Wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness which improves the degree of freedom in wiring while stabilizing the shield performance.SOLUTION: A wire harness 1 comprises: a plurality of wires 10; tape-like or sheet-like conductive nonwoven fabric 25 which is wound around a bundle of the plurality of wires 10 while allowing tip ends 11 of the plurality of wires 10 to be exposed therefrom; a connector 20 having a shield shell 23 which allows part of the tip ends 11 of the plurality of wires 10 to penetrate therethrough; and a cylindrical metal braid 24 which allows the tip ends 11 of the plurality of wires 10 to penetrate therethrough. A first end 24a, which is one end of the braid 24, is connected to a body cylindrical part 23a of the shield shell 23. A second end 24b, which is the other end of the braid 24, is connected to an opening end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, in vehicles such as hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles, wire harnesses having a shield structure have been used for electrically connecting an inverter to a battery or a motor. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a shielded wire harness that includes a braided conductor and a shield pipe as a tubular shielding member that collectively covers the periphery of multiple electric wires. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-40396 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the shielded wire harness disclosed in Patent Document 1, most of each electric wire is covered by a shield pipe, making it difficult to bend and reducing the degree of freedom in wiring. In contrast, for example, a configuration in which all of the wires are covered collectively with a braided conductor without using a shield pipe is also conceivable. However, in this case, if a portion of the braided conductor is bent significantly, the mesh of the braid may widen at the bent portion, potentially reducing the shielding performance.

[0005] 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 wire harness that improves the degree of freedom in wiring while stabilizing shielding performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A wire harness according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of electric wires, a tape-like or sheet-like conductive nonwoven fabric that is wrapped around a bundle of the plurality of electric wires while leaving the tip ends of the plurality of electric wires exposed, a connector having a shielding shell through which the tip ends of the plurality of electric wires pass, and a tubular metallic braid through which the tip ends of the plurality of electric wires pass, wherein a first end, which is one end of the braid, is connected to a main tubular portion of the shielding shell, and a second end, which is the other end of the braid, is connected to an open end of the conductive nonwoven fabric. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wire harness that stabilizes shielding performance and improves the degree of freedom in wiring. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a wire harness according to a second embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a wire harness according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, a wire harness according to each embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness 1 according to a first embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a part of the wire harness 1, in which one of a plurality of terminal portions included in the wire harness 1 is depicted.

[0011] The wire harness 1 has a shielded structure and is used, for example, in vehicles such as hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles to electrically connect an inverter to a battery or to electrically connect an inverter to a motor. The wire harness 1 includes a plurality of electric wires 10, a connector 20, a braid 24, a conductive nonwoven fabric 25, a first band 31, and a second band 32.

[0012] Each of the multiple electric wires 10 is a high-voltage cable directly connected to an inverter, a battery, a motor, or the like. However, the multiple electric wires 10 may be low-voltage cables when used in a path other than the conduction path related to the inverter. In this embodiment, as an example, the wire harness 1 includes two electric wires 10, a first electric wire 10a and a second electric wire 10b. Each electric wire 10 has a core wire, which is a conductor (not shown), and a coating, which is an insulator that covers the core wire. Furthermore, a terminal fitting 12 is attached to the end of each electric wire 10. Specifically, a tip of the core wire exposed by removing a portion of the coating of each electric wire 10 is crimped to a portion of one of the terminal fittings 12.

[0013] The connector 20 is provided at the terminal portion of the wire harness 1 and is connected to a mating connector (not shown). The connector 20 includes a housing 21, a packing 22, and a shield shell .

[0014] The housing 21 is a cylindrical insulating member through which the tip ends 11 of the multiple electric wires 10 pass. The housing 21 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. A part of the housing 21 is a connection portion 21a with a mating housing of a mating connector. In this embodiment, the outer peripheral shape of the connection portion 21a is set to be oval when viewed in the axial direction so that the tip ends 11 of the multiple electric wires 10 can be led out in parallel while being spaced apart from each other. This makes it possible to avoid, for example, short circuits due to contact between the terminal fittings 12.

[0015] Packing 22 is an annular member tightly attached along the outer periphery of connecting portion 21a of housing 21. In this case, the mating housing pre-installed in the mating connector has a male connector shape, and connector 20 and the mating connector are connected by inserting connecting portion 21a of housing 21. At this time, packing 22 exerts a waterproof function by being in close contact with both connector 20 and the mating connector.

[0016] The shield shell 23 is a cylindrical conductive member through which the tip ends 11 of the multiple electric wires 10 pass. The material of the shield shell 23 is, for example, an aluminum alloy. The cylindrical main body portion 23a of the shield shell 23 is assembled to one open end of the housing 21, specifically, to the outer periphery of the open end opposite the open end where the connection portion 21a is provided. The shield shell 23 also has a plate-shaped flange portion 23b that protrudes outward from the open peripheral edge of the cylindrical main body portion 23a on the side closer to the connection portion 21a. The flange portion 23b has a plurality of through holes 23c that each pass through the cylindrical main body portion 23a along the axial direction.

[0017] As an example, assume that the connector 20 provided at one terminal of the wire harness 1 is connected to an inverter. Generally, the inverter is housed in a shield case (not shown) made of a conductive material. The shield case is provided with connector mounting holes to which the connector 20 is connected. In this case, each terminal fitting 12 extending from the connector 20 is introduced into the shield case through a mounting hole formed in the connector mounting hole and connected to a terminal fitting on the inverter side. After the connection portion 21 a is connected to the connector mounting holes, bolts (not shown) inserted into each through hole 23 c are fastened to bolt holes on the shield shell 23 side, thereby attaching the shield shell 23 to the shield case for earth connection. This completes the connection of the connector 20 to the inverter and the shield case.

[0018] The braid 24 is a tubular conductive member through which the tip ends 11 of the multiple electric wires 10 pass. The braid 24 is formed by weaving braided wires made of a metal material such as a copper-nickel alloy into a mesh shape, and has properties such as flexibility, stretchability, and bendability in addition to rigidity. A first end 24a, which is one end of the braid 24, is connected to the tubular main body portion 23a of the shield shell 23. At this time, the first end 24a covers the outer surface of the tubular main body portion 23a so as to contact the inner circumferential surface of the tubular main body portion 23a. A second end 24b, which is the other end of the braid 24, is connected to the open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25. In this embodiment, the second end 24b covers the outer surface of the open end 25a so as to contact the inner circumferential surface of the open end 25a. The cross-sectional shape at the outer periphery of the main body tubular portion 23a is basically larger than the cross-sectional shape at the outer periphery of the open end 25a, so that at least a portion of the braid 24 has a flared shape in which the cross-sectional shape gradually increases from the second end 24b side toward the first end 24a side.

[0019] The conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is a tape- or sheet-shaped member formed by plating a nonwoven fabric with a metal. For example, the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is pre-treated with supercritical CO2 before being plated, thereby allowing the plating to penetrate deep into the fabric and making it conductive. The nonwoven fabric constituting the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 may be made of any of aramid fiber, glass fiber, cellulose fiber, polyamide synthetic fiber, vinylon fiber, polyester fiber, polyolefin fiber, and rayon fiber. Since the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is formed using a nonwoven fabric as a base material, it has properties such as flexibility, stretchability, and bendability.

[0020] In this embodiment, the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is, for example, tape-shaped and functions as a shielding member by being wrapped around a bundle of two electric wires 10 (hereinafter referred to as the "wire bundle") while leaving the tip portions 11 of the multiple electric wires 10 exposed. The conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is preferably wrapped around the wire bundle so that adjacent portions overlap each other to form a lapped portion. This prevents any areas around the outer periphery of the wire bundle from being left unwrapped by the conductive nonwoven fabric 25, thereby preventing a decrease in shielding performance. An adhesive that does not impede electrical conduction may be applied in advance to the back surface of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25, i.e., the surface facing the wire bundle when wrapped around the wire bundle. This prevents the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 from peeling off once wrapped around the wire bundle.

[0021] The first band 31 is made of metal and is a conductive, annular first fastening member that fastens the first end 24a of the braid 24, which is placed over the main tubular portion 23a of the shield shell 23, to the main tubular portion 23a.

[0022] The second band 32 is made of metal and is a conductive, annular second fastening member that fastens the second end 24b of the braid 24, which is placed over the open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25, to the open end 25a.

[0023] Next, the effects of the wire harness 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0024] The wire harness 1 includes a plurality of electric wires 10 and a tape- or sheet-like conductive nonwoven fabric 25 that is wound around the bundle of the electric wires 10 while leaving the tip ends 11 of the electric wires 10 exposed. The wire harness 1 also includes a connector 20 having a shield shell 23 through which the tip ends 11 of the electric wires 10 pass, and a tubular metallic braid 24 through which the tip ends 11 of the electric wires 10 pass. A first end 24a, which is one end of the braid 24, is connected to the tubular main body portion 23a of the shield shell 23. A second end 24b, which is the other end of the braid 24, is connected to an open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25.

[0025] In the wire harness 1, most of the wire bundle formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires 10, except for the tip portions 11, is covered with a tape-like or sheet-like conductive nonwoven fabric 25. The conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is conductive and can function as a shielding member. Furthermore, since the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is formed using a nonwoven fabric, which is a material having properties such as flexibility, as a base material, the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 can be easily bent together with the electric wire bundle even when wrapped around the electric wire bundle. In other words, the portion where the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is wrapped around the electric wire bundle can be easily bent, thereby improving the degree of freedom in wiring the wire harness 1.

[0026] In the wire harness 1, the tip ends 11 of the plurality of electric wires 10 are covered with the braid 24 between the part of the electric wire bundle around which the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is wrapped and the shield shell 23. The braid 24 is made of metal and therefore can function as a shielding member, and also has the function of electrically connecting the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 and the shield shell 23. The braid 24 has properties such as flexibility, so that it can be easily bent together with the tip ends 11 of the electric wires 10, and at the same time, has rigidity, so that the shielding member is prevented from coming off the shield shell 23 as part of the connector 20.

[0027] Furthermore, even if the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is bent significantly, gaps do not form as the braided mesh widens. Therefore, even if the portion where the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is wound around the bundle of electric wires is bent significantly, the shielding performance is unlikely to decrease at the bent portion, and as a result, the shielding performance of the wire harness 1 is stabilized.

[0028] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the wire harness 1 that stabilizes the shielding performance and improves the degree of freedom in wiring.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the tape- or sheet-shaped conductive nonwoven fabric 25 is wound around the bundle of electric wires, and as a result, it comes into close contact with the outer periphery of the bundle of electric wires, which can also contribute to thinning the entire wire harness 1.

[0030] The wire harness 1 may also include a metal band that fastens the second end 24b, which is placed over the open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25, to the open end 25a.

[0031] The band here corresponds to the second band 32 in the example above.

[0032] In this case, the second end 24b is on the outer peripheral side in the portion where the second end 24b of the braid 24 and the open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 overlap each other. According to the wire harness 1, the second end 24b as part of the braid 24 is fastened and held by a metal band, which makes it difficult for the second end 24b to come off the conductive nonwoven fabric 25, which can contribute to stabilizing the shielding performance.

[0033] (Second embodiment) Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a wire harness 1 according to a second embodiment. Fig. 2 is drawn corresponding to the wire harness 1 shown in Fig. 1. Hereinafter, components or parts of the wire harness 1 that are not specifically mentioned will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the wire harness 1 shown in Fig. 1, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0034] The wire harness 1 shown in Fig. 2 has a third band 33 instead of the second band 32 shown in Fig. 1. The third band 33 is made of metal like the second band 32, and is a conductive and annular third fastening member that fastens the second end 24b of the braid 24, which is placed over the open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25, to the open end 25a.

[0035] The third band 33 also has a bolt fastening portion 33a that was not present in the second band 32. In this embodiment, the third band 33 is assumed to be a strip-shaped metal flat plate before being wound around the second end portion 24b, and is a combined portion of one end piece and the other end piece that overlap each other after being wound around the second end portion 24b.

[0036] Furthermore, the bolt fastening portion 33a has a bolt through-hole 33b. A bolt (not shown) can be passed through the bolt through-hole 33b. In this embodiment, the bolt through-hole 33b passes through both one end piece and the other end piece of the third band 33. With this configuration, when a bolt passing through the bolt through-hole 33b is fastened to a fastening object (not shown), the one end piece and the other end piece are firmly connected to each other in the bolt fastening portion 33a. Therefore, the third band 33 functions as an intermediate retainer, serving as a retaining metal fitting for holding the wire harness 1 to the fastening object, and can also function as a tightening metal fitting for preventing the second end 24b from being separated from the open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25.

[0037] In this way, in the wire harness 1, the band may have the bolt fastening portion 33a in which the bolt through-hole 33b is formed.

[0038] The band here corresponds to the third band 33 in the example above.

[0039] According to the wire harness 1 of this embodiment, as described above, the third band 33 can function as a retaining metal fitting or a fastening metal fitting. Furthermore, according to the wire harness 1, for example, by setting a metal structure inside the vehicle as a fastening target for the bolt passing through the bolt through hole 33b, the third band 33 in contact with the second end 24b can function as a grounding metal fitting for earth connection.

[0040] (Third embodiment) Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a wire harness 1 according to a third embodiment. Like Fig. 2, Fig. 3 is drawn corresponding to the wire harness 1 shown in Fig. 1. Hereinafter, components or parts of the wire harness 1 that are not specifically mentioned will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the wire harness 1 shown in Fig. 1, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0041] In the first and second embodiments, in the portion where the second end 24b of the braid 24 and the open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 overlap each other, the second end 24b is on the outer periphery side, but in this embodiment, the open end 25a is on the outer periphery side. In this case, if the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 itself can maintain the wrapped state by previously applying a treatment such as applying an adhesive to the back surface of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25, it is not necessarily necessary to use a band such as the second band 32 for fastening.

[0042] In this manner, in the wire harness 1, the open end 25a of the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 may be covered over the second end 24b that is in contact with the electric wire 10.

[0043] According to the wire harness 1 of this embodiment, the conductive nonwoven fabric 25 fastens the second end 24b to the bundle of electric wires and also prevents the second end 24b from unraveling, thereby eliminating the need for bands such as the second band 32, and thus reducing the number of parts.

[0044] The specific configuration or shape of the connector 20 employed in the above-described exemplary wire harness 1 may be changed as appropriate as long as it satisfies essential requirements, such as being provided with a shield shell 23. The shape of the terminal fittings 12 connected to the ends of the electric wires 10 may also be changed as appropriate based on the specific type of the electric wires 10 or the configuration or shape of a connection target provided in an inverter or the like.

[0045] Although the embodiments have been described above, the embodiments are not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 Wire harness 10 Electric wire 10a First Wire 10b 2nd wire 11 Tip 20 Connectors 23 Shield Shell 23a Main body cylindrical part 24 Braid 24a First end 24b Second end 25 Conductive nonwoven fabric 25a Open end 32 Second Band 33 Third Band 33a Bolt fastening part 33b Bolt through hole

Claims

1. A plurality of wires; a tape-like or sheet-like conductive nonwoven fabric that is wound around the bundle of the plurality of electric wires while leaving the tip portions of the plurality of electric wires exposed; a connector having a shield shell through which the tip ends of the plurality of electric wires pass; a cylindrical metallic braid through which the tip ends of the plurality of electric wires pass, a first end portion, which is one end portion of the braid, connected to the main body tubular portion of the shield shell; A wire harness, wherein the other end of the braid, which is a second end, is connected to the open end of the conductive nonwoven fabric.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1 , further comprising a metal band that fastens the second end portion of the conductive nonwoven fabric, the second end portion being placed over the open end portion, against the open end portion.

3. The wire harness according to claim 2 , wherein the band has a bolt fastening portion having a bolt through-hole formed therein.

4. The wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein the open end of the conductive nonwoven fabric is placed over the second end that is in contact with the electric wire.

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