DE9013805U1 - Connecting device - Google Patents

Description

·
\ 1 Cologne, the ·.· ««· .'** October 2, 1990 Applicant: Thomas & Betts Corporation

₅ My reference: T 39/248

1 , _&Lgr; The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting

I: that of a fixed power connection with a

fl «fissen rotating Sti..&idiagr; msc^luB 2>it eineai ~<sgehäuse aus einem Ge-

> Housing base and a housing cover that can be rotated around ^J< , with

i uinep ^smile: "arkabel, which is wound into a spiral and

I whose ends are preceded by* ■&bull;-^'»r 90* outgoing ends.

'■ angled, with the spiral in the housing and the under

r 90* angled ends exit the housing, and with

I Recesses in the flat conductor cable.

p A connecting device of this type is known (US-PS ! 4 824 396). Connecting devices of this type are used, for example, in the hubs of the steering wheels of motor vehicles. Increasingly, an impact bag is arranged in these, which is inflated in fractions of a second in the event of a strong deceleration. This is done with a gas-

; 25

generator. The impact bag and the ignition cap rotate with the steering wheel. The steering column, through which the current for the ignition cap is supplied, is fixed. The ■ previously mentioned known connection device now connects r the rotating power connection of the ignition cap with the fixed

' standing power connection in the steering column. The spiral wound from the flat conductor cable is wound loosely with a large amount of play and distances between the individual turns. When the steering wheel is turned in one direction, the spiral is wound further and the turns are pulled together. When the steering wheel is turned in the other direction, the spiral is unwound and the turns move slightly away from each other. This means that the two power connections are

Even when the steering wheel is turned, they are always connected in the same way via the conductors of the flat cable. In addition to the ignition cap, it is also possible to connect other power consumers or switches located in the steering wheel to a fixed power connection.

In order to achieve high elasticity, to achieve low weight and to reduce costs, a flat conductor cable with a small conductor cross-section is used in a connecting device of the type mentioned. However, this reduces its mechanical strength. During the service life of a motor vehicle, its steering wheel is turned back and forth countless times. This places mechanical stress on the flat conductor cable and in particular on the ends emerging from the housing. The invention is based on the object of designing a connecting device of the type mentioned in such a way that the flat conductor cable and in particular on the ends emerging from the housing are mechanically protected. Furthermore, the connecting device should be designed in such a way that the flat conductor cable with its spiral and its two ends extending at 90° can be connected to the housing simply, quickly and inexpensively. The high mechanical strength sought should be maintained.

^To achieve this object, the invention provides for a connecting device of the type mentioned at the beginning that the flat conductor cable is enclosed in a sheath in the transition areas between the spiral and the two ends that extend at 90°, the sheaths have sections that enclose the ends of the spiral and the ends that extend at 90°, and the sections that enclose the ends of the spiral are locked to the housing base and the housing cover. The spiral located in the housing is hardly subjected to any mechanical stress. It is merely wound up and unwound. The flat conductor cable can easily withstand this stress due to its elasticity. The flat conductor cable is subjected to a great deal of mechanical stress at its ends and in particular at its end located in the rotating housing cover.

At these ends or in the transition areas between these ends and the spiral, the flat conductor cable is further connected to the housing base and the housing cover. At these vulnerable points, the flat conductor cable is mechanically stabilized and protected by the sheaths according to the invention. These sheaths are then also suitable for connecting the two ends of the spiral to the housing base and the housing cover. This is done with the locking mechanism according to the invention. This locking mechanism can be carried out very easily. This means that the flat conductor cable or the spiral wound from it can be quickly and easily fastened in the housing with the two ends extending at 90°.

In a practical embodiment, the invention provides that the sheaths are sprayed onto the flat conductor cable and the plastic forming them is incorporated into the recesses provided in the sheath, forming a strain relief. The recesses provided in the sheath of the flat conductor cable increase its elasticity. According to the invention, the sheaths ^can anchor themselves in the recesses in the flat conductor cable. The sheaths are thereby firmly connected to the flat conductor cable. This is mechanically stabilized and relieved of tensile forces.

So that these sheaths do not impair the flexibility of the flat conductor cable, a further design provides that the sections forming them have ring-shaped sections separated by recesses and webs connecting them. These ring-shaped sections separated by recesses and connected by webs have almost the same flexibility as the flat conductor cable itself. These sections enclose the ends of the spiral and their ends that extend at 90°. The sections forming a sheath therefore also enclose an angle of 90°.

The increased flexibility of the sheath is not required everywhere. It is sufficient if the sheath is particularly flexible only over the ends of the flat conductor cable that extend from the spiral.

are sam. For this purpose, the invention provides that the section forming the sheaths has these ring-shaped sections separated by recesses and the webs connecting them only in the area leading from the spiral to the outgoing ends of the flat conductor cable. It is also sufficient if these sections with the increased flexibility only begin at a distance from the spiral.

The housing consists of a hub and a housing cover. For the design of the housing cover and the locking of one casing to this cover, the invention provides that the housing cover has a cover plate, a pipe socket-shaped hub and an outer casing and the hub has a recess delimited by two end faces and the section of one casing is locked in the recess. For the principle of the invention, it is irrelevant in which way the one casing is locked in the recess. It is particularly expedient if the section of one casing has a thickened section and this is locked between ^the two end faces. It can simply be clamped between them. For further mechanical stabilization and also for mechanical protection of the end of the spiral, a further embodiment provides that this section has a further section resting on the outer wall of the hub following the thickened section. This means that the casing also encloses the spiral in its initial section and mechanically stabilizes it. The thickened section is also better held in the recess between its two end faces. It cannot slip radially inwards. This is prevented by the section resting on the outer wall of the hub. For the design of the housing base and the locking of the casing provided at the other end of the spiral, the invention provides that the housing base has a base plate and an inner casing and this has a recess and the section of one casing is locked in the recess. Even with this locking, it is irrelevant for the principle of the invention how the locking takes place in detail. It is particularly useful

-&dgr;-it has been found that the section has a thickened section and this is locked in the recess. A particularly good locking is achieved if the end faces delimiting the recess have a tongue and a groove and the thickened section has a tongue and groove that can be locked into place with these. In a particularly useful embodiment, the section of the casing provided at this end of the spiral has a groove and tongue that can be locked into place with the thickened section.

10 the section. This also mechanically stabilizes the spiral in its final section.

The connecting device is used to connect the ignition cap that forms the gas generator for the impact bag to its voltage source or ignition device. Switches or contacts for activating the horn, activating the headlights, activating measuring devices, etc. can also be connected. Flat cables with more than two conductors are used for this purpose.

tern used. To facilitate the connection of several .: 20 power consumers or switches, the invention provides in a further embodiment that the flat conductor cable at its ends emerging from the housing to form"&ngr;^&eegr;&pgr;&igr;?&idiagr;&pgr;&mdash;

at least two conductor sections are slotted in its longitudinal direction. This results in two or more conductor sections which can be guided independently of one another in different directions and connected to power consumers or switches. Another measure according to the invention serves the same purpose. This measure consists in the sections emerging from the housing being angled towards 30° above the center line of the housing. In general, the sections enclosing the conductor sections are

I cuts angled outwards. This is due to the fact that

I there is space for the conductor sections. That means,

I <" ate the conductor sections of the flat conductor cable also outside

I 35 of the housing a short distance and thus r^chanically

Ji can be stabilized. Di*v5 also increases the lifespan of the

I entire connecting device.

It was explained above that the case cover is rotatable and the case bottom is therefore stationary. There was also talk of a start and end section of the spiral. These terms are relative. One could also say that the case cover is stationary and the case bottom can rotate around the cover. The terms start and end section of the spiral can also be interchanged.

ÄÜ EüiSpiäl uel j-ii uei ZelCiiTiUng ^eZel^kSn nUö j. uiiJTuHvJS j.Oi. tu

-The invention will now be described further. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the spiral and the two ends extending from it at 90°,

Fig. 2 a plan view of a start or end section of the spiral and two conductor sections extending at 90° from it,

Fig. 3 a cross-section through the flat conductor cable along the section line III - III in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, but with the sheath applied to the conductor sections of the flat conductor cable,

Fig. 5 is a cross section along section ⁷ 1- 2 V - V in Fig.
4,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of this shell,

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the housing cover and the initial section of the spiral with the casing enclosing it,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the housing cover and the casing locked thereto,

-7-

Fig. 9 is a perspective exploded view of the housing base and the end section of the spiral with the casing surrounding it,

Fig.10 a perspective view of the housing base and the casing locked to it and

Fig.11 is a perspective view of the housing consisting of the housing base and housing cover.

Fig. 1 shows a four-core flat conductor cable 22 with its two ends divided into two conductor sections 24 each. In its middle section, the flat conductor cable 22 is Spiral 26 wound. The conductor sections 24 run in planes that form an angle of 90° with the spiral 26. According to the illustration in Fig. 2, this results from the fact that the conductor sections 24 are bent by 90* along fold lines 28 opposite the two ends of the spiral 22.

Recesses 30 are provided over the entire width and also at the edges of the insulation of the flat conductor cable 22. Figures 4 and 5 show the plastic-molded sheath 32 which encloses the two ends of the spiral 26 and part of the outgoing conductor sections 24. This sheath 32, which is present in duplicate, consists of the two sections 34 and 36. These form an angle of 90' with each other. As shown in particular in Fig. 6, the casing 32 has ring-shaped sections 38 at its top right end in Fig. 4, these separating recesses 40 and connecting them.

g ₀ extending webs 42. As Fig. 4 shows, only the end of the top right section 36 of the jacket 32 is designed in this way. This section 36 encloses the conductor sections 24 extending from the spiral 26. At a distance from the spiral 26 (not shown in Fig. 4) or the The sheath 32 has the ring-shaped sections 38 with the recesses 40 and the webs 42 that increase flexibility in the section 34 leading to this. Only there do the conductor sections 24 have to be connected to a fixed current-carrying

I · I · &diams; ·

■ ■!III * · · ·

Finally, they retain their high flexibility. This high flexibility is not required for the section 34 leading to the spiral 26. To simplify the illustration, this design of the casing with the ring-shaped sections 38, the recesses 40 and the webs 42 is not shown in Figures 7 to 11.

According to the illustration in Fig. 7, the Hantal has a thickened section between its two sections 34 and 36 44 in Fig. 7 also shows the housing cover *© ~ t the cover plate 48, the outer casing 50, the hub 52 with the recess 54 and the two enclosing end faces 56 and 58. The housing cover 46 is a self-contained and known component. In its central opening or the hub 52 the two conductor sections 24 are pushed in together with the spiral 26 in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 7. This results in the image shown in Fig. 8. The thickened section 44 lies in the recess 54 between the two end faces 56 and 58. Here, the Front side 58 has a groove and the thickened section 44 has a projection. This is indicated in Figures 7 and 8. Regardless of the detailed design, the thickened section 44 is clamped into the recess 54. The section 34 of the sprayed-on jacket lies with a

O ₅ a further section 80 on the outer wall of the hub 52.

According to the illustration in Fig. 9, the housing base 60 has a base plate 62 and an inner casing 64. A recess 66 is provided in the latter. In the enclosing A spring 68 and a groove 70 are arranged on the end faces of the inner casing 64. The section 34 of the casing that surrounds the end section of the spiral 26 has a thickened section 72. A groove 74 and a spring 76 are also arranged on its end faces. Zi Assembly this thickened section 72 is moved together with the spiral 26 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 9 towards the housing base 60. In this case, the spring 68 is pushed into the cap 74 and the spring 76 into the cap 70 eiiiCjep-ho

The result is the picture shown in Fig. 10. With a section 82 adjoining the thickened section 72, the section 34 rests against the inner wall of the inner casing (64). The spiral 25 is now firmly locked or connected to the housing base 60. Figures 9 and 10 also clearly show that the section 36 is angled outwards compared to the section 34. The conductor sections 24 are also angled outwards accordingly. In the area in which the conductor sections 24 then run, there is more space ⁱⁿ the area than directly next to the housing base 60. The advantage resulting from this has already been mentioned.

After assembly as shown in Figures 7-9, the result is the image shown in Fig. ^11. This figure shows the housing 78 of the now finished connecting device consisting of the housing base 60 and the housing cover 46.

Claims (2)

j Cologne, 2 October 1990 Reference number: Applicant: Thomas & Betts Corporation Hain Reference: T 33/248 CLAIMS 1. Connecting device for connecting a fixed power connection with a power connection rotating around it with a housing consisting of a housing base and a ... around this rotating housing cover, with a flat ter cable wound into a spiral and bent at the ends to form ends at less than 90", the spiral being located in the housing and the ends at less than 90" emerging from the housing, and with recesses in the flat cable,
20 characterized in that the flat conductor cable (22) is enclosed in a sheath (32) in the transition areas between the spiral (26) and the two ends extending at 90", the sheaths (32) cover the ends of the Spiral (26) and the ends extending below 90" enclose-25 ing sections (34, 36) and the sections (34) enclosing the ends of the spiral (26) are locked to the housing base (60) and the housing cover (46). 2. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheaths (32) are sprayed onto the ^flat conductor cable (22) and the plastic forming them has flowed into the recesses (30) provided in its sheath to form a strain relief. 3. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sections (34, 36) forming the casings (32) are separated by recesses (40). -2- annular sections (38) and webs (42) connecting them. 4. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the section (36) forming the sheaths (32) has, in the area leading from the spiral (26) to the outgoing ends of the flat conductor cable (22), ring-shaped sections (TH) separated by recesses (40) and webs (4?) connecting these. 5. Connecting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the ring-shaped (shaped sections (38) with the connecting webs (42) at a distance in front of the spiral (26). Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing cover (46) has a cover plate (48), a pipe socket-shaped hub (52) and an outer casing (50) and the hub (52) has a recess (54) delimited by two end faces (56, 58) and the section (34) of one casing (32) is locked in the recess (54). 7. Connecting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the section (34) has a thickened section (44) and this is locked between the two end faces (56, 58). 8» Connecting device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the section (34) has a further section (80) resting on the outer wall of the hub (52) as a connection to the thickened section (44). 9. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing base (60) has a base plate (62) and an inner ring (64) and this has a recess (66) and the section (34) of the one &bull; · 6 I· t e ■ . . &idigr;&idigr;&iacgr; 1 egg SSSS &bull; ■ ' ' t · « ■ -3-shell (32) is locked in the recess (66). 10. Connecting device according to claim 9, characterized in that the section (34) has a thickened section (72) and this is locked in the recess (66). &igr;&igr;. Connecting device according to one of claims 9 or 10. characterized in that the end faces delimiting the recess (66) have a tongue (68) and a groove (70) and the thickened section (72) has a groove (74) and spring (76) which can be locked thereto. 12. Connecting device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the section (34) has a further section (82) adjacent to the thickened section (72) resting on the inner wall of the inner casing (64). 13. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the flat conductor cable (22) is slotted in its longitudinal direction at its ends emerging from the housing (78) to form at least two conductor sections (24). 14. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the sections (36) of the casing (32) emerging from the housing (78) are angled relative to the center line of the housing (78). 15. Connecting device according to claim 14, characterized in that the sections (36) are angled outwards.