Wire harness arrangement structure

Abstract

To provide a wiring harness arrangement structure that can give flexibility to the arrangement shape of a wire group with low cost.SOLUTION: A wiring harness arrangement structure 1 comprises a wire group 7, a wiring harness 3 having a pair of connectors 9 and 9, and a fixing member 5 on which the wiring harness 3 is fixed. The pair of connectors 9 and 9 includes a pair of first connectors 9A and 9A and a pair of second connectors 9B and 9B. The wire group 7 includes a first wire group 7A composed of multiple first wires 11A and a second wire group 7B composed of multiple second wires 11B. The first wire group 7A includes a first sheath 13A that sheathes the outer periphery of the multiple first wires 11A so as to bundle the multiple first wires 11A, being arranged on the fixing member 5 via the first sheath 13A. The second wire group 7B includes a second sheath 13B that sheathes the outer periphery of the multiple second wires 11B so as to bundle the multiple second wires 11B, being arranged on the fixing member 5 via the second sheath 13B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire harness arrangement structure.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a wire harness arrangement structure, a wire harness having a wire group composed of a plurality of electric wires and a plurality of pairs of connectors electrically connected to both end portions of the wire group is provided. Also, a structure including a vehicle body as a fixing member on which the wire harness is arranged is known (see Patent Document 1). The wire group of the wire harness has a trunk portion and a plurality of branch wires branched from the trunk portion. One end portion of the trunk portion and the plurality of branch wires is electrically connected to a plurality of one connectors. The other end portions of the plurality of branch wires are electrically connected to a plurality of the other connectors, respectively. In this wire harness arrangement structure, the arrangement shape of the trunk portion with respect to the vehicle body is maintained by fixing the trunk portion to a plurality of protectors. The plurality of branch wires are drawn out from the protector and arranged between adjacent protectors.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the wire harness arrangement structure as in Patent Document 1 above, a plurality of branch wires are branched from the trunk portion whose arrangement shape with respect to the fixing member is fixed. Therefore, the arrangement shape of the branch wires with respect to the fixing member is determined by the trunk portion, and there is no freedom in the arrangement shape of the branch wires with respect to the fixing member. Without freedom in the arrangement shape of the branch wires, it is necessary to make the length of the electric wire with respect to a pair of connectors whose arrangement positions are determined unnecessarily long, resulting in increased costs.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. The object of this invention is to provide a wire harness arrangement structure that allows for flexibility in the arrangement shape of the wire group and can reduce costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment comprises a wire harness having a group of wires consisting of a plurality of wires, a plurality of pairs of connectors electrically connected to both ends of the wire group, and a fixing member on which the wire harness is arranged. Each of the plurality of pairs of connectors has at least one pair of first connectors and one pair of second connectors. The wire group consists of a first wire group consisting of a plurality of first wires, both ends of which are electrically connected to the pair of first connectors, and a second wire group consisting of a plurality of second wires, both ends of which are electrically connected to the pair of second connectors. The first wire group aggregates the plurality of first wires and has a first sheath that covers the outer circumference of the plurality of first wires, and is arranged on the fixing member via the first sheath. The second wire group aggregates the plurality of second wires and has a second sheath that covers the outer circumference of the plurality of second wires, and is arranged on the fixing member via the second sheath. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wire harness arrangement structure that allows for greater flexibility in the arrangement shape of the wire group and can reduce costs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of the connector and wire group in the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the first group of electric wires in the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 4]This is an enlarged perspective view of a key part showing another example of the wire group in the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged perspective view of a key part showing another example of the wire group in the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is an enlarged side view of the main part of the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment, when the first terminal is attached to the first electric wire. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of the first housing of the first connector in the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] This is an enlarged front view of the main part when the group of electric wires is assembled to the fixed part of the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged front view of the main part when the group of electric wires is assembled to the fixed part of the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the wire harness arrangement structure 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a wire harness 3 that electrically connects electrical components (not shown), such as between a power source and equipment mounted on a vehicle, or between equipment and equipment. The wire harness 3 is arranged in a predetermined arrangement shape on a fixing member 5 such as the vehicle body or panel.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 9, the wire harness arrangement structure 1 comprises a wire harness 3 and a fixing member 5.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the wire harness 3 comprises a group of wires 7 and a connector 9.

[0013] The wire group 7 consists of a plurality of wires 11. The wire group 7 is composed of a plurality (here, four) of wire groups 7 corresponding to the electrical components to be electrically connected. Here, the wire group 7 is composed of a first wire group 7A, a second wire group 7B, a third wire group 7C, and a fourth wire group 7D. Since the basic configurations of the plurality of wire groups 7 are the same, hereinafter, mainly the first wire group 7A will be described, and detailed descriptions of the other wire groups 7 will be omitted.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the first wire group 7A includes a plurality of first wires 11A and a first sheath 13A.

[0015] The first wire 11A is, for example, a coated wire in which the outer periphery of a core wire 15 made of a conductive material is covered with an insulating coating 17 made of an insulating material. A plurality (here, four) of first wires 11A having different types such as signal lines and power supply lines and different wire diameter sizes are used according to the circuit of the applied electrical component. The plurality of first wires 11A are electrically connected to two electrical components at both ends respectively, thereby electrically connecting the two electrical components.

[0016] The first sheath 13A is made of an insulating material such as vinyl chloride or polyethylene, for example. The first sheath 13A covers the outer peripheries of the plurality of first wires 11A in a state where the plurality of first wires 11A are gathered and bundled. By gathering and covering the plurality of first wires 11A with the first sheath 13A, the first wire group 7A can be handled as one wire. In addition, the plurality of first wires 11A can be protected. The first wire group 7A in which the plurality of first wires 11A are bundled by the first sheath 13A is also referred to as a cab tire cable.

[0017] In addition, in each of the plurality of wire groups 7, the number of the plurality of wires 11 can be any number. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of wires 11 can be six, and the outer peripheries of the six wires 11 can be gathered and covered with the sheath 13 to form one wire group 7. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of wires 11 can be eight, and the outer peripheries of the eight wires 11 can be gathered and covered with the sheath 13 to form one wire group 7.

[0018] The connector 9 is provided at both ends of each of the plurality of wire groups 7, and a pair is used for one wire group 7. For this reason, here, four pairs of connectors 9, namely, a pair of first connectors 9A, 9A, a pair of second connectors 9B, 9B, a pair of third connectors 9C, 9C, and a pair of fourth connectors 9D, 9D, are used corresponding to the four wire groups 7. Since the basic configurations of the plurality of connectors 9 are the same, hereinafter, mainly the first connector 9A will be described, and detailed descriptions of the other connectors 9 will be omitted.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, the first connector 9A includes a plurality of first terminals 19A and a first housing 21A.

[0020] A plurality (here, eight) of the first terminals 19A are used corresponding to both ends of a plurality (here, four) of the first wires 11A. The first terminal 19A is made of a conductive material and includes, for example, a wire connection portion 23 and an electrical connection portion 25. The wire connection portion 23 has a crimping piece pair, and by crimping the crimping piece pair to the outer periphery of the insulating coating 17 of the first wire 11A, the first terminal 19A is fixed to the first wire 11A. The core wire fixing portion 29 has a pair of crimping pieces, and by crimping the pair of crimping pieces to the outer periphery of the core wire 15 exposed from the insulating coating 17 of the first wire 11A, the first terminal 19A and the first wire 11A are electrically connected. The electrical connection portion 25 is formed in a tab shape as a member continuous with the wire connection portion 23. The electrical connection portion 25 electrically connects the first terminal 19A and a mating terminal (not shown) of a mating connector (not shown) provided on an electrical component by contacting the mating terminal.

[0021] The first housing 21A is used in pairs, corresponding to both ends of the first wire group 7A. The first housing 21A is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and is formed in a housing shape that can be mated with a mating housing (not shown) of a mating connector provided on an electrical component. The first housing 21A has multiple terminal housing chambers 31, each capable of accommodating a first terminal 19A, corresponding to the multiple (four in this case) first terminals 19A provided on one end of the first wire group 7A. By accommodating multiple first terminals 19A in each of the multiple terminal housing chambers 31, the ends of the multiple (four in this case) first wires 11A are consolidated into the first connector 9A. An elastically deformable lock arm 35 is provided on the upper part of the first housing 21A, having a locking portion 33 that can engage with a locking portion (not shown) provided on the mating housing. The locking portion 33 of the locking arm 35 engages with the locked portion, thereby maintaining the mated state between the first housing 21A and the mating housing. The engagement between the locking portion 33 and the locked portion is released by pressing the operating portion 37 of the locking arm 35, which causes the locking arm 35 to elastically deform, thereby releasing the mating between the first housing 21A and the mating housing. When the first housing 21A is mated with the mating housing, the first terminal 19A and the mating terminal are electrically connected.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, such a wire harness 3 is positioned on a fixing member 5, such as the vehicle body or panel. The wire harness 3 positioned on the fixing member 5 needs to have a fixed position relative to the fixing member 5, for example, to avoid interference with surrounding members or to improve the appearance. Therefore, the fixing member 5 is provided with a fixing portion 39.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1, 8, and 9, the fixing portion 39 is provided integrally with the fixing member 5 and has a pair of clamping portions 41, 41 with an opening on the side opposite to the fixing member 5. When the sheath 13 of the wire group 7 is inserted through the opening, the pair of clamping portions 41, 41 hold the wire group 7 by clamping the outer circumference of the sheath 13, like a clamp or clip, and fix the wire group 7 to the fixing member 5. Multiple fixing portions 39 (six in this case) are provided on the fixing member 5. Multiple fixing portions 39 are provided on the fixing member 5 such that at least one corresponds to one wire group 7. In this case, two fixing portions 39 are provided for the first wire group 7A, and the first sheath 13A that aggregates and covers multiple first wires 11A is fixed to the fixing portion 39. For the second wire group 7B, two fixing parts 39 are provided, and a second sheath 13B that covers multiple second wires 11B is fixed to the fixing parts 39. For the third wire group 7C, one fixing part 39 is provided, and a third sheath 13C that covers multiple third wires 11C is fixed to the fixing part 39. For the fourth wire group 7D, one fixing part 39 is provided, and a fourth sheath 13D that covers multiple fourth wires 11D is fixed to the fixing part 39.

[0024] In conventional wire harness arrangement structures, the wire group 7 of the wire harness 3 had a main line section and branch lines that branched off from the main line section. In a conventional wire harness arrangement structure, for example, suppose the main line section had the same arrangement shape as the first wire group 7A in wire harness arrangement structure 1. In this case, for example, the second wire group 7B, which is a branch line, would always pass through the arrangement path of the first wire group 7A, making it impossible to achieve the shortest arrangement shape. Therefore, in conventional wire harness arrangement structures, there was no flexibility in the arrangement shape of the wire group 7, and it was necessary to unnecessarily increase the length of the wires 11, resulting in high costs. In addition, in conventional wire harness arrangement structures, the main line section and branch lines were fitted with converging members to bundle multiple wires 11, fixing members to fix them to fixing members 5, and protective members such as protectors, resulting in a large number of parts and high costs.

[0025] In contrast, the wire harness 3 in the wire harness arrangement structure 1 consists of a single wire group 7 made up of multiple wires 11 whose ends are electrically connected to a pair of connectors 9, 9, and the outer circumference of the multiple wires 11 is consolidated and covered with a sheath 13. By consolidating and covering the outer circumference of the multiple wires 11 with a sheath 13, the single wire group 7 can be treated as a single wire. Therefore, the arrangement shape of the single wire group 7 can be given flexibility, and the single wire group 7 can be arranged in the shortest route relative to the fixing member 5. In addition, the length of the wires 11 does not need to be unnecessarily long, and costs can be reduced. Furthermore, since the fixing member 5 is provided with a fixing part 39 for fixing the sheath 13, the single wire group 7 can be fixed to the fixing member 5 by fixing the sheath 13 to the fixing part 39, and the arrangement shape of the single wire group 7 relative to the fixing member 5 can be maintained. Therefore, there is no need to assemble converging members, fixing members, protective members, etc., to multiple wire groups 7, which reduces the number of parts and assembly work, and thus lowers costs.

[0026] In this wire harness arrangement structure 1, the wire harness 3 has a wire group 7 consisting of multiple electric wires 11, multiple pairs of connectors 9, 9 electrically connected to both ends of the wire group 7, and a fixing member 5 on which the wire harness 3 is arranged. The multiple pairs of connectors 9, 9 each have at least one pair of first connectors 9A, 9A and one pair of second connectors 9B, 9B. Furthermore, the wire group 7 has a first wire group 7A consisting of multiple first electric wires 11A whose ends are electrically connected to a pair of first connectors 9A, 9A, and a second wire group 7B consisting of multiple second electric wires 11B whose ends are electrically connected to a pair of second connectors 9B, 9B. The first wire group 7A has a first sheath 13A that aggregates the multiple first electric wires 11A and covers the outer circumference of the multiple first electric wires 11A, and is arranged on the fixing member 5 via the first sheath 13A. Furthermore, the second wire group 7B aggregates multiple second wires 11B and has a second sheath 13B that covers the outer circumference of the multiple second wires 11B, and is arranged on the fixing member 5 via the second sheath 13B.

[0027] In a single wire group 7, multiple wires 11 are bundled and covered with a sheath 13, allowing the entire wire group 7 to be treated as a single wire. This allows for greater flexibility in the arrangement of the wire group 7, enabling it to be positioned along the shortest route relative to the fixing member 5. In addition, there is no need to unnecessarily increase the length of the wires 11, thus reducing costs.

[0028] Therefore, in such a wire harness arrangement structure 1, the arrangement shape of the wire group 7 can be given more flexibility, and costs can be reduced.

[0029] Furthermore, the fixing member 5 is provided with fixing parts 39 for fixing the first sheath 13A and the second sheath 13B, respectively.

[0030] Therefore, by fixing the sheath 13 to the fixing part 39, one wire group 7 can be fixed to the fixing member 5, and the arrangement shape of one wire group 7 relative to the fixing member 5 can be maintained. Consequently, there is no need to assemble converging members, fixing members, protective members, etc. for multiple wire groups 7, which reduces the number of parts and assembly work, and thus reduces costs.

[0031] Although this embodiment has been described above, this embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of this embodiment.

[0032] For example, in the wire harness arrangement structure according to this embodiment, there are four pairs of connectors, but the arrangement is not limited to this; there may be three or fewer pairs of connectors, or five or more pairs. Accordingly, the number of wire groups should correspond to the number of pairs of connectors. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Wire harness arrangement structure 3 Wire Harness 5 Fixing members 7 wire group 7A 1st wire group 7B 2nd wire group 9 connectors 9A First Connector 9B Second connector 11 Electric wire 11A 1st wire 11B 2nd electric wire 13 Sheath 13A First Sheath 13B Second Sheath 39 Fixed part

Claims

1. A wire harness having a group of wires consisting of multiple wires, and multiple pairs of connectors electrically connected to both ends of the group of wires, A fixing member on which the wire harness is arranged, Equipped with, Each of the multiple pairs of connectors comprises at least one pair of first connectors and one pair of second connectors. The group of wires comprises a first group of wires consisting of a plurality of first wires whose ends are electrically connected to a pair of first connectors, and a second group of wires consisting of a plurality of second wires whose ends are electrically connected to a pair of second connectors. The first group of electric wires comprises a plurality of first electric wires, a first sheath that covers the outer circumference of the plurality of first electric wires, and is arranged on the fixing member via the first sheath. The second group of electric wires comprises a plurality of the second electric wires, a second sheath that covers the outer circumference of the plurality of second electric wires, and is arranged on the fixing member via the second sheath. The fixing member is provided with fixing portions for fixing the first sheath and the second sheath, respectively. The fixing portion is provided integrally with the fixing member and has a pair of clamping portions, the opposite side of which is open, in a wire harness arrangement structure.

2. The wire harness arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the pair of clamping portions clamp and fix the outer circumference of the first sheath or the second sheath.

Images