Patent Publication Number: US-2013248038-A1

Title: Shield conductor

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a shield conductor. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A shield conductor having a shielding function is used to interconnect devices such as an inverter, a motor, and a battery in a vehicle, for example, a hybrid car and an electric car. One example of such a shield conductor is described in Patent Document 1. The shield conductor includes a metal pipe and a plurality of electric wires that are housed in the pipe. The pipe has a circular outer periphery. The pipe is bent along a wiring route.
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-171952   

     DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     There is a demand for arranging the shield conductor effectively using space for installation of a shield conductor in a vehicle. More specifically, when a metal pipe having a circular outer periphery is arranged under a floor of a vehicle, the space under the floor requires at least the same height as the outer diameter of the metal pipe. The space under the floor has a limitation in height and thus a significant level of layout design is required for the metal pipe. On the other hand, the space that expands lateral to the metal pipe may be larger than a size required for housing the metal pipe. Therefore, the conventional technology has a problem in arrangement of the shield conductor not effectively using the space. 
     This invention was accomplished in view of the foregoing circumstances. An object of this invention is to provide a shield conductor that can be arranged using a space effectively. 
     A shield conductor according to this invention includes a pipe made of metal and an electric wire. The electric wire is passed through the pipe. The pipe includes a round portion and a deformed portion. The round portion has a constant outer diameter in a peripheral direction of the pipe. The deformed portion is in a different position from the round portion in an extension direction in which the pipe extends. The deformed portion has a short diameter portion and a long diameter portion having different outer diameters in the peripheral direction of the pipe. The round portion curves in the extension direction. 
     According to the above configuration, the shield conductor is arranged such that a direction of the short diameter portion (a thickness direction) corresponds to a narrower direction of an installation space and arranged such that a direction of the long diameter portion (a thickness direction) corresponds to a wider direction of the installation space. Thus, the shield conductor can be housed in the space using a narrower space in the direction of the short diameter portion (the thickness direction) and using a wider space in the direction of the long diameter portion (the thickness direction). With this configuration, the shield conductor can be arranged using the space effectively. 
     In a bending process of the deformed portion, the deformed portion of the pipe can be bent relatively easier in the short diameter direction. However, the deformed portion is not easily bent in the long diameter direction. This may reduce flexibility in routing of the shield conductor. In view of the above circumstances, the pipe of this embodiment curves in the extension direction at the round portion. Thus, the pipe can be easily bent in three-dimensional directions at the round portion compared with bending at the deformed portion. Therefore, the shield conductor can enhance the routing freedom by the round portion while effectively using the space by the deformed portion. 
     According to the present invention, the shield conductor can be arranged using a space effectively. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a shield conductor according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the shield conductor. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D and line F-F in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a forming machine. 
         FIG. 6  is a side-sectional view of the forming machine. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the forming machine. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a shield conductor according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating the shield conductor passed through a heat shrinkable tube. 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a shield conductor connected to a braided wire according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flat electric wire used for a shield conductor according to a fourth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS 
       10 : shield conductor,  11 : electric wire,  20 ,  50 : pipe,  21 : deformed portion,  22 : constant portion,  22 A: short diameter portion,  22 B: long diameter portion,  23 : transitional portion,  24 : round portion,  30 : forming machine,  31 ,  32 : roller,  31 A,  32 A: concave surface,  33 ,  34 : supporting member,  35 : regulating mechanism,  36 : fixed portion,  37 : movable portion,  38 : roller adjustment portion,  39 : base portion,  40 : heat shrinkable tube,  51 : first member,  52 : second member,  53 : braided wire,  60 : flat electric wire, W: vehicle 
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
     A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 7 . Shield conductors  10  of this embodiment are routed among devices in a power source including a battery, an inverter, and a motor (not illustrated) for driving an electric car. The shield conductor  10  arranged between the battery and the inverter includes two electric wires  11 . The shield conductor  10  arranged between the inverter and the motor includes three electric wires  11 . In the following description, the shield conductor  10  including three electric wires  11  and arranged (or routed) between the inverter and the motor under a floor of vehicle W will be described. In the description, the top-bottom direction is defined with reference to  FIG. 2 . The lower side and the upper side in  FIG. 1  are defined as a right side and a left, respectively. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the shield conductor  10  includes three electric wires  11  and a pipe  20 . The electric wires  11  are passed through the pipe  20 . The pipe  20  has a shielding function. Each of the electric wires  11  is a coated electric wire having a round shape (a circular cross section). The electric wire  11  includes a core wire  11 A and an insulation coating  11 B that covers the core wire  11 A. The electric wire  11  does not include a shielding layer. The core wire  11 A is made of copper or copper alloy. The core wire  11 A is a twisted wire made of a plurality of metal wires that are twisted one another. The three electric wires  11  have ends with which metal terminals  12  are connected, respectively, and extended outside the pipe  20 . 
     Each of the metal terminals  12  includes a terminal connecting portion and an electric wire connecting portion. The terminal connecting portion is connected to a terminal of a destination device. The terminal connecting portion includes a through hole through which a shaft of a bolt can be passed. The electric wire connecting portion continues from the terminal connecting portion so as to be integral therewith, and is connected with the electric wire  11 . The electric wire connecting portion includes a wire barrel and an insulation barrel. The wire barrel is crimped onto an end of the core wire  11 A of the electric wire  11  by bending. The end of the core wire  11 A is exposed by stripping off the end of insulation coating  11 B of the electric wire  11 . The insulation barrel holds the electric wire  11  over the insulation coating  11 B. 
     The pipe  20  is made of metal (e.g., aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, and cooper alloy). The pipe  20  has an elongated shape. The pipe  20  includes deformed portions  21  and a round portion  24  (an area C in  FIG. 1 ). Each of the deformed portions  21  has irregular outer diameters and extends linearly. The round portion  24  has a constant diameter and curves in an extension direction (a right-and-left direction in  FIG. 1 ) of the pipe  20  in which the pipe  20  extends. 
     The deformed portions  21  are located at a front end and a rear end of the pipe  20 . The deformed portions  21  are, therefore, formed at different positions from the round portion  24  in the extension direction of the pipe  20 . Each of the deformed portions  21  includes a constant portion  22  (A 1  and A 2  in  FIG. 1 ) and a transitional portion  23  (B 1  and B 2  in  FIG. 1 ). The constant portion  22  has a flat shape, cross sections of which at different positions are the same. The transitional portion  23  continues from the constant portion  22  to the round portion  24 . The transitional portion  23  has a shape, cross sections of which at different positions gradually change. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the constant portion  22  has the substantially flat shape (an ellipse shape). The constant portion  22  has a short diameter portion  22 A and a long diameter portion  22 B. The short diameter portion  22 A has the shortest outer diameter in the cross section of the pipe  20 . The long diameter portion  22 B is formed in the position perpendicular to the short diameter portion  22 A in the periphery direction of the pipe  20 . The long diameter portion  22 B has the longest diameter in the cross section of the pipe  20  (a portion having a different outer diameter from that of the short diameter portion  22 A). 
     in this embodiment, the outer diameter of the short diameter portion  22 A is larger than a sum of a diameter of the electric wire  11  and thicknesses of the short diameter portion  22 A (thicknesses of top and bottom parts of the short diameter portion  22 A). The outer diameter of the long diameter portion  22 B is slightly larger than a sum of diameters of the three electric wires  11  and thicknesses of the long diameter portion  22 B (thicknesses of a right and a left parts of the long diameter portion  223 ). The outer diameter of the long diameter portion  22 B is of a sufficient size to pass the three electric wires  11  that are laterally aligned. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each of the transitional portions  23  is formed through plastic deformation of a cylindrical pipe into the shape of the constant portion  22 . The transitional portion  23  smoothly continues from the constant portion  22  to the round portion  24 . 
     The round portion  24  has a round outer circumference. The round portion  24  is a non-deformed part and remains a shape of the cylindrical pipe (with a circular cross section) made of metal. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the three electric wires  11  in the constant portion  22  are horizontally arranged. The arrangement of the three electric wires  11  gradually changes in the transitional portion  23 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the electric wires  11  are arranged in the round portion  24  such that lines connecting the centers of the electric wires  11  form a substantially regular triangle. 
     The pipe  20  is connected with a braided wire such that an end of the braided wire covers the end of the pipe  20 . The pipe  20  and the braided wire can be connected by welding, soldering, or swaging with a swage ring, whatever is appropriate. 
     The pipe  20  is formed by a cold rolling technology using a forming machine  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the forming machine  30  includes a pair of rollers  31  and  32 , supporting members  33  and  34 , a regulating mechanism  35 , a base portion  39 , a drive member (not illustrated), and an input portion (not illustrated). The supporting members  33  and  34  support rollers  31  and  32  with shafts of the rollers  31  and  32 , respectively. The regulating mechanism  35  moves the roller  32  so as to regulate a distance between the rollers  31  and  32 . The base portion  39  is a thick board. The base portion  39  holds the supporting members  33  and  34  and the regulating mechanism  35 . The drive member rotates each of the rollers  31  and  32 . The input portion commands the drive member to drive. 
     The rollers  31  and  32  have a cylindrical shape. Each roller  31  or  32  has a groove in the round outer periphery in the middle area thereof in the axial direction of the roller  31  or  32  for an entire circumference. The groove is formed by concaving the periphery of the roller  31  or  32  such that concave surfaces  31 A and  32 A are formed in the periphery. Each of the concave surfaces  31 A and  32 A has an appropriate curvature to form the deformed portion  21  (the transitional portion  23  and the constant portion  22 ). Thus, when the rollers  31  and  32  are moved closer to each other, the concave surfaces  31 A and  32 A can plastically deform the outer periphery of the cylindrical pipe  20 , and forms the deformed portion  21 . 
     The supporting members  33  and  34  are provided for the rollers  31  and  32 , respectively. The supporting members  33  and  34  hold shafts protruding from the respective rollers  31  and  32  such that the shafts are rotatable. A lower end of the supporting member  33  is fixed to the base portion  39 . The supporting member  34  (located closer to the regulating mechanism  35 ) is fixed to the regulating mechanism  35 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the regulating mechanism  35  includes a fixed portion  36 , a movable portion  37 , and a roller adjustment portion  38 . The fixed portion  36  is fixed to the base portion  39 . The movable portion  37  moves in a direction in which the rollers  31  and  32  are arranged on the base portion  39 . The roller adjustment portion  38  rotates to move the movable portion  37 . The roller adjustment portion  38  includes a shaft and a polygonal head. The shaft has a screw thread in a portion close to the head but not in an end portion close to a tip thereof. 
     The fixed portion  36  has a screw hole. The screw thread in the shaft of the roller adjustment portion  38  fits the screw hole. The movable portion  37  has a rounded through hole having no screw thread therein. The end portion of the shaft of the roller adjustment portion  38  is inserted to the through hole of the movable portion  37 . The roller adjustment portion  38  is fixed to the movable portion  37  such that the shaft is rotatable but unmovable relative to the direction in which the rollers  31  and  32  are arranged. The movable portion  37  is integrated with the supporting member  34  located closer to the movable portion  37  than the supporting member  33 . Accordingly, when the roller adjustment portion  38  rotates, the movable portion  37  moves and the roller  32  moves in conjunction with the movable portion  37  in the direction in which the rollers  31  and  32  are arranged. 
     The base portion  39  has an insertion hole  39 A in which the pipe  20  is to be inserted. The insertion hole  39 A is a path for the pipe  20  that is passed through between the concave surface  31 A of the roller  31  and the concave surface  32 A of the roller  32 . 
     Next, a method of forming the deformed portion  21  of the pipe  20  will be described. First, a metal pipe (not illustrated) that is cylindrical with a constant outer diameter and linear for an entire length thereof is prepared. Next, the roller adjustment portion  38  of the forming machine  30  is operated to increase a distance between the rollers  31  and  32  (the distance between the concave surfaces  31 A and  32 A that are opposite each other). The distance between the rollers  31  and  32  is increased such that the metal pipe can pass through. Then, the metal pipe is inserted between the concave surfaces  31 A and  32 A until a boundary between a non-deformed part of the pipe, which is not to be deformed and to be provided as the round portion  24 , and a part thereof to be provided as the transitional portion  23  reaches the concave surfaces  31 A and  32 A. Then, the roller adjustment portion  38  is operated to bring the concave surfaces  31 A and  32 A into contact with the metal pipe. 
     The input member of the forming machine  30  sends a signal to drive the drive member. The drive member rotates the rollers  31  and  32  in directions in which the rollers  31  and  32  wind the metal pipe. When the distance between the concave surfaces  31 A and  32 A is gradually decreased by the rotation of the rollers  31  and  32 , the metal pipe is deformed into the transitional portion  23 . When the deformation of the metal pipe proceeds to a boundary between the transitional portion  23  and a part to be provided as the constant portion  22 , the rotation of the roller adjustment portion  38  is stopped. Then, the rollers  31  and  32  rotate until reaching one end of the metal pipe. As a result, the one of the constant portions  22  is formed. 
     The same processes are performed for the other end of the metal pipe and this forms the other one of the deformed portion  21  (the transitional portion  23  and the constant portion  22 ). Consequently, the non-deformed part is provided as the round portion  24 . The deformed portions  21  may be plastically formed step by step together with another forming machine arranged under the forming machine  30 . 
     Next, a bending process of the round portion  24  will be described. One arm (not illustrated) holds one end part of the one deformed portion  21  close to the round portion  24 . The other arm (not illustrated) holds one end part of the other deformed portion  21  close to the round portion  24 . The one arm moves until reaching at a position that corresponds to a curvature (or an inclined angle) of the round portion  24 . When the round portion  24  is plastically curved, the formation of the pipe  20  is complete. The bending of the round portion  24  in the extension direction is not limited to the above process. Other known processes can be used for bending the round portion  24 . 
     The three electric wires  11  are then inserted into the pipe  20  that is formed as described above and the shield conductor  10  is prepared. The electric wires  11  can be inserted before or after the pipe  20  is formed. The shield conductor  10  is then arranged (routed) under the floor of the vehicle W (on a bottom surface of a floor-under panel with being exposed to a lower direction (opposite a road surface)). More specifically, the shield conductor  10  is arranged such that a direction of the short diameter portion  22 A (a thickness direction of the short diameter portion) corresponds to the top-bottom direction. The shield conductor  10  is further arranged such that a direction of the long diameter portion  223  (a thickness direction) and a bending direction of the round portion  24  correspond to the right-left direction (a horizontal direction). Each metal terminal  12  of the electric wire  11  is connected to a terminal of each external electric wire that is extended to an upper interior side of the vehicle W. 
     Next, functions and effects of the embodiment will be explained. According to the present embodiment, the shield conductor  10  includes a pipe  20  made of metal and an electric wire  11 . The electric wire  11  is passed through the pipe. The pipe  20  includes a round portion  24  and a deformed portion  21 . The round portion  24  has a constant outer diameter in a peripheral direction of the pipe  20 . The deformed portion  21  is in a different position from the round portion  24  in an extension direction in which the pipe  20  extends. The deformed portion  21  has a short diameter portion and a long diameter portion having different outer diameters in the peripheral direction of the pipe  20 . The round portion  24  curves in the extension direction. In other words, an axis that passes through the center of the round portion  24  curves. 
     According to the above configuration, the shield conductor  10  is arranged such that the direction of the short diameter portion  22 A (the thickness direction) corresponds to the narrower direction of the installation space and arranged such that the direction of the long diameter portion  22 B (the thickness direction) corresponds to the wider direction of the installation space. Thus, the shield conductor  10  can be housed in the space using the narrower space in the direction of the short diameter portion  22 A (the thickness direction) and using the wider space in the direction of the long diameter portion  22 B (the thickness direction). With this configuration, the shield conductor  10  can be arranged using the space effectively. 
     In a bending process of the deformed portion  21 , the deformed portion  21  of the pipe  20  can be bent relatively easier in the short diameter direction  22 A. However, the deformed portion  21  is not easily bent in the long diameter direction  22 B. This may reduce flexibility in routing of the shield conductor  10 . In view of the above circumstances, the pipe  20  in this embodiment curves in the extension direction at the round portion  24 . Thus, the pipe  20  can be easily bent in three-dimensional directions at the round portion  24  compared with a case in which the pipe  20  is bent at the deformed portion  21 . Therefore, the shield conductor  10  can enhance the routing freedom by the round portion  24  while effectively using the space by the deformed portion  21 . 
     The deformed portion  21  has the flat shape. With this configuration, the deformed portion  21  can easily house a plurality of electric wires therein. Further, the deformed portion  21  can be arranged in a compact space compared with the other configurations. 
     The deformed portion  21  is formed by deforming the cylindrical pipe  20 . Thus, the deformed portion  21  can be easily formed compared with a case in which the deformed portion  21  is formed using different dies for different shapes of the deformed portion  21 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the second embodiment is configured such that a heat shrinkable tube  40  covers an outer surface of the shield conductor  10 . The same parts as those in the above embodiment will be indicated by the same symbols and will not be explained. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the shield conductor  10  is inserted into the heat shrinkable tube  40  and then the heat shrinkable tube  40  is heated to shrink. As a result, the heat shrinkable tube  40  adheres tightly to an outer periphery of the pipe  20 . 
     Because the heat shrinkable tube  40  adheres tightly to the outer periphery of the pipe  20 , the outer periphery of the pipe  20  is protected by the heat shrinkable tube  40 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     A third embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . The same parts as those in the above embodiments will be indicated by the same symbols and will not be explained. 
     The pipe  20  according to the above embodiments is made of a material such as aluminum alloy. In the third embodiment, a pipe  50  is made of a cladding material including a first member  51  on an inner side and a second member  52  on an outer side that are layered as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The first member  51  is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The second member  52  is made of iron or iron alloy. 
     A braided wire  53  includes tinned copper alloy wires. The braided wire  53  covers an end part of an outer periphery of the second member  52 , namely at an end part of the pipe  50 . The end part of the pipe  50  and the braided wire  53  are connected to each other (at the end part of the second member  52 ) by a connecting means such as welding, soldering, and swaging with a swage ring. 
     If different kinds of metals are in contact with each other, electrical corrosion occurs in general. Because the tinned copper alloy wires are used for the braided wire  53  in this embodiment, electrical corrosion is more likely to occur if the end part of the pipe  50  made of aluminum or aluminum alloy is connected to the braided wire  53 . 
     According to this embodiment, the braided wire  53  is connected to the second member  52  of the pipe  50 . The second member  52  is made of iron or iron alloy, which is less likely to cause electrical corrosion against the tinned material compared with aluminum or aluminum alloy. Thus, electrical corrosion is less likely to occur on the braided wire  53  that is connected to the second member  52  compared with a case in which the braided wire  53  is connected to the first member  51  (aluminum or aluminum alloy). 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     A fourth embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . The same parts as those in the above embodiments will be indicated by the same symbols and will not be explained. The above embodiments include the round electric wires that are inserted to the pipes  20  and  50 , respectively. The fourth embodiment includes a flat electric wire  60  that is inserted to a pipe. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the flat electric wire  60  includes a flat conductor and an insulation coating  62 . The flat conductor includes a plurality of core wires  61  that are arranged parallel to and in contact with one another. Thus, the flat conductor has a substantially flat shape. The insulation coating  62  is made of synthetic resin and covers a periphery of the flat conductor. The flat electric wire  60  does not include a shielding layer. Each core wire  61  includes a plurality of metal wires made of copper or copper alloy. The metal wires are twisted together into a helical shape. 
     The flat electric wire  60  has a substantially rectangular cross section, that is, has less dead space. In addition, the flat electric wire  60  has a large surface area, which provides high heat release capability. Thus, the current carrying capacity of the flat electric wire  60  electric currents can be increased. 
     The flat electric wire  60  has short diameter sides and long diameter sides. The flat electric wire  60  is arranged inside a non-illustrated pipe such that the short diameter sides of the flat electric wire  60  correspond to the short diameter portion of the deformed portion, and the long diameter sides of the flat electric wire  60  correspond to the long diameter portion of the deformed portion. Accordingly, the pipe (not illustrated) has the long diameter portion of which diameter corresponds to the number and the shape of the flat electric wires  60  in the cross-sectional view. Consequently, the pipe is more likely to have a flat shape. 
     With this configuration, the shield conductor can be provided with the flat electric wire  60  having the large surface area and high heat release capability can be arranged in space that is effectively used while still can be arranged effectively using space. 
     Other Embodiment 
     This invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the above description and explained with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments may be included in the technical scope of this invention. 
     (1) In the above embodiments, the three electric wires  11  are inserted to the pipe  20 . However, the technical scope is not limited to the three electric wires  11 . The number of the electric wires  11  may be two, or equal to or more than four. 
     (2) The shield conductors  10  are arranged in underfloor space of the vehicle W. However, the shield conductor  10  may be arranged at different locations from the underfloor space of the vehicle W. Further, the technical scope is not limited to the vehicle W and may to anything that requires the shield conductor other than the vehicle W. 
     (3) According to the above embodiment, the number of the deformed portion  21  and the round portion  24 , the length thereof in the extension direction, and the position thereof in the entire length of the pipes  20  and  50  are determined based on the wiring route for the electric wires  11  under the floor of the vehicle W. If the shield conductor  10  is arranged in a different location, the number of the deformed portion  21  and the round portion  24 , the length thereof in the extension direction, and the position thereof in the entire length with respect to the deformed portion  21  and the round portion  24  can be determined based on the wiring route. 
     (4) The pipe  20  is formed by deforming the cylindrical metal pipe using the forming machine  30 . However, this technical scope is not limited thereto. The pipe  20  may be formed using the following processes: preparing a board; forming a deformed portion in the board using a die; curving the board to a circular shape; and connecting edges of the board each other by welding. 
     (5) Each of the above embodiments includes the deformed portion  21  that has the flat shape. However, a non-flat oval shape or a shape having a recess in a part may be used for the deformed portion  21  if the shape includes at least a short diameter portion and a long diameter portion. 
     (6) In the above embodiments, the round portion  24  curves. However, this technical scope is not limited thereto and the axis of the round portion  24  may be sharply bent. 
     PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION 
     There is a demand for arranging the shield conductor effectively using space for installation of a shield conductor in a vehicle. More specifically, when a metal pipe having a circular outer periphery is arranged under a floor of a vehicle, the space under the floor requires at least the same height as the outer diameter of the metal pipe. The space under the floor has a limitation in height and thus a significant level of layout design is required for the metal pipe. On the other hand, the space that expands lateral to the metal pipe may be larger than a size required for housing the metal pipe. Therefore, the conventional technology has a problem in arrangement of the shield conductor not effectively using the space. 
     This invention was accomplished in view of the foregoing circumstances. An object of this invention is to provide a shield conductor that can be arranged using a space effectively. 
     MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM 
     The technology disclosed in this description includes a shield conductor including a pipe a pipe made of metal and an electric wire. The electric wire is passed through the pipe. The pipe includes a round portion and a deformed portion. The round portion has a constant outer diameter in a peripheral direction of the pipe. The deformed portion is in a different position from the round portion in an extension direction in which the pipe extends. The deformed portion has a short diameter portion and a long diameter portion having different outer diameters in the peripheral direction of the pipe. The round portion curves in the extension direction. 
     According to the above configuration, the shield conductor is arranged such that a direction of the short diameter portion (a thickness direction) corresponds to a narrower direction of an installation space and arranged such that a direction of the long diameter portion (a thickness direction) corresponds to a wider direction of the installation space. Thus, the shield conductor can be housed in the space using a narrower space in the direction of the short diameter portion (the thickness direction) and using a wider space in the direction of the long diameter portion (the thickness direction). With this configuration, the shield conductor can be arranged using the space effectively. 
     In a bending process of the deformed portion, the deformed portion of the pipe can be bent relatively easier in the short diameter direction. However, the deformed portion is not easily bent in the long diameter direction. This may restrict a routing freedom of the shield conductor. In view of the above circumstances, the pipe in this embodiment curves in the extension direction at the round portion. Thus, the pipe can be easily bent in three-dimensional directions at the round portion compared with a case in which the pipe is bent at the deformed portion. Therefore, the shield conductor can enhance the routing freedom by the round portion while effectively using the space by the deformed portion. 
     The following configurations are further preferable. 
     The deformed portion  21  has the flat shape. With this configuration, the deformed portion  21  can easily house the plurality of electric wires therein. Further, the deformed portion  21  can be arranged in the compact space compared with the other configurations. 
     The deformed portion is formed by deforming the cylindrical pipe. Thus, the deformed portion can be easily formed compared with a case in which the deformed portion is formed using different dies for different shapes of the deformed portion. 
     With the above configuration, the heat shrinkable tube that is coherent with the pipe can protect the outer surface of the pipe. 
     Each end of the pipe is connected to the shield member that continues from the pipe. The pipe is made of a cladding material including the first member on the inner side thereof and the second member on the outer side thereof that are layered with each other. The second member is made of the material that is less likely to cause electrical corrosion against the shield member compared with the material of the first member. The shield member covers the end part of the outer periphery of the second member. It is known that different metals cause electrical corrosion if the metals are connected to each other. However, the shield member according to this configuration is connected to the second member made of the material that is less likely to cause electrical corrosion against the shield member than the first member. Thus, electrical corrosion is less likely to cause compared with a case in which the shield member is connected to the first member. 
     The shield member is the braided member. The first member is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The second member is made of iron or iron alloy. The braided wire is generally made of the tinned copper alloy wire. If the end part of the pipe made of aluminum or aluminum alloy is connected to the braided wire, electrical corrosion is more likely to occur. However, the braided wire is connected to the outer surface of the pipe made of iron or iron alloy according to this configuration. Therefore, electrical corrosion is less likely to occur compared with a case in which the braided wire is connected to aluminum or aluminum alloy. 
     The electric wire is the flat electric wire including the flat conductor and the insulation coating. The flat conductor has the flat shape. The insulation coating coats the flat conductor. The flat electric wire is arranged such that the short diameter sides of the flat electric wire correspond to the short diameter portions of the deformed portion, and the long diameter sides of the flat electric wire correspond to the long diameter portions of the deformed portion. With this configuration, the shield conductor can be provided with the flat electric wire  60  having the large surface area and high heat release capability can be arranged in space that is effectively used while still can be arranged effectively using space. 
     The shield conductor is arranged under the floor of the vehicle. 
     EFFECT OF THE TECHNOLOGY DISCLOSED IN THE SPECIFICATION 
     According to the technology disclosed in this description, the shield conductor can be arranged using the space effectively.