JP3311703B2 - Rotating connector - 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 for transmitting an electric signal, an optical signal, or both signals between two relatively rotating members.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric signal is transmitted between two relatively rotating members.
As a rotary connector for transmitting an optical signal or both of these signals and the like, for example, a rotary connector that is provided in a steering device of an automobile to electrically connect a vehicle body to an airbag and that is used to activate the airbag is known. I have.

[0003] In this rotary connector, a flat cable spirally wound is accommodated in an annular space formed by a rotating case and a fixed case that are rotatably combined with each other. The flat cable is loosely housed in the annular space in order to realize relative rotation between the rotating case and the fixed case due to tightness or loosening of the winding.

Accordingly, the above-mentioned rotary connector causes the flat cable to vibrate in the direction of the rotation axis and in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis as the automobile runs, and collides with both cases.
An abnormal sound called a so-called tapping sound (dancing sound) is generated.
Since such abnormal noise deteriorates the environment inside the vehicle, in the rotary connector, a flat damping plate for suppressing the vibration of the flat cable is arranged in the annular space (for example, in the case of the actual opening). See Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Sho 62-16787).

[0005]

In the rotary connector, it is difficult to set the pressing force of the flat cable.
If the pressing force becomes excessive, a large rotating torque is required when the rotating case and the fixed case are relatively rotated. In addition, in some cases, the flat cable may be inverted, so that a clearance must be provided between the damping plate and the flat cable to avoid an excessive pressing force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a rotary connector capable of appropriately adjusting the pressing force of a band-shaped transmission line by a damping plate.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a rotating case and a fixed case, which are rotatably combined with each other and have an annular space formed therein, are spirally wound. Housed in an annular space,
A rotary connector having a ring-shaped damping plate that is disposed in the annular transmission line and the annular space, one end of which is connected to the rotating case, and the other end is connected to the fixed case, respectively, and suppresses vibration of the annular transmission line. In the above, the vibration control plate has a central portion formed as a spring portion at a plurality of locations,
The configuration is such that a spring portion is provided along the circumferential direction of the damping plate .

[0008] Preferably, the damping plate is provided with a radial cut.
In the surface shape, the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge
Curved or tapered away from the
Configuration. Also preferably, the damping plate is
The spring portion is detachable. More preferably, the control
The diaphragm protrudes toward the flat cable and extends in the circumferential direction.
Ridges are provided.In the present invention,
In order to achieve this,
Rotating case and fixed case, in which an annular space is formed in the part,
It is spirally wound and housed in the annular space, and one end is
The other end is connected to the rotating case, and the other end is connected to the fixed case.
Arranged in a band-shaped transmission line to be connected and the annular space,
A ring-shaped damping plate for suppressing the vibration of the band-shaped transmission line is provided.
In the rotary connector, the vibration damping plate is provided at a plurality of locations.
The longitudinal direction is shaped like a letter C along the circumferential direction of the damping plate.
The configuration is such that the spring pieces to be arranged are provided.
You.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Rotary connector 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating case 2, the fixed case 3,
It has a flat cable 6 and a damping plate 7. The rotating case 2 has an inner cylinder shaft portion 2a to which one end (inner end) of the flat cable 6 is connected, and an upper flange 2b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixed case 3 has an outer cylinder 4 and a base plate 5, is combined with the rotating case 2 so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and forms an annular space S for accommodating the flat cable 6 therein. Form. The outer cylinder 4 is connected to the other end (outer end) of the flat cable 6, and has a side wall 4a and an upper flange 4b. As shown in FIG. 1, the base plate 5 is a ring-shaped member having an opening 5a formed in the center thereof for engaging the lower end of the inner cylinder shaft portion 2a, and the outer cylinder 4 is arranged on the outer peripheral edge. The base plate 5 has a foam layer, and an anti-vibration sheet 5b provided with polyethylene terephthalate or the like is attached at least on the flat cable 6 side.

The flat cable 6 is, for example, a flexible belt-shaped transmission line in which a plurality of parallel electric conductors, optical fibers, or both are covered with a coating such as an electric insulating material. It is loosely housed in an annular space S formed by the case 2 and the fixed case 3. The damping plate 7 is provided on the upper flange 2 of the rotating case 2 in the annular space S.
A ring-shaped member that is disposed between the flat cable 6 and the flat cable 6 and suppresses vibration of the flat cable 6, and is formed from a synthetic resin such as polyester elastomer, polyacetal, polyethylene, or polypropylene. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the damping plate 7 is formed in a radial cross-sectional shape such that an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge are curved or tapered so as to be away from the flat cable 6. A spring portion 7a is provided at a location along the circumferential direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spring portion 7 a is configured to move the upper flange 2 b of the rotating case 2 from the plate surface of the damping plate 7.
The protrusion 7b is formed in an arch shape toward the side, and the top 7b is formed narrow. The damping plate 7 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (c), a notch 7c with which an engaging portion (not shown) formed on the inner cylindrical shaft portion 2a of the rotating case 2 engages, and an engaging hole (not shown) formed on the upper flange 2b. A projection 7d is formed to engage with the projection 7d. Therefore, the damping plate 7 rotates together with the rotating case 2 by being disposed between the upper flange 2 b of the rotating case 2 and the flat cable 6.

In this embodiment, four spring portions 7a are formed in the circumferential direction. However, the number of the spring portions 7a is not limited to four as long as the flat cable 6 can be pressed with good balance. The top portion 7b is formed to be narrow so that the pressing force for pressing the flat cable 6 by the spring force of the spring portion 7a has an appropriate magnitude. If the pressing force is appropriate, the top portion 7b is necessarily formed to be narrow. It is not necessary, and the top 7b may be cut off to form a C shape.

The rotary connector 1 of the present invention configured as described above has one end (inner end) connected to the inner cylinder shaft portion 2a and the other end (outer end) connected to the outer cylinder 4, and is formed in a spiral shape. With the wound flat cable 6 adjusted to a neutral position where the winding is tight and the winding is loose, the flat cable 6 is loosely housed in an annular space S formed by the two cases 2 and 3 and assembled. At this time, the rotary connector 1 attaches the damping plate 7 to the upper flange 2b.
And a flat cable 6 and a plurality of spring portions 7
The flat cable 6 is pressed toward the base plate 5 by the spring force a.

Therefore, the assembled rotary connector 1
Is flat cable 6 due to tight or loose winding.
The two cases 2 and 3 can be rotated relative to each other by a predetermined number of times corresponding to the length. At this time, in the rotary connector 1, the damping plate 7 presses the flat cable 6 toward the base plate 5, and spring portions 7 a that generate this pressing force are provided at a plurality of locations substantially at the center in the radial direction along the circumferential direction. I have. For this reason, near the neutral position where the damping plate 7 is tightly wound or loosened, the flat cable 6 is pressed against the base plate 5 side with an appropriate pressing force in a well-balanced manner to suppress vibration, so that generation of abnormal noise is suppressed. It can be suppressed well.

Therefore, in the rotary connector 1, the pressing force for pressing the flat cable 6 can be adjusted to a preferable size by appropriately changing the number of the spring portions 7a formed on the damping plate 7 and the shape of the top portion 7b. Can be. In addition, since the pressing force of the vibration control plate 7 on the flat cable 6 is appropriate, the rotating connector 1 is
Can smoothly rotate relative to each other under an appropriate rotation torque.

The rotary connector 1 is formed in a curved or tapered shape so that the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the damping plate 7 are separated from the flat cable 6. For this reason, the rotating connector 1 is tightly wound or loosened by the flat cable 6 due to the relative rotation of the rotating case 2 and the fixed case 3, or is vibrated due to the running of the automobile to which the rotating connector is attached, especially the surface of the base plate 5. The upper edge of the flat cable 6 does not interfere with the inner peripheral edge or the outer peripheral edge of the vibration damping plate 7 when vibrating in the direction along. For this reason,
The rotary connector 1 is preferable because the two cases 2 and 3 relatively rotate relatively smoothly.

Here, as shown in FIG.
The spring portion 7a may be separated into two spring pieces 7b . In this way, even if the damping plate 7 is heated, the spring
Although the spring force of the piece 7b is reduced, it is preferable because the effect of reducing abnormal noise called a tapping sound (dancing sound) is maintained. Also,
The damping plate is, for example, like a damping plate 8 shown in FIGS.
In the radial cross-sectional shape, the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge are formed in a curved or tapered shape so as to be away from the flat cable 6, and a polyester elastomer is formed on a plurality of locking portions 8 a formed along the circumferential direction at a plurality of locations substantially at the center in the radial direction. , Polyacetal, polyethylene, polypropylene or other synthetic resin or a metal such as stainless steel, phosphor bronze, or the like, is detachably engaged with a spring plate 9 as a spring portion.
The same effect as described above can be obtained, and the pressing force for pressing the flat cable 6 can be easily adjusted by appropriately attaching and detaching the spring plate 9.

At this time, the damping plate 8 has the same notch 8b and projection 8c as the damping plate 7. In addition, the spring plate 9
As in the case of the spring portion 7a of the damping plate 7, the middle portion is formed narrow. Further, as in the case of the damping plate 10 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the damping plate is configured such that a spring plate (not shown) is detachably locked to the locking portion 10a similarly to the damping plate 8. And a ridge 1 protruding from the flat cable 6 on the lower surface and extending in the circumferential direction.
0b may be formed.

Here, the notch 10c and the protrusion 10d are formed on the damping plate 10 similarly to the damping plate 7. With such a configuration, the vibration damping plate 10 presses the flat cable 6 toward the base plate 5 with a more appropriate pressing force in a balanced manner toward the base plate 5 near the neutral position where the winding is tightened or loosened, thereby further suppressing the generation of abnormal noise. can do.

[0020]

According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a rotary connector which can appropriately adjust the pressing force of the band-shaped transmission line by the damping plate. According to the invention of claim 2, since the edge of the band-shaped transmission line does not interfere with the inner peripheral edge or the outer peripheral edge of the vibration damping plate, the rotary connector allows the rotary case and the fixed case to rotate relatively smoothly. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the spring portion is detachable, the pressing force for pressing the strip-shaped transmission line can be easily adjusted. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the band-shaped transmission line can be pressed with a more appropriate pressing force in the vicinity of the neutral position where the winding is tightened or loosened, and the generation of abnormal noise can be further suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view showing a rotary connector of the present invention in cross section.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a damping plate used in the rotary connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view (a) of the damping plate of FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view (b) along the line AA, a cross-sectional view (c) along the line BB, and a line CC in the same manner. FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view taken along line (d).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the damping plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the vibration damping plate used in the rotary connector of the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the vibration damping plate of FIG. 5 taken along line VI-VI.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the vibration damping plate used in the rotary connector according to another embodiment of the present invention, taken along line VII-VII of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the vibration damping plate of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 rotating connector 2 rotating case 3 fixed case 4 outer cylinder (fixed case) 5 base plate (fixed case) 6 flat cable 7 damping plate 7a spring portion 8 damping plate 9 spring plate (spring portion) 10 damping plate 10b ridge

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Mukai 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satoshi Okada 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Inside Electric Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuya Okada 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-6-275355 (JP, A) JP-A-7- 226275 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 35/04 B62D 1/04

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A rotating case and a fixed case that are rotatably combined with each other and have an annular space formed therein;
It is spirally wound and accommodated in the annular space, one end is arranged in the annular space, and the other end is arranged in the annular transmission line and the annular space connected to the fixed case, respectively. In a rotary connector having a ring-shaped damping plate for suppressing vibration, the damping plate is formed at a plurality of locations and a central portion is formed as a spring portion.
And the longitudinal direction is arranged along the circumferential direction of the damping plate.
Rotary connector, wherein a spring portion is provided that. 2. The damping plate is formed in a radial cross section in a curved or tapered shape such that an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge are away from the flat cable.
The rotating connector according to claim 1. 3. The rotary connector according to claim 1, wherein said spring portion of said damping plate is detachable. 4. The rotary connector according to claim 1, wherein said damping plate is provided with a ridge projecting toward said flat cable and extending in a circumferential direction. 5. The inner body is rotatably combined with each other.
Rotating case and fixed case, in which an annular space is formed in the part,
It is spirally wound and housed in the annular space, and one end is
The other end is connected to the rotating case, and the other end is connected to the fixed case.
Arranged in a band-shaped transmission line to be connected and the annular space,
A ring-shaped damping plate for suppressing the vibration of the band-shaped transmission line is provided.
In the rotary connector, the longitudinal direction of the vibration damping plate is set at a plurality of locations.
A spring piece is provided that is arranged in a C shape along the direction.
A rotating connector.