JP2018060779A - Rotary connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary connector which includes a thin-type rock device, and can improve installation freedom.SOLUTION: A rotary connector comprises: an annular rotational case; a fixing case including an annular bottom member that is provided in a lower direction of the rotational case, and rotatably supports the annular rotational case; and a rock mechanism that rocks a relative rotation between the rotational case and the fixing case. The rock mechanism includes; an engagement member 31 that is provided at a predetermined position of the rotational case, and can be reciprocatably moved in a radial direction; a housing frame 32 that houses the engagement member and regulates the movement of the radial direction of the engagement member; and an elastic member 33 that is provided in the housing frame and applies an elastic force to the engagement member; and an engaged part provided in a bottom surface member 21 of the fixing case. In a rock state, the engagement member is engaged to the engaged part by the elastic force to the elastic member. In a rock cancellation state, the engagement member is released from the engaged part by moving to the external peripheral side from the inner peripheral side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary connector mounted on a steering apparatus such as an automobile and used as an electrical connection mechanism for an airbag system, and more particularly to a rotary connector having a lock mechanism.

  The outer shape of the rotary connector is substantially annular, and is provided with an annular rotary case (movable housing) that rotates as the rotary operation tool rotates, and is provided below the rotary case and rotatably supports the annular rotary case. A fixed case (fixed side housing) having an annular bottom member. During use, the rotary connector and the rotary operating tool are assembled by inserting the steering shaft of the rotary operating tool into the annular center of the rotary connector. A lock mechanism that locks the relative rotation between the rotating case and the fixed case ("built-in lock mechanism" to ensure that both the rotating case and the fixed case are in the neutral position before assembly. Need to be provided on the rotary connector.

  1 and 2 show the unlocking process of the locking mechanism in the rotary connector. FIG. 1 shows a state before a steering shaft (not shown) is inserted into the rotary connector, and FIG. 2 shows a state after the steering shaft (not shown) is inserted into the rotary connector. It is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, before the steering shaft is inserted, the movable member 2 of the locking mechanism 1 is positioned within the outer shape of the rotary connector in the axial direction, and after the steering shaft is inserted, the locking mechanism 1 The movable member 2 moves downward together with the steering shaft and protrudes from the outer shape of the rotary connector. The lock mechanism 1 further includes an engagement member 3 and an engaged member 4, and the engagement member 3 is moved in a direction away from the engaged member 4 by the movement of the movable member 2, thereby realizing unlocking. .

  Since the movable member 2 of the lock mechanism 1 moves in the axial direction and protrudes from the lower side of the rotary connector and needs to secure a part of the receiving space below the rotary connector, it is difficult to make the rotary connector thin. In addition, the installation space for the rotary connector is also limited.

  The present invention provides a rotary connector that has a thin lock device and improves the degree of freedom of installation.

  The target rotary connector of the technical solution 1 includes an annular rotary case, a fixed case having an annular bottom surface member that is provided below the rotary case and rotatably supports the rotary case, the rotary case, and the fixed case A locking mechanism that locks relative rotation between the locking member, a locking member that is reciprocally movable in a radial direction, and a locking member that is provided at a predetermined position of the rotating case and houses the locking member. A receiving frame for restricting the radial movement of the locking member; an elastic member provided in the receiving frame for applying an elastic force to the locking member; and a latch provided on the bottom member of the fixed case. In the locked state, the locking member is locked to the locked portion by the elastic force of the elastic member, and in the unlocked state, the locking member is By being moved to the side It has been escaping from.

  The rotary connector of Technical Solution 2 is a notch provided on the inner peripheral side of the bottom surface member of the fixed case.

  In the rotary connector of Technical Solution 3, the locking member has a slope inclined in the radial direction with respect to the rotational axis direction of the rotary connector, and an external rotary operation tool extends along the rotational axis direction. When the inclined member comes into contact with the rotary operation tool and receives a pressing force from the rotary operation tool when the rotary member is inserted into the rotary connector, the locking member has an outer periphery in the radial direction orthogonal to the insertion direction. Moved to the side.

  In the rotating connector of Technical Solution 4, the locking member includes a locking foot that protrudes from the rotating case to the fixed case, and in the locked state, the locking foot is locked to the notch, The amount of locking in the radial direction between the foot and the notch is smaller than the amount of movement of the locking member toward the outer peripheral side due to the insertion of the rotary operation tool.

  In the rotary connector of the technical solution 5, the housing frame has a pair of substantially parallel side walls sandwiching the locking member substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface member, and the locking member is the side wall of the housing frame. The side wall has a guide portion that coincides with the moving direction of the locking member on the surface facing the side surface.

  In the rotating connector of Technical Solution 6, the rotating case is provided with a mounting portion on the inner peripheral side, and the lock mechanism is detachably assembled to the mounting portion.

  In the rotary connector of the technical solution 7, the mounting portion has a fixing engagement portion for fixing the lock mechanism to the mounting portion.

  In the rotary connector of the technical solution 8, the housing frame has an opening that opens toward a rotation axis of the rotating case, and the locking member is formed on the opening side of the housing frame from the opening. A blocking unit is provided to prevent escape.

  In the rotary connector of the technical solution 9, the blocking portion includes a first blocking portion and a second blocking portion that form a pair, and the first blocking portion protrudes from one of the pair of side walls to the other, and the first blocking portion The second blocking portion protrudes from the other of the pair of side walls to the one side at a position facing the first blocking portion, and the engagement portion is interposed between the first blocking portion and the second blocking portion. There is a gap narrower than the width of the stop member.

  In the rotary connector of the technical solution 10, when the locking member is inserted into the housing frame, a part of the blocking portion and a part of the locking member that are in contact with each other are chamfered.

  In the rotary connector of the technical solution 11, the housing frame has a top surface parallel to the bottom surface member, and has a cutout portion that opens on the top surface toward the opening.

  In the rotary connector of Technical Solution 12, the elastic member is installed between the locking member and the receiving frame along the radial direction, and both ends of the elastic member are fixed to the locking member and the receiving frame, respectively. The

  According to the rotating connector of the technical solution 1, in the unlocking process, the locking member of the movable member serving as the locking mechanism does not move in the axial direction but moves only in the radial direction. The locking mechanism does not protrude from the outer shape of the rotary connector. Accordingly, the axial size can be reduced (thinned), and the degree of freedom in installing the rotary connector can be improved.

  According to the rotary connector of Technical Solution 2, since the notch is provided on the inner peripheral side, the locking member is released from the locked state by moving from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the rotary connector and moves to the outer peripheral side. The locking member thus made does not protrude from the outer shape of the rotary connector even in the radial direction. Moreover, since the moving direction of the locking member coincides with the direction in which the other member spreads outward in the radial direction by inserting the rotary operation tool, a direction changing mechanism or a direction changing component is separately installed. There is no need to do.

  According to the rotation connector of Technical Solution 3, since it has a locking member having a slope and a housing frame that restricts the movement of the locking member in the radial direction, the rotational operation tool insertion direction (rotation axis direction) Can be converted into a radial force substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, so that the locking member is moved in the radial direction.

  With the rotary connector of the technical solution 4, the locking amount in the radial direction between the locking foot and the notch is smaller than the moving amount of the locking member moving from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side. By moving up, the lock can be reliably released.

  According to the rotating connector of the technical solution 5, by providing the guide portion on the side wall of the housing frame, it is possible to more stably guide the movement of the locking member in the radial direction.

  According to the rotary connector of Technical Solution 6, the lock mechanism is detachably assembled to the mounting portion, that is, the lock mechanism can be conveniently replaced without disassembling the main components included in the rotary connector, and the mounting process Is easy to operate.

  According to the rotating connector of Technical Solution 7, the lock mechanism is fixed to the mounting portion and does not escape from the mounting portion.

  According to the rotating connector of the technical solution 8, the integrity and independence of the locking mechanism can be guaranteed.

  According to the rotary connector of Technical Solution 9, the locking member escapes from the opening due to the size relationship between the width of the gap between the first blocking portion and the second blocking portion and the width of the locking member. And the structure of the blocking portion is simple.

  According to the rotary connector of Technical Solution 10, even if the width of the gap between the first blocking portion and the second blocking portion is smaller than the width of the locking member, the locking member is inserted into the housing frame by chamfering. The assembled operation is smooth.

  According to the rotating connector of the technical solution 11, by providing the notch portion, the receiving frame can be slightly expanded outward in the width direction when the locking member is inserted, whereby the insertion operation of the locking member is performed. It becomes easy.

  According to the rotating connector of Technical Solution 12, the elastic member can be reliably fixed between the locking member and the housing frame.

It is a figure which shows the locked state of the locking mechanism in the conventional rotary connector. It is a figure which shows the lock release state of the lock mechanism in the conventional rotary connector. It is a perspective view of the rotation connector of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the rotation connector of this invention. It is a perspective view of the locked state of the locking mechanism of the rotation connector of this invention. It is a perspective view of the lock release state of the lock mechanism of the rotation connector of the present invention. It is a perspective enlarged view of the locking mechanism of the rotation connector of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the locked state of the locking mechanism of the rotation connector of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the lock mechanism state unlocking state of the rotation connector of this invention. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the structure of the mounting part provided on a rotation case. It is a perspective view which shows a locking member, a storage frame, and an elastic member. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a locking member, a storage frame, and an elastic member. It is the perspective view seen from the other angle of the storage frame. It is the perspective view seen from the other angle of a locking member.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotary connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary connector shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the rotary connector of the present embodiment mainly includes an annular rotary case (movable side housing) 10 that rotates in accordance with the rotation of an external rotary operation tool, and a lower part of the rotary case. A fixed case (fixed-side housing) 20 having an annular bottom member 21 that rotatably supports the annular rotary case 10, and a lock mechanism 30 that locks relative rotation between the rotary case 10 and the fixed case 20; Is provided. The external rotary operation tool is usually composed of members such as a handle (not shown) and a steering shaft Z (see FIG. 8).

  The rotary connector further includes a bracket 40 that is rotatably disposed between the rotary case 10 and the fixed case 20. The bracket 40 is a molded product of a synthetic resin, and includes a rotatable annular flat plate portion 40a and a plurality of rollers 40b that are erected and rotatable on the annular flat plate portion 40a. At least one flat cable (not shown) hung on the roller 40b makes an electrical connection between the fixed case 20 and the rotating case 10 coupled to a handle (not shown). The flat cable may be used for transmission of electrical signals such as an airbag system or a horn circuit, or may be used for transmission of electrical signals of various steering switches.

  The rotary case 10 includes an upper rotor 11 and a lower rotor 12 made of synthetic resin, and the lower rotor 12 is integrated with the upper rotor 11 by snap engagement. The upper rotor 11 has a ring-shaped top plate portion 11a facing the fixed case 20, and an inner cylinder portion 11b depending from the center of the top plate portion 11a. The inner diameter of the inner cylinder portion 11b is The steering shaft Z of the rotary operation tool is set to a size that can be inserted.

  The fixed case 20 includes a bottom member 21 made of synthetic resin and an outer cylindrical body 22, and the substantially ring-shaped bottom member 21 and the substantially cylindrical outer cylindrical body 22 are coupled by snap engagement. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of upper connection portions 22 a are provided at predetermined positions on the outer surface side of the outer cylindrical body 22, and the upper connection portions 22 a and the snap engagement are provided at predetermined positions on the outer peripheral side of the bottom surface member 21. A plurality of lower connecting portions 21a to be combined are integrally formed.

  Further, a movable side connection portion 13 for transmitting an electric signal is further provided on the top plate portion 11a, and a fixed side connection for transmitting an electric signal is further provided on the outer circumference of the bottom surface member 21. Part 23 is assembled. One end of the flat cable (not shown) in the longitudinal direction is electrically connected to a lead block (not shown) incorporated in the fixed side connecting portion 23, and the other end is in the movable side connecting portion 13. Is electrically connected to a lead block (not shown) incorporated in the.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotary connector further includes an external locking member 50, the top plate portion 11a is provided with a locking recess 11c, and the outer cylinder 22 is provided with a locking member insertion portion 22b. It has been. In the locked state, the external locking member 50 is inserted into the locking member insertion portion 22b and is fitted into the locking recess 11c (see FIG. 3). The use of the external locking member 50 is to maintain the neutral position of the rotary connector before the rotary connector and the steering shaft Z are assembled (for example, when the rotary connector is transported alone). After the rotary connector and the steering shaft Z are assembled, the external locking member 50 is removed.

  That is, both the lock mechanism 30 and the external locking member 50 can lock the relative rotation between the rotary case 10 and the fixed case 20 before the rotary connector and the steering shaft Z are assembled. The lock mechanism 30 can exhibit a lock function even when the steering shaft Z is pulled out of the rotary connector in other situations (for example, when repairing or maintaining an automobile).

  The lower rotor 12 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape into which the steering shaft Z can be inserted, and the lower rotor 12 and the cylindrical portion 11b of the upper rotor 11 are snap-engaged. The lower rotor 12 is slidably engaged with the inner peripheral edge of the bottom member 21 to connect the rotary case 10 to the fixed case 20 in a freely rotatable manner.

Hereinafter, the lock mechanism 30 according to the present invention will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, the lock mechanism 30 includes a locking member 31 that reciprocates in the radial direction and a locking member 31 that is provided at a predetermined position of the rotating case 10. A receiving frame 32 that restricts movement along the radial direction, an elastic member 33 that is provided in the receiving frame 32 and gives elastic force to the locking member 31, and a locked portion that is provided on the bottom surface member 21 of the fixed case 20. 21b. The predetermined position in the present embodiment is the inner peripheral side of the rotating case 10. The structure of each member will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism of the rotary connector according to the present invention in a locked state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lock mechanism of the rotary connector according to the present invention in an unlocked state. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking mechanism of the rotary connector of the present invention. 5 to 7, for convenience of explanation, only the bottom member 21 having the locking member 31, the housing frame 32, and the locked portion 21 b is shown, and the other members are omitted. In order to clearly show the shape of the locked portion 21b, an enlarged perspective view of only the bottom member 21 is shown in the upper part of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the locked portion 21 b is provided on the inner peripheral side of the bottom surface member 21 of the fixed case 20, and the locked portion 21 b is an outer periphery of the bottom surface member 21 along the circumferential direction. It is a notch that opens to the side. In the locked state, the locking member 31 is locked to the locked portion 21 b by the elastic force of the elastic member 33. Specifically, the locking member 31 has a locking foot 31a protruding from the rotating case 10 to the fixed case 20, and in the locked state, the locking foot 31a is locked to the locked portion 21b. The rotation case 10 and the fixed case 20 cannot be rotated relative to each other, or can be relatively moved only in a small range. Since the length along the circumferential direction of the locked portion 21b in the present embodiment is larger than the length corresponding to the circumferential direction of the locking foot 31a, the amount of movement of the locking foot 31a at the locked portion 21b is increased. Correspondingly, the rotating case 10 and the fixed case 20 can be relatively rotated within a small range. Of course, when the length of the locked portion 21b along the circumferential direction is substantially equal to the length of the locking foot 31a corresponding to the circumferential direction, the rotating case 10 and the fixed case 20 rotate relatively. I can't.

  The elastic member 33 is, for example, a compression spring (see FIG. 12), and is provided between the locking member 31 and the housing frame 32 along the radial direction. Both ends of the elastic member 33 are respectively housed with the locking member 31. It is fixed to the frame 32. The elastic member 33 may be a leaf spring, an elastic resin member, or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the locking member 31 has a slope 31b that is inclined in the radial direction with respect to the direction of the rotation axis K of the rotary connector. Further, the insertion direction of the rotary operation tool is a downward direction along the rotation axis K in FIG. In the present embodiment, the angle formed by the inclined surface 31b and the insertion direction of the rotary operation tool is 35 to 45 degrees, but is not limited thereto.

  When the steering shaft Z of the rotary operation tool is inserted into the rotary connector, the distal end of the steering shaft Z abuts on the inclined surface 31b, so that the locking member 31 receives the force from the steering shaft Z and the radial direction of the rotary connector. The radial direction of the rotary connector is orthogonal to the direction in which the steering shaft Z is inserted. As shown in FIG. 6, in the unlocked state in which the rotary operation tool is inserted, the locking member 31 moves a certain distance from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side along the bottom surface member 21 of the fixed case 20. The locking foot 31a of the locking member 31 is escaped from the locked portion 21b. At this time, the locking foot 31 a is preferably located above the bottom surface member 21 of the fixed case 20 and does not contact the bottom surface member 21. Thereby, it can avoid that frictional resistance generate | occur | produces between the locking member 31 and the fixed case 20 in the operation | movement process of a rotation connector.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the locking amount L1 in the radial direction between the locking foot 31a and the locked portion 21b is the notch depth in the radial direction of the cutout in the locked portion 21b. That's it. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, after the locking member 31 is moved to the outer peripheral side of the rotary connector by the insertion of the rotary operation tool, the locking foot 31a is already completely released from the locked portion 21b. The moving amount L2 moved to the outer peripheral side of the locking member 31 is much larger than the notch depth in the radial direction of the locked portion 21b. Of course, the shape of the locking foot 31a and the shape of the locked portion 21b are not limited to this, and the locking amount L1 between the locking foot 31a and the locked portion 21b in the radial direction is the rotational operation tool. What is necessary is just to satisfy that it is smaller than the moving amount L2 which moves to the outer peripheral side of the latching member 31 by insertion.

  8 and 9 are cross-sectional views showing a locked state and an unlocked state of the lock mechanism 30 of the rotary connector. 8 and 9, a part of the steering shaft Z is also shown. Regardless of the locked state or the unlocked state, the locking member 31, the receiving frame 32, and the elastic member 33 in the locking mechanism 30 are all located at substantially the same position as the roller 40b of the bracket 40 in the axial direction. . Specifically, most of the locking member 31, the housing frame 32, and the elastic member 33 are located at the same height as the roller 40b of the bracket 40, and only a part of the upper side is higher than the roller 40b. It does not protrude from the upper surface of 11a. Regardless of the locked state or the unlocked state, the lock mechanism 30 is located inside the roller 40b of the bracket 40 (on the right side in FIGS. 8 and 9) in the radial direction. In other words, the lock mechanism 30 in the present embodiment effectively uses the space inside the roller 40b of the rotary connector, and does not require special space occupancy in the circumferential direction or the radial direction. 30 can be provided, and the size of the rotary connector is not increased.

  Moreover, the mounting part 14 is provided in the inner peripheral side of the rotation case 10, and the lock mechanism 30 is detachably assembled to the mounting part 14 as a unitized element. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a structure of a mounting portion provided in the rotating case. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the mounting portion 14 has a fixing engagement portion 14 a for fixing the lock mechanism 30 to the mounting portion 14. At the same time, a protrusion 32 a that engages with the fixing engagement portion 14 a is provided on the outer surface of the housing frame 32. Moreover, the hole 14b which lets the latching foot 31a of the latching member 31 pass is formed in the lower surface of the mounting part 14, and the shape of the hole 14b is a substantially rectangular shape in which the latching foot 31a can reciprocate.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the housing frame 32 has a pair of parallel side walls 32 b that are perpendicular to the bottom surface member 21 of the fixed case 20 and sandwich the locking member 31. Each has two side surfaces 31c facing the side wall 32b of the housing frame 32, and a guide portion 32c corresponding to the moving direction of the locking member 31 is provided on the surface of the side wall 32b facing the side surface 31c. As shown in FIG. 13, four guide portions 32c are provided on the storage frame 32, and each guide portion 32c protrudes inward from the side wall 32b. At the same time, four concave grooves 31d are respectively provided on the two side surfaces 31c of the locking member 31, and the locking member 31 is moved along the guide part 32c by fitting the guide portion 32c and the concave groove 31d. Can reciprocate.

  Further, the substantially rectangular storage frame 32 opens toward the rotation axis K of the rotary case 10 and has an opening 32 d, and four blocking portions 32 e are provided on the opening 32 d side of the storage frame 32. The blocking portion 32e is for blocking the locking member 31 from being escaped from the opening portion 32d.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the blocking portion 32e includes a first blocking portion 32e1 and a second blocking portion 32e2 that are paired on the left and right, and the first blocking portion 32e1 extends from one to the other of the pair of side walls 32b. The second blocking portion 32e2 protrudes from the other side of the pair of side walls 32b at a position facing the first blocking portion 32e1, and a gap is formed between the first blocking portion 32e1 and the second blocking portion 32e2. The width of the gap is smaller than the width of the position of the locking member 31 corresponding to the gap. In other words, the width of the gap between the first blocking portion 32e1 and the second blocking portion 32e2 is smaller than the partial width that has passed through the gap when the locking member 31 is inserted into the housing frame 32. Further, a part of the blocking portion 32 e and / or a part of the locking member 31 that come into contact with the locking member 31 when inserted into the housing frame 32 are chamfered. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the chamfered part of the blocking part 32 e is an end T <b> 1 that approaches one side of the rotation axis K of each blocking part 32 e, and the locking member 31 is chamfered. A part of the groove is an end T2 that approaches one side of the rotation axis K of each concave groove 31d.

The housing frame 32 has an upper surface 32f parallel to the bottom surface member 21, and a substantially U-shaped cutout 32g that opens toward the opening 32d side on the upper surface 32f.
Hereinafter, the effects of the invention will be described.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, in the unlocking process, the locking member 31 as the movable member of the lock mechanism 30 does not move in the axial direction but moves only in the radial direction. The lock mechanism 30 does not protrude from the outer shape of the rotary connector. Accordingly, the axial size can be reduced (thinned), and the degree of freedom in installing the rotary connector can be improved.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, since the notch as the locked portion 21b is provided on the inner peripheral side, the locking member 31 is released from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the rotary connector to release the locked state. However, the locking member 31 that has moved to the outer peripheral side does not jump out of the outer shape of the rotary connector even in the radial direction. In addition, since the moving direction of the locking member 31 coincides with the direction in which the other members spread radially outward when the rotary operation tool is inserted, the direction changing mechanism or the direction changing component is separately provided. There is no need to install.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, since the locking member 31 having the inclined surface 31b and the housing frame 32 that restricts the radial movement of the locking member 31 are included, the rotational operation tool insertion direction (rotating shaft) is provided. The movement in the radial direction of the locking member 31 is realized by converting the force in the central direction into a radial force substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, the locking amount L1 in the radial direction between the locking foot 31a and the locked portion 21b is smaller than the movement amount L2 that the locking member 31 moves from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side. Therefore, the lock can be reliably released by the movement of the locking member 31 in the radial direction.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, by providing the guide portion 32 b on the side wall of the housing frame 32, the movement of the locking member 31 in the radial direction can be guided more stably.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, the lock mechanism 30 is detachably assembled to the mounting portion 14, that is, the lock mechanism 30 can be conveniently replaced without disassembling the main parts included in the rotary connector, and mounted. The operation of the process is simple.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, the lock mechanism 30 is fixed to the mounting portion 14 and does not escape from the mounting portion 14.

According to the rotating connector of the present invention, the integrity and independence of the locking mechanism 30 can be guaranteed.
According to the rotary connector of the present invention, the locking member 31 is opened due to the size relationship between the width of the gap between the first blocking portion 32e1 and the second blocking portion 32e2 and the width of the locking member 31. Escape from the part 32d is prevented, and the structure of the prevention part 32e is simple.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, even when the width of the gap between the first blocking portion 32e1 and the second blocking portion 32e2 is smaller than the width of the locking member 31, the locking member 31 is accommodated by the chamfering. The assembling operation inserted into is smooth.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, by providing the notch 32g, the housing frame 32 can be slightly expanded outward in the width direction when the locking member 31 is inserted, whereby the insertion of the locking member 31 is achieved. Operation becomes easy.

  According to the rotary connector of the present invention, the elastic member 33 can be reliably fixed between the locking member 31 and the housing frame 32.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications, combinations, and substitutions to the components of the above-described embodiments within the technical scope or equivalent scope of the present invention. it can.

  For example, in this embodiment, the locking member 31, the housing frame 32, and the elastic member 33 are detachably assembled to the mounting portion 14 as one unitized element. However, the housing frame 32 is not installed independently and is attached to the rotating case. The housing frame may be formed integrally. This reduces the number of parts and lowers the cost.

10 Rotating case (movable housing)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Upper rotor 11a Top plate part 11b Inner cylinder part 11c Locking recessed part 12 Lower rotor 13 Movable side connection part 14 Mounting part 14a Fixing engaging part 14b Hole 20 Fixed case (fixed side housing)
21 Bottom member 21a Lower connection portion 21b Locked portion 22 Outer cylindrical body 22a Upper connection portion 22b Locking member insertion portion 23 Fixed side connection portion 30 Locking mechanism 31 Locking member 31a Locking foot 31b Slope 31c Side surface 31d Concave groove 32 Housing frame 32a Protrusion 32b Side wall 32c Guide portion 32d Opening portion 32e Blocking portion 32e1 First blocking portion 32e2 Second blocking portion 32f Upper surface 32g Notch
33 Elastic member 40 Bracket 40a Annular flat plate portion 40b Roller 50 External locking member K Rotation axis T1 End portion (chamfered portion) of blocking portion
T2 End of groove (chamfered part)
Z Steering shaft L1 Locking amount L2 Traveling amount

Claims (12)

An annular rotating case, a fixed case having an annular bottom surface member provided below the rotating case and rotatably supporting the rotating case, and a relative rotation between the rotating case and the fixed case are locked. A rotary connector comprising a locking mechanism,
The locking mechanism is provided with a locking member that is reciprocally movable in a radial direction, and a storage frame that is provided at a predetermined position of the rotating case, stores the locking member, and restricts the radial movement of the locking member. And an elastic member that is provided in the housing frame and gives an elastic force to the locking member, and a locked portion provided on the bottom surface member of the fixed case,
In the locked state, the locking member is locked to the locked portion by the elastic force of the elastic member,
In the unlocked state, the locking member is escaped from the locked portion by moving from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side.   The rotary connector according to claim 1, wherein the locked portion is a notch provided on an inner peripheral side of the bottom surface member of the fixed case. The locking member has a slope inclined in the radial direction with respect to the rotational axis direction of the rotary connector,
When the external rotary operation tool is inserted into the rotary connector along the rotational axis direction, the inclined surface comes into contact with the rotary operation tool and receives a pressing force from the rotary operation tool. The rotary connector according to claim 2, wherein the stop member is moved to the outer peripheral side in the radial direction orthogonal to the insertion direction. The locking member includes a locking foot protruding from the rotating case to the fixed case,
In the locked state, the locking foot is locked to the notch, and the amount of locking in the radial direction between the locking foot and the notch is such that the locking member of the locking member is inserted by inserting the rotary operation tool. The rotary connector according to claim 3, wherein the rotation connector is smaller than the amount of movement toward the outer periphery. The housing frame has a pair of substantially parallel side walls sandwiching the locking member substantially perpendicular to the bottom member,
The locking member has a side surface facing the side wall of the housing frame,
5. The rotary connector according to claim 4, wherein the side wall has a guide portion that coincides with a moving direction of the locking member on a surface facing the side surface. The rotating case is provided with a mounting portion on the inner peripheral side,
The rotary connector according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is detachably incorporated in the mounting portion.   The rotary connector according to claim 6, wherein the mounting portion includes a locking engagement portion for fixing the lock mechanism to the mounting portion.   The receiving frame has an opening that opens toward the rotation axis of the rotating case, and a blocking portion that prevents the locking member from being separated from the opening on the opening side of the receiving frame. The rotary connector according to claim 5, wherein the rotary connector is provided.   The blocking portion includes a first blocking portion and a second blocking portion that form a pair, the first blocking portion protrudes from one of the pair of side walls to the other, and the second blocking portion includes the first blocking portion. And a gap narrower than the width of the locking member between the first blocking portion and the second blocking portion. The rotary connector according to claim 8.   The rotary connector according to claim 9, wherein a part of the blocking portion and a part of the locking member that come into contact with each other when the locking member is inserted into the housing frame are chamfered. .   The rotary connector according to claim 10, wherein the housing frame has an upper surface parallel to the bottom surface member, and the upper surface has a cutout portion that opens toward the opening.   The elastic member is installed between the locking member and the receiving frame along a radial direction, and both ends of the elastic member are fixed to the locking member and the receiving frame, respectively. The rotary connector according to 1.

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