JP5912784B2 - Relative angle detection device and electric power steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a relative angle detection device and an electric power steering device.

In recent years, an apparatus for detecting the relative rotation angle of two rotation shafts arranged coaxially with each other has been proposed.
For example, the device described in Patent Document 1 is arranged in the axial direction so as to be separated from the outer periphery of the magnetic circuit forming member of the first rotating body and the second rotating body that are coaxially connected by a torsion bar, Two magnetic flux collecting rings for collecting the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic circuit forming member, a detection unit for detecting torque applied to the first rotating body based on the density of the magnetic flux collected by each magnetic flux collecting ring, and the magnetic flux collecting ring And a holding ring having a detecting portion that holds the detecting portion and is attached to the housing on the outer peripheral portion, and a conductive wire connected to the detecting portion. The detection unit is configured such that the detection signal changes in accordance with the change in magnetic flux density generated between the convex pieces of the magnetism collecting ring, and the detection signal is transmitted to the control unit using a microprocessor via the conducting wire. Given.

JP 2007-187589 A

  A sensor (detection unit) housed in the housing and a device that receives a detection signal from the sensor and is arranged outside the housing are held by an electric wire holding member (grommet) inserted into the through hole of the housing. In the case of a configuration in which the electric wires (conductive wires) are connected, even if a force acts on the electric wires outside the housing, a large force may be exerted on the ends of the electric wires in the housing. For example, when the end of the electric wire is connected to the connector and the connector is inserted into the connection terminal, if a large force is applied to the end of the electric wire in the housing, the electric wire is dropped from the connector or the connector is inserted. There is a risk that the connected terminal may break. Moreover, there exists a possibility that the sealing performance of the electric wire in an electric wire holding member (grommet) may deteriorate because force acts on an electric wire outside a housing.

On the other hand, for example, by disposing a plate formed of sheet metal outside the housing, the wire holding member (grommet) inserted into the through hole formed in the housing is prevented from coming off and the wire is supported. It is also possible. However, in such a configuration, when the housing is made of aluminum, there is a possibility that the electric wire holding member (grommet) falls off due to electrochemical corrosion between the plate and the housing. Moreover, the assembly man-hour for the arrangement of the plate on the outside of the housing increases.
Even if force acts on an electric wire outside a housing, the present invention is a device that realizes a simple structure to prevent a large force from being applied to an electric wire holding portion in an electric wire holding member and an end portion of the electric wire in the housing. The purpose is to propose.

For this purpose, the present invention is a sensor that is housed in a housing in which a communication hole communicating between the inside and the outside is formed, and that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the relative rotation angle of two rotation shafts arranged coaxially with each other. An electric wire that transmits an electric signal output from the sensor to a device disposed outside the housing, an electric wire holding member that is fitted into the communication hole of the housing and holds the electric wire, and the housing An outer member having a through hole formed therein through which the electric wire passes, and the outer member is connected by hinge coupling. have a pair of opening and closing member for opening and closing the through hole by relative rotation, the pair of opening and closing member of the outer member, the pair of connecting members connected at hinged one Each of the pair of opening and closing members and the pair of connecting members are connected by hinge coupling, and when the pair of opening and closing members closes the through hole, the pair of connecting members is The relative angle detection device is housed inside the outer peripheral surface of the outer member .

Here, the through hole of the outer member is a hole in the other end which is the end of the one end that is the end on the electric wire holding member side and the end opposite to the electric wire holding member side. It should be crossed with the direction.
The outer member may be configured to bend the electric wire passing through the through hole at an acute angle between the one end and the other end of the through hole.

From another point of view, the present invention relates to a sensor that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the relative rotation angle of two rotation shafts arranged coaxially with each other, and a communication hole that houses the sensor and communicates inside and outside. A housing in which the electrical signal output from the sensor is transmitted to a device disposed outside the housing, and an electrical wire holder that is fitted in the communication hole of the housing and holds the electrical wire A member and an outer member disposed in a portion of the communication hole of the housing outside the wire holding member and having a through hole through which the electric wire passes, and the outer member includes a hinge binding is connected, have a pair of opening and closing member for opening and closing the through hole by relative rotation, the pair of opening and closing member of said outer member, connected by hinged Each of the pair of connecting members, the main body of the pair of opening and closing members and the pair of connecting members are connected by hinge coupling, and the through hole is closed by the pair of opening and closing members. In some cases, the pair of connecting members are housed inside the outer peripheral surface of the outer member .

  According to the present invention, even if a force acts on the electric wire outside the housing, it is possible to prevent a large force from being exerted on the electric wire holding portion in the electric wire holding member and the end portion of the electric wire in the housing with a simple configuration. realizable.

It is sectional drawing of the electric power steering device to which the detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment is applied. It is a perspective view of the detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the direction of the electric current sent through a thin film ferromagnetic metal, and the direction of the magnetic field to apply. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a magnetic field strength and the resistance value of a thin film ferromagnetic metal at the time of changing a magnetic field strength in the state of FIG. It is a figure which shows the direction of the electric current sent through a thin film ferromagnetic metal, and the direction of the magnetic field to apply. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the direction of a magnetic field, and the resistance value of a thin film ferromagnetic metal. (A) is a figure which shows an example of MR sensor using the principle which detects the direction of a magnetic field with the magnetic field intensity more than prescription | regulation magnetic field intensity. (B) is the figure which showed the structure of MR sensor shown to (a) with the equivalent circuit. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the change of the magnetic field direction when a magnet carries out a linear motion, and the output of MR sensor. It is a figure which shows the other example of MR sensor. It is a figure which shows an example of the combination of the output used in detecting the moving direction of a magnet. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of MR sensor. It is a figure which shows the other example of MR sensor. It is an external view of the harness comp which concerns on a reference example . It is a schematic block diagram of a grommet and a socket. It is sectional drawing of the XV-XV part of FIG. (A) is a schematic block diagram of a 2nd housing. (B) is BB sectional drawing in (a). (C) is a figure which shows the state with which the harness comp was mounted | worn with the 2nd housing. It is a figure which shows the other form of a housing. It is a figure which shows the Example of a socket. (A) is a schematic block diagram of the other Example of the 2nd housing to which the socket which concerns on an Example is applied. (B) is a schematic block diagram of the other Example of the 3rd housing which concerns on the other form with which the socket which concerns on an Example is applied. It is a figure which shows the other reference example of a socket. It is a figure which shows the other reference example of a socket.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric power steering device 100 to which a detection device 10 according to an embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the detection apparatus 10 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 2, a part of a base 50 and a flat cable cover 60 described later are omitted for easy understanding of the configuration.

  The electric power steering apparatus 100 includes a first rotating shaft 110 and a second rotating shaft 120 that rotate coaxially. The first rotating shaft 110 is a rotating shaft to which, for example, a steering wheel is connected, and the second rotating shaft 120 is coaxially coupled to the first rotating shaft 110 via a torsion bar 130. The pinion 121 formed on the second rotating shaft 120 meshes with a rack (not shown) of a rack shaft (not shown) connected to the wheel, and the rotational motion of the second rotating shaft 120 is caused by the pinion 121. , Converted into a linear motion of the rack shaft through the rack, and the wheels are steered.

In addition, the electric power steering apparatus 100 includes a housing 140 that rotatably supports the first rotating shaft 110 and the second rotating shaft 120. The housing 140 is a member that is fixed to a main body frame (hereinafter also referred to as “vehicle body”) of a vehicle such as an automobile, and includes a first housing 150, a second housing 160, and a third housing 170. The
In the first housing 150, the bearing 151 that rotatably supports the second rotating shaft 120 is one of the rotating shaft directions of the second rotating shaft 120 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “axial direction”). It is a member that is provided on the end side (lower side in FIG. 1) and is open on the other end side in the axial direction (upper side in FIG. 1).

  The second housing 160 is a member having both ends in the axial direction opened, and the opening on one end side in the axial direction is opposed to the opening on the other end side in the axial direction in the first housing 150. Are arranged as follows. The second housing 160 is fixed to the first housing 150 by, for example, bolts. A communication hole 161 that communicates the inside and the outside is formed on the side surface of the second housing 160. The communication hole 161 is a substantially elliptical columnar inner communication hole 161a (see FIG. 16) in which a grommet 320 of the harness comp 300 described later is fitted, and a substantially elliptical columnar outer communication in which the socket 330 of the harness comp 300 is fitted. And a hole 161b (see FIG. 16). The outer communication hole 161b is formed larger than the inner communication hole 161a in the long side direction, although the elliptical short side direction is the same. Further, the second housing 160 has a concave portion 162 (see FIG. 16) that is recessed from the surface that forms the outer communication hole 161b of the communication hole 161 in the middle of the elliptical column direction (communication hole direction) in the communication hole 161. It is formed on both sides of the ellipse in the long side direction. The recess 162 has a half-moon shape and has two vertical surfaces 162a that are surfaces perpendicular to the column direction. The second housing 160 has a recess 164 (FIGS. 1 and 16) that is recessed from the surface of the communication hole 161 where the outer communication hole 161b is formed at the upper part in the short side direction (axial direction) of the elliptical column. Reference) is formed.

  The third housing 170 has a bearing 171 that rotatably supports the first rotating shaft 110 on the other end side in the axial direction (upper side in FIG. 1), and one end side in the axial direction ( In FIG. 1, the lower side is a member opened. Then, the opening on one end side in the axial direction is disposed so as to face the opening on the other end side in the axial direction of the second housing 160, and is fixed to the second housing 160 with a bolt or the like, for example. Is done.

In addition, the electric power steering apparatus 100 includes a worm wheel 180 fixed to the second rotating shaft 120 by press-fitting, for example, and a worm gear 191 meshing with the worm wheel 180 connected to the output shaft and fixed to the first housing 150. The electric motor 190 is provided.
In addition, the electric power steering apparatus 100 is based on a detection device 10 that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the relative rotation angle between the first rotation shaft 110 and the second rotation shaft 120, and an output value from the detection device 10. And an electronic control unit (ECU) 200 that controls the driving of the electric motor 190.

The ECU 200 uses a CPU that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM that stores programs executed by the CPU, various data, and the like, and a RAM that is used as a work memory for the CPU, and the like from the detection device 10. A relative angle calculation unit 210 that calculates the relative rotation angle between the first rotation shaft 110 and the second rotation shaft 120 based on the output value is provided.
The detection device 10 will be described in detail later.

  In the electric power steering apparatus 100 configured as described above, in view of the fact that the steering torque applied to the steering wheel appears as the relative rotation angle between the first rotation shaft 110 and the second rotation shaft 120, the first The steering torque is determined based on the relative rotation angle between the rotation shaft 110 and the second rotation shaft 120. That is, the relative rotation angle between the first rotation shaft 110 and the second rotation shaft 120 is detected by the detection device 10, and the ECU 200 grasps the steering torque based on the output value from the detection device 10 and grasps the grasped steering. The drive of the electric motor 190 is controlled based on the torque. The torque generated by the electric motor 190 is transmitted to the second rotating shaft 120 via the worm gear 191 and the worm wheel 180. Thereby, the torque generated by the electric motor 190 assists the driver's steering force applied to the steering wheel.

Below, the detection apparatus 10 is explained in full detail.
The detection device 10 includes a magnet 20 attached to the first rotation shaft 110, and a first rotation shaft 110 and a second rotation shaft 120 based on a magnetic field of the magnet 20 (a magnetic field generated from the magnet 20). A relative angle sensor 30 that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the relative rotation angle, and a printed circuit board 40 on which the relative angle sensor 30 is mounted are provided. The detection device 10 includes a base 50 that is attached to the second rotating shaft 120 and supports the printed circuit board 40, and a bottomed cylindrical flat cable cover 60 that houses a flat cable 70 described later. . The detection device 10 has a flat cable 70 having one end connected to a terminal provided on the printed circuit board 40 and the other end connected to a terminal fixed to the flat cable cover 60, and a flat cable. A harness comp 300 for connecting the terminal fixed to the cable cover 60 and the ECU 200 is provided.

The magnet 20 has a cylindrical (donut) shape, and a first rotating shaft 110 is fitted inside the magnet 20 and rotates together with the first rotating shaft 110. Then, N poles and S poles are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the first rotating shaft 110 and are magnetized in the circumferential direction.
The relative angle sensor 30 is located outside the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 20 in the rotational radius direction of the first rotating shaft 110 and in the region where the magnet 20 is provided in the axial direction of the first rotating shaft 110. Is arranged. The relative angle sensor 30 according to the present embodiment is an MR sensor (magnetoresistive element) that is a magnetic sensor utilizing the fact that the resistance value changes due to a magnetic field. The relative angle sensor 30 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the relative rotation angle between the first rotating shaft 110 and the second rotating shaft 120 based on the magnetic field of the magnet 20 (the magnetic field generated from the magnet 20). Thus, the relative rotation angle between the two rotation shafts arranged coaxially is detected. The relative angle sensor 30 and the relative rotation angle detection method will be described in detail later.

The printed circuit board 40 is fixed to the base 50 with, for example, a bolt so as to be disposed outside the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 20 in the rotational radius direction of the first rotating shaft 110.
The base 50 is a disk-shaped member, is fitted to the second rotating shaft 120, and rotates together with the second rotating shaft 120.
The flat cable cover 60 is a bottomed cylindrical member and is fixed to the housing 140. As an aspect for fixing the flat cable cover 60 to the housing 140, the following aspects can be exemplified. That is, on the outer peripheral surface of the flat cable cover 60, a plurality of convex portions 61 (four in this embodiment at intervals of 90 degrees) are formed to extend outward at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, the same number of concave portions 151 as the convex portions 61 are formed in the first housing 150 of the housing 140. Then, the convex portion 61 of the flat cable cover 60 is fitted into the concave portion 151 formed in the first housing 150, thereby positioning the second rotating shaft 120 in the rotational direction. The axial positioning is performed by pressing the upper surface of the flat cable cover 60 with the second housing 160. Alternatively, the flat cable cover 60 may be fixed to the first housing 150 or the second housing 160 with, for example, bolts.

The flat cable 70 has one end connected to the terminal 41 of the printed circuit board 40 and the other end connected to a connection terminal 62 provided on the inner side of the flat cable cover 60. In a space formed by one end face and the inner side of the flat cable cover 60, it is housed in a spirally wound state. When viewed from the other end side in the axial direction, the flat cable 70 is wound in the right direction as shown in FIG. 2, and the steering wheel, in other words, the first rotating shaft 110 and the second rotating shaft are wound. When the rotary shaft 120 is rotated in the right direction, one end rotates in the right direction in accordance with the rotation of the second rotary shaft 120, so that the number of turns is larger than that in the neutral state where the steering wheel is not rotated. To increase. On the other hand, when the steering wheel is rotated in the left direction, the number of turns is reduced as compared with the neutral state in which the steering wheel is not rotated.
The harness comp 300 has a function of transmitting an output signal from the relative angle sensor 30 to the ECU 200. The harness comp 300 will be described in detail later.

Below, the relative angle sensor 30 which concerns on this Embodiment is demonstrated.
The relative angle sensor 30 according to the present embodiment is an MR sensor (magnetoresistive element) that utilizes a change in resistance value due to a magnetic field (magnetic field).

First, the operation principle of the MR sensor will be described.
The MR sensor is composed of an Si or glass substrate and a thin film of an alloy mainly composed of a ferromagnetic metal such as Ni-Fe formed thereon, and the resistance value of the thin film ferromagnetic metal is in a specific direction. The resistance value changes according to the strength of the magnetic field.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the direction of the current flowing through the thin film ferromagnetic metal and the direction of the applied magnetic field. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the magnetic field strength and the resistance value of the thin film ferromagnetic metal when the magnetic field strength is changed in the state of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a current is passed through the thin film ferromagnetic metal formed in a rectangular shape on the substrate in the longitudinal direction of the rectangle, that is, in the Y direction in the figure. On the other hand, the magnetic field H is applied in a direction perpendicular to the current direction (Y direction) (X direction in the figure), and in this state, the strength of the magnetic field is changed. FIG. 4 shows how the resistance value of the thin film ferromagnetic metal changes at this time.

As shown in FIG. 4, even if the strength of the magnetic field is changed, the resistance value change from the time of no magnetic field (magnetic field strength zero) is about 3% at the maximum.
Hereinafter, a region outside which the resistance value change amount (ΔR) can be approximately expressed by the equation “ΔR∝H ² ” is referred to as a “saturation sensitivity region”. In the saturation sensitivity region, the resistance value change of 3% does not change when the magnetic field intensity is higher than a certain magnetic field intensity (hereinafter referred to as “specified magnetic field intensity”).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the direction of the current flowing through the thin film ferromagnetic metal and the direction of the applied magnetic field. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the direction of the magnetic field and the resistance value of the thin film ferromagnetic metal.
As shown in FIG. 5, a current is passed in the rectangular longitudinal direction of the thin film ferromagnetic metal formed in a rectangular shape, that is, the Y direction in the figure, and an angle change θ is given to the current direction as the direction of the magnetic field. At this time, in order to know the change in the resistance value of the thin film ferromagnetic metal due to the direction of the magnetic field, the applied magnetic field strength is set to be equal to or higher than the above-mentioned prescribed magnetic field strength at which the resistance value does not change due to the magnetic field strength.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the amount of resistance change becomes maximum when the current direction and the magnetic field direction are perpendicular (θ = 90 °, 270 °), and the current direction and the magnetic field direction are parallel (θ = 0 °). , 180 degrees). When the maximum amount of change in the resistance value in this case is ΔR, the resistance value R of the thin film ferromagnetic metal changes as an angular component in the current direction and the magnetic field direction, and is expressed by the equation (1), and is shown in FIG. As shown in b).
R = R0−ΔRsin ² θ (1)
Here, R0 is a resistance value when a magnetic field having a specified magnetic field strength or more is applied parallel to the current direction (θ = 0 degree or 180 degrees).
From equation (1), the direction of the magnetic field greater than the prescribed magnetic field strength can be detected by grasping the resistance value of the thin film ferromagnetic metal.

Next, the detection principle of the MR sensor will be described.
FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of an MR sensor that uses the principle of detecting the direction of a magnetic field with a magnetic field strength equal to or higher than a prescribed magnetic field strength. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the configuration of the MR sensor shown in FIG.
In the thin film ferromagnetic metal of the MR sensor shown in FIG. 7A, a first element E1 formed so that the longitudinal direction is long and a second element E2 formed so that the lateral direction is long are in series. Is arranged.

In the thin-film ferromagnetic metal having such a shape, the vertical magnetic field that causes the largest resistance value change with respect to the first element E1 is the magnetic field direction with the smallest resistance value change with respect to the second element E2. The resistance value R1 of the first element E1 is given by the formula (2), and the resistance value R2 of the second element E2 is given by the formula (3).
R1 = R0−ΔRsin ² θ (2)
R2 = R0−ΔRcos ² θ (3)

An equivalent circuit of the MR sensor having the element configuration as shown in FIG. 7A is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the end of the first element E1 that is not connected to the second element E2 is the ground (Gnd), and the second element E2 is connected to the first element E1. When the output voltage at the other end is Vcc, the output voltage Vout at the connection between the first element E1 and the second element E2 is given by equation (4).
Vout = (R1 / (R1 + R2)) × Vcc (4)

When formulas (2) and (3) are substituted into formula (4) and rearranged, formula (5) is obtained.
Vout = Vcc / 2 + α × cos 2θ (5)
Here, α is α = (ΔR / (2 (2 × R0−ΔR))) × Vcc.
From equation (5), the direction of the magnetic field can be grasped by detecting Vout.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the change in the magnetic field direction and the output of the MR sensor when the magnet moves linearly.
As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the MR sensor shown in FIG. 7 is applied to a magnet in which N poles and S poles are alternately arranged. It is arranged so that the change in the direction of the magnetic field contributes to the sensor surface of the MR sensor.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, the magnet has a distance from the center of the N pole to the center of the S pole shown in FIG. 8C (hereinafter also referred to as “magnetization pitch”) λ. Move to the left. In such a case, a magnetic field in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 8C is applied to the MR sensor in accordance with the position of the magnet. When the magnet moves at the magnetization pitch λ, the magnetic field on the sensor surface is reduced. The direction rotates 1/2. Therefore, the waveform of the output voltage Vout at the connection between the first element E1 and the second element E2 is shown in FIG. 8D from “Vout = Vcc / 2 + α × cos 2θ” shown in the equation (5). Thus, a waveform of one cycle is obtained.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of the MR sensor.
If the element configuration shown in FIG. 9A is used instead of the element configuration shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 9B, a generally known Wheatstone bridge (full bridge) Can be configured. Therefore, the detection accuracy can be increased by using the MR sensor having the element configuration shown in FIG.

A method for detecting the direction of movement of the magnet will be described.
From the relationship between the direction of the magnetic field shown in FIG. 6 and the resistance value of the thin film ferromagnetic metal, and from the equation (1) “R = R0−ΔRsin ² θ”, the direction of the magnetic field can be expressed as the current when viewed in FIG. The resistance value of the thin-film ferromagnetic metal is the same whether it is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the direction. Therefore, even if the resistance value of the thin film ferromagnetic metal can be grasped, the direction of movement of the magnet cannot be grasped.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a combination of outputs used to detect the moving direction of the magnet. As shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to detect the moving direction of the magnet by combining two outputs having a phase difference of ¼ period. In order to obtain these outputs, two MR sensors may be arranged so as to have the phase relationship of (i) and (ii) or (i) and (iv) shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of arrangement of MR sensors. As shown in FIG. 11, it is also preferable that two MR sensors are overlapped and one sensor is inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the other sensor.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example of the MR sensor. As shown in FIG. 12 (a), two sets of full-bridge elements are inclined on each other by 45 degrees and formed on a single substrate to form an element structure that becomes an equivalent circuit as shown in FIG. 12 (b). Is also suitable. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12C, an accurate sine wave and cosine wave can be output with one MR sensor. Therefore, the movement direction and the amount of movement of the magnet with respect to the MR sensor can be grasped from the output value of the MR sensor having the element configuration shown in FIG.

  In view of the characteristics of the MR sensor described above, in the detection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the MR sensor having the element configuration shown in FIG. As described above, the relative angle sensor 30 is disposed perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 20, and the position of the second rotation shaft 120 in the axial direction is within the region of the magnet 20. Therefore, in such a case, the relative angle sensor 30 changes the direction of the magnetic field as shown in FIG. 8C according to the position of the magnet 20 due to the magnetic field of the magnet 20 rotating together with the first rotating shaft 110. It becomes.

As a result, when the magnet 20 moves (rotates) the magnetization pitch λ, the direction of the magnetic field rotates 1/2 on the magnetically sensitive surface of the relative angle sensor 30, and the output values VoutA and VoutB from the relative angle sensor 30 are As shown in FIG. 12C, a cosine curve (cosine wave) and a sine curve (sine wave) having a quarter-phase phase difference are obtained.
That is, when the driver rotates the steering wheel, the first rotating shaft 110 rotates with the rotation of the steering wheel, and the torsion bar 130 is twisted. Then, the second rotating shaft 120 rotates with a slight delay from the first rotating shaft 110. This delay appears as a difference in rotation angle between the first rotating shaft 110 and the second rotating shaft 120 connected to the torsion bar 130. The detection device 10 outputs VoutA and VoutB, which are a cosine curve and a sine curve, with a phase difference of ¼ period corresponding to the difference in rotation angle.
The magnetic sensitive surface of the relative angle sensor 30 is a surface that can detect a magnetic field in the relative angle sensor 30.

Based on the output values VoutA and VoutB of the relative angle sensor 30, the relative angle calculation unit 210 of the ECU 200 determines the relative rotation angle θt between the first rotation shaft 110 and the second rotation shaft 120 using the following equation (6). Use to calculate.
θt = arctan (VoutB / VoutA) (6)
In this way, the relative angle calculation unit 210 applies the relative rotation angle and twist direction between the first rotation shaft 110 and the second rotation shaft 120 based on the output value from the relative angle sensor 30, that is, the steering wheel. It is possible to grasp the magnitude and direction of the applied torque.

Further, when the detection apparatus 10 configured as described above is assembled, the flat cable cover 60, the base 50 to which the printed circuit board 40 is attached, and the flat cable 70 accommodated between the flat cable cover 60 and the base 50. Are previously unitized. Then, the unit is attached to the first housing 150 in which the second rotating shaft 120 is assembled so that the convex portion 61 of the flat cable cover 60 fits into the concave portion 151 of the first housing 150. At that time, the base 50 is attached to the second rotating shaft 120.
Thus, the assembly property can be improved by making the detection apparatus 10 a structure that can be unitized in advance.

Next, the harness comp 300 will be described.
FIG. 13 is an external view of a harness comp 300 according to a reference example .
The harness comp 300 includes a plurality of electric wires 310, a grommet 320 as an example of an electric wire holding member that holds the plurality of electric wires 310, and a socket 330 as an example of an outer member that suppresses the movement of the grommet 320. Yes. The harness comp 300 includes a first connector 350 connected to one end of the plurality of electric wires 310, and a second connector 360 connected to the other end of the plurality of electric wires 310. Yes. In addition, the harness comp 300 bundles the plurality of electric wires 310 between the first cover 370 that bundles the plurality of electric wires 310 between the grommet 320 and the first connector 350, and between the grommet 320 and the second connector 360. A second cover 380.

The harness comp 300 according to the reference example has four electric wires 310, and one end of the four electric wires 310 is printed via the first connector 350, the connection terminal 62, and the like. The other end of the four electric wires 310 is connected to the ECU 200 via the second connector 360 and the like on the substrate 40. The four electric wires 310 are used for power supply from the ECU 200 to the relative angle sensor 30 and transmission of output values from the relative angle sensor 30 to the ECU 200.

The electric wire 310 is a conductor in which a conductor such as a metal stretched linearly is covered with an insulator, and conducts electricity. The harness comp 300 according to the reference example has four electric wires 310, one end of the four electric wires 310 is connected to the first connector 350, and the other end is the second electric wire 310. It is connected to the connector 360 and is bundled by a first cover 370 and a second cover 380 which are insulators.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of the grommet 320 and the socket 330. (A) is the perspective view seen from the 2nd connector 360 side, (b) is the perspective view seen from the 1st connector 350 side. (C) is a diagram showing a non-coupled state of the socket 330. FIG.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XV-XV in FIG.
FIG. 16A is a schematic configuration diagram of the second housing 160. FIG.16 (b) is sectional drawing of the BB part in (a). FIG. 16C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the harness comp 300 is attached to the second housing 160.

The grommet 320 includes an elliptical columnar portion 321 having a substantially elliptical column shape and a cylindrical portion 322 having a cylindrical shape. The elliptical column part 321 is formed with the same number of electric wire holes 323 as the number of electric wires 310 (four in the reference example ) formed in the column direction for passing the electric wires 310. In addition, a protrusion 324 protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elliptical column part 321 in the column direction (the hole direction of the electric wire hole 323 (hereinafter referred to as “the electric wire hole direction”). In some cases, a plurality of (three in the reference example ) are provided. The size of the outermost peripheral portion of the protrusion 324 is larger than the size of the inner communication hole 161 a of the communication hole 161 of the second housing 160. The outer peripheral surface of the elliptical column part 321 is the same as or slightly smaller than the inner peripheral surface of the surrounding wall 163 that forms the inner communication hole 161 a of the communication hole 161 of the second housing 160, and is fitted to the second housing 160. In the state, the protrusion 324 that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface thereof is elastically deformed inward as a whole by being pushed by the surrounding wall 163. Accordingly, the grommet 320 seals the inner communication hole 161a of the communication hole 161 of the second housing 160, presses the electric wire 310 inserted into the electric wire hole 323 at the peripheral portion of the electric wire hole 323, and moves the electric wire 310. Suppress. The grommet 320 is formed into the predetermined shape by vulcanizing and molding an elastic material such as rubber.

  The socket 330 has a through hole 331 through which an electric wire passes, and has a pair of opening and closing members that are connected by hinge coupling and open and close by rotating relatively. That is, the socket 330 includes a male side member 410 having a protruding portion 411 protruding from the outer surface, and a female side member 420 provided with a receiving portion 421 for receiving the distal end portion of the protruding portion 411 outside the outer surface.

  A bar-shaped rotating shaft 422 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper surface of the female member 420, and connecting portions 423 that connect the end of the rotating shaft 422 and the upper surface are provided at both ends of the rotating shaft 422. . On the other hand, on the upper surface of the male side member 410, a bearing 412 that fits with the rotating shaft 422 of the female side member 420 is provided. Thus, the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 are connected by hinge coupling, and the male side member 410 can rotate with respect to the female side member 420 about the rotation shaft 422 of the female side member 420. ing.

The male member 410 and the female member 420 have side surfaces that face the other member when the protruding portion 411 of the male member 410 is joined by being inserted into the receiving portion 421 of the female member 420. It is provided for each. Hereinafter, the side surface of the male side member 410 is referred to as a male side surface 415, and the side surface of the female side member 420 is referred to as a female side surface 425.
The protruding portion 411 of the male side member 410 has a lateral portion 411a extending laterally from the male side surface 415 to the female side member 420, and the distal end of the lateral portion 411a is below the lateral direction. An inclined surface 411b inclined in the direction and a vertical surface 411c extending upward from the end height of the inclined surface 411b to the lower surface of the lateral portion 411a are formed. In addition, a recess 411 d is provided around the portion where the protrusion 411 is provided on the lower surface of the male member 410.

  The receiving part 421 of the female side member 420 includes a lower part (not shown) extending downward from the lower surface of the female side member 420, and a lateral part 421a extending laterally from the lower end of the lower part to the male side member 410 side. It is composed of An inclined surface 421b that is inclined upward with respect to the horizontal direction and a vertical surface 421c that extends downward from the end height of the inclined surface 421b to the upper surface of the horizontal portion 421a are formed at the tip of the horizontal portion 421a. ing. In addition, a recess 421d is provided around the portion of the lower surface of the female member 420 where the receiving portion 421 is provided.

  The male side member 410 and the female side member 420 are coupled to each other by inserting the protruding portion 411 of the male side member 410 between the lateral portion 421a of the receiving portion 421 of the female side member 420 and the lower surface. The In the coupled state, the vertical surface 411c of the protruding portion 411 of the male side member 410 and the vertical surface 421c of the receiving portion 421 of the female side member 420 come into contact with each other, so that the male side member 410 rotates relative to the female side member 420. Is suppressed and the binding state is maintained.

In the state where the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 are coupled, the socket 330 has a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape on the outer peripheral surface 334. A through hole 331 for passing a plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 is formed. The cross-sectional shape of the through-hole 331 is a substantially perfect circle, and the lengthwise shape is one direction 331c which is the hole direction of one end which is the end on the grommet 320 side (see FIG. 1). And the other direction 331d (see FIG. 1) that is the hole direction of the other end that is the end opposite to the grommet 320 is formed so as to intersect. In the reference example , one direction 331c and the other direction 331d are formed to be orthogonal to each other. That is, when one direction 331c is the same direction as the communication hole direction (wire hole direction) and the horizontal direction, the other direction 331d is a downward direction (see FIG. 1). The through-hole 331 is curved in a dogleg shape from one end portion to the other end portion and then toward the other end portion side after going to the opposite side to the other end side ( (See FIG. 1). In other words, the through-hole 331 is curved in a mountain shape that is convex in the direction opposite to the direction of the electric wire 310 outside the housing 140.

  The through-hole 331 is formed by a male-side through-hole recess 331a that is recessed inward from the male-side surface 415 in the male-side member 410, and a female-side through-hole recess 331b that is recessed inward from the female-side surface 425 in the female-side member 420. Is done. In a state where the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 are coupled, the male side surface 415 of the male side member 410 and the female side surface 425 of the female side member 420 are formed so as not to coincide with the hole center of the through hole 331. The male side surface 415 and the female side surface 425 are formed so as to be closer to the male member 410 side than the center of the through hole 331. Therefore, the size (region) of the female-side through-hole recess 331b of the female-side member 420 is larger than the size (region) of the male-side through-hole recess 331a of the male-side member 410. And the wall around the male side through-hole recessed part 331a of the male side member 410 and the female side through-hole recessed part 331b of the female-side member 420 is formed in order to curve the through-hole 331 in a dogleg shape. An acute angle portion 330 a that is bent at an acute angle is provided at a lower portion of the through hole 331 in the female side member 420.

  The socket 330 has two crescent column portions 332 projecting in the shape of a crescent column from one end surface (end surface on the grommet 320 side) in the column direction to the outside in the column direction on both sides in the long side direction of the ellipse. A cylindrical portion 333 is formed in the center portion that is recessed in a cylindrical shape from this end face. One crescent column 332 is provided for each of the male member 410 and the female member 420. The cylindrical portion 333 includes a male cylindrical portion recess 333a that is recessed inward from one end surface in the column direction of the male member 410 and a female cylindrical portion recess that is recessed inward from one end surface in the column direction of the female member 420. 333b.

  The size of the elliptical columnar outer peripheral surface 334 of the socket 330 is the same as or slightly smaller than the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 163 that forms the outer communication hole 161 b of the communication hole 161 of the second housing 160. At the other end (the end opposite to the grommet 320) of the elliptical columnar outer peripheral surface 334, a protruding portion 335 that protrudes outward in the lateral direction from the elliptical columnar outer peripheral surface 334 is provided. Two each of the side members 420 are provided.

  In addition, a guide portion 336 that guides the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 in the other direction 331d is provided at the end of the socket 330 opposite to the grommet 320. The guide part 336 is a wall that covers the periphery of the part from the part of the through-hole 331 that is curved in a dogleg shape to the other end part, and the male side guide part 336a of the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 female guides 336b. The male side guide portion 336a of the male side member 410 is provided with a protruding portion 336c that protrudes toward the hole center side of the through hole 331 so as to narrow the passage area of the through hole 331. Further, the male side guide part 336a and the female side guide part 336b are respectively provided with a concave part 336d and a convex part 336e that fit when the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 are coupled.

  Further, at the grommet 320 side portions of the male side surface 415 and the female side surface 425, a convex portion 415a and a concave portion 425a that fit when the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 are coupled are provided. . By fitting the convex portion 415a and the concave portion 425a, when the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 are coupled, the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 are mutually connected to the male side surface 415 and the female side surface. It is suppressed that it shifts to the surface direction of 425.

The socket 330 protrudes toward the protruding portion 335 in one direction 331c of the through hole 331 from one end portion (end portion on the grommet 320 side) of the elliptical columnar outer peripheral surface 334 in the column direction, and is elastically deformed in the long side direction. Hooks 390 are provided at both ends in the long side direction. That is, one hook 390 is provided for each of the male side member 410 and the female side member 420. The hook 390 is formed such that its outer surface is along an elliptical columnar outer peripheral surface 334. The hook 390 includes an inclined surface 391 that is inclined with respect to the direction of the communication hole so as to protrude outward from the elliptical columnar outer peripheral surface 334, and parallel to the long side direction from the end of the inclined surface 391 to the inside of the long side direction. The surface which goes to, in other words, the perpendicular | vertical surface 392 which is a surface perpendicular | vertical to a communicating hole direction is provided. Two elongated holes 393 are formed between the starting end of the inclined surface 391 and the one end so that the inclined surface 391 and the vertical surface 392 are easily elastically deformed in the long side direction.
The socket 330 is molded into the predetermined shape by injection molding using a resin.

  The socket 330 configured as described above opens the through-hole 331 when the protruding portion 411 of the male side member 410 and the receiving portion 421 of the female side member 420 are not coupled (the state shown in FIG. 14C). ). In this state, the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 can be pushed into the female side through-hole recess 331b of the female side member 420 from the lateral direction. Thereafter, when the protruding portion 411 of the male side member 410 is inserted into the receiving portion 421 of the female side member 420 and coupled, the through hole 331 is closed. At that time, the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 are pressed by the protrusions 336 c provided on the male side guide portion 336 a of the male side member 410.

And the harness comp 300 comprised as mentioned above is assembled as follows.
That is, first, the wire 310 is inserted into each of the plurality of wire holes 323 formed in the grommet 320. Thereafter, an adhesive is applied to the inside of the cylindrical portion 322 of the grommet 320, and positioning is performed so that the plurality of electric wires 310 do not move with respect to the grommet 320. Further, the plurality of electric wires 310 are bundled by the first cover 370 and the second cover 380. Then, the tips of the plurality of wires 310 bundled by the first cover 370 are connected to the first connector 350, and the tips of the plurality of wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 are connected to the second connector 360. Connecting.

And the some electric wire 310 bundled with the 2nd cover 380 is pushed into the female side through-hole recessed part 331b of the female side member 420 in the socket 330 in the unconnected state from a horizontal direction. At that time, the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 are pushed in along the shape of the through hole 331, and the plurality of electric wires 310 are ejected from the other end of the through hole 331.
The plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 are pushed into the female side through-hole recess 331b of the female side member 420 because the ends of the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 are moved to the first side. It may be before connecting to the second connector 360.

The harness comp 300 is assembled to the electric power steering apparatus 100 as follows.
That is, the first connector 350 is assembled in a state before the first housing 150 and the second housing 160 are assembled with the first rotating shaft 110, the second rotating shaft 120, the detection device 10, and the third housing 170. It passes through the communication hole 161 formed in the second housing 160 from the side. Then, the grommet 320 and the socket are fitted until the protrusion 324 of the grommet 320 is fitted so as to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the communication hole 161 and the hook 390 of the socket 330 is fitted in the recess 162 formed in the second housing 160. Push 330 in. At that time, the rotating shaft 422 and the connecting portion 423 of the female side member 420 that are the hinge coupling portions of the socket 330 and the bearing 412 of the male side member 410 are inserted into the concave portion 164 of the second housing 160.

  When the socket 330 is inserted into the communication hole 161, the inclined surface 391 of the hook 390 comes into contact with the wall around the communication hole 161 in the second housing 160 and is elastically deformed, and then inserted further deeply, so that the inclined surface 391 becomes the second housing. It will return from a deformation | transformation state by fitting in the recessed part 162 of 160. FIG. The grommet 320 has a frictional force generated between it and the wall 163 around the communication hole 161 when the surface of the elliptical column portion 321 on which the cylindrical portion 322 is disposed is pushed by the crescent column portion 332 of the socket 330. Move inward. In this way, the grommet 320 and the socket 330 are attached to the second housing 160. Further, the first connector 350 is inserted into the connection terminal 62 provided inside the flat cable cover 60, and the second connector 360 is inserted into the terminal of the ECU 200.

  On the other hand, when removing the harness comp 300, after removing the first connector 350 from the terminal of the flat cable cover 60, the hook 390 of the socket 330 is elastically deformed inward from the outside of the second housing 160 and pulled forward. Thus, the grommet 320 and the socket 330 may be removed from the communication hole 161 of the second housing 160. Thereafter, the first connector 350 is pulled out from the communication hole 161 of the second housing 160, and the harness comp 300 is removed.

  In the harness comp 300 configured as described above and attached to the second housing 160, when the grommet 320 is fitted to the second housing 160, the inside of the housing 140 is mainly sealed by the protrusion 324 of the grommet 320. . In addition, the protrusion 324 of the grommet 320 is pressed against the wall 163 around the communication hole 161 of the second housing 160 so as to be elastically deformed so that the diameter of the wire hole 323 is reduced, thereby holding the plurality of wires 310 more strongly. Further, the plurality of electric wires 310 are bonded with an adhesive applied to the inside of the cylindrical portion 322 of the grommet 320. Further, the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 passing through the through-hole 331 of the socket 330 are bent in a U shape inside the socket 330, and outside the housing 140, the electric wire hole direction Is emitted downward in a direction perpendicular to the direction. In addition, the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 are pressed by a protruding portion 336 c provided on the male side guide portion 336 a of the male side member 410. Thus, even if a force is applied to the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 from the outside of the housing 140 after being assembled, the grommet 320 does not apply the force to the portion holding the electric wires 310. Is difficult to be transmitted, and movement of the electric wire 310 relative to the grommet 320 is suppressed.

  For example, even if the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 outside the housing 140 are pulled in one end direction in the axial direction (downward in FIG. 1), the electric wires 310 remain in the socket 330. Therefore, the electric wire 310 is difficult to move with respect to the socket 330. Further, even if the electric wire 310 moves in one axial direction (downward in FIG. 1) with respect to the socket 330, the electric wire 310 is pressed by the acute angle portion 330 a of the socket 330 inside the socket 330. Therefore, it is difficult to transmit the force to the part where the grommet 320 holds the electric wire 310. The radial size of the cylindrical portion 322 of the grommet 320 is set so that a gap is provided between the crescent column portion 332 and the inner surface of the column portion 333 of the socket 330. Since the cylindrical portion 333 exists in the hole direction, the diameter of the electric wire hole 323 of the grommet 320 is reduced, and it is allowed to elastically deform so as to increase in the electric wire hole direction.

  Further, the vertical surface 392 of the hook 390 of the socket 330 is in contact with the vertical surface 162a of the concave portion 162 of the second housing 160, so that the socket 330 and the grommet 320 are prevented from dropping from the second housing 160. Therefore, even if a force is applied to the plurality of electric wires 310 bundled by the second cover 380 from the outside of the housing 140, the grommet 320 is not easily dropped from the communication hole 161. Is prevented from falling off or the connection terminal 62 into which the first connector 350 is inserted is broken.

  Further, even if the harness comp 300 is carried alone, the electric wire 310 is held so as not to move with respect to the grommet 320, so that an operator who assembles the harness comp 300 can move from the grommet 320 to the first connector 350. Can be easily assembled without paying attention to the length of the wire 310.

FIG. 17 is a view showing another form of the housing 140.
A part or all of the outer communication hole 161b described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 16 may be formed by the second housing 160 and the third housing 170 as shown in FIG. In other words, the third housing 170 may be fixed to the second housing 160 with a bolt or the like, so that the second housing 160 and the third housing 170 cooperate to form the outer communication hole 161b. That is, as shown in FIG. 17A, the outer communication hole 161b in the second housing 160 is freed from the wall surface on the other end side (upper side in FIG. 1) in the axial direction, and the outer communication hole 161b is opened. To do. On the other hand, the third housing 170 is provided with an extending portion 172 that extends outward from the fastening surface with the second housing 160 in the direction of the electric wire hole. A recess 164 that is recessed from the surface that forms the outer communication hole 161 b of the communication hole 161 is formed in the extension part 172.

When the harness comp 300 is assembled to the electric power steering apparatus 100, the grommet 320 and the socket 330 are attached to the second housing 160 and the first connector 350 is connected to the flat cable cover 60, as in the above-described embodiment. After being inserted into the terminal 62, the third housing 170 is attached to the second housing 160. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 17B, the upper surface of the socket 330 is covered with the extending portion 172 of the third housing 170.
When the harness comp 300 is removed, the upper surface of the socket 330 is opened by removing the third housing 170 from the second housing 160. Therefore, the socket 330 and the grommet 320 can be easily detached from the second housing 160.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of the socket 330. (A) is the perspective view seen from the 2nd connector 360 side, (b) is a figure which shows the uncoupled state of the socket 330. FIG. (C) is a figure which shows the state in the middle between the non-bonding state of socket 330, and a coupling | bonding state.
The harness comp 300 according to the embodiment is different in the socket 330 from the harness comp 300 according to the reference example described above. The socket 330 according to the embodiment differs from the socket 330 according to the reference example described with reference to FIG . That is, the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 of the socket 330 each have one of a pair of connecting members 430 that are connected by hinge coupling. The male side member 410 has a male side connection member 431 of a pair of connection members 430, and the female side member 420 has a female side connection member 432 of a pair of connection members 430. The male side member 410 and the male side connection member 431 are hinge-coupled via a connection pin 433, and the female-side member 420 and the female-side connection member 432 are hinge-coupled via a connection pin 433. The male side connecting member 431 and the female side connecting member 432 are hinge-coupled via a connecting pin 433.

In the socket 330 according to the embodiment , when the projecting portion 411 of the male side member 410 is inserted into the receiving portion 421 of the female side member 420 and the both are coupled, the pair of connecting members 430 are connected to the socket 330. It is stored inside the outer peripheral surface of the. That is, the male-side connecting member recess 415b is provided at a position above the through-hole 331 in the male-side surface 415 of the male-side member 410, and the male-side member 415 is provided at a position above the through-hole 331 in the female-side surface 425. A female-side connecting member recess 425b is provided, and a pair of connecting members 430 are housed in a space formed by the male-side connecting member recess 415b and the female-side connecting member recess 425b.

FIG. 19A is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment of the second housing 160 to which the socket 330 according to the embodiment is applied. FIG. 19B is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the third housing 170 according to another mode to which the socket 330 according to the example is applied.
In the socket 330 according to the embodiment, there is no portion projecting to the outside of the outer peripheral surface, so that it is not necessary to provide the recess 164 in the second housing 160. Further, in the housing 140 according to another embodiment described with reference to FIG. 17, it is not necessary to provide the recess 164 in the third housing 170. Thereby, since the shape of the housing 140 can be simplified, the housing 140 can be manufactured at low cost. That is, when the recessed part 164 is required in the 2nd housing 160 or the 3rd housing 170, it is necessary to form the recessed part 164 with a cutting process or a shaping | molding die. Therefore, by making the socket 330 without the need to provide the recess 164, it is possible to easily manufacture and reduce the cost because it is not necessary to cut the recess 164 when the recess 164 is cut. Can do. In addition, when the concave portion 164 is formed with a molding die, it is not necessary to provide a convex shape for molding the concave portion 164 in the molding die, so that the molding die can be easily manufactured and the molding die can be manufactured. Since the lifetime can be extended, the cost can be reduced.
Further, when it is necessary to provide the concave portion 164 and the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 163 forming the communication hole 161 in the second housing 160 is a surface having no irregularities, the deepest portion of the concave portion 164 and this In order to secure a sufficient thickness between the outer peripheral surface and the peripheral wall 163, the thickness of the portion of the surrounding wall 163 where the recess 164 is not formed must also be increased. However, by using the socket 330 that does not require the recess 164, it is not necessary to increase the thickness of the surrounding wall 163 that forms the communication hole 161 in the second housing 160 more than necessary. The cost can be reduced by reducing the material cost.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating another reference example of the socket 330. (A) is the perspective view seen from the 2nd connector 360 side, (b) is a figure which shows the uncoupled state of the socket 330. FIG. (C) is a figure which shows the state in the middle between the non-bonding state of socket 330, and a coupling | bonding state.
A socket 330 according to another reference example is different from the socket 330 according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 18 in that it is integrally formed. That is, the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 of the socket 330 each have one of a pair of connecting portions 530. The male side member 410 has the male side connection part 531 of the pair of connection parts 530, and the female side member 420 has the female side connection part 532 of the pair of connection parts 530. And the male side member 410, the female side member 420, and a pair of connection part 530 are shape | molded in one part by injection molding.

The general shape of the male side connection part 531 and the female side connection part 532 is thin plate shape. And the joint part 533 of the male side connection part 531 and the female side connection part 532 is from the site | part of a general shape in order to be able to bend both in this joint part 533 like FIG.20 (c). Also, it is formed into a thin wall, and is formed on both sides of the joint portion 533 on the outer side in a folded state so that the wall thickness gradually decreases from the general shape portion to the joint portion 533. That is, in the socket 330 according to another reference example , in the state of FIG. 20B, the male side connecting portion 531 and the female side connecting portion 532 are one thin plate-like portion, and a joint portion is provided at the center portion thereof. 533 is the shape in which the V-groove which becomes a bottom part was formed.

  In addition, the joining portion between the male side member 410 and the male side connecting portion 531 is also formed thinner than the general shape portion, and the male side connecting portion 531 can easily change the angle with respect to the male side member 410 arbitrarily. ing. Similarly, the joining part of the female side member 420 and the female side connection part 532 is also formed thinner than the part of the general shape, and the female side connection part 532 can easily change the angle with respect to the female side member 420 easily. It has become.

And in the socket 330 which concerns on this other reference example , when both are couple | bonded by the protrusion part 411 of the male side member 410 being inserted in the receiving part 421 of the female side member 420, a pair of connection part 530 is as follows. The socket 330 is housed inside the outer peripheral surface. That is, the male side coupling portion recess 415 c is located at a position above the through hole 331 on the male side surface 415 of the male side member 410, and the position above the through hole 331 on the female side surface 425 of the female side member 420. The female side connection part recessed part 425c is provided, and a pair of connection part 530 is accommodated in the space formed of the male side connection part recessed part 415c and the female side connection part recessed part 425c.

Also in the socket 330 according to the other reference example , there is no portion protruding outside the outer peripheral surface, so that it is not necessary to provide the concave portion 164 in the second housing 160. Further, in the housing 140 according to another embodiment described with reference to FIG. 17, it is not necessary to provide the recess 164 in the third housing 170. Thereby, since the shape of the housing 140 can be simplified, the housing 140 can be manufactured at low cost. Further, the weight of the housing 140 can be reduced. The reason is as described above.
Further, in the socket 330 according to the other reference example , unlike the socket 330 according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 18, the socket 330 is integrally formed and does not require the connecting pin 433. It becomes possible to reduce and to make it more compact.

In addition, since the socket 330 according to the other reference example is integral, only one molding die is required. On the other hand, in the socket 330 according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 18, at least two moldings are required since one molding die for molding at least the male member 410 and the female member 420 is required. A mold is required. Therefore, according to the socket 330 according to another reference example , the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the socket 330 described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating another reference example of the socket 330. (A) is the perspective view seen from the 2nd connector 360 side, (b) is a figure which shows the uncoupled state of the socket 330. FIG.
A socket 330 according to another reference example is different from the socket 330 according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 18 in that it is integrally formed. That is, the male side member 410 and the female side member 420 of the socket 330 each have one of a pair of connecting portions 630. The male side member 410 has a male side connection part 631 of the pair of connection parts 630, and the female side member 420 has a female side connection part 632 of the pair of connection parts 630. And the male side member 410, the female side member 420, and a pair of connection part 630 are integrally shape | molded by injection molding into one component.

  The general shape of the male side connection part 631 and the female side connection part 632 is thin plate shape. And the joint part 633 of the male side connection part 631 and the female side connection part 632 is more than the part of a general shape in order to be able to bend both in this joint part 633 like Fig.21 (a). Also, the portion on both sides of the joint portion 633 is shaped so that the thickness gradually decreases from the portion having the general shape to the joint portion 633. That is, in the state of FIG. 21 (b), the socket 330 according to this other form is a thin plate-like portion with the male side connecting portion 631 and the female side connecting portion 632, and a joint portion 633 at the center thereof. Is a shape in which a V-groove is formed at the bottom.

Unlike the socket 330 described with reference to FIG. 14 and the socket 330 according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 18, the socket 330 according to another reference example configured as described above is integrally formed. Since the connecting pin 433 is not required, the number of parts can be reduced and a more compact shape can be achieved. Further, since the socket 330 according to the other reference example is integrated, only one mold is required, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the socket 330 described with reference to FIG. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Detection apparatus, 20 ... Magnet, 30 ... Relative angle sensor, 40 ... Printed circuit board, 50 ... Base, 60 ... Flat cable cover, 70 ... Flat cable, 100 ... Electric power steering apparatus, 110 ... 1st rotating shaft, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... 2nd rotating shaft, 130 ... Torsion bar, 140 ... Housing, 180 ... Worm wheel, 190 ... Electric motor, 200 ... Electronic control unit (ECU), 210 ... Relative angle calculation part, 300 ... Harness comp, 310 ... Electric wire, 320 ... grommet, 330 ... socket, 331 ... through hole, 350 ... first connector, 360 ... second connector, 370 ... first cover, 380 ... second cover, 390 ... hook, 410 ... male Side members, 420 ... female side members, 430 ... a pair of connecting members, 530 ... a pair of connecting portions

Claims (4)

A sensor that is housed in a housing in which a communication hole that communicates inside and outside is formed, and that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the relative rotation angle of two rotation shafts that are coaxially disposed with each other;
An electric wire for transmitting an electric signal output from the sensor to a device disposed outside the housing;
An electric wire holding member that is fitted in the communication hole of the housing and holds the electric wire;
An outer member that is disposed at a portion outside the wire holding member in the communication hole of the housing and in which a through-hole through which the wire passes is formed,
With
Said outer member is connected by a hinged, have a pair of opening and closing member for opening and closing the through hole by relative rotation,
The pair of opening / closing members of the outer member has one of a pair of connecting members connected by hinge coupling, and the main body of the pair of opening / closing members and the pair of connecting members are hinge-coupled, respectively. A relative angle detection device , wherein the pair of connecting members are housed inside the outer peripheral surface of the outer member when the through holes are closed by the pair of opening and closing members .   The through hole of the outer member is a hole direction of one end which is an end portion on the electric wire holding member side and a hole direction of the other end portion which is an end portion on the opposite side to the electric wire holding member side. The relative angle detection device according to claim 1, wherein the relative angle detection device intersects.   The relative angle detection according to claim 2, wherein the outer member bends the electric wire passing through the through hole at an acute angle between the one end and the other end of the through hole. apparatus. A sensor that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to a relative rotation angle of two rotation shafts arranged coaxially with each other;
A housing in which the sensor is housed and a communication hole is formed for communication between the inside and the outside;
An electric wire for transmitting an electric signal output from the sensor to a device disposed outside the housing;
An electric wire holding member that is fitted in the communication hole of the housing and holds the electric wire;
An outer member that is disposed at a portion outside the wire holding member in the communication hole of the housing and in which a through-hole through which the wire passes is formed,
With
Said outer member is connected by a hinged, have a pair of opening and closing member for opening and closing the through hole by relative rotation,
The pair of opening / closing members of the outer member has one of a pair of connecting members connected by hinge coupling, and the main body of the pair of opening / closing members and the pair of connecting members are hinge-coupled, respectively. The electric power steering apparatus , wherein the pair of connecting members are housed inside the outer peripheral surface of the outer member when the through holes are closed by the pair of opening and closing members .

Images