, respectively. The inner diameters of the protective tubes 140A and 140B are set to a size capable of accommodating the electric wire bundles forming the branch wires 120A and 120B of the wire harness WH2, respectively.

[0092] Next, the configuration of the branch structure BS2 of the wire harness will be described. Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the branch structure BS2 of the wire harness. Specifically, Fig. 9 is a side view of the branch structure BS2 of the wire harness after the branch portion 150 of the wire harness WH2 is covered with the first corrugated tube 101.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 9, the branch structure BS2 of the wire harness includes a first corrugated tube 101, a trunk wire 110 and branch wires 120A and 120B of a wire harness WH2, a second corrugated tube 130, and protective tubes 140A and 140B.

[0094] The branch wires 120A, 120B branch off from the trunk wire 110 at one end 151 of the branching portion 150 of the wire harness WH2 (see FIG. 8). The first corrugated tube 101 covers the trunk wire 110 (trunk wire 110A) at one end 151 of the branching portion 150 of the wire harness WH2. The second corrugated tube 130 covers the trunk wire 110 (trunk wire 110B) at the other end 152 of the branching portion 150 of the wire harness WH2. The protective tubes 140A, 140B cover the branch wires 120A, 120B, respectively.

[0095] The branch covering portion 105 of the first corrugated tube 101 covers a branch portion 150 of the wire harness WH2. In the accommodation regions 172A and 172B of the cutout holes 107A and 107B of the first corrugated tube 101, the branch wires 120A and 120B covered with the protective tubes 140A and 140B, respectively, pass through the cutout holes 107A and 107B. At the other end 152 of the branch portion 150, the open end 106 of the first corrugated tube 101 is fixed to the open end 136 of the second corrugated tube 130 by a fixing member 160 in a state in which the open end 106 covers the open end 136 of the second corrugated tube 130.

[0096] A method of assembling the first corrugated tube 101 in the branch structure BS2 of the wire harness is similar to the method of assembling the first corrugated tube 1 in the branch structure BS1 of the wire harness, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0097] According to this modification, the branch structure BS2 of the wire harness includes a first corrugated tube 101, a trunk wire 110 and branch wires 120A, 120B of the wire harness WH2, a second corrugated tube 130, and protective tubes 140A, 140B. The first corrugated tube 101 has cutout holes 107A, 107B in a branch covering portion 105. The cutout holes 107A, 107B are provided in the branch covering portion 105.

[0098] The cutout hole 107A has an introduction area 171A that opens to the outside, and a storage area 172A that communicates with the introduction area 171A. The branch wire 120A covered by the protective tube 140A passes through the cutout hole 107A in a state where it is introduced into the storage area 172A via the introduction area 171A. The cutout hole 107B has an introduction area 171B that opens to the outside, and a storage area 172B that communicates with the introduction area 171B. The branch wire 120B covered by the protective tube 140B passes through the cutout hole 107B in a state where it is introduced into the storage area 172B via the introduction area 171B.

[0099] With the above-mentioned configuration, the branch portion 150 is accommodated in the first corrugated tube 101 simply by introducing the branch wires 120A, 120B covered with the protective tubes 140A, 140B, respectively, into the cutout holes 107A, 107B provided in the branch covering portion 105 of the first corrugated tube 101. Therefore, the branch portion 150 can be covered with the branch covering portion 105. This allows the branch covering portion 105 of the first corrugated tube 101 to be easily provided on the branch portion 150 as an exterior member.

[0100] In this way, according to the branching structure BS2 of the wire harness, there is no need to prepare multiple exterior members for each combination of the size of the main wire and the sizes of multiple branch wires, so that increases in manufacturing costs can be more effectively suppressed.

[0101] [Other variations] In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the open end of the first corrugated tube covers the open end of the second corrugated tube, but in this state, each valley portion of the first corrugated tube may be disposed between adjacent peak portions of the second corrugated tube.

[0102] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the method of fixing the first corrugated tubes 1, 101. In FIG.

[0103] First, a modified method of fixing the first corrugated tube 1 will be described. As shown in Fig. 10, with the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covering the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30, the valley portions 3 of the first corrugated tube 1 are disposed between adjacent peak portions 32, 32 of the second corrugated tube 30. In this state, the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 is fixed to the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30 by a fixing member 60.

[0104] Next, a modified example of the method of fixing the first corrugated tube 101 will be described. As shown in Fig. 10, with the open end 106 of the first corrugated tube 101 covering the open end 136 of the second corrugated tube 130, the valley portions 103 of the first corrugated tube 101 are disposed between adjacent peak portions 132, 132 of the second corrugated tube 130. In this state, the open end 106 of the first corrugated tube 101 is fixed to the open end 136 of the second corrugated tube 130 by a fixing member 160.

[0105] According to this modified example, the open end 6 (or 106) of the first corrugated tube 1 (or 101) covers the open end 36 (or 136) of the second corrugated tube 30 (or 130), and the valley portion 3 (or 103) of the first corrugated tube 1 (or 101) is positioned between adjacent peak portions 32, 32 (or 132, 132) of the second corrugated tube 30 (or 130).

[0106] With the above-described configuration, with the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covering the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30, the peaks 2 and valleys 3 of the first corrugated tube 1 can be engaged with the peaks 32 and valleys 33 of the second corrugated tube 30. This makes it difficult for the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 to come off the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30. Therefore, the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 can be fixed to the open end of the second corrugated tube 30 by simply wrapping the fixing member 60 around only the area where the open end 6 of the first corrugated tube 1 covers the open end 36 of the second corrugated tube 30.

[0107] Similarly, with the above-mentioned configuration, in a state in which the open end 106 of the first corrugated tube 101 covers the open end 136 of the second corrugated tube 130, the peaks 102 and valleys 103 of the first corrugated tube 101 can be engaged with the peaks 132 and valleys 133 of the second corrugated tube 130. This makes it difficult for the open end 106 of the first corrugated tube 101 to come off the open end 136 of the second corrugated tube 130. Therefore, the open end 106 of the first corrugated tube 101 can be fixed to the open end 136 of the second corrugated tube 130 by simply wrapping the fixing member 160 around only the region where the open end 106 of the first corrugated tube 101 covers the open end 136 of the second corrugated tube 130.

[0108] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 1, 101 First corrugated tube 2, 102 Yamabe 3, 103 Valley 4, 104 Slit 5, 105 Branch coating section 6, 106 Open end 7, 107A, 107B Notched hole 10, 10A, 10B, 110, 110A, 110B main line 20, 120A, 120B branch line 30, 130 Second corrugated tube 32, 132 Yamabe 33, 133 Valley 36, 136 Open end 40, 140A, 140B Protection tube 50, 150 Branch 51, 151 one end 52, 152 other end 60, 160, 260 Fixing member 71, 171A, 171B introduction area 72, 172A, 172B Containment Area WH1, WH2 Wire harness BS1, BS2 Wire harness branch structure

Claims

1. The main wire of the wire harness, A branch line of the wire harness branching from the trunk line at a branch portion of the wire harness; A first pipe body covering the trunk line on one end side of the branch portion; A second pipe covering the trunk line on the other end side of the branch portion; A third pipe covering the branch line; Equipped with The branch line branches off from the trunk line at one end side of the branch portion, The first tube is a cover portion covering the branch portion and having an open end portion disposed at the other end of the branch portion; a cutout hole portion provided in the covering portion, the cutout hole portion having an introduction area that opens to the outside and a storage area that communicates with the introduction area; having A length of the introduction area in a longitudinal direction of the first pipe is equal to or greater than a length of the opening end, The branch wire covered by the third pipe passes through the notch hole in a state where the branch wire is introduced into the accommodation area via the introduction area, the second pipe has an open end disposed at the other end of the branch portion, A branching structure of a wire harness, in which an open end of the first pipe is fixed to the open end of the second pipe by a fixing member in a state where the open end of the first pipe covers the open end of the second pipe.

2. The branch structure of the wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein the first pipe has a slit formed therein along a longitudinal direction of the first pipe.

3. The branch structure of the wire harness includes a plurality of branch wires of the wire harness and a plurality of the third pipes, The first pipe has a plurality of the cutout holes in the covering portion, 3. The branch structure of a wire harness according to claim 1, wherein each of the branch wires covered by each of the third pipes passes through each of the cutout holes.

4. 3. The branch structure of the wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the first tube and the second tube are formed in a bellows shape in which annular peaks and annular valleys are alternately arranged along a longitudinal direction.

5. 5. The branch structure of a wire harness according to claim 4, wherein when the open end of the first pipe covers the open end of the second pipe, each valley portion of the first pipe is disposed between adjacent peak portions of the second pipe.

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