JP4100970B2 - Rotation connector with rotation sensor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
The present invention relates to a rotation connector with a rotation sensor attached to a steering shaft of a vehicle, for example.
[0002]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a vehicle production line, a rotation connector and a rotation sensor are mounted in separate steps of the assembly line. Specifically, a neutral fixing pin is provided in each of the rotation connector and the rotation sensor, and these are connected to the steering line. When attaching to the apparatus, first, the rotation sensor was passed through the shaft, the shaft and the rotor of the rotation sensor were fixed, the rotation sensor main body was fixed to the column switch, the neutral was made, and then the neutral pin was removed.
[0003]
The rotary connector was also attached to the steering device in a separate process, and the neutral pin was removed.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in consideration of the recent demand from automobile manufacturers for integration of individual parts (modularization), it has become necessary to integrate the rotation connector and the rotation sensor. And, when fixing the integrated unit to the shaft, considering the assembly method of pulling out the neutral pin from the handle direction, it is difficult to provide the neutral pin separately for the rotation sensor and the rotation connector in terms of structure and assembly work I have to be. If neutral pins are individually provided for the rotation sensor and the rotation connector, if these assembly steps are performed by the same operator, the same pin removal operation must be repeated twice, which is complicated. In addition, if the operator pulls out only one pin and forgets to remove the other pin and then flows the vehicle downstream in the vehicle assembly line, the rotation connector and the rotation sensor are damaged. In the vehicle assembly process, it is always required to reduce the number of work steps and reduce the assembly work time even in a short time.
[0004]
On the other hand, neutral accuracy (rotational accuracy) is not necessary on the rotary connector side (there is no effect on performance even if there is a degree of freedom of about ± 5 degrees). In some cases, the accuracy of fixing the neutral pin within ± 1 degree may be required.
[0005]
Specifically, this is the case when the rotation sensor is used as a torque sensor. However, conventionally, in consideration of the role of each neutral pin as described above, a neutral pin must be individually provided for each of the rotary connector and the rotation sensor.
[0006]
The present invention reduces the number of parts of a neutral pin while satisfying the neutral accuracy of each of the rotation sensor and the rotary connector, and reduces the neutral pin removal work associated therewith, thereby contributing to a reduction in tact time in the production line. It is to provide an attached rotary connector.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to claim 1 of the present invention is a rotation connector with a rotation sensor provided with a rotation sensor for detecting a rotation angle.
A neutral pin for restricting the rotation of the rotor of the rotary connector relative to the stator in a rotational direction;
The neutral pin also restricts the operation of the rotor of the rotation sensor in the rotation direction with respect to the stator, and the operation amount of the rotary connector by the neutral pin is different from the operation amount of the rotation sensor .
[0008]
When the neutral pin is provided for each of the rotary connector and the rotation sensor as in the prior art, it is possible to save the time of assembly since the neutral start is performed only once.
Moreover, since only one neutral pin is required, the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts.
Further, in a product specification that does not require a rotation sensor, a neutral pin can be a neutral pin with a rotation sensor. That is, a neutral pin that is not limited to the product specification can be used.
Also, by making the movement amount of the rotary connector by the neutral pin different from the movement amount of the rotation sensor, the rotation connector and the rotation sensor are rotated to the shaft while maintaining the fixing accuracy of the rotation connector and the rotation sensor by a single assembly operation to the steering shaft. Both the connector and the rotation sensor can be mounted.
[0009]
A rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to claim 2 of the present invention is the rotation connector with rotation sensor according to claim 1, wherein the rotation amount of the rotor of the rotation connector by the neutral pin and the rotation sensor with respect to the stator are detected. It is characterized by having an operation amount regulating means capable of arbitrarily setting an operation amount of the rotor in the rotation direction with respect to the stator.
[0010]
Rotation connector and rotation sensor are integrated, and it has a single neutral pin structure, so both can be attached to the shaft while maintaining the fixing accuracy by one assembling operation to the steering shaft. Can do.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the rotation connector 1 with a rotation sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention has a module shape including a rotation connector 10 in which a rotation sensor 20 is housed, and is attached to the steering shaft S. The neutral pin 5 is made neutral by a common neutral pin 5.
[0013]
Hereinafter, the rotation connector 1 with the rotation sensor will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
The rotary connector 10 includes a connector stator 11 that is fixed to a combination switch bracket (not shown) of the vehicle, a connector rotor 12 that is fitted to the steering shaft S of the vehicle, and a sensor rotor that is also fitted to the steering shaft S. 22 and a sensor stator 21 accommodated in the connector stator 11.
[0015]
The connector rotor 12 and the sensor rotor 22 remain in a neutral position at a certain relative angle with respect to the connector stator 11 and the sensor stator 21 by a neutral pin 5 described later.
[0016]
The connector stator 11 includes a cylindrical cable housing 11a, a rotation sensor housing 11b that extends from one end of the housing 11a and has a slightly larger inner diameter than the housing 11a, and a cable housing space A and a sensor housing space. A partition wall 11c that defines B is provided.
[0017]
A rotation sensor deviation preventing claw portion 11d is formed inward at the end opening of the sensor housing 11b. On the other hand, an end opening of the cable housing 11a is also provided with a connector rotor deviation preventing ring member 11e. Further, a pin insertion hole 11f that penetrates both the cable housing 11a and the ring member 11e is formed along the wall of the cable housing 11a.
[0018]
The connector rotor 12 includes a columnar fitting portion 12a fitted to the steering shaft S and a disc-shaped cover 12b provided at one end of the fitting portion 12a. In addition, an L-shaped pin engagement groove (operation amount regulating means) 12c in a sectional view formed in an arc shape by a predetermined length is formed in the vicinity of the peripheral edge portion on one side surface (the upper surface in FIG. 1) of the cover 12b. (See FIG. 2).
[0019]
The connector stator 11, the connector rotor 12, and the ring member 11e are all made of resin.
[0020]
The connector stator 11, the connector rotor 12, and the partition wall 11c form a cable storage space A, and a flat cable (not shown) is stored in the storage space A in a spirally wound state. One end of the flat cable is connected to the connector stator 11, and the other end is connected to the connector rotor 12. The flat cable is used to electrically connect the combination switch bracket fixed to the steering column and the steering wheel. For example, to connect the vehicle body harness to operate the airbag inflator. Used.
[0021]
The sensor stator 21 is made of a metal having a shielding effect such as aluminum or copper and has a hollow disk shape. On the other hand, the sensor rotor 22 includes a sensor portion 22a provided in a ring shape with a width varied in the circumferential direction using a conductive metal such as iron, and an H-shaped section that connects the sensor portion 22a to the steering shaft S. And a mating ring portion 22b. And the inner peripheral direction edge part of the sensor stator 21 is engaged with the groove part 22c of the engagement ring part 22b so that relative movement is possible. Further, a coil (not shown) accommodated in the magnetic material core is disposed opposite to the sensor portion 22a. Further, similar pin insertion holes 21 f and 22 f are formed in the sensor stator 21 and the sensor rotor 22 at positions corresponding to the neutral pin insertion holes 11 f formed in the connector stator 11. Here, the pin insertion hole 22f is formed at an appropriate position in the sensor rotor 22 that does not affect the sensor detection characteristics.
[0022]
The rotation sensor 20 accurately detects the steering angle of the steering shaft S, and this detection signal is used by, for example, a hydraulic control mechanism for power steering.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the pin engaging groove 12c of the connector rotor 12 described above is such that the connector rotor 12 rotates about ± 5 ° from the neutral position with respect to the connector stator 11 during pin engagement. Dimensions are determined. This groove length can be arbitrarily changed according to the product standard. The reason why the neutralization of the connector rotor 12 is required is to prevent the flat cable from being disconnected when the steering is turned to the left or right.
[0024]
On the other hand, the pin insertion holes 21f and 22f (refer to FIG. 1) formed in the sensor stator 21 and the sensor rotor 22 are slightly larger in the pin insertion holes 22f on the sensor rotor side than the pin insertion holes 21f on the sensor stator side. Thus, the sensor rotor 22 can be rotated relative to the sensor stator 21 by about ± 1 ° from the neutral position. That is, the pin insertion hole 22 f plays a role as an operation amount regulating means for the sensor rotor 22. When the rotation sensor 20 is used as a torque sensor, it is necessary to reduce the play of the sensor rotor 22 in this way. The reason why the sensor rotor 22 needs to be neutralized is that the detection output of the rotation sensor 20 is used for control of power steering, for example, and therefore it is necessary to know an accurate steering angle.
[0025]
As described above, the neutral pin 5 is made of spring steel, and is inserted into the connector stator 11 and has an end portion engaged with the sensor stator 21 and the sensor rotor 22 (FIG. 3), and the main body portion 5a. An extending portion 5b extending vertically and a groove locking portion 5c provided at an end of the extending portion 5b are provided. And the groove | channel latching | locking part 5c can be approached or separated from the main-body part 5a because of the flexibility (refer arrow in the figure).
[0026]
Then, the effect | action of this rotation connector 1 with a rotation sensor is demonstrated.
[0027]
First, the rotation sensor 20 and the rotation connector 10 are first placed on a neutral jig (not shown) to perform neutralization. Pins for neutralizing the rotation sensor 20 and the rotary connector 10 are fixed to the jig, and these neutralization can be easily performed. Since this pin is always fixed to the jig, it is only necessary to attach the rotation sensor 20 and the rotation connector 10 to the jig, and there is no need for special pin insertion work, and a number of rotation sensors 20 and rotation connectors 10 are neutral. Can be performed in a short time.
[0028]
Next, the neutral pin 5 is attached in this state. The tip of the pin body 5a is inserted through a pin insertion hole 11f through which the ring member 11e and the connector stator 11 are inserted. And the body part edge part of the neutral pin 5 is penetrated to the insertion hole 11f of the connector stator 11, and the one part is protruded to the rotation sensor side. And the front-end | tip part of the pin main-body part 5a is penetrated to the penetration hole 21f of a sensor stator, and the penetration hole 22f of a sensor rotor. At this time, the play between the pin main body 5a and the connector stator 11, the sensor stator 21, and the sensor rotor 22 affects the accuracy of the absolute angle of the steering detected by the rotation sensor 20. It is preferable to reduce the degree of freedom. However, if a large degree of freedom is desired, the pin insertion hole 22f of the sensor rotor may be a long hole in the radial direction.
[0029]
Then, the groove locking portion 5c of the neutral pin 5 is bent (see the arrow in FIG. 3), and this portion is engaged with the pin engagement groove 12c, and the neutral pin insertion operation is completed.
[0030]
By the above pin insertion operation, the connector rotor 12 can be rotated within a range of ± 5 ° with respect to the connector stator 11 by the neutral pin 5 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, since the pin insertion hole 22f of the sensor rotor 22 is only slightly larger than the pin outer diameter, the sensor rotor 22 rotates only within a range of ± 1 ° relative to the sensor stator 21 by the neutral pin 5.
[0031]
The range of the allowable relative rotation angle between the rotor and the stator can be appropriately changed by the designer depending on the product specifications.
[0032]
Further, the neutral pin 5 may be inserted into the rotary connector 1 ′ without the rotation sensor shown in FIG. Thus, since the neutral pin 5 can be used also for the rotation connector without the rotation sensor, the neutral pin can be shared.
[0033]
Subsequently, a rotation connector 2 with a rotation sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0034]
In addition, about the structure equivalent to the above-mentioned embodiment, a corresponding code | symbol is attached | subjected to drawing and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary connector 2 with the rotation sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a connector stator 31, a connector rotor 32, and a sensor stator housed in the connector stator, as in the above-described embodiment. 41, a sensor rotor 42 is provided. However, the connector rotor 32 has a neutral pin insertion hole 32f instead of including the neutral pin engaging groove 12c as in the above-described embodiment. The neutral pin insertion hole 32f has a long hole shape in an arc shape. The length of the long hole is dimensioned so that the movement of the connector rotor 32 is limited to about ± 5 ° with respect to the connector stator 31 by the neutral pin.
[0036]
Further, a neutral pin insertion hole 31f is also formed in the partition wall 31c, and the neutral pin insertion hole 41f of the sensor stator 41 and the neutral pin insertion hole of the sensor rotor 42 pass through the insertion holes 32f and 31f at the end of the neutral pin 6. It penetrates 42f.
[0037]
On the other hand, a neutral pin insertion hole is not drilled in the wall portion of the connector stator 31, and a neutral pin end engagement recess 32f is formed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the connector rotor departure prevention ring. Then, as described above, the rotary connector 30 and the rotation sensor 40 are placed on a predetermined jig, and the neutral pins 6 are sequentially inserted into the respective insertion holes in a state in which the rotary connector 30 and the rotation sensor 40 are neutralized. And the rotation sensor 40 is temporarily fixed simultaneously in the neutral position.
[0038]
In the case of the rotary connector 2 with the rotation sensor according to this embodiment, it is easy to process the neutral pin insertion hole. Further, since the neutral pin insertion hole 31f of the partition wall and the neutral pin insertion hole 42f of the sensor rotor can be visually observed from the pin insertion hole (long hole) 32f of the connector rotor 32, the neutral pin insertion work is easily performed.
[0039]
Next, a rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 6, the rotation connector 3 with the rotation sensor according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a connector stator 51, a connector rotor 52, and a sensor stator housed in the connector stator as in the above-described embodiment. 61, a sensor rotor 62 is provided. However, the steering shaft fitting portion 62a of the sensor rotor 62 is formed extending in the longitudinal direction of the steering shaft S. Further, the connector rotor 52 is fitted to the steering shaft fitting portion 62a of the sensor rotor 62 instead of fitting directly to the steering shaft S. That is, the connector rotor 52 is indirectly fitted to the steering shaft S via the sensor rotor 62.
[0041]
Unlike the above-described embodiment, the neutral pin 7 is inserted from the side of the rotation connector 3 with the rotation sensor toward the center. More specifically, a pin insertion hole 51f is formed in the side wall portion 51a of the connector stator 51 in the radial direction, and the steering shaft fitting portion 52a of the connector rotor and the steering of the sensor rotor are provided so as to correspond to the pin insertion hole 51f. Neutral pin insertion holes 52f and 62f are also formed in the shaft fitting portion 62a. The neutral pin insertion hole 52f is a long hole in the circumferential direction, and the connector rotor 51 can rotate relative to the connector stator 52 by ± 5 ° as described above. On the other hand, the neutral pin insertion hole 62f is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the neutral pin, and the sensor rotor 61 can be rotated relative to the sensor stator 62 by ± 1 °. In the vicinity of the insertion hole of the connector stator 51, a neutral pin engaging recess 51b is formed.
[0042]
With the above configuration, the rotary connector 50 and the rotation sensor 60 are placed on a predetermined jig, and the neutral pin is inserted into each insertion hole in a state in which the rotary connector 50 and the rotation sensor 60 are neutralized. Temporarily fix 60 at a neutral position.
[0043]
In the case of the rotary connector 3 with the rotation sensor according to this embodiment, the neutral pin 7 is pulled out toward the side of the rotary connector 3 with the rotation sensor. In the case of the rotary connectors 1 and 2 with rotation sensors according to other embodiments, after attaching the rotary connectors 1 and 3 to the steering shaft S, the operator removes the neutral pins 5 and 6 in the direction along the steering shaft S. However, in the case of the present embodiment, since the operator has a work form in which the neutral pin 7 is removed from the side of the rotary connector 3, the removal work of the neutral pin 7 is easy to perform.
[0044]
Further, as is clear from the sectional view of FIG. 6, the neutral pin 7 does not interfere with the flat cable.
[0045]
Unlike the above-described embodiment, the end of the neutral pin 7 (end on the main body side) has two protrusions that are split into two, and only the neutral position of the rotation sensor rotor is engaged with the protrusion. You may make it do.
[0046]
Moreover, although the material of the neutral pin was introduced as spring steel, any material may be used as long as it is a resin material or other flexible material.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to claim 1 of the present invention has a neutral position when assembling as compared with a conventional rotation connector and a rotation sensor each provided with a neutral pin. You can save time and effort.
Moreover, since only one pin is required, cost reduction can be achieved by reducing the number of parts.
In addition, in the product specifications that do not require a rotation sensor, the neutral pin can be a neutral pin with a rotation connector with a rotation sensor. That is, a neutral pin that is not limited to the product specification can be used.
Also, by making the movement amount of the rotary connector by the neutral pin different from the movement amount of the rotation sensor, the rotation connector and the rotation sensor are rotated to the shaft while maintaining the fixing accuracy of the rotation connector and the rotation sensor by a single assembly operation to the steering shaft. Both the connector and the rotation sensor can be mounted.
[0048]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary connector with a rotation sensor, wherein the rotation connector and the rotation sensor are integrated, and a single neutral pin structure is provided, so that a single assembly with the steering shaft is performed. Both can be attached to the shaft while maintaining the respective fixing accuracy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rotation connector with a rotation sensor of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a neutral pin used for the rotation connector with a rotation sensor of FIG. 1;
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the neutral pin of FIG. 2 is used in a rotary connector without a rotation sensor.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotation connector with a rotation sensor 2 Rotation connector with a rotation sensor 5 Neutral pin 5a Body part 5b Extension part 5c Groove latching part 7 Neutral pin 10 Rotation connector 11 Connector stator 11a Cable housing 11b Rotation sensor housing 11e Ring member 11f Pin insertion hole 12 Connector rotor 12a Fitting part 12b Cover 12c Pin engagement groove 20 Rotation sensor 21 Sensor stator 21f, 22f Pin insertion hole 22 Sensor rotor 22a Sensor part 22b Engagement ring part 22c Groove part 22f Pin insertion hole 30 Rotation connector 31 Connector stator 31c Bulkhead portion 31f Neutral pin insertion hole 32 Connector rotor 32f Neutral pin insertion hole 40 Rotation sensor 41 Sensor stator 41f Neutral pin insertion hole 42 Sensor rotor 42f Neutral pin insertion hole 51 Connector stator 5 1a Side wall 51b Neutral pin engagement recess 51f Pin insertion hole 52 Connector rotor 52f Neutral pin insertion hole 61 Sensor stator 62 Sensor rotor 62a Steering shaft fitting part 62f Neutral pin insertion hole A Cable accommodation space B Sensor accommodation space S Steering shaft

Claims (2)

In a rotation connector with a rotation sensor having a rotation sensor for detecting a rotation angle,
A neutral pin for restricting the rotation of the rotor of the rotary connector relative to the stator in a rotational direction;
The neutral pin restricts the operation of the rotor of the rotation sensor in the rotational direction relative to the stator, and the operation amount of the rotary connector by the neutral pin differs from the operation amount of the rotation sensor. Rotary connector with sensor.   An operation amount regulating means capable of arbitrarily setting an operation amount of the rotation connector in the rotation direction relative to the stator and an operation amount of the rotation sensor rotor in the rotation direction relative to the stator by the neutral pin. The rotation connector with a rotation sensor according to claim 1.

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