JP2554159Y2 - Steering wheel device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel device having a cable device for connecting a component provided on a steering wheel body to a component provided on a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a steering wheel device for an automobile shown in FIG. 5 is known.

[0003] The steering wheel device includes a steering wheel body 1 that is operated to rotate. The steering wheel body 1 includes an annular rim portion 2, a boss portion 3 located inside the rim portion 2, And a plurality of spokes 4 connecting the rim 2 and the boss 3. The boss 3 is provided with a cylindrical boss 6 fitted to a steering shaft 5 provided on the vehicle body. Further, the boss 6 has a spoke portion 4
A boss plate 7 to which a metal core 4a is fixed is fixed, and a nut 8 is screwed into a tip portion of the steering shaft 5 fitted to the boss 6, so that the boss 6 and the boss plate 7 are connected to the steering shaft. Tightened to 5,
Steering wheel body 1 is steering shaft 5
It is fixed to.

[0004] On the occupant side of the boss 3, an airbag device 11 is mounted. The airbag device 11 includes an inflator for injecting a gas with electric power supplied through the connector 12, a control signal, and the like, a bag-shaped airbag inflated and deployed by the gas, and the like. And the airbag cover 14 in which the airbag is broken by the pressure of the airbag inflation.
Covered by

[0005] Further, a cover body 15 is provided on the vehicle body side of the boss portion 3.
A cable device 16 is attached to the vehicle body side of the cover body 15 for electrically connecting the electric component on the vehicle body side of the automobile and the electric component provided on the steering wheel body 1 with a cable. ing. The cable device 16 has a substantially hollow cylindrical case 17 fitted to the steering shaft 5, and a cable having a plurality of cores arranged side by side is gently wound inside the case 17. This constitutes a so-called clock spring housed in a state where it is retracted.

[0006] The case body 17 includes a lower frame body attached to the vehicle body side and an upper frame body attached to the cover body 15 and rotated together with the steering wheel body 1.
They are configured to be rotatably connected to each other. The cable is housed between these upper and lower frames with one end connected to the upper frame and the other end connected to the lower frame.

Further, conductive wires (harnesses) 18 and 19 connected to the ends of the cables are led out from the upper and lower frames, respectively. The upper connectors 18a and 18a are connected to the tips of the conductive wires 18 and 19, respectively. A lower connector 19a is provided. The lower connector 19a is connected to electric components such as a power supply device and an impact sensor provided on the vehicle body. The upper connector 18a is provided with a through hole 15a having a substantially rectangular shape formed in the cover body 15 and the boss plate 7, respectively.
, 7a to the occupant side of the boss plate 7 and a connector 12 connected to the inflator of the airbag device 11.
It is connected to the.

In the steering wheel device configured as described above, the cable device 16
Electric power and control signals are supplied from the electric components on the vehicle body side to the inflator and the like of the airbag device 11 of the steering wheel body 1, and when a vehicle collides, the inflator is activated to inflate and deploy the airbag. It is designed to protect occupants.

[0009]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above conventional configuration,
Steering wheel body 1 on steering shaft 5
When a steering wheel device is configured by assembling the steering device, first, a cable device is attached to the steering shaft 5.
The lower frame 19 of the cable device 16 is fixed to a component such as a so-called combination switch provided on the vehicle body side, and the lower connector 19a is connected to an electrical component such as a connector provided in the combination switch. When the steering wheel body 1 is mounted on the steering shaft 5, the upper connector 18a of the cable device 16 is connected to the cover 15 and the boss plate 7 of the steering wheel body 1 through holes 15 respectively.
It is necessary to hold the steering wheel body 1 while inserting the boss 6 into the steering shaft 5 while inserting the boss 6 into the steering shaft 5.

As described above, in the above-described conventional configuration, the upper connector 18 of the cable device 16 is inserted into the through holes 15a and 7a of the steering wheel body 1 in a state where the steering wheel body 1 is not completely fitted to the steering shaft.
Therefore, there is a problem that the operation of inserting the steering wheel a is necessary, and the mounting operation of the steering wheel body 1 becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a steering wheel device that can be mounted with good workability.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A steering wheel device according to the present invention includes a steering wheel body fitted to a steering shaft, a cover body covering the body side of the steering wheel body, and a cover body provided on the cover body and the vehicle body side. A steering wheel device, comprising: a cable device mounted between the mounting component and a component provided on the steering wheel main body side and a component device provided on the vehicle body side by a cable. The body is formed with an insertion portion through which a cable derived from the cable device is inserted and wired, and an insertion opening communicating with the insertion portion, and an opening / closing unit attached to the insertion opening of the cover body. A possible lid is provided.

[0013]

In the steering wheel device according to the present invention, the steering wheel body is fitted to the steering shaft, and the cable device is mounted between the cover body of the steering wheel body and the mounting part on the vehicle body side, and then is led out from the cable device. The inserted cable is inserted through the insertion portion of the cover body through the insertion opening, introduced into the inside of the steering wheel main body, and connected to the part on the steering wheel main body side. Next, the insertion opening is closed by the lid. In this state, the parts on the vehicle body side and the parts on the steering wheel body side are connected by a cable,
Power or signals are transmitted.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of an embodiment of the steering wheel device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 denotes a steering wheel body of an automobile.
An annular rim portion 22, a boss portion 23 located inside the rim portion 22, and a plurality of spoke portions 24 connecting the rim portion 22 and the boss portion 23 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the boss portion 23 is provided with a substantially cylindrical metal boss 26 located at the center of the rim portion 22. A fitting hole 26b formed with an engaging portion 26a and the like is formed in the shaft center. A boss plate 27 having a through hole 27a communicating with the fitting hole 26b is fixed to the occupant side of the boss 26,
The core metal 24a of the spoke portion 24, the vibration absorbing device 28, and the like are fixed to the boss plate 27.

A steering shaft 29 projecting from the vehicle body side is fitted to the boss 26, and a serration 29a formed near the tip of the steering shaft 29 is provided.
When the steering shaft is engaged with the
The boss 26 and the boss plate 27 are fastened and fixed to the steering shaft 29 by screwing a nut 30 to a screw portion 29b formed at the tip of the 29, and the steering wheel body 21 is mounted on the steering shaft 29.

The steering shaft 29 is connected to a steering transmission (not shown) of the vehicle, for example, from two rotations in the left and right directions from the neutral position according to the gear ratio of the steering transmission. The rotation operation can be performed for about 2.5 rotations. A combination switch (not shown) as an attachment component provided with an operation lever such as a light and a wiper is fitted to the body side of the steering shaft 29 so as not to rotate, being attached to the body side.

An airbag device 31 is mounted on the boss portion 23 at a position on the occupant side of the boss plate 27.
The airbag device 31 has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped base plate 32 attached to the boss plate 27, and a substantially columnar inflator 33 and a bag-shaped airbag 34 are attached to the base plate 32. ing. The inflator 33 is fixed in a state fitted to a substantially central portion of the base plate 32, and injects a gas such as a nitrogen gas by burning a propellant filled therein by a built-in igniter. I have. Further, the airbag 34 is stored in a folded state on the occupant side of the base plate 32 so as to cover the inflator 33. Further, the vicinity of the opening of the airbag 34 is fixed in close contact with the base plate 32 by an annular retainer 36. A substantially box-shaped airbag cover 37 having an opening on the vehicle body side is attached to the base plate 32. Further, the airbag cover 37 has a built-in insert body 38 and a recessed tear line 39 having a substantially H-shaped plane on the back side. The airbag cover 37 normally covers and protects the folded airbag 34, and when the airbag 34 is inflated and deployed, it breaks along the tear line 39 due to the pressure of the inflation, and A projecting opening of the bag 34 is formed.

On the occupant side of the boss plate 27, a socket 41 as a component is mounted. The harness (conductive wire) 42 derived from the socket 41 is
It is electrically connected to an igniter of the inflator 33, a horn switch mechanism 44 provided on the spoke portion 24, and the like.

Further, a cover 46 is mounted on the vehicle side of the boss plate 27. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cover body 46 is formed of a synthetic resin or the like so as to cover the vehicle side of the boss portion 24 and a part of each spoke portion 24 on the vehicle side.

A through hole 47 through which the steering shaft 29 is inserted is formed in the center of the cover 46, and a substantially cylindrical cable device mounting portion 48 is formed around the through hole 47. Are recessed toward the occupant. An opening 51 is formed on one side of the cable device mounting portion 48, and a protection portion 52 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed on the occupant side of the insertion portion 51. When the cover body 46 is mounted on the steering wheel body 21, the protection portion 52 comes into contact with the back surface of the boss plate 27. Further, an insertion opening 53 is formed in the cover body 46 so as to communicate with the insertion portion 51. The insertion opening 53 is formed to be larger than the insertion portion 51, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape along the inclined portion of the cover 46 to near the end.

A cover 55 is attached to the insertion opening 53 of the cover 46 so that it can be opened and closed. The cover 55 has a main body 56 covering the insertion opening 53 and a projecting piece 57 projecting from the main body 56 and covering a part of the insertion portion 51. Furthermore, the main body 56
A pair of locking pieces 58, 58 having a substantially L-shaped cross section are formed on the side of the projecting piece 57, and a tip end is formed on the opposite side of the locking pieces 58, 58. An engagement piece portion 59 having a hook-like portion 59a is formed on the engaging piece portion 59a. By rotating the lid 55 in a state where each locking piece 58 is locked to one edge of the insertion opening 53 of the cover body 46, the engagement piece is
The cover 55 is attached to the cover body 46 by locking the 59 to the edge on the other side.

A cable device 61 is mounted between the cable device mounting portion 48 of the cover 46 and the combination switch on the vehicle body. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this cable device 61 has a substantially hollow annular case body 62 fitted to the steering shaft 29, and a plurality of core wires are arranged inside the case body 62. The installed flat cable is stored.

The case body 62 is configured by connecting a lower frame body attached to the combination switch and an upper frame body attached to the cover body 46 and rotating together with the steering wheel body 21 to be rotatable with each other. ing. Furthermore, from the upper frame of the case body 62,
A locating pin 64 that fits into a positioning hole (not shown) formed in the cover body 46 and the like protrudes, and a cable lead-out portion that fits inside the protection portion 52 through the insertion portion 51 of the cover body 46. 65 are protruding.

The flat cable is formed by arranging, for example, two to nine core wires in parallel and integrally covering them with an insulating resin or the like, and is formed in a flexible belt shape. One end is connected to the upper frame and the other end is connected to the lower frame. The steering wheel body 21 is rotated from the neutral position in the forward direction and the reverse direction. In the operated state, the cover body 46 is wound around the central axis in the normal rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction, respectively.

Further, a cable (harness) 66 connected to one end of the flat cable is led out from the cable lead-out portion 65 of the upper frame, and an upper connector 67 is provided at the tip of the cable 66. Have been. On the other hand, a cable 68 connected to the other end of the flat cable is led out from the lower frame, and a lower connector 69 is provided at a distal end of the cable 68.

The upper cable 66 is connected to the cover 46.
The boss portion of the steering wheel body 21 through the insertion portion 51
The upper connector 67 is inserted into the inside 23, is bent in a substantially U-shape, and is provided at an end portion thereof, and is connected to the socket 41. The lower connector 69 is connected to a socket provided on the vehicle body side, and is connected to electric components such as a power supply device and an impact sensor. Further, the steering shaft 29, the boss plate 27, and the like are used as ground-side conductive wires.

In the steering wheel device configured as described above, electric power and control signals are supplied from the electric components on the vehicle body side to the inflator 33 of the airbag device 31 of the steering wheel body 21 via the cable device 61. When an automobile collides, the inflator is activated and the airbag is inflated and deployed to protect the occupant.

Next, an assembling process of the steering wheel device according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, a cable device 61 is fitted to the steering shaft 29, and the cable device 61 is fixed to a combination switch previously fitted to the steering shaft 29 with a screw or the like. The connector 69 is electrically connected to the socket on the vehicle body side.

Next, the boss 26 of the steering wheel main body 21 is fitted to the steering shaft 29, and the toothed portion 26a of the boss 26 and the serration 29a of the steering shaft 29 are fitted.
With the gears meshed with each other, a nut 30 is screwed into a screwing portion 29b of the steering shaft 29 and tightened, and the steering wheel body 21 is fastened to the steering shaft 29. In this state, cover the upper frame of the cable device 61 with the cover.
It is fixed to the cable device mounting portion 48 of 46.

Further, the base plate 32 of the airbag device 31 is fixed to the boss plate 27 using screws or the like, and the inflator 33 of the airbag device 31 and the socket 41 are electrically connected to each other, so that the airbag device 31 is mounted. It is mounted on the boss 23 of the steering wheel body 21.

Then, with the cover 55 removed, the upper connector 67 of the cable device 61 is inserted into the boss 23 through the insertion opening 53 of the cover 46, and the cable 66 is substantially U-shaped.
The upper connector 67 is connected to the socket 41 in a state where the upper connector 67 is bent in the shape of a letter and wired to the insertion portion 51.

Next, the cover 55 is attached to the insertion opening 53 of the cover 46 and the insertion opening 53 is closed, whereby the assembling work of the steering wheel device is completed.

As described above, according to the steering wheel device of the present embodiment, the insertion portion 51 through which the cable 66 is inserted into the cover body 46 that covers the vehicle body side of the boss portion 23 of the steering wheel body 21, and the insertion portion 51 Insertion opening 53 communicating with the
After the cable device 61 is mounted between the cover body 46 of the steering wheel body 21 and the combination switch on the vehicle body side, and the steering wheel body 21 is fitted and fixed to the steering shaft 29, the cable device 61 Can be introduced into the steering wheel body 21 to connect the upper connector 67 to the socket 41. So, the steering wheel body
Since the upper connector 67 of the cable device 61 can be connected to the socket 41 inside the steering wheel body 21 with the 21 fixed to the steering shaft 29 stably, the steering wheel device can be easily assembled to the actual vehicle with good workability. .

The insertion opening 53 has a detachable lid.
Since it is covered by 55, the appearance can be easily improved.

Further, the steering wheel body 21
After the airbag device 31 is completely assembled using nuts and the like, the airbag device 31 is finally electrically connected to a power source, etc.
31 accidental explosions can be reliably prevented.

In the above-described embodiment, the cable device is wound in the forward and reverse directions from the neutral position inside the case body 62. However, the cable device is wound only in one direction inside the case body 62. A clock spring can be used, or a cable 66 with an upper connector 67 can be used.
Can be used.

In the above embodiment, a flat cable having a plurality of cores arranged side by side is housed inside the case body 62. However, an electric wire having a plurality of cores housed in an insulating tube can be used. Alternatively, an optical fiber or the like can be used instead of the core wire.

Further, in the above embodiment, the steering wheel body 21 is provided with the inflator 33 of the airbag device 31.
And electrical components such as a horn switch mechanism 44. The electrical components such as an operation switch of a constant speed traveling device (ASCD) and an audio device are provided, and electric power is supplied through a cable device 61. Alternatively, a control signal can be transmitted.

[0042]

According to the steering wheel device of the present invention, the cover covering the steering wheel body is provided with the insertion portion through which the cable is inserted and the insertion opening communicating with the insertion portion. After fitting the steering wheel body, attaching the cable device between the cover body of the steering wheel body and the mounting part on the vehicle body side, wire the cable derived from the cable device and connect it to the part on the steering wheel body side The steering wheel device can be connected with good workability. Further, since the insertion opening is covered with the lid, the appearance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a steering wheel device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the disassembled state of the cover body and the lid body.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the steering wheel device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional steering wheel device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Steering wheel body 29 Steering shaft 41 Socket as part 46 Cover body 51 Insertion part 53 Insertion opening 55 Lid 61 Cable device 66 Cable

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A steering wheel body fitted to a steering shaft; a cover body for covering the vehicle body side of the steering wheel body; and a steering wheel mounted between the cover body and a mounting component provided on the vehicle body side. A steering wheel device provided with a cable device that connects a component provided on the wheel body side and a component provided on the vehicle body with a cable, wherein the cover body has a cable led out from the cable device. An insertion portion to be inserted and wired, an insertion opening communicating with the insertion portion are formed, and an openable / closable lid attached to the insertion opening of the cover body is provided. Steering wheel device.