JP2999593B2 - 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. It 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, and the reversing portion 103 a 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.

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 circumferential direction of 2, and the flexible cable 103 is in 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 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 movable body 104 moves in the same direction by receiving a force from the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103.

According to the above cable reel, since the winding direction of the flexible cable is reversed between the inner tube and the outer tube, the flexible cable is made the same as the inner tube and the outer tube. Compared to a cable reel wound in the direction (wound in a spiral),
The required length of the flexible cable can be significantly reduced, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, a movable body that can move in the circumferential direction is disposed between a portion wound around the inner cylindrical portion and a portion wound around the outer cylindrical portion of the flexible cable, and a pivotal support is provided at one end of the movable body. Since the reversing portion of the flexible cable is looped around the roller, the flexible cable can be fed out to the inner tube portion or the outer tube portion via the reversing portion at the time of winding or rewinding operation.

[0007]

In recent years, there has been a strong demand for miniaturization of cable reels. For example, in a cable reel configured as described above, the height of the space 102 is changed to the width of the flexible cable 103. Attempts have been made to shorten the space to about the same extent as possible, and to make effective use of space. In this case, if the width dimension of the flexible cable 103 is set to be slightly smaller than the height dimension of the space 102, the flexible cable 103 will be mounted on the top and bottom surfaces of the space 102 in most of the space 102. It can move smoothly without being rubbed against. However, since the curvature of the inverted portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 is significantly smaller than that of the other portions, the flexible cable 10
For example, when a flat cable obtained by laminating a plurality of conductive wires with a pair of protective films is used as the protective film 3, the protective film slightly swells in the width direction at the inversion portion 103a, and the swelling portion moves. Space 1 inside
There is a problem that the flexible cable 103 cannot be smoothly fed out through the reversing portion 103a by rubbing against the top surface and the bottom surface of No. 02.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a highly reliable cable reel in which a movable body rotates smoothly.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of looping a flexible cable around a roller capable of revolving around itself, and restricting the flexible cable at both ends of the roller in the width direction. It is characterized in that a flange portion is provided.

[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. Here, for example, when the movable body is rotated in the direction of tightening, the flexible cable wound around the outer cylindrical portion is fed out to the inner cylindrical portion while its reversing portion is looped by rollers that revolve around itself. Since the roller is provided with a flange that regulates the reversing portion in the width direction, the flexible cable does not rub against the top surface and the bottom surface of the space at the reversing portion, and conversely rewinds the movable body. When the flexible cable is rotated in the direction, the flexible cable wound around the inner cylindrical portion is fed out to the outer cylindrical portion while the reversing portion is looped by rollers that revolve around itself. Since the movement in the direction is regulated by the rollers, the flexible cable is smoothly fed out through the reversing portion in any case.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments 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. 4 is a perspective view showing an inverted portion of a flexible cable provided on the cable reel.

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,
It comprises a flexible cable 3 housed between the two, and a group of rollers 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 thereof, 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. 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 11 fixed to the outer cylinder 7, and is led out of the lower case 1 via the first connector 11. ing. On the other hand, the other end of the flexible cable 3 is connected to a second connector 12 fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 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 on the inner wall of the outer tubular portion 7 and is inverted therefrom into a U-shape (hereinafter referred to as an inverted portion 3a). It is wound in the clockwise direction around the outer wall of the inner cylindrical portion 8 and is housed in the space 10 so as to reach the second connector 12.
As is clear from FIG. 3, the width dimension of the flexible cable 3 is slightly smaller than the height dimension of the space 10 in the vertical direction, that is, the dimension between the bottom plate 6 and the top plate 9. Is set to

The roller 4 comprises a columnar body 4a and rotating bodies 4b rotatably supported at upper and lower ends thereof, and a plurality of rollers 4 are arranged in the space 10 along the circumferential direction thereof at a constant interval from each other. Have been. The rollers 4 are connected so that the wire springs 13 formed in a C-shape penetrate the respective columnar bodies 4a so as not to be separated from each other. It is urged by force to press against the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion 8. A flange 4c is formed at each end of both rotating bodies 4b of the roller 4 (hereinafter, this roller is denoted by reference numeral 4A) connected to one end of the wire spring 13. Of the roller 4 between the flanges 4c.
Looped to A.

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. The flexible cable 3 is fed out from the outer cylinder 7 and wound around the inner cylinder 8. In this case, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 presses (revolves) the roller 4A clockwise while rotating (rotating) the rotating body 4b of the roller 4A at one end.
A moves clockwise while being connected to the wire spring 13. Therefore, the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylindrical portion 7 is prevented from being bulged and deflected radially inward by the rollers 4 and 4A moving in this manner, and furthermore, the reversing portion. 3a
Since the movement in the width direction is restricted by the both flanges 4c of the roller 4A and is prevented from coming into contact with the bottom plate 6 and the top plate 9, the flexible cable 3 on the outer cylinder portion 7 is smoothly turned over. It is fed out in the 3a direction and is wound around the inner cylinder portion 8 side.

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 portion 8 and is rewound to the outer cylinder portion 7 side. In this case, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 presses the roller 4 in the counterclockwise direction while rotating the rotating body 4b of the roller 4 on the side facing the roller 4A on which the reversing portion 3a is looped. All rollers 4 and 4A are wire springs 1
Move counterclockwise while connected to 3. Therefore,
The flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical portion 8 is prevented from bulging and biasing outward in the radial direction by the rollers 4 and 4A moving while being elastically biased inward as described above. Moreover, although the reversing portion 3a is slightly away from the roller 4A,
Since a part of the flexible cable 3 is regulated in the width direction by the two flange portions 4c of the roller 4A, the flexible cable 3 on the inner cylinder portion 8 is smoothly fed out toward the reversing portion 3a and wound on the outer cylinder portion 7 side. Will be returned.

In the cable reel according to the first embodiment, since the flexible cable 3 is wound around the outer tubular portion 7 and the inner tubular portion 8 in the opposite direction via the reversing portion 3a, it is necessary. 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 plurality of rollers 4 and 4A are arranged between a portion of the flexible cable 3 that is wound around the outer tube 7 and a portion that is wound around the inner tube 8.
A is connected to the wire spring 13 and moves following the reversing portion 3a while maintaining a constant interval, so that the flexible cable 3 reaches the reversing portion 3a during the winding or rewinding operation.
Can be prevented from bulging in the radial direction. In addition, the flanges 4c are formed on both rotating bodies 4b of the roller 4A that revolves on its own axis, and the reversing portion 3a is looped around the roller 4A between the flanges 4c. Even if bulges in the width direction, the flange portion 4c
As a result, the reversing part 3a is connected to the bottom part 6 of the lower case 1 and the upper case 2
Can be prevented from being pressed against the top plate 9, and as a result, the reversing portion 3 a can be smoothly moved irrespective of the rotation direction of the upper case 2, so that the tightening or rewinding operation can be reliably performed.

In the first embodiment, one end of the wire spring 13 is connected to a roller 4A having a flange 4c.
Although the case where the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 is looped to A is described, the roller 4A may be connected to the other end of the wire spring 13 or, as shown in FIG. All of the rollers may be replaced with the roller 4A. As the number of the rollers 4A with the flanges 4c increases in this manner, the area for restricting the flexible cable 3 in the width direction becomes larger, and the effect of smoothly feeding out the flexible cable 3 becomes remarkable. .

In the first embodiment, each of the rollers 4, 4 is controlled by the wire spring 13 to which an inward elastic biasing force is applied.
A has been described in the case where A is urged toward the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 8, but conversely, each roller is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion by a linear spring to which an outward elastic biasing force is applied. The rollers may be urged in the direction, or the rollers may be connected by a C-shaped member to which no elastic biasing force is applied, and the rollers may revolve around themselves with a flexible cable. .

The roller 4 in which the reversing section 3a is looped
The means for revolving A on its own axis is not limited to the first embodiment.
For example, the roller 4A can revolve around itself using a planetary gear mechanism.

In the first embodiment, 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.

Further, in the first embodiment, the upper case 1
Has been described as a fixed body, and the upper case 2 is used as a movable body. On the contrary, it is also possible to use the upper case 2 as a fixed body and the lower case 1 as a movable body.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the flange portion for regulating the flexible cable in the width direction is provided on the roller where the reversing portion of the flexible cable is looped, the flexible cable is inverted when the flexible cable is wound or unwound. This makes it possible to provide a cable reel which can be smoothly fed out through the section, and which can rotate the movable body smoothly and has high reliability.

[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 an inverted portion of a flexible cable provided in the cable reel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention.

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, 4A roller 4a Columnar body 4b Rotating body 4c Flange part 6 Bottom plate 7 Outer cylinder part 8 Inner cylinder part 9 Top plate 10 Space 13 wire spring

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-105885 (JP, A) JP-A-4-327469 (JP, A) JP-A-3-18070 (JP, U) JP-A-4-180 87191 (JP, U) US Patent 3,633,455 (US, A) US Patent 4,540,223 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 35/04 B65H 75/36-75/38 B62D 1/04 B60R 16/02

Claims (1)

(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 ,
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 which is wound around a cylindrical portion in the opposite direction, a roller having flanges at both ends is disposed in the space so as to be able to revolve on its own axis, and the reversing portion is provided between both flanges of the roller. Cable reel characterized by looping.