Terminal connection structure for electric wire bundle

Abstract

To provide a terminal connection structure for a wire bundle, in which the number of components and the number of operations can be reduced even when terminals of a wire bundle formed by a large number of wires are electrically connected to each other.SOLUTION: A terminal connection structure 1 for a wire bundle includes a conductor part 10, storage parts 20a, 20b, a protective member 30, and a wire bundle 50. The storage parts 20a, 20b have conductivity and are joined to the conductor part 10. The protective member 30 stores the conductor part 10 and the storage parts 20a, 20b. In a cross-sectional view orthogonal to a longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, the storage parts 20a, 20b are provided around the conductor part 10. Core wires of a plurality of wires constituting part of terminals of the wire bundle 50 are stored in each of the storage parts 20a, 20b. In each of the storage parts 20a, 20b, the core wires of the plurality of wires are electrically connected to each other. Each of the storage parts 20a, 20b is electrically connected to the core wires of the plurality of wires.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal connection structure for a bundle of electric wires. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when the terminals of a bundle of electric wires branching off from the main line of a wire harness are collectively connected to an earth or a power source, a terminal connection portion is formed by electrically connecting multiple core wires exposed from the insulating coating of the terminals of the bundle of electric wires to each other.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the terminal connection portion is covered with an insulating protective member, which can protect and insulate the terminal connection portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-038002 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is generally known that the resistance of the terminal connection part increases as the number of core wires electrically connected to each other increases. For this reason, an upper limit is set on the number of core wires that form the terminal connection part to suppress the increase in the resistance of the terminal connection part.

[0006] When connecting the terminals of a wire bundle consisting of many electric wires together to earth or power, the number of core wires forming the terminal connection part may exceed the upper limit. In this case, multiple terminal connection parts are formed by electrically connecting a number of core wires fewer than the upper limit to the core wire of a single jumper wire connected to a joint connector. This allows the multiple terminal connection parts to be connected via the joint connector, making it possible to connect the terminals of the wire bundle consisting of many electric wires together to earth or power.

[0007] However, in this case, it is necessary to connect multiple jumper wires to the joint connector and form multiple terminal connections by electrically connecting the core wires of one jumper wire connected to the joint connector with the number of core wires less than the upper limit, which increases the number of parts and the number of operations.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wire bundle terminal connection structure that can reduce the number of parts and operations required even when electrically connecting the terminals of a wire bundle made up of a large number of wires to each other. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A terminal connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to an aspect of the present invention includes a conductor portion, a plurality of conductive accommodating portions joined to the conductor portion, an electric wire bundle having terminals accommodated in the plurality of accommodating portions, and an insulating, bottomed, tubular protective member that accommodates the conductor portion and the plurality of accommodating portions that accommodate the terminals of the electric wire bundle, wherein, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the protective member, the plurality of accommodating portions are provided around the conductor portion, and each accommodating portion accommodates core wires of a plurality of electric wires that form part of the terminal of the electric wire bundle, and in each accommodating portion, the core wires of the plurality of electric wires are electrically connected to each other, and each accommodating portion is electrically connected to the core wires of the plurality of electric wires. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wire bundle terminal connection structure that can reduce the number of parts and the number of operations required even when electrically connecting the terminals of a wire bundle made up of a large number of wires to each other. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an end connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to this embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portion in the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the end connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portion in the terminal connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to a first modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portion in the terminal connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to a first modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portion in the terminal connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to the second modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portion in the terminal connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to the second modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portion in an end connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to a third modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portion in an end connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to a third modified example of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The terminal connection structure for an electric wire bundle according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions. Furthermore, the same or similar symbols are used for the same functions and configurations, and their description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0013] [Configuration of terminal connection structure for wire bundle] First, the configuration of the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portions 20a, 20b in the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 3. Note that Fig. 2 does not illustrate the protective member 30. Also, Fig. 3 shows the conductor portion 10 and the accommodating portions 20a, 20b in side views rather than in cross sections.

[0014] 1 to 4 corresponds to the longitudinal direction LD (see FIG. 3) of the protective member 30. The Y direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 corresponds to the width direction of the protective member 30 and is perpendicular to the X direction. The Z direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 corresponds to the height direction of the protective member 30 and is perpendicular to the X and Y directions.

[0015] The +X side and -X side shown in Figures 1 to 4 correspond to the front and rear of the protective member 30, respectively. The +Y side and -Y side shown in Figures 1 to 4 correspond to the right and left of the protective member 30, respectively, when facing the front of the protective member 30. The +Z side and -Z side shown in Figures 1 to 4 correspond to the top and bottom of the protective member 30, respectively.

[0016] The electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1 includes a conductor portion 10, accommodating portions 20a and 20b, a protective member 30, an electric wire bundle 50, and a fixing portion 60. The conductor portion 10 is conductive and formed in a flat plate shape. The conductor portion 10 has joint surfaces 11 and 12 (see FIG. 2 ). In this embodiment, when the conductor portion 10 is accommodated in the protective member 30, the joint surfaces 11 and 12 are parallel to the XY plane and face the +Z side and the −Z side, respectively. Note that when the conductor portion 10 is accommodated in the protective member 30, the joint surfaces 11 and 12 are not limited to being parallel to the XY plane, and may be inclined with respect to the XY plane.

[0017] The accommodating portions 20a and 20b are electrically conductive and cylindrically formed. The accommodating portions 20a and 20b accommodate the ends of the wire bundle 50.

[0018] The accommodating portion 20a is joined to the joint surface 11 of the conductor portion 10, and accommodates terminals of the plurality of electric wires 50A included in the electric wire bundle 50 (see FIG. 2). The accommodating portion 20a has an opening 21a on one end side. The terminals of the plurality of electric wires 50A are accommodated in the accommodating portion 20a through the opening 21a. When the accommodating portion 20a is accommodated in the protective member 30, the opening 21a is located on the -X side of the accommodating portion 20a.

[0019] Similarly, the accommodating portion 20b is joined to the joint surface 12 of the conductor portion 10, and accommodates terminals of the plurality of electric wires 50B included in the electric wire bundle 50 (see FIG. 2). The accommodating portion 20b has an opening 21b on one end side. The terminals of the plurality of electric wires 50B are accommodated in the accommodating portion 20b through the opening 21b. When the accommodating portion 20b is accommodated in the protective member 30, the opening 21b is located on the -X side of the accommodating portion 20a.

[0020] The protective member 30 is insulating and extends along the longitudinal direction LD (X direction). The protective member 30 has a cap portion 31 and a tongue portion 32. The cap portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and has an opening 31a at one end side (-X side). The cap portion 31 accommodates the conductor portion 10 and the accommodation portions 20a, 20b that accommodate the ends of the electric wire bundle 50 via the opening 31a. The tongue portion 32 is connected to the lower end (-Z side) of the opening 31a of the cap portion 31 and extends on the -X side.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 4, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30 in a state in which the protective member 30 accommodates the conductor portion 10 and the accommodation portions 20a, 20b that accommodate the ends of the electric wire bundle 50, the conductor portion 10 is formed in a rectangular shape, and the accommodation portions 20a, 20b are provided around the periphery of the conductor portion 10. The accommodation portions 20a, 20b face each other with the conductor portion 10 sandwiched between them. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, the accommodation portions 20a, 20b are provided at the same position within the protective member 30 in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30.

[0022] The wire bundle 50 branches off from the main wire of the wire harness and includes a plurality of electric wires 50A and a plurality of electric wires 50B. Each of the plurality of electric wires 50A has an insulating coating 51A and a core wire 52A (see FIG. 3). The core wire 52A is covered with the insulating coating 51A. At the end of each of the plurality of electric wires 50A, the insulating coating 51A is stripped off to expose the core wire 52A. The plurality of core wires 52A are housed in the housing portion 20a and form a terminal connection portion where they are electrically connected to each other.

[0023] The number of core wires included in the accommodating section 20a is within a range not exceeding an upper limit set to suppress an increase in the resistance value of the terminal connection portion at the ends of the multiple electric wires 50A. Therefore, the number of core wires 52A is equal to or less than the set upper limit. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the number of core wires 52A is eight. Note that the number of core wires 52A is not limited to eight, and any number may be used as long as it does not exceed the set upper limit. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the eight core wires 52A are accommodated in the accommodating section 20a so that two layers each consisting of four core wires 52A are formed (see FIG. 4), but this is not limiting.

[0024] Similarly, each of the plurality of electric wires 50B has an insulating coating 51B and a core wire 52B (see FIG. 3). The core wire 52B is covered with the insulating coating 51B. At the end of each of the plurality of electric wires 50B, the insulating coating 51B is stripped off to expose the core wire 52B. The plurality of core wires 52B are housed in the housing portion 20b and form a terminal connection portion where they are electrically connected to each other.

[0025] The number of core wires included in the accommodating portion 20b is within a range not exceeding an upper limit set to suppress an increase in the resistance value of the terminal connection portion at the ends of the multiple electric wires 50B. Therefore, the number of core wires 52B is equal to or less than the set upper limit. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the number of core wires 52B is eight. Note that the number of core wires 52B is not limited to eight, and any number may be used as long as it does not exceed the set upper limit. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the multiple core wires 52B are accommodated in the accommodating portion 20b so that two layers each consisting of four core wires 52B are formed (see FIG. 4), but this is not limiting.

[0026] As will be described later, with a plurality of core wires 52A housed in housing portion 20a and a plurality of core wires 52B housed in housing portion 20b, housing portions 20a and 20b are crimped. As a result, in housing portion 20a, the plurality of core wires 52A are electrically connected to one another to form a terminal connection portion, and housing portion 20a is electrically connected to the plurality of core wires 52A. Similarly, in housing portion 20b, the plurality of core wires 52B are electrically connected to one another to form a terminal connection portion, and housing portion 20b is electrically connected to the plurality of core wires 52B.

[0027] In this embodiment, one of the housing portions 20a, 20b includes a core wire (not shown) of an electric wire connected to the ground or a power supply. For example, when the core wire of an electric wire connected to the ground or a power supply is included in the housing portion 20b, the multiple core wires 52A are electrically connected to the core wire of the electric wire connected to the ground or the power supply via the housing portion 20a, the conductor portion 10, and the housing portion 20b while being housed and crimped in the housing portion 20a. In this case, the multiple core wires 52B are electrically connected to the core wire of the electric wire connected to the ground or the power supply while being housed and crimped in the housing portion 20b. With this configuration, the terminals of the electric wire bundle 50 can be electrically connected collectively to the ground or the power supply.

[0028] The fixing portion 60 fixes the wire bundle 50 inserted into the cap portion 31 of the protective member 30 to the tongue portion 32 of the protective member 30 (see FIG. 1). The fixing portion 60 is, for example, a tape or a band. In this way, the wire bundle 50 is fixed to the protective member 30.

[0029] [Method for manufacturing terminal connection structure of electric wire bundle] Next, a description will be given of a manufacturing method of the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1. In this embodiment, the number of core wires of the plurality of electric wires included in the electric wire bundle 50 exceeds a set upper limit value.

[0030] First, the multiple electric wires included in the electric wire bundle 50 are sorted into two electric wire groups to be housed in housings 20a and 20b joined to the conductor portion 10. Here, the number of core wires of the electric wires included in each electric wire group does not exceed a set upper limit. The electric wire group housed in housing 20a includes multiple electric wires 50A. The electric wire group housed in housing 20b includes multiple electric wires 50B.

[0031] After the sorting into the electric wire groups is completed, the core wires 52A exposed from the insulating coatings 51A of the electric wires 50A are inserted into the housing section 20a, and the core wires 52B exposed from the insulating coatings 51B of the electric wires 50B are inserted into the housing section 20b. At this time, as described above, the core wire (not shown) of the electric wire connected to the ground or the power supply is also inserted into one of the housing sections 20a, 20b.

[0032] When the plurality of core wires 52A are accommodated in the accommodating portion 20a and the plurality of core wires 52B are accommodated in the accommodating portion 20b, the accommodating portions 20a and 20b are crimped. When the accommodating portions 20a and 20b are crimped, the conductor portion 10 and the accommodating portions 20a and 20b are inserted into the cap portion 31 of the protective member 30 through the opening 31a of the protective member 30. At this time, the electric wire bundle 50 including the plurality of electric wires 50A and the plurality of electric wires 50B is placed on the tongue portion 32 of the protective member 30.

[0033] When the conductor portion 10 and the housing portions 20a, 20b are inserted to the housing position, the wire bundle 50 is fixed to the tongue portion 32 of the protection member 30 by the fixing portion 60. In this way, a terminal connection structure for the wire bundle is formed.

[0034] Note that the core wires 52A may be electrically connected to each other to form terminal connection portions before being inserted into the accommodating portion 20a. In this case, the terminal connection portions of the core wires 52A are inserted into the accommodating portion 20a. Similarly, the core wires 52B may be electrically connected to each other to form terminal connection portions before being inserted into the accommodating portion 20b. In this case, the terminal connection portions of the core wires 52B are inserted into the accommodating portion 20b.

[0035] [Actions and Effects] According to this embodiment, the terminal connection structure 1 for an electric wire bundle includes a conductor portion 10, accommodating portions 20a and 20b, a protective member 30, and an electric wire bundle 50. The accommodating portions 20a and 20b are electrically conductive and are joined to the conductor portion 10. The electric wire bundle 50 has terminals accommodated in the accommodating portions 20a and 20b. The protective member 30 is formed in an insulating, bottomed cylindrical shape and accommodates the conductor portion 10 and the accommodating portions 20a and 20b that accommodate the terminals of the electric wire bundle 50.

[0036] In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, accommodating portions 20a and 20b are provided around the conductor portion 10. Each of the accommodating portions 20a and 20b accommodates core wires of a plurality of electric wires that form a part of the end of the electric wire bundle 50. In each of the accommodating portions 20a and 20b, the core wires of the plurality of electric wires are electrically connected to each other. Each of the accommodating portions 20a and 20b is electrically connected to the core wires of the plurality of electric wires.

[0037] With the above-described configuration, even when the electric wire bundle 50 is made up of a large number of electric wires, by accommodating in each of the accommodating sections 20a, 20b a number of core wires not exceeding the upper limit and electrically connecting them, it is possible to electrically connect the terminals of the electric wire bundle 50 to each other without using a joint connector or a jumper wire. Therefore, even when electrically connecting the terminals of the electric wire bundle 50 made up of a large number of electric wires to each other, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the number of operations.

[0038] According to this embodiment, in the longitudinal direction LD of the protection member 30, the accommodation portions 20a and 20b are provided at the same position.

[0039] With the above-described configuration, the storage positions of the multiple electric wires 50A in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30 are the same as the storage positions of the multiple electric wires 50B, and therefore the insertion length of the multiple electric wires 50A in the protective member 30 is the same as the insertion length of the multiple electric wires 50B. This makes it easy to manage the lengths of the electric wires in the electric wire bundle 50.

[0040] [First Modification] In the above-described embodiment, the number of accommodating portions is two, but is not limited to this and may be three or more. In this modified example, the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1 has four accommodating portions.

[0041] 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating sections 120a to 120d in the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1a. Note that the protective member 30 is not shown in Fig. 5 and 6. As shown in Fig. 5 and 6, the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1a includes a conductor section 110, accommodating sections 120a to 120d, and an electric wire bundle 150, instead of the conductor section 10, accommodating sections 20a and 20b, and electric wire bundle 50 of the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1.

[0042] The conductor portion 110 is conductive and formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The conductor portion 110 has bonding surfaces 111 to 114. In this embodiment, when the conductor portion 110 is housed in the protective member 30, the bonding surfaces 111 and 113 are parallel to the XY plane and face the +Z side and the -Z side, respectively. Note that when the conductor portion 110 is housed in the protective member 30, the bonding surfaces 111 and 113 are not limited to being parallel to the XY plane, and may be inclined with respect to the XY plane.

[0043] In this embodiment, when the conductor portion 110 is housed in the protective member 30, the bonding surfaces 112 and 114 are parallel to the XZ plane and face the +Y side and the -Y side, respectively. Note that when the conductor portion 110 is housed in the protective member 30, the bonding surfaces 112 and 114 are not limited to being parallel to the XZ plane, and may be inclined with respect to the XZ plane.

[0044] The accommodating sections 120a to 120d are conductive and formed in a cylindrical shape. The accommodating sections 120a to 120d are joined to the joining surfaces 111 to 114 of the conductor section 110, respectively, and accommodate terminals of the plurality of electric wires 150A to 150D included in the electric wire bundle 150. The accommodating sections 120a to 120d each have openings 121a to 121d on one end side (-X side). The terminals of the plurality of electric wires 150A to 150D are accommodated in the accommodating sections 120a to 120d through the openings 121a to 121d, respectively.

[0045] In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30 in a state in which the protective member 30 accommodates the conductor portion 110 and the accommodating portions 120a to 120d that accommodate ends of the electric wire bundle 150, the conductor portion 110 is formed in a quadrangular shape, and the accommodating portions 120a to 120d are provided around the conductor portion 110 (see FIG. 6). In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, the accommodating portions 120a and 120c face each other with the conductor portion 110 therebetween, and the accommodating portions 120b and 120d face each other with the conductor portion 110 therebetween. In addition, in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, the accommodating portions 120a to 120d are provided at the same positions within the protective member 30.

[0046] In this modification, the conductor portion 110 is formed in a quadrangular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30. However, the shape is not limited to this. For example, the conductor portion 110 may be formed in a polygonal shape such as a triangular shape or a pentagonal shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30.

[0047] According to this modification, the conductor portion 110 is formed in a polygonal shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protection member 30.

[0048] With the above-described configuration, multiple joint surfaces can be provided on the conductor portion 110, and the number of housing portions can be increased according to the number of joint surfaces. As a result, even when the electric wire bundle 150 includes many electric wires, the terminals of the electric wire bundle 50 can be electrically connected to each other without using joint connectors or jumper wires, thereby reducing the number of parts and the number of operations.

[0049] [Second Modification] In the above-described embodiment, the cross section of the conductor 10 is formed in a rectangular shape, but this is not limiting. In this modification, the cross section of the conductor 210 is formed in a circular shape.

[0050] 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portions 220a to 220e in an electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1b according to this modified example. Note that the protective member 30 is not shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1b includes a conductor portion 210, accommodating portions 220a to 220e, and an electric wire bundle 250, instead of the conductor portion 10, accommodating portions 20a, 20b, and electric wire bundle 50 of the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1.

[0051] The conductor portion 210 is electrically conductive and has a cylindrical shape. The conductor portion 210 has a joining peripheral surface 211.

[0052] The accommodating portions 220a to 220e are conductive and formed in a cylindrical shape. The accommodating portions 220a to 220e are joined to the joint peripheral surface 211 of the conductor portion 110, and accommodate terminals of the plurality of electric wires 250A to 250D included in the electric wire bundle 250. The accommodating portions 220a to 220e each have openings 221a to 221e on one end side (-X side). The terminals of the plurality of electric wires 250A to 250E are accommodated in the accommodating portions 220a to 220e through the openings 221a to 221e, respectively.

[0053] In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30 in a state in which the protective member 30 accommodates the conductor portion 210 and the accommodating portions 220a to 220e that accommodate the ends of the electric wire bundle 250, the conductor portion 210 is formed in a circular shape, and the accommodating portions 220a to 220e are provided around the conductor portion 210 (see FIG. 8). In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, the accommodating portions 220a to 220e are provided along the joint peripheral surface 211 of the conductor portion 210. In addition, in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, the accommodating portions 220a to 220e are provided at the same positions within the protective member 30.

[0054] According to this modification, the conductor portion 210 is formed in a circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protection member 30.

[0055] With the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a plurality of accommodating portions along the joint peripheral surface 211 of the conductor portion 210, thereby increasing the number of accommodating portions. As a result, even when the electric wire bundle 150 includes a large number of electric wires, the terminals of the electric wire bundle 50 can be electrically connected to each other without using a joint connector or a jumper wire, thereby reducing the number of parts and the number of operations.

[0056] [Third Modification] In the first modified example described above, the accommodating sections 120a to 120d are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30. However, this is not limiting. In the present modified example, the accommodating sections 120a and 120c are provided at positions different from the accommodating sections 120b and 120d in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30.

[0057] 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the arrangement of the accommodating portions 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d in an electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1c according to this modified example. The protective member 30 is not shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1c includes a conductor portion 310 instead of the conductor portion 110 of the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1a.

[0058] The conductor portion 310 is electrically conductive and formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The conductor portion 310 extends toward the +X side compared to the conductor portion 110 of the electric wire bundle terminal connection structure 1a. The conductor portion 310 has joint surfaces 311 to 314.

[0059] In this embodiment, when the conductor portion 310 is housed in the protective member 30, the bonding surfaces 311 and 313 are parallel to the XY plane and face the +Z side and the -Z side, respectively. Note that when the conductor portion 310 is housed in the protective member 30, the bonding surfaces 311 and 313 are not limited to being parallel to the XY plane, and may be inclined with respect to the XY plane.

[0060] In this embodiment, when the conductor 310 is housed in the protective member 30, the bonding surfaces 312 and 314 are parallel to the XZ plane and face the +Y side and the -Y side, respectively. Note that when the conductor 310 is housed in the protective member 30, the bonding surfaces 312 and 314 are not limited to being parallel to the XZ plane, and may be inclined with respect to the XZ plane.

[0061] The accommodating portions 120a to 120d are joined to the joint surfaces 311 to 314 of the conductor portion 310, respectively, and accommodate the ends of the plurality of electric wires 150A to 150D included in the electric wire bundle 150.

[0062] In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30 when the protective member 30 accommodates the conductor portion 310 and the accommodating portions 120a to 120d that accommodate the ends of the wire bundle 150, the conductor portion 310 is formed in a quadrangular shape, and the accommodating portions 120a to 120d are provided around the conductor portion 310 (see FIG. 10).

[0063] In the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, the accommodation portions 120a and 120c are provided at different positions from the accommodation portions 120b and 120d within the protective member 30. Specifically, the accommodation portions 120a and 120c are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, and are located on the +X side of the accommodation portions 120b and 120d. The accommodation portions 120b and 120d are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, and are located on the -X side of the accommodation portions 120a and 120c.

[0064] Each of the accommodating portions 120a to 120d may be provided at a position different from at least the other accommodating portions in the longitudinal direction LD of the protection member 30. Furthermore, the accommodating portions 120a to 120d may be provided in a spiral shape in the longitudinal direction LD of the protection member 30.

[0065] According to this modification, in the longitudinal direction LD of the protection member 30, each of the accommodating portions 120a to 120d (for example, accommodating portions 120a, 120c) is provided at a position different from at least one other accommodating portion (for example, accommodating portions 120b, 120d).

[0066] With the above-described configuration, for example, when the accommodating sections 120a and 120c are provided at different positions from the accommodating sections 120b and 120d within the protective member 30 in the longitudinal direction LD of the protective member 30, portions of the adjacent accommodating sections can be overlapped.

[0067] Specifically, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD of the protection member 30, parts of the accommodating sections 120a and 120b can be overlapped to the extent that the insertion of the ends of the multiple electric wires 150A and 150B into the accommodating sections 120a and 120b is not interfered with. Similarly, parts of the accommodating sections 120b and 120c, parts of the accommodating sections 120c and 120d, and parts of the accommodating sections 120d and 120a can also be overlapped (see overlapping regions R1 to R4 in FIG. 10 ).

[0068] This allows the space for accommodating the ends of a plurality of electric wires to be expanded in each accommodating section without changing the size of the accommodating section.

[0069] It should be noted that this modification is not limited to being applied to the first modification, but may also be applied to the above-described embodiment and the second modification.

[0070] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1, 1a to 1c Terminal connection structure for electric wire bundle 10, 110, 210, 310 Conductor 20a, 20b, 120a to 120d, 220a to 220e Receptacle 30 Protective material 50, 150, 250 wire bundle 50A, 50B, 150A~150D, 250A~250E Multiple wires 52A, 52B core wire LD Longitudinal direction

Claims

1. A conductor portion; a plurality of conductive housing portions joined to the conductor portion; a bundle of electric wires having terminals accommodated in the plurality of accommodating sections; a protective member having an insulating, bottomed tubular shape that accommodates the conductor portion and the plurality of accommodating portions that accommodate the ends of the electric wire bundle; Equipped with the plurality of housing portions are provided around the conductor portion in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the protection member, Each housing accommodates core wires of a plurality of electric wires that form a part of an end of the electric wire bundle, In each housing portion, the core wires of the plurality of electric wires are electrically connected to each other, The terminal connection structure for a bundle of electric wires, wherein each accommodating portion is electrically connected to the core wires of the plurality of electric wires.

2. The wire bundle terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of accommodating portions are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the protective member.

3. 2. The electric wire bundle terminal connection structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of accommodating portions is provided at a position different from at least one other accommodating portion in the longitudinal direction of the protective member.

4. 4. The end connection structure for a wire bundle according to claim 1, wherein the conductor portion is formed in a circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the protective member.

5. 4. The end connection structure for a wire bundle according to claim 1, wherein the conductor portion is formed in a polygonal shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the protective member.

Images