IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,722,338
Granted Patent B2
US 9,722,338 · App. 14/818,811 · Granted Aug 1, 2017

Electric cable structural body, electric connection structure, and method for producing electric cable structural body

Inventors: Michihiko Tominaga (Inukami-gun, JP); Naoya Sakaki (Inukami-gun, JP); Makoto Nishimura (Inukami-gun, JP); Takehide Ikeda (Inukami-gun, JP); Atsushi Taba (Inukami-gun, JP); Takuya Komatsu (Tokyo, JP)
Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC.
H01R13/02B60R16/0207H01B7/009H01B7/0045H01B7/0823H01R4/021H01R43/16H01R12/61
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,722,338
App. No.
14/818,811
Granted
Aug 1, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first direction exposed conductor group includes a plurality of exposed conductor portions of a first flat cable, and a second direction exposed conductor group includes a plurality of exposed conductor portions of a second flat cable. The plurality of exposed conductor portions are located parallel to each other, and the plurality of exposed conductor portions are located parallel to each other. The first direction exposed conductor group and the second direction exposed conductor group intersect and overlap each other to form an intersection overlap portion. An intersection insulating film is provided between the first direction exposed conductor group and the second direction exposed conductor group at the intersection overlap portion. The exposed conductor portions and the exposed conductor portions facing each other via windows of the intersection insulating film are connected to be conductive to each other. Thus, an electric cable structural body is provided.

Claims (71)

1. An electric cable structural body, comprising:

a first direction exposed conductor group including a plurality of exposed conductor portions extending in a first direction while being parallel to each other;

a second direction exposed conductor group including a plurality of exposed conductor portions extending in a second direction while being parallel to each other,

wherein:

the plurality of exposed conductor portions are each obtained from a conductor covered with an insulating cover by removing a predetermined length of the insulating cover in a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of the conductors are rectangular conductors located with an interval provided in a width direction and are held between insulating films to form a flat cable, and

the first direction exposed conductor group and the second direction exposed conductor group intersect and overlap each other to form an intersection overlap portion;

the electric cable structural body further comprising:

the insulating cover that covers a side of the intersection overlap portion that is opposite to an overlap side; and

an insulating structure provided between the first direction exposed conductor group and the second direction exposed conductor group at the intersection overlap portion, the insulating structure electrically insulating the exposed conductor portions from each other,

wherein:

the insulating structure has windows at positions corresponding to conductor intersection portions at which the exposed conductor portions are to be conductive to each other, among intersection portions at which the exposed conductor portions intersect each other, the windows passing through the insulating structure such that the exposed conductor portions intersecting each other face each other via the windows, and

the exposed conductor portions facing each other via the windows are connected to be conductive to each other; and

wherein:

a plurality of the first direction exposed conductor groups are provided in the longitudinal direction with an interval,

a plurality of the second direction exposed conductor groups are provided to respectively overlap the plurality of the first direction exposed conductor groups extending in the longitudinal direction to provide a plurality of intersection overlap portions in the longitudinal direction,

the insulating cover is provided between adjacent intersection overlap portions among the plurality of intersection overlap portions, and

the electric cable structural body is folded such that the plurality of intersection overlap portions are stacked in a stacking direction.

2. An electric cable structural body, comprising:

a first direction exposed conductor group including a plurality of exposed conductor portions extending in a first direction while being parallel to each other;

a second direction exposed conductor group including a plurality of exposed conductor portions extending in a second direction while being parallel to each other,

wherein:

the plurality of exposed conductor portions are each obtained from a conductor covered with an insulating cover by removing a predetermined length of the insulating cover in a longitudinal direction, and

the first direction exposed conductor group and the second direction exposed conductor group intersect and overlap each other to form an intersection overlap portion;

the electric cable structural body further comprising:

the insulating cover that covers a side of the intersection overlap portion that is opposite to an overlap side, and a plurality of the conductors are each covered with the insulating cover; and

an insulating structure provided between the first direction exposed conductor group and the second direction exposed conductor group at the intersection overlap portion, the insulating structure electrically insulating the exposed conductor portions from each other,

wherein:

the insulating structure has windows at positions corresponding to conductor intersection portions at which the exposed conductor portions are to be conductive to each other, among intersection portions at which the exposed conductor portions intersect each other, the windows passing through the insulating structure such that the exposed conductor portions intersecting each other face each other via the windows, and

the exposed conductor portions facing each other via the windows are connected to be conductive to each other; and

wherein:

the insulating cover is formed of an insulating synthetic resin, the insulating cover being an insulating holder to accommodate and hold the intersection overlap portion, and an accommodating portion in the insulating holder that accommodates the intersection overlap portion includes grooves that engageably hold covered electric cables that each include a conductor and an insulating cover that covers the conductor.

3. An electric cable structural body according to claim 2 , wherein:

a plurality of the first direction exposed conductor groups are provided in the longitudinal direction with an interval; and

a plurality of the second direction exposed conductor groups are provided to respectively overlap the plurality of the first direction exposed conductor groups extending in the longitudinal direction to provide a plurality of intersection overlap portions in the longitudinal direction.

4. An electric cable structural body according to claim 3 , which is folded such that the plurality of intersection overlap portions are stacked in a stacking direction.

5. An electric cable structural body according to claim 2 , wherein a plurality of the conductors are rectangular conductors located with an interval provided in a width direction and are held between insulating films to form a flat cable.

6. An electric cable structural body according claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the conductors are each covered with the insulating cover.

7. An electric connection structure, comprising:

an electric cable structural body according to claim 1 ; and

a harness connected to at least one of the conductors included in the second direction exposed conductor group.

8. A method for producing an electric structural body, comprising:

removing, from a conductor covered with an insulating cover, a predetermined length of the insulating cover in a longitudinal direction to expose the conductor to form an exposed conductor portion;

locating a first direction exposed conductor group and a second direction exposed conductor group so as to intersect and overlap each other to form an intersection overlap portion, the first direction exposed conductor group including a plurality of the exposed conductor portions extending in a first direction while being parallel to each other, and the second direction exposed conductor group including a plurality of the exposed conductor portions extending in a second direction while being parallel to each other;

locating an insulating structure between the first direction exposed conductor group and the second direction exposed conductor group at the intersection overlap portion, the insulating structure electrically insulating the exposed conductor portions from each other, and having windows at positions corresponding to conductor intersection portions at which the exposed conductor portions are to be conductive to each other, among intersection portions at which the exposed conductor portions intersect each other;

connecting the exposed conductor portions facing each other via the windows of the insulating structure so as to be conductive to each other;

providing a plurality of the first direction exposed conductor groups in the longitudinal direction with an interval;

providing a plurality of the second direction exposed conductor groups so as to respectively overlap the plurality of the first direction exposed conductor groups extending in the longitudinal direction to provide a plurality of intersection overlap portions in the longitudinal direction, and the insulating cover is provided between adjacent intersection overlap portions among the plurality of intersection overlap portions; and

folding the electric structural body such that the plurality of intersection overlap portions are stacked in a stacking direction.

9. An electric cable structural body, comprising:

covered electric cables each including one conductor and an insulating cover that covers the conductor, the covered electric cables including first covered electric cables extending in a first direction and second covered electric cables extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

wherein:

the conductor of each of the first covered electric cables and the conductor of each of the second covered electric cables are joined together at an intersection portion thereof so as to be connected to be conductive to each other to form an intersecting electric cable group,

a plurality of the intersecting electric cable groups are located such that the first covered electric cables are parallel to each other and the second covered electric cables are parallel to each other to form an electric cable group intersection portion in which the first covered electric cables and the second covered electric cables intersect each other in a same plane,

the plurality of the intersecting electric cable groups each include the second covered electric cables intersecting the first covered electric cables, the second covered electric cables are located with an interval provided in a longitudinal direction of the first covered electric cables, and the intersection portions of the first covered electric cables and the second covered electric cables are in a conductive state, and

the first covered electric cables are cut at one position or a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction;

the electric cable structural body further comprising:

a holder that accommodates and holds the electric cable group intersection portion, the electric cable group intersection portion including the plurality of the intersecting electric cable groups stacked to form a lattice pattern, the holder is formed of an insulating synthetic resin, and the holder includes holding grooves that each engageably hold the first covered electric cables or the second covered electric cables; and

wherein:

a plurality of electric cable group intersection portions are located in the longitudinal direction of the first covered electric cables, and the first covered electric cables are folded in a hairpin turn manner such that the plurality of electric cable group intersection portions are stacked in a thickness direction.

10. An electric connection structure, comprising:

an electric cable structural body according to claim 9 ; and

a harness connected to at least one of end portions of the second covered electric cables of the electric cable structural body.

11. An electric cable structural body according to claim 9 , wherein a plurality of the holders are stacked in the thickness direction.

12. An electric cable structural body according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of the intersecting electric cable groups are stacked from one side of the electric cable group intersection portion such that welded portions are on a diagonal line of the lattice pattern with a predetermined interval in an order in which the intersecting electric cable groups are stacked.

13. An electric connection structure, comprising:

an electric cable structural body according to claim 11 ; and

a harness connected to at least one of end portions of the second covered electric cables of the electric cable structural body.

14. An electric cable structural body according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of the intersecting electric cable groups are stacked from one side of the electric cable group intersection portion such that welded portions are on a diagonal line of the lattice pattern with a predetermined interval in an order in which the intersecting electric cable groups are stacked.

15. An electric connection structure, comprising:

an electric cable structural body according to claim 14 ; and

a harness connected to at least one of end portions of the second covered electric cables of the electric cable structural body.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SECOND ASSIGNEE NAMES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040401 FRAME: 0587. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Jun 21, 2017
From: TOMINAGA, MICHIHIKO; SAKAKI, NAOYA; NISHIMURA, MAKOTO; IKEDA, TAKEHIDE; TABA, ATSUSHI; KOMATSU, TAKUYA
To: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 042922/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2016
From: TOMINAGA, MICHIHIKO; SAKAKI, NAOYA; NISHIMURA, MAKOTO; IKEDA, TAKEHIDE; TABA, ATSUSHI; KOMATSU, TAKUYA
To: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 040401/0587 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2013-020028 · Feb 5, 2013 · national
JP 2013-043700 · Mar 6, 2013 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2014052558 · Feb 4, 2014
Related Publication 20160036151A1 · Feb 4, 2016