JP5840862B2 - Protective member for wire harness and method for producing protective member for wire harness - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a protective member for a wire harness and a manufacturing method thereof.

  For example, some wire harnesses arranged in a vehicle include an electric wire protection member. As the protective member, there is a protector by injection molding using a mold. However, since a protective member using a mold is expensive, various protective members that do not use a mold have been proposed. One conventional example of such a protective member is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the protective member 50 of the wire harness WH includes a first metal strip 51 spirally wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire W, and a gap wound spirally in the reverse direction from above the first metal strip 51. The second metal strip 52 is provided. If necessary, a third metal strip 53 that is spirally wound in a reverse direction from the top of the second metal strip 52 (the same direction as the first metal strip 51) is added.

  According to this conventional example, since the outer periphery of the electric wire W is covered with the first metal strip 51 and the second metal strip 52, the electric wire W can be protected from an impact or the like acting from the outside. Moreover, since the 1st metal strip 51 and the 2nd metal strip 52 are each wound by the gap, the flexibility is ensured.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-329096

  However, since the protective member 50 of the wire harness WH of the conventional example has flexibility as described above, there is a problem in that the route of the electric wire W cannot be regulated.

  Conventionally, a protector using a mold is used or a fixed point is increased at a place where route regulation is necessary. However, the protector is expensive as described above. The increase in the number of fixing points complicates the structure of the fixing points, and the fixing work is troublesome.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and does not use a manufacturing member using a mold, does not increase the number of fixing points, and can protect the wire harness that can regulate the path. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention includes a plurality of metal strips spirally wound in the same direction on the outer periphery of an electric wire having a predetermined path form so that the end faces almost come into contact with each other . The first metal strips that are spirally wound with a gap formed on the outer periphery, the outer periphery of the electric wire in a predetermined path form, and the end surfaces of the first metal strips at the gap locations. A second metal strip wound spirally so as to be substantially in contact with the first metal strip at a location where the predetermined path form of the electric wire is a bent form; The wire harness protection member is wound so that the end surfaces of the electric wires are substantially in contact with each other on the side on which the bending deformation force of the electric wire acts .

  It is preferable that the predetermined path form of the electric wire is a straight line form, and the second metal strip is wound around the first metal strip so that the end faces thereof are substantially in contact with each other over the entire circumference.

In another invention, the first metal strip is wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire in a spiral manner with a gap, and after the first strip winding step, the electric wire has a predetermined path form. After the route form defining step and the route form defining step, the end faces of the first metal strip are almost in contact with each other on the outer periphery of the electric wire in a state where the electric wire is in a predetermined route form. When the second metal strip winding step for spirally winding the second metal belt and the predetermined path form of the electric wire is a bent form, the second metal band is attached to the first metal belt, And a step of winding so that the end faces of the electric wires substantially come into contact with each other on the side on which the bending return deformation force acts .

  According to the present invention, when an external force that changes the predetermined path acts on the electric wire, the end surfaces of the first metal strip and the second metal strip abut against each other to receive the external force, so the predetermined path is maintained. . As described above, it is possible to regulate the path without using a manufacturing member using a mold and without increasing the number of fixing points.

The 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a front view of the protection member of a wire harness in the case of restrict | limiting to a linear path | route, (b) is a partial expanded sectional view of (a). It is a front view which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows one manufacturing process of a protection member. The 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a front view of the protection member of a wire harness in the case of restrict | limiting to a semi-arc-shaped path | route, (b) is a partial expanded sectional view of (a). It is a front view which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows one manufacturing process of a protection member. It is a front view which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows one manufacturing process of a protection member. It is a front view of the protection member of a wire harness which shows a prior art example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the wire harness WH includes an electric wire W in which a large number of single electric wires are converged, and a protective member 1A covering the outer periphery of the electric wire W. The protective member 1A is provided at a location where the path of the electric wire W is restricted. In this 1st Embodiment, the desired path | route form of the electric wire W is a linear form.

  The protective member 1 </ b> A includes a first metal strip 11 and a second metal strip 12 that are wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire W. In FIG. 1 (b), the first metal strip 11 is indicated by dotted hatching for clarity with the second metal strip 12.

  The 1st metal strip 11 and the 2nd metal strip 12 are each formed in strip | belt shape with metal thin plates, such as copper, a copper alloy, and brass. Therefore, the 1st metal strip 11 and the 2nd metal strip 12 have big proof strength with respect to the compressive force which acts on each end surface 11a, 12a. The first metal strip 11 and the second metal strip 12 are made of the same material and have the same size.

  The first metal strip 11 is spirally wound in a certain direction with a gap formed in the outer periphery of the electric wire W. The second metal strip 12 is spirally wound in the same direction as the first metal strip 11 around the outer periphery of the electric wire W and in the gap portion of the first metal strip 11. Thereby, as for the 1st metal strip 11 and the 2nd metal strip 12, the mutual end surfaces 11a and 12a are substantially contact | abutting over the perimeter.

  Next, a manufacturing procedure of the protective member 1A will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the first metal strip 11 is wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire W in a straight line shape with a gap (a first strip winding step). The width of the gap is about the width dimension of the second metal strip 12 prepared in advance.

  Next, the electric wire W is set to a predetermined route form (route form defining step). That is, in the first embodiment, the electric wire W is in a linear form.

  Next, in a state where the electric wire W is in a linear form, the second metal is disposed so that the end faces 11a and 12a substantially abut on the outer periphery of the electric wire W and the gap portion of the first metal strip 11 over the entire circumference. The belt-like body 12 is wound spirally in the same direction (second belt-like body winding step). This completes it.

  When an external force (bending moment M1) that bends the linear form of the electric wire W is applied to the protective member 1A thus manufactured, as shown in FIG. 1B, the first metal strip 11 and Since the end surfaces 11a, 12a of the second metal strip 12 are substantially in contact with each other, the end surfaces 11a, 12a of the first metal strip 11 and the second metal strip 12 abut against each other and receive the above external force. Hold. Thus, the predetermined | prescribed path | route regulation of the electric wire W can be performed, without using the manufacturing component by a metal mold | die, and fixing to a fixed side at many fixing points.

  As for the 1st metal strip 11 and the 2nd metal strip 12, the mutual end surfaces 11a and 12a are substantially contact | abutted over the perimeter. Therefore, it is possible to reliably maintain a linear form with respect to external forces (bending moments) in all directions.

(Second Embodiment)
3 to 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the wire harness WH of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the desired path form of the electric wire W is a semi-circular bent form. The protection member 1 </ b> B includes a first metal strip 11 and a second metal strip 12 wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire W, as in the first embodiment. In FIG. 3B, the first metal strip 11 is indicated by dotted hatching for clarity with the second metal strip 12.

  The first metal strip 11 is spirally wound with a gap in the outer periphery of the electric wire W. The gap is almost zero on the inner circumference side of the bent portion. That is, the end surfaces 11a of the first metal strips 11 are in contact with each other on the inner peripheral side of the bent portion. A larger gap is formed on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion than in the case of the linear form. The gap varies in size depending on the bending location.

  The second metal strip 12 and the outer periphery of the electric wire W are wound around the gap of the first metal strip 11 in a spiral shape in the same direction as the first metal strip 11. The second metal strip 12 is wound on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion so that the end surface 11 a of the first metal strip 11 is substantially in contact with the end surface 12 a of the second metal strip 12.

  Next, a manufacturing procedure of the protective member 1B will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the first metal strip 11 is wound around the outer circumference of the electric wire W in a spiral manner (first strip winding step).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the electric wire W is made into a semicircular arc-shaped bending form (path form defining step).

  Next, in the state in which the electric wire W is in a bent form, the second metal strip shape so that the end faces 11a and 12a abut each other on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion of the first metal strip 11 on the outer periphery of the electric wire W. The body 12 is spirally wound in the same direction (second strip-shaped body winding step). This completes it.

  When an external force (bending moment M2) is applied to the protection member 1B manufactured as described above to return the bending form of the electric wire W to the linear form as shown in FIG. Since the end surfaces 11a and 12a of the first metal strip 11 and the second metal strip 12 on the side are almost in contact with each other, the end surfaces 11a and 12a of the first metal strip 11 and the second metal strip 12 abut each other. In order to receive the external force, the curved shape is maintained. Thus, the predetermined | prescribed path | route regulation of the electric wire W can be performed, without using the manufacturing component by a metal mold | die, and fixing to a fixed side at many fixing points.

  The second metal strip 12 is wound around the first metal strip 11 so that the end surfaces 11a and 12a substantially come into contact with each other on the side where the bending return deformation force of the electric wire W acts (the outer peripheral side of the bent form). Therefore, the bending form can be reliably maintained with respect to the bending return deformation force of the electric wire W.

  In addition, since the end surfaces 11a of the first metal strips 11 are substantially in contact with each other on the inner peripheral side of the bending form of the electric wire W, even if a bending moment for further reducing the radius of curvature is applied, a predetermined bending is performed. Retain form.

  In addition, in the desired bending form of the electric wire W, when the gap of the first metal strip 11 exists on the inner peripheral side of the bent portion, the second metal strip is formed on the end surface 11a of the first metal strip 11. The second metal strip 12 is wound so that the end faces 12a of the twelve abuts substantially. Therefore, it is preferable to prepare the second metal strip 12 having various width dimensions.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the plurality of metal strips are the first metal strip 11 and the second metal strip 12, but in addition to these, the third metal strip or more. Alternatively, a metal strip may be used. In other words, the protection member may be configured by a plurality of metal strips wound spirally in the same direction so that the end faces substantially come into contact with the outer periphery of the electric wire W having a predetermined path form.

  In the said 1st and 2nd embodiment, although the case where the predetermined path | route form of the electric wire W was a linear form and a semicircular arc-shaped bending form was shown, this invention can respond to various path | route forms besides these. Of course.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the first metal strip 11 and the second metal strip 12 are made of the same material and the same size, but may be made of different materials. May be of different sizes.

WH Wire harness W Electric wire 1A, 1B Protection member 11 First metal strip (metal strip)
11a End face 12 Second metal strip (metal strip)
12a end face

Claims (3)

Provided with a plurality of metal strips wound spirally in the same direction on the outer periphery of the electric wire in a predetermined path form so that the end faces almost contact each other ,
The plurality of metal strips include a first metal strip that is spirally wound with a gap around the outer periphery of the electric wire, an outer periphery of the electric wire that has a predetermined path configuration, and the first metal strip Is a second metal band that is spirally wound so that the end faces of each other are substantially in contact with each other,
In a place where the predetermined path form of the electric wire is a bent form, the second metal band is substantially in contact with the first metal band on the side where the bending return deformation force of the electric wire acts. A protective member for a wire harness that is wound . The wire harness protective member according to claim 1,
  Where the predetermined path form of the electric wire is a straight line form, the second metal strip is wound around the first metal strip so that the end faces thereof are substantially in contact with each other over the entire circumference. Protection member for wire harness. A first strip winding step of winding a first metal strip around the outer circumference of the wire in a spiral with a gap;
  After the first strip winding step, a route form defining step in which the electric wire has a predetermined route form;
  After the route form defining step, in a state where the electric wire is in a predetermined route form, the second metal strip is arranged on the outer periphery of the electric wire and so that the end faces of the first metal strip are substantially in contact with each other. A second band-like body winding step of winding in a spiral;
  When the predetermined path form of the electric wire is a bent form, the second metal band is substantially in contact with the first metal band on the side where the bending return deformation force of the electric wire acts. Winding process;
  A method for producing a protective member for a wire harness, comprising:

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