A method of producing an Al plated steel wire comprises a first step of continuously immersing a material steel wire formed of a steel core into a molten Al plating bath and then withdrawing the material steel wire to a gas phase space. The material steel wire plated with a plating metal is brought into contact with a contact member at the plating bath rising portion to produce the Al plated steel wire, the Al plated steel wire having an average diameter D.sub.A (mm) and a minimum diameter D.sub.MIN (mm) in the longitudinal direction of the wire satisfying the following expression (1)
(D.sub.AD.sub.MIN)/D.sub.A0.10,(1).
The Al plated steel wire is then wound.

A method of producing an Al plated steel wire comprises a first step of continuously immersing a material steel wire formed of a steel core into a molten Al plating bath and then withdrawing the material steel wire to a gas phase space. The material steel wire plated with a plating metal is brought into contact with a contact member at the plating bath rising portion to produce the Al plated steel wire, the Al plated steel wire having an average diameter D.sub.A (mm) and a minimum diameter D.sub.MIN (mm) in the longitudinal direction of the wire satisfying the following expression (1)
(D.sub.AD.sub.MIN)/D.sub.A0.10,(1).
The Al plated steel wire is then wound.

An electric wire conductor 10A comprising a wire strand comprising a plurality of elemental wires 1 twisted together, the wire strand comprising a deformed part in which a cross-section of the wire strand intersecting an axial direction of the wire strand is formed into: a flat shape in which a width W of the cross-section is larger than a height H of the cross-section, or a sector shape comprising either a single edge or two edges touching each other at an apex and an outward curve connecting the ends of the single edge or the two edges, the elemental wires 1 having, in the cross-section of deformed part, deformation ratios from a circle of 70% or lower at an outer peripheral part facing an outer periphery of the deformed part than at a center part located inside the outer peripheral part. Further, a covered electric wire has such an electric wire conductor 10A and an insulator to cover an outer periphery of the electric wire conductor 10A. Furthermore, a wire harness includes such a covered electric wire. In addition, such an electric wire conductor 10A is manufactured by performing a compression step pressurizing a raw wire strand comprising elemental wires twisted together with rollers from a first direction and a second direction which intersect an axial direction of the raw wire strand and oppose each other.

An electric wire conductor 10A comprising a wire strand comprising a plurality of elemental wires 1 twisted together, the wire strand comprising a deformed part in which a cross-section of the wire strand intersecting an axial direction of the wire strand is formed into: a flat shape in which a width W of the cross-section is larger than a height H of the cross-section, or a sector shape comprising either a single edge or two edges touching each other at an apex and an outward curve connecting the ends of the single edge or the two edges, the elemental wires 1 having, in the cross-section of deformed part, deformation ratios from a circle of 70% or lower at an outer peripheral part facing an outer periphery of the deformed part than at a center part located inside the outer peripheral part. Further, a covered electric wire has such an electric wire conductor 10A and an insulator to cover an outer periphery of the electric wire conductor 10A. Furthermore, a wire harness includes such a covered electric wire. In addition, such an electric wire conductor 10A is manufactured by performing a compression step pressurizing a raw wire strand comprising elemental wires twisted together with rollers from a first direction and a second direction which intersect an axial direction of the raw wire strand and oppose each other.

Provided are an electric wire conductor having both flexibility and a space-saving property, a covered electric wire, and a wiring harness containing such an electric wire conductor. The electric wire conductor contains a plurality of elemental wires, and has a flat portion in which a cross-section intersecting an axial direction of the wire strand has a flat shape. Deformation ratios of the elemental wires at peripheral end parts in a width direction are 70% or lower of deformation ratios of the elemental wires at center parts. Further, a covered electric wire contains the electric wire conductor and an insulator covering the electric wire conductor.

Provided are an electric wire conductor having both flexibility and a space-saving property, a covered electric wire, and a wiring harness containing such an electric wire conductor. The electric wire conductor contains a plurality of elemental wires, and has a flat portion in which a cross-section intersecting an axial direction of the wire strand has a flat shape. Deformation ratios of the elemental wires at peripheral end parts in a width direction are 70% or lower of deformation ratios of the elemental wires at center parts. Further, a covered electric wire contains the electric wire conductor and an insulator covering the electric wire conductor.

The present invention provides a movable cable, which has strength that is at least equal to conventional movable cables while having excellent flexural fatigue resistance and flexibility as well as being lightweight. This movable cable 10 has an electric conductor therein. The conductor comprises a first conductor 2 made of a specific aluminum alloy material wherein: the alloy composition contains, in mass %, 0.05-1.8% Mg, 0.01-2.0% Si, 0.01-1.5% Fe, and at least a total of 0.00-2.00 of one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Zn, Ni, Co, Au, Mn, Cr, V, Zr, Ti and Sn, the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities; the crystal grains have a fiber-like metal structure in which the crystal grains all extend in one direction; and in a cross-section parallel to the one direction, the average crystal grain dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is 400 nm or less. The ratio X of the area of the first conductor 2 in the whole conductor of the movable cable 10 is in the range of 10-100%.

An electric wire conductor is excellent in space saving and flexibility and is less likely to concentrate a load on specific elemental wires, and a covered electric wire and a wire harness contain the electric wire conductor. The electric wire conductor contains a wire strand containing a plurality of elemental wires twisted together. The wire strand has a sector-shaped part in which a cross-section intersecting an axial direction of the wire strand contains either a single edge or two edges touching each other at an apex, and an outward curve connecting the ends of the single edge or the two edges. In the sector-shaped part, the elemental wires having deformation ratios from a circle lower at an outer peripheral part facing an outer periphery of the sector-shaped part than at a center part of the sector-shaped part located inside the outer peripheral part in the cross-section intersecting the axial direction.

An electric wire conductor is excellent in space saving and flexibility and is less likely to concentrate a load on specific elemental wires, and a covered electric wire and a wire harness contain the electric wire conductor. The electric wire conductor contains a wire strand containing a plurality of elemental wires twisted together. The wire strand has a sector-shaped part in which a cross-section intersecting an axial direction of the wire strand contains either a single edge or two edges touching each other at an apex, and an outward curve connecting the ends of the single edge or the two edges. In the sector-shaped part, the elemental wires having deformation ratios from a circle lower at an outer peripheral part facing an outer periphery of the sector-shaped part than at a center part of the sector-shaped part located inside the outer peripheral part in the cross-section intersecting the axial direction.

An electric wire conductor having both flexibility and a space-saving property, a covered electric wire, and a wiring harness containing such an electric wire conductor. The electric wire conductor contains a plurality of elemental wires twisted together, and has a non-circular portion in which a cross section intersecting an axial direction of the wire strand has a non-circular shape. The cross section of the non-circular portion has a continuous vacancy capable of accommodating two or more of the elemental wires. Further, a covered electric wire contains the electric wire conductor and an insulator covering the electric wire conductor. Furthermore, a wiring harness contains the covered electric wire.