Wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness capable of improving manufacturability.SOLUTION: A wire harness 10 comprises a shield electric wire 20A, and a cylindrical water stop member 50 attached to the shield electric wire 20A. The shield electric wire 20A has a core wire 21A having conductivity, an insulation coating 22A surrounding the outer periphery of the core wire 21A, a braided wire 23A formed by braiding a plurality of metallic element wires 25, and surrounding the outer periphery of the insulation coating 22A, a sheath 24A surrounding the outer periphery of the braided wire 23A and having insulation properties, and an exposed part 31 in which the braided wire 23A is exposed from the sheath 24A. The water stop member 50 has a cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube 51 covering the outer periphery of the exposed part 31, and a hot melt member 52 capable of flowing when the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is constricted. The hot melt member 52 is disposed between the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the exposed part 31, and seals a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating 22A and the inner peripheral surface of the sheath 24A behind the exposed part 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, some wire harnesses mounted on vehicles such as automobiles include electric wires and a waterproofing member provided at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the electric wires (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The waterproofing member is provided at a portion of the electric wire where the insulating coating at the intermediate portion is removed and the core wire is exposed from the insulating coating. The waterproofing member is formed by applying silicone to the exposed core wire from the insulating coating and then wrapping an insulating resin tape around the silicone to cover it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-72943 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the waterproofing member is formed by applying silicone, it takes a long time (e.g., 8 hours or more) for the silicone to harden, which increases the time required to manufacture the wire harness, and therefore there is still room for improvement in terms of the manufacturability of the wire harness.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wire harness that can improve manufacturability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A wire harness according to the present disclosure includes a shielded electric wire and a tubular waterproofing member attached to the shielded electric wire, the shielded electric wire having a first end and a second end provided on the opposite side of the first end in a longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire, the shielded electric wire including a conductive core wire, an insulating coating surrounding an outer periphery of the core wire, a braided wire formed by braiding a plurality of metallic element wires and surrounding an outer periphery of the insulating coating, an insulating sheath surrounding an outer periphery of the braided wire, and a waterproofing member provided between the first end and the second end. the water-stopping member has a cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube covering the outer periphery of the first exposed portion, and a hot-melt member that is flowable when the heat-shrinkable tube shrinks, and the hot-melt member is provided between the heat-shrinkable tube and the first exposed portion, and seals the gap between the outer surface of the insulating coating and the inner surface of the sheath at least on one of the side of the first end portion closer to the first exposed portion and the side of the second end portion closer to the first exposed portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The wire harness of the present disclosure has an effect of improving manufacturability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the wire harness of one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a braided wire according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the braided wire shown in FIG. [Figure 7]7(a) and 7(b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing a method for manufacturing a wire harness according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a wire harness according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a modified wire harness. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a modified wire harness. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. [1] A wire harness according to the present disclosure includes a shielded electric wire and a tubular waterproofing member attached to the shielded electric wire, the shielded electric wire having a first end and a second end provided on the opposite side of the first end in a longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire, the shielded electric wire including a conductive core wire, an insulating coating surrounding an outer periphery of the core wire, a braided wire formed by braiding a plurality of metallic element wires and surrounding an outer periphery of the insulating coating, an insulating sheath surrounding an outer periphery of the braided wire, and a sheath between the first end and the second end. the water-stopping member has a cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube covering the outer periphery of the first exposed portion, and a hot-melt member that is flowable when the heat-shrinkable tube shrinks, and the hot-melt member is provided between the heat-shrinkable tube and the first exposed portion, and seals the gap between the outer surface of the insulating coating and the inner surface of the sheath at least on one of the side of the first end portion closer to the first exposed portion and the side of the second end portion closer to the first exposed portion.

[0010] According to this configuration, a first exposed portion where the braided wire is exposed from the sheath is provided in a longitudinal intermediate portion of the shielded electric wire. A cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube is provided to cover the first exposed portion, and a hot melt member is provided between the heat-shrinkable tube and the first exposed portion. A portion of the hot melt member seals the gap between the insulating coating and the sheath at least one of the first end side and the second end side of the first exposed portion. The hot melt member can prevent liquid such as water from moving along the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire through a gap between the insulating coating and the sheath. For example, even if liquid flows from the first end side toward the first exposed portion through the gap between the insulating coating and the sheath, the hot melt member sealing the gap between the insulating coating and the sheath can prevent the liquid from penetrating the second end side of the hot melt member. In other words, the hot melt member can form a water-stopping member that prevents liquid from penetrating between the insulating coating and the sheath. This allows the manufacturing time of the watertight member to be shortened by the amount of time required for curing the silicone compared to when the watertight member is made of silicone, thereby shortening the manufacturing time of the wire harness and improving the manufacturability of the wire harness.

[0011] [2] It is preferable that the heat-shrinkable tube is integrated with the hot melt member, and the hot melt member is laminated on the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube. According to this configuration, the hot melt member is integrated and laminated on the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube. Therefore, when forming a water-stopping member for the shielded electric wire, the heat-shrinkable tube and the hot melt member can be treated as a single component. This simplifies the work of forming the water-stopping member compared to when the heat-shrinkable tube and the hot melt member are separate. This improves the manufacturability of the wire harness.

[0012] [3] The wire harness is preferably mounted on a vehicle and electrically connects an external power supply device and a battery, the shielded wire having a second exposed portion located closer to the first end than the first exposed portion and where the braided wire is exposed from the sheath, and the wire harness includes a first connector electrically connectable to the external power supply device and attached to the first end of the shielded wire, a second connector electrically connectable to the battery and attached to the second end of the shielded wire, and a ground terminal attached to the second exposed portion. According to this configuration, the second exposed portion where the braided wire is exposed from the sheath is located closer to the first end than the first exposed portion of the shielded wire, and a ground terminal is attached to the second exposed portion. In this case, there is a possibility that liquid may seep into the space between the insulating coating and the sheath through the second exposed portion. In contrast, a hot melt member is provided to seal the gap between the insulating coating and the sheath, so even if liquid flows from the second exposed portion toward the second end through the gap between the insulating coating and the sheath, the liquid can be prevented from penetrating toward the second end side beyond the hot melt member.

[0013] [4] It is preferable that the insulating coating is made of a synthetic resin whose main component is polyolefin-based resin, the sheath is made of a synthetic resin whose main component is polyolefin-based resin, and the hot melt member is made of a synthetic resin whose main component is polyolefin-based resin.

[0014] However, when a water-stopping member made of silicone is formed on an insulating coating and sheath made of polyolefin resin, for example, there is room for improvement in the reliability of the water-stopping performance of the water-stopping member. For example, polar silicone has difficulty penetrating the fine irregularities on the surface of non-polar or weakly polar polyolefin resin. As a result, after the silicone hardens, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient mechanical bond between the silicone and the polyolefin resin, and there is a possibility that sufficient adhesive strength between the silicone and the polyolefin resin may not be obtained. As a result, if the water-stopping member is bent, there is a concern that the silicone may peel off from the insulating coating or sheath. Therefore, a method of protecting the water-stopping member with a resin protector has been considered to prevent the water-stopping member from bending. However, in this case, the provision of the resin protector causes the problem of an increase in size around the water-stopping member.

[0015] In contrast, in the above configuration, the insulating coating, sheath, and hot melt member are all made of a synthetic resin primarily composed of a polyolefin resin. This allows the hot melt member and the insulating coating to be bonded with high adhesive strength, and the hot melt member and the sheath to be bonded with high adhesive strength. This allows the hot melt member to effectively seal the space between the insulating coating and the sheath, improving the reliability of the water-stopping performance of the hot melt member. Furthermore, even if the water-stopping member is bent, the hot melt member is prevented from peeling off from the insulating coating and the sheath. Therefore, there is no need to provide a resin protector for the water-stopping member to prevent bending. As a result, the area around the water-stopping member is prevented from becoming large, and the wire harness is prevented from becoming large.

[0016] Herein, the term "polyolefin-based resin" includes olefin homopolymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene, ethylene copolymers, propylene copolymers, and olefin-based polyolefin elastomers. The term "polyolefin-based resin" also includes combinations of two or more of olefin homopolymers, ethylene copolymers, propylene copolymers, and polyolefin elastomers. The term "polyolefin-based resin" also includes both crosslinked and non-crosslinked resins. Examples of polyethylene include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Examples of ethylene-based copolymers include ethylene-α-olefin copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and ethylene-acrylate copolymers. Examples of propylene-based copolymers include propylene-α-olefin copolymers, propylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and propylene-acrylate copolymers. Examples of polyolefin elastomers include olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers such as ethylene-based elastomers and propylene-based elastomers, ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPM, EPR), ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers (EPDM, EPT), etc. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the expression "main component" includes the meaning of containing other components to the extent that they do not interfere with the function of the main component, and includes the meaning of the content of the main component being 50% by mass or more.

[0017] [5] When the shielded electric wire is mounted on the vehicle, it is preferable that the shielded electric wire has a bending region between the first end and the second end, and the bending region includes the first exposed portion. According to this configuration, when the shielded electric wire is mounted on the vehicle, the first exposed portion is arranged in the bending region of the shielded electric wire. That is, when the shielded electric wire is mounted on the vehicle, the first exposed portion is bent and the water-stopping member provided in the first exposed portion is also bent. Here, because the insulating coating, the sheath, and the hot-melt member are all made of polyolefin-based resin, the hot-melt member is bonded to the insulating coating and the sheath with high adhesive strength. Therefore, even when the first exposed portion and the water-stopping member are arranged in the bending region, peeling of the hot-melt member from the insulating coating and the sheath can be suitably prevented. Therefore, there is no need to remove the first exposed portion and the water-stopping member from the bending region when laying out the wire harness, which improves the flexibility of the wire harness layout.

[0018] [6] The bending rigidity of the heat-shrinkable tube is preferably higher than that of the hot melt member. According to this configuration, the bending rigidity of the heat-shrinkable tube is set higher than that of the hot melt member. This increases the bending rigidity of the water-stopping member itself, which includes the heat-shrinkable tube and the hot melt member. This prevents the water-stopping member from being bent too sharply compared to when the water-stopping member is protected by a resin protector, while also preventing the water-stopping member from being bent too sharply compared to when the water-stopping member is composed solely of a hot melt member. As a result, peeling of the hot melt member from the insulating coating and sheath can be effectively prevented. Here, "sharp bending" in this specification refers to bending the target member at an angle of 90 degrees or less.

[0019] [7] Preferably, the heat-shrinkable tube and the hot-melt member are transparent. According to this configuration, the heat-shrinkable tube and the hot-melt member covering the first exposed portion of the braided wire from the sheath are transparent. Therefore, for example, the state of the braided wire inside the heat-shrinkable tube can be visually confirmed from the outside of the heat-shrinkable tube. For example, when forming a water-stopping member for a shielded electric wire, an operator can visually check from the outside of the heat-shrinkable tube whether the braided wire inside the heat-shrinkable tube is twisted, making it prone to poor penetration of the hot-melt member. This allows the water-stopping performance of the water-stopping member to be visually confirmed after formation. Ultimately, the reliability of the water-stopping performance of the water-stopping member can be improved. Herein, "transparent" means having a degree of transparency that allows a view from one side of the member to the other side through the member, and is a concept that includes colorless transparency, colored transparency, and translucence.

[0020] [8] Preferably, the braided wire has a wire bundle including the plurality of wires, and the braided wire is formed by braiding the plurality of wire bundles, and the gaps between adjacent wire bundles are larger than the gaps between adjacent wires in one wire bundle, and the hot melt material penetrates the gaps between the adjacent wire bundles. According to this configuration, the braided wire is braided so that the gaps between adjacent wire bundles are larger than the gaps between adjacent wires in one wire bundle. In other words, the braided wire has a sparsely packed wire bundle. In this case, the hot melt material easily penetrates the gaps between wire bundles where the density is sparse. Therefore, compared to when the wires are uniformly and densely woven throughout the entire braided wire, the hot melt material can more easily penetrate through the gaps between the wires of the braided wire (mainly the gaps between the wire bundles) toward the insulating coating located inside the braided wire. This allows the hot melt material to be suitably adhered to the outer surface of the insulating coating, and the hot melt material can suitably seal the gap between the insulating coating and the sheath. As a result, the reliability of the watertight performance of the hot melt material can be improved.

[0021] [9] Preferably, the heat-shrinkable tube is disposed so as to span between the sheath disposed closer to the first end than the first exposed portion and the sheath disposed closer to the second end than the first exposed portion, and the hot-melt member is a single layer. The hot-melt member seals between the outer peripheral surface of the sheath disposed closer to the first end than the first exposed portion and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube, seals between the outer peripheral surface of the sheath disposed closer to the second end than the first exposed portion and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube, and seals between the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating at the first exposed portion and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube. According to this configuration, the single-layer hot-melt member seals between the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating and the inner peripheral surface of the sheath, between the outer peripheral surface of the sheath and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube, and between the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube. This reduces the number of parts required for the water-stopping member compared to sealing each location with multiple parts. This improves the manufacturability of the wire harness.

[0022]

[10] When the shielded electric wire is a first shielded electric wire, the water-stopping member is a first water-stopping member, the heat-shrinkable tube is a first heat-shrinkable tube, the hot melt member is a first hot melt member, the core wire is a first core wire, the insulating coating is a first insulating coating, the braided wire is a first braided wire, the element wire is a first element wire, and the sheath is a first sheath, the wire harness has a third end and a fourth end provided on the opposite side to the third end, and is a second shielded electric wire different from the first shielded electric wire. and a cylindrical second waterproofing member attached to the second shielded electric wire, wherein the second shielded electric wire includes a second core wire capable of electrically connecting the external power supply device and the battery device, a second insulating coating surrounding an outer periphery of the second core wire, a second braided wire formed by braiding a plurality of second metal wires and surrounding an outer periphery of the second insulating coating, a second sheath surrounding an outer periphery of the second braided wire and having insulating properties, and a second sheath provided between the third end portion and the fourth end portion, the second braided wire being exposed from the second sheath. the second waterproofing member has a cylindrical second heat-shrinkable tube covering an outer periphery of the third exposed portion and a second hot-melt member that is flowable when the second heat-shrinkable tube shrinks; the first connector is attached to the third end of the second shielded electric wire, and the second connector is attached to the fourth end of the second shielded electric wire; the second hot-melt member is provided between the second heat-shrinkable tube and the third exposed portion, and seals the gap between the outer periphery of the second insulating coating and the inner periphery of the second sheath on at least one of a side closer to the third end than the third exposed portion and a side closer to the fourth end than the third exposed portion; the second insulating coating is made of a synthetic resin mainly composed of a polyolefin-based resin; the second sheath is made of a synthetic resin mainly composed of a polyolefin-based resin; and the second hot-melt member is made of a synthetic resin mainly composed of a polyolefin-based resin; and the first shielded electric wire and the second shielded electric wire are preferably arranged side by side. According to this configuration, in the second shielded wire, the second insulating coating, the second sheath, and the second hot melt member are all made of synthetic resin containing polyolefin resin as a main component.Therefore, the second hot melt member is bonded to the second insulating coating and the second sheath with high adhesive strength. Similarly, in the first shielded wire, the first insulating coating, the first sheath, and the first hot melt member are all made of a synthetic resin primarily composed of a polyolefin resin. Therefore, the first hot melt member is bonded to the first insulating coating and the first sheath with high adhesive strength. Therefore, even if the first water-stopping member and the second water-stopping member are arranged in the bending region, the first hot melt member can be prevented from peeling off from the first insulating coating and the first sheath, and the second hot melt member can be prevented from peeling off from the second insulating coating and the second sheath. As a result, there is no need to provide resin protectors for the first water-stopping member and the second water-stopping member to prevent bending of the first water-stopping member and the second water-stopping member. This eliminates the need to increase the size of the areas near the first water-stopping member and the second water-stopping member, thereby preventing the wire harness from becoming large.

[0023]

[11] When viewed from the direction in which the first shielded electric wire and the second shielded electric wire are arranged, it is preferable that the first exposed portion and the third exposed portion at least partially overlap each other. According to this configuration, the first exposed portion of the first shielded electric wire and the third exposed portion of the second shielded electric wire are provided close to each other. Therefore, the first waterproofing member provided in the first exposed portion and the second waterproofing member provided in the third exposed portion are provided close to each other. In this case, it is not necessary to provide resin protectors for the first waterproofing member and the second waterproofing member. Therefore, when the first waterproofing member and the second waterproofing member are provided close to each other, it is possible to more significantly suppress an increase in the size of the wire harness.

[0024]

[12] When viewed from the direction in which the first shielded electric wire and the second shielded electric wire are arranged, it is preferable that the first exposed portion and the third exposed portion do not overlap each other. According to this configuration, the first exposed portion and the third exposed portion are provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the first shielded electric wire and the second shielded electric wire. Therefore, when manufacturing a wire harness, the first shielding member and the second shielding member can be distinguished by checking the positions of the first waterproofing member provided in the first exposed portion and the second waterproofing member provided in the third exposed portion. This makes it possible to prevent the first shielded electric wire and the second shielded electric wire from being incorrectly assembled.

[0025] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the wire harness of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, for the convenience of explanation, some of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ from one drawing to another. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0026] (Overall configuration of the wire harness 10) The wire harness 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle V, such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle. The wire harness 10 electrically connects two or more on-board devices. The on-board devices are electrical devices mounted on the vehicle V. The wire harness 10 of this embodiment electrically connects a charging inlet M1 and a battery device M2. The wire harness 10 is formed in an elongated shape so as to extend, for example, in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle V.

[0027] In this embodiment, for convenience, the side of the wire harness 10 in the longitudinal direction that is closer to the charging inlet M1 is referred to as the rear, and the side of the wire harness 10 in the longitudinal direction that is closer to the battery M2 is referred to as the front. Furthermore, the end of each member located on the charging inlet M1 side is referred to as the rear end, and the end of each member located on the battery M2 side is referred to as the front end.

[0028] The wire harness 10 includes one or more (two in this embodiment) shielded electric wires 20, a connector C1 attached to the rear end of the shielded electric wire 20, and a connector C2 attached to the front end of the shielded electric wire 20.

[0029] The connector C1 is provided on, for example, the charging inlet M1. The connector C1 constitutes, for example, a part of the charging inlet M1. In other words, the charging inlet M1 has the connector C1. The connector C1 constituting the charging inlet M1 is electrically connectable to an external connector 101 connected to the external power supply device 100. The connector C2 is electrically connected to the battery M2. The battery M2 is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery. For example, connecting the external connector 101 to the connector C1 of the charging inlet M1 enables charging of the battery M2 from the external power supply device 100. In this way, the wire harness 10 of the present embodiment is a wire harness for charging that electrically connects the charging inlet M1 and the battery M2.

[0030] (Configuration of shielded wire 20) As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shielded electric wire 20 has, for example, a positive-side shielded electric wire 20A and a negative-side shielded electric wire 20B. Each of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B is, for example, a high-tension electric wire capable of handling high voltage and large current. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B is formed in an elongated shape so as to extend, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V. The shielded electric wire 20A has a rear end (first end) which is one end in the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire 20A, and a front end (second end) provided on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire 20A from the rear end. The shielded electric wire 20B has a rear end (third end) which is one end in the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire 20B, and a front end (fourth end) provided on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire 20B from the rear end. A connector C1 is attached to the rear end of each of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B, and a connector C2 is attached to the front end of each of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B.

[0031] Each of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B is bent two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally when mounted on a vehicle V, for example. Each of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B has two bending regions A1, A2 between the rear end and the front end when mounted on a vehicle V, for example. The two shielded electric wires 20A, 20B are arranged side by side. The two shielded electric wires 20A, 20B are routed so as to extend in parallel over the entire length of the wire harness 10 in the longitudinal direction, for example. Note that, for simplicity of the drawing, FIG. 3 shows the cross-sectional structure of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B before being bent at the bending regions A1, A2.

[0032] (Configuration of shielded wires 20A and 20B) As shown in Fig. 3, the shielded wire 20A includes a conductive core wire 21A and an insulating coating 22A that surrounds the core wire 21A and has insulating properties. The shielded wire 20A includes a braided wire 23A that is formed by braiding a plurality of metal wires 25 (first wires) and surrounds the insulating coating 22A, and an insulating sheath 24A that surrounds the braided wire 23A. The braided wire 23A has an electromagnetic shielding function that prevents electromagnetic waves from the core wire 21A from radiating outside the shielded wire 20A. In other words, the shielded wire 20A has its own electromagnetic shielding structure. The shielded wire 20A has an exposed portion 31 that is provided between the rear end and front end of the shielded wire 20A and where the braided wire 23A is exposed from the sheath 24A. The shielded wire 20A has, for example, an exposed portion 32 that is provided at a position closer to the rear end than the exposed portion 31 and where the braided wire 23A is exposed from the sheath 24A.

[0033] The shielded wire 20B has a conductive core wire 21B and an insulating coating 22B that surrounds the core wire 21B and has insulating properties. The shielded wire 20B has a braided wire 23B that is formed by braiding a plurality of metal wires 25 (second wires) and surrounds the insulating coating 22B, and an insulating sheath 24B that surrounds the braided wire 23B. The braided wire 23B has an electromagnetic shielding function that suppresses radiation of electromagnetic waves from the core wire 21B to the outside of the shielded wire 20B. In other words, the shielded wire 20B has its own electromagnetic shielding structure. The shielded wire 20B has an exposed portion 33 that is provided between the rear end and front end of the shielded wire 20B and where the braided wire 23B is exposed from the sheath 24B. The shielded wire 20B has, for example, an exposed portion 34 that is provided at a position closer to the rear end than the exposed portion 33 and where the braided wire 23B is exposed from the sheath 24B.

[0034] (Configuration of core wires 21A and 21B) Each of the core wires 21A, 21B may be, for example, a stranded wire formed by twisting together a plurality of metal wires or a single core wire formed by a single conductor. The single core wire may be, for example, a columnar conductor formed by a single columnar metal rod having a solid interior, or a tubular conductor having a hollow interior. Each of the core wires 21A, 21B may be a combination of a stranded wire, a columnar conductor, and a tubular conductor. Each of the core wires 21A, 21B may be made of, for example, a copper-based or aluminum-based metal material.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, each insulating coating 22A, 22B covers the entire outer circumferential surface of each core wire 21A, 21B. Each insulating coating 22A, 22B is made of, for example, an insulating resin material. Examples of materials that can be used for each insulating coating 22A, 22B include synthetic resins primarily composed of polyolefin resins such as cross-linked polyethylene and cross-linked polypropylene, halogen-based polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and thermoplastic elastomers. Each insulating coating 22A, 22B may be made of one material alone or a combination of two or more materials. In this embodiment, the insulating coatings 22A, 22B are made of synthetic resins primarily composed of polyolefin resins.

[0036] Each of the braided wires 23A and 23B surrounds the outer circumferential surface of each of the insulating coatings 22A and 22B over the entire circumferential direction. Each of the braided wires 23A and 23B is formed in a cylindrical shape. Each of the braided wires 23A and 23B is flexible, for example.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 5, each braided wire 23A, 23B is formed, for example, by weaving a plurality of wire bundles 26 into a tubular shape. Each braided wire 23A, 23B is formed, for example, by weaving a plurality of wire bundles 26 in a plain weave pattern, that is, by weaving warp threads and weft threads so that the warp threads and weft threads alternately rise and fall. In each braided wire 23A, 23B, a mesh 27 is formed by two wire bundles 26 serving as warp threads and two wire bundles 26 serving as weft threads. The weaving method of the wire bundles 26 is not particularly limited, and they may be woven in a satin weave or twill weave, for example.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 6, each wire bundle 26 has a plurality of (five in Fig. 6) metallic wires 25. That is, in each braided wire 23A, 23B, a plurality of wires 25 are grouped into one set (pick), i.e., one wire bundle 26. In each wire bundle 26, the plurality of wires 25 are closely packed together. As the material for each wire 25, for example, a copper-based or aluminum-based metallic material can be used.

[0039] Each braided wire 23A, 23B is woven so that a gap 26X between two adjacent wire bundles 26 is larger than a gap 25X between two adjacent wires 25 in one wire bundle 26. That is, a large gap 26X is formed between the wire bundles 26, while a small gap 25X is formed between the wires 25 in each wire bundle 26. In other words, in each braided wire 23A, 23B, the wires 25 are arranged at varying densities.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, each sheath 24A, 24B surrounds the outer circumferential surface of each braided wire 23A, 23B over the entire circumferential direction. Each sheath 24A, 24B is made of, for example, an insulating resin material. Examples of materials that can be used for each sheath 24A, 24B include synthetic resins primarily composed of polyolefin resins such as cross-linked polyethylene and cross-linked polypropylene, halogen-based polymers such as polyvinyl chloride, and thermoplastic elastomers. Furthermore, each sheath 24A, 24B may be made of one material alone or a combination of two or more materials. In this embodiment, the sheaths 24A, 24B are made of synthetic resins primarily composed of polyolefin resins.

[0041] The cross-sectional shape of each of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B is, for example, circular. However, the cross-sectional shape of each of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B is not limited to a circular shape and may be any shape, such as a semicircular shape, a polygonal shape, a square shape, or a flat shape.

[0042] (Configuration of exposed portion 31) As shown in FIG. 2 , the exposed portion 31 is provided in a longitudinal intermediate portion of the shielded electric wire 20A. The exposed portion 31 is provided in a portion of the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire 20A. The exposed portion 31 is provided, for example, in a bending region A1 of the shielded electric wire 20A. In other words, the bending region A1 has the exposed portion 31. For example, the exposed portion 31 is bent two-dimensionally when the shielded electric wire 20A is mounted on a vehicle V. In the exposed portion 31, the sheath 24A is removed and the braided wire 23A is exposed from the sheath 24A. In the exposed portion 31, the braided wire 23A is exposed from the sheath 24A over the entire circumferential circumference of the shielded electric wire 20A.

[0043] (Configuration of exposed portion 32) The exposed portion 32 is provided, for example, near the rear end of the shielded wire 20A in the longitudinal direction. In the exposed portion 32, the sheath 24A is removed, exposing the braided wire 23A from the sheath 24A. For example, in the exposed portion 32, the rear end of the sheath 24A is removed, exposing the rear end of the braided wire 23A from the sheath 24A. The exposed portion 32 does not surround the outer peripheries of the core wire 21A and the insulating coating 22A, but has a separated portion 32A that extends away from the core wire 21A and the insulating coating 22A. The separated portion 32A extends, for example, in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the core wire 21A (downward in the figure). The tip of the separated portion 32A is electrically connected, for example, to a metal ground terminal 40. Here, the tip of the separated portion 32A is the end of the separated portion 32A in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) that is farthest from the rear end of the sheath 24A. The ground terminal 40 is electrically connected to a grounding portion G1 provided on, for example, a vehicle body panel. Thus, the separate portion 32A is grounded to the grounding portion G1 through the ground terminal 40. The separate portion 32A and the grounding terminal 40 can be joined by crimping, welding such as ultrasonic welding or laser welding, or other known joining methods. Although not shown, the front end of the braided wire 23A is grounded to the grounding portion G2 provided on, for example, a vehicle body panel via a connector C2. For example, the front end of the braided wire 23A is electrically connected to a metal ring member inside the connector C2 and is grounded through the ring member. As a result, both axial ends of the braided wire 23A are grounded. As a result, the braided wire 23A exhibits an electromagnetic shielding function that suppresses electromagnetic waves from the core wire 21A from radiating outside the shielded wire 20A.

[0044] (Configuration of exposed portion 33) The exposed portion 33 is provided in a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire 20B. The exposed portion 33 is provided in a portion of the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire 20B. The exposed portion 33 is provided, for example, in the bending region A1 of the shielded electric wire 20B. In other words, the bending region A1 has the exposed portion 33. The exposed portion 33 is bent two-dimensionally, for example, when the shielded electric wire 20B is mounted on a vehicle V. In the exposed portion 33, the sheath 24B is removed and the braided wire 23B is exposed from the sheath 24B. In the exposed portion 33, the braided wire 23B is exposed from the sheath 24B over the entire circumferential circumference of the shielded electric wire 20B.

[0045] For example, when viewed from the direction in which the shielded wires 20A and 20B are arranged, the exposed portion 33 is provided so as to at least partially overlap with the exposed portion 31. For example, the exposed portion 31 and the exposed portion 33 are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the shielded wires 20A and 20B.

[0046] (Configuration of exposed portion 34) The exposed portion 34 is provided, for example, near the rear end portion in the longitudinal direction of the shielded wire 20B. In the exposed portion 34, the sheath 24B is removed, and the braided wire 23B is exposed from the sheath 24B. For example, in the exposed portion 34, the rear end portion of the sheath 24B is removed, and the rear end portion of the braided wire 23B is exposed from the sheath 24B. The exposed portion 34 does not surround the outer peripheries of the core wire 21B and the insulating coating 22B, and has a separated portion 34B that extends away from the core wire 21B and the insulating coating 22B. The separated portion 34B extends, for example, in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the core wire 21B (downward in the figure). The tip of the separated portion 34B is electrically connected, for example, to the ground terminal 40. Here, the tip of the separated portion 34B is the end of the separated portion 34B in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) that is farthest from the rear end portion of the sheath 24B. The ends of the separated portions 32A and 34B are connected together to the ground terminal 40. In this embodiment, the ground terminal 40 crimps the ends of the separated portions 32A and 34B together. The ground terminal 40 grounds the ends of the separated portions 32A and 34B together to the grounding portion G1. The end of the separated portion 34B is grounded to the grounding portion G1 through the ground terminal 40. The separated portion 34B can be joined to the ground terminal 40 by crimping, welding such as ultrasonic welding or laser welding, or other known joining methods. Although not shown, the front end of the braided wire 23B is grounded to the grounding portion G2, for example, via a connector C2. For example, the front end of the braided wire 23B is electrically connected to a metal ring member inside the connector C2 and grounded through the ring member. As a result, both axial ends of the braided wire 23B are grounded. As a result, the braided wire 23B exhibits an electromagnetic shielding function that suppresses the radiation of electromagnetic waves from the core wire 21B to the outside of the shielded wire 20B.

[0047] (Configuration of water-stopping members 50, 60) The wire harness 10 has a tubular water-stopping member 50 attached to the shielded electric wire 20A and a tubular water-stopping member 60 attached to the shielded electric wire 20B. The water-stopping member 50 is provided so as to cover the exposed portion 31. The water-stopping member 60 is provided so as to cover the exposed portion 33.

[0048] The water-stopping member 50 has a cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube 51 that covers the exposed portion 31, and a hot-melt member 52 provided between the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the exposed portion 31. The water-stopping member 60 has a cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube 61 that covers the exposed portion 33, and a hot-melt member 62 provided between the heat-shrinkable tube 61 and the exposed portion 33.

[0049] (Configuration of heat shrink tubes 51 and 61) The heat-shrinkable tube 51 is attached to a portion of the shielded electric wire 20A in the longitudinal direction. The heat-shrinkable tube 61 is attached to a portion of the shielded electric wire 20B in the longitudinal direction. The heat-shrinkable tube 51 is, for example, already formed as a cylindrical body before the exposed portion 31 is placed inside the heat-shrinkable tube 51. The heat-shrinkable tube 61 is, for example, already formed as a cylindrical body before the exposed portion 33 is placed inside the heat-shrinkable tube 61. The heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 are obtained, for example, by extrusion-molding a resin member into a very thin cylindrical shape, stretching it into a thick cylindrical shape while heated, and then cooling it. The heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 obtained in this manner have shape-memory properties that allow them to shrink back to the thin cylindrical shape before being stretched when heated.

[0050] The bending rigidity of each heat shrink tube 51, 61 is higher than the bending rigidity of each hot melt member 52, 62, for example. That is, the heat shrink tubes 51, 61 are less likely to bend than the hot melt members 52, 62. The bending rigidity of each heat shrink tube 51, 61 is lower than or equal to the bending rigidity of each core wire 21A, 21B, for example.

[0051] Each of the heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 is, for example, transparent. Each of the heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 has transparency such that the braided wires 23A, 23B provided inside each of the heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 can be seen from the outside of the heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61.

[0052] The heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 may be made of a synthetic resin primarily composed of, for example, polyolefin resin, polyester resin, nylon resin, or fluorine resin. The heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 may be made of one material alone or two or more materials in appropriate combination. The heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 of this embodiment are made of a synthetic resin primarily composed of polyolefin resin.

[0053] (Configuration of hot melt members 52, 62) The hot melt member 52 is flowable when the heat shrink tube 51 shrinks. The hot melt member 52 is, for example, integrated with the heat shrink tube 51. The hot melt member 52 is, for example, laminated on the inner circumferential surface of the heat shrink tube 51. Before the exposed portion 31 is placed inside the heat shrink tube 51, the hot melt member 52 is laminated with a uniform thickness on the inner circumferential surface of the heat shrink tube 51 and formed into a cylindrical shape. The hot melt member 52 is, for example, formed over the entire circumferential circumference and the entire axial (length) length of the inner circumferential surface of the heat shrink tube 51. Before the exposed portion 31 is placed inside the heat shrink tube 51, the inner diameter of the hot melt member 52 is larger than the outer diameter of the shielded electric wire 20A.

[0054] The hot melt member 62 is flowable when the heat shrink tube 61 shrinks. The hot melt member 62 is, for example, integrated with the heat shrink tube 61. The hot melt member 62 is, for example, laminated on the inner circumferential surface of the heat shrink tube 61. Before the exposed portion 33 is placed inside the heat shrink tube 61, the hot melt member 62 is laminated with a uniform thickness on the inner circumferential surface of the heat shrink tube 61 and formed into a cylindrical shape. The hot melt member 62 is, for example, formed over the entire circumferential circumference and the entire axial (length) length of the inner circumferential surface of the heat shrink tube 61. Before the exposed portion 33 is placed inside the heat shrink tube 61, the inner diameter of the hot melt member 62 is larger than the outer diameter of the shielded electric wire 20B.

[0055] Each of the hot melt members 52, 62 is, for example, transparent. Each of the hot melt members 52, 62 has transparency such that the braided wires 23A, 23B provided inside each of the heat shrink tubes 51, 61 can be seen from the outside of the heat shrink tubes 51, 61.

[0056] The hot melt members 52, 62 may be made of a hot melt adhesive, such as a polyolefin resin, a polyester resin, or a polyamide resin. The material of the hot melt members 52, 62 is preferably the same resin material as the material of the insulating coatings 22A, 22B. The material of the hot melt members 52, 62 is preferably the same resin material as the material of the sheaths 24A, 24B. The material of the hot melt members 52, 62 is preferably the same resin material as the material of the heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61. The hot melt members 52, 62 may be made of one material alone or two or more materials in combination. The hot melt members 52, 62 of this embodiment are made of a synthetic resin primarily composed of a polyolefin resin. The hot melt members 52, 62 are layers formed by, for example, being heated to melt and then cooled and solidified. The hot melt members 52 and 62 of this embodiment are each made of a single layer.

[0057] (Configuration of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the hot melt member 52 after heat shrinking) Next, the configuration of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the hot melt member 52 after being heat-shrunk will be described.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 3 , the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is formed to surround the outer periphery of the braided wire 23A in the exposed portion 31 over the entire circumferential direction. The heat-shrinkable tube 51 is provided, for example, to span between the sheaths 24A located on both sides of the exposed portion 31 in the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wire 20A. The heat-shrinkable tube 51 is provided, for example, to span between the sheath 24A located behind the exposed portion 31 and the sheath 24A located ahead of the exposed portion 31. For example, the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 surrounds the outer periphery of the sheath 24A located behind the exposed portion 31, and the front end of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 surrounds the outer periphery of the sheath 24A located ahead of the exposed portion 31. The rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is bonded by a hot-melt member 52 over the entire circumferential direction to the outer periphery of the sheath 24A located behind the exposed portion 31. The front end of the heat shrinkable tube 51 is bonded by a hot melt member 52 to the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 24A, which is disposed forward of the exposed portion 31, for example, over the entire circumferential direction.

[0059] The hot melt member 52 seals the gap between, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 24A located rearward of the exposed portion 31 and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51. The hot melt member 52 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 24A located rearward of the exposed portion 31 over the entire circumferential direction, without any gaps, and is also in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 over the entire circumferential direction. The hot melt member 52 also seals the gap between, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 24A located forward of the exposed portion 31 and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51. The hot melt member 52 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 24A located forward of the exposed portion 31 over the entire circumferential direction, without any gaps, and is also in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 over the entire circumferential direction. This closes the gap between the sheath 24A and the heat-shrinkable tube 51 on both sides of the exposed portion 31. This makes it possible to prevent liquids such as water from penetrating into the water-stopping member 50 from both axial (lengthwise) ends of the water-stopping member 50. A portion of the hot melt member 52 is formed to protrude outward beyond the axial end of the heat-shrinkable tube 51.

[0060] The hot melt member 52 seals the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A in the exposed portion 31 and the inner circumferential surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51, for example, at the axially intermediate portion of the water-stopping member 50. The hot melt member 52 seals the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the heat-shrinkable tube 51 by, for example, penetrating between the wires 25 of the braided wire 23A in the exposed portion 31 and coming into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A and the inner circumferential surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51. The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to fill the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A in the exposed portion 31 and the inner circumferential surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51. The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to penetrate into the mesh 27 of the braided wire 23A in the exposed portion 31. The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to fill the mesh 27 of the braided wire 23A in the exposed portion 31. The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to cover the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the braided wire 23A in the exposed portion 31. The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to enclose the braided wire 23A in the exposed portion 31. Note that the hot melt member 52 may not penetrate into the gaps 25X (see FIG. 6) between adjacent wires 25 in one wire bundle 26. The hot melt member 52, for example, passes through the meshes 27 of the braided wire 23A in the exposed portion 31 and wraps around toward the insulating coating 22A located inside the braided wire 23A, thereby covering the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A. The hot melt member 52 is tightly adhered, for example, to the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A in the exposed portion 31 over the entire circumferential direction. The hot melt member 52 is tightly adhered, for example, to the inner circumferential surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 over the entire circumferential direction.

[0061] The hot melt member 52 seals the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A and the inner circumferential surface of the sheath 24A, for example, behind the exposed portion 31. The hot melt member 52 seals the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A, for example, behind the exposed portion 31, by penetrating between the wires 25 of the braided wire 23A and coming into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A and the inner circumferential surface of the sheath 24A. Even if liquid such as water infiltrates into the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A from the exposed portion 32, the hot melt member 52 provided behind the exposed portion 31 can prevent the liquid from infiltrating forward of the water-stopping member 50. This prevents the liquid infiltrating from the exposed portion 32 from infiltrating into the connector C2 (see FIG. 2) through the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A.

[0062] The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to fill a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 22A located behind the exposed portion 31 and the inner peripheral surface of the sheath 24A. The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to enter the mesh 27 of the braided wire 23A located behind the exposed portion 31. The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to fill the mesh 27 of the braided wire 23A located behind the exposed portion 31. The hot melt member 52 is formed, for example, to cover the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of a portion of the braided wire 23A located behind the exposed portion 31. The hot melt member 52 is provided, for example, to enclose a portion of the braided wire 23A located behind the exposed portion 31. Note that the hot melt member 52 may not enter a gap 25X (see FIG. 6) between adjacent wires 25 in one wire bundle 26. For example, the hot melt member 52 passes through the mesh 27 of the braided wire 23A located rearward of the exposed portion 31 and wraps around the insulating coating 22A located inside the braided wire 23A, thereby covering the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A located rearward of the exposed portion 31. Furthermore, the hot melt member 52 extends from the inside of the braided wire 23A in the exposed portion 31 to a position rearward of the exposed portion 31, thereby covering the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A located rearward of the exposed portion 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the hot melt member 52 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A located rearward of the exposed portion 31 (see FIG. 3) over the entire circumferential direction, without any gaps. Furthermore, the hot melt member 52 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the sheath 24A located rearward of the exposed portion 31 (see FIG. 3) over the entire circumferential direction, without any gaps.

[0063] 3, similar to the structure behind the exposed portion 31, the hot melt member 52 seals the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A and the inner circumferential surface of the sheath 24A in front of the exposed portion 31. For example, the hot melt member 52 seals the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A in front of the exposed portion 31 by penetrating between the plurality of wires 25 of the braided wire 23A and coming into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A and the inner circumferential surface of the sheath 24A in front of the exposed portion 31.

[0064] Next, we will explain the configuration of the heat-shrinkable tube 61 and the hot melt member 62 after they have been heat-shrunk. However, since the structures of the heat-shrinkable tube 61 and the hot melt member 62 after they have been heat-shrunk are similar to the structures of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the hot melt member 52 after they have been heat-shrunk, we will omit detailed explanations here and give a brief explanation.

[0065] The heat-shrinkable tube 61 is formed to surround the outer periphery of the braided wire 23B in the exposed portion 33. The heat-shrinkable tube 61 is provided, for example, to span between the sheath 24B arranged rearward of the exposed portion 33 and the sheath 24B arranged forward of the exposed portion 33. The hot-melt member 62 is in close contact with the outer periphery of the sheath 24B arranged rearward of the exposed portion 33 over the entire circumferential direction, without any gaps, and is also in close contact with the inner periphery of the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 61 over the entire circumferential direction. The hot-melt member 62 is in close contact with the outer periphery of the sheath 24B arranged forward of the exposed portion 33 over the entire circumferential direction, without any gaps, and is also in close contact with the inner periphery of the front end of the heat-shrinkable tube 61 over the entire circumferential direction. The hot melt member 62, for example, penetrates between the wires 25 of the braided wire 23B in the exposed portion 33 and comes into close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the heat shrink tube 61 and the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22B, thereby sealing the gap between the heat shrink tube 61 and the insulating coating 22B. The hot melt member 62, for example, seals the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22B and the inner circumferential surface of the sheath 24B, rearward of the exposed portion 33. The hot melt member 62, for example, seals the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22B and the inner circumferential surface of the sheath 24B, forward of the exposed portion 33.

[0066] 2, in the bending region A1 of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B, the two water-stopping members 50, 60 are, for example, arranged side by side. The two water-stopping members 50, 60 are, for example, arranged so as to at least partially overlap each other in the direction in which the two shielded electric wires 20A, 20B are arranged. The two water-stopping members 50, 60 are, for example, arranged close to each other. The two water-stopping members 50, 60 are, for example, arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in the direction in which the two shielded electric wires 20A, 20B are arranged. For example, the two heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 are arranged so as not to come into contact with each other.

[0067] (Method for manufacturing wire harness 10) Next, a method for manufacturing the wire harness 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7(a), a shielded electric wire 20A having exposed portions 31 and 32 is prepared. The exposed portion 31 is formed, for example, by removing the sheath 24A from a longitudinally intermediate portion of the shielded electric wire 20A. In the exposed portion 31, the sheath 24A is removed and the braided wire 23A is exposed from the sheath 24A. The exposed portion 32 is formed, for example, by removing the sheath 24A from the rear end portion of the shielded electric wire 20A. In the exposed portion 32, the rear end portion of the sheath 24A is removed and the rear end portion of the braided wire 23A is exposed from the rear end portion of the sheath 24A.

[0068] Next, in the step shown in Fig. 7(a), a heat-shrinkable tube 51 before shrinking is prepared. The heat-shrinkable tube 51 before shrinking has a tubular (cylindrical) shape. A hot-melt member 52 is laminated on the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 before shrinking. At this time, the hot-melt member 52 of this embodiment is integrated with the heat-shrinkable tube 51. The inner diameter of the hot-melt member 52 before shrinking is formed to a size that allows the sheath 24A to be housed therein.

[0069] 7(a), the exposed portion 31 is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube 51. At this time, the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is provided so as to bridge between the sheath 24A behind the exposed portion 31 and the sheath 24A in front of the exposed portion 31.

[0070] Next, the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is subjected to a heat treatment. For example, the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is heated by a heater or the like. In this heat treatment, the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is heated for a predetermined time at a heating temperature (for example, about 120°C to 140°C) that is higher than the shrinkage temperature of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 but lower than the melting temperature of the heat-shrinkable tube 51. This heat treatment causes the heat-shrinkable tube 51 to shrink in the radial and axial directions, and also softens or melts the hot melt member 52, making it flowable. As the heat-shrinkable tube 51 shrinks, the hot melt member 52 flows and spreads in the radial and axial directions of the shielded electric wire 20A. As a result, the hot melt member 52 penetrates between the wires 25 of the braided wire 23A and spreads through the meshes 27 of the braided wire 23A toward the insulating coating 22A located inside the braided wire 23A. Furthermore, the hot melt material 52 flows in the axial direction of the shielded wire 20A, spreading into the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A behind and in front of the exposed portion 31. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7( b), the hot melt material 52 seals the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A behind the exposed portion 31, and also seals the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A ahead of the exposed portion 31. In this embodiment, the insulating coating 22A, the sheath 24A, and the hot melt material 52 are all made of a synthetic resin primarily composed of a polyolefin resin. Therefore, the hot melt material 52 adheres to the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A with high adhesive strength. The hot melt material 52 also seals the gap between the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the sheath 24A behind the exposed portion 31, and also seals the gap between the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the sheath 24A ahead of the exposed portion 31. The heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the hot melt member 52 after shrinking in this manner form the water-stopping member 50. In this process, the hot melt member 52 may flow out of the heat-shrinkable tube 51. The hot melt member 52 that has flowed out of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 spreads, for example, over the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 24A exposed from the heat-shrinkable tube 51.

[0071] 8, a shielded electric wire 20B is prepared, which has the exposed portions 33 and 34 and the waterproofing member 60 that covers the exposed portion 33. Note that the shielded electric wire 20B can be manufactured in the same manner as the shielded electric wire 20A, and therefore a detailed description of the manufacturing method for the shielded electric wire 20B will be omitted here.

[0072] Next, the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B are arranged so as to extend in parallel. At this time, the exposed portion 31 of the shielded electric wire 20A and the exposed portion 33 of the shielded electric wire 20B are provided, for example, at the same position in the length direction of the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B. That is, the exposed portion 31 and the exposed portion 33 are provided so as to be aligned in the length direction of the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B and to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B are lined up.

[0073] Next, the separated portion 32A is formed in the exposed portion 32, and the separated portion 34B is formed in the exposed portion 34. Next, the ground terminal 40 is connected to the tip ends of the separated portions 32A and 34B. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, a connector C1 is attached to the rear end portions of the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B, and a connector C2 is attached to the front end portions of the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B. In addition, the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B are bent to form bending regions A1 and A2. The wire harness 10 of this embodiment can be manufactured by the above manufacturing steps.

[0074] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) An exposed portion 31, where the braided wire 23A is exposed from the sheath 24A, is provided in the longitudinal middle portion of the shielded wire 20A. A cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube 51 is provided to cover the exposed portion 31, and a hot melt member 52 is provided between the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the exposed portion 31. A portion of the hot melt member 52 seals the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the insulating coating 22A and the inner circumferential surface of the sheath 24A behind and in front of the exposed portion 31. The hot melt member 52 can prevent liquid such as water from moving along the longitudinal direction of the shielded wire 20A through a gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A. Even if liquid flows from the exposed portion 32 toward the exposed portion 31 through the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A, the hot melt member 52 sealing the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A can prevent the liquid from entering behind the hot melt member 52. In other words, the water-stopping member 50 that suppresses the penetration of liquid between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A can be formed by the hot melt member 52. This allows the manufacturing time of the water-stopping member 50 to be shortened by the amount of time required for curing the silicone compared to when the water-stopping member is formed by silicone. As a result, the manufacturing time of the wire harness 10 can be shortened and the manufacturability of the wire harness 10 can be improved.

[0075] (2) The hot melt member 52 is laminated integrally on the inner peripheral surface of the heat shrink tube 51. Therefore, when forming the water-stopping member 50 for the shielded electric wire 20A, the heat shrink tube 51 and the hot melt member 52 can be treated as a single component. This simplifies the work of forming the water-stopping member 50 compared to when the heat shrink tube 51 and the hot melt member 52 are separate components. This improves the manufacturability of the wire harness 10.

[0076] (3) The insulating coating 22A, the sheath 24A, and the hot melt member 52 are all made of a synthetic resin primarily composed of a polyolefin resin. This allows the hot melt member 52 and the insulating coating 22A to be bonded together with high adhesive strength, and also allows the hot melt member 52 and the sheath 24A to be bonded together with high adhesive strength. This allows the hot melt member 52 to effectively seal the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A, improving the reliability of the water-stopping performance of the hot melt member 52. Furthermore, even if the exposed portion 31 and the water-stopping member 50 are bent, the hot melt member 52 is prevented from peeling off from the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A. Therefore, there is no need to provide a resin protector to prevent bending of the water-stopping member 50. As a result, the area around the water-stopping member 50 is prevented from becoming large, and the wire harness 10 is prevented from becoming large.

[0077] (4) Furthermore, even when the exposed portion 31 and the water-stopping member 50 are arranged in the bending region A1, the hot melt member 52 can be suitably prevented from peeling off from the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A. Therefore, it is not necessary to lay out the wire harness 10 by removing the exposed portion 31 and the water-stopping member 50 from the bending regions A1 and A2, which improves the degree of freedom in layout of the wire harness 10.

[0078] (5) The bending rigidity of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is set higher than the bending rigidity of the hot melt member 52. This increases the bending rigidity of the water-stopping member 50 itself, which includes the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the hot melt member 52. This prevents the water-stopping member 50 from being bent too sharply compared to when the water-stopping member 50 is formed solely from the hot melt member 52, while preventing the water-stopping member 50 from being enlarged compared to when the water-stopping member 50 is protected by a resin protector. As a result, the hot melt member 52 is effectively prevented from peeling off from the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A.

[0079] (6) Because the heat-shrinkable tube 51 and the hot-melt member 52 covering the exposed portion 31 are transparent, the state of the braided wire 23A provided inside the heat-shrinkable tube 51 can be visually confirmed from the outside of the heat-shrinkable tube 51. When forming the water-stopping member 50 for the shielded electric wire 20A, an operator can visually check from the outside of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 whether the braided wire 23A inside the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is twisted, making it likely to cause poor penetration of the hot-melt member 52. This allows the water-stopping performance of the water-stopping member 50 to be visually confirmed after the water-stopping member 50 is formed.

[0080] (7) The braided wire 23A is woven so that the gaps 26X between adjacent wire bundles 26 are larger than the gaps 25X between adjacent wires 25 within one wire bundle 26. In this case, the hot melt material 52 can easily penetrate into the gaps 26X between the wire bundles 26, which are the less densely packed portions. Therefore, compared to when the wires 25 are woven uniformly and densely throughout the entire braided wire 23A, the hot melt material 52 can easily reach the gaps 25X, 26X (mainly the gaps 26X) between the wires 25 and the insulating coating 22A located inside the braided wire 23A. This allows the hot melt material 52 to be suitably adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 22A.

[0081] (8) The single-layer hot melt member 52 seals the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 22A and the inner peripheral surface of the sheath 24A, the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 24A and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51, and the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 22A and the inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51. This reduces the number of parts in the water-stopping member 50 compared to when each location is sealed with multiple members. This improves the manufacturability of the wire harness 10.

[0082] (9) When viewed from the direction in which the shielded wires 20A, 20B are arranged, the exposed portions 31 and 33 at least partially overlap each other. Therefore, the exposed portions 31 and 33 are provided close to each other, and the water-stopping members 50 and 60 are also provided close to each other. In this case, since the hot melt members 52 and 62 and the shielded wires 20A, 20B are bonded with high adhesive strength, there is no need to provide a resin protector for the water-stopping members 50 and 60. Therefore, when the water-stopping members 50 and 60 are provided close to each other, an increase in size of the wire harness 10 can be more significantly suppressed.

[0083] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0084] 9, the exposed portions 31 and 33 may be provided so as not to overlap each other when viewed from the direction in which the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B are arranged. In other words, the exposed portions 31 and 33 may be provided at positions offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the shielded electric wires 20A and 20B.

[0085] According to this configuration, for example, when manufacturing the wire harness 10, the shielded wires 20A, 20B can be suitably distinguished by checking the positions of the waterstopping member 50 provided in the exposed portion 31 and the waterstopping member 60 provided in the exposed portion 33. This makes it possible to prevent the shielded wires 20A, 20B from being incorrectly assembled. Furthermore, after assembling the wire harness 10, an inspection can be easily performed to check whether the assembly is correct.

[0086] In the water-stopping member 50 of the above embodiment, the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A is sealed by the hot melt member 52 both in front of the exposed portion 31 and behind the exposed portion 31. However, this is not limiting, and for example, the gap between the insulating coating 22A and the sheath 24A may be sealed by the hot melt member 52 only in front of the exposed portion 31 or behind the exposed portion 31. The water-stopping member 60 can also be modified in a similar manner.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the separation portion 32A of the exposed portion 32 and the separation portion 34B of the exposed portion 34 are electrically connected together to the ground portion G1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10 , the tip of the separated portion 32A may be electrically connected to a ground terminal 40, and the tip of the separated portion 34B may be electrically connected to a ground terminal 41 that is separate from the ground terminal 40. The ground terminal 40 may be electrically connected to, for example, a ground portion G1. As a result, the tip of the separated portion 32A is grounded to the ground portion G1 through the ground terminal 40. The ground terminal 41 may be electrically connected to, for example, a ground portion G3 that is provided on a vehicle body panel or the like. As a result, the tip of the separated portion 34B is grounded to the ground portion G3 through the ground terminal 41.

[0088] In the water-stopping member 50 of the above embodiment, the hot melt member 52 is laminated integrally on the inner circumferential surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 51 before heat shrinking, but this is not limiting. For example, the heat-shrinkable tube 51 before heat shrinking and the hot melt member 52 may be formed separately. Similarly, the heat-shrinkable tube 61 before heat shrinking and the hot melt member 62 may be formed separately.

[0089] The heat shrinkable tubes 51, 61 and the hot melt members 52, 62 in the above embodiments may be opaque. In the above embodiment, at least one of the insulating coating 22A, the sheath 24A, and the hot melt member 52 may be made of a resin material other than polyolefin resin. Similarly, at least one of the insulating coating 22B, the sheath 24B, and the hot melt member 62 may be made of a resin material other than polyolefin resin.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the bending rigidity of the heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 is set to be higher than the bending rigidity of the hot melt members 52, 62. However, this is not limitative. For example, the bending rigidity of the heat-shrinkable tubes 51, 61 may be set to be equal to the bending rigidity of the hot melt members 52, 62, or may be set to be lower than the bending rigidity of the hot melt members 52, 62.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the braided wires 23A, 23B are formed only from the metal wires 25, but this is not limiting. For example, the braided wires 23A, 23B may be formed by braiding the metal wires 25 with wires made of reinforcing fibers. The reinforcing fibers may be, for example, reinforcing fibers with excellent insulating properties and shear resistance. Examples of such reinforcing fibers include para-aramid fibers, polyarylate fibers, glass fibers, and ceramic fibers.

[0092] In the wire harness 10 of the above embodiment, an exterior member may be provided to collectively surround the outer peripheries of the shielded electric wires 20A, 20B. As the exterior member, for example, a metal or resin pipe, a corrugated tube, a rubber waterproof cover, or a combination of these may be used.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the shielded electric wire 20 is configured by two shielded electric wires 20A, 20B, but this is not limited to this. The number of shielded electric wires that configure the shielded electric wire 20 can be changed depending on the specifications of the vehicle V. For example, the number of shielded electric wires that configure the shielded electric wire 20 may be one, or three or more.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the multiple on-board devices electrically connected by the wire harness 10 are embodied as the charging inlet M1 and the battery M2, but are not limited thereto. The multiple on-board devices electrically connected by the wire harness 10 are not particularly limited as long as they are electrical devices mounted on the vehicle V.

[0095] In the above embodiment, the connector C1 is embodied as a connector (charging connector) that constitutes the charging inlet M1, but this is not limiting. For example, the connector C1 may be embodied as a connector provided on an in-vehicle device other than the charging inlet M1. Furthermore, the connector C1 may be embodied as a connector that is electrically connected to an in-vehicle device other than the charging inlet M1.

[0096] The relative positions of the charging inlet M1 and the battery device M2 in the vehicle V are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the vehicle V. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above meaning, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 10 Wire harness 20 Shielded wire 20A shielded wire (first shielded wire) 20B shielded wire (second shielded wire) 21A core wire (first core wire) 21B core wire (second core wire) 22A Insulation coating (first insulation coating) 22B Insulation coating (second insulation coating) 23A Braided line (1st braided line) 23B Braided line (second braided line) 24A sheath (first sheath) 24B sheath (second sheath) 25 Wire (1st wire, 2nd wire) 25X Gap 26 Wire bundle 26X Gap 27 Mesh 31 Exposed part (1st exposed part) 32 Exposed part (2nd exposed part) 32A Separation section 33 Exposed part (3rd exposed part) 34 Exposed part 34B Separation part 40,41 Ground terminal 50 Water-stopping member (first water-stopping member) 51 Heat shrink tube (first heat shrink tube) 52 Hot melt material (first hot melt material) 60 Water-stopping member (second water-stopping member) 61 Heat shrink tube (second heat shrink tube) 62 Hot melt material (second hot melt material) 100 External power supply device 101 External Connector A1, A2 bending area C1 connector (first connector) C2 connector (second connector) G1,G2,G3 Grounding part M1 Charging Inlet M2 Battery Unit V vehicle

Claims

1. A shielded wire, a cylindrical water-stopping member attached to the shielded electric wire, the shielded wire has a first end and a second end provided on the opposite side to the first end in a longitudinal direction of the shielded wire, The shielded wire includes a conductive core wire, an insulating coating surrounding the outer periphery of the core wire, a braided wire formed by braiding a plurality of metallic element wires and surrounding the outer periphery of the insulating coating, an insulating sheath surrounding the outer periphery of the braided wire, and a first exposed portion provided between the first end portion and the second end portion and at which the braided wire is exposed from the sheath, the water-stopping member includes a cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube that covers an outer periphery of the first exposed portion, and a hot-melt member that is flowable when the heat-shrinkable tube shrinks, the hot melt member is provided between the heat-shrinkable tube and the first exposed portion, and seals the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating and the inner peripheral surface of the sheath on a side closer to the first end than the first exposed portion and on a side closer to the second end than the first exposed portion, A wire harness in which a length of the first exposed portion in an extending direction of the shielded electric wire is longer than a length of an opposing portion of the heat-shrinkable tube and the sheath in the extending direction of the shielded electric wire.

2. the heat shrink tube is integrated with the hot melt member, The wire harness according to claim 1 , wherein the hot melt member is laminated on an inner peripheral surface of the heat-shrinkable tube.

3. The wire harness is mounted on a vehicle and electrically connects an external power supply device and a battery device, the shielded wire has a second exposed portion that is provided closer to the first end than the first exposed portion and where the braided wire is exposed from the sheath, The wire harness includes: a first connector electrically connectable to the external power supply device and attached to the first end of the shielded electric wire; a second connector electrically connectable to the battery device and attached to the second end of the shielded electric wire; a ground terminal attached to the second exposed portion; The wire harness according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

4. the insulating coating is made of a synthetic resin containing a polyolefin resin as a main component, the sheath is made of a synthetic resin containing a polyolefin resin as a main component, The wire harness according to claim 3, wherein the hot melt member is a synthetic resin containing a polyolefin resin as a main component.

5. the shielded electric wire has a bending region between the first end and the second end when mounted on the vehicle, The wire harness according to claim 4 , wherein the bending region includes the first exposed portion.

6. 6. The wire harness according to claim 4, wherein the heat-shrinkable tube has a bending rigidity higher than that of the hot melt member.

7. The heat shrink tubing is transparent, The wire harness according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the hot melt member is transparent.

8. the braided wire has a wire bundle including the plurality of wires, the braided wire is formed by braiding a plurality of the wire bundles, a gap between adjacent wire bundles is larger than a gap between adjacent wires in one wire bundle, The wire harness according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the hot melt member permeates gaps between the adjacent wire bundles.

9. the heat-shrinkable tube is provided so as to span between the sheath arranged closer to the first end than the first exposed portion and the sheath arranged closer to the second end than the first exposed portion, the hot melt member is a single layer; 9. The wire harness according to claim 4, wherein the hot melt member seals between an outer surface of the sheath positioned closer to the first end than the first exposed portion and an inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube, seals between an outer surface of the sheath positioned closer to the second end than the first exposed portion and an inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube, and seals between an outer surface of the insulating coating at the first exposed portion and an inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube.

10. When the shielded electric wire is a first shielded electric wire, the water-stopping member is a first water-stopping member, the heat-shrinkable tube is a first heat-shrinkable tube, the hot-melt member is a first hot-melt member, the core wire is a first core wire, the insulating coating is a first insulating coating, the braided wire is a first braided wire, the element wire is a first element wire, and the sheath is a first sheath, The wire harness includes: a second shielded wire having a third end and a fourth end opposite to the third end, the second shielded wire being different from the first shielded wire; a cylindrical second waterproofing member attached to the second shielded wire, the second shielded wire includes a second core wire capable of electrically connecting the external power supply device and the battery device, a second insulating coating surrounding an outer periphery of the second core wire, a second braided wire formed by braiding a plurality of second metal wires and surrounding the outer periphery of the second insulating coating, a second sheath surrounding the outer periphery of the second braided wire and having insulating properties, and a third exposed portion provided between the third end portion and the fourth end portion and at which the second braided wire is exposed from the second sheath, the second water-stopping member includes a cylindrical second heat-shrinkable tube that covers an outer periphery of the third exposed portion, and a second hot-melt member that is flowable when the second heat-shrinkable tube shrinks, the first connector is attached to the third end of the second shielded wire, the second connector is attached to the fourth end of the second shielded wire, the second hot melt member is provided between the second heat-shrinkable tube and the third exposed portion, and seals the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the second insulating coating and the inner peripheral surface of the second sheath on at least one of a side of the third exposed portion toward the third end portion and a side of the third exposed portion toward the fourth end portion, the second insulating coating is made of a synthetic resin containing a polyolefin resin as a main component, the second sheath is made of a synthetic resin containing a polyolefin resin as a main component, the second hot melt member is made of a synthetic resin containing a polyolefin resin as a main component, The wire harness according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the first shielded electric wire and the second shielded electric wire are arranged adjacent to each other.

11. The wire harness according to claim 10 , wherein the first exposed portion and the third exposed portion at least partially overlap each other when viewed in a direction in which the first shielded electric wire and the second shielded electric wire are arranged side by side.

12. The wire harness according to claim 10 , wherein the first exposed portion and the third exposed portion do not overlap each other when viewed from a direction in which the first shielded electric wire and the second shielded electric wire are arranged side by side.

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