JP2002334762A - Rotary connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive rotary connector of which the connection in a connecting part of a flexible cable and a lead block can be surely cut when abnormal tension is applied to the rotary connector in which the adjustment in the neutral position is unsuitable in a shipping test, reducing the number of components, and enhancing assembly efficiency. SOLUTION: At least one of a fixed side housing 11 and a moving side housing 12 has a housing for housing the lead block 16 and a cable introducing part for introducing the flexible cable into a space 13 from the housing, the cable introducing part has a bottom wall part for supporting the flexible cable and side wall parts facing through the bottom wall part, and of the side wall parts, the side wall part of the fixed side housing and inside the diameter direction of the moving side housing is inclined to a straight line perpendicularly crossing with the bottom wall part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering heater device,
And a rotary connector used as electrical connection means between electrical devices such as an airbag system provided in a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A rotary connector is incorporated in a steering device of an automobile or the like and is used as an electrical connection means for a steering heater circuit, an airbag circuit, a horn circuit, and other switch circuits mounted on a steering wheel. A pair of fixed-side housings and a movable-side housing which are concentrically arranged and relatively rotatably connected, and an annular cable formed between the pair of fixed-side and movable-side housings It is basically composed of a flexible cable housed in a space as a storage portion so as to be able to be wound and unwound, and one lead block connected to each end of the flexible cable. I have.

In a flexible cable, a plurality of (for example, three) conductors made of strip-shaped copper foil or the like having a very thin dimension are arranged in parallel with each other between two insulating films serving as strip-shaped base films. It is stuck.

The rotary connector basically constructed in this manner fixes the fixed housing to the vehicle body, fixes the movable housing to the handle member, and fixes both ends of the flexible cable to the fixed side and the movable side. By connecting to respective electric devices on the vehicle body and the steering wheel side via each lead block, it is used as an electric connection means for a steering heater circuit device, an in-vehicle airbag system, a horn circuit and the like. That is, a predetermined current flows in each of the plurality of conductor portions of the flexible cable, thereby functioning as an electrical connection unit.

[0005] The rotary connector rotates more than a predetermined number of rotations (for example, two rotations) in the clockwise direction (winding direction) or counterclockwise direction (rewinding direction) of the handle member. (For example, 2.5 rotations).

[0006] The direction of tightening the handle member is as follows.
Or, in order to obtain the same predetermined number of rotations in the rewind direction, when fixing the fixed housing of the rotary connector to the vehicle body and fixing the movable housing to the handle member,
The position of the flexible cable in the winding direction and the unwinding direction must be located at the center of rotation (neutral).

As described above, in order to surely ship the rotary connector set at the neutral position in the winding direction or the unwinding direction of the flexible cable, all the rotary connectors must be set before shipping. A rotation characteristic test for attaching a rotating connector to a test device having the same steering device as the applicable vehicle, rotating the steering wheel within its movable range, and confirming whether the steering wheel can be rotated properly, and the test. An electrical characteristic test is performed to confirm whether or not a disconnection has occurred in the rotating connector later.

[0008] However, as a result of conducting a rotation characteristic test, a rotating connector in which an abnormal tension is applied to a flexible cable,
Even if the tension is relatively small or large, there is no danger of disconnection, and there is a risk of being overlooked and passing an electrical property test. As described above, even if the rotary connector has an abnormal tension applied to the flexible cable, if the disconnection does not occur, the electrical characteristics test is passed. As described above, in order to prevent disconnection after mounting on an actual vehicle, shipping of a rotating connector in which an abnormal tension acts on a flexible cable in the rotating characteristic test must be prevented beforehand.

Conventionally, as means for responding to such a demand, a portion that comes into contact with the flexible cable when an abnormal tension is applied to the flexible cable of the fixed housing or the movable housing. There is proposed a technique in which a flexible cable is cut by a cutter when an abnormal tension is applied to the flexible cable in a rotation characteristic test in a rotation characteristic test.

[0010]

However, the cutting of a flexible cable by means of a cutter as a means for preventing shipment of an illegal rotating connector, which has been conventionally proposed, is performed by installing a cutter in a fixed side housing or a movable side housing. Is provided, there is a problem that the number of parts increases, the number of assembling steps increases, and the cost of the rotary connector increases.

According to the present invention, the connection between the flexible cable and the lead block is reliably cut off when abnormal tension is applied to the rotary connector whose neutral position is inappropriately adjusted in the test at the time of shipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive rotary connector which can be manufactured, has a small number of parts, and is inexpensive.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A rotary connector according to the present invention includes a fixed housing having a cylindrical portion, a movable housing rotatably mounted on the fixed housing and having a cylindrical portion, and a fixed housing. A flexible cable housed in a space formed between the housing and the movable housing; and a lead block to which each end of the flexible cable is connected. At least one of the side housings has a storage section for storing the lead block, and a cable introduction section for introducing a flexible cable from the storage section into the space, and the cable introduction section supports the flexible cable. And a side wall portion facing through the bottom wall portion, and, among the side wall portions, a radially inner side wall portion of the fixed-side housing and the movable-side housing is formed on the bottom wall portion. Orthogonal That is to become is inclined to a straight line. With such a configuration, in inspection at the time of shipment,
If the flexible cable of the rotary connector whose rotation direction neutral position is inappropriately adjusted is wound or unwound, and the flexible cable is subjected to a greater tension, the flexible cable may have an inclined side wall. Moves from the higher slope to the lower slope, and the tension locally concentrates on the connection between the flexible cable and the lead block, and the connection between the flexible cable and the lead block at the point where the tension is concentrated. Of the flexible cable and the lead block can be reliably cut.

Further, the rotary connector of the present invention comprises a fixed housing having a cylindrical portion, a movable housing rotatably mounted on the fixed housing and having a cylindrical portion, the fixed housing and the movable housing. A flexible housing accommodated in a space formed between the movable housing and a movable housing; and a lead block to which each end of the flexible cable is connected. At least one has a storage portion for storing the lead block, and a cable introduction portion for introducing a flexible cable from the storage portion into the space, and the cable introduction portion has a bottom for supporting the flexible cable. A wall portion and a side wall portion facing the bottom wall portion, and a radially inner side wall portion of the fixed side housing and the movable side housing among the side wall portions is a cable introduction portion. It is to have a stepped portion to the bottom wall from the upper edge. With such a configuration, in the inspection at the time of shipping, etc., when the flexible cable of the rotary connector whose rotational direction neutral position adjustment is inappropriate is tightened, or when the flexible cable is subjected to a greater tension at the time of unwinding, The flexible cable moves from the higher slope to the lower slope along the side wall having the step, and the tension is locally concentrated at the connection between the flexible cable and the lead block, and the tension is concentrated. As a result, the connection portion between the flexible cable and the lead block is peeled or broken, and the connection portion between the flexible cable and the lead block can be reliably cut.

Further, in the rotary connector according to the present invention, the step portion is formed in a plurality of steps. With such a configuration, when a greater tension is applied to the flexible cable at the time of winding or unwinding the flexible cable, the flexible cable is moved from the higher portion to the lower portion of the plurality of steps formed. When the flexible cable and the lead block are separated or broken at a connection portion between the flexible cable and the lead block, the concentrated portion of the tension applied to the connection portion between the flexible cable and the lead block causes movement of the flexible cable. And the connection portion between the flexible cable and the lead block can be more reliably cut.

In the rotary connector according to the present invention, the fixed housing has a bottom wall provided so as to close a lower end of the cylindrical portion, and an open end provided at an upper end of the cylindrical portion, The inner wall on the side where the flexible cable is pressed is provided so as to be inclined from the bottom wall side to the open end side in the direction approaching the axis of the fixed side and the movable side housing. With this configuration, the flexible cable moving means can be easily formed, and an inexpensive rotary connector can be provided.

Further, the rotary connector of the present invention has a bottom wall provided so as to close the lower end of the cylindrical portion, and an open end provided at the upper end of the cylindrical portion. At least one step portion is provided on the bottom wall side or the open end side of the inner wall to be pressed. With this configuration, the flexible cable moving means is constituted by one step, so that the pressing force of the flexible cable is concentrated on one step, and the connection between the flexible cable and the lead block is performed. It is possible to provide a rotary connector capable of reliably disconnecting one of the sections.

In the rotary connector according to the present invention, a plurality of steps are provided on the inner wall, and the tops of the plurality of steps are fixed from the bottom wall toward the open end and the movable side. The height of the housing in the axial direction is sequentially different. With such a configuration, since the flexible cable moving means is constituted by a plurality of steps,
Since the pressing force of the flexible cable moves sequentially in the axial direction, a rotary connector is provided which can more easily disconnect the connection between the connection portion of the flexible cable and the lead block.

Further, in the rotary connector according to the present invention, a plurality of steps are provided in a continuous step-like step. With such a configuration, a rotary connector that makes the configuration of the flexible cable moving means easier, is simpler and less expensive to manufacture, and that can easily disconnect the connection between the flexible cable and the lead block. Can be provided.

[0019]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a rotary connector according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing a fixed housing and a lead block of the rotary connector according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a cable and a flexible cable. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.
5 is a plan view showing a lead block and a flexible cable of the rotary connector according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part showing a winding state of the flexible cable wound up to a winding end of the rotary connector. 6, FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part showing a winding state of the flexible cable wound up to the rewind end of the rotary connector, and FIG. 7 is a first explanation for explaining the operation of the flexible cable of the rotary connector. FIG. 8 and FIG. 8 are second explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the flexible cable of the rotary connector.

The structure of the rotary connector 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. A fixed housing 11, a movable housing 12 rotatably connected to the fixed housing 11, a fixed / movable Side housing 11, 12
A flexible cable 14 which is a flat cable housed in a space 13 formed therebetween, and a movable body 15 rotatably arranged between the fixed and movable housings 11 and 12.
And the lead block 1 connected to the flexible cable 14
6 and 17, and cable introduction portions 18 and 19 for introducing the flexible cable 14 connected to each lead block 16 and 17 from the space 13.

The fixed housing 11 is made of a synthetic resin material, is formed by molding, and has a cylindrical outer cylinder 20 and a holding means provided on a part of the outer cylinder 20 and projecting outward. 21, a substantially disk-shaped bottom wall 22 provided so as to cover the lower end side of the outer cylinder 20, an open end 23 provided at the upper end of the outer cylinder 20, and a bottom wall 22. A circular hole (not shown) provided at the center.

The holding means 21 includes a thick portion 24 which is a part of the outer cylindrical portion 20, a substantially rectangular recessed storage portion 25 provided in the thick portion 24, and a holding portion 21 provided in the thick portion 24. And a cable introduction portion 18 formed continuously with (communication with) the storage portion 25 and connected to the space 13 and formed by a groove portion 26 having opposed inner walls 26a and 26b.

A band-like projection 25a is provided on the inner wall of the storage section 25 on the space 13 side. Then, as described above, the cable introduction portion 18 constituted by the groove 26 is formed.
Is formed such that one end is connected to the inside of the storage portion 25 and the other end is connected to the space 13.

More specifically, the cable introduction section 18
The inner wall 2 which is constituted by the groove portion 26 and is perpendicular to the bottom wall 22.
6a and an inner wall 26 provided at an angle to the bottom wall 22
b, and the vertically provided inner wall 26a is located outside of one inner wall 26b.

That is, the inner wall 26b, which is located on the space 13 side and is provided at an angle, is inclined from the bottom wall 22 to the open end 23 with respect to the axis of the fixed and movable housings 11, 12. As it goes, it is provided with an inclination so as to gradually approach the axis. The cable introduction portion 1 constituted by the groove portion 26 having the inner wall 26b provided at an angle.
8 constitutes a flexible cable moving means.

The movable housing 12 is made of a synthetic resin material, is formed by molding, and has a cylindrical inner cylindrical portion 27 and a substantially rectangular storage portion 28 provided at a predetermined position of the inner cylindrical portion 27. And a cable introduction portion 19 formed of a groove portion 29 connected to (communicated with) the storage portion 28 and connected to the space 13, and a substantially disk-shaped portion provided on the upper end side of the inner cylindrical portion 27. And an upper wall (not shown).

The cable introduction section 19 formed by the groove 29 has an inner wall (not shown) facing the same as the cable introduction section 18 described above.
3 and has the same configuration as the inner wall 26a,
Vertically provided inner wall and fixed / movable housing 1
The inner wall 26 is located inward in the vicinity of the axes 1 and 12.
It has the same configuration as b, and is constituted by an inclined inner wall.

The fixed side housing 11
The outer cylindrical portion 20 and the inner cylindrical portion 27 of the movable housing 12 are coaxially arranged,
A space 13 is provided between the seven.

A moving body 15 formed of an annular shape and made of a synthetic resin material is disposed in the space 13 so as to be movable in the circumferential direction thereof, and a flexible cable is provided on the circumferential surface of the moving body 15. The flexible cable 14 disposed along the peripheral surface of the predetermined opening 15a of the moving body 15 is disposed in a state where the flexible cable 14 is reversed (reversed portion) at this position.

The lead block 16 is made of an insulating synthetic resin material, and is made of a rectangular base portion 16a and a conductive material.
It is composed of three flat terminals 16b inserted into the base 16a. The base 16a has a rectangular through hole 16c, a step 16d, and a band-shaped recess 16.
e is provided at one end of the terminal 16b, and an exposed terminal portion 16f is provided at one end of the terminal 16b. The exposed terminal 16f is partially exposed at the surface of the step 16d. There is provided a through terminal portion 16g disposed so as to bridge the inside.

The lead block 16 is press-fitted and stored in the storage portion 25 of the fixed housing 11, and in this state, the projection 25a of the storage portion 25 of the fixed housing 11 is inserted into the recess 16e of the lead block 16. The lead block 16 is fitted and arranged, and the lead block 16 is positioned in the fixed housing 11.

The flexible cable 14 has a plurality of strips (for example, three strips of copper or the like having a very thin dimension) between two insulating films 14a made of strip insulating tape such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). ) Are adhered in parallel with each other. In addition, each conductor portion 14b
Of the insulating film 14a whose one surface is the upper surface side
And the other surface is a lower surface side insulating film 14a.
It is provided in a state where it is exposed from.

Each conductor 1 of the flexible cable 14
The exposed one end portion (outer end portion) of the outer cylindrical portion 4b is
To each through terminal portion 16g of the three terminals 16b of the lead block 16 as a fixed-side joint portion fixed to 0,
For example, they are electrically and mechanically connected by an ultrasonic connection or the like.

The other end (inner end) of the flexible cable 14 is electrically connected to the lead block 17 as a movable joint fixed to the housing 28 of the inner cylinder 27 in the same manner as described above. Connected mechanically and mechanically.

The lead wire 30 is a so-called round cable, and has a cylindrical insulating tube 30a and a stranded wire 30b made of a conductive material such as copper and coated on the insulating tube 30a. . In addition, stranded wire 3
The tip of Ob is exposed from the insulating tube 30a. The tip of the stranded wire 30b of the lead wire 30 is electrically and mechanically connected to the exposed terminal portion 16f of the lead block 16 by appropriate means such as soldering. Further, the lead wire 30 is electrically led out of the fixed housing 11 via the lead block 16.

Next, the operation of tightening and rewinding the movable housing 12 of the rotary connector of the present invention will be described.

If the rotary connector is not in the neutral position when the rotary connector is installed in the steering device, and the flexible cable 14 is wound on the movable housing 12 by half or more, the steering wheel is rotated to the right rotation end. Previously, as shown in FIG. 5, the flexible cable 14 is wound up to the tightened end (final end). In this state,
As is clear from FIG. 5, the outer end of the flexible cable 14 is bent at an acute angle to the distal end of the cable introduction portion 18 formed in the fixed housing 11, and tension is applied to the flexible cable 14, and The surface of the flexible cable 14 facing the space 13 is one inner wall 26b of the cable introduction portion 18.
(See FIG. 3). As described above, the inner wall 26b is provided so as to be inclined such that the upper side (the direction from the bottom wall 22 side to the open end 23 side) is close to the axis with respect to the axis of the fixed side / movable side housings 11, 12. I have.

Here, the operation of the flexible cable 14 pressed against the inclined inner wall 26b will be described. The flexible cable 1 pressed against the inclined inner wall 26b
4, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, first, the flexible cable 14 located in the cable introduction portion 18 when the flexible cable 14 is wound up to the winding end (final end) As indicated by the solid line, a position B1 substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 22
It has become.

Next, when the flexible cable 14 is slightly tensioned beyond the final end of the tightening, the flexible cable 14 is moved by the tension to the position B2 indicated by the dotted line. Slightly inclined, as shown. In this state, the flexible cable 14 is connected to the lead block 1.
With the fulcrum 6 as a fulcrum, the flexible cable moving means rotates (moves) in the direction of arrow A (see FIG. 7), which is the width direction of the flexible cable 14.

Next, when the flexible cable 14 is further tensioned by further tightening the flexible cable 14, the additional tension causes the flexible cable 14 to move to the position B3 shown by the two-dot chain line. As described above, the state is further inclined by the flexible cable moving means.

In the initial stage of the rotation of the flexible cable 14, the force is applied to one of the three conductors 14 b on one side of the bottom wall 22 and one of the lead blocks 16. Is added in a state concentrated on the connection portion with the through terminal portion 16g. In this way, since the force due to the rotation is concentrated on one point, one conductor portion 1 on the bottom wall 22 side is formed.
The connection portion between 4b and one through terminal portion 16g is first (first) disconnected.

When the connection between one conductor portion 14b located on the bottom wall 22 side and one through terminal portion 16g is cut off, the concentration of the force due to the rotation is reduced by the rotation of the bottom wall 22 side. It moves from the connection part to the connection part between one conductor part 14b and one through terminal part 16g one level above (open end part 23 side), and thereby, the second one conductor part according to the same principle as described above. The connection between 14b and one through terminal 16g is disconnected.

As described above, when the second connection between the one conductor portion 14b and the one through terminal portion 16g, which is located one level above the bottom wall 22 (open end portion 23 side), is cut off.
Next, the concentration of the force due to the rotation moves from the connection portion on the bottom wall 22 side to the connection portion between the one conductor portion 14b and the one through terminal portion 16g on the upper side (open end portion 23 side). As a result, according to the same principle as described above, the force due to the rotation is concentrated at one point, so that the third connection portion between one conductor portion 14b and one through terminal portion 16g is disconnected. As described above, since the respective connection portions of the conductor portions 14b and the through terminal portions 16g are sequentially cut one by one, it is possible to surely cut the connection portions with a relatively small force.

On the other hand, when the rotary connector is not in the neutral position at the time of installation into the steering device, the movable housing 12
If only less than half of the flexible cable 14 is wound around the steering wheel, the flexible cable 14 is unwound (final end) as shown in FIG. 6 before the steering wheel is rotated to the left rotation end. It is wound up. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6, the cable introduction portion 1 in which the inner end side of the flexible cable 14 is formed in the movable housing 12.
9, the flexible cable 14 is also bent at an acute angle so that tension is applied to the flexible cable 14 and the flexible cable 14
The surface facing the side opposite to the space 13 side of the
9 is pressed against one inner wall.

In this state, the inner wall of the cable introduction portion 19 on the side where the flexible cable 14 is pressed is formed in the same manner as the inclined inner wall 26b of the cable introduction portion 18 described above. The cutting operation of the conductor portion of the flexible cable 14 and the through terminal portion of the lead block 17 in a state where the flexible cable 14 is pressed against the inclined inner wall of the cable introduction portion 19 is sequentially performed one by one in the same manner as described above. Since the connection is cut, the description is omitted.

Next, a drawing of a second embodiment of the flexible cable moving means of the rotary connector according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a principal part showing a second embodiment of the flexible cable moving means of the rotary connector according to the present invention. In addition,
The same components as those of the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and differences will be described.

The cable introduction section 30 is provided with
, And has an inner wall 32 and an inner wall 33 perpendicular to the bottom wall 22. And one vertical inner wall 32
Are located outside of the other vertical inner wall 33.
The other inner wall 33 is provided as the inner wall 33 on which the flexible cable 14 is pressed when the flexible cable 14 is wound and wound up to the final end.

In the vicinity of the inner wall 33 on the side of the bottom wall 22, one protruding portion (step portion) 34 protrudes into the groove 31. Flexible cable moving means is constituted by the cable introduction section 30 having one projection (step section) 34 in the groove 31.

When the flexible cable 14 is wound up and tension is applied to the flexible cable 14, one protrusion 34 protruding into the groove 31 constituting the flexible cable moving means is provided. As a result, the flexible cable 14 is brought into contact with one protrusion 34 of the tensioned flexible cable 14, and the portion of the flexible cable 14 not in contact with the protrusion 34 is the inner wall 3.
3 is pulled in an inclined state to the flexible cable 1
4 moves in the width direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 7),
A concentrated force is applied to a connection portion between one conductor portion 14b of the flexible cable 14 located near the protrusion 34 and one through terminal portion 16g of the lead block 16, and concentrated on this one connection portion. Cutting is performed by force.

Next, a drawing of a third embodiment of the flexible cable moving means of the rotary connector according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a principal part showing a third embodiment of the flexible cable moving means of the rotary connector according to the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and differences will be described.

The cable introduction section 40 is provided with an opposing groove section 41.
, And has an inner wall 42 and an inner wall 43 perpendicular to the bottom wall 22. And one vertical inner wall 42
Are located outside of the other vertical inner wall 43.
This inner wall 43 is wound around the flexible cable 14,
It is provided as an inner wall 43 on the side on which the flexible cable 14 is pressed when being wound up to the final end.

The inner wall 43 has a plurality of projections 4.
4 are provided, and the top of the plurality of protrusions 44 is
The heights of the fixed and movable housings 11 and 12 in the axial direction from the second end toward the open end 23 are gradually reduced toward the open end 23 so as to be different from each other. The tops of the plurality of protrusions (step portions) 44 are provided in a continuous step shape. Flexible cable moving means is constituted by the cable introduction portion 40 having the plurality of protrusions 44 in the groove portion 41.

When the flexible cable 14 is wound and tightened and tension is applied to the flexible cable 14, a plurality of flexible cable moving means projecting into the groove 41 constitute a part of the flexible cable moving means. 7, the flexible cable 14 is inclined by this pressing, and the flexible cable 14 is moved in the direction of the arrow A (FIG. 7) as in the first embodiment. ), And this rotation causes the plurality of conductor portions 14b of the flexible cable 14 to rotate.
The connection between each of the plurality of through terminal portions 16g of the lead block 16 and the plurality of through terminal portions 16g is sequentially and easily performed.

In the above-described second and third embodiments, the connection between the flexible cable and the lead block is cut off at the cable introducing portion 18 provided on the outer cylindrical portion 20 (cylindrical portion) of the fixed housing 11. However, the flexible cable moving means may be provided in a cable introduction portion provided in the inner cylindrical portion 27 (cylindrical portion) of the movable housing 12.

In the above-described first embodiment, the inclined inner wall 26b of the cable introduction portion 18 is located above the axis of the fixed / movable housings 11 and 12 (the bottom wall 22 side). , And the opening end 23 side is inclined so as to be close to the axis, but, unlike this, is different from the axis of the fixed and movable housings 11 and 12 (open end 23). (The direction from the side toward the bottom wall 22) may be provided so as to be inclined so as to approach the axis.

[0056]

According to the rotary connector of the present invention, at least one of the fixed housing and the movable housing has a storage portion for storing the lead block and a cable introduction for introducing a flexible cable from the storage portion into the space. The cable introduction portion has a bottom wall portion that supports the flexible cable, and a side wall portion that faces through the bottom wall portion, and among the side wall portions, a fixed-side housing, In addition, since the radially inner side wall of the movable housing is inclined in a straight line perpendicular to the bottom wall, abnormal tension may be applied to the rotating connector whose neutral position is inappropriately adjusted in a test at the time of shipment. When operated, the present invention provides a low-priced rotary connector that can surely disconnect the connection between the flexible cable and the lead block, has a small number of parts, has good assemblability, and is easy to use.

In the rotary connector according to the present invention, the fixed housing has a bottom wall provided so as to close the lower end of the cylindrical portion, and an open end provided at the upper end of the cylindrical portion.
The flexible cable is provided such that the inner wall of the flexible cable to be pressed is inclined from the bottom wall toward the open end toward the fixed side and the direction approaching the axis of the movable housing. The moving means can be easily formed, and an inexpensive rotary connector can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a rotary connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a fixed housing, a lead block, and a flexible cable of the rotary connector of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a lead block and a flexible cable of the rotary connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part showing a winding state of a flexible cable wound up to a winding end of a rotary connector.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a main part of a flexible cable that has been wound up to a rewind end of a rotary connector;

FIG. 7 is a first explanatory view illustrating the operation of the flexible cable of the rotary connector.

FIG. 8 is a second explanatory view illustrating the operation of the flexible cable of the rotary connector.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a principal part showing a second embodiment of the flexible cable moving means of the rotary connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a principal part showing a third embodiment of the flexible cable moving means of the rotary connector according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Fixed side housing 12 Movable side housing 13 Space 14 Flexible cable 15 Moving body 16, 17 Lead block 18, 19 Cable introduction part 20 Outer cylinder part (cylindrical part) 22 Bottom wall 26 Groove part 26a, 26b Inner wall 34, 44 protrusion Part (step)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H05K 7/00 H05K 7/00 V 7/02 7/02 Q

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A fixed housing having a cylindrical portion, a movable housing rotatably mounted on the fixed housing and having a cylindrical portion, and a movable housing having a cylindrical portion disposed between the fixed housing and the movable housing. A flexible cable housed in the formed space, and a lead block to which each end of the flexible cable is connected, at least one of the fixed housing and the movable housing, A storage unit for storing the lead block, and a cable introduction unit for introducing the flexible cable from the storage unit into the space, the cable introduction unit,
A bottom wall that supports the flexible cable; and a side wall that faces through the bottom wall, and a radially inner side of the fixed side housing and the movable side housing among the side walls. Wherein the side wall portion is inclined in a straight line perpendicular to the bottom wall portion. 2. A fixed housing having a cylindrical portion, a movable housing rotatably mounted on the fixed housing and having a cylindrical portion, and a movable housing having a cylindrical portion disposed between the fixed housing and the movable housing. A flexible cable housed in the formed space, and a lead block to which each end of the flexible cable is connected, at least one of the fixed housing and the movable housing, A storage unit for storing the lead block, and a cable introduction unit for introducing the flexible cable from the storage unit into the space, the cable introduction unit,
A bottom wall that supports the flexible cable; and a side wall that faces through the bottom wall, and a radially inner side of the fixed side housing and the movable side housing among the side walls. Wherein the side wall portion has a step from the upper edge of the cable introduction portion to the bottom wall portion. 3. The rotary connector according to claim 2, wherein said stepped portion is formed in a plurality of steps. 4. The flexible housing has a bottom wall provided to close a lower end of the cylindrical portion, and an open end provided at an upper end of the cylindrical portion. The inner wall on the side where the cable is pressed is provided so as to be inclined in a direction approaching the axis of the fixed side and the movable side housing from the bottom wall side to the open end side. Item 4. The rotary connector according to Item 1. 5. The fixed-side housing has a bottom wall provided so as to close a lower end of the cylindrical portion, and an open end provided on an upper end of the cylindrical portion. The rotary connector according to claim 2, wherein at least one step portion is provided on the inner wall on the side where the cable is pressed, on the bottom wall side or the open end side. 6. A plurality of step portions are provided on the inner wall, and the tops of the step portions are arranged on the fixed side and the movable side housing from the bottom wall side toward the open end side. 6. The rotary connector according to claim 5, wherein heights in the axial direction of the rotary connector are sequentially different. 7. The rotary connector according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of said step portions are provided in a continuous step-like step portion.