JP2826008B2 - 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 rotatably mounted on the fixed body with a flexible cable, and is similar to a steering device of an automobile. It is used as an electrical connection means between a movable body having a finite number of rotations 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. 9 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.
A flexible cable 103 having a substantially band shape is accommodated in a ring-shaped space 102 defined between the flexible cable 103 and the cable 101. The flexible cable 103 includes a fixed body 100 and a movable body 101.
Respectively, and are led out of the space 102 in a state where they are fixed to each other. In the space 102, the winding directions of the outer cylindrical portion of the fixed body 100 and the inner cylindrical portion of the movable body 101 are reversed. A U-shaped inverting portion 103a is formed at a position where it is stored and its winding direction is changed. The space 10
2, an auxiliary roller 104 is disposed. The reversing portion 103 a of the flexible cable 103 is connected to the auxiliary roller 104.
Is looped to. Although not shown, the auxiliary roller 104 is mounted on a planetary gear, which meshes with the internal teeth provided on the inner periphery of the fixed body 101,
By meshing with the external teeth provided on the outer periphery of the movable body 101, the movable body 101 revolves while rotating by itself.

The cable reel constructed as described above is mounted on a steering device of a vehicle, and is used with the movable body 101 fixed to the steering wheel and the fixed body 100 fixed to the steering column. In use, for example, when the movable body 101 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 9 by operating the steering wheel, the inversion portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 also moves clockwise in the space 102, and The winding state is fixed body 100
Is in a rewinding state in which the outer cylinder portion side has increased. Conversely, when the steering wheel is operated to rotate the movable body 101 in the counterclockwise direction, the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 also moves in the same direction, and the flexible cable 103 moves inside the movable body 101. It is in a tightly wound state in which a large amount is wound around the cylindrical portion. During the winding and the rewinding, the auxiliary roller 104 revolves around itself with the rotation of the movable body 101 and follows the movement of the auxiliary roller 104 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, such a cable reel is
Since the reversing part of the flexible cable moves following the rotation of the movable body, the reversing part moves even when the steering wheel rotates within the range of play during straight running of the vehicle, and has excellent bending resistance. In addition, there is a problem that an expensive flexible cable must be used, which hinders cost reduction and long life.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a cable reel which is inexpensive and has excellent durability.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is as described above.
Is a fixed body, a movable body rotatably mounted on the fixed body, and a belt-shaped connecting body between the fixed body and the movable body .
And a flat cable, wherein the flat cable is
It is housed in a space between the inner cylinder provided on one of the fixed body and the movable body and the outer cylinder provided on the other, and is connected to the inner cylinder via a reversing part. In a cable reel that is wound in the opposite direction to a cylindrical portion , a moving body is arranged in the space, and
A reverse part of the flat cable is looped around the moving body.
Roller and an opposing portion for holding the reversing portion in cooperation with the roller.
And at least one of the roller and the opposing member.
Is constituted by an elastic body. Ma
The object of the present invention described above is to provide a fixed body and this fixed body.
A movable body that is rotatably mounted
A strip-shaped flat cable that connects the movable body,
The flat cable may be any one of the fixed body and the movable body.
The inner cylinder provided on one side and the other provided on the other
It is stored in the space between the outer cylinder and
So that the inner and outer cylinders are wound in opposite directions.
Moving cable in the space,
Place the flat cable on the moving body
Roller whose reversing part is looped and a pair facing the roller
And a directional member is provided near the rotation neutral position of the movable body.
Insert the brake plate attached to a part of the flat cable
Achieved by pinching between the roller and the facing member
It is. Further, the object of the present invention described above is to
A movable body rotatably mounted on a fixed body;
A strip-shaped flat cable connecting the fixed body and the movable body
Wherein the flat cable comprises the fixed body and the movable body.
Of the inner cylinder provided on one of the
It is stored in the space between the outer cylinder part
Wound in opposite directions around the inner and outer cylinders
In the space,
Has an opening through which the inverted part of the flat cable passes
A moving body, and place it on a part of the flat cable.
A pair of protrusions protruding to both sides in the width direction, the movable body
In the rotational neutral position near the top surface of the two butt out section the space
Or achieved by sandwiching between the bottom and the moving body
Is done.

[0010]

[Function] When the movable body at the rotation neutral position is rotated in either the forward or reverse direction, in the initial state of rotation, flashing occurs.
Since both ends of the cable are temporarily fixed to the U-shaped inverting portion and the movable body and spirally loosely wound therebetween, the inverting portion does not move only by changing the shape of the spiral. Further rotating the movable member in the same direction, the feeding force acting on the reversing unit exceeds the holding force by the brake means, Fra
Tsu-through cable is fed through the reversing portion, reversing unit is moved in the same direction only by a smaller amount of rotation than the movable body. As a result, the flat cable is wound around a tube provided on the movable body, or is rewound on a tube provided on the fixed body.

[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 a longitudinal sectional view of a cable reel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a movable body and a flexible cable provided on the cable reel. As shown in these drawings, the cable reel according to the present embodiment includes a first housing 1, a second housing 2 rotatably mounted on the first housing 1, and two housings 1, 2. 2 and a flexible cable 3 housed between the two housings 1 and 2
And a movable body 4 rotatably disposed therebetween.

The first housing 1 is composed of a disc-shaped upper case 5 and a lower case 8 having an outer cylinder 7 erected on the periphery of a bottom plate 6, both of which are provided at the upper end of the outer cylinder 7. Joined and integrated. Bottom plate 6 of upper case 5 and lower case 8
Center holes 9 and 10 are opened in the center of each of the above, and a ring-shaped guide groove 11 is provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 6 respectively.

The second housing 2 has a shaft insertion hole 12 in the center.
The upper and lower ends of the outer peripheral edge are guided by the center holes 9 and 10 of the upper case 5 and the lower case 8 so as to be rotatably connected to the first housing 1. I have. As shown in FIG.
A ring-shaped space 14 is defined between the bottom plate 6, the outer cylinder 7, the upper case 5, and the inner cylinder 13 forming a peripheral surface on the second housing 2 side.

The flexible cable 3 is a so-called flat cable in which conductors parallel to each other are laminated with a pair of insulating films. In the case of the present embodiment, a flat cable for five circuits in which five conductors are embedded is used. It is used. One end of the flexible cable 3 is fixed to a part of the outer tubular portion 7 and then led out of the first housing 1. On the other hand, the other end of the flexible cable 3 is fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 13, then bent in the inner cylindrical portion 13 and led out of the second housing 2. In addition, the flexible cable 3 is wound clockwise around the inner wall of the outer cylindrical portion 7 and is inverted into a U-shape therefrom (hereinafter, this is referred to as an inverted portion 3a).
), And is housed in the space 14 so as to be wound around the outer wall of the inner cylindrical portion 13 in a counterclockwise direction.

The moving body 4 is composed of a ring-shaped spacer 16 having a plurality of pins 15 suspended from the lower surface thereof, and a group of rollers 17 rotatably supported by the pins 15. 4 is disposed in the space 14, and movement of the spacer 16 in the radial direction is regulated by the guide groove 11. Two adjacent rollers (hereinafter referred to as a first roller 17A and a second roller 17B)
), An elastic body 18 made of rubber or the like is integrated with the outer peripheral surface of the second roller 17B by means such as sticking or molding.
"a" is looped around the first roller 17A and is held between the first roller 17A and the elastic body 18 of the second roller 17B.

Next, an example in which the first housing 1 is fixed to the column side (stator) of the steering device and the second housing 2 is fixed to the steering wheel side (rotor) will be described. The operation of the cable reel will be described.

The steering wheel is operated from a neutral position in which the flexible cable 3 is wound around the outer cylinder 7 of the first housing 1 and the inner cylinder 13 of the second housing 2 by substantially the same amount. And a second wheel connected to the steering wheel.
When the housing 2 is rotated clockwise, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 receives a clamping force between the elastic body 18 of the first roller 17A and the second roller 17B, and is braked in the feeding direction. Therefore, in the initial state of the rotation, the flexible cable 3 is temporarily fixed to the reversing portion 3a and the inner cylindrical portion 13 at both ends, and is in a state of being loosely wound in a spiral shape. The wound flexible cable 3 is rewound toward the first and second rollers 17A and 17B. Therefore, the rotational force of the second housing 2 is absorbed by the flexible cable 3 between the inner cylindrical portion 13 and the rollers 17A, 17B being loosened, and the reversing portion 3a does not move.

When the steering wheel is further rotated clockwise from this state, this rotational force is transmitted as a feed-out force to the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 via the second housing 2, and this feed-out force is described above. Roller 1
When the braking force is larger than the braking force of the inner housing 13, the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical part 13 is fed out toward the outer cylindrical part 7 via the reversing part 3 a, and the reversing part 3 a is moved from the second housing 2. Also moves clockwise by a small amount of rotation. Then, the roller 17 group and the spacer 16 also move clockwise following the reversing portion 3a, and the flexible cable 3 having a length approximately twice as long as the moving amount is fed out from the inner cylinder portion 13 side. It is rewound to the outer cylinder 7 side. In this case, the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 13 slightly expands in the radial direction, but is prevented from being further expanded and biased by the rollers 17.

Contrary to the above, when the second housing 2 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the steering wheel from the neutral position of rotation, in this case also in the initial state of rotation,
Since the flexible cable 3 is temporarily fixed at both ends to the reversing portion 3a and the inner cylindrical portion 13 and is gently wound in a spiral shape, the rotational force of the second housing 2 is reduced by the inner cylindrical portion 13 The flexible cable 3 between the first and second rollers 17A and 17B is absorbed by being wound around the inner cylindrical portion 13 and absorbed by the reversing portion 3
a does not move.

When the steering wheel is further rotated counterclockwise from this state, this rotational force is wound around the reversing portion 3a via the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 13 of the second housing 2. When the tightening force is greater than the braking force of the two rollers 17A and 17B, the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylinder 7 passes through the reversing portion 3a and moves toward the inner cylinder 13 And the reversing portion 3a moves counterclockwise by a smaller rotation amount than the second housing 2. The roller group 17 and the spacer 16 also move counterclockwise following the reversing portion 3a, and the flexible cable 3 having a length approximately twice as long as the amount of movement is fed out from the outer cylinder portion 7 side. To the inner cylinder portion 13 side.

In the cable reel according to the first embodiment, the flexible cable 3 is required because the flexible cable 3 is wound around the outer tube 7 and the inner tube 13 via the reversing portion 3a in opposite directions. The length of the flexible cable 3 can be shortened, and as a result, the total cost can be reduced and the size can be advantageously reduced.

A movable member 4 is disposed between a portion of the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer tube 7 and a portion wound around the inner tube portion 13. Since the rollers 17 are pivotally supported, the rollers 17 can prevent the flexible cable 3 from bulging in the radial direction on the way to the reversing portion 3a during the rewinding operation of the flexible cable 3 by the rollers 17;
The winding operation can be reliably performed.

Further, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 is connected to the elastic members 18 of the first roller 17A and the second roller 17B.
As a result, a braking force in the extending direction is applied to the reversing portion 3a, so that the rotational force of the steering wheel (first housing 1) is transmitted to the inner cylinder portion 13 near the center where the frequency of use is extremely high. The flexible cable 3 between the reversing portion 3a can be absorbed by tightening or loosening. Therefore, it is possible to use a flexible cable 3 having low bending resistance, in other words, an inexpensive flexible cable, which is advantageous in reducing the total cost.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention in which the upper case of the cable reel is removed, and portions corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that a cylindrical body 19 having an elastic body 20 made of rubber or the like fixed to the outer peripheral surface is used instead of using the second roller 17B.
This tubular body 19 is fixed to the spacer 16, and the above-mentioned inverted portion 3 a of the flexible cable 3 is sandwiched between the first roller 17 A and the elastic body 20 of the tubular body 19. The configuration is basically the same.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a movable body and a flexible cable provided on a cable reel according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and portions corresponding to FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that the elastic member 18 of the second roller 17B is omitted, and instead, the flexible cable 3 at the rotating neutral position is made of rubber material or the like. The reason is that the brake plate 21 made of a synthetic resin material or the like having a relatively large friction coefficient is adhered, and the remaining configuration is basically the same. In this case, while the brake plate 21 is held between the first roller 17A and the second roller 17B, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 is not moved by being braked in the feeding direction. As shown in FIG. 4, when the brake plate 21 comes off from between the first roller 17A and the second roller 17B, the braking force in the feeding direction to the reversing portion 3a is released. Therefore, even if the steering wheel is rotated near the center where the frequency of use is extremely high, the reversing portion 3a does not move due to the above-described braking force, and when the steering wheel is rotated by a predetermined angle or more with respect to the center, the flexible cable 3 Is smoothly fed out toward the outer cylinder portion 7 or the inner cylinder portion 13 via the reversing portion 3a from which the braking force has been released.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a cable reel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a movable body and a flexible cable provided on the cable reel, and FIG. Main part longitudinal sectional view of a cable reel according to a fifth embodiment,
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a movable body and a flexible cable provided in the cable reel, and portions corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The difference between the fourth and fifth embodiments from the first to third embodiments is that the reversing unit 3a
Is applied not from the thickness direction of the flexible cable 3 but from the width direction of the flexible cable 3, and the rest of the configuration is basically the same.

That is, in the fourth embodiment, the protruding portions 3b are provided at both ends in the width direction of the flexible cable 3, and when the steering wheel is in a neutral rotation state, these protruding portions 3b are connected to the reversing portion 3a. And both ends of the reversing portion 3a are sandwiched between the upper case 5 and the spacer 16. The protrusion 3b may be formed integrally with the insulating film of the flexible cable 3 or may be formed by fixing another member to the flexible cable 3, and at least one end of the flexible cable 3 in the width direction. It is good if there is.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, while the two protruding portions 3b provided on the flexible cable 3 are clamped between the upper case 5 and the spacer 16 in the reversing portion 3a, the flexible cable 3 is flexible. The reverse portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 does not move due to a brake applied in the feeding direction, while the protruding portion 3b is connected to the first roller 17A and the second roller 1 as shown in FIG.
If it is out of the range between 7B and in a part other than the reversing part 3a, the braking force in the feeding direction to the reversing part 3a is released. Therefore, even when the steering wheel is rotated in the vicinity of the center where the frequency of use is extremely high, the reversing portion 3a
When the steering wheel is rotated by a predetermined angle or more with respect to the center without being moved by the above-described braking force, the flexible cable 3 is connected to the outer cylinder portion 7 or the inner cylinder portion 13 via the reversing portion 3a where the braking force is released. It is fed out smoothly in the direction.

In the fifth embodiment, the thick portion 1 is provided on the spacer 16 near the first and second rollers 17A and 17B.
6a, and both ends in the width direction of the inversion portion 3a are thick portions 16a.
And the upper case 5 in a crimped state. As described above, since the dimension between the spacer 16 and the upper case 5 is reduced by the thick portion 16a, only the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 is braked in the feeding direction, and No braking force in the extending direction is applied to the portion, and the same effect as in the fourth embodiment is obtained.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments, the second roller 17B may rotate with respect to the spacer 16 or may be fixed.

In the fifth embodiment, the thickness of the spacer 16 may be the same as that of the thick portion 16a at all portions. It suffices if the width is somewhat smaller than the width of the flexible cable 3.

[0034]

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the first housing 1 is used as a fixed body and the second housing 2 is used as a movable body has been described. On the contrary, the second housing 2 is used as a fixed body. It is also possible to use the first housing 1 as a movable body as a fixed body.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the initial state of rotation of the movable body, the flat cable is wound or unwound while the reversing part is fixed in a pseudo manner, and when the movable body is rotated by a predetermined amount or more, the flat cable is wound or rewinded through the reversing part. Therefore, at the rotation neutral position where the frequency of use is high, the winding or rewinding operation can be performed without moving the reversing portion, and a cable reel that is inexpensive and has excellent durability can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cable reel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a movable body and a flexible cable provided on the cable reel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which an upper case of a cable reel according to a second embodiment of the present invention is removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a movable body and a flexible cable provided in a cable reel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a cable reel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a movable body and a flexible cable provided on the cable reel of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a cable reel according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a movable body and a flexible cable provided on the cable reel of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a cable reel according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st housing (fixed body) 2 2nd housing (movable body) 3 Flexible cable 3a Inversion part 3b Projection part 4 Moving body 5 Upper case 6 Bottom plate 7 Outer cylinder part 8 Lower case 11 Guide groove 13 Inner cylinder Part 14 Space 15 Pin 16 Spacer 16a Thick part 17 Roller 17A First roller 17B Second roller 18,20 Elastic body 21 Brake plate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takuyuki Sakauchi 1-7 Yukitani Otsuka-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-236977 (JP, A) 61-15658 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H02G 11/00-11/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] With a 1. A fixed body, and rotatably mounted a movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a strip-shaped flat cable connecting the these fixed body and the movable body, the flat Ke <br / The cable is accommodated in a space between the inner cylinder provided on one of the fixed body and the movable body and the outer cylinder provided on the other, and the inner cable is provided via a reversing part. In a cable reel configured to be wound around a tubular portion and an outer tubular portion in opposite directions, it is common to dispose a moving body in the space.
The inverted part of the flat cable is
Roller to be clamped and cooperates with the roller to clamp the reversing part
And a roller and a small number of the opposing members are provided.
A cable reel characterized in that at least one peripheral surface is made of an elastic body . 2. A fixed body, and freely rotatable with respect to the fixed body.
Connects the movable body attached to the fixed body and the movable body
A flat cable in the form of a strip.
Cable is provided on one of the fixed body and the movable body.
Between the inner cylinder part and the outer cylinder part
While being housed in the space, it is
A cable that is wound around the outer cylinder in the opposite direction
When a moving object is placed in the space
The inverted part of the flat cable is
A roller to be driven and an opposing member opposing the roller are provided.
In the vicinity of the rotation neutral position of the movable body,
The brake plate attached to a part of the cable
A cable reel configured to be sandwiched between opposed members . 3. A fixed body and rotatable with respect to the fixed body.
Connects the movable body attached to the fixed body and the movable body
A flat cable in the form of a strip.
Cable is provided on one of the fixed body and the movable body.
Between the inner cylinder part and the outer cylinder part
While being housed in the space, it is
A cable that is wound around the outer cylinder in the opposite direction
In the reel, the flat cable is inserted in the space.
Place a moving body having an opening through which the reversing part passes, and
One part of the flat cable that projects to both sides in the width direction
Providing a pair of protrusions, near the neutral position of rotation of the movable body,
The two protrusions are connected to the top or bottom surface of the space and the moving body.
A cable reel characterized in that the cable reel is sandwiched between the cable reel.