Exterior protection body and protection wire

Abstract

To provide an exterior protection body and a protection wire capable of improving workability of fixing work for fixing a connector to a fixing object.SOLUTION: A cover member 20 covers a connector 50 in an electric wire 10 with a connector including a wire harness 30 and the connector 50 connected to a tip of the wire harness 30 and provided with an attached part 542 to which a braided wire 40 surrounding the wire harness 30 is attached, and surrounds and protects the braided wire 40 and a part of the wire harness 30. Here, the connector 50 is provided with the fixing portion 53 that is fixed to the one end-side electric component D via the fixing bolt V attached along the attachment / detachment direction X in which the connector 50 is attached to and detached from the one end-side electric component D. The cover member 20 is provided with a proximity recessed part 221 whose outer peripheral surface is brought close to the inside on the side corresponding to the fixing part 53 on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical cover part 22 for protecting at least the outer peripheral side of the attached part 542.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior protector that protects a part of an electric wire in a connector-attached electric wire that is routed in, for example, a vehicle, and to a protected electric wire in which an exterior protector is arranged around a connector-attached electric wire. [Background technology]

[0002] Electrical components mounted on a vehicle are sometimes connected to each other via connector-attached electric wires, which have a connector at the tip of the electric wire. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a protected electric wire in which a braided shield formed by weaving metal wires into a cylindrical shape is attached to the connector so as to surround the electric wire, and an exterior protector that protects the electric wire and part of the braided shield is attached to the base end side of the connector.

[0003] Such a protected electric wire, which protects the braided shield and electric wire with an outer protective body, can be electrically connected to an electrical component by fixing the fixing portion provided on the connector to the electrical component to be fixed with a bolt (fixing member).

[0004] In recent years, due to an increase in the number of electrical components installed in vehicles and to ensure passenger space in the vehicle, the size of the electrical components and the space in which the electrical components are placed are being reduced. In such cases, when fastening the fixing part with bolts, there is a risk that the bolts that fasten the fixing part to the electrical components and the fixing devices for fastening the bolts may interfere with the outer peripheral surface of the exterior protector, making the fastening work complicated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-003805 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an exterior protector and a protected electric wire that can improve the workability of the fixing work of fixing a connector to a target member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides an exterior protector that is fitted around a connector in a connector-attached electric wire, the connector being provided with an attachment portion connected to the tip of the electric wire and for attaching a shielding layer surrounding the electric wire, to surround and protect the shielding layer and a portion of the electric wire, wherein the connector is provided with a fixing portion that is fixed to the target member via a fixing member that is attached along a direction in which the connector is attached to and detached from the target member, and a proximity portion is provided on the side of the outer surface of the protective part that protects at least the outer periphery of the attachment portion that corresponds to the fixing portion, with the outer surface being brought closer to the interior.

[0008] The present invention is also characterized in that it is a protected electric wire comprising an electric wire with a connector, the electric wire having a shielding layer surrounding at least a portion of the electric wire and a connector connected to the tip of the electric wire, and an exterior protective body that is fitted over the connector, wherein the connector is provided with an attachment portion to which the shielding layer is attached, and a fixing portion that is fixed to the target member via a fixing member that is attached along a direction in which the connector is attached to and detached from the target member, and the exterior protective body surrounds and protects the shielding layer and a portion of the electric wire, and is provided with a proximity portion that brings the outer surface closer to the inside on the side of the outer peripheral surface of the protective part that protects at least the outer periphery of the attachment portion, corresponding to the fixing portion.

[0009] The target component is a component that is electrically connected to the electric wire by connecting the connector, and includes, for example, electrical components such as an electric junction box or a battery that are mounted on a vehicle. The fixing member is a connecting member for fixing the connector to the target member by being inserted along the attachment / detachment direction, and includes a bolt, a screw, a rivet, or the like.

[0010] The side corresponding to the fixing portion refers to the side of the fixing portion in a direction perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction, i.e., the side corresponding to the fixing portion refers to the side of the insertion path of the fixing member when the fixing member is attached along the attachment / detachment direction.

[0011] The proximal portion is configured such that the outer peripheral surface of the protective part on the side corresponding to the fixing portion is closer to the attached portion than other portions of the outer peripheral surface of the protective part. For example, the proximal portion includes a shape in which the outer peripheral surface of the protective part on the side corresponding to the fixing portion is concave and recessed toward the attached portion, a shape in which the outer peripheral surface of the protective part on the side corresponding to the fixing portion is flat along the attachment / detachment direction, or a shape in which a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the protective part on the side corresponding to the fixing portion protrudes toward the opposite side from the attached portion, but the entire outer peripheral surface of the protective part on the side corresponding to the fixing portion is closer to the attached portion than other portions of the outer peripheral surface of the protective part.

[0012] According to the present invention, the workability of the fixing operation for fixing the connector to the target member can be improved. In more detail, the proximal portion, which is the outer peripheral surface of the protective portion on the side corresponding to the fixing portion, is closer to the attached portion than other portions of the protective portion, so that a space can be secured between the insertion path of the fixing member and the proximal portion. This reliably secures the insertion path of the fixing member, and prevents the fixing member or fixing tool from unintentionally interfering with the proximal portion during the fixing operation of fixing the connector to the target member. Therefore, the workability of the fixing operation of fixing the connector to the target member can be improved.

[0013] As an aspect of the present invention, the adjacent portion may be concave inward compared to the outer circumferential surface of the other portion. The concave shape refers to a shape in which the adjacent portion is recessed inward relative to the virtual outer peripheral surface of the protective portion when the adjacent portion is not provided, and also includes a shape in which a part of the adjacent portion protrudes outward if it is recessed inward relative to the virtual outer peripheral surface of the protective portion.

[0014] According to this invention, the proximal portion, which is the outer peripheral surface of the protective portion on the side corresponding to the fixing portion, is concave, so that it can be placed closer to the attached portion than other portions of the protective portion, and the distance between the insertion path of the fixing member and the proximal portion can be made wider than the distance between the insertion path of the fixing member and the imaginary outer peripheral surface. In other words, a sufficient space can be secured between the insertion path of the fixing member and the proximal portion. This reliably secures the insertion path of the fixing member, and prevents the fixing member, fixing tool, etc. from unintentionally interfering with the proximal portion during the fixing operation of fixing the connector to the target member. Therefore, the workability of the fixing operation of fixing the connector to the target member can be improved.

[0015] Furthermore, even if the shielding layer comes into contact with the inner surface of the proximal portion and the proximal portion bulges outward, a predetermined distance can be maintained between the proximal portion and the insertion path of the fixing member, which prevents the fixing member or fixing tool from unintentionally interfering with the proximal portion during the process of fixing the connector to the target member.

[0016] As another aspect of the present invention, the proximity portion may be formed in an arc shape that protrudes inward. According to this invention, the portion of the proximal portion that corresponds to the fixing portion in the protective portion is bent inward to be close to the attached portion. This further increases the distance between the proximal portion and the fixing member, thereby ensuring more space between the insertion path of the fixing member and the proximal portion. This further reduces unintentional interference with the fixing member or fixing tool during the process of fixing the connector to the target component.

[0017] Furthermore, even if the shielding layer comes into contact with the inner surface of the proximal portion, the proximal portion can be prevented from expanding outward, which further prevents fixing members or fixing devices from unintentionally interfering with the proximal portion during the fixing process of fixing the connector to the target component.

[0018] By forming the proximal portion in an arc shape that protrudes inward, a space can be reliably maintained between the proximal portion and the fixing member, and the proximal portion can be prevented from bulging outward even when the shielding layer abuts against the inner surface of the proximal portion, thereby further improving the workability of the fixing operation for fixing the connector to the target member.

[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, the adjacent portion may be thinner than the other portion. This invention allows the proximity portion to be brought close to the attached portion with a simple structure while achieving weight reduction. Therefore, by widening the gap between the proximity portion and the fixing member, it is possible to more reliably ensure space between the insertion path of the fixing member and the proximity portion, which makes it possible to more effectively prevent the fixing member or fixing tool from unintentionally interfering with the proximity portion during the process of fixing the connector to the target member.

[0020] Furthermore, even if the shielding layer abuts against the inner surface of the proximal portion, the proximal portion can be prevented from expanding outward, thereby further improving the workability of the fixing operation for fixing the connector to the target member.

[0021] As another aspect of the present invention, the protective portion may be provided with a protruding portion that protrudes inward, and the protruding portion may be disposed outside the adjacent portion in the circumferential direction of the protective portion. According to this invention, if the shield layer and the exterior protector come into contact with each other, the shield layer can come into contact with the protruding portion that protrudes inward before the adjacent portion. Furthermore, since the thickness of the protruding portion in the inward / outward direction is thicker than that of the adjacent portion, deformation of the portion of the protective portion corresponding to the protruding portion due to contact with the shield layer can be suppressed.

[0022] In this way, even if the shielding layer and the exterior protector come into contact with each other, the shielding layer can be brought into contact with the protruding portion. This prevents the shielding layer from coming into contact with the adjacent portion and prevents the adjacent portion from bulging outward. This ensures a sufficient gap between the expanded adjacent portion and the fixing member, thereby more reliably preventing the fixing member or fixing tool from unintentionally interfering with the adjacent portion during the process of fixing the connector to the target member.

[0023] As another aspect of the present invention, the protruding portions may be provided at two locations sandwiching the adjacent portion in the circumferential direction. This invention more reliably and stably prevents the proximal portion from expanding outward, thereby ensuring a sufficient distance between the expanded proximal portion and the fixing member, and more reliably preventing the fixing member or fixing tool from unintentionally interfering with the proximal portion during the process of fixing the connector to the target member.

[0024] In addition, as an aspect of the protective wire, the outer protective body may have a protruding portion that protrudes inward, provided outside the adjacent portion in the circumferential direction of the protected portion, and the shielding layer corresponding to at least the adjacent portion may be attached at a location facing the protruding portion.

[0025] According to this invention, even if the shielding layer and the exterior protector come into contact with each other, the shielding layer attached to the portion facing the protruding portion can be reliably abutted against the protruding portion, which is thick in the inward and outward directions. This more reliably prevents the proximal portion from bulging outward, and reliably ensures a sufficient distance between the expanded proximal portion and the fixing member. Therefore, it is more reliably prevented that the fixing member or fixing tool, etc., will unintentionally interfere with the proximal portion during the process of fixing the connector to the target member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an exterior protector and a protected electric wire that can improve the workability of the fixing work of fixing a connector to a fixing object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] An explanatory diagram of the cover. [Figure 5] An explanatory diagram of the cover. [Figure 6] An explanatory diagram of the cover. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a method for manufacturing a protective wire. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a method for manufacturing a protective wire. [Figure 9] An explanatory diagram of a protective wire. [Figure 10] An explanatory diagram of a protective wire. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a protective electric wire according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the protection wire 1, and Fig. 2 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the protection wire 1. Fig. 3 shows an explanatory diagram of a wire harness 30 and a connector 50, and Figs. 4 to 6 show explanatory diagrams of a cover member 20. Figs. 7 and 8 show explanatory diagrams of a manufacturing method of the protection wire 1, and Figs. 9 and 10 show enlarged cross-sectional views for explaining that an insertion space S is formed on the left side YA of the protection wire 1. Fig. 11 shows an explanatory diagram of the protection wire 1 in another embodiment.

[0029] Figures 3 to 11 will be described in detail. Figure 3(a) shows a schematic plan view of the connector 50 to which the wire harness 30 is connected, and Figure 3(b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 3(a). Figure 4(a) shows a schematic plan view of the cover member 20, and Figure 4(b) shows a schematic front view of the cover member 20 as viewed from the other end XB. Figure 5(a) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Figure 4(a), and Figure 5(b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in Figure 4(a). Figure 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of part a in Figure 5(b).

[0030] Fig. 7(a) shows a schematic plan view of a connector-attached electric wire 10 in which a braided wire 40 is placed over a connector 50 connected to a wire harness 30 and fixed with a holding member 60, and Fig. 7(b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in Fig. 7(a). Fig. 8(a) shows a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to the cross-section taken along the line DD of a protected electric wire 1 in which a cover member 20 is fitted over the connector-attached electric wire 10, and Fig. 8(b) shows a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to the cross-section taken along the line CC of the protected electric wire 1.

[0031] Figure 9 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of part b in Figure 8(b), and Figure 10 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of part b in Figure 8(b) when the wire group 41 in the protective wire 1 abuts against the cover member 20. 11(a) and 11(b) are schematic cross-sectional views corresponding to the cross section seen from the arrow CC of the protection wire 1 in which the fixing recess 211 has a different shape.

[0032] 1, the direction in which the connector-attached electric wire 10 is attached to and detached from the electrical equipment D at one end is referred to as the attachment / detachment direction X. The direction perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction X and along the major axis of the connector 50, which has an oval cross section, is referred to as the major axis direction Y, and the direction perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction X and along the minor axis of the connector 50, which has an oval cross section, is referred to as the minor axis direction Z. In FIG. 1, the left side along the attachment / detachment direction X is referred to as the one end side XA, the right side along the major axis direction Y is referred to as the other end side XB, and the left side along the major axis direction Y is referred to as the left side YA, and the right side along the major axis direction Y is referred to as the right side YB. These directions are the same in FIGS. 2 to 10.

[0033] The protective electric wire 1 is an electric wire that electrically connects electrical components mounted on a vehicle by connecting both ends thereof to the electrical components. As shown in Fig. 1, the protective electric wire 1 is composed of a connector-attached electric wire 10 that is connected to the electrical components, and a cover member 20 that protects a part of the connector-attached electric wire 10.

[0034] Here, the electrical component connected to one end XA of the protective electric wire 1 is referred to as one end electrical component D. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the one end electrical component D has a female connector D1 and an electrical component fixing hole D2 for fixing the connector-attached electric wire 10. The female connector D1 is electrically connected to an electric circuit provided inside the one end electrical component D, and has a male terminal D3 that protrudes toward the other end XB (see Fig. 2).

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the connector-equipped electric wire 10 is composed of a wire harness 30, a braided wire 40 surrounding a portion of the wire harness 30, a connector 50 attached to one end XA of the wire harness 30, and a holding member 60 that attaches and holds the braided wire 40 to the connector 50.

[0036] The wire harness 30 is a wire harness in which two high-voltage coated electric wires 31 are bundled together, each wire being made up of a conductor formed by bundling a plurality of conductive core wires and having its outer surface covered with an insulating coating. A female terminal (not shown) into which a male terminal D3 is inserted is connected to the tip of the coated electric wire 31 thus configured. In this embodiment, the wire harness 30 is for high voltage, but is not limited to this and may be for other voltages.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, the braided wire 40 is a flexible, tubular braided member formed by braiding tin-plated copper metal wires. The inner diameter of the other end XB of the braided wire 40 is configured to be approximately equal to the outer diameter of the wire harness 30, and the one end XA of the braided wire 40 is configured in an elliptical shape having a major axis along the major diameter direction. In this embodiment, the braided wire 40 is made of commonly used tin-plated copper wire, but may also be made of other metal wires such as aluminum wire.

[0038] The connector 50 is a connector housing made of a conductive metal, and is configured to be connected to the tip of the wire harness 30 and to be fixed to the female connector D1. More specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3(a), the connector 50 is configured to include a cylindrical housing main body 51 along the attachment / detachment direction X, a connection part 52 that connects to the female connector D1, a fixing part 53 that is fixed to the electrical component D on one end, and an exterior part 54 on which the cover member 20 is exteriorly fitted.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), the housing body 51 is a metallic cylindrical body having a generally oval cross section. The housing body 51 is provided with a through-hole 511 having a circular cross section that penetrates the central portion in the attachment / detachment direction X and extends from one end XA to the other end XB so that the insulated electric wire 31 can be inserted therethrough. Two through-holes 511 configured in this manner are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction Y. The one end XA of the through-hole 511 has a smaller diameter than the other end XB (not shown), thereby restricting movement of the female terminal connected to the tip of the insulated electric wire 31 toward the other end XB.

[0040] 3(a), the connecting portion 52 is a cylindrical body that protrudes from the tip portion of the housing main body 51 toward the one end side XA, and is configured to be able to fit with the female connector D1. The tip side of the connecting portion 52 is configured to be able to fit over and hold a female terminal connected to the tip of the insulated electric wire 31. The connecting portion 52 is configured to be able to fit into the housing main body 51 from the one end side XA.

[0041] 3(a) and 3(b), the fixing portion 53 is a flange that extends outward at one end side XA of the housing main body 51. More specifically, the fixing portion 53 extends outward from the end of the one end side XA of the housing main body 51, except for the right side YB. A fixing hole 531 that penetrates in the attachment / detachment direction X is provided on the left side YA of the fixing portion 53 configured in this manner.

[0042] The fixing hole 531 is a hole that is formed in a circular shape when viewed from the front, and is provided at a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surface of the left side YA of the housing main body 51. The fixing hole 531 configured in this manner allows a fixing bolt V to be inserted therethrough, and is provided at a position that corresponds to the electrical equipment side fixing hole D2 when the connector 50 is connected to the female connector D1.

[0043] The to-be-wrapped portion 54 is a metallic tubular portion that extends continuously from one end XA to the other end XB of the housing main body 51, and the cover member 20 can be fitted thereon, and the braided wire 40 can be attached thereto. The to-be-wrapped portion 54 configured in this manner has a through-hole 511 that allows the insulated electric wire 31 to be inserted therethrough in the attachment / detachment direction X. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the to-be-wrapped portion 54 configured in this manner is composed of an to-be-wrapped portion 541 that the cover member 20 is fitted thereon, and an attachment portion 542 to which the braided wire 40 is attached.

[0044] The fitted portion 541 is a cylindrical body having a substantially elliptical cross section, the diameter of which is reduced by one size compared to the housing main body 51, and the through-hole 511 passes through the inside along the attachment / detachment direction X as described above. The mounted portion 542 is a cylindrical body having a generally oval cross section, the diameter of which is smaller than that of the externally fitted portion 541, and is provided continuously from the externally fitted portion 541 to extend to the other end side XB. That is, the externally fitted portion 542 has a stepped shape along the attachment / detachment direction X. The through-hole 511 provided in the housing main body 51 passes through the inside of the mounted portion 542 along the attachment / detachment direction X.

[0045] The holding member 60 is a cylindrical clamp having a generally oval shape in a front view that is approximately one size larger than the outer shape of the attached portion 542 (see FIG. 2). With the holding member 60 configured in this manner, when one end XA of the braided wire 40 is placed on the attached portion 542, the holding member 60 can be attached to the outer peripheral surface of the braided wire 40 that is placed on the attached portion 542 and then crimped, thereby holding the braided wire 40 in the connector 50.

[0046] The cover member 20 is a resin cover that is fitted onto the exterior of the armored portion 54 to protect the wire harness 30 and the braided wire 40 extending from the connector 50 to the other end side XB when attached to the connector-equipped electric wire 10 (see Figure 1).

[0047] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the cover member 20 includes an outer fitting portion 21 that is fitted onto one end side XA of the outer fitting portion 541, a tubular cover portion 22 that corresponds to the other end side XB of the outer fitting portion 541 and the outer peripheral surface of the attached portion 542, and an electric wire lead-out portion 23 from which the wire harness 30 is led out, which are arranged in this order from the one end side XA to the other end side XB.

[0048] The outer fitting part 21 is a tubular body having a substantially oval opening that is substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the fitted part 541, and having a height that is approximately half the length along the attachment / detachment direction X of the fitted part 541. Furthermore, a fixing recess 211 is provided in the central part of the fitted part 21 in the attachment / detachment direction X, with the outer circumferential surface recessed inward.

[0049] The fixing recess 211 is a groove to which a fixing band 70, which is a so-called binding band, can be attached. As shown in Fig. 5(a), a water-stopping rib 212 that protrudes slightly inward is provided on the inner peripheral surface corresponding to the fixing recess 211.

[0050] The cylindrical cover portion 22 is a tubular body having a substantially elliptical shape in a cross section perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction X, with a major axis along the major axis direction Y, which is slightly larger than the outer shape of the externally fitted portion 541. That is, the cylindrical cover portion 22 protrudes slightly outward from the externally fitted portion 21. The length of the cylindrical cover portion 22 along the attachment / detachment direction X is substantially equal to the length of the externally fitted portion 54 along the attachment / detachment direction X. That is, when fitted onto the externally fitted portion 54, the cylindrical cover portion 22 surrounds the other end side XB of the externally fitted portion 541 and the outer peripheral surface of the attached portion 542 of the externally fitted portion 54. The cylindrical cover portion 22 configured in this manner has a proximity recess 221 on the left side YA, the outer circumferential surface of which is recessed toward the right side YB (see FIGS. 4(b) and 5(b)).

[0051] The proximity recess 221 is formed by recessing a portion of the left side YA of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical cover portion 22, which has a substantially elliptical shape, toward the right side YB in a cross section perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction X. More specifically, the proximity recess 221 is formed by recessing the cylindrical cover portion 22 inward, with a base point being a position ±15 degrees from the center of the cylindrical cover portion 22, when a line along the left side YA that passes through the center of the cylindrical cover portion 22 in a front view is defined as 0 degrees. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 6, the proximity recess 221 is configured to be located inside a virtual outer peripheral surface F of the cylindrical cover portion 22 when the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical cover portion 22 has an elliptical shape.

[0052] Further, the proximity recess 221, which is formed by recessing the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical cover portion 22 inward, is configured in an arc shape in a front view seen from the other end side XB, with an apex formed at the intersection with a straight line along the major diameter direction Y that passes through the center of the cylindrical cover portion 22. That is, the proximity recess 221 has an arc shape that is most recessed at a position corresponding to the center of the cylindrical cover portion 22 in a front view.

[0053] The proximity recess 221 recessed in an arc shape in this manner is provided from the end of one end side XA to the end of the other end side XB of the cylindrical cover part 22. The thickness of the proximity recess 221 is the same as the thickness of the other parts of the cylindrical cover part 22.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical cover portion 22 is provided with two protrusions 222 that protrude inward. The protrusions 222 are ribs that protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical cover portion 22 by a length substantially equal to the thickness of the adjacent recessed portion 221, and two of them are provided on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical cover portion 22.

[0055] 5(b) and 6, when a line along the left side YA passing through the center of the cylindrical cover part 22 in a front view is set to 0 degree, the protrusions 222 are provided at positions ±35 degrees from the center of the cylindrical cover part 22. That is, the protrusions 222 are provided outside the proximity recess 221 so as to sandwich the proximity recess 221 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical cover part 22, at positions symmetrical with respect to a plane passing through the center of the cylindrical cover part 22 and parallel to the attachment / detachment direction X and the major axis direction Y.

[0056] The protrusion 222 configured in this manner is approximately 70% of the length of the cylindrical cover part 22 in the attachment / detachment direction X, and is provided from an end of one end side XA of the outer fitting part 21 toward the other end side XB. Note that the protrusion 222 extending along the attachment / detachment direction X has a surface that is parallel to a tangent to the outer periphery of the cylindrical cover part 22, which has a substantially elliptical shape at the position where the protrusion 222 is provided, in a front view.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 5(a), the wire guide portion 23 is a tubular body that extends continuously from the cylindrical cover portion 22 and tapers toward the other end XB. That is, the end portion of the one end XA of the wire guide portion 23 has a substantially elliptical cross section similar to that of the cylindrical cover portion 22. The end portion of the other end XB of the wire guide portion 23 has a circular shape with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the wire harness 30. The end portion of the other end XB of the wire guide portion 23 configured in this manner is provided with a guide opening 231 for leading out the insulated wire 31. The guide opening 231 is configured so that a corrugated tube (not shown) can be fitted therearound.

[0058] Next, a method for manufacturing the protective electric wire 1 by assembling the connector-attached electric wire 10 and the cover member 20 configured as described above will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. First, the insulated electric wires 31 are inserted into the respective through holes 511 from the one end side XA, and then the female terminals connected to the tips of the insulated electric wires 31 are assembled to the connecting portion 52, and the connecting portion 52 is fitted into the housing main body 51. This allows the insulated electric wires 31 to be connected to the connector 50. With the tips of the insulated electric wires 31 connected to the connector 50 in this manner, the insulated electric wires 31 extending from the through holes 511 provided in the armored portion 54 are bundled.

[0059] Next, the braided wire 40 is inserted from the other end XB of the wire harness 30, and one end XA of the braided wire 40 is placed over the attachment portion 542. More specifically, one end XA of the braided wire 40 is placed over the attachment portion 542, and a holding member 60 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the braided wire 40 placed over the attachment portion 542 and crimped to fix it. Then, the braided wire 40 extending beyond the attachment portion 542 toward the one end XA is unwound, folded back, and attached to the holding member 60 (see FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b)). At this time, of the unwound braided wire 40, the metal wires (wire group 41) corresponding to the left side YA are collectively arranged and fixed at a position of approximately ±35 degrees from the center of the tubular cover portion 22, when the line along the left side YA is set to 0 degrees as the center of the attachment portion 542 in a front view (see FIG. 8(b)).

[0060] This allows the manufacture of a connector-equipped electric wire 10 having a wire harness 30 bundling two insulated electric wires 31 and a connector 50 incorporating a female terminal connected to the tip of the insulated electric wire 31, with the wire harness 30 surrounded by a braided wire 40 (see Figures 7(a) and 7(b)).

[0061] Next, the wire harness 30 of the connector-attached electric wire 10 is inserted from one end side XA of the cover member 20, and the wire harness 30 is led out from the lead-out port 231, and the outer fitting portion 21 is fitted onto the outer fitting portion 541. Then, the fixing band 70 is wound around and tightened into the fixing recess 211 provided in the outer fitting portion 21 fitted onto the outer fitting portion 541, thereby fixing the cover member 20 to the connector 50 (see FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b)). In this way, the protected electric wire 1 in which the cover member 20 is fitted onto the connector-attached electric wire 10 can be manufactured.

[0062] In this way, the protected electric wire 1 in which the cover member 20 is fitted onto the connector-attached electric wire 10 has a fixing hole 531 on the left side YA for fixing to the one-end electrical component D (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Furthermore, the protected electric wire 1 has a proximity recess 221 on the left side YA of the tubular cover portion 22 that protects at least the outer periphery of the attachment portion 542 to which the braided wire 40 is attached, and the proximity recess 221 is arranged so that the outer periphery of the tubular cover portion 22 is brought into proximity with the attachment portion 542 (see FIGS. 1 and 9). That is, outside the proximity recess 221, an insertion space S is formed on the right side YB of the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V.

[0063] 8(b) and 9, the unwound metal wires of the braided wire 40 placed over the attached portion 542 are arranged in a position corresponding to the protruding portion 222. That is, the braided wire 40 is not arranged in a position corresponding to the adjacent recess 221, and the unwound metal wires (group of wires 41) of the braided wire 40 are arranged together in a position corresponding to the protruding portion 222. Therefore, when the cover member 20 is fastened to the connector 50 by the fixing band 70, the braided wire 40 can be prevented from contacting the inner circumferential surface of the adjacent recess 221 that is adjacent to the attached portion 542. This can prevent the braided wire 40 from pushing the adjacent recess 221 outward.

[0064] As a result, when the protected electric wire 1 is attached to the one-end electrical component D and the electrical component-side fixing hole D2 and the fixing hole 531 are fixed with the fixing bolt V, an insertion space S can be reliably secured on the right side YB of the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V. Therefore, in the fixing work of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D, it is possible to prevent the fixing bolt V or a fixing tool for fixing the fixing bolt V from unintentionally interfering with the adjacent recess 221. Therefore, the workability of the fixing work of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D can be improved.

[0065] As described above, the metal wires (wire group 41) obtained by unwinding the braided wire 40 are arranged together at a position corresponding to the protruding portion 222. Therefore, if the braided wire 40 comes into contact with the cylindrical cover portion 22, the wire group 41 will come into contact with the inner surface of the protruding portion 222 first (see FIG. 10 ). However, since the protruding portion 222 has a greater plate thickness than other portions of the cylindrical cover portion 22, the cylindrical cover portion 22 can be prevented from bulging outward. Therefore, the adjacent recess 221 provided on the inner side of the protruding portion 222 in the circumferential direction can be prevented from bulging outward due to deformation of the protruding portion 222.

[0066] Furthermore, the protruding portion 222 is provided at a plane-symmetrical position outside the proximity recess 221 so as to sandwich the proximity recess 221 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical cover portion 22. As a result, even when the wire group 41 abuts against the protruding portion 222, part of the external force that deforms the protruding portion 222 acts in the minor diameter direction Z. Therefore, even when the protruding portion 222 bulges outward, it is possible to reliably prevent the proximity recess 221 from deforming to the left side YA (see FIG. 10).

[0067] Here, the protrusion 222 and the wire group 41 are disposed at positions approximately ±35 degrees from the center of the cylindrical cover portion 22 when viewed from the front, when a line along the left side YA is set to 0 degrees. However, the position of the protrusion 222 is not limited to this position. For example, the protrusion 222 may be disposed at a position 20 to 45 degrees from the center of the cylindrical cover portion 22, when a line along the left side YA is set to 0 degrees.

[0068] If the position of the protrusion 222 and the group of wires 41 is less than 20 degrees from the center of the tubular cover portion 22, the protrusion 222 and the group of wires 41 may come into contact with each other, causing the adjacent recess 221 to deform outward, and there is a risk that the insertion space S may not be sufficiently secured.

[0069] On the other hand, if the position of the protrusion 222 and the group of wires 41 is greater than 45 degrees from the center of the tubular cover portion 22, it becomes difficult to intentionally abut the group of wires 41 and the protrusion 222, and the function of suppressing deformation of the adjacent recess 221 by the protrusion 222 cannot be fully exerted.

[0070] Furthermore, because the proximity recess 221 is formed in an inwardly arcuate shape, even if the braided wire 40 interferes with the inner peripheral surface of the proximity recess 221, both ends of the proximity recess 221 are blocked, preventing the proximity recess 221 from bulging outward. Therefore, the insertion space S can be reliably secured.

[0071] The cover member 20 configured as described above is fitted to the connector 50 of the connector-attached electric wire 10, which includes the wire harness 30 and the connector 50 having an attachment portion 542 connected to the tip of the wire harness 30 and for attaching the braided wire 40 surrounding the wire harness 30, to surround and protect the braided wire 40 and a portion of the wire harness 30. The connector 50 is provided with a fixing portion 53 that is fixed to the one-end electrical component D via a fixing bolt V that is attached along a mounting / removal direction X for mounting / removing the connector 50 to / from the one-end electrical component D. The cover member 20 is provided with a proximity recess 221, the outer peripheral surface of which is inwardly adjacent to the fixing portion 53 on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular cover portion 22 that protects at least the outer peripheral side of the attachment portion 542.

[0072] The protected electric wire 1 is composed of a wire harness 30, a connector-attached electric wire 10 including a braided wire 40 surrounding at least a portion of the wire harness 30, and a connector 50 connected to a tip of the wire harness 30, and a cover member 20 that is sheathed around the connector 50. The connector 50 is provided with an attachment portion 542 to which the braided wire 40 surrounding the base end side of the wire harness 30 is attached, and a fixing portion 53 that is fixed to the one-end electrical component D via a fixing bolt V that is attached along an attachment / detachment direction X for attaching to and detaching from the one-end electrical component D. The cover member 20 surrounds and protects the braided wire 40 and a portion of the wire harness 30, and is provided with a proximity recess 221 on the outer circumferential surface of the tubular cover portion 22 that protects at least the outer circumferential side of the attachment portion 542, the proximity recess 221 having its outer circumferential surface approaching the inward side on a side corresponding to the fixing portion 53 on the outer circumferential surface.

[0073] The cover member 20 and the protective electric wire 1 configured in this manner can improve the workability of the fixing operation for fixing the connector 50 to the electrical component D on the one end side. More specifically, the proximity recess 221, which is the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical cover portion 22 on the side corresponding to the fixing portion 53, is closer to the mounted portion 542 than other portions of the cylindrical cover portion 22, and therefore an insertion space S can be secured between the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V and the proximity recess 221. This reliably secures the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V, and prevents the fixing bolt V or a fixing tool from unintentionally interfering with the proximity recess 221 during the work of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D. This improves the workability of the work of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0074] Furthermore, because the proximity recess 221 is recessed inward compared to the outer circumferential surface of the other portions, it can be placed closer to the mounted portion 542 than other portions of the tubular cover portion 22, and the distance between the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V and the proximity recess 221 can be made wider than the distance between the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V and the imaginary outer circumferential surface F. In other words, a sufficient insertion space S can be secured between the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V and the proximity recess 221. This reliably secures the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V, and prevents the fixing bolt V or a fixing tool from unintentionally interfering with the proximity recess 221 during the work of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D. This improves the ease of the work of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0075] Furthermore, even if the braided wire 40 comes into contact with the inner surface of the proximity recess 221 and the proximity recess 221 bulges outward, a predetermined distance can be maintained between the braided wire 40 and the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V. This prevents the fixing bolt V, fixing tool, etc. from unintentionally interfering with the proximity recess 221 during the fixing work of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0076] Furthermore, because the proximity recess 221 is formed in an arc shape that protrudes inward, the portion of the proximity recess 221 that corresponds to the fixing portion 53 on the tubular cover portion 22 is curved inward and positioned close to the attached portion 542. This further increases the distance between the proximity recess 221 and the fixing bolt V, making it possible to ensure a larger insertion space S between the insertion path R of the fixing bolt V and the proximity recess 221. This further reduces unintentional interference of the fixing bolt V or fixing tool with the proximity recess 221 during the process of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0077] Furthermore, even if the braided wire 40 abuts against the inner surface of the proximity recess 221, the proximity recess 221 can be prevented from expanding outward, which further prevents the fixing bolt V, fixing fixtures, etc. from unintentionally interfering with the proximity recess 221 during the fixing work of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical equipment D.

[0078] In this way, by forming the proximity recess 221 in an arc shape that protrudes inward, it is possible to reliably maintain the insertion space S between the proximity recess 221 and the fixing bolt V, and it is possible to prevent the proximity recess 221 from bulging outward even when the braided wire 40 abuts against the inner surface of the proximity recess 221. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the workability of the fixing operation for fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0079] Furthermore, the cylindrical cover portion 22 is provided with a protruding portion 222 that protrudes inward, and the protruding portion 222 is disposed outside the adjacent recess 221 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical cover portion 22. As a result, if the braided wire 40 comes into contact with the cover member 20, the braided wire 40 can come into contact with the protruding portion 222 that protrudes inward before the adjacent recess 221. Furthermore, because the thickness of the protruding portion 222 in the inner / outer direction is thicker than that of the adjacent recess 221, it is possible to prevent the portion of the cylindrical cover portion 22 that corresponds to the protruding portion 222 from being deformed by coming into contact with the braided wire 40.

[0080] In this way, even if the braided wire 40 and the cover member 20 come into contact with each other, the braided wire 40 can come into contact with the protrusion 222. This prevents the braided wire 40 from coming into contact with the proximity recess 221, and also prevents the proximity recess 221 from bulging outward. This ensures a sufficient gap between the expanded proximity recess 221 and the fixing bolt V, which more reliably prevents the fixing bolt V, fixing tool, or the like from unintentionally interfering with the proximity recess 221 during the process of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0081] Furthermore, by providing the protrusions 222 at two locations circumferentially sandwiching the proximity recess 221, it is possible to more reliably and stably prevent the proximity recess 221 from bulging outward. This ensures a sufficient gap between the expanded proximity recess 221 and the fixing bolt V, and more reliably prevents the fixing bolt V, fixing tool, etc. from unintentionally interfering with the proximity recess 221 during the fixing operation of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0082] In addition, in the protective wire 1, the cover member 20 has a protrusion 222 that protrudes inward, provided outside the adjacent recess 221 in the circumferential direction of the tubular cover portion 22, and the braided wire 40 corresponding to at least the adjacent recess 221 is attached at a location opposite the protrusion 222.

[0083] Therefore, even if the braided wire 40 and the cover member 20 come into contact with each other, the braided wire 40 attached to the portion facing the protrusion 222 can be reliably brought into contact with the protrusion 222, which is thick inward and outward directions. This more reliably prevents the proximity recess 221 from bulging outward, ensuring a sufficient distance between the expanded proximity recess 221 and the fixing bolt V. This more reliably prevents the fixing bolt V, fixing tools, and the like from unintentionally interfering with the proximity recess 221 during the fixing operation of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0084] In the above-described cover member 20, the proximity recess 221 is configured as an inwardly recessed arc shape in a front view, but this configuration is not necessarily required. For example, as shown in Fig. 11(a), the proximity recess 221, which is the outer peripheral surface of the tubular cover portion 22 on the side corresponding to the fixing portion 53, may be configured as a flat surface extending along the attachment / detachment direction X and the minor axis direction Z. Also, for example, although a portion of the proximity recess 221 protrudes toward the side opposite the attached portion 542, the entire outer peripheral surface of the tubular cover portion 22 on the side corresponding to the fixing portion 53 may be configured to be closer to the attached portion 542 than the other portion of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular cover portion 22 (i.e., the imaginary outer peripheral surface F).

[0085] 11(b), the thickness of the outer peripheral surface of the proximity recess 221 may be thinner than other portions of the cylindrical cover portion 22. In this case, too, it is possible to ensure the insertion space S outside the proximity recess 221. Furthermore, even if the protruding portion 222 comes into contact with the wire group 41 and bulges outward, the proximity recess 221 is pulled in the minor axis direction Z, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the proximity recess 221 from protruding outward.

[0086] In this way, the proximity recess 221 is thinner than the other portions, which allows for a simple structure that brings the proximity recess 221 closer to the attached portion 542 while also achieving weight reduction. Therefore, the distance between the proximity recess 221 and the fixing bolt V can be increased to more reliably ensure the insertion space S, and unintentional interference of the fixing bolt V or fixing tool with the proximity recess 221 can be further reduced during the fixing operation of fixing the connector 50 to the one-end electrical component D.

[0087] Furthermore, even if the braided wire 40 abuts against the inner surface of the proximity recess 221, the proximity recess 221 can be prevented from expanding outward. Therefore, the workability of the fixing operation for fixing the connector 50 to the one-end-side electrical component D can be further improved.

[0088] In the configuration of the present invention and the correspondence with the above-mentioned embodiment, the electric wire of the present invention corresponds to the wire harness 30, The shield layer corresponds to the braided wire 40, The mounting portion corresponds to the mounting portion 542, The connector is compatible with connector 50. The connector-equipped electric wire corresponds to the connector-equipped electric wire 10, The exterior protector corresponds to the cover member 20, The attachment / detachment direction corresponds to attachment / detachment direction X, The fixing member corresponds to the fixing bolt V, The target component corresponds to the electrical component D on one end. The fixed portion corresponds to the fixed portion 53, The protective portion corresponds to the cylindrical cover portion 22, The proximal portion corresponds to the proximal recess 221; The protrusion corresponds to protrusion 222, The protective wire corresponds to the protective wire 1, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and can be applied based on the technical ideas set forth in the claims, resulting in many embodiments.

[0089] For example, in this embodiment, the one-end electrical component D is an electrical component that is electrically connected to the wire harness 30 by connecting to the connector 50, and may be, for example, an electrical junction box or a battery mounted on a vehicle.

[0090] Furthermore, the fixing bolt V is a bolt that is inserted through the fixing hole 531 and the electrical equipment-side fixing hole D2 to fix the connector 50 to the one-end electrical equipment D, but it may be any connecting member that fixes the connector 50 to the one-end electrical equipment D by being inserted along the attachment / detachment direction X. For example, a screw, a rivet, or the like may be used instead of the fixing bolt V. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1...Protective wire 10...Connector-attached wire 20...Cover member 22...Cylindrical cover part 30...Wire harness 40...braided wire 50...Connector 53…Fixed part 221...nearby recess 222...Protruding part 542...Attachment part D...Electrical components on one end V...Fixing bolt X: Attachment / detachment direction

Claims

1. An electric wire with a connector includes an electric wire and a connector connected to a tip of the electric wire and having an attachment portion for attaching a shielding layer surrounding the electric wire. The connector is fitted with an exterior protector that surrounds and protects the shielding layer and a portion of the electric wire, The connector is provided with a fixing portion that is fixed to the target member via a fixing member that is attached along a direction in which the connector is attached to and detached from the target member, A proximity portion is provided on the side of the outer circumferential surface of the protective portion that protects at least the outer circumferential side of the attached portion, corresponding to the fixed portion, with the outer circumferential surface being close to the inside. Exterior protection.

2. The adjacent portion is concave toward the inside compared to the outer circumferential surface of the other portion. The exterior protector according to claim 1 .

3. The adjacent portion is formed in an arc shape that protrudes inward. The exterior protector according to claim 2.

4. The adjacent portion is thinner than the other portion. The exterior protector according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The protective portion is provided with a protrusion that protrudes inward, The protruding portion is disposed outside the adjacent portion in the circumferential direction of the protective portion. The exterior protector according to claim 1 .

6. The protruding portions are provided at two locations sandwiching the adjacent portion in the circumferential direction. The exterior protector according to claim 5 .

7. a connector-equipped electric wire including an electric wire, a shielding layer surrounding at least a portion of the electric wire, and a connector connected to a tip of the electric wire; an exterior protector that is fitted to the exterior of the connector, The connector an attachment portion to which the shielding layer is attached, and a fixing portion that is fixed to the target member via a fixing member that is attached along a direction in which the shielding layer is attached to and detached from the target member, The exterior protector surrounds and protects the shielding layer and a portion of the electric wire, and has a proximity portion on the outer circumferential surface of the protective portion that protects at least the outer circumferential side of the attached portion, the proximity portion being provided on the side corresponding to the fixing portion, with the outer circumferential surface being brought closer to the inside. Protective wire.

8. The adjacent portion is configured to be concave toward the inside compared to the outer circumferential surface of the other portion. The protected electric wire according to claim 7.

9. The adjacent portion is formed in an arc shape that protrudes inward. The protected electric wire according to claim 7.

10. The adjacent portion is thinner than the other portion. The protected electric wire according to claim 8 or 9.

11. The exterior protector has a protruding portion that protrudes inward and is provided on the outer side of the adjacent portion in the circumferential direction of the protected portion, The shield layer corresponding to at least the adjacent portion is attached to a portion facing the protruding portion. The protected electric wire according to claim 7.

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