Electrical conduction path

An electrical conduction path includes a main cable that has a multi-core cable obtained by enveloping a plurality of electric wires together with a sheath, and a plurality of branch cables obtained by dividing the electric wires of the multi-core cable into a plurality of parts, wherein connection portions are provided, in each of which an electric wire of the multi-core cable and an electric wire of a branch cable are electrically connected to each other. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the length of the expensive multi-core cable compared to a case where the electric wires of a multi-core cable are used over the entire length of a cable including the branch cables, thus achieving cost reduction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national stage of PCT/JP2017/036091 filed Oct. 4, 2017, which claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2016-200703 filed Oct. 12, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electrical conduction path.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, electrical conduction paths are known that are provided with a main cable, and branch cables into which the main cable is divided. For example, JP 2016-123224A discloses an electrical conduction path that is made of a multi-core cable obtained by enveloping a plurality of electric wires together with a sheath, in which the electric wires that are lead out from an end of the sheath are divided into two branches.

However, in a configuration as described above, when branch cables have different lengths, the length of a multi-core cable is ensured such that it corresponds to the length of the longer branch cable, and the electric wires of the multi-core cable in the shorter branch cable are cut off. Because a multi-core cable is expensive, improvement in view of cost reduction is in demand.

The present disclosure was made in view of the aforementioned problem, and it is an object thereof to provide an electrical conduction path whose cost can be reduced.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, an electrical conduction path includes: a main cable that has a multi-core cable obtained by enveloping a plurality of electric wires together with a sheath; and a plurality of branch cables obtained by dividing the electric wires of the multi-core cable into a plurality of parts, wherein connection portions are provided, in each of which an electric wire of the multi-core cable and an electric wire of a branch cable are electrically connected to each other, the electric wires of the branch cable being connected only to some of the plurality of electric wires of the multi-core cable.

Advantageous Effects of Disclosure

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the length of an expensive multi-core cable compared to a case where a multi-core cable is used over the entire length of a cable including the branch cables, thus achieving cost reduction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The electrical conduction path of the present disclosure may further include a protection member that covers the circumference of the connection portion. According to this configuration, it is possible to protect the connection portion between an electric wire of the multi-core cable and an electric wire of a branch cable.

Furthermore, the electrical conduction path of the present disclosure may have a configuration in which the protection member is a resin molded body molded to cover the connection portion. According to this configuration, the connection portion between electric wires is sealed by the resin molded body in a liquid-tight manner, and thus it is possible to make the connection portion water-tight.

Furthermore, the electrical conduction path of the present disclosure may have a configuration in which adjacent connection portions of the plurality of connection portions are provided shifted from each other in a direction in which the electric wires extend. According to this configuration, the connection portions can be prevented from coming into contact with each other due to molding pressure exerted when the resin molded body is molded, and thus it is possible to reduce the cost compared to a case where, for example, a member for preventing the connection portions from coming into contact with each other is additionally used.

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 1.

An electrical conduction path10according to the present embodiment is a composite cable in which two or more types of cables (in the present embodiment, a first cable and a second cable) are merged together, and that is installed in a vehicle such as an automobile. In the present embodiment, the first cable is a cable for an Antilock Brake System (ABS) that is designed to be provided with, at a terminal portion thereof, a not-shown ABS sensor, and is used as a signal line for transmitting a signal detected by the ABS sensor. The second cable is a cable for an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system, and is used as an electrical conduction path through which a current is caused to flow to activate an EPB mechanism. A terminal portion of the second cable is electrically connected to the EPB mechanism via, for example, a connector.

The electrical conduction path10includes a main cable11that has a multi-core cable (four-core cable in the present embodiment)13obtained by enveloping a plurality of electric wires13W together with a sheath13S, and a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) branch cables (a first branch cable14and a second branch cable15in the present embodiment) obtained by dividing the electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13into a plurality of branches (two branches in the present embodiment).

The first branch cable14extends straight from the main cable11, and the second branch cable15is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main cable11. The first branch cable14is longer than the second branch cable15. Note that the first branch cable14is the first cable, and the second branch cable15is the second cable. The second branch cable15is constituted by two electric wires13W extending from the sheath13S of the multi-core cable13.

The first branch cable14includes a plurality of connection portions18, in each of which an electric wire13W of the multi-core cable13and an electric wire14W of the first branch cable14are electrically connected to each other. The first branch cable14is constituted by the electric wires of a multi-core cable (two-core cable in the present embodiment) in which a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) electric wires14W are embedded together in a sheath14S made of a synthetic resin. Note that the electric wires13W and the electric wires14W are each formed by enveloping a conductor16with an insulating covering17.

The electric wires14W of the first branch cable14are electrically connected to the electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13in a branching portion of the electrical conduction path10. The electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13and the electric wires14W of the first branch cable14are connected to each other such that the conductors16exposed from the insulating coverings17at the terminal portions of the electric wires13W and14W are connected and coupled to each other through soldering or the like.

The connection portions18between the electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13and the electric wires14W of the first branch cable14are provided shifted from each other in a direction in which the electric wires13W and14W extend. Specifically, conductor-exposed portions19, at which the conductors16are exposed, of the respective connection portions18between the electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13and the electric wires14W of the first branch cable14are provided shifted from each other in the direction in which the electric wires13W and14W extend. Each conductor-exposed portion19includes a contact portion21in which the conductors16are in contact with each other via solder or the like, and extension portions22that extend, to the contact portion21, from the respective end faces of the insulating coverings17of the electric wires13W and14W. Due to the conductor-exposed portions19being shifted from each other by their entire length with respect to two adjacent electric wires13W,14W, an insulating portion23constituted by the insulating coverings17is formed between the conductor-exposed portions19.

The electrical conduction path10is provided with a protection member (resin molded body30in the present embodiment) that covers the circumference of the connection portions18. The resin molded body30covers the branching portion between the main cable11and the branch cables14and15.

The resin molded body30covers the portion of the electric wires13W and14W that are exposed from the outer coverings (the sheaths13S and14S). The resin molded body30is integrated, through molding, with the exposed portions of the electric wires13W and14W, and the ends of the outer coverings that abut against the exposed portions of the electric wires13W and14W.

The resin molded body30includes a first covering portion31that covers the portion spanning between the end of the main cable11and the end of the first branch cable14, and a second covering portion32that covers an end of the second branch cable15. The second covering portion32protrudes from an intermediate portion, in the length direction, of the first covering portion31in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto.

The following will describe an example of a method for manufacturing the electrical conduction path10of the present embodiment.

First, a cable is manufactured that has a shape such that the main cable11is branched into the first branch cable14and the second branch cable15. The multi-core cable13, which constitutes the main cable11, is cut into a predetermined length (the length that covers the second branch cable15), and two electric wires14W of the two-core cable are respectively connected to two electric wires13W that extend from an end of the sheath13S, so that the first branch cable14is formed.

Then, molding is performed to obtain the resin molded body30. The branching portion of the electric wires13W and14W is set in a not-shown metal mold, and a molten resin is poured into the metal mold. The poured molten resin flows between the electric wires13W,14W and fills the cavity. At this time, there may be a case where the electric wires13W,14W pushed by the flowing resin are brought into contact with each other. Here, if the conductor-exposed portions19are brought into contact with each other, the electric wires13W and14W will short, but in the present embodiment, even if the electric wires13W,14W come into contact with each other, the conductor-exposed portion19of each connection portion18will come into contact with the insulating covering17of another electric wire13W or14W, and thus it is possible to prevent the conductor-exposed portions19from coming into contact with each other and shorting. Then, by cooling and solidifying the resin, the resin molded body30is molded to a predetermined shape, and is integrated with the exposed portions of the electric wires and the ends of the outer coverings while being in intimate contact therewith.

The following will describe functions and effects of the embodiment having the above-described configuration.

The electrical conduction path10of the present embodiment includes the main cable11that has the multi-core cable13obtained by enveloping a plurality of electric wires13W together with the sheath13S, and the first branch cable14and the second branch cable15that are obtained by dividing the electric wires13W of the main cable11into a plurality of parts, in which the plurality of connection portions18are provided, in each of which an electric wire13W of the multi-core cable13and an electric wire14W of the first branch cable14are electrically connected to each other. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the length of the expensive multi-core cable compared to a case where a multi-core cable13is used over the entire length of a cable including the first branch cable14, thus achieving cost reduction.

Furthermore, the circumference of the connection portions18is covered with the resin molded body30, which was subjected to molding. According to this configuration, it is possible to protect the connection portions18between the electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13and the electric wires14W of the first branch cable14. Furthermore, the connection portions18between the electric wires13W and14W are sealed by the resin molded body30in a liquid-tight manner, and thus it is possible to make the connection portions18water-tight.

Furthermore, the plurality of connection portions18are provided shifted from each other in the direction in which the electric wires13W and14W extend. According to this configuration, even if the electric wires13W,14W are brought into contact with each other due to molding pressure exerted when the resin molded body30is molded, the conductor-exposed portions19of the connection portions18will be prevented from coming into contact with each other, and thus it is possible to reduce the cost compared to a case where, for example, a member for preventing the conductor-exposed portions19from coming into contact with each other is additionally used.

Reference Example

Hereinafter, an electrical conduction path40according to a reference example of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 2.

The electrical conduction path40of the present reference example differs from the electrical conduction path of Embodiment 1 in that both branch cables41and42are straight, and all electric wires41W and42W of the branch cables41and42are electrically connected to the electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13, respectively. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations of Embodiment 1, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

Similar to Embodiment 1, the electrical conduction path40of the present reference example is provided with the main cable11, and the first branch cable41and the second branch cable42into which the main cable11is divided, the main cable11including the multi-core cable13that is obtained by enveloping a plurality of electric wires13W together with the sheath13S.

Both the first branch cable41and the second branch cable42extend from the main cable11, and respectively include the electric wires41W and42W that are connected to the electric wires13W of the main cable11. The first branch cable41and the second branch cable42are each made of a two-core cable in which two electric wires41W,42W are embedded together in corresponding sheathes41S,42S, which are made of a synthetic resin. The electric wires41W and42W of the first branch cable41and the second branch cable42are electrically connected to the electric wires13W extending from an end face of the sheath13S of the multi-core cable13.

Similar to Embodiment 1, conductor-exposed portions19, in which the conductors16are exposed, of the respective connection portions18between the electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13and the electric wires41W,42W of the branch cables41,42are provided shifted from each other in the direction in which the electric wires13W,41W, and42W extend. The conductor-exposed portions19of all of the electric wires13W,41W, and42W are provided shifted one by one from one end side to the other end side in one direction in which the electric wires13W,41W, and42W extend. Similar to Embodiment 1, an insulating portion23constituted by the insulating coverings17is formed between the conductor-exposed portions19shifted one by one in one direction.

As described above, in the present reference example, similar to Embodiment 1, the branch cables41and42respectively include the electric wires41W and42W that are connected to the electric wires13W of the multi-core cable13, and thus it is possible to reduce the length of the expensive multi-core cable13compared to a case where the electric wires13W of a multi-core cable13are used over the entire length of a cable including the branch cables41and42, thus achieving cost reduction. Furthermore, similar to Embodiment 1, the conductor-exposed portions19, in which the conductors16are exposed, of the respective connection portions18are provided shifted from each other in the direction in which the electric wires13W,41W, and42W extend, and are arranged along the insulating coverings17of the electric wires13W,41W, and42W, and thus even if the electric wires13W,41W, and42W are brought into contact with each other due to the molding pressure exerted when the resin molded body30is molded, it is possible to prevent the conductor-exposed portions19of the connection portions18from coming into contact with each other.

Other Embodiments

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments explained with reference to the above description and the drawings, and the technical scope of the present disclosure encompasses, for example, the following embodiments.

In the above-described embodiments, the conductor-exposed portions19of all of the electric wires13W,14W (41W and42W) of the electrical conduction path10(40) are provided at positions shifted from each other in a direction in which the electric wires13W and14W (41W and42W) extend, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the positions of the conductor-exposed portions19may also be shifted from each other only between adjacent electric wires as shown inFIG. 3for example, that is to say, the present disclosure may also relate to an electrical conduction path50in which the positions of the conductor-exposed portions19are alternately shifted from each other in the direction in which the plurality of electric wires are lined up.

In the above-described embodiments, the resin molded body30is a protection member, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and a rubber member with a plurality of wire insertion holes may also be provided as a protection member.

In the above-described embodiments, the number of electric wires served as an example, but the number of electric wires may be changed as appropriate.

In the above-described embodiments, a case where the electrical conduction path10(40) is a composite cable that is installed in a vehicle is taken as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited to this and may be applied to various types of cables.

In the above-described embodiments, the electrical conduction path10(40) is a two-branch cable in which the main cable11is divided into two branches, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the electrical conduction path10(40) may also be a multi-branch cable in which the main cable11is divided into three or more branches.

In the above-described embodiments, the electric wire14W (41W) (42W) is connected to the electric wire13W of the multi-core cable13in the branching portion of the electrical conduction path10(40), that is to say, in the vicinity of the starting point of the branch cable14(41) (42), but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the electric wires may also be connected to each other at a position away from a mid-way position of the branch cable.

In the above-described embodiments, the electric wires14W (41W) (42W) of the branch cable14(41) (42) are constituted by the electric wires of a multi-core cable, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the electric wires of the branch cable may also be electric wires that are separate from each other without being embedded together in a sheath.