Patent Publication Number: US-11377050-B2

Title: Combination cable for vehicle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/909,474, filed on Jun. 23, 2020, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/764,148, filed on Mar. 28, 2018, which is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2016/079566, filed on Oct. 5, 2016, and which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-203082, filed on Oct. 14, 2015. The entire disclosures of each of the above-identified applications, including the specification, drawings, and claims of each of these applications, are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present application relates to a combination cable for a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, in the automotive field, a combination cable is known that has a multi-core structure in which a sheath covers a wire bundle configured by bundling together a plurality of wires. The wire bundle often has a structure in which various wires are twisted together into a single unit. Examples of the wires configuring the wire bundle may include a one-core wire in which an outer circumference of a conductor is covered by an insulator, a two-core twisted pair wire in which a pair of wires are twisted together, or the like. 
     Prior-published Patent Literature 1 discloses a combination cable for a vehicle in which a dedicated cable for an electric parking brake (connected to an electric parking brake mechanism) and an ABS sensor cable (connected to an ABS sensor) are covered by a shared exterior sheath and unified. 
     RELATED ART 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2014-241286 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     Problems to be Solved 
     In such a case, when two twisted pair wires are twisted together in the wire bundle, there is an issue that noise interference and cross-talk may occur between the twisted pair wires. When noise interference and cross-talk occur in a combination cable, there is a potential for a malfunction to occur. 
     The present application has been conceived in light of the background given above and seeks to provide a combination cable for a vehicle that is capable of reducing noise interference and cross-talk between twisted pair wires. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     One aspect of the present application is a combination cable for a vehicle, the combination cable having a wire bundle that includes a two-core first twisted pair wire, a two-core second twisted pair wire, a one-core first wire, and a one-core second wire; and a sheath covering the wire bundle. The first twisted pair wire is used to transmit a signal detecting a rotation speed of a wheel of the vehicle. The second twisted pair wire is used to supply driving electric power to a drive source that opens and closes a valve of a dampener in the suspension of the vehicle. The first wire and the second wire are both used to supply driving electric power to a brake caliper in an electric parking brake device of the vehicle. When viewed in cable cross-section, the wire bundle has the first twisted pair wire disposed on one side of a center line that runs from a center of the first wire to a center of the second wire, and has the second twisted pair wire disposed on the other side of the center line, and the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire are separated from each other. 
     Effect 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, when viewed in cable cross-section, the wire bundle has the first twisted pair wire disposed on one side of the center line that runs from the center of the first wire to the center of the second wire, and has the second twisted pair wire disposed on the other side of the center line, and the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire are separated from each other. Therefore, according to the combination cable for a vehicle described above, a physical distance between the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire is reliably ensured by the first wire and the second wire, and electromagnetic noise is reduced. Therefore, the combination cable for a vehicle described above can reduce noise interference and cross-talk between the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a cable cross-section of a combination cable for a vehicle according to Embodiment 1 (and Embodiment 2). 
         FIG. 2  is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a cable cross-section of a combination cable for a vehicle according to Embodiment 3. 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a cable cross-section of a combination cable for a vehicle according to Embodiment 4. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The combination cable for a vehicle described above can be configured such that a first twisted pair wire and a second twisted pair wire are both used while the vehicle is traveling, and a first wire and a second wire are both used after the vehicle stops. 
     In such a case, a physical distance between the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire, which are used while the vehicle is traveling, is reliably ensured by the first wire and the second wire, which are not used while the vehicle is traveling, and electromagnetic noise while the vehicle is traveling is reduced. “Use while the vehicle is traveling” includes not only use when the vehicle is in motion but also use while the vehicle is stopped. Furthermore, in such a case, the first wire and the second wire, which are only used after the vehicle stops, are grounded to a chassis or the like while the vehicle is traveling, thereby reducing radiated noise while the vehicle is traveling. Therefore, in such a case, noise interference and cross-talk between the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire while the vehicle is traveling can be reduced. 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, the first twisted pair wire is used to transmit a signal detecting a rotation speed of a wheel of the vehicle (hereafter also referred to as “for ABS”), the second twisted pair wire is used to supply driving electric power to a drive source that opens and closes a valve of a dampener in the suspension of the vehicle (hereafter also referred to as “for ADS”), and the first wire and the second wire are both used to supply driving electric power to a brake caliper in an electric parking brake device of the vehicle (hereafter also referred to as “for EPB”). 
     With this configuration, the first twisted pair wire is used while the vehicle is traveling and while the vehicle is stopped. The second twisted pair wire is used while the vehicle is traveling. The first wire and the second wire are both used after the vehicle is stopped. Therefore, with this configuration, due to reasons similar to those noted above, noise interference and cross-talk between the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire while the vehicle is traveling can be reliably reduced. 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, a wire bundle can, specifically, be configured to be twisted together in a bundled state. 
     In such a case, the cable cross-section of the wire bundle is more readily maintained in the cable axis direction. Therefore, in such a case, the beneficial effects noted above can be ensured. In addition, the cable cross-section is more readily made round. In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, the shape of the cable cross-section may be round, for example, or may be elliptical in shape, for example. 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, the first twisted pair wire and/or the second twisted pair wire may be covered by a shielding conductor. In such a case, together with the beneficial effects noted above, a combination cable for a vehicle can be obtained that is useful in improving noise reduction characteristics. In addition, when the first twisted pair wire is used for ABS and the second twisted pair wire is used for ADS, often a lower current flows through the first twisted pair wire than through the second twisted pair wire, and the first twisted pair wire is favorably covered by at least the shielding conductor. In such a case, the noise reduction characteristics of the combination cable for a vehicle are more readily improved. 
     Specific examples of the shielding conductor can include a metal foil, braided wires, and the like. The metal foil can be wrapped around an outer circumference of a twisted pair wire, or can be disposed to lie longitudinally alongside the outer circumference of the twisted pair wire. 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, a twist pitch of the first twisted pair wire and a twist pitch of the second twisted pair wire may be the same, or may be different from each other. In the latter case, the physical distance between the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire, which have twist pitches that are different from each other, is ensured by the first wire and the second wire. Therefore, cross-talk between the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire is more readily reduced. 
     Specifically, the twist pitch of one twisted pair wire can have a pitch length that is one to five times the twist pitch of the other twisted pair wire. More specifically, when the first twisted pair wire is used for ABS and the second twisted pair wire is used for ADS, for example, the twist pitch of the second twisted pair wire can have a pitch length that is at least two times the twist pitch of the first twisted pair wire. Often a lower current flows through the first twisted pair wire than through the second twisted pair wire, and in the above-noted case, by making the twist pitch of the first twisted pair wire smaller, the noise reduction characteristics of the combination cable for a vehicle can be more readily improved. 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, the first twisted pair wire and the second twisted pair wire can, specifically, be configured by two insulated wires twisted together, the two insulated wires each having an outer circumference of a conductor covered by an insulator. In addition, the first wire and the second wire can, specifically, be configured by an insulated wire having an outer circumference of a conductor covered by an insulator. 
     Specific examples of a conductor material can include copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and the like. Specific examples of an insulator material can include a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, a polyvinyl chloride resin such as polyvinyl chloride, or the like. From a perspective of cost, resistance to temperatures around 120° C., and so on, polyethylene can be preferably used as the insulator material. The wires included in the wire bundle may have conductors made of the same material, or may have conductors made of different materials, and further may have insulators made of the same material, or may have insulators made of different materials. 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, specific examples of a sheath material can include a polyurethane resin, a polyvinyl chloride resin, or the like. From a perspective of resistance to external damage, abrasion resistance, and so on, polyurethane can be preferably used as the sheath material. 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, in addition to each of the wires noted above, the wire bundle can also include one or a plurality of other wires or twisted pair wires. In such a case, from a perspective of ensuring the beneficial effects noted above, the other wires or twisted pair wires are favorably covered by a shielding conductor. 
     The combination cable for a vehicle described above can include an interposed layer between the wire bundle and the sheath. In such a case, a degree of unevenness in the surface of the wire bundle is ameliorated by the interposed layer. Therefore, unevenness originating from the unevenness of the surface of the wire bundle is less likely to form in the outer surface of the sheath, and a combination cable for a vehicle can be obtained that has a favorable external appearance with little rippling or the like. The interposed layer can be configured by one layer, or by two or more layers. 
     Examples of a material for the interposed layer can include paper, a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, talc, or the like. More specifically, when each of the wires in the wire bundle has an insulator of polyethylene, for example, the interposed layer can be configured to include an inner layer configured by paper and an outer layer configured by polyethylene that is disposed on an exterior of the inner layer. In such a case, when the outer layer of the interposed layer and the sheath are formed by two layer extrusion molding, the insulator of each wire in the wire bundle and the outer layer of the interposed layer are less likely to fuse together, and a combination cable for a vehicle can be obtained that has favorable sheath strippability. 
     In the combination cable for a vehicle described above, the first twisted pair wire and/or the second twisted pair wire may be covered by an interior sheath. Specific examples of a material for the interior sheath can include a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, a polyvinyl chloride resin, or the like. 
     The various configurations noted above can be combined as necessary subject to user discretion in order to achieve the various beneficial effects and the like described above, for example. 
     EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereafter, combination cables for a vehicle according to embodiments are described with reference to the drawings. Identical reference numerals are used to describe identical components. 
     Embodiment 1 
     A combination cable for a vehicle according to Embodiment 1 is described with reference to  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example includes a wire bundle  2  and a sheath  3  covering the wire bundle  2 . The wire bundle  2  includes a two-core first twisted pair wire  21 , a two-core second twisted pair wire  22 , a one-core first wire  23 , and a one-core second wire  24 . 
     In the present example, the first twisted pair wire  21  has a configuration in which, specifically, two insulated wires are twisted together in a spiral, the two insulated wires each having an outer circumference of a conductor  211  covered by an insulator  212 . The conductor  211  of the first twisted pair wire  21  is formed by a copper alloy and has a conductor cross-sectional area of 0.3 mm 2 . The insulator  212  is formed by polyethylene. The second twisted pair wire  22  has a configuration in which two insulated wires are twisted together in a spiral, the two insulated wires each having an outer circumference of a conductor  221  covered by an insulator  222 . The conductor  221  of the second twisted pair wire  22  is formed by a copper alloy and has a conductor cross-sectional area of 0.5 mm 2 . The insulator  222  is formed by polyethylene. The twist pitch of the first twisted pair wire  21  and the twist pitch of the second twisted pair wire  22  are set to identical pitch lengths. In addition, the sheath  3  is formed by a polyurethane resin and has a thickness of 1.5 mm. 
     In addition, in the present example, the first wire  23  is configured by, specifically, an insulated wire having an outer circumference of a conductor  231  covered by an insulator  232 . The conductor  231  of the first wire  23  is formed by a copper alloy and has a conductor cross-sectional area of 2.5 mm 2 . The insulator  232  is formed by polyethylene. The second wire  24  is configured by an insulated wire having an outer circumference of a conductor  241  covered by an insulator  242 . The conductor  241  of the second wire  24  is formed by a copper alloy and has a conductor cross-sectional area of 2.5 mm 2 . The insulator  242  is formed by polyethylene. In the wire bundle  2 , each of the wires  21 ,  22 ,  23 , and  24  are twisted together in a bundled state. 
     In the present example, the first twisted pair wire  21  is, specifically, used for ABS. The second twisted pair wire  22  is used for ADS. The first wire  23  and the second wire  24  are both used for EPB. 
     In this example, when viewed in cable cross-section, the wire bundle  2  has the first twisted pair wire  21  disposed on one side of a center line L that runs from a center O 1  of the first wire  23  to a center O 2  of the second wire  24 , and has the second twisted pair wire  22  disposed on the other side of the center line L. In addition, the first twisted pair wire  21  and the second twisted pair wire  22  are separated from each other. In other words, the first twisted pair wire  21  and the second twisted pair wire  22  are not in a state of contact. When the first twisted pair wire  21  and the second twisted pair wire  22  are in the state of being separated from each other, the first wire  23  and the second wire  24  may be in a state of contact with each other, or may not be in a state of contact with each other. 
     In the present example, the combination cable  1  for a vehicle further includes an interposed layer  4  between the wire bundle  2  and the sheath  3 . Specifically, the interposed layer  4  has a two-layer structure that includes an inner layer  41  covering the wire bundle, and an outer layer  42  disposed on an exterior of the inner layer  41 . The inner layer  41  is formed by paper, and the outer layer  42  is formed by polyethylene. 
     Next, the beneficial effects of the combination cable for a vehicle according to the present example are described. 
     In the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example, when viewed in cable cross-section, the wire bundle  2  has the first twisted pair wire  21  disposed on one side of the center line L that runs from the center O 1  of the first wire  23  to the center O 2  of the second wire  24 , and has the second twisted pair wire  22  disposed on the other side of the center line L, and the first twisted pair wire  21  and the second twisted pair wire  22  are separated from each other. Therefore, according to the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example, a physical distance between the first twisted pair wire  21  and the second twisted pair wire  22  is reliably ensured by the first wire  23  and the second wire  24 , and electromagnetic noise is reduced. Therefore, the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example can reduce noise interference and cross-talk between the first twisted pair wire  21  and the second twisted pair wire  22 . 
     Furthermore, in the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example, the first wire  23  and the second wire  24 , which are only used after the vehicle stops, are grounded to a chassis or the like while the vehicle is traveling, thereby reducing radiated noise while the vehicle is traveling. Therefore, the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example is useful for reducing noise interference and cross-talk between the first twisted pair wire  21  and the second twisted pair wire  22  while the vehicle is traveling. 
     Embodiment 2 
     A combination cable for a vehicle according to Embodiment 2 is described with reference to  FIG. 1 . In the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example, the twist pitch of the second twisted pair wire  22 , which is used for ADS, is set to a pitch length that is two times the twist pitch of the first twisted pair wire  21 , which is used for ABS. Other configurations are similar to Embodiment 1. 
     Often a lower current flows through the first twisted pair wire  21  than through the second twisted pair wire  22 , and in the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example, the twist pitch of the first twisted pair wire  21  is set to a pitch length that is smaller than the twist pitch of the second twisted pair wire  22 . Therefore, the combination cable  1  for a vehicle is useful in improving noise reduction characteristics. Other beneficial effects are similar to Embodiment 1. 
     Embodiment 3 
     A combination cable for a vehicle according to Embodiment 3 is described with reference to  FIG. 2 . In the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example, the first twisted pair wire  21 , which is used for ABS, is covered by a shielding conductor  5 . Specifically, the shielding conductor  5  is formed by transverse winding of an aluminum alloy foil (metal foil). Other configurations are similar to Embodiment 1. 
     Often a lower current flows through the first twisted pair wire  21  than through the second twisted pair wire  22 , and in the combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example, the first twisted pair wire  21  is covered by the shielding conductor  5 . Therefore, the combination cable  1  for a vehicle is useful in improving noise reduction characteristics. Other beneficial effects are similar to Embodiment 1. 
     Embodiment 4 
     A combination cable for a vehicle according to Embodiment 4 is described with reference to  FIG. 3 . The combination cable  1  for a vehicle according to the present example is an example where the wire bundle includes another two-core twisted pair wire  25  in addition to the wires  21 ,  22 ,  23 , and  24  noted above. In the present example, the twisted pair wire  25  is covered by a shielding conductor  251 . Specifically, the shielding conductor  251  is formed by transverse winding of an aluminum alloy foil (metal foil). 
     Similar beneficial effects to Embodiment 1 can be achieved with the present example, as well. 
     In the foregoing description, embodiments of the present application are described in detail; however, the present application is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present application.