JP2702623B2 - Cable reel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cable reel applied to a steering device of a motor vehicle and the like, and electrically connecting a fixed body and a movable body using a flexible cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cable reel connects a fixed body and a movable body movably mounted on the fixed body by a flexible cable, and rotates like a steering device of an automobile. It is used as an electrical connection means between a finite number of movable bodies and a fixed body.

[0003] In this type of cable reel, the ratio of the flexible cable to the total cost is high, and the required length of the flexible cable is shortened to reduce the cost. Is Jiko 63-3990
No. 7 proposes this.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the cable reel disclosed in the above publication. As shown in the figure, a movable body 101 is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical fixed body 100, and a ring-shaped space defined between the fixed body 100 and the movable body 101. A substantially belt-shaped flexible cable 103 is housed in the cable 102. The flexible cable 103 is led out of the space 102 while being fixed to the fixed body 100 and the movable body 101, respectively. It is housed in a state where the winding direction is reversed with respect to the cylindrical portion, and U is positioned at a position where the winding direction is changed.
A character-shaped inversion portion 103a is formed. An auxiliary roller 104 is disposed in the space 102, and the reversing portion 103 a of the flexible cable 103 is looped by the auxiliary roller 104. Although not shown, the auxiliary roller 104 is mounted on a planetary gear, meshes the planetary gear with the internal teeth provided on the inner periphery of the fixed body 101, and the external teeth provided on the outer periphery of the movable body 101. And revolves while rotating about the rotation of the movable body 101.

In the cable reel configured as described above, for example, when the movable body 101 is rotated clockwise in FIG.
The flexible cable 103 is moved in the clockwise direction in the inside of the fixed body 100 and becomes a rewinding state in which the outer cylinder portion side of the fixed body 100 is increased. Conversely, when the movable body 101 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103
Move in the same direction, and the flexible cable 103
1 is in a state of being wound around the inner cylinder part side. Note that the auxiliary roller 104 is
Rotates and revolves with the rotation of the movable body 101, and the reversing unit 10
3a follows the movement in the circumferential direction.

[0006]

According to the cable reel according to the conventional proposal described above, since the winding direction of the flexible cable is reversed between the inner tube portion and the outer tube portion, the flexible cable is wound. As compared with a cable reel in which is wound in the same direction (in a spiral shape) around the inner tube portion and the outer tube portion, the required length of the flexible cable can be significantly shortened, and the cost can be reduced. Can be reduced. Also, since the reversing portion of the flexible cable is looped to an auxiliary roller that revolves around itself with the rotation of the movable body, the flexible cable wound around the outer tube or the inner tube is connected to the reversing portion. Can be fed out smoothly.

However, in order for the auxiliary roller to revolve and revolve so as to follow the rotational movement of the reversing portion, the inner teeth along the inner circumference of the fixed body, the outer teeth along the outer circumference of the movable body, and both the inner and outer teeth are required. A complicated mechanism composed of meshing planetary gears is required, and there is a problem that cost reduction and miniaturization of the cable reel are hindered. In addition, since the speed ratio between the movable body and the reversing part slightly fluctuates according to the winding state of the flexible cable, and since the fluctuation is not linear,
It has always been difficult to loop the reversing part around the auxiliary roller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances of the prior art, and has as its object to ensure that a flexible cable can be reliably fed out through its U-shaped inverted portion, and that it is inexpensive. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable cable reel.

[0009]

To achieve the above object of the Invention The present invention is most that on the inner side of the inversion of the flexible cable is arranged an elastic body for urging the reversing portion outwardly Main features.

[0010]

When the movable body is rotated in one direction, the flexible cable is wound around the inner cylindrical portion or rewound around the outer cylindrical portion by moving the U-shaped inverted portion in the same direction. In this case, the elastic body disposed inside the reversing part presses and urges the reversing part against the flexible cable wound around the inner cylinder and the flexible cable wound around the outer cylinder. However, since the movable body rotates and revolves due to the frictional force generated between the movable member and the reversing portion, the flexible cable can be externally moved through the reversing portion regardless of whether the movable body is rotated in the rewinding direction or the winding direction. It is reliably fed to the tubular portion or the inner tubular portion, and does not buckle on the way to the reversing portion.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a cable reel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of an upper case of the cable reel, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

As shown in these figures, a cable reel according to the present embodiment comprises a lower case 1, an upper case 2 rotatably mounted on the lower case 1,
And a flexible cable 3 housed between the two.

The lower case 1 includes a bottom plate 5 having a center hole 4 in the center, and an outer cylindrical portion 6 erected on the outer periphery of the bottom plate 5.
And is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom as a whole. On the other hand, the upper case 2 has a top plate 8 having an inner cylinder portion 7 suspended in the center, and the inner cylinder portion 7 is guided by the center hole 4, and the outer edge of the top plate 8 is guided by the outer cylinder portion 6. The lower case 1
The bottom plate 5 and the outer cylinder 6 of the lower case 1 and the top plate 8 and the inner cylinder 7 of the upper case 2
This defines a ring-shaped space 9 in a plan view.

The flexible cable 3 is composed of a flat cable in which conductors parallel to each other are laminated with a pair of insulating films. In the case of this embodiment, a flat cable in which five conductors are embedded is used. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, one end of the flexible cable 3 is connected to a first connector 10 fixed to the outer tubular portion 6, and is led out of the lower case 1 through the first connector 10. ing. On the other hand, the other end of the flexible cable 3 is connected to a second connector 11 fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 7, and is led out of the upper case 2 via the second connector 11.
Further, the flexible cable 3 is wound counterclockwise from the first connector 10 to the inner wall of the outer cylindrical portion 6 and is inverted into a U-shape therefrom (hereinafter, this is referred to as an inverted portion 3a). It is wound in the clockwise direction around the outer wall of the inner cylindrical portion 7 and is housed in the space 9 so as to reach the second connector 11. An elastic ring 12 is disposed inside the reversing portion 3a so as to crush the reversing portion 3a. Are pressed so as to press against the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer tube 6 and the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner tube 7, respectively.

Next, the operation of the cable reel according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to an example in which the lower case 1 is used as a fixed body and the upper case 2 is used as a movable body. First, when the upper case 2 is rotated clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 moves clockwise by a smaller rotation amount than the upper case 2 and has a length equal to the movement amount. Of the flexible cable 3 is fed out from the outer tube 6 side and is wound around the inner tube 7 side. In this case, the vicinity of both ends of the flexible cable 3 receives the elastic force from the elastic ring 12 and the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer tube 6 and the flexible cable wound around the inner tube 7. The reverse portion 3a moves clockwise in the space 9 while being fed out in the direction of arrow B in FIG. The flexible cable 3 on the side is smoothly wound around the inner cylinder 7 via the reversing portion 3a. Further, the elastic ring 12 moves clockwise in the space 9 following the reversing portion 3a while rotating in the direction of arrow B by the frictional force generated between the elastic ring 12 and the vicinity of both ends of the reversing portion 3a.

Conversely, when the upper case 2 is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 2, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 moves counterclockwise by a smaller amount of rotation than the upper case 2. And a flexible cable 3 having a length equal to the moving amount.
Is unwound from the inner cylinder part 7 and is rewound to the outer cylinder part 6 side. In this case, the reversing portion 3a moves counterclockwise in the space 9 while being extended in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2, and the flexible cable 3 on the side of the inner cylinder 7 is connected to the outer cylinder 6 via the reversing portion 3a. The elastic ring 12 moves counterclockwise in the space 9 following the reversing portion 3a while rotating in the direction of arrow C while rotating in the direction of arrow C.

In the cable reel according to the first embodiment, since the flexible cable 3 is wound around the outer tube 6 and the inner tube 7 in the opposite direction via the reversing portion 3a, it is necessary to The length of the flexible cable 3 can be shortened, and as a result, the total cost can be reduced and the size is advantageous. The flexible cable 3 wound around the outer tube 6 and the flexible wire wound around the inner tube 7 by the elastic force of the elastic ring 12 are provided near the reversing portion 3 a of the flexible cable 3. Since it is in pressure contact with the flexible cable 3, the reversing portion 3 a can be smoothly rotated and moved by the frictional force generated on these pressure contact surfaces, and the tightening or rewinding operation can be reliably performed. Further, the elastic ring 12
Is self-revolving due to the frictional force generated between the two ends of the reversing portion 3a due to its own elasticity, so that a complicated driving mechanism is not required, and the cost and size of the cable reel can be reduced. Can be.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of an upper case of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing an elastic body provided on the cable reel. This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that three elastically urged rollers 13a, 13b, 13c are used as elastic members disposed inside the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3. And each roller 13a, 13b,
The use of the endless belt 14 wound around the outer periphery of the member 13c is the same as that of the first embodiment. The rollers 13a and 13b are supported at one ends of first and second links 15 and 16, respectively.
5 and 16 are first springs 1 stretched between them.
7, it is elastically urged in the expanding direction. The other ends of the first and second links 15 and 16 and the third link 18 are connected at equal intervals of about 120 degrees by a shaft 19, and the roller 13c is supported by Body 20
And the third link 18 is urged outward by a second spring 21 stretched between the second link 21 and the third link 18. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the endless belt 14 has its outer periphery elastically in contact with the vicinity of both ends of the reversing portion 3a, whereby the reversing portion 3a
The self-revolution follows the rotational movement of the first embodiment, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be expected. In addition, the endless belt 14 includes rollers 13a, 13b,
Since an outward elastic biasing force is applied by 13c, a slip between the flexible cable 3 and the endless belt 14 can be reliably prevented.

As a modification of the elastic member, a spiral spring 22 as shown in FIG. 6 can be used.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the elastic body follows the rotational movement of the reversing portion 3a only by its own elastic force has been described. However, the interlocking body is connected to the elastic body via the reversing portion 3a. The reversing part 3a may be configured to be connected so that the reversing part 3a comes into contact with the interlocking body when rotating to one of the upper cases 2.

FIG. 7 shows a rolling contact roller 23 as the interlocking member.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the rolling contact roller 23 is connected to the center of a spiral spring 22 disposed inside the reversing portion 3a via an arm 24 by using. In this case, even if a slip occurs between the flexible cable 3 and the spiral spring 22, the opposite rolling contact roller 23 is connected to the spiral spring 22 via the reversing portion 3a. It is possible to reliably prevent the spiral spring 22 from separating from the reversing portion 3a. In addition, since the reversing portion 3a comes into contact with the respective peripheral surfaces of the leaf spring 22 and the transfer roller 23 with small frictional resistance in accordance with the rotation direction of the upper case 2, the circumferential movement of the reversing portion 3a is smooth. become. In addition, since the transfer roller 23 can swing in the radial direction of the space 9 by the arm 24, if the winding state of the flexible cable 3 is close to the outer tube 6 side, the inner tube 7 side When the inner cylinder 7 is dense, the inner cylinder 7 swings and biases toward the outer cylinder 6, so that the reversing part 3 a can be reliably guided.

FIG. 8 shows a concave peripheral surface 25 as the interlocking body.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment using a curved body 25 having a curved surface 25a, and the curved body 25 is connected by an arm 24 so that a peripheral surface 25a of the curved body 25 faces the spiral spring 22 via a reversing portion 3a. ing. In this case, although the frictional resistance between the reversing part 3a and the curved body 25 is slightly larger than that of the rolling contact roller 23 shown in FIG.
5a, the deformation of the reversing portion 3a can be reliably prevented.

FIG. 9 shows a case where a plurality of small rollers 26 are used as the interlocking member, these small rollers 26 are pivotally supported on one end side of a swing lever 27, and the other end of the swing lever 27 is connected to a spiral spring 22. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment pivotally supported at the center of FIG. In this case, since the locus plotting the peripheral surface of each small roller 26 can be arranged so as to form a pseudo concave peripheral surface, even if a small roller 26 having a very small frictional resistance with the reversing portion 3a is used. Regardless, the U-shape of the reversing portion 3a can be reliably maintained by the small rollers 26. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the spiral spring is described as an example of the elastic body to which the interlocking body is connected. However, the elastic body other than the spiral spring, for example, the elastic body shown in FIGS. It is also possible to use the body.

In each of the above embodiments, a flat cable is used as an example of the flexible cable 3. Instead, a flexible cable called a round cable in which a conductor is covered with an insulating tube is used. In this case, a plurality of round wire cables may be integrated in a belt shape according to the required number of circuits.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the upper case 1 is used as a fixed body and the upper case 2 is used as a movable body has been described. On the contrary, the upper case 2 is used as a fixed body and the lower case is used as a fixed body. It is also possible to use 1 as a movable body.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Inside the U-shaped inversion portion of the flexible cable, the inversion portion is pressed and urged to the flexible cable wound around the inner cylinder portion and the flexible cable wound around the outer cylinder portion, respectively. Since the elastic body is arranged, when the movable body rotates, the elastic body can follow the reversing portion while rotating and revolving by the frictional force generated between the movable body and the flexible cable, and thus has a simple configuration. The flexible cable can be reliably fed out through the reversing section, and a cheap and highly reliable cable reel can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a cable reel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of an upper case of the cable reel shown in FIG. 1 with a part thereof omitted;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of an upper case of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention, with a part thereof omitted;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing an elastic body provided on the cable reel of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of an upper case of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention, with a part thereof omitted;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention, with a part of an upper case omitted.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a part of an upper case of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention, with a part thereof omitted;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention, with a part of an upper case omitted.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a cable reel according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower case (fixed body) 2 Upper case (movable body) 3 Flexible cable 3a Inversion part 6 Outer cylinder part 7 Inner cylinder part 9 Space 12 Elastic ring (elastic body) 13a, 13b, 13c Roller 14 Endless belt (elastic) Body) 15, 16, 18 Link 17, 21 Spring 22 Spiral spring (elastic body) 23 Rolling contact roller 24 Arm 25 Curved body 25a Peripheral surface 26 Small roller 27 Swing lever

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-55-119670 (JP, A) JP-A-4-327469 (JP, A) JP-A-1-180526 (JP, U) JP-A-4-180 66176 (JP, U)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixed body, a movable body rotatably mounted on the fixed body, and a flexible cable connecting the fixed body and the movable body, wherein the flexible cable is ,
While being housed between the fixed body and the outer cylinder portion provided on the cylindrical portion and the other one provided in one of the movable body, the inner cylindrical portion and the outer tube through the inverting unit In the cable reel being wound around the part in the opposite direction,
A cable reel, wherein an elastic body for urging the reversing portion outward is disposed inside the reversing portion. 2. The cable reel according to claim 1, wherein an interlocking member facing the elastic member via the reversing portion is connected to the elastic member.