Wiring harness

Abstract

To easily bend an electric wire.SOLUTION: A wiring harness W comprises a first electric wire 10, a second electric wire 20 and a connection component 30. The first electric wire 10 has a first core wire 11. The second electric wire 20 has a second core wire 21. The connection component 30 electrically connects the first core wire 11 with the second core wire 21. The connection component 30 has a first connection 31, a second connection 32, and a bellows part 33. The first connection 31 is electrically connected with the first core wire 11. The second connection 32 is electrically connected with the second core wire 21. The bellows part 33 is provided between the first connection 31 and the second connection 32 and has a bellows shape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a covered electric wire. This covered electric wire has a removed portion where the insulating coating has been removed. The removed portion has a flat portion where the conductor portion has been flattened. A covering member that maintains the shape of the flat portion is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the flat portion so as to cover the removed portion. Because the covering member maintains the shape of the flat portion, this covered electric wire has high rigidity and poor flexibility.

[0003] In contrast, the electric wire with a shield pipe of Patent Document 2 is easily bendable. This electric wire with a shield pipe includes an electric wire and a shield pipe through which the electric wire is inserted. The shield pipe has a bellows shape in part, making it easily bendable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-95280 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-143614 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, even in the technology of Patent Document 2, the flexibility of the electric wires inserted inside the shield pipe is not taken into consideration, and there is room for improvement in this respect.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a technique that makes it possible to make an electric wire easier to bend. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The wire harness of the present disclosure includes a first electric wire having a first core wire, a second electric wire having a second core wire, and a connecting component that electrically connects the first core wire to the second core wire, and the connecting component has a first connecting portion electrically connected to the first core wire, a second connecting portion electrically connected to the second core wire, and a bellows-shaped bellows portion provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, the electric wire can be easily bent. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a wire harness according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting piece. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first electric wire and the second electric wire. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a connecting part is connected to the first electric wire and the second electric wire. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a waterproofing agent is applied to a gap between a first electric wire and a connecting part and a gap between a second electric wire and a connecting part. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the outer periphery of the waterproofing agent is covered with a shrinkable tube. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the wire harness of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 of the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

[0011] The wire harness of the present disclosure includes: (1) A first electric wire having a first core wire, a second electric wire having a second core wire, and a connecting part that electrically connects the first core wire to the second core wire, wherein the connecting part has a first connecting part electrically connected to the first core wire, a second connecting part electrically connected to the second core wire, and a bellows-shaped bellows part provided between the first connecting part and the second connecting part.

[0012] According to this configuration, the bellows portion is provided between the first core wire and the second core wire, which makes it easier to bend the portion between the first core wire and the second core wire, and therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to make the electric wire formed by the first electric wire, the second electric wire, and the connecting part easier to bend.

[0013] (2) The first connecting portion, the second connecting portion, and the bellows portion may be configured by a cylindrical conductive portion electrically connected to both the first core wire and the second core wire, and an insulating portion provided radially outside the conductive portion.

[0014] According to this configuration, the first core wire can be electrically connected to the second core wire by the conductive portion, and the conductive portion can be electrically insulated from the outside by the insulating portion.

[0015] (3) In the configuration of (2), the first electric wire may have a first insulating coating covering the outer periphery of the first core wire, the second electric wire may have a second insulating coating covering the outer periphery of the second core wire, the first core wire may have a first exposed portion exposed from the first insulating coating at one end of the first electric wire, the second core wire may have a second exposed portion exposed from the second insulating coating at one end of the second electric wire, the first connection portion may be electrically connected to the first exposed portion, and the second connection portion may be electrically connected to the second exposed portion.

[0016] According to this configuration, the first connection portion is electrically connected to the first exposed portion, and the second connection portion is electrically connected to the second exposed portion, thereby realizing a configuration in which the first core wire is electrically connected to the second core wire.

[0017] (4) In the configuration (3), the first connection portion may be crimped to the first exposed portion, and the second connection portion may be crimped to the second exposed portion.

[0018] According to this configuration, the first connection portion can be connected to the first exposed portion, and the second connection portion can be connected to the second exposed portion by crimping.

[0019] (5) The wire harness may include a waterproofing agent that fills a gap between at least one of the first electric wire and the second electric wire and the connecting component.

[0020] According to this configuration, the waterproofing agent can prevent water from entering the gap.

[0021] (6) In the configuration of (5) above, a shrinkable tube may be provided to cover the outer periphery of the waterproofing agent.

[0022] According to this configuration, the shrinkage force of the shrink tube causes the waterproofing agent to adhere closely to at least one of the above-mentioned components and the connecting component, thereby improving the effect of the waterproofing agent in suppressing water penetration.

[0023] (7) The wire harness may include an adhesive shrink tube having a configuration in which an adhesive is applied to a shrink tube. The adhesive shrink tube may be adhered to at least one of the first electric wire and the second electric wire and the connecting part, and may be disposed in a state in which a gap between the at least one of the first electric wire and the second electric wire and the connecting part is filled.

[0024] According to this configuration, the adhesive shrink tube can prevent water from entering the gap.

[0025] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0026] <Embodiment 1> (Wire harness configuration) 1 discloses a wire harness W according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the wire harness W includes a first electric wire 10, a second electric wire 20, and a connecting part 30.

[0027] The first electric wire 10 is configured as a coated electric wire. As shown in FIG. 3, the first electric wire 10 has a first core wire 11 and a first insulating coating 12. The first core wire 11 is electrically conductive. The outer circumferential surface of the first core wire 11 is covered with the first insulating coating 12 except for the end portion. The first core wire 11 has a first exposed portion 13 where the outer circumferential surface is exposed from one end of the first insulating coating 12. The first exposed portion 13 is provided at one end of the first core wire 11. The first insulating coating 12 is cylindrical.

[0028] The second electric wire 20 is configured as a coated electric wire. As shown in FIG. 3 , the second electric wire 20 has a second core wire 21 and a second insulating coating 22. The second core wire 21 is conductive. The outer circumferential surface of the second core wire 21 is covered with the second insulating coating 22 except for the end portion. The second core wire 21 has a second exposed portion 23 where the outer circumferential surface is exposed from one end of the second insulating coating 22. The second exposed portion 23 is provided at one end of the second core wire 21. The second insulating coating 22 is cylindrical.

[0029] The connecting part 30 is a part that electrically connects the first core wire 11 to the second core wire 21. As shown in FIG. 2 , the connecting part 30 has a first connecting portion 31, a second connecting portion 32, and a bellows portion 33.

[0030] 4, the first connection portion 31 is provided at one end of the connection component 30 and is connected to the first electric wire 10. The first connection portion 31 has a cylindrical shape that extends linearly, and is crimped to the first exposed portion 13 that is inserted from an opening on one end side of the first connection portion 31.

[0031] 4, the second connection portion 32 is provided at the other end of the connection component 30 and is connected to the second electric wire 20. The second connection portion 32 has a cylindrical shape that extends linearly, and is crimped to the second exposed portion 23 that is inserted from an opening on one end side of the second connection portion 32.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the bellows portion 33 is provided between the first connecting portion 31 and the second connecting portion 32. The bellows portion 33 has a bellows shape. A bellows shape means that the cross section cut in the axial direction has a wave shape or a shape with repeated concaves and convexes. The bellows portion 33 is stretchable and bendable. The bellows portion 33 bends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction by expanding the wave shape or the concave-convex shape on one side and contracting the wave shape or the concave-convex shape on the other side.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4 , the first connecting portion 31, the second connecting portion 32, and the bellows portion 33 are composed of a conductive portion 40 and an insulating portion 41. The conductive portion 40 is electrically connected to both the first core wire 11 and the second core wire 21. The conductive portion 40 is cylindrical. The conductive portion 40 is made of, for example, metal and has a plate shape. The insulating portion 41 is provided radially outside the conductive portion 40. The insulating portion 41 is cylindrical. The insulating portion 41 is bonded to the conductive portion 40. The coating thickness of the insulating portion 41 is smaller than the plate thickness of the conductive portion 40.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6 , the wire harness W includes a waterproofing agent 50 and a shrinkable tube 51. The waterproofing agent 50 has insulating properties. Examples of the waterproofing agent 50 include silicone resin, grease, butyl rubber, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, thermoplastic resin, and other adhesives having viscosity and elasticity. In this embodiment, a silicone resin that hardens upon drying is used. The waterproofing agents 50 are provided in two locations. One waterproofing agent 50 fills the gap between the first electric wire 10 and the connection part 30 (more specifically, the first connection portion 31). The other waterproofing agent 50 fills the gap between the second electric wire 20 and the connection part 30 (more specifically, the second connection portion 32).

[0035] The shrink tube 51 is, for example, a heat-shrinkable tube. The shrink tube 51 is made of, for example, a thermoplastic resin. The shrink tube 51 has insulating properties. The shrink tube 51 is tubular. The shrink tube 51 is obtained, for example, by extruding a resin member into a very thin tubular shape, stretching it into a thick tubular shape while heated, and then cooling it. The shrink tube 51 obtained in this manner has shape memory properties, such that when heated, it shrinks back to the thin tubular shape it had before being stretched. Two shrink tubes 51 are provided. Each shrink tube 51 covers the outer periphery of each waterproofing agent 50.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1 , the wire harness W includes a first connector 61 and a second connector 62. The first connector 61 has insulating properties. The first connector 61 is made of synthetic resin. The first connector 61 is connected to the other end of the first electric wire 10 described above. The second connector 62 has insulating properties. The second connector 62 is made of synthetic resin. The second connector 62 is connected to the other end of the second electric wire 20 described above.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1 , the wire harness W includes a shielding member 63, a first coupling member 64, and a second coupling member 65. The shielding member 63 is conductive and tubular. The shielding member 63 is a braided wire. The shielding member 63 covers the first electric wires 10, the second electric wires 20, and the connecting parts 30. One end of the shielding member 63 is coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the first connector 61 by the first coupling member 64. The other end of the shielding member 63 is coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the second connector 62 by the second coupling member 65.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1 , the wire harness W includes an exterior member 66, a first protective member 67, and a second protective member 68. The exterior member 66 is insulating and tubular. The exterior member 66 is flexible and configured as, for example, a corrugated tube. The exterior member 66 covers the outer periphery of the shielding member 63. One end of the exterior member 66 is fixed to the first connector 61 via the first protective member 67. The other end of the exterior member 66 is fixed to the second connector 62 via the second protective member 68. The first protective member 67 and the second protective member 68 are insulating and tubular. The first protective member 67 is fixed to the outer periphery of the first connector 61 while covering the first connecting member 64. The second protective member 68 is fixed to the outer periphery of the second connector 62 while covering the second connecting member 65.

[0039] (Wire harness manufacturing method) The connection part 30 of the wire harness W is manufactured, for example, as follows. First, a cylindrical member made of metal (for example, aluminum) is manufactured. The cylindrical member is compressed from the radial outside to form a bellows shape. This forms the conductive part 40 of the connection part 30. The outer peripheral surface of the conductive part 40 is painted with insulating paint. This forms an insulating layer made of insulating parts 41 on the outer peripheral surface of the conductive part 40. In this manner, the connection part 30 is manufactured. Note that the manufacturing method of the connection part 30 is not limited to this method. For example, the conductive part 40 may be formed by casting.

[0040] The first electric wire 10 and the second electric wire 20 are formed by removing the insulating coating from one end of a coated electric wire to expose the outer circumferential surface of one end of the core wire (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 4, the first exposed portion 13 of the first core wire 11 is inserted into the inside of the first connecting portion 31 of the connecting part 30 from one end side of the connecting part 30. The first connecting portion 31 is crimped to the first exposed portion 13. The second exposed portion 23 of the second core wire 21 is inserted into the inside of the second connecting portion 32 of the connecting part 30 from the other end side of the connecting part 30. The second connecting portion 32 is crimped to the second exposed portion 23. At this time, the first core wire 11 and the second core wire 21 are arranged with a gap between them. Therefore, a space is formed inside the bellows portion 33. Therefore, even when the bellows portion 33 is bent, the inner circumferential surface of the bellows portion 33 does not interfere with the first core wire 11 and the second core wire 21, and the bellows portion 33 is easily bent.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 5, a waterproofing agent 50 is applied so as to fill the gap between the first electric wire 10 and the connecting part 30 and the gap between the second electric wire 20 and the connecting part 30. Then, as shown in Fig. 6, a shrink tube 51 is attached so as to cover the outer periphery of each waterproofing agent 50. By attaching the shrink tube 51, the waterproofing agent 50 comes into close contact with the first electric wire 10, the second electric wire 20, and the connecting part 30, and more reliably fills the gaps between the components.

[0042] Thereafter, a cylindrical shielding member 63 is inserted from the other end side of the first electric wire 10 or the other end side of the second electric wire 20 so as to cover the outer peripheries of the first electric wire 10, the second electric wire 20, and the connecting part 30. In FIG. 1 , two bellows-shaped electric wires 70 each composed of the first electric wire 10, the second electric wire 20, and the connecting part 30 are inserted inside the shielding member 63. A cylindrical exterior member 66 is inserted so as to cover the outer periphery of the shielding member 63.

[0043] The other end of each first electric wire 10 is connected to a first connector 61, and the other end of each second electric wire 20 is connected to a second connector 62. One end of the shielding member 63 is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the first connector 61 by a first connecting member 64, and the other end is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the second connector 62 by a second connecting member 65. One end of the exterior member 66 is fixed to the first connector 61 via a first protective member 67, and the other end of the exterior member 66 is fixed to the second connector 62 via a second protective member 68. In this manner, the wire harness W is manufactured.

[0044] When not elastically deformed, the wire harness W extends linearly. The wire harness W assumes the state shown in FIG. 1 when the portion where the connection part 30 is provided is bent. When the connection part 30 is bent, the wire harness W attempts to return to its original shape due to its own elastic force. The wire harness W is held in the bent state by being fixed to a vehicle body panel (not shown).

[0045] (Example of the effect of wire harnesses) According to the wire harness W, the bellows portion 33 is provided between the first core wire 11 and the second core wire 21, and therefore the portion between the first core wire 11 and the second core wire 21 can be easily bent. Therefore, according to the wire harness W, the electric wire formed by the first electric wire 10, the second electric wire 20, and the connecting part 30 can be easily bent.

[0046] Furthermore, the first connection portion 31, the second connection portion 32, and the bellows portion 33 are configured by a cylindrical conductive portion 40 electrically connected to both the first core wire 11 and the second core wire 21, and an insulating portion 41 provided radially outside the conductive portion 40. According to this configuration, the conductive portion 40 electrically connects the first core wire 11 to the second core wire 21, and the insulating portion 41 can electrically insulate the conductive portion 40 from the outside.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the wire harness W, a configuration can be realized in which the first connection portion 31 is electrically connected to the first exposed portion 13 and the second connection portion 32 is electrically connected to the second exposed portion 23, thereby electrically connecting the first core wire 11 to the second core wire 21.

[0048] Furthermore, according to the wire harness W, the first connecting portion 31 can be connected to the first exposed portion 13 and the second connecting portion 32 can be connected to the second exposed portion 23 by crimping.

[0049] Furthermore, according to the wire harness W, the waterproofing agent 50 can prevent water from entering the gap between the first electric wire 10 and the connecting part 30, and the gap between the second electric wire 20 and the connecting part 30.

[0050] Furthermore, according to the wire harness W, the shrinkage force of the shrink tube 51 causes the waterproofing agent 50 to adhere closely to the first electric wire 10, the second electric wire 20, and the connecting part 30, thereby improving the effect of the waterproofing agent 50 in suppressing water penetration.

[0051] <Embodiment 2> In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which all of the electric wires inserted inside the shielding member are bellows electric wires. However, some of the electric wires inserted inside the shielding member do not have to be bellows electric wires. In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which non-bellows electric wires that do not have a bellows portion are inserted inside the shielding member. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 7 , the wire harness W2 of the second embodiment includes a bellows-equipped electric wire 70, a waterproofing agent 50, a shrinkable tube 51, a non-bellows-equipped electric wire 71, a first connector 61, a second connector 62, a shielding member 63, a first connecting member 64, a second connecting member 65, an outer casing member 66, a first protective member 67, and a second protective member 68.

[0053] The non-bellows electric wire 71 is configured as a covered electric wire. One end of the non-bellows electric wire 71 is connected to the first connector 61, and the other end of the non-bellows electric wire 71 is connected to the second connector 62. As shown in FIG. 7 , the bellows electric wire 70 has a bent connection part 30, and the non-bellows electric wire 71 is bent outside the bent connection part 30. If the bellows electric wire 70 is arranged outside the non-bellows electric wire 71, the curvature of the bellows electric wire 70 cannot be made larger than the curvature of the non-bellows electric wire 71. This reduces the curvature of the entire wire harness W2. On the other hand, if the bellows electric wire 70 is arranged inside the non-bellows electric wire 71, the curvature of the bellows electric wire 70 can be made larger than the curvature of the non-bellows electric wire 71. Therefore, with this configuration, the curvature of the entire wire harness W2 can be made larger.

[0054] <Embodiment 3> In the first embodiment, the wire harness is configured to include a waterproofing agent and a shrinkable tube. In contrast, in the third embodiment, a wire harness is configured to include a shrinkable tube with adhesive instead of the waterproofing agent and the shrinkable tube. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 8, the wire harness of the third embodiment includes a first electric wire 10, a second electric wire 20, a connecting part 30, and an adhesive shrink tube 350.

[0056] The adhesive shrink tube 350 has a configuration in which the waterproofing agent 50 is applied to the inside of the shrink tube 51 described in the first embodiment. Two adhesive shrink tubes 350 are provided. One adhesive shrink tube 350 is adhered to the first electric wire 10 and the connection part 30, and is disposed in a state in which it fills the gap between the first electric wire 10 and the connection part 30. The other adhesive shrink tube 350 is adhered to the second electric wire 20 and the connection part 30, and is disposed in a state in which it fills the gap between the second electric wire 20 and the connection part 30. With this configuration, the adhesive shrink tube 350 can prevent water from entering the gap between the first electric wire 10 and the connection part 30, and the gap between the second electric wire 20 and the connection part 30.

[0057] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. (1) In each of the above embodiments, the wire harness has a configuration in which an insulating coating is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical conductive portion. However, other configurations are also possible. For example, the wire harness may have a configuration in which a metal foil is applied to the inner peripheral surface of a resin-molded cylindrical insulating portion. Alternatively, the wire harness may have an insulating portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical conductive portion by two-color molding. (2) In each of the above embodiments, the first connection portion is cylindrical, but may have a different configuration. For example, the first connection portion may have an open barrel shape. The first connection portion is configured to be crimped to the first core wire, but may be configured to be electrically connected to the first core wire by another means. For example, the first connection portion may be configured to be welded to the first core wire by a technique such as ultrasonic bonding. The second connection portion is similar to the first connection portion. (3) In the first embodiment, the wire harness is configured to prevent water penetration by using a waterproofing agent and a shrinkable tube. However, the wire harness may be configured to prevent water penetration by using only a waterproofing agent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10...First electric wire 11...First core wire 12...First insulating coating 13...1st exposed part 20...Second electric wire 21...Second core wire 22...Second insulating coating 23…Second exposed part 30...Connection parts 31...First connection part 32...Second connection part 33...Bell section 40...Conductive part 41...Insulation part 50...Waterproofing agent 51...shrink tube 61...First connector 62...Second connector 63...Shielding material 64...First connecting member 65...Second connecting member 66...Exterior material 67...First protective member 68...Second protective member 70...Accordion wire 71... Non-bellows wire 350...Adhesive shrink tubing W...Wire harness W2...Wire harness

Claims

1. a first electric wire having a first core wire; a second electric wire having a second core wire; a connection part that electrically connects the first core wire to the second core wire, The connecting part has a first connecting portion electrically connected to the first core wire, a second connecting portion electrically connected to the second core wire, and a bellows-shaped bellows portion provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and is a cylindrical wire harness.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1 , further comprising a waterproofing agent that fills a gap between at least one of the first electric wire and the second electric wire and the connecting component.

3. The wire harness according to claim 2 , further comprising a shrinkable tube covering an outer periphery of the waterproofing agent.

4. The adhesive-coated shrink tube is configured by applying adhesive to the shrink tube, 4. The wire harness according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive shrink tube is adhered to at least one of the first electric wire and the second electric wire and the connection part, and is arranged in a state where it fills a gap between the at least one of the first electric wire and the second electric wire and the connection part.

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