JP3110961B2 - Electrical connection between steering wheel and steering column - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connecting device between a steering wheel and a steering column in a vehicle steering system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the progress of electronic control of automobiles, various switches for electronic control are also provided on a steering wheel (steering wheel) in a steering device of the automobile. Must be connected to the steering column side. Since the steering wheel of an automobile is set to be rotatable left and right a plurality of times, a flexible flexible wire generally having a plurality of conductors is required to electrically connect the rotating shaft of the steering wheel and the steering column.・ Flat cable (FF
C) is provided between the rotating body fixed to the steering wheel shaft and the fixed body fixed to the steering column side in a spiral state, or in an inverted spiral state folded back on the way, to provide an electric connection between the steering wheel and the steering column. A dynamic connection device is used.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a conventional electric connection device of this type, and FIG. 12 is a plan view of FIG. 11 (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-147363).

As shown in FIG. 11, the electrical connection device 71 includes a rotating body 73 and a housing 75 as a fixed body.
, An FFC 77 and a highly slippery sheet 79.

[0005] The rotating body 73 is provided on a plate-shaped upper cover 81, a cylindrical inner cylindrical part 83 erected from substantially the center of the upper cover 81, and an outer part of the inner cylindrical part 83. A steering shaft (not shown) of an automobile is inserted and fixed to the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical body 83. The housing 75 includes a plate-shaped undercover portion 8 fixed to a steering column (not shown).
7, an outer tubular portion 89 erected from the outer edge of the undercover portion 87, and a link portion 91 attached to the upright end of the outer tubular portion 89. A central hole 93 into which the inner cylindrical portion 83 of the rotating body 83 is rotatably snapped is formed. Center hole 8
The inner surface of the upper cover portion 81 of the rotating body 83 snapped into 3 abuts on the link portion 91, and the rotating body 73 is rotatable along the link portion 91. That is, the housing 75 fixed to the steering column (not shown) supports the rotating body 73 rotatably on the outer peripheral side.

An annular space 95 is formed between the rotating body 73 and the housing 75, and an FFC 7 for electrically connecting the steering wheel and the steering column side is formed in the annular space 95.
7 is accommodated in a spiral state. As shown in FIG. 12, the holder 85 of the rotating body 73 has a slit 85a formed along the rotation axis direction and penetrating the annular space 95 and the inside of the holder 85, and an inner cylindrical body formed on the inner peripheral surface. 83 and a concave portion 85b communicating with the outside is provided.
One end of 77 (see FIG. 11) is
After passing through the recess 5b and reaching the recess 85b, it is folded back in the recess 85b and led out of the rotating body 73 (see FIG. 11). As shown in FIG. 11, guide portions 75a and 91a are provided on the outer cylindrical body portion 89 of the housing 75 and a part of the link portion 91.
The other end of the FFC 77 is connected to the outer cylindrical body 89.
After being folded inside the guide portions 75a and 91a, the guide portions 75a and 91a are inserted to the outside. Thereby, FFC77
Moves following the rotation of the rotating body 73 accompanying the forward and reverse rotation of the handle, and electrically connects the rotating body 73 to the housing 75.

On the inner surface of the upper cover portion 81 of the rotating body 73 and the inner surface of the under cover portion 87 of the housing 75 opposed to both ends in the width direction of the FFC 77, a highly slippery sheet 79 made of ethylene tetrafluoride or the like is provided. Is affixed.
The high-sliding sheet 79 will be described with respect to the housing 75 side. As shown in FIG. 12, a step-shaped concave groove 97 having a plurality of protrusions 97a on the outer peripheral edge is formed on the inner surface of the undercover portion 87. The high lubricating sheet 79 also has a plurality of protrusions 79a on the outer peripheral edge thereof.
a, 97a are adhered to each other in the concave groove 97 so as to coincide with each other. Since the high-slip sheet 79 on the rotating body 73 side has the same configuration, duplicate description will be omitted.

When the handle (not shown) is rotated to one side, the FFC 77 is wound around the rotating body 73 (inside), and when the handle is rotated to the other side, the FFC 77 is wound around the housing 75 (outside). In any state, the electrical connection between the rotating body 73 and the housing 75 is F
It is maintained via FC77. Since both ends in the width direction of the FFC 77 move in the radial direction of the rotating body 73 and the housing 75 while slidingly contacting the highly slippery sheet 79, the sliding noise of the FFC 77 is reduced and the rotating body 73 is reduced.
Is reduced. In addition, since the high lubricating sheet 79 is attached to the concave groove 97 on the inner surface of the under cover 87 so that the protrusions 79a and 97a are aligned with each other, the high lubricating sheet 79 shifts in the lateral and radial directions. hard.

[0009]

However, in the conventional electric connection device 71, when the high-slip sheet 79 is attached to the inner surfaces of the upper cover portion 81 and the under cover portion 87, the high-slip sheet 79 and In some cases, air may be trapped between the inner surface and the inner surface, and once the trapped air cannot be easily removed, it is difficult to bring the attached high-slip sheet 79 into a planar state. For this reason, the high lubricity sheet 7 should be
9 has to be stuck, and there is a possibility that the workability of sticking the highly slippery sheet 79 may be reduced. Even if the highly slippery sheet 79 is carefully attached, air entrapment cannot be completely eliminated, and sufficient reliability may not be obtained in terms of quality.

Therefore, the present invention takes the above circumstances into consideration,
The purpose is to improve the workability of attaching the high-slip sheet and stabilize the quality.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an annular space is formed between a fixed body fixed to a steering column and a fixed body rotatably provided with respect to the fixed body. Rotating body, a flexible flat cable housed in the annular space, one end of which is fixed to the rotating body, and the other end of which is fixed to the fixed body, and the rotating body which faces both ends in the width direction of the flat cable. And a high-slip sheet affixed to at least one planar inner surface of the fixed body, wherein the flat cable moves following rotation of the rotating body in forward and reverse directions, and is fixed to the rotating body. In an electrical connection device between a steering column and a steering column that electrically conducts a body, when the high-sliding sheet is applied, a space between a flat attaching surface of the high-sliding sheet and the planar inner surface is externally provided. communication to communicate with Was the vent is characterized in that provided on at least one of the inner or high lubricity sheet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electrical connection device between the steering wheel and the steering column according to the first aspect, wherein the ventilation portion is formed on the inner surface or the attachment surface and has an inner diameter of the annular space. It is a continuous groove portion that opens to the outside on at least one of the side and the outer diameter side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electrical connection device between the steering wheel and the steering column according to the first aspect, wherein the ventilation portion extends continuously from the inner surface or the attaching surface to the outside. is characterized in that a hole portion formed Te.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when air is sealed between the inner surface and the high-sliding sheet when the high-sliding sheet is attached to the planar inner surface of the fixed body or the rotating body, Since such air can be evacuated to the outside through the continuous ventilation part, the work of attaching the high-slip sheet can be easily performed, and the flat state of the high-slip sheet after the attachment can be easily ensured. Can be.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in the first aspect of the invention can be obtained by a simple configuration in which a continuous groove is formed on a flat inner surface or a flat sticking surface.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the same effect as in the first aspect of the invention is obtained by a simple configuration in which a continuous hole penetrating from the flat inner surface or the attaching surface to the outside is formed. be able to.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electric connection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an assembled state of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a housing of FIG. Is A in FIG.
It is a part expansion perspective view.

The electrical connection device 1 includes a rotating body 3, a housing 5 as a fixed body, a flexible flat cable (FFC) 7 for electrically connecting a steering wheel and a steering column side, and a high lubricity. Sheets 9 and 11 are provided.

The rotating body 3 has a substantially donut-shaped upper cover 13, a rotator 17 having a substantially cylindrical inner cylindrical body 15, and a substantially cylindrically shaped outer cylindrical body 15 fitted on the inner cylindrical body 15 of the rotator 17. And an end support 19.
At the periphery of the central hole 21 of the upper cover 13, a concave portion 23 from which one end 7a of the FFC 7 is led out is formed.
Are provided with three bolt insertion holes 27 through which three mounting bolts 25 are inserted, and a connector support portion 31 that supports a connector 29 provided at one end 7a of the FFC 7.

A steering shaft (not shown) of an automobile is inserted into the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical body 15 of the rotator 17, and the rotator 17 is fixed to the steering shaft. A bolt hole 33 is formed at one end 15a of the inner cylindrical body portion 15 of the rotator 17 to be screwed with the assembling bolt 25, and a flange portion 35 is projected from an outer peripheral surface of the other end 15b. On the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical body 15 of the rotator 17 and the inner peripheral surface of the end support 19, a fitting concave portion 37 and a fitting convex portion 39 that are fitted to each other are formed.
A tongue-shaped portion 41 is protruded from the outer peripheral surface of.

The housing 5 includes a disc-shaped undercover 43 and an outer tubular body 45 erected from the outer edge of the undercover 43. A steering column ( 4 fixed to the (not shown) side
A connector supporting portion 51 for supporting a connector 49 provided on the other end 7b of the FFC 7 is projected from the fixed flange portion 47 at the location. A hole (not shown) through which the other end 7 b of the FFC 7 is inserted is formed in the outer cylindrical body 45, and the inner cylindrical body 1 of the rotator 17 is provided substantially in the center of the under cover 43.
A center hole 53 into which the first through-hole 5 is rotatably inserted is formed.

The rotator 17 is inserted into the center hole 53 of the housing 5.
The end support 19 is externally fitted to the inner cylindrical body portion 15 by inserting the inner cylindrical body portion 15 from the one end 15a side, aligning the fitting convex portion 39 with the fitting concave portion 37, and from above the upper cover 1
3 and cover the upper cover 13 with the assembling bolts 25.
Is fixed to the rotator 17, the housing 5 is rotatable forward and reverse between the upper cover 13 and the flange portion 35 of the rotator 17, and the rotating body 3 is assembled in a rotatable state with respect to the housing 5, and As shown in FIG. 2, an annular space 55 is formed between the rotating body 3 and the housing 5. Then, when assembling the rotating body 3, the FFC 7 is accommodated in the annular space 55 in a spiral state.
At the time of storage, as shown in FIG.
From the concave portion 23 of the upper cover 13 and the one end 7
a of the connector cover 31 of the upper cover 13 and the other end 7 b of the FFC 7 is connected to the housing 4.
5 from the slit 52, and the connector 4 at the other end 7b.
9 is supported by the connector supporting portion 51 of the housing 5.

The high-sliding sheets 9 and 11 are provided on the inner surface 13a of the upper cover 13 facing both ends in the width direction of the FFC 7.
And a bottom surface 43a as an inner surface of the under cover portion 43 of the housing 5. High lubricity sheet 9,
Reference numeral 11 denotes a sheet material having excellent lubricity, such as ethylene tetrafluoride, which is formed by punching into a donut board shape. The high-sliding sheets 9 and 11 each include an elastic material (not shown) stacked on the back surface thereof. An adhesive (not shown) is applied to the attachment surfaces 9a and 11a, which are the back surfaces of the elastic material. High lubricity sheet 9, 11
Is applied by attaching the attaching surfaces 9a, 11a of the high-sliding sheets 9, 11 to the inner surface 13a and the bottom surface 43a before assembling the rotating body 3.

When the high-sliding sheets 9 and 11 are attached to the inner surface 13a and the bottom surface 43a, the space between the attaching surfaces 9a and 11a of the high-sliding sheets 9 and 11 and the inner surface 13a and the bottom surface 43a is ventilated to the outside. A groove 57 as a ventilation part is formed. This will be described with reference to the housing 5 side. As shown in FIG.
In addition, radial grooves 57 are provided at substantially equal intervals from the center hole 53.
Six grooves are formed, and the inner end 57a of the groove 57 is opened in the center hole 53 which is the outside on the inner diameter side of the annular space 55 (see FIG. 4). Note that a through hole (not shown) may be provided in the outer cylindrical body portion 45 so that the groove portion 57 opens to the outside on the outer diameter side of the annular space 55. Also, the upper cover 13
The groove on the side (not shown) has the same configuration, and redundant description will be omitted.

The assembled electrical connection device 1 includes a rotator 1
7, the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical body 15 is inserted into and fixed to a steering shaft (not shown) of the automobile.
Of the fixed flange 47 of the steering column (not shown)
By fixing to the side, it is attached to the vehicle body. In this state, when the handle (not shown) is rotated to one side,
The FFC 7 is wound around the end support 19 from one direction, and when the handle is turned to the other side, the wound FFC 7 is loosened and then wound around the end support 19 from the opposite direction. Thus, FFC7
Moves following the rotation of the rotating body 3 accompanying the forward and reverse rotation of the handle, so that the electrical connection between the rotating body 3 and the housing 5 is always maintained via the FFC 7. In the winding limit in the opposite direction, FFC7
Are pressed against the tongue 41 of the end support 19, and the FFC 7 is protected by the tongue 41.

Both ends of the FFC 7 in the width direction are in sliding contact with the high-slip sheets 9 and 11 while the rotating body 3 and the housing 5 are in sliding contact.
Move in the radial direction. Thus, the sliding noise of the FFC 7 and the rotational torque of the rotating body 3 are reduced.

According to the electrical connection device 1 having such a structure,
Even when air is sealed between the high-sliding sheets 9 and 11 and the inner surface 13 a of the upper cover 13 or the bottom surface 43 a of the undercover portion 43 when the high-sliding sheets 9 and 11 are attached, such air is Is easily pulled out to the outside (in the center holes 21 and 53) through the groove 57, and the high-slip sheets 9 and 11
Can be adhered in a flat shape, and the simple operation of forming the groove 57 on the inner surface 13a or the bottom surface 43 makes it possible to easily attach the highly slippery sheets 9 and 11. In addition, since the flat state of the high-slip sheets 9 and 11 that allow the FFC 7 to slide smoothly can be easily secured, the quality of the electrical connection device 1 can be stabilized.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a housing showing a modification of the first embodiment.

In this modification, a radial groove 57 provided in the first embodiment is provided with a branch groove 59 for inserting between adjacent grooves, so that the air bleeding operation can be performed more easily.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a housing showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6. In FIG. The description is omitted here.

In the second embodiment, a plurality of small-diameter holes 61 as ventilation portions are provided in place of the radial grooves 57 provided in the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the holes 61 are formed in the undercover portion 43 of the housing 5 at substantially equal intervals over the entire area in the radial direction, and are outside the bottom surface 43 a as the inner surface of the undercover portion 43. Outer surface 4
It penetrates to the 3b side.

According to the second embodiment, when the high lubricity sheet 11 is adhered, the high lubricity sheet 11 and the under cover 4
3 can be easily discharged to the outside (on the outer surface 43b side of the under cover portion 43) through the hole portion 61, and the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. be able to.

The bottom surface 43a of the under cover 43
Even if is formed in a planar shape, the ventilation portion can be easily provided by post-processing.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a housing and a highly slippery sheet according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. Are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that each of the inner surfaces 13 of the upper cover 13 and the under cover portion 43 is provided.
a and the groove 57 provided on the bottom surface 43a,
Small-diameter holes 63 as ventilation portions in high-sliding sheets 9 and 11
Are provided, and the bottom surface 43a of the undercover portion 43 is formed in a planar shape. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the holes 63 are formed in the high-slip sheet 11 at substantially equal intervals over the entire area in the radial direction, and the elastic material 65 is inserted through the attaching surface 11 a of the high-slip sheet 11. Outside surface 11
It penetrates to the b side. In the figure, reference numeral 67 denotes an adhesive.

According to the third embodiment, when the high-sliding sheet 11 is adhered, the high-sliding sheet 11
3 can be easily discharged to the outside (the surface 11b side of the highly slippery sheet 11) through the hole 63 through the hole 63, so that the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Obtainable.

The bottom surface 43a of the under cover 43
The holes 63 are provided in the highly slippery sheet 11 which is easy to process while keeping the surface in a flat shape, so that a structure rich in processability and versatility can be obtained.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a highly slippery sheet showing a modification of the third embodiment.

This modification is similar to the hole 6 provided in the third embodiment.
Instead of 3, a plurality of radial grooves (vents) 69 are provided on the attachment surface 11 a of the elastic material 65. According to this modification, the same operation and effect as in the third embodiment can be obtained while making the surface 11b of the high-slip sheet 11 that is in sliding contact with the FFC 7 (see FIG. 1) a continuous plane.

It should be noted that a modification of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the third embodiment shown in FIG.
In the modification of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 0, since the upper cover 13 has the same configuration, the description is omitted.

In the above embodiment, the upper cover 1
Although the ventilation section is provided on both the 3 side and the housing 5 side, when the high-slip sheets 9 and 11 are provided on one side, the ventilation section may be provided only on the corresponding side.

[0045]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the air enclosed at the time of attaching the highly slippery sheet can be evacuated to the outside through the continuous ventilation portion. Therefore, the flat state of the highly slippery sheet can be secured by a simple sticking operation, and the workability of sticking the highly slippery sheet can be improved and the quality can be stabilized.

According to the second or third aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained by a simple configuration in which a continuous groove or hole is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an assembled state of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a housing showing a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a housing showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a housing and a highly slippery sheet according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a highly slippery sheet showing a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrical connection device 3 Rotating body 5 Housing (fixed body) 7 FFC (flat cable) 7a One end 7b Other end 9 High-slip sheet 11 High-slip sheet 11a Adhering surface 13 Upper cover (rotator) 13a Bottom surface (inner surface) Reference Signs List 17 rotator (rotator) 19 end support (rotator) 43a inner surface 55 annular space 57 groove (vent) 61 hole (vent) 63 hole (vent) 69 groove (vent)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 35/04 B60R 16/02 675 B62D 1/04 B65H 75/38

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixed body fixed to a steering column, a rotating body provided rotatably with respect to the fixed body to form an annular space between the fixed body, and one end accommodated in the annular space and having one end. A flexible flat cable fixed to the rotating body and the other end fixed to the fixed body; and affixed to at least one planar inner surface of the rotating body and the fixed body facing both ends in the width direction of the flat cable. The flat cable moves between following the rotation of the rotating body in the forward and reverse directions and electrically connects the rotating body and the fixed body between the handle and the steering column. communicating the electrical connecting device, which communicate with the outside between the flat <br/> application surface and the planar inner surface of the high lubricity sheet during application of the high lubricity sheet
An electrical connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column, wherein a continuous ventilation portion is provided on at least one of the inner surface and the highly slippery sheet. 2. The electrical connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation portion is formed on the inner surface or the attachment surface and is at least on an inner diameter side or an outer diameter side of the annular space. On the other hand, an electric connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column, which is a continuous groove portion opening to the outside. 3. The electrical connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation portion penetrates from the inner surface or the attachment surface to the outside.
An electrical connection device between a steering wheel and a steering column, wherein the electrical connection device is a continuously formed hole.