Wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness that enables appropriate routing of routing members.SOLUTION: A wire harness 1 includes conductive routing members 10, and molded components 20 that are provided integrally with the routing members 10 and cover the routing members 10 externally. The molded components 20 include those that are formed of mutually different materials selected according to a function or performance required at installation locations with respect to routing paths of the routing members 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness including a bundle of electric wires and a resin protector that accommodates the bundle of electric wires in a predetermined bent shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-55822 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the wire harness described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 can route the wire bundle in a proper state by attaching a protector to the wire bundle, but a configuration that can route the wiring material in a proper manner using a simpler method is desired.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness that allows wiring materials to be properly routed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the wire harness of the present invention comprises a conductive wiring material and a plurality of molded members that are integral with the wiring material and cover the wiring material from the outside, and the plurality of molded members include members formed from different materials. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The wire harness according to the present invention has an effect of being able to properly route the wiring material.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, the constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be replaced by those skilled in the art and are easy to replace, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] The wire harness 1 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a collective component formed by bundling a plurality of wiring materials 10 used for power supply and signal communication for connecting between various devices mounted on a vehicle, and connecting the plurality of wiring materials 10 to each device with a connector or the like.

[0011] In the wire harness 1, the wiring material 10 is routed along a preset wiring path, and a molded member 20 is provided on the wiring material 10 as necessary. And the wire harness 1 of the present embodiment is realized by a configuration in which the molded member 20 provided integrally with the wiring material 10 is formed of different materials according to the functions (performance) required for the installation location of the wiring material 10 with respect to the wiring path, so that the wiring material 10 can be properly routed. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the wire harness 1 will be described in detail.

[0012] In the following description, among the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction that intersect each other, the first direction is referred to as the "length direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z". Here, the length direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are perpendicular to each other. Also, the length direction X shown in FIG. 2 typically corresponds to the extending direction (axial direction) of the cable member 10. Further, the width direction Y shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the width direction of the mold forming member 20, and the height direction Z corresponds to the thickness direction of the mold forming member 20.

[0013] In addition, the wire harness 1 may further include various components such as corrugated tubes, exterior members such as protectors, electrical connection boxes, and fixtures.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness 1 includes a cable member 10 having conductivity and a mold forming member 20.

[0015] The cable member 10 is routed in the vehicle and electrically connects each device. The cable member 10 of the present embodiment includes a conductive conductor portion (core wire) and an insulating coating portion, and is an insulated electric wire in which the conductor portion is coated with the insulating coating portion. The conductor portion here is a stranded wire formed by twisting a plurality of conductive strands. Also, the insulating coating portion is formed, for example, by extrusion molding an insulating resin material (such as PP, PVC, cross-linked PE, etc., appropriately selected in consideration of abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, etc.). Note that the conductor portion may be a bundle of a plurality of strands.

[0016] Further, the cable member 10 has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape of the conductor portion (the cross-sectional shape in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the cable member 10), and a substantially annular cross-sectional shape of the insulating coating portion, and has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape as a whole.

[0017] The mold-formed member 20 is an exterior member for the cable harness 10, and by inserting the cable harness 10 therein, the cable harness 10 can be protected. The mold-formed member 20 of the present embodiment is provided along the extending direction (length direction X) of the cable harness 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the mold-formed member 20 has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape in a direction intersecting the length direction X, and is provided around a plurality of cable harnesses 10 routed along a preset cable routing path. Therefore, the mold-formed member 20 can protect the plurality of cable harnesses 10 in a state where they are bundled together.

[0018] Further, the mold-formed member 20 is formed of, for example, a resin material having insulation properties. Also, the mold-formed member 20 is integrally provided with the cable harness 10 by being molded by a predetermined mold, and can cover a part of the cable harness 10 from the outside. Therefore, the mold-formed member 20 can be formed of different materials according to the functions (or performances) required for the location where it is provided on the cable harness 10 (the installation location with respect to the cable routing path of the cable harness 10), so that the cable harness 10 can be properly routed.

[0019] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the mold-formed member 20 of the present embodiment includes a deformation restricting member 21 and a deformation allowing member 22.

[0020] The deformation restricting member 21 can properly route the cable harness 10 by restricting the deformation of the cable harness 10. The deformation restricting member 21 is formed of a relatively hard resin material (such as PP), and is formed harder than the deformation allowing member 22. Therefore, the deformation restricting member 21 of the present embodiment has higher rigidity than the deformation allowing member 22, and is configured such that the amount of deformation with respect to external forces such as bending and torsion is smaller than that of the deformation allowing member 22.

[0021] Further, the deformation restricting member 21 is provided, for example, at a straight portion where the cable member 10 is linearly routed in the routing path of the cable member 10. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the deformation restricting member 21 is formed in a linear shape. Then, the deformation restricting member 21 can improve the straightness of the cable member 10 by restricting the deformation of the cable member 10 inserted therein and correcting the position (angle and shape) of the cable member 10. Therefore, the deformation restricting member 21 provided at the straight portion is formed of a relatively hard resin material and is formed in a linear shape along the routing path of the cable member 10, so that the cable member 10 can be properly routed.

[0022] Furthermore, more specifically, the deformation restricting member 21 may be provided, for example, at a corner portion (also referred to as an edge portion) formed by the cable member 10 being routed in a bent manner in the routing path of the cable member This case, the deformation restricting member 21 is formed in a shape that covers the corner portion. Then, the deformation restricting member 21 can properly protect the corner portion of the cable member 10 by restricting the deformation of the cable member 10 inserted therein. Therefore, the deformation restricting member 21 provided at the corner portion (edge portion) is formed of a relatively hard resin material and is provided so as to cover the corner portion (edge portion), so that the cable member can be properly routed.

[0023] Note that the deformation restricting member 21 described above is installed at a location where the cable member 10 is not desired to be deformed (that is, a location where the deformation of the cable member 10 is desired to be restricted) regardless of the shape in which the cable member 10 is routed in the routing path of the cable member 10, and by restricting the deformation of the cable member 10 at the installation location, the cable member 10 can be routed in an appropriate state. Therefore, the deformation restricting member 21 is formed of a relatively hard resin material, so that the cable member 10 can be properly routed.

[0024] The deformation allowance member 22 can properly route the cable member 10 by allowing the deformation of the cable member 10. The deformation allowance member 22 is formed of a relatively soft resin material (such as an elastomer) and is formed harder than the deformation restricting member 21. Therefore, the deformation allowance member 22 of the present embodiment has lower rigidity than the deformation restricting member 21 and is configured such that the amount of deformation with respect to external forces such as bending and torsion is larger than that of the deformation restricting member 21.

[0025] Further, the deformation allowance member 22 is provided, for example, at a bent portion where the cable member 10 is routed in a curved shape in the routing path of the cable member 10. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the deformation allowance member 22 is formed in a bent shape (for example, a bent shape such as an L shape or a U shape) according to the shape of the routing path of the cable member 10. Then, the deformation allowance member 22 can properly bend the cable member 10 along the shape of the routing path by allowing the deformation of the cable member 10 inserted therein while correcting the position (angle and shape) of the cable member 10. Therefore, the deformation allowance member 22 provided at the bent portion is formed of a relatively soft resin material and is formed in a bent shape according to the shape of the routing path of the cable member 10, so that the cable member 10 can be properly routed.

[0026] Note that the deformation allowance member 22 described above can be installed at a location where the cable member 10 is to be deformed regardless of the shape in which the cable member 10 is routed in the routing path of the cable member 10, and by allowing the deformation of the cable member 10 at the installation location, the cable member 10 can be routed in an appropriate state. Therefore, the deformation allowance member 22 can properly route the cable member 10 by being formed of a relatively soft resin material.

[0027] Next, a manufacturing method of the wire harness 1 configured as described above will be described.

[0028] The manufacturing method of the wire harness 1 includes an arranging step and a molding step. The arranging step mentioned here is a step of arranging a plurality of wire routing members 10 in a predetermined mold. The molding step is a step of injection molding (mold molding) a mold molding member 20 around the plurality of wire routing members 10 arranged in the mold. Note that the manufacturing method of this wire harness will be described as being automatically performed by various manufacturing apparatuses.

[0029] Specifically, first, as the arranging step, a partial section of the wire routing member 10 is arranged in the mold. At this time, the mold is composed of two molds, a lower mold and an upper mold, and the shape of the mold is determined according to the shape of a preset wire routing path. Then, when the wire routing member 10 is arranged inside the molding part of the lower mold, by combining the lower mold and the upper mold, a partial section of the wire routing member 10 is arranged in a cavity formed by the molding part of the lower mold and the molding part of the upper mold.

[0030] Then, as a molding process, the molten resin material is injected into the cavity. At this time, a part of the wiring material 10 is covered from the outside by the lower mold and the upper mold. Then, when the molten resin material is injected from the nozzle of the injection device, the resin material fills the inside (cavity) of the mold. Then, by curing the resin material filled in the cavity, the mold molding member 20 is injection molded (mold molded) so as to cover the outside of a part of the section of the wiring material 10 disposed in the cavity. Therefore, the wire harness 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method described above injects a resin material selected according to the shape of the preset wiring path into a mold formed according to the shape of the preset wiring path, so that the mold molding member 20 can be integrally provided around the wiring material 10 disposed inside the mold. Further, the wire harness 1 corrects and fixes the position of the wiring material 10 by the mold molding member 20 formed of different materials according to the shape of the wiring path of the preset wiring material 10, so that the wiring material 10 can be properly wired along the shape of the wiring path. Further, the wire harness 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method described above can directly provide various-shaped mold molding members 20 to the wiring material 10 and directly provide mold molding members 20 of various materials to the wiring material 10 by molding the mold molding member 20 by injection molding (mold molding) instead of extrusion molding. Therefore, the wire harness 1 does not need to manually assemble protective members such as corrugated tubes and protectors according to the shape of the wiring path, and can be automatically manufactured by various manufacturing devices. Therefore, the wire harness 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method described above has good manufacturing efficiency and can contribute to the automation of the manufacturing process by performing injection molding (mold molding) on the jig plate.

[0031] The wire harness 1 described above includes a conductive wiring material 10 and a plurality of mold molding members 20 provided integrally with the wiring material 10 and covering the wiring material 10 from the outside, and the plurality of mold molding members 20 include those formed of different materials from each other.

[0032] According to such a configuration, the wire harness 1 can route the wiring material 10 in an appropriate state by selecting the material of the molding member 20 according to the function (or performance) required for the installation location of the molding member 20 with respect to the wiring path of the wiring material 10. Further, the wire harness 1 is configured by a molding member 20 formed by injection molding (molding) an exterior member for the wiring material 10, so that a plurality of molding members 20 having different functions can be provided on the wiring material 10. Therefore, the wire harness 1 can route the wiring material 10 more appropriately.

[0033] More specifically, the plurality of molding members 20 applied to the wire harness 1 described above include a deformation restricting member 21 formed of a relatively hard resin material and a deformation allowing member 22 formed of a relatively soft resin material. According to such a configuration, the wire harness 1 can give the wiring material 10 properties related to deformation (for example, straightness, meandering, etc.) by varying the hardness of the resin material constituting the molding member 20. Further, in the preset wiring path of the wiring material 10, the wire harness 1 installs the deformation restricting member 21 at a location where the wiring material 10 is not desired to be deformed (that is, a location where the deformation of the wiring material 10 is desired to be restricted), and installs the deformation allowing member 22 at a location where the wiring material 10 is desired to be deformed, so that the position (angle and shape) of the wiring material 10 can be corrected according to the shape of the preset wiring path of the wiring material 10. Therefore, the wire harness 1 can route the wiring material 10 appropriately.

[0034] Note that the wire harness 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope described in the claims.

[0035] For example, the range where the molding member 20 is provided is not particularly limited.

[0036] Moreover, the functions (or performances) required for the installation location of the mold forming member 20 are not limited to the properties related to the deformation described above (for example, straightness, meandering property, etc.). The mold forming member 20 may include, for example, those formed of different materials according to the properties such as heat resistance, durability, and waterproofness required for the installation location.

[0037] Also, the wire harness 1 according to the present embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments described above.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0038] 1 Wire harness 10 Cable routing material 20 Mold forming member 21 Deformation restricting member 22 Deformation allowing member X Length direction Y Width direction Z Height direction

Claims

**Claim 1** A wiring material having conductivity, Comprising a plurality of molded members provided integrally with the wiring material and covering the wiring material from the outside, The plurality of molded members include those formed of different materials from each other, A wire harness. **Claim 2** The plurality of molded members are configured to include a deformation restricting member formed of a relatively hard resin material and a deformation allowing member formed of a relatively soft resin material, The wire harness according to claim 1.

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