Wire harness and manufacturing method of wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness capable of facilitating work for mounting a protective member to a branch part.SOLUTION: A wire harness 1 comprises: a wire bundle 10 including a trunk 12 and a plurality of branches 14 branched from the trunk 12 at a branch part 5; a tubular trunk protective member 20 in which the branch part 5 and the trunk 12 are disposed inside; and a plurality of tubular branch protective members 30 in which the plurality of branches 14 are disposed inside. Each of the plurality of branch protective members 30 includes a first skirt part 34 and a second skirt part 36 of which the ends are divided by slits 32 provided in the ends. The first skirt part 34 and the second skirt part 36 are stored inside of the trunk protective member 20 in a state where an inner peripheral surface of the first skirt part 34 and an outer peripheral surface of the second skirt part 36 are opposed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire harness and a method for manufacturing a wire harness.

Background Art

[0002] A wire harness including a wire bundle branches the wire bundle according to the installation location such as a vehicle and is connected to various devices. Conventionally, in order to protect such a branch portion of the wire harness from interfering objects, it is known to provide a protection member at the branch portion.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a branch portion protection structure of a wire harness including a first side main tubular protection member through which a main trunk line is inserted, a second side main tubular protection member through which the main trunk line is inserted, and a branch tubular protection member through which a branch line is inserted. An inclined portion is provided at an end portion on the branch portion side of the first side main tubular protection member. The end portion of the first side main tubular protection member and the end portion of the second side main tubular protection member face each other at the inclined portion. Further, the end portion of the first side main tubular protection member and the end portion of the branch tubular protection member face each other at the inclined portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the conventional branch portion protection structure, the inclined portion is fixed with tape in order to align the end portions of the second side main tubular protection member and the branch tubular protection member. Further, in the conventional branch portion protection structure, it is necessary to individually select a protection member according to the shape of the inclined portion. However, these operations are complicated, and it has been required to facilitate the operation for attaching the protection member to the branch portion.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of such conventional technologies. The object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness and a method for manufacturing a wire harness that can facilitate the work for attaching a protection member to a branch portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The wire harness according to an aspect of the present invention includes an electric wire bundle including a main line and a plurality of branch lines branched from the main line at a branch portion, a tubular main line protection member in which the branch portion and the main line are disposed inside, and a plurality of tubular branch line protection members in which each of the plurality of branch lines is disposed inside. Each of the plurality of branch line protection members includes a first skirt portion and a second skirt portion whose ends are divided by a slit provided at the end. The first skirt portion and the second skirt portion are accommodated inside the main line protection member in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion face each other.

[0008] The method for manufacturing a wire harness according to another aspect of the present invention includes a step of preparing an electric wire bundle including a main line and a plurality of branch lines branched from the main line at a branch portion, a tubular main line protection member, and a plurality of tubular branch line protection members. The manufacturing method includes a step of disposing the branch portion and the main line inside the tubular main line protection member. The manufacturing method includes a step of disposing each of the plurality of branch lines inside a plurality of branch line protection members each including a first skirt portion and a second skirt portion whose ends are divided by a slit provided at each end. The manufacturing method includes a step of accommodating the first skirt portion and the second skirt portion inside the main line protection member in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion face each other.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wire harness and a method for manufacturing a wire harness that can facilitate the work for attaching a protection member to a branch portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, the wire harness and the method for manufacturing the wire harness according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may be different from the actual ratios.

[0012] [Wire Harness] First, the wire harness 1 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness 1 according to this embodiment includes an electric wire bundle 10, a tubular trunk wire protection member 20, a tubular branch wire protection member 30, and a fixing member 40.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 7, the wire harness 10 includes a main line 12 and a plurality of branch lines 14. The plurality of branch lines 14 branch off from the main line 12 at the branch portion 5. The wire harness 10 includes a plurality of electric wires. The plurality of electric wires included in the main line 12 branch off at the branch portion 5, and among the plurality of electric wires included in the main line 12, some of the electric wires branch off at the branch portion 5 to form the branch lines 14. For example, a connector is provided at the end of the main line 12 and is connected to a junction box or the like mounted on the vehicle. Also, for example, a connector is provided at the other end of the branch line 14 and is connected to an electronic device or the like mounted on the vehicle. Thereby, the wire harness 1 can electrically connect various devices.

[0014] Each electric wire may include a conductor and an insulating coating layer that covers the conductor. The conductor may be composed of a single strand or may include a plurality of strands. The strand may include a conductive metal such as copper or aluminum. The insulating coating layer may include a resin such as polyolefin or vinyl chloride. The electric wires included in the wire harness 10 may be the same or different in shape, material, or the like.

[0015] The branch portion 5 and the main line 12 are arranged inside the tubular main line protection member 20. A part of the branch line 14 may be arranged inside the main line protection member 20. The main line protection member 20 is a cylindrical tube and protects the branch portion 5 and the main line 12 so that interfering objects do not damage the main line 12.

[0016] Inside each of the tubular branch line protection members 30, a branch line 14 is disposed. In the present embodiment, the branch portion 5 and the main line 12 are not disposed inside the branch line protection member 30. The branch line protection member 30 is a cylindrical tube, and protects the branch line 14 so that an interfering object or the like does not damage the branch line 14. At each end of each of the plurality of branch line protection members 30, a slit 32 is provided (see FIG. 8). Specifically, in the central axis direction, the slit 32 extends from the first end, which is one end of the branch line protection member 30, toward the second end, which is the other end, to a position closer to the first end than the midpoint between the first end and the second end. As will be described later, the first end is the end that is accommodated inside the main line protection member 20. The second end is the end that is exposed without being accommodated in the main line protection member 20. The slit 32 is provided partially at the ends of the plurality of branch line protection members 30 and is not cut from the first end to the second end. That is, the branch line protection member 30 includes a continuous cylindrical portion at the second end and is not cut in the circumferential direction. The slit 32 may be provided parallel to the central axis or may be provided inclined with respect to the central axis.

[0017] The branch line protection member 30 includes a first skirt portion 34 and a second skirt portion 36 whose end (first end) is divided by the slit 32. The first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 are accommodated inside the main line protection member 20 with the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 facing the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36. The first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 may be accommodated inside the main line protection member 20 with the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36. By being accommodated inside the main line protection member 20 with the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 facing the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36, a plurality of branch lines 14 are disposed inside the main line protection member 20 via the branch line protection member 30. Therefore, the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30 enhance the effect of protecting the branch portion 5.

[0018] In addition, the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 face each other. That is, the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the inner peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 face each other, and the first end portion of the branch line protection member 30 bulges outward in the radial direction, suppressing the first end portion of the branch line protection member 30 from being folded and overlapping multiple times and bulging inside the trunk line protection member 20. Similarly, the outer peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 face each other, suppressing the first end portion of the branch line protection member 30 from entering inward in the radial direction and the first end portion of the branch line protection member 30 from being folded and overlapping multiple times and bulging inside the trunk line protection member 20. Therefore, the first end portion of the branch line protection member 30 can be easily accommodated inside the trunk line protection member 20. In addition, since it is possible to suppress the first end portion from being folded and overlapping multiple times and bulging, it is possible to suppress the branch portion 5 of the wire harness 1 from becoming thick or the flexibility of the branch portion 5 from decreasing.

[0019] Note that the entire slit 32 may be accommodated inside the trunk line protection member 20, or a part of the slit 32 may be exposed outside the trunk line protection member 20. When the entire slit 32 is accommodated inside the trunk line protection member 20, since the slit 32 is covered by the trunk line protection member 20 and does not expose from the trunk line protection member 20, the protection effect of the branch line 14 can be made higher.

[0020] The inner diameter of the trunk line protection member 20 may be smaller than the outer diameter of the branch line protection member 30. This makes it easier to accommodate the branch line protection member 30 inside the trunk line protection member 20. The trunk line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30 are cylindrical tubes whose length in the central axis direction is longer than the diameter, but the length and the size of the diameter are not particularly limited and can be determined as appropriate. The trunk line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30 may be formed of an elastomer such as a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, or rubber, respectively.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, the slit 32 may be provided parallel to the tube thickness direction of the branch line protection member 30. When the slit 32 is parallel to the tube thickness direction, the slit 32 can be easily provided. Note that the tube thickness direction means the thickness of the tube wall such as the tube included in the branch line protection member 30.

[0022] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the slit 32 may be provided inclined with respect to the tube thickness direction of the branch line protection member 30. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, the circumferential end surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the circumferential end surface of the second skirt portion 36 face each other, and when a force acts in the circumferential direction, due to the inclination of the end surfaces, a force acts such that the first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 move radially inward and outward, respectively. Therefore, the end surfaces are less likely to interfere with each other, and the first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 are more likely to overlap. Therefore, just by applying a radial force to the portion of the slit 32, the diameter of the branch line protection member 30 is likely to become smaller. Such a force also occurs when the first end portion of the branch line protection member 30 touches and is pushed against the inside of the main line protection member 20 or touches and is pushed against another branch line protection member 30 when the first end portion of the branch line protection member 30 is accommodated inside the main line protection member 20. Therefore, the first end portions of the branch line protection members 30 can be easily overlapped.

[0023] The fixing member 40 is provided on the surfaces of the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30 in a state where the first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 are accommodated inside the main line protection member 20, and fixes the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30. In the present embodiment, the fixing member 40 is an adhesive tape. By winding and attaching the adhesive tape at the branch portion 5, the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30 can be easily fixed at the branch portion 5. The adhesive tape may include a base material and an adhesive provided on the surface of the base material. Note that the fixing member 40 may be fixed by attaching a member such as a rubber tube, or may be fixed by winding a sheet member.

[0024] In addition, when the radial contraction force in the tubular main line protection member 20 and the tubular branch line protection member 30 is high, etc., the main line protection member 20 is fixed to the main line 12, and the branch line protection member 30 is fixed to the branch line 14. Therefore, the fixing member 40 may not be provided in the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30, and the wire harness 1 may not include the fixing member 40.

[0025] [Manufacturing Method of Wire Harness] Next, the manufacturing method of the wire harness 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The manufacturing method of the wire harness 1 according to the present embodiment includes a preparation step, a protection member arrangement step, a slit overlapping step, a branch line protection member accommodation step, and a fixing member attachment step.

[0026] (Preparation Step) As shown in FIG. 7, the preparation step is a step of preparing the wire bundle 10, the tubular main line protection member 20, and a plurality of tubular branch line protection members 30. The wire bundle 10 includes the main line 12 and a plurality of branch lines 14 that branch from the main line 12 at the branch portion 5. Since the wire bundle 10, the main line protection member 20, and the branch line protection member 30 have been described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0027] (Protection Member Arrangement Step) As shown in FIG. 8, the protection member arrangement step is a step of arranging the branch portion 5 and the main line 12 inside the tubular main line protection member 20. Further, the protection member arrangement step is a step of arranging each of the plurality of branch lines 14 inside a plurality of branch line protection members 30 including a first skirt portion 34 and a second skirt portion 36 whose ends are divided by slits 32 provided at the respective ends.

[0028] Note that the timing for providing the slit 32 is not particularly limited. For example, before the protective member arrangement step or in the protective member arrangement step, the slit 32 may be provided at each end of each of the plurality of branch line protective members 30 to form a first skirt portion 34 and a second skirt portion 36 with the ends being divided. Also, after the protective member arrangement step, the slit 32 may be provided at each end of each of the plurality of branch line protective members 30 to form a first skirt portion 34 and a second skirt portion 36 with the ends being divided.

[0029] (Slit overlapping step) As shown in FIG. 9, the slit overlapping step is a step of bringing the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 into an opposing state. By overlapping the first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 with the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 being opposed, the diameter of the first end portion of the branch line protective member 30 provided with the slit 32 can be made thinner. Therefore, even without winding a tape or the like around the first end portion of the branch line protective member 30, in the branch line protective member accommodation step, the branch line protective member 30 can be easily accommodated inside the main line protective member 20. Also, since it is not necessary to wind a tape or the like around the first end portion of the branch line protective member 30, it is possible to suppress the branch portion 5 from becoming hard or thick. Also, since it is not necessary to wind a tape or the like around the first end portion of the branch line protective member 30, it is possible to suppress the first end portion of the branch line protective member 30 from bulging, and the working efficiency is increased.

[0030] (Branch line protective member accommodation step) As shown in FIG. 10, the branch line protective member accommodation step is a step of accommodating the first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 inside the main line protective member 20 with the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 being opposed. By this step, since the first end portion of the branch line protective member 30 is accommodated inside the main line protective member 20, the branch portion 5 can be completely covered by the main line protective member 20 and the branch line protective member 30, and the protection effect of the branch portion 5 is enhanced.

[0031] Note that the slit overlapping process may not be performed before the branch line protection member housing process, and may be performed simultaneously with the branch line protection member housing process. In the present embodiment, since the slit 32 is provided in the branch line protection member 30, when the branch line protection member 30 is housed inside the main line protection member 20, a force acts in the radial direction, so that the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 face each other. In particular, when the slit 32 is provided inclined with respect to the pipe thickness direction of the branch line protection member, such an action is likely to occur.

[0032] (Fixing member attachment process) As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing member attachment process is a process of attaching the fixing member 40. When the fixing member 40 is a tape, the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30 can be fixed to the main line 12 and the branch line 14 by winding the tape from above the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30. In the present embodiment, the fixing member 40 is a tape, and by attaching the fixing member 40 to the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30, the main line protection member 20 and the branch line protection member 30 can be fixed at the branch portion 5.

[0033] As described above, the wire harness 1 according to the present embodiment includes a wire bundle 10 including the main line 12 and a plurality of branch lines 14 branched from the main line 12 at the branch portion 5. The wire harness 1 includes a tubular main line protection member 20 in which the branch portion 5 and the main line 12 are arranged inside, and a plurality of tubular branch line protection members 30 in which each of the plurality of branch lines 14 is arranged inside. Each of the plurality of branch line protection members 30 includes a first skirt portion 34 and a second skirt portion 36 whose ends are divided by a slit 32 provided at the end. The first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 are housed inside the main line protection member 20 in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 face each other.

[0034] Moreover, the manufacturing method of the wire harness 1 according to the present embodiment includes a step of preparing a wire bundle 10 including a trunk line 12 and a plurality of branch lines 14 branching from the trunk line 12 at a branch portion 5, a tubular trunk line protection member 20, and a plurality of tubular branch line protection members 30. The manufacturing method includes a step of disposing the branch portion 5 and the trunk line 12 inside the tubular trunk line protection member 20. The manufacturing method includes a step of disposing each of the plurality of branch lines 14 inside a plurality of branch line protection members 30 including a first skirt portion 34 and a second skirt portion 36 whose ends are divided by slits 32 provided at their respective ends. The manufacturing method includes a step of accommodating the first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 inside the trunk line protection member 20 in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion 36 face each other.

[0035] In the wire harness 1 according to the present embodiment, the slits 32 are provided in the branch line protection members 30 in a partial manner. The branch line protection members 30 are provided with a first skirt portion 34 and a second skirt portion 36 whose ends are divided by the slits 32, and the first skirt portion 34 and the second skirt portion 36 can be overlapped with each other. Therefore, it is easy to narrow the ends of the branch line protection members 30. Therefore, when accommodating inside the trunk line protection member 20, the ends of the branch line protection members 30 can be easily accommodated inside the trunk line protection member 20. Therefore, the trunk line protection member 20 and the branch line protection members 30 can be easily attached to the branch portion 5, and it is possible to reduce the working time.

[0036] Also, the slits 32 are partially provided at the ends of the plurality of branch line protection members 30 and are not cut from the first end to the second end. Therefore, the branch line protection members 30 can be made thinner in diameter toward the first end and can be easily accommodated inside the trunk line protection member 20. Also, the second end of the branch line protection member 30 is not thinned, and the electric wires arranged on the second end side of the branch line protection member 30 can move relatively freely inside the branch line protection member 30. Therefore, the flexibility of the wire harness 1 can be maintained.

[0037] Further, even without wrapping and fixing a tape or the like around the end of each branch wire protection member 30, the end of the branch wire protection member 30 can be reduced in diameter. Therefore, the time and cost for manufacturing the wire harness 1 can be reduced by omitting the tape attachment work. Also, when omitting the tape attachment work, since the space inside the trunk wire protection member 20 can be made smaller, the diameter of the trunk wire protection member 20 can be reduced to a size more suitable for the size of the trunk wire 12.

[0038] In the above embodiment, an example in which the wire harness 1 includes two branch wires 14 has been described. However, the wire harness 1 only needs to include a plurality of branch wires 14, and the plurality of branch wires 14 may be three or more, four or more, five or more, or six or more. Since the end of the protection member is easily reduced in diameter by the slit in the wire harness according to the present embodiment, even when there are a plurality of branch wires, the work for attaching the protection member to the branch portion can be facilitated.

[0039] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0040] 1 Wire harness 5 Branch portion 10 Wire bundle 12 Trunk wire 14 Branch wire 20 Trunk wire protection member 30 Branch wire protection member 32 Slit 34 First skirt portion 36 Second skirt portion

Claims

1. An electric wire bundle including a main line and a plurality of branch lines branching from the main line at a branch portion, a tubular main line protection member in which the branch portion and the main line are disposed inside, a plurality of tubular branch line protection members in which each of the plurality of branch lines is disposed inside, characterized by comprising: each of the plurality of branch line protection members includes a first skirt portion and a second skirt portion in which the end portion is divided by a slit provided at the end portion, the first skirt portion and the second skirt portion are accommodated inside the main line protection member in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion face each other, a wire harness.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the slit is provided obliquely with respect to the tube thickness direction of the branch line protection member.

3. A step of preparing an electric wire bundle including a main line and a plurality of branch lines branching from the main line at a branch portion, a tubular main line protection member, and a plurality of tubular branch line protection members, a step of disposing the branch portion and the main line inside the tubular main line protection member, a step of disposing each of the plurality of branch lines inside a plurality of branch line protection members each including a first skirt portion and a second skirt portion in which the end portion is divided by a slit provided at each end portion, a step of accommodating the first skirt portion and the second skirt portion inside the main line protection member in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the first skirt portion and the outer peripheral surface of the second skirt portion face each other, characterized by including: a method for manufacturing a wire harness.

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