Wire harness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9722349-B2
Application number	US-201414767140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2014
Priority date	Mar 1, 2013
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to ensure a high water-stopping property of a wire harness including a waterproofing connector section that is molded from a resin, by suppressing a variation in the outer size of a seal section of the connector section. The connector section is made from a first synthetic resin that is insert-molded with a part of a terminal fitting of the terminated electric cable used as an insert section. A water-stopping section is made from a second synthetic resin that is insert-molded with a section extending from a part of the terminal fitting to an insulation coating of the terminated electric cable used as an insert section. The seal section is made from the second synthetic resin that is insert-molded with a part of the connector section used as an insert section. The second synthetic resin is softer than the first synthetic resin.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wire harness comprising:
a terminated electric cable that includes an electric cable having a conductive wire and an insulation coating covering a circumference of the conductive wire, and a terminal fitting that is connected to the conductive wire at an end of the electric cable;
a connector that is made from a first synthetic resin that is insert-molded with a part of the terminal fitting used as an insert section, the connector sealing a partial region of the terminal fitting other than a contact section to be brought into contact with a connection counterpart of the terminated electric cable, the partial region being located on the contact section side of the terminal fitting;
a water-stopping portion that is made from a second synthetic resin that is softer than the first synthetic resin and insert-molded with a section extending from a part of the terminal fitting to the insulation coating of the terminated electric cable used as an insert section, the water-stopping portion sealing a water-stopping region extending from a boundary, on a side connected to the conductive wire, of the partial region of the terminal fitting that is sealed by the connector, to the insulation coating of the electric cable;
a ring-shaped seal portion that is made from the second synthetic resin and that is insert-molded together with the water-stopping portion with the connector used as an insert section, the ring-shaped seal portion being formed into one piece with the connector over an outer circumferential surface of a portion of the connector, and
a coupling portion formed into one molded piece together with and connecting the water-stopping portion and the ring-shaped seal portion,
the coupling portion connecting the water-stopping portion and the seal portion without penetrating the connector.

2. The wire harness according to claim 1 ,
wherein the connector seals only an intermediate section of the terminal fitting that is located between the contact section and a wire connecting section connected to the conductive wire.

3. The wire harness according to claim 1 ,
wherein a fringe of the connector that is located opposite to the contact section side of the terminal fitting is formed overlapping the exterior of a fringe on the terminal fitting side of the water-stopping portion.

4. The wire harness according to claim 1 ,
wherein the insulation coating of the electric cable is made from a rubber material.

5. The wire harness according to claim 4 ,
wherein the insulation coating of the electric cable includes silicone,
the first synthetic resin includes polybutylene terephthalate, and
the second synthetic resin includes silicone.

6. The wire harness according to claim 1 ,
wherein the connector includes a cylindrical portion opening to a direction intersecting the extension direction of the conductive wire; and
the coupling portion is formed along the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion.

7. The wire harness according to claim 1 ,
wherein the surface of the connection between the conductive wire and the terminal fitting is covered only by the water-stopping portion.

Assignees

• Autonetworks Technologies Ltd
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems
• Sumitomo Electric Industries

Inventors

• Ishihara Ayumu
• Hase Tatsuya
• Matsui Katsufumi
• Fukumoto Kouji
• Hashimoto Daisuke
• TACHI Kentaro

Classifications

• H01R13/5845

  the strain relief being achieved by molding parts around cable and connections · CPC title

• H01B3/423

  Linear aromatic polyesters · CPC title

• H01R2201/26

  for vehicles · CPC title

• H01R13/5205 Primary

  Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet (H01R13/5221 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01B7/282

  Preventing penetration of fluid {, e.g. water or humidity,} into conductor or cable · CPC title