JP2008030713A - Rotary connector apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary connector apparatus possible to easily confirm a neutral position of an inside case independently of the number of flat cables. <P>SOLUTION: There is a rotary connector device 1 wherein a reverse part of any one of the flat cables 3-6 comes to a position of a visible confirmation window 25 when the inside case 21 is positioned in a neutral position (3a in this execution mode). The visible confirmation window 25 comprises a window frame 26 whereto a marking 27 is given, and a marking 28 of similar pattern is given to the reverse part 3a. When the inside case 21 is positioned in the neutral position, the marking 27 of the window frame 26 and the marking 28 of the reverse part 3a become one to show high visibility. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary connector device used for transmitting an electric signal, an optical signal, electric power or the like between a rotating body and a fixed body.

  The rotary connector device is used when electrically connecting a rotary body and a fixed body that supports the rotary body. For example, an electrical signal is sent from the vehicle body side to an airbag system or the like installed in a steering of an automobile. Used to communicate. In a rotary connector device used in an automobile, an annular cable housing portion is usually formed by an outer case and an inner case that is rotatably installed inside the outer case relative to the outer case. The flat cable is housed inside the unit.

  The outer case includes an outer tube portion and a bottom portion, and the inner case includes an inner tube portion and an upper lid portion. The inner case is rotatable inside the outer cylinder portion. The outer case includes a fixed connector portion, and the inner case includes a rotary connector portion.

  The flat cable housed in the cable housing part is wound around in one direction on the inner wall of the outer cylinder part after one end is connected to the fixed connector part, and after reversing the winding direction in the reversing part, Are wound around the outer wall of the inner cylinder portion in the opposite direction, and the other end is connected to the rotary connector portion. Alternatively, there are those wound only in one direction inside the cable housing portion, and those in which the reversing portion is formed by a roller.

  When the rotary connector device is attached to the vehicle body, it is necessary to attach it while maintaining the number of times that the inner case can be rotated clockwise and the number of times that the inner case can be rotated counterclockwise. Hereinafter, the position where the inner case rotates at the same speed in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions is referred to as a neutral position.

  The rotary connector device is provided with a fixture for locking the inner case to the outer case, and the inner case is maintained in a neutral position until the rotary connector device is attached to the vehicle body. Temporarily fixed with the fixture.

  In some cases, alignment marks are provided at appropriate positions of the outer case and the inner case so that the inner case can be accurately returned to the neutral position after the fixing member is removed.

  However, the above alignment mark matches even when the inner case is rotated once. Therefore, if the inner case rotates greatly after removing the fixing tool, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to return the inner case to the neutral position again.

  In particular, when the rotary connector device is attached to the vehicle body and then removed for repair, the inner case must be returned to the neutral position when it is attached to the vehicle body again. Since it was not performed, it was difficult to return the inner case to the neutral position.

  In order to solve the above problem, in Patent Document 1, in addition to the alignment mark described above, a viewing window through which the inverted portion of the flat cable can be seen when the inner case is in the neutral position is provided in the inner case.

  In Patent Document 2, a viewing window is provided in each of the fixed outer case and the rotating inner case, and when the inner case is in the neutral position, the two viewing windows provided in each of the outer case and the inner case match. A structure is disclosed in which an inverted portion of an internal flat cable can be viewed from two overlapping and overlapping viewing windows.

  The reversing portion moves in the circumferential direction inside the cable housing portion as the inner case rotates. Then, the said visual recognition window is provided in the position which can see the said inversion part when the said inner case exists in a neutral position. Therefore, only when the inner case is in the neutral position, the reversing part can be seen from the viewing window. When the inner case is displaced from the neutral position, the reversing part cannot be seen from the viewing window.

  In addition, when there are two or more flat cables stored in the cable storage unit, even when the inner case is not in the neutral position, this state can be confirmed by visually observing the reversal part of another flat cable from the viewing window. There is a risk of misunderstanding as a neutral position.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, when the inversion part of another flat cable is viewed from the viewing window when the inner case is not in the neutral position, the alignment mark is largely displaced. Thereby, it is possible to determine the neutral position when the alignment mark is made coincident and when the inverted portion of the flat cable can be visually observed from the viewing window.

Moreover, in patent document 2, even if two visual observation windows provided in each of the outer case and the inner case are overlapped and the inside is visually observed, the inverted portion of the flat cable cannot be seen when the inner case is not in the neutral position. Has been.
JP 2004-222369 A JP 2004-342602 A

  However, with the means for confirming the neutral position of the inner case described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the inversion portion of the flat cable can be visually confirmed from the viewing window while matching the alignment marks. There was a risk that it would take some time for the case to reach the neutral position. In addition, it is necessary to perform both alignment of the alignment mark and visual observation of the reversal portion from the visual recognition window.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, both the alignment mark coincides with the inversion portion from the viewing window only when the inner case is in the neutral position, and the alignment mark coincides with the inversion portion from the viewing window when the inner case is not in the neutral position. There is a problem that it is necessary to configure the rotary connector device so that visual observation is not compatible, and the manufacture of the rotary connector device becomes complicated.

  Similarly, in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to visually observe the inside while overlapping two viewing windows provided in each of the outer case and the inner case, and not only takes time to reach the neutral position, but also the neutral position. Even if the two viewing windows are overlapped when not in the position, there is a problem that the rotating connector must be configured so that the reversal portion is not visually observed even if the inside is visually observed.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object thereof is to provide a rotary connector device that can easily confirm the neutral position of the inner case regardless of the number of flat cables. And

  According to a first aspect of the rotary connector device of the present invention, an outer case having an outer cylinder part and a bottom part, an inner cylinder part and an upper cover part are arranged inside the outer cylinder part and are relatively to the outer case. An inner case that is rotatable, a flat cable housed in a cable housing portion formed by the outer case and the inner case, a fixed connector portion provided in the outer case, and a rotary connector provided in the inner case And connecting one end of the flat cable to the fixed connector part, winding it around the inner wall of the outer cylinder part in one direction, reversing the winding direction at the reversing part, and reversing the outer wall of the inner cylinder part in the opposite direction. A rotary connector device in which the other end is connected to the rotary connector portion when the inner case is in a neutral position where the clockwise rotation speed and the counterclockwise rotation speed are equal. A visual recognition window through which the reversing part can be visually observed is provided in the upper lid part, the first marking is given to the visual recognition window, and only the reversing part when in the neutral position is the same as the first marking. The rotary connector device is provided with a second type of marking.

A 2nd aspect is a rotation connector apparatus characterized by the said 1st marking being provided to the window frame of the said visual recognition window.

  A third aspect is a rotary connector device in which a transparent plate is attached to the visual recognition window, and the first marking is given to the transparent plate.

  A 4th aspect is a rotation connector apparatus characterized by the said 2nd marking being formed only by the width | variety corresponding to the window frame of the said visual recognition window.

  A fifth aspect is a rotary connector device characterized in that a third marking of a different type from the first marking is provided on both sides of the second marking.

  In the sixth aspect, two or more of the flat cables are stored in the cable storage portion, and the visual recognition among the inversion portions formed in each of the flat cables when the inner case is in the neutral position. The rotary connector device is characterized in that the second marking is given only to the reversing part viewed from a window.

  In a seventh aspect, when the inner case is at a position other than the neutral position, the reversing portion viewed from the viewing window is provided with a fourth marking indicating the number of rotations from the neutral position. A rotary connector device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rotary connector device capable of easily confirming the neutral position of the inner case regardless of the number of flat cables stored in the cable storage portion.

  According to this invention, when the inner case is in the neutral position, the marking provided on the viewing window and the marking provided on the reversing portion of the flat cable are formed so as to coincide with each other. Is more emphasized to be in the neutral position.

  A configuration of a rotary connector device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, about each structural part which has the same function, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and shown for simplification of illustration and description.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the rotary connector device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the rotary connector device 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the outer case 11 and the inner case 21 form a cable housing portion 2, and flat cables 3 to 6 are built in the cable housing portion 2. The inner case 21 is configured so as to be freely rotatable around the left and right sides inside the outer cylinder portion 12 of the outer case 11.

  In the rotary connector device 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2, four flat cables 3 to 6 are stored in the cable storage unit 2, but the number of flat cables stored in the cable storage unit 2 is four. There need not be, it may be more or less.

  The outer case 11 includes a cylindrical outer tube portion 12, a bottom portion 13 (not shown), and a fixed connector portion 14. The inner case 21 includes a cylindrical inner tube portion 22, an upper lid portion 23, and a rotary connector portion 24. The cable storage portion 2 is an annular space surrounded by the outer cylindrical portion 12 and the bottom portion 13 of the outer case 11 and the inner cylindrical portion 22 and the upper lid portion 23 of the inner case.

  The flat cables 3 to 6 housed inside the cable housing portion 2 are connected to the fixed connector portion 14 provided at the outer case 11 at one end and to the rotary connector portion 24 at the other end. An electrical signal can be transmitted from the vehicle body side to, for example, an airbag mounted on the steering wheel via the rotary connector device 1.

  The flat cables 3 to 6 connected to the fixed connector portion 14 are guided into the cable housing portion 2 and wound in a spiral shape in one direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) along the outer cylinder portion 12. Yes. And it has the inversion parts 3a-6a which reversed the winding direction in the middle of each flat cable, and spirals in the reverse direction (clockwise in FIG. 2) along the inner cylinder part 22 from these inversion parts 3a-6a. It is wrapped around

  The reversing parts 3 a to 6 a are provided so as to be substantially equally spaced in the circumferential direction of the cable storage part 2, and are substantially equally spaced in the same direction as the rotation direction of the inner case 21 as the inner case 21 rotates. Move as it is. For example, when the inner case 21 is rotated rightward in FIG. 2, the flat cables 3 to 6 wound around the outer tube portion 12 are wound around the inner tube portion 22, and accordingly, the reversing portion. 3a-6a moves in the clockwise direction.

  Since the flat cables 3 to 6 stored in the cable storage unit 2 have a limited length, the number of rotations of the inner case 21 is also limited to a finite number of times. Therefore, normally, the rotary connector device 1 is attached to the vehicle body while maintaining a position where the rotational speed at which the inner case 21 can rotate clockwise and the rotational speed at which it can rotate counterclockwise are equal (hereinafter referred to as a neutral position). It is done.

  As described above, the fixture 15 is attached between the outer case 11 and the inner case 21 in order to maintain the inner case 21 in the neutral position until the rotary connector device 1 is completely attached. The fixing tool 15 temporarily fixes the inner case 21 to the outer case 11 so that the inner case 21 does not rotate.

  In the rotary connector device 1 of the present embodiment, the visual recognition window 25 is provided in the upper lid portion 23 of the inner case 21, and when the inner case 21 is in the neutral position, the reversing portion 3 a comes to the position of the visual recognition window 25. It is configured. That is, when the inversion part 3a of the flat cable 3 can be visually recognized from the visual recognition window 25, it is comprised so that it can understand that the inner side case 21 exists in the said neutral position.

  In this embodiment, when the inner case 21 is in the neutral position, the reversing part 3a comes to the position of the viewing window 25, but any one of the reversing parts 4a to 6a is visible instead of the reversing part 3a. You may make it come to the position of the window 25. FIG. That is, when the inner case 21 is in the neutral position, any one of the reversing portions 3a to 6a may be positioned at the position of the viewing window 25. The reversing part 3a described below may be any reversing part that comes to the position of the viewing window 25 when the inner case 21 is in the neutral position.

  In FIG. 2, a gaze mark 7 and an arrow 8 are provided in the vicinity of the viewing window 25. The gaze mark 7 is for urging gaze on the viewing window 25. For example, it is preferable to use a highly recognizable mark as a reminder in which the inside of a triangle is yellow and an exclamation mark is attached to the center.

  In the rotary connector device 1 having the above-described configuration, in the present embodiment, the visual window 25 and the reversing part 3a are arranged so that it can be easily determined that the inner case 21 is in the neutral position by viewing the reversing part 3a from the visual recognition window 25. High visibility is provided. The structure of the viewing window 25 and the reversing part 3a of the present embodiment formed so as to improve the visibility will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the periphery of the viewing window 25 is enlarged and displayed. The visual recognition window 25 includes a window frame 26, and in the present embodiment, a marking 27 having a predetermined pattern is given to the window frame 26. In the window frame 26 shown in FIG. 1, a hatched pattern is given as the marking 27.

  When the inner case 21 is in the neutral position, the reversing part 3a is located under the viewing window 25. In the present embodiment, in addition to the window frame 26, the marking 28 having the same pattern as the marking 27 is provided on the reversing portion 3 a. As a result, when the inner case 21 reaches the neutral position, the marking 27 of the window frame 26 and the marking 28 of the reversing part 3a are integrated to show high visibility.

  In FIG. 1, hatched pattern markings 27 and 28 are given to the window frame 26 and the reversal part 3a, respectively. FIG. 3 shows examples of patterns other than the hatched pattern. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the marking 31 applied to the window frame 26 and the marking 32 applied to the reversing portion 3a are both formed in a polka dot pattern. By making both the markings 31 and 32 into the polka dot pattern, the markings 31 and 32 are integrated when the inner case 21 reaches the neutral position, and high visibility is exhibited.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 3B, markings 33 and 34 each having a linear pattern are provided on each of the window frame 26 and the reversing portion 3a, and when the inner case 21 reaches the neutral position, the marking is performed. The straight lines 33 and 34 are formed to coincide with each other. When the markings 33 and 34 are used, the inner case 21 can be accurately adjusted to the neutral position.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the rotary connector device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the viewing window 25 provided in the rotary connector device 41 of the present embodiment, a transparent plate 42 is attached to the window frame 26. The transparent plate 42 can be formed of a material through which the inside of the cable housing portion 2 can be seen, and for example, glass or transparent resin can be used.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the linear marking 43 provided on the window frame 26, the transparent plate 42 is provided with a cross-shaped pattern marking 44. At the same time, the same marking 45 as that of the cross-shaped pattern is given to the reversing portion 3a.

  In the rotary connector device 41 of the present embodiment described above, since the marking 44 is provided not only on the window frame 26 but also on the transparent plate 42, the markings 43 and 44 are integrated with the marking 45 formed on the reversing portion 3a. As a result, not only high visibility can be shown, but also the inner case 21 can be more accurately matched to the neutral position.

  In the present embodiment, the cross-shaped pattern markings 44 and 45 are applied to the transparent plate 42 and the reversing portion 3a. However, the cross-shaped pattern is not necessarily required, and the marking applied to the transparent plate 42 is reversed. A pattern having another shape may be used as long as it can show high visibility when integrated with the marking applied to the portion 3a.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the rotary connector device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the rotary connector device 51 of the present embodiment, the hatched pattern markings 52 and 53 are provided on the window frame 26 and the reversing part 3a, respectively, as in the rotary connector device 1. The marking 53 given to the part 3 a is formed so as to be equal to the width of the window frame 26.

  As described above, by rotating the inner case 21 so that both ends of the marking 53 coincide with the window frame 26 by matching the width of the marking 53 given to the reversing part 3a with the width of the window frame 26, the inner case 21 can be accurately reached at the neutral position.

  A rotary connector device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, markings 61 and 62 as shown in FIG. 6 are applied to the flat cable 3 that is viewed from the viewing window 25 when the inner case 21 is in the neutral position. The marking 61 is given to the reversal part 3a and is formed in the same pattern as the marking given to the window frame 26.

  On the other hand, the markings 62 are arranged on both sides of the marking 61 and are formed in a pattern different from the marking 61. By arranging the markings 62 on both sides of the marking 61, the marking 61 can be further easily detected.

  That is, in order to make the inner case 21 coincide with the neutral position with high accuracy, it is necessary to reduce the width of the marking 61 to some extent. For this reason, there is a risk of overlooking the marking 61 when the inner case 21 is rotated to detect the marking 61. Therefore, the inner case 21 cannot be rotated so quickly that it takes time to detect the marking 61. End up.

  On the other hand, since the marking width is widened by providing the marking 62, there is no risk of overlooking the marking 61 or 62 even if the inner case 21 is rotated quickly, and the marking 61 or 62 can be easily detected. When the marking 62 is detected, since the marking 61 is provided adjacent to the marking 62, the marking 61 can be detected promptly.

  FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the rotary connector device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows the rotary connector device 71 in a state in which the inner case 21 is not in the neutral position and the reversing portion 72 different from the reversing portion 3a is viewed in the viewing window 25. In the present embodiment, a marking 73 as shown in FIG. 7 is applied to the reversing portion 72 detected by the viewing window 25 when the inner case 21 is not in the neutral position.

  The marking 73 is formed in a pattern in which three triangles with apexes facing right are arranged. This indicates the rotation direction for moving to the neutral position in the direction of the apex of the triangle, and represents the approximate rotation speed until the neutral position is reached by the number of triangles. By confirming the marking 73 formed in this way from the viewing window 25, the inner case 21 can be quickly rotated to the neutral position.

  In the present embodiment, the marking 73 is formed in a pattern in which the triangles are combined as shown in FIG. 7, but any pattern can be used as long as it can express the rotation direction and the number of rotations for moving to the neutral position. It is not necessary to limit to.

  In addition, the description in this Embodiment shows an example of the rotation connector apparatus which concerns on this invention, and is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of the rotary connector device in the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view showing a viewing window 25 of the rotary connector device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the rotary connector device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another pattern example of markings applied to the reversing unit 3 a and the window frame 26. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing the rotary connector device 41 and the viewing window 25 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing the rotary connector device 51 and the viewing window 25 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of marking used in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing the rotary connector device 71 and the viewing window 25 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 41, 51, 71 ... Rotary connector apparatus 2 ... Cable storage part 3-6 ... Flat cable 3a-6a, 72 ... Reversing part 7 ... Gaze mark 8 ... Arrow 11 ... Outer case 12 ... Outer cylinder part 13 ... Bottom part 14 ... Fixed connector part 15 ... Fixing tool 21 ... Inner case 22 ... Inner cylinder part 23 ... Upper cover part 24 ... Rotating connector 25 ... Viewing window 26 ... Window frames 27, 28, 31-34, 43-45, 52, 53, 61, 62, 73 ... Marking 42 ... Transparent plate

Claims (7)

An outer case having an outer cylinder part and a bottom part, an inner case having an inner cylinder part and an upper lid part, arranged inside the outer cylinder part and rotatable relative to the outer case; the outer case and the A flat cable housed in a cable housing portion formed by an inner case, a fixed connector portion provided in the outer case, and a rotary connector portion provided in the inner case, wherein one end of the flat cable is fixed Connected to the connector part, wound around the inner wall of the outer cylinder part in one direction, reversed the winding direction at the reversing part, wound around the outer wall of the inner cylinder part in the opposite direction, and connected the other end to the rotating connector part. A connector device,
A visual recognition window through which the reversing part can be seen when the inner case is in a neutral position where the rotational speed in the clockwise direction and the rotational speed in the counterclockwise direction are equal is provided in the upper lid part,
The viewing window is provided with a first marking, and the second marking of the same type as the first marking is given only to the reversal portion when in the neutral position. Rotating connector device. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first marking is provided on a window frame of the viewing window. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein a transparent plate is attached to the visual recognition window, and the first marking is given to the transparent plate. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein the second marking is formed with a width that matches a window frame of the viewing window. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein a third marking different from the first marking is provided on both sides of the second marking. Two or more of the flat cables are stored in the cable storage portion, and the reversing portion formed in each of the flat cables when the inner case is in the neutral position is visually observed through the viewing window. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein the second marking is given only to the reversing portion. When the inner case is at a position other than the neutral position, a fourth marking indicating the number of rotations from the neutral position is given to the reversing portion viewed from the viewing window. The rotary connector device according to claim 1.

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