GB2282274A

GB2282274A - Current connector for bridging interruptions in conductance between two relatively rotatable component parts

Info

Publication number: GB2282274A
Application number: GB9417396A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gregor Zeller; Helmut Bonn
Original assignee: Petri AG
Current assignee: Petri AG
Priority date: 1993-08-30
Filing date: 1994-08-30
Publication date: 1995-03-29
Also published as: GB9417396D0; JPH07153540A; FR2709608A1; DE4329119A1; BR9403357A

Description

- 1 2282274 CURRENT CONNECTOR FOR BRIDGING INTERRUPTIONS IN CONDUCTANCE

BETWEEN TWO RELATIVELY ROTATABLE COMPONENT PARTS The present invention relates to a current connector, in particular to a current connector for bridging interruptions in connection between two relatively rotatable component parts, e.g. between a vehicle steering wheel and a steering column.

A connector f or current conduction of this type has been disclosed in USA-4 722 690, for example. This type of connector is used especially to establish an electrical connection between a current source and the shockpreventing airbag safety system of an automotive vehicle, said system being disposed in the steering wheel dish. In typical connectors, a conductor strip is disposed in a housing chamber and has such a length that it can follow the movement of the steering wheel, which amounts to about three turns on each side. The conductor strip expands outwardly during the movement of the steering wheel from a central position in one direction until it abuts against the stationary housing and retracts inwardly in the other direction until it abuts against the rotor.

In practical usage, known connectors for current conduction have proved to be substantially satisfactory, but one disadvantage is seen to reside in the fact that the conductor strip, guided in the housing, on the one hand, produces scraping noises during the normal movement of the steering wheel and, on the other hand produces loud rattling noises during sudden, sharp jolts - for example, when travelling round bends or on uneven ground such noises being caused mainly by the windings of the conductor strip impinging against one another.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector f or current conduction, by means of which the development of noises can easily be prevented.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for current conduction for bridging interruptions in conductance between component parts which are rotatable relative to one another, comprising a stator including a first conductor output, the stator being mountable on a steering column, and a rotor which is rotatable with a steering wheel and is provided with a second conductor output, said stator and rotor together defining an annular chamber which serves to accommodate a conductor strip, which loops around the rotor in a plurality of windings and terminates in the first and second conductor outputs, wherein a plurality of resilient plates are disposed in a radial position in the stator and/or rotor for holding at least the windings of the conductor strip loosely against the rotor, or respectively the stator.

In the presently disclosed connector for current conduction the development of noises is largely prevented, due to the fact that the conductor strip, or respectively its windings, is, or are, held against the cover with slight tension and, in consequence, is, or are, largely prevented from executing free oscillation movements. In particular, the development of rattling noises is largely prevented, though there may be a possibility, in extreme situations, of such noises developing. Further, it became surprisingly apparent that, irrespective of the conductor strip being closely guided with its edges on metallic projection members, there is no fear of the conductor strip being impaired.

11 t - 3 Further details of the invention are explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the partially opened connector for current conduction; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A - A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of the stator base having small resilient plates inserted therein; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B - B of Fig. 3.

The connector for current conduction illustrated in the drawings serves to bridge interruptions in conductance between a steering column, fixed to the vehicle, and a steering wheel, rotatable on the steering column. The connector comprises a stator 1, which is mountable on the steering column and is provided with a conductor output 2, and a rotor 3, which is rotatable with the steering wheel and is also provided with a conductor output 4. Stator I and rotor 3 form a housing, which surrounds an annular chamber 5 and serves to accommodate a conductor strip 6, which loops around the rotor in a plurality of windings and terminates in the conductor outputs 2 and 4. In such case, the conductor outputs may be formed by a contact pin, on which the ends of the helical strip are mounted. The conductor strip 6 itself may also be formed by the rotor, or respectively the stator wall - Possibly by extrusion - so that the conductor strip itself forms the conductor outputs.

A plurality of small resilient plates 8 are disposed radially in the base of the stator 1, which base, in the embodiment shown, also defines the base of the annular chamber 5. The conductor strip 6, or respectively its windings, is held loosely against the upper boundary face of the annular chamber 5, formed by the rotor in the embodiment, by means of said small resilient plates. Two inwardly curved resilient projection members 9 are also disposed on the circumference of the stator 1 so that they lie radially opposite each other in identical directions. The resilient projection members 9 are supported on the outer winding of the conductor strip 6 and, in consequence, act on said conductor strip in opposite radial directions, so that the conductor strip is prevented from freely executing radial movements. The development of rattling noises is also considerably prevented in this manner.

C q 111 t

Claims

1. A connector f or current conduction f or bridging interruptions in conductance between component parts which are rotatable relative to one another, comprising a stator including a first conductor output, the stator being mountable on a steering column, and a rotor which is rotatable with a steering wheel and is provided with a second conductor output, said stator and rotor together defining an annular chamber which serves to accommodate a conductor strip, which loops around the rotor in a plurality of windings and terminates in the f irst and second conductor outputs, wherein a plurality of resilient plates are disposed in a radial position in the stator and/or rotor for holding at least the windings of the conductor strip loosely against the rotor, or respectively the stator.

2. A connector for current conduction as claimed in claim 1, wherein two inwardly curved resilient projection members are disposed on the circumference of the stator so that they lie radially opposite each other in identical directions, such resilient projection members being supported on the outer winding of the conductor strip.

3. A connector f or current conduction for bridging interruptions in conductance between component parts which are rotatable relative to one another, more especially between steering wheel and steering column, comprising a housing having a stator, which includes a conductor output and is mountable on the steering column, and a rotor, which is rotatable with the steering wheel and is also provided with a conductor output, said component parts defining an annular chamber which surrounds the rotor and serves to accommodate a conductor strip, which loops around the rotor in a plurality of windings and terminates in the conductor outputs, wherein a plurality of small resilient plates are disposed in a radial position in the stator and/or rotor of the housing, the conductor strip, or respectively its windings, being held loosely against the rotor by means of said small resilient plates.

I-

4. A connector for current conduction, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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