JP3301929B2 - Handle unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary connector used as connection means for transmitting electric components such as an airbag and an inflator mounted on a steering wheel to a vehicle body.
The present invention relates to a handle unit including a combination switch having a built-in stalk switch such as a headlight switch and a wiper switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A rotary connector is generally constituted by a pair of housings which are rotatably connected to each other, and a flexible cable wound in an annular storage space defined between the housings. Both ends of the flexible cable are led out to the outside while being fixed to both housings. One of the two housings is used as a movable housing, and the other is used as a fixed housing. When the movable housing is rotated in either the forward or reverse direction, a flexible cable is wound in the storage space according to the rotating direction. Or it is rewound. The rotating connector thus configured is incorporated in a steering device of an automobile,
The movable housing is attached to a handle, which is a rotor member, and the fixed housing is attached to a stator member on the vehicle body side, so that it is used as an electrical connection means for an airbag system, a horn circuit, or the like.

Conventionally, as a mounting structure of such a rotary connector, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-50187, the upper surface of a casing of a combination switch incorporating a stalk switch such as a headlight switch or a wiper switch. There is known a handle unit in which a fixed housing of a rotary connector is attached by screws or the like, and a rotary connector and a combination switch are integrated.
At this time, both ends of the flexible cable in the rotary connector are led out of both housings via a wire harness, and dedicated connectors attached to the ends of the wire harness are connected to the handle and the combination switch, respectively. Also, a wire harness having a dedicated connector attached to the tip thereof is derived from the stalk switch, and this dedicated connector is connected to the connector inside the combination switch, and an external connector provided on the combination switch is connected to the vehicle body. As a result, the electric components such as the airbag inflator and horn switch mounted on the steering wheel are always connected to the vehicle body via the rotary connector and the combination switch, and the Stoke switch is connected to the vehicle body via the combination switch. It will always be connected.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since a large amount of wire harness is required to connect the rotary connector and the stalk switch to the vehicle body, the weight of the entire handle unit is increased. However, there was a problem that the cost was high.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a rotary connector and a stalk switch are directly coupled to corresponding connectors in a casing of a combination switch, and the respective connectors are integrated into one location by an external connector and output. I decided to. in this way,
If the rotary connector and the stalk switch are directly coupled to the corresponding connector in the combination switch, a wire harness for connecting the connector is not required, so the weight and cost of the handle unit can be reduced. Since only one connection point is required between the handle unit and the vehicle body, assembly work can be performed easily.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A handle unit according to the present invention includes a rotary connector for electrically connecting an electric component mounted on a handle to a vehicle body, and a combination switch provided with a stalk switch. A board is disposed inside a casing that forms an outer shell, and a connector that is directly coupled to the rotary connector and the stalk switch is mounted on the board, and an external connector that collects and outputs these connectors in one place. Implemented connector.

In addition, when a movable mechanism is provided to absorb a relative displacement between the connector and the rotary connector and between the connector and the stalk switch, a direct coupling between the rotary connector and the stalk switch can be provided. Even if there is some variation in the mounting position, the variation can be absorbed by the movable mechanism, so that the connection can be made securely.

Further, when an opening is provided in the top surface of the casing and the rotary connector is mounted in a state inserted into the opening, an effective space between the combination switch and the handle is substantially widened, so that the height dimension is large. In addition to the rotary connector, the rotary connector can be incorporated into the steering device together with other components such as a steering angle sensor.

[0009]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a sectional view of a main part of the handle unit, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector provided in the handle unit, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal provided in the connector. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a casing 1 forming an outer shell of the combination switch is formed in an inverted concave shape by an upper plate 1a and a pair of side walls 1b, and the casing 1 includes a column cover (not shown). And so on. A circular opening 2 is formed in the upper plate 1a, and a plurality of insertion guides 3 are erected around the opening 2. Guide grooves 4 extending in the horizontal direction are formed on the inner surfaces of the upper plate 1a and the side walls 1b.
Are formed on the left and right sides of the casing 1. Casing 1
The pair of stalk switches 5 and 6 mounted on the left and right of each of the above have connectors 5a and 6a. Guide protrusions 5b and 6b corresponding to the guide grooves 4 are formed at the bases of the switches.
After inserting the guide projections 5b, 6b into the casing 1 along the guide grooves 4, the stalk switches 5, 6 are fixed using appropriate means such as screwing or snap-in.

A printed circuit board 7 is fixed to the lower open end of the casing 1 by using an appropriate means such as screwing.
The printed circuit board 7 has a through hole 8 that is inserted into a steering shaft (not shown). A plurality of connectors 9a, 9b, and 9c are mounted on the front surface of the printed circuit board 7, and an external connector 10 for output is mounted on the back surface of the printed circuit board 7. Each of the connectors 9a to 9c is connected via a wiring pattern (not shown). Connected to one external connector 10. Each of the connectors 9a to 9c is provided with a movable mechanism to be described later. Each of the remaining connectors 9c is directly coupled and connected.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 9a is
A first moving body 20 holding a plurality of terminals 19;
Moving body 21 that guides moving body 20 in the X direction
And a support 22 for guiding the second moving body 21 in the Y direction.
The first and second moving bodies 21 and the support base 22 constitute the movable mechanism described above. As shown in FIG. 4, a bent portion 19a is formed in the middle of each terminal 19, and the terminal 19 is given sufficient flexibility by the bent portion 19a. Each terminal 19 is connected to the support 2
2 and is soldered to a land (not shown) of the printed circuit board 7. Although not shown, a similar movable mechanism is attached to the other connectors 9b and 9c.

On the other hand, the outer shell of the rotary connector comprises a fixed housing 11 and a movable housing 12.
These two housings 11 and 12 are rotatably connected. The fixed-side housing 11 has a ring-shaped bottom plate 11a and a cylindrical outer cylinder portion 11b, and a plurality of mounting pieces 11c are formed at the upper end of the outer cylinder portion 11b. The movable housing 12 includes a ring-shaped top plate 12a and a cylindrical inner cylindrical portion 12b.
And a center hole 13 that is inserted into the steering shaft is formed in the inner cylinder portion 12b. Then, the bottom plate 11a and the outer cylinder portion 11b of these two housings 11, 12 are provided.
An annular storage space is defined by the top plate 12a and the inner cylindrical portion 12b, and a flat cable 14 as a flexible cable is spirally wound inside the storage space. The flat cable 14 has a plurality of conductors extending in parallel with each other, and its outer end is fixed to the outer cylindrical portion 11b and connected to a fixed connector 15 of a direct coupling type provided on the bottom plate 11a. As described above, the fixed connector 15 is directly coupled to the connector 9c on the printed circuit board 7. The inner end of the flat cable 14 is fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 12b, and is connected to a direct coupling type movable connector 16 provided on the top plate 12a.

The stalk switches 5 and 6 and the rotary connector are mounted on the casing 1 in advance, and a handle unit is constituted by a combination of the rotary connector and the combination switch. In this case, when the fixed housing 11 of the rotary connector is inserted into the opening 2 of the upper plate 1a, each mounting piece 11c is inserted into the corresponding insertion guide 3
To the upper plate 1a, and the fixed side connector 1
5 is automatically connected to the connector 9 c on the printed circuit board 7. In this state, each mounting piece 11 c of the fixed housing 11 is mounted on the casing 1 using the screw 17. At this time, even if the relative position between the fixed side connector 15 and the connector 9c is slightly shifted, this shift is
c, the first and second moving bodies 21 are absorbed by moving in the X-Y direction with respect to the support base 22. Therefore, the fixed side connector 15 and the connector 9c Can be reliably and directly coupled, and undesired stress applied to the connection portion can be reduced. When the guide projections 5b and 6b of the stalk switches 5 and 6 are inserted into the casing 1 along the guide grooves 4, the stalk switches 5 and 6 are moved.
Of the connector 9 on the printed circuit board 7
a and 9b are automatically connected, and in this state, the stalk switches 5 and 6 are attached to the casing 1 using appropriate means such as screwing and snap-in. Also in this case, between the connector 5a and the connector 9a and the connector 6a
The relative displacement between the connector 9a and the connector 9b is absorbed by the movable mechanisms attached to the connectors 9a and 9b, respectively. The handle unit assembled in this way is
Since the rotary connector hardly protrudes from above the casing 1 of the combination switch, the size is reduced in the axial direction of the steering shaft.

When the handle unit is incorporated into a steering device, the through hole 8 of the printed circuit board 7 and the center hole 13 of the rotary connector are inserted into a steering shaft (not shown), and then the casing 1 is mounted on a stator member such as a column cover. Fix using appropriate means such as screwing. At this time, the external connector 10 provided on the back surface of the printed circuit board 7 and a control unit (not shown) provided on the vehicle body side are directly coupled. Next, the handle is fixed to the steering shaft, the engagement hole on the back surface of the handle is locked to the connection pin 18 of the movable housing 12, and a connector (not shown) attached to the handle is connected to the movable connector 16. . As a result, electric components such as an airbag and an inflator mounted on the handle are connected to the printed circuit board 7 via the rotating connector, and the rotating connector and each of the stalk switches 5 and 6 are connected to the vehicle body via the external connector 10 of the printed circuit board 7. Connected to the side control unit.

In use, when the handle is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the rotational force is transmitted to the movable housing 12 via the connecting pin 18, and the movable housing 12 rotates in the same direction. For example, when the handle is rotated counterclockwise from its rotational neutral position, the movable housing 12 also rotates counterclockwise in conjunction therewith, and the flat cable 14 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 12b. Conversely, when the handle is rotated clockwise from the rotation neutral position, the movable housing 12 also rotates clockwise in conjunction therewith, and the flat cable 14 is rewound to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 11b. Even in the state, the electrical connection between the two housings 11 and 12 is made by the flat cable 14.
Will be maintained through.

In the above embodiment, the fixed connector 15 of the rotary connector and the connector 9c on the printed circuit board 7
Since the connectors 5a and 6a of the stalk switches 5 and 6 and the connectors 9a and 9b on the printed circuit board 7 are connected by direct coupling in the casing 1 of the combination switch, a wire harness for connecting the connectors is not required. Thus, the weight and cost of the handle unit can be reduced. Further, since the connectors 9a to 9c are integrated in the external connector 10, only one connection point between the handle unit and the vehicle body is required, and the assembling work can be easily performed.

Further, since a movable mechanism is attached to each of the connectors 9a to 9c, the fixed connector 1 of the rotary connector is provided.
When the connector 5 and the connectors 5a and 6a of the stalk switches 5 and 6 are directly coupled to the corresponding connectors 9a to 9c, even if there is a slight displacement between the components, the displacement can be absorbed by the movable mechanism. it can.

Furthermore, both housings 1 of the rotary connector
Since most of the components 1 and 12 are mounted on the combination switch in a state of being immersed in the opening 2 formed in the top surface of the casing 1, the height of the handle unit (the dimension in the axial direction of the steering shaft) can be reduced. And therefore a rotating connector with a large height dimension,
Even when other components such as a steering angle sensor are integrated with the rotary connector, the rotary connector can be incorporated in a limited space between the combination switch and the handle.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a movable mechanism is provided on each of the connectors 9a to 9c on the printed circuit board 7. On the contrary, the fixed side connector 15 of the rotary connector and the stalk switch 5 are provided. , 6 connectors 5
A movable mechanism may be provided on the sides a and 6a, and the movable mechanism is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0021]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

When the rotary connector and the stalk switch are directly coupled to the corresponding connectors in the casing of the combination switch, and these connectors are collectively output to one place by an external connector, a wire harness for connecting the connectors is formed. This eliminates the need for the steering wheel unit, so that the weight and cost of the steering wheel unit can be reduced, and the connecting point between the steering wheel unit and the vehicle body can be reduced to one place, so that the assembling work can be easily performed.

In addition, when a movable mechanism is provided for absorbing a displacement of the relative position between the connector and the rotary connector and between the connector and the Stoke switch, when the rotary connector and the Stoke switch are directly coupled to the corresponding connector. Even if there is some variation in the mounting position, the variation can be absorbed by the movable mechanism, so that the connection can be made securely.

Further, when an opening is provided in the top surface of the casing and the rotary connector is mounted in a state inserted into the opening, an effective space between the combination switch and the handle is substantially widened, so that the height dimension is large. In addition to the rotary connector, the rotary connector can be incorporated into the steering device together with other components such as a steering angle sensor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a handle unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector provided in the handle unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal provided in the connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 casing 2 opening 4 guide groove 5, 6 stalk switch 5a, 6a connector 7 printed circuit board 9a, 9b, 9c connector 10 external connector 11 fixed housing 12 movable housing 12a top plate 14 flat cable 15 fixed connector 16 movable connector DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Terminal 20 1st moving body 21 2nd moving body 22 Support base 22

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-64326 (JP, A) JP-A-7-282922 (JP, A) JP-A-7-160383 (JP, A) JP-A-5-201339 (JP) , A) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 5-67130 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 2-56373 (JP, U) Special Table Application Hei 8-507664 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) H01R 33/92 B60R 16/02 H01R 31/06 H01R 35/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A rotary switch for electrically connecting an electric component mounted on a steering wheel to a vehicle body; and a combination switch having a stalk switch mounted therein, wherein a substrate is provided inside a casing forming an outer shell of the combination switch. Are mounted on the board, and the connectors directly coupled to the rotary connector and the stalk switch are mounted on the board, and each of the connectors is
A handle unit characterized by mounting an external connector that collects and outputs data at various locations. 2. The handle unit according to claim 1, further comprising a movable mechanism for absorbing a relative position shift between the connector and the rotary connector and between the connector and the stalk switch. 3. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein an opening is provided in a top surface of the casing, and the rotary connector is attached while being inserted into the opening.