JP2845296B2 - 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. US Patent 4,540,
No. 223 has been proposed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the cable reel disclosed in the above-mentioned patent specification. As shown in FIG. 1, a movable body 101 is fixed to a cylindrical fixed body 100.
Are mounted rotatably, and a flexible cable 103 is accommodated in a ring-shaped space 102 defined between the fixed body 100 and the movable body 101. The flexible cable 103 is led out of the space 102 while being fixed to the fixed body 100 and the movable body 101, and the winding direction of the flexible cable 103 is changed through the U-shaped inversion portion 103a in the space 102. Is being converted. further,
In the space 102, a C-shaped moving body 104 in a plan view is arranged so as to be movable along the circumferential direction. The reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 is connected to one opening end of the moving body 104. The loop is looped around the roller 105 that is supported.

Here, for example, when the movable body 101 is rotated clockwise in FIG.
3a also moves in the circumferential direction of the space 102, and the flexible cable 1
The winding state of 03 is a rewinding state in which the outer cylinder portion side of the fixed body 100 has increased. Conversely, when the movable body 101 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 also moves in the same direction, and the flexible cable 103 is wound around the inner cylinder of the movable body 101 in a large number. It is in a tightly wound state. At the time of such winding and rewinding, the moving body 10
4 moves in the same direction by receiving a force from the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103.

According to the cable reel configured as described above, the winding direction of the flexible cable 103 is changed to the movable body 101.
Cable is formed by winding the flexible cable 103 in the same direction (winding in a spiral) around the inner tube portion and the outer tube portion. Compared with a reel, the required length of the flexible cable 103 can be significantly shortened, and the cost can be reduced. Further, a C-shaped moving body 104 in a plan view is disposed in a space 102 between a portion wound around the inner cylinder portion and a portion wound around the outer cylinder portion of the flexible cable 103, and Since the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 is looped at the opening end of the body 104, the flexible cable 103 wound around the outer tube or the inner tube reaches the reversing portion 103a during the tightening or rewinding operation. The moving body 104 expands radially on the way.
The flexible cable 103 can be prevented by the
It can be smoothly fed out in the 3a direction.

[0007]

By the way, when the cable reel constructed as described above is assembled to a steering device of an automobile, the movable body 101 must be correctly rotated so that there is no difference between the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation amounts. Although it is necessary to assemble, it is difficult to completely eliminate the erroneous assembly, and the movable body 101 may be erroneously assembled in a state where the movable body 101 is excessively rotated in one direction with respect to the neutral position. Here, for example, when erroneous assembly is performed so that the rotation amount of the movable body 101 in the rewinding direction of the flexible cable 103 is reduced, the steering wheel to which the movable body 101 is connected is connected to the flexible cable 103. When the flexible cable 103 is rotated by a predetermined amount or more in the unwinding direction, the flexible cable 103 is inverted and bent in the vicinity of the extension of the movable body 101, and conversely, the flexible cable 103 is movable in the winding direction. Body 101
If misassembly is performed to reduce the amount of rotation of
When the steering wheel is rotated in this direction by a predetermined amount or more, the flexible cable 103 is inverted and bent near the extended portion of the fixed body 100, and in any case, the reliability of the connection is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances of the prior art, and has as its object to prevent the flexible cable from being inverted and buckled due to erroneous assembly, and to improve the reliability of connection. To provide a high cable reel.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems The aboveObject of the present invention
Is the fixed body and the fixed bodyConcentrically andTurning
A freely mounted movable body, and these fixed body and movable bodyofI
The inner cylinder provided on one side and the other provided on the other
Between the outer cylinder partFlexible stored in the space defined by
And a flexible cable, wherein the flexible cable isInversion sectionWinding
Reverse directionTo the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in opposite directions
WoundBeCable reel that is
Having an openingAnnularA mobile body is arranged and the mobile body
ofThe opening of the flexible cableInversionLet it passAnd said
The inner cylindrical portion of the flexible cableFromPut a tongue piece on the extending part
The tongue piece is fixed and the length of the tongue piece is
Larger than the radial dimension between the surface and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder part
SettingAnd the flexible cable is attached to the outer cylinder portion by a predetermined amount or less.
When rewinded upToThe tongue piece is an open end of the moving body.When
Between the inner cylinderConfigured to be hooked onBy doing
Is achieved.The object of the present invention is to
The body and the fixed body are concentrically and rotatably mounted on the body.
The fixed body and one of the fixed body and the movable body
Inner cylinder part provided on one side and outer cylinder provided on one of the other
Flexible cable housed in the space defined between the
And the flexible cable has a winding direction at the reversing portion.
Wound in the opposite direction around the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder
Cable reel that has an opening in the space
A ring-shaped moving body is disposed, and the opening of the moving body is
Pass the inverted part of the flexible cable, and
A tongue piece is fixed to a portion of the cable that extends from the outer cylindrical portion.
At the same time, the length dimension of the tongue piece is
Set larger than the radial dimension between the outer cylinder and the inner peripheral surface
And the flexible cable is wound around the inner cylindrical portion by a predetermined amount or more.
When tightened, the tongue piece is in contact with the open end of the moving body.
By being configured to be hooked between the outer cylinder
Achieved.

[0010]

When the cable reel is assembled to the steering device in a state where the positioning between the movable body and the fixed body is properly performed, when the movable body is rotated in one direction by the steering wheel, the flexible cable is rotated. reversing part of Waso moves in the same direction, the winding state of the flexible cable becomes tightening condition that many inner cylindrical portion, on the contrary, when rotating the movable body in the other direction, the flexible The winding state of the conductive cable is a rewinding state in which the outer tube part side is increased. At the time of such tightening and rewinding, the moving body moves by receiving the force from the reversing part, and the flexible cable wound around the inner cylinder part or the outer cylinder part by this moving body is seated on the way to the reversing part. Flexing is prevented and the flexible cable is smoothly fed out through the inversion.

On the other hand, when the movable body is erroneously assembled so that the rotation amount of the movable body in the unwinding direction of the flexible cable is reduced, when the movable body is rotated in this direction by a predetermined amount or more, the inner cylindrical portion is rotated. as tongues secured to the flexible cable in the vicinity of the prop between the open end and the inner cylindrical portion of the movable body Kakeyoshi, further rotation of the movable member is prevented. If the movable body is erroneously assembled so that the amount of rotation of the movable body in the direction in which the flexible cable is tightened is reduced, when the movable body is rotated in this direction by a predetermined amount or more, the flexibility near the outer cylindrical portion is reduced. The tongue piece fixed to the cable is hooked between the opening end of the moving body and the outer cylinder portion like a supporting rod, and further rotation of the moving body is prevented.

[0012]

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 plan view showing a part of an upper case of a cable reel according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a perspective view of a tongue provided on the cable reel of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views of the cable reel of FIG. 1 at the time of excessive rotation.

As shown in these figures, the cable reel according to the present embodiment comprises a lower case 1, an upper case 2 rotatably mounted on the lower case 1,
It comprises a flexible cable 3 housed between the two, and a moving body 4 arranged between the flexible cables 3.

The lower case 1 includes a bottom plate 6 having a center hole 5 formed in the center, and an outer cylindrical portion 7 erected on the outer periphery of the bottom plate 6.
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 9 having an inner cylinder portion 8 suspended in the center, and the inner cylinder portion 8 is guided by the center hole 5 and the outer edge of the top plate 9 is guided by the outer cylinder portion 7. The lower case 1
The bottom plate 6 and the outer cylinder 7 of the lower case 1 and the top plate 9 and the inner cylinder 8 of the upper case 2
This defines a ring-shaped space 10 in plan view.

The flexible cable 3 comprises a flat cable in which parallel conductors are laminated with a pair of insulating films, and in the case of this embodiment, a flat cable in which five conductors are embedded is used. . As shown in FIG. 1, the outer end of the flexible cable 3 is
The first connector 11 is connected to the first connector 11 and is led out of the lower case 1 via the first connector 11. On the other hand, the inner end of the flexible cable 3 is connected to a second connector 12 fixed to the inner cylinder 8, and is led out of the upper case 2 via the second connector 12. In addition, the flexible cable 3 is wound counterclockwise from the first connector 11 to the inner wall of the outer cylindrical portion 7, and from there,
Inverted shape (hereinafter, referred to as inverting unit 3a so) direction and
After being converted , it is further housed in the space 10 so as to be wound clockwise around the outer wall of the inner cylindrical portion 8 to reach the second connector 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a first tongue 13 is fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 8, and the first tongue 13 is connected to the second connector 12. Flexible cable 3
Is fixed to the inner end of the sheet by means such as an adhesive or heat fusion.
The first tongue piece 13 has a thin portion 13a at the distal end and a base portion 13b which is sufficiently thicker than the thin portion 13a, and the thin portion 13a and the base portion 13b are formed on the peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 8. A notch 8a corresponding to the shape is provided. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a second tongue piece 14 is fixed to the outer cylindrical portion 7, and the second tongue piece 14 is a flexible cable connected to the first connector 11. 3 has a thin portion 14a at the tip and a base portion 14b which is sufficiently thicker than the thin portion 14a.

The movable body 4 is formed in a C-shape in plan view, and is disposed in the space 10 so as to be movable in the circumferential direction.
The reversing part 3a of the flexible cable 3 is looped at one end of the opening 4a of the moving body 4. The length dimension of the base portion 13b of the first tongue piece 13 is set longer than the radial dimension between the inner peripheral surface of the moving body 4 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion 8, On the other hand, the base 14b of the second tongue piece 14
Is set to be longer than the radial dimension between the outer peripheral surface of the moving body 4 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 7. The total thickness of the base 13b of the first tongue 13 and the flexible cable 3 to which it is fixed, and the base 14b of the second tongue 14 and the flexible cable to which it is fixed 3 is the thickness of the opening 4 of the moving body 4 respectively.
It is set longer than the circumferential dimension of “a”.

The cable reel configured as described above
After positioning the lower case 1 and the upper case 2 in an appropriate state, that is, after positioning the flexible cable 3 so as to be extended by the same amount in each of the forward and reverse directions, the upper case is attached to the steering wheel of the steering device. 2 is used by attaching the lower case 1 to a fixed member of the vehicle body. When proper assembly is performed in this way,
When the upper case 2 is rotated clockwise by the steering wheel from the neutral state shown in FIG.
The reversing part 3a moves clockwise by a rotation amount smaller than that of the upper case 2, and the flexible cable 3 having a length equal to the movement amount is fed out from the outer cylinder part 7 and wound around the inner cylinder part 8 side. Be tightened. In this case, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 presses and moves clockwise while sliding on one end of the opening 4a of the moving body 4, and the flexible cable 3 on the side of the outer cylinder 7 moves the reversing portion 3a. After that, it is smoothly wound around the inner cylinder portion 8 side. The first tongue piece 13 is curved by the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 8 so as to be located in the notch 8a, and the inner cylindrical portion 8 has a substantially continuous peripheral surface without a step. To form

Contrary to the above, when the upper case 2 is rotated counterclockwise from the neutral state shown in FIG.
The reversing portion 3a moves counterclockwise by a smaller rotation amount than the upper case 2, and the flexible cable 3 having a length equal to the movement amount is fed out from the inner cylinder portion 8 and wound around the outer cylinder portion 7. Will be returned. In this case, the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 8 tends to swell radially outward, but the swelling bias bulges radially outward by the moving body 4 which is pressed by the reversing portion 3a and moves. Is restricted, the flexible cable 3 on the inner cylindrical portion 8 side does not bend on the way to the reversing portion 3a.
Then, it is smoothly rewound to the outer cylinder part 7 side through a.

On the other hand, if the upper case 2 is erroneously assembled in a state where it is deviated in one direction from the neutral position, for example,
If the wrong assembly is performed so that the amount of rotation of the upper case 2 in the unwinding direction of the flexible cable 3 is reduced, when the steering wheel is rotated in this direction, the flexible cable 3 When the steering wheel is rotated further, the base 13b of the first tongue piece 13 fixed to the inner end side of the flexible cable 3 is moved to the moving body 4 as shown in FIG. It is hooked between one end of the opening 4a and the inner cylindrical portion 8 like a support rod. Therefore, the rotational force of the inner cylindrical portion 8 in the direction of the arrow acts as a force for compressing the base 13b of the first tongue piece 13 from the longitudinal direction, and the base 13b is strong against the compressive force. Is stopped, and the reverse buckling of the inner end of the flexible cable 3 is prevented. Since the total thickness of the base 13b and the flexible cable 3 is set to be larger than the size of the opening 4a, the base 13b does not protrude to the outside of the moving body 4 through the opening 4a. The stopper function of the one tongue piece 13 is reliable. Also, the base 13
Since a thin portion 13a that is easily deformed is provided at the tip of b, the stress that the flexible cable 3 receives at the connection end with the first tongue piece 13 is reduced.

Conversely, if the erroneous assembly is performed so that the amount of rotation of the upper case 2 in the direction of tightening the flexible cable 3 is reduced, the steering wheel is rotated in this direction. When the steering wheel is further rotated, the second tongue piece fixed to the outer end side of the flexible cable 3, as shown in FIG. The base 14 b of the moving member 4 is hooked between the other end of the opening 4 a of the moving body 4 and the outer cylindrical portion 7 like a supporting rod. Therefore, the rotation of the steering wheel in the direction of the arrow is stopped by the second tongue piece 14, and the reverse buckling of the outer end of the flexible cable 3 is prevented. Also in this case, since the base portion 14b does not protrude into the moving body 4 through the opening 4a, the stopper function of the second tongue piece 14 is reliable, and the flexible cable 3 is connected to the second tongue piece 14. Stress received at the connection end with the tongue piece 14 is reduced by the thin portion 14a.

In the cable reel according to the above embodiment, the flexible cable 3 is required to be wound around the outer tube 7 and the inner tube 8 in the opposite direction via the reversing portion 3a. 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. Further, since the flexible cable 3 is prevented from being bent on the way to the reversing portion 3a by the moving body 4, the flexible cable 3 can be smoothly fed out through the reversing portion 3a, and the winding and the rewinding can be performed. The operation can be performed reliably. Further, even if the upper case 2 is erroneously assembled in a state where the upper case 2 is rotationally biased in either the forward or reverse direction with respect to the neutral position, the first and second tongue pieces 13 and 14 are moved between the movable body 4 and the first case. By hanging it like a pier,
Since the over rotation of the upper case 2 can be stopped, it is possible to prevent the flexible cable 3 from being inverted and buckled.

In the above embodiment, the flexible cable 3
Although a flat cable is mentioned as an example, it is also possible to use a flexible cable called a round cable in which a conductor is covered with an insulating tube in this case. Accordingly, a plurality of round wire cables may be integrated in a belt shape.

In the above embodiment, 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 1 is used as a fixed body. Can be used as a movable body.

Further, in the above embodiment, the moving body 4 is formed in a C-shape in a plan view. Alternatively, a moving body 4 having a rectangular through hole in a part of an annular ring may be used. It is possible.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Excessive winding or unwinding of the flexible cable can be prevented by the tongue that is hung like a stick that sticks to the moving body, so that a cable reel with high connection reliability can be provided. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a part of an upper case of a cable reel according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a part thereof omitted;

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

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tongue provided on the cable reel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view when the cable reel of FIG. 1 is excessively rotated in a rewinding direction.

FIG. 5 is a plan view when the cable reel of FIG. 1 is excessively rotated in the direction of winding.

FIG. 6 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 4 Moving body 4a Opening 7 Outer cylinder part 8 Inner cylinder part 10 Space 13 First tongue piece 14 Second tongue piece 13a , 14a Thin portion 13b, 14b Base

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-115751 (JP, A) JP-A 1-150391 (JP, U) JP-A 1-160685 (JP, U) JP 1-1985 161589 (JP, U) U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,223 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B62D 1/04 H01R 35/04 B60R 16/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixed body and a concentric circle with respect to the fixed body.
And a space defined between a movable body rotatably mounted, an inner cylinder provided on one of the fixed body and the movable body , and an outer cylinder provided on the other. Stored in
And a is a flexible cable, the flexible cable is wound in the opposite direction to the winding direction reversed to said inner cylinder portion and the outer cylindrical portion in <br/> reversing unit passing the cable reel, along with placing the mobile annular having an opening into the space, an inverted portion of the flexible cable into the opening of the movable body which are
Was umbrella, as well as secure the tongue in the portion extending from the inner cylinder portion of the flexible cable, wherein the length of the tongue piece
Radial dimension between the inner peripheral surface of the moving body and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion
Larger set than the law, when the flexible cable is rewound more than a predetermined amount to the outer cylindrical portion, the tongue is latched between the inner cylinder part and the open end of the movable body Cable reel characterized by having been constituted as follows. 2. A fixed body, and concentric with the fixed body.
And a space defined between a movable body rotatably mounted, an inner cylinder provided on one of the fixed body and the movable body , and an outer cylinder provided on the other. Stored in
And a is a flexible cable, the flexible cable is wound in the opposite direction to the winding direction reversed to said inner cylinder portion and the outer cylindrical portion in <br/> reversing unit passing the cable reel, along with placing the mobile annular having an opening into the space, an inverted portion of the flexible cable into the opening of the movable body which are
Was umbrella, as well as secure the tongue in the portion extending from the outer cylindrical portion of said flexible cable, wherein the length of the tongue piece
Radial dimension between the outer peripheral surface of the moving body and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion
Larger set than the law, when the flexible cable is wound up more than a predetermined amount into said tubular portion, the tongue is latched between the outer cylindrical portion and the open end of the movable body Cable reel characterized by having been constituted as follows. 3. A process according to claim, characterized in that the thickness of the sum of said flexible cable in which the tongue and the tongue piece is solid wear is set larger than the opening of the movable body 1
Or the cable reel according to 2.