JP7028638B2 - Assembly structure of rotary connector device and rotary connector device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, a rotary connector device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and an assembly structure of a rotary connector device for assembling the rotary connector device to a vehicle body.

The rotary connector device mounted on the main body of a vehicle such as an automobile is configured by assembling a rotating body and a fixed body so as to be relatively rotatable, and in an annular accommodation space formed between the rotating body and the fixed body. , A flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as a flat cable) is housed so as to be wound and rewound in accordance with the rotation of the rotating body.

As one of such rotating connector devices, for example, a rotating body is composed of a first rotating body and a second rotating body configured to be rotatable relative to the fixed body by sandwiching the fixed body together with the first rotating body. At the same time, there has been proposed a rotary connector device in which a relay elastic member having an elongated hole and a notch along the radial direction is interposed between the first rotating body and the second rotating body (see Patent Document 1). ).

In the rotary connector device described in Patent Document 1, a protrusion provided on the first rotating body is fitted into an elongated hole provided in the relay elastic member, and is provided on the second rotating body with respect to the notch. Since the protrusions are locked, it is said that the relay elastic member can absorb the rattling caused by the rotation of the first rotating body, and the second rotating body sandwiching the fixed body together with the first rotating body can be smoothly rotated.

However, when the rotary connector device is mounted on the vehicle body, the rotary shaft of the steering shaft that inserts the inside of the rotary connector device and the central axis of the rotary connector device may be eccentric. Even in the rotary connector device disclosed in 1, there are problems that the rotating body cannot rotate smoothly with respect to the fixed body and that the rotating portion of a part of the fixed body cannot rotate smoothly. there were.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-335318

In view of the above problems, the present invention allows the rotating body to rotate smoothly with respect to the fixed body even when the rotating shaft of the steering shaft and the central axis of the rotating connector device are eccentric. It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly structure of a rotary connector device and a rotary connector device capable of smoothly rotating a rotating portion in a part of the fixed body.

The present invention includes an annular fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate, a fixed body fixed to the vehicle body, an annular rotating-side ring plate, and the rotation thereof. A rotating body having a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder formed on the inner peripheral edge of the side ring plate and rotatably assembled to the fixed body, and a storage space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body. Consists of a flexible flat cable having a conductor that is housed, one end fixed to the fixed body, and the other end fixed to the rotating body so that the steering shaft is inserted through the inner cylinder. The rotating body is provided with a rotation transmitting mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft, and the rotation transmitting mechanism is composed of an elastic member and is the center of the fixed side ring plate. The rotation of the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the shaft is transmitted to the rotating body as rotation with the central axis as the rotation axis, and the rotation transmission mechanism is formed in an annular shape and is outward in diameter. An outer ring portion to be arranged, an inner ring portion formed in an annular shape and arranged inside the diameter concentric with the outer ring portion, and the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion. It is composed of a connecting member that connects and absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner ring portion with respect to the center of the outer ring portion, and the connecting member radiates the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion. It is characterized by being composed of a plurality of resin elastic materials tied in a shape .

The present invention also includes an annular fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate, a fixed body fixed to the vehicle body, an annular rotating-side ring plate, and the like. A rotating body having a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotating side ring plate and rotatably assembled to the fixed body, and a storage space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body. A rotary connector device composed of a flexible flat cable having a conductor whose one end is fixed to the fixed body and the other end is fixed to the rotating body, and the inner peripheral cylinder portion. It is an assembly structure of a rotary connector device in which a steering shaft that is inserted and rotates integrally with the rotating body is assembled, and the rotating body is provided with a rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft, and the rotation thereof. The transmission mechanism is composed of an elastic member, and transmits the rotation of the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the central axis of the fixed side ring plate to the rotating body as rotation with the central axis as the rotation axis . The rotation transmission mechanism is formed in an annular shape and has an outer annular portion arranged on the outer diameter and an inner circular portion formed in an annular shape and arranged on the inner diameter concentrically with the outer annular portion. The ring portion is composed of a connecting member that connects the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion and absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner ring portion with respect to the center of the outer ring portion. The member is characterized in that it is composed of a plurality of resin elastic materials that radially connect the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion .

The rotating body may be composed of only a rotator composed of an annular rotating-side ring plate and a cylindrical rotating-side inner peripheral cylinder formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotating-side ring plate, or may be integrated with the rotator. Includes a configuration in which a rotating sleeve is assembled to the rotator.
The inner peripheral cylinder portion includes not only the inner peripheral cylinder portion of the rotator but also the inner peripheral cylinder portion of the sleeve when the rotating body is composed of a rotator and a sleeve, for example.

The fixed body includes the fixed side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder portion formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed side ring plate, and includes a stator fixed to the vehicle body and a steering angle sensor attached to the stator. , Includes configurations that include one component of the vehicle body, such as combination switches.

The rotation transmission mechanism includes, as the elastic member, an elastic member having elasticity by changing the shape such as bending a resin such as rubber having elasticity, a spring material, a metal plate, or the like, and the elastic member. Also includes an elastic member having a structure in which the inelastic member and the inelastic member are combined.

The connecting member may be made of any material as long as it has elasticity, and includes, for example, a case made of resin or a case made of metal.
Further, the connecting member is composed of a rod-shaped body or a plate-shaped body partially curved, for example, when the rotation transmission mechanism is viewed along the central axis of the outer annulus portion. The inner annulus portion and the outer annulus portion are connected by one or more, or the inner annulus portion and the outer annulus portion are formed of a hollow circular body or a polygonal body. One or more of them are arranged side by side to connect the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion, the connecting member is formed of a hollow circular body or a polygonal body, and the connecting member is connected to the inner ring portion. Includes a configuration that is arranged between the portion and the outer annulus portion and that the connecting member is connected to the inner annulus portion and the outer annulus portion by a separate member. When the connecting member is composed of a hollow circular body or a polygonal body, the connecting member is not only arranged along the inner peripheral surface of the outer annulus portion, but also at an appropriate position. This includes the case where the connecting member is arranged along the radial direction.

According to the present invention, even when the rotating shaft of the steering shaft and the central axis of the rotating connector device are eccentric, the rotating body can be moved with respect to the fixed body as the steering shaft rotates. It can rotate smoothly.

More specifically, since the rotation transmission mechanism is interposed in the rotating body, the rotation of the steering shaft is converted into rotation with respect to the rotating body with the central axis as the center of rotation via the rotation transmission mechanism. That is, it absorbs the eccentricity of the rotation axis with respect to the central axis and is transmitted as coaxial rotation.

As a result, even when the rotation axis of the steering shaft and the central axis of the rotation connector device are eccentric, the rotating body becomes the fixed body as the rotation of the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric. On the other hand, it can be rotated smoothly.

Further, the elastic deformation of the rotation transmission mechanism can absorb the eccentricity between the rotation axis and the central axis, and can suppress the movement of the rotating body toward the rotation axis side. That is, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the rotating side ring plate and the outer peripheral cylinder portion, suppress the intrusion of foreign matter into the accommodation space, generate abnormal noise, bite foreign matter, and flatten. You can prevent damage to the cable.
Furthermore, by preventing the rotating body from moving toward the central axis, it is possible to prevent the rotating body from interfering with other members due to the rotation of the rotating body and generating abnormal noise.

Further, for example, when the inner ring portion is fixed to the steering shaft and the outer ring portion is fixed to the rotating body, the connecting member absorbs the eccentricity of the inner ring portion with respect to the outer ring portion. Therefore, even if the rotation axis of the steering shaft is eccentric with respect to the central axis of the rotating body, the rotation about the rotation axis of the steering shaft is defined as the rotation about the central axis. It can be transmitted to the outer ring portion.

Furthermore, since the rotation transmission mechanism can be reduced in weight, the rotation connector device can be reduced in weight. Further, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the rotation transmission mechanism is made of metal.

As an aspect of the present invention, the rotation transmission mechanism may be provided on the inner circumference of the inner peripheral cylinder portion.
According to the present invention, the rotation of the steering shaft can be directly transmitted to the rotating body via the rotation transmission mechanism provided in the inner peripheral cylinder portion, and the rotating body rotates more smoothly with the rotation of the steering shaft. Can be made to. Thereby, for example, when the rotating body is connected to the steering angle sensor or the cancel cam, the rotation of the rotating body can be detected accurately and the turn lever can be reliably returned to the neutral position.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, torque transmission that is connected to the rotating side ring plate with respect to the steering wheel mounted on the steering shaft and transmits the rotation of the steering shaft to the rotating body via the steering wheel. The rotation transmission mechanism is provided between the torque transmission unit and the steering wheel, and the rotation of the steering wheel whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the central axis is rotated around the central axis. It may be transmitted to the rotating body as the rotation.

According to the present invention, since the torque transmission unit is connected via the rotation transmission mechanism connected to the steering wheel mounted on the steering shaft, the rotation of the steering shaft with respect to the central axis. Even when the shaft is eccentric, the rotation of the steering shaft is transmitted to the rotating body provided with the torque transmission unit as a rotation centered on the central axis, and the rotation of the steering shaft is accompanied by the rotation of the steering shaft. The rotating body can be rotated more smoothly. Therefore, the rotating body can rotate with the central axis as the rotation axis, and the rotation can be accurately transmitted to, for example, a steering angle sensor or a cancel cam.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the fixed body is fixed to the first fixed body provided with the fixed side ring plate and the outer peripheral cylinder portion, and is fixed to the first fixed body and rotates relative to the rotating body. It may be composed of a possible second fixed body.

The second fixed body includes, for example, a combination switch for installing the rotary connector device, a cancel cam for rotating and returning the turn lever to a neutral position, a steering angle sensor for detecting the rotation angle of the steering shaft, and the like.

According to the present invention, the rotating body can be smoothly rotated even with respect to the second fixed body. Therefore, for example, when the second fixed body is used as a cancel cam, the rotation of the steering shaft can be accurately transmitted to the cancel cam, for example, so that the turn lever can be accurately returned to the neutral position.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the second fixed body may be configured by a steering angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft.
According to the present invention, the rotation angle of the steering shaft can be accurately detected. Therefore, for example, in a vehicle model in which the irradiation direction of the front light is changed according to the rotation angle of the steering shaft, the front light can be accurately irradiated in the irradiation direction.

The present invention also includes an annular fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate, a fixed body fixed to the vehicle body, an annular rotating-side ring plate, and the like. A rotating body having a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotating side ring plate and rotatably assembled to the fixed body, and a storage space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body. One end is fixed to the fixed body, the other end is composed of a flexible flat cable having a conductor fixed to the rotating body, and a steering shaft is inserted through the inner peripheral cylinder portion. The fixed body is provided with a rotating portion that rotates with the rotation of the rotating body about the central axis of the fixed side ring plate, and is provided with the steering shaft. A rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft is provided between the rotating portion, and the rotation transmission mechanism is composed of an elastic member, and the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the central axis. The rotation of the above is transmitted to the rotating portion as a rotation about the central axis as a rotation axis, and the rotation transmission mechanism is formed in an annular shape, and the outer annular portion arranged on the outer diameter and the annular portion are formed. The inner ring portion is formed on the inside of the diameter concentrically with the outer ring portion, and the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion are connected to each other and the center of the outer ring portion. It is composed of a connecting member that absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner annular portion with respect to the inner ring portion, and the connecting member is composed of a plurality of resin elastic materials that radially connect the outer annular portion and the inner annular portion. It is characterized by being done.

Furthermore, the present invention includes an annular fixed-side ring plate and a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate, a fixed body fixed to the vehicle body, an annular rotating-side ring plate, and an annular rotating-side ring plate. A rotating body having a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder portion formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotating side ring plate and rotatably assembled to the fixed body, and a housing formed by the fixed body and the rotating body. A rotary connector device configured with a flexible flat cable having a conductor housed in a space, one end fixed to the fixed body, and the other end fixed to the rotating body, and the inner cylinder portion. It is an assembly structure of a rotary connector device in which a steering shaft that is inserted into and rotates integrally with the rotating body is assembled, and the rotating body rotates about the central axis of the fixed side ring plate on the fixed body. A rotating portion that rotates in accordance with the above is provided, and a rotation transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the steering shaft to the rotating body or the fixed body is provided between the steering shaft and the rotating portion. The rotation transmission mechanism is composed of an elastic member, and the rotation of the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the central axis is transmitted to the rotation portion as rotation with the central axis as the rotation axis, and the rotation transmission is performed. The mechanism is formed in an annular shape and has an outer annular portion arranged on the outer side of the diameter, and an inner annular portion formed in an annular shape and arranged on the inner side of the diameter concentric with the outer annular portion. The outer ring portion and the inner ring portion are connected to each other, and the connecting member comprises a connecting member that absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner ring portion with respect to the center of the outer ring portion. It is characterized in that it is composed of a plurality of resin elastic materials that radially connect the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion .

The rotating portion includes not only a rotation centered on the central axis but also a portion pivotally centered on the central axis.
According to the present invention, even when the rotating shaft of the steering shaft and the central axis of the rotating connector device are eccentric, the rotating portion of the fixed body is smoothly rotated with the rotation of the steering shaft. Can be rotated to.

More specifically, the rotation transmission mechanism provided in the fixed body is provided between the rotating portion and the steering shaft, which is provided on the fixed body and rotates with the rotation of the rotating body about the central axis of the fixed side ring plate. Because of the interposition, the rotation of the steering shaft is converted into rotation with the central axis as the center of rotation with respect to the rotating portion via the rotation transmission mechanism, that is, the eccentricity of the rotating shaft with respect to the central axis is absorbed and coaxial. It is transmitted as rotation.

As a result, even when the rotating shaft of the steering shaft and the central axis of the rotating connector device are eccentric, the rotating portion is fixed to the fixed body as the steering shaft rotates with the rotating shaft eccentric. Can be rotated smoothly.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the fixed body is fixed to the first fixed body provided with the fixed side ring plate and the outer peripheral tubular portion, and has the rotating portion. In addition to being composed of a fixed body, the second fixed body may be provided with the rotating portion, and the rotation transmitting mechanism may be provided between the steering shaft and the rotating portion.

The second fixed body includes, for example, a combination switch for installing the rotary connector device, a cancel cam for rotating and returning the turn lever to a neutral position, a steering angle sensor for detecting the rotation angle of the steering shaft, and the like.

According to the present invention, the rotating portion can be smoothly rotated with the rotation of the rotating body. Therefore, for example, when the second fixed body is a cancel cam, the rotation of the steering shaft can be accurately transmitted to the cancel cam, so that the turn lever can be accurately returned to the neutral position.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the second fixed body may be configured by a steering angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft.
According to the present invention, the rotation angle of the steering shaft can be accurately detected. Therefore, for example, in a vehicle model in which the irradiation direction of the front light is changed according to the rotation angle of the steering shaft, the front light can be accurately irradiated in the irradiation direction.

According to the present invention, even when the rotation axis of the steering shaft and the central axis of the rotation connector device are eccentric, the rotating body can smoothly rotate with respect to the fixed body, or a part of the fixed body. It is possible to provide an assembly structure of a rotary connector device and a rotary connector device capable of smoothly rotating the rotating portion in the above.

Schematic perspective of the rotary connector device. Schematic exploded perspective view of the rotary connector device. Top view of the eccentric absorption member. Explanatory drawing of the rotary connector device provided with an eccentric absorption member. Sectional drawing of the assembly structure which assembled the steering shaft to the rotary connector device. Explanatory drawing of rotation of steering shaft and rotator. Explanatory drawing of rotation of steering shaft and rotator. Sectional drawing of the rotary connector apparatus in another embodiment. An exploded perspective view of the rotary connector device according to another embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled structure in which a steering shaft is assembled to a rotary connector device according to another embodiment.

Hereinafter, the assembly structure 2 of the rotary connector device 1 in which the rotary connector device 1 and the rotary connector device 1 are assembled to the steering shaft 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the rotary connector device 1, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the rotary connector device 1. Here, the direction of the rotator 10 with respect to the stator 30 is upward, and the direction of the sleeve 20 with respect to the stator 30 is downward. Further, in the drawing of FIG. 2, the right rotation direction with respect to the central axis Cx of the rotation connector device 1 as the rotation axis is defined as the clockwise direction R, and the left rotation direction is defined as the counterclockwise direction L.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the eccentric absorption member 40 constituting the rotary connector device 1, and FIG. 4 shows an explanatory view of the structure of the rotary connector device 1. Specifically, FIG. 4A shows a plan view of the rotary connector device 1 as viewed from above, and FIG. 4B shows a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in the assembled structure 2 configured by mounting the rotary connector device 1 on the steering shaft 200.
In FIG. 4, the flexible flat cable 100 is omitted in order to clarify the structure of the rotary connector device 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the assembly structure 2 is configured by inserting a rotary connector device 1 into a steering shaft 200 that transmits rotation by operating the steering wheel 300 to a steering gear box (not shown). ..

The steering shaft 200 is composed of a screw portion 210 formed at the upper end, a shaft portion 220 connecting the screw portion 210 and the steering gear box, and a steering column 230 for inserting and protecting the shaft portion 220, and the shaft portion 220. The tip on the vehicle body side is connected to the steering gear box.

The screw portion 210 is a screw portion for penetrating the insertion hole of the steering wheel and rotatably fixing the steering wheel 300. By assembling the steering wheel 300 from above by screwing, the steering wheel 300 and the steering shaft 200 are attached. Integrate.

The shaft portion 220 is a cylindrical body having a larger diameter and a hollow shape than the screw portion 210, and is a shaft for transmitting the rotation operation of the steering wheel 300 to the steering gear box.
The steering column 230 is composed of a tubular body that rotatably supports and protects the shaft portion 220.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotary connector device 1 is sandwiched between the rotator 10, the sleeve 20 located below the rotator 10 and assembled with the rotator 10, and the rotator 10 and the sleeve 20 so as to be able to rotate relative to each other. The flexible flat cable 100 (hereinafter referred to as FFC100) wound and accommodated in the accommodation space S composed of the assembled stator 30, the eccentric absorbing member 40 fixed to the inner peripheral side of the sleeve 20, and the rotator 10 and the sleeve 20. ) And.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotator 10 has a substantially annular rotation-side ring plate 11 having a substantially circular through hole in a central portion in a plan view, and an inner circumference formed downward from the inner peripheral edge of the rotation-side ring plate 11. A rotator-side connector accommodating portion 13 that is integrally formed with the tubular portion 12 and projects upward and functions as a connector is provided on the upper surface of the rotating-side ring plate 11.

The inner peripheral cylinder portion 12 is a cylindrical body extending downward from the inner peripheral edge of the rotating side ring plate 11, and an engaged portion (not shown) is provided in the central portion of the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12. Further, a rotator side inner edge portion 12a protruding toward the outer diameter side is formed on the lower end side (see FIG. 4).

The rotator side connector accommodating portion 13 is an accommodating portion for accommodating a connection connector mounted on one end of the FFC 100 accommodated in the accommodating space S, and is an accommodating portion for external devices such as a horn switch and an airbag unit arranged in the steering wheel 300. The connector of the cable (not shown) connected to the electric circuit is connected from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve 20 assembled with the rotator 10 configured in this way is a substantially cylindrical body having a through hole penetrating in the vertical direction in the central portion in a plan view, and is on the inner diameter side of the upper end surface 20a. An engaged portion (not shown) and a lockable engaging portion (not shown) provided on the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12 are provided, and a stator 30 described later is sandwiched between the rotator 10 and the sleeve 20 from above and below. By engaging the mating portion and the engaged portion, the rotator 10 can be rotated with respect to the stator 30.
Further, on the lower end surface 20b, a plurality of detection pins 21 for detecting the steering angle in cooperation with the sensor unit 63 and the steering shaft 200, which will be described later, extend downward at equal intervals.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stator 30 that can rotate relative to the rotator 10 includes a main stator 50 and a steering angle sensor 60.
The main stator 50 is a bottomed substantially cylindrical body having an open upper surface, and has a fixed side ring plate 51 constituting a lower surface, a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder portion 52 forming an outer peripheral surface, and a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder portion 52 protruding outward from the stator 30. It is integrally configured with the stator side connector accommodating portion 53.

The fixed side ring plate 51 is a plate-shaped body having an annular shape whose outer diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rotating side ring plate 11 and whose inner diameter is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12, and is on the bottom surface side. Is provided with a locked portion (not shown) that is locked to a locking portion (not shown) provided on the outer peripheral protection portion 62, which will be described later. The inner peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate 51 is the stator-side inner edge 51a (see FIG. 4).

The outer peripheral cylinder portion 52 is an outer peripheral wall erected above the outer peripheral edge of the fixed side ring plate 51.
The stator-side connector accommodating portion 53 is a rectangular parallelepiped housing that is long in the vertical direction and projects outward from a predetermined position of the stator 30, and constitutes an accommodating portion that can accommodate the other end side of the FFC 100. .. The stator-side connector accommodating portion 53 is configured so that a connection connector connected to a cable drawn from an electric circuit on the vehicle body side and the other end of the FFC 100 can be connected in a steering column cover (not shown).

The steering angle sensor 60 corresponding to the second fixed body is a cylindrical body having an open upper surface and a ring-shaped bottom surface, and forms a bottom surface portion 61 composed of an annular plate-shaped body and an outer peripheral wall. It is composed of an outer peripheral protection portion 62, and the bottom surface portion 61 is provided with a sensor unit 63 for detecting a detection pin 21 that rotates with the rotation of the rotator 10.

The bottom surface portion 61 is an annular plate-like body having an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve 20 and having a through hole having an inner diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the sleeve 20. Two sensor portions 63 are provided on the upper surface portion of the rudder angle sensor 60. The two sensor units 63 are arranged at positions rotationally symmetric with the central axis of the bottom surface portion 61 as the axis of symmetry.

The outer peripheral protection portion 62 is an outer peripheral wall erected upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom surface portion 61, and is locked and fixed to a locking portion (not shown) provided on the bottom surface side of the detection pin 21. A locked portion (not shown) is provided.

The sensor unit 63 provided on the bottom surface portion 61 is a detection sensor arranged at a position facing the detection pin 21 in the rotary connector device 1 to which the rotator 10 and the stator 30 are assembled, and is the detection pin 21. A dent is formed in the radial peripheral portion so that the can pass through. Further, a detector (not shown) is built in the sensor unit 63. Further, a light emitting element (not shown) is provided on the first wall portion 63a forming the inner diameter side of the recess, and a light receiving element (not shown) is provided on the second wall portion 63b forming the outer diameter side of the recess. It is provided so as to face the.

As shown in FIG. 3, the eccentric absorbing member 40 is a cylindrical body having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the shaft portion 220 in the center, and has an outer annulus portion 41 forming an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion. It is composed of an inner annulus portion 42 to be formed and an elastic piece 43 connecting the outer annulus portion 41 and the inner annulus portion 42.

The outer annulus portion 41 is a thin tubular body having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the sleeve 20, and is made of a resin having low flexibility.
The inner ring portion 42 is a thin cylindrical body having a thin plate thickness arranged at a predetermined distance from the outer ring portion 41 on the inner diameter side of the outer ring portion 41, and is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the shaft portion 220. Has an inner diameter of. Further, the inner annulus portion 42 is made of a resin having low flexibility, similarly to the outer annulus portion 41.

As shown in FIG. 3, the outer annulus portion 41 and the inner annulus portion 42 are cylindrical bodies having different diameters arranged so as to be concentric in a plan view, and the outer annulus portion 41 and the inner annulus portion 42 are arranged. It is connected by a plurality of elastic pieces 43 provided so as to radiate from the inner annulus portion 42 toward the outer annulus portion 41 as the center of the central axis of the 42.

The elastic piece 43 corresponding to one of the specific examples of the connecting member has a straight portion 43a protruding from the inner ring portion 42 toward the outer diameter side and a clockwise end portion of the straight portion 43a toward the clockwise direction R. It is an elastic piece integrally composed of a curved portion 43b that is curved.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the rotator 10, the sleeve 20, and the stator 30 configured in this way sandwich the inner edge portion 51a on the stator side between the inner edge portion 12a on the rotator side and the upper end surface 20a. At the same time, by engaging the engaging portion (not shown) provided on the sleeve 20 and the engaged portion (not shown) provided on the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12, the rotator 10 and the sleeve 20 are engaged with the stator 30. Consists of a rotatable connector device 1 that can rotate. Further, the main stator 50 and the steering angle sensor 60 are fixed by engaging the locked portion provided on the steering angle sensor 60 with a locking portion (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the sleeve 20. ..

The rotator 10 is arranged on the opposite side of the rotator side connector accommodating portion 13 and the stator side connector accommodating portion 53 in a neutral state in which the rotator 10 can rotate by the same number of rotations in the clockwise direction R and the counterclockwise direction L with respect to the stator 30. Has been done. Further, as described above, the eccentric absorbing member 40 is fixed to the inner diameter of the sleeve 20 (FIG. 4A).
reference).

In the rotary connector device 1 in which the rotator 10 and the sleeve 20 are assembled to the stator 30, the rotary side ring plate 11 and the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12 of the rotator 10 and the fixed side ring plate 51 and the outer peripheral cylinder portion 52 of the stator 30 are provided. And the accommodation space S for accommodating the FFC 100 is formed (see FIG. 4 (b)).

As shown in FIG. 2, the FFC 100 has four flat cables (first dummy flat cable, shielded flat cable, transmission line flat cable, and transmission path flat cable) from the outer diameter to the inner diameter in the wound state in the accommodation space S. The FFC 100 is configured in the accommodation space S so that the FFC 100 is wound and rewound clockwise R and counterclockwise L in accordance with the relative rotation of the rotator 10 with respect to the stator 30. It is wound and housed.
Although the number of FFC 100s is four in the present embodiment, the number of FFCs 100 is not limited to four, and the number and configuration of FFC100s can be changed as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary connector device 1 configured in this way directs the rotary connector device 1 from the upper side to the lower side of the steering shaft 200 in a state where the rotator 10 is fixed to the stator 30 in a neutral position. By lowering the steering shaft 200, the steering shaft 200 can be inserted into the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12 to form the assembly structure 2.

Here, in the eccentric absorbing member 40, the outer annulus portion 41 has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the sleeve 20, and the outer annulus portion 41 and the inner annulus portion 42 separated by a predetermined interval are elastic bodies. Since it is integrally formed via the piece 43, the elastic piece 43 is elastically deformed by press-fitting the shaft portion 220 to the inner diameter side of the inner ring portion 42, and the steering shaft 200 is elastically deformed with respect to the sleeve 20. Can be fixed integrally.

In the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the eccentric absorbing member 40 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the shaft portion 220, but if the rotation of the shaft portion 220 can be transmitted to the sleeve 20, for example, the eccentric absorbing member 40. The configuration can be appropriately changed, for example, the inner peripheral wall and the outer peripheral wall of the shaft portion 220 are configured by gears that mesh with each other.

Next, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 in the assembly structure 2 and the relative rotation of the rotator 10 with respect to the stator 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
Here, FIGS. 6 and 7 show explanatory views illustrating the rotation of the rotator 10 and the steering shaft 200 in the assembled structure 2.

6 and 7 will be described in detail. FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (c), 7 (a), and 7 (c) are assembled by inserting the rotary connector device 1 into the steering shaft 200. A schematic plan view of the assembled structure 2 is shown, and FIGS. 6 (b), 6 (d), 7 (b), and 7 (d) are shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (c), respectively. , AA sectional views corresponding to the plan views in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (c) are shown.

6 (a) and 6 (b) show the positional relationship between the rotary shaft Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the central shaft Cx of the rotary connector device 1 in the rotary connector device 1 in the neutral position, and FIGS. 6 (c) and 6 (d) show. Shows the positional relationship between the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the central axis Cx of the rotation connector device 1 in a state where the steering shaft 200 is rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise direction R.

Further, FIGS. 7A and 7B show the positional relationship between the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the central axis Cx of the rotation connector device 1 in a state where the steering shaft 200 is rotated 180 degrees in the clockwise direction R. 7 (c) and 7 (d) show the positional relationship between the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the central axis Cx of the rotation connector device 1 in a state where the steering shaft 200 is rotated 270 degrees in the clockwise direction R.
In the plan views of FIGS. 6 and 7, the structure of the eccentric absorbing member 40 is simplified by omitting the elastic piece 43. Further, the flexible flat cable 100 is omitted in order to clarify the structure of the rotary connector device 1.

In the assembly structure 2, as shown in FIG. 6A, the rotary connector device 1 is in the neutral state, that is, the rotator 10 rotates in the clockwise direction R and the counterclockwise direction L with respect to the stator 30 by the same number of rotations. The rotation shaft Rx of the steering shaft 200 is eccentric to the stator side connector accommodating portion 53 side with respect to the central axis Cx of the rotation connector device 1 in a state where it can be formed.

In this state, when the steering shaft 200 is rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise direction R with the rotation axis Rx as the rotation axis, the stator side connector accommodating portion 53 is shown in FIG. 6 (c) and FIG. 6 (d). c) In a state where the rotary connector device 1 is arranged so as to be below the inside, the rotary shaft Rx is arranged on the left side of the central axis Cx when viewed from the upper surface side.

Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) and FIGS. 7 (c) and 7 (d), the steering shaft 200 is rotated 180 degrees and 270 degrees in the clockwise direction R with the rotation axis Rx as the rotation axis. If so, the rotation axis Rx is arranged on the upper side of the central axis Cx, and the rotation axis Rx is arranged on the left side of the central axis Cx.
In this way, since the rotation axis Rx is eccentric with respect to the central axis Cx, by rotating the rotation axis Rx as the rotation axis, the rotation axis Rx moves so as to draw a circular orbit O centered on the center axis Cx. It will be.

Here, since the elastic piece 43 of the eccentric absorbing member 40 is fixed to the sleeve 20 and elastically deformed and fixed to the shaft portion 220, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 with the rotation axis Rx as the rotation axis Is transmitted as the rotation of the eccentric absorbing member 40 about the central axis Cx as the rotation center. That is, the eccentric absorbing member 40 can transmit the rotation of the steering shaft 200 about the rotation axis Rx to the sleeve 20 as the rotation about the center axis Cx.

Therefore, the detection pin 21 provided on the lower end surface 20b of the sleeve 20 can smoothly rotate around the central axis Cx, so that the detection pin 21 smoothly passes through the sensor unit 63. As a result, the light emitted from the light emitting element (not shown) provided in the first wall portion 63a is shielded from light, and the detector provided inside the sensor portion 63 is based on the change in the optical signal. Detects the rotation information of the sleeve 20, detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200, and can accurately detect the steering angle of the sleeve 20.

A stator 30 having a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder portion 52 formed on the outer peripheral edge of the annular fixed side ring plate 51 and the fixed side ring plate 51 and fixed to the vehicle body, the annular rotating side ring plate 11 and the annular rotating side ring plate 11 A storage space S formed by a rotator 10 having a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder portion 12 formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotation side ring plate 11 and rotatably assembled with the stator 30, and the stator 30 and the rotator 10. It is composed of an FFC 100 having a conductor whose one end is fixed to the stator 30 and the other end is fixed to the rotator 10, and is mounted so that the steering shaft 200 is inserted into the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12. In the rotary connector device 1, the rotator 10 is provided with an eccentric absorbing member 40 for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft 200, and the eccentric absorbing member 40 is composed of an elastic member and is attached to the central axis Cx of the fixed side ring plate 51. On the other hand, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 whose rotation axis Rx is eccentric is transmitted to the rotator 10 as rotation with the central axis Cx as the rotation axis Rx, whereby the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the center axis of the rotation connector device 1 are transmitted. Even when the Cx is eccentric, the rotator 10 can smoothly rotate with respect to the stator 30 as the steering shaft 200 rotates.

More specifically, since the eccentric absorbing member 40 is interposed in the rotator 10, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 is converted to the rotator 10 via the eccentric absorbing member 40 as a rotation centered on the central axis Cx, that is, the central axis. It absorbs the eccentricity of the rotation axis Rx with respect to Cx and is transmitted as coaxial rotation.

As a result, even when the rotary shaft Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the central shaft Cx of the rotary connector device 1 are eccentric, the rotator 10 is set as the stator as the steering shaft 200 is rotated by the eccentric absorbing member 40. It can be rotated smoothly with respect to 30.

Further, since the eccentricity absorbing member 40 can absorb the eccentricity between the rotation axis Rx and the central axis Cx by elastically deforming, it is possible to suppress the rotator 10 from moving to the rotation axis Rx side. That is, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the rotating side ring plate 11 and the outer peripheral cylinder portion 52, suppress the intrusion of foreign matter into the accommodation space S, etc., generate abnormal noise, and the foreign matter is caught in the FFC100. Can prevent damage to the surface.
Furthermore, by preventing the rotator 10 from moving to the central axis Cx side, it is possible to prevent interference with other members due to the rotation of the rotator 10 and prevent the generation of abnormal noise.

Further, since the eccentric absorbing member 40 is provided on the inner circumference of the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 is directly directed to the rotator 10 via the eccentric absorbing member 40 provided on the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12. It can be transmitted, and the rotator 10 can be rotated more smoothly with the rotation of the steering shaft 200. Thereby, for example, when the rotator 10 is connected to the steering angle sensor or the cancel cam, the rotation of the rotator 10 can be detected accurately and the turn lever can be reliably returned to the neutral position.

Further, the eccentric absorbing member 40 is formed in an annular shape and is arranged in an annular shape with an outer annulus portion 41 arranged on the outer side of the diameter, and an inner annulus formed in an annular shape and arranged on the inner side of the diameter concentrically with the outer annulus portion 41. The portion 42 is composed of an elastic piece 43 that connects the outer annulus portion 41 and the inner annulus portion 42 and absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner annulus portion 42 with respect to the center of the outer annulus portion 41. Therefore, even if the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 fixed to the inner annulus 42 and the central axis Cx of the sleeve 20 fixed to the outer annulus 41 are eccentric, the elastic piece 43 absorbs the eccentricity. can. That is, even if the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 is eccentric with respect to the central axis Cx of the sleeve 20, the rotation around the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 is regarded as the rotation about the central axis Cx, and the outer ring is formed. It can be transmitted to the portion 41 (sleeve 20).
The elastic piece 43 may be made of resin as in the present embodiment, or may be made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, regardless of the material thereof as long as it has elasticity.

Further, since the elastic piece 43 is a plurality of resin elastic materials that radially connect the outer annulus portion 41 and the inner annulus portion 42, the distance between the elastic pieces 43 can be made hollow. The weight of the eccentric absorbing member 40 can be reduced. Therefore, the weight of the rotary connector device 1 can be reduced. Further, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the eccentric absorbing member 40 is made of metal.

Further, in the present embodiment, the eccentric absorbing member 40 is fixed to the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12, but as in another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, for example, the torque connected to the steering wheel 300 attached and fixed to the steering shaft 200. The transmission unit 70 can be a rotary connector device 1x provided on the rotary side ring plate 11.

Hereinafter, the rotary connector device 1x will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 shows a sectional view taken along the line AA in the rotary connector device 1x. The rotary connector device 1x in FIG. 8 has the same configuration as the rotary connector device 1, and the same numbering is given and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the steering wheel 300 connected to the steering shaft 200 is indicated by a broken line to clarify the structure of the rotary connector device 1x and its surroundings.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rotary connector device 1x is composed of a rotator 10x, a sleeve 20, a stator 30, and an eccentric absorbing member 40x, and an FFC 100 (not shown in FIG. 8) includes a rotator 10 and a stator 30. It is accommodated in the formed accommodation space S.

The rotator 10x is composed of a rotating side ring plate 11x corresponding to the rotating side ring plate 11 and an inner peripheral cylinder portion 12, and the rotating side ring plate 11 is provided with a rotator side connector accommodating portion 13 and is annular. The torque transmission unit 70 formed in the above is provided.

The torque transmission unit 70 is a cylindrical body erected from the upper surface of the rotating side ring plate 11, and an eccentric absorption member 40x is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the torque transmission unit 70. The torque transmission unit 70 is arranged at a position that is rotationally symmetric with the central axis Cx as the axis of symmetry.

The eccentric absorbing member 40x includes an outer annulus portion 41x having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the insertion portion 321 provided in the rotation transmission portion 320, which will be described later, and an inner annulus portion 42x having the same diameter as the outer diameter of the torque transmission portion 70. It is composed of an elastic piece 43 connecting the outer annulus portion 41x and the inner annulus portion 42x. The eccentric absorbing member 40x is configured in the same manner as the eccentric absorbing member 40 except that the inner diameter and the outer diameter are different. That is, the eccentric absorbing member 40x is configured by reducing the eccentric absorbing member 40.

The steering wheel 300 fixed to the steering shaft 200 is composed of a main body portion 310 fixed to the steering shaft 200 and a rotation transmission portion 320 projecting from the lower side of the main body portion 310.
The rotation transmission unit 320 is provided at a position corresponding to the position where the torque transmission unit 70 is erected in a state where the steering wheel 300 is fixed to the steering shaft 200, and the outer ring portion 41x is provided on the lower end side. An insertion portion 321 having the same inner diameter as the above is formed.

In a state where the steering wheel 300 is fixed to the steering shaft 200 in the neutral position, the eccentric absorbing member 40x fixed to the torque transmission portion 70 is fitted and fixed to the insertion portion 321. As a result, the rotation of the steering wheel 300 can be transmitted to the rotation side ring plate 11 via the eccentric absorption member 40 and the torque transmission unit 70.

In this way, the torque transmission unit 70 is connected to the rotating side ring plate 11x with respect to the steering wheel 300 mounted on the steering shaft 200, and transmits the rotation of the steering shaft 200 to the rotator 10 via the steering wheel 300. An eccentric absorbing member 40x is provided between the torque transmission unit 70 and the steering wheel 300 to rotate the steering wheel 300 whose rotation axis Rx is eccentric with respect to the central axis Cx, and the central axis Cx is the rotation axis Rx. The torque transmission unit 70 is connected to the rotator 10 as a rotation, that is, the torque transmission unit 70 is connected to the steering wheel 300 mounted on the steering shaft 200 via the eccentric absorption member 40. Even when the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 is eccentric with respect to the axis Cx, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 is transmitted to the rotator 10x provided with the torque transmission unit 70 as the rotation centered on the central axis Cx. , The rotator 10x can be rotated more smoothly with the rotation of the steering shaft 200. Therefore, the rotator 10 can rotate with the central axis Cx as the rotation axis Rx.

Further, the stator 30 is composed of a main stator 50 provided with a fixed side ring plate 51 and an outer peripheral cylinder portion 52, and a rudder angle sensor 60 fixed to the main stator 50 and rotatable relative to the rotator 10. As a result, the rotator 10 can be smoothly rotated even with respect to the steering angle sensor 60.

Further, the steering angle sensor 60 can accurately detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200 by detecting the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200. Therefore, for example, in a vehicle model in which the irradiation direction of the front light is changed according to the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200, the front light can be accurately irradiated in the irradiation direction.

Further, in the rotary connector device 1 of the present embodiment, the eccentricity absorbing member 40 is fixed to the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12, but as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, for example, the eccentricity absorbing member 40 absorbs eccentricity with respect to the stator 30. It can be a rotary connector device 1y provided with the member 40.

Hereinafter, the rotary connector device 1y will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
FIG. 9 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the rotary connector device 1y, and FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in the assembled structure 2y in which the rotary connector device 1y is mounted on the steering shaft 200. The same configuration as that of the rotary connector device 1 in the rotary connector device 1y is assigned the same number and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the rotary connector device 1y includes a rotator 10y, a stator 30, an eccentric absorbing member 40, and a rotating portion 80, and the FFC 100 includes the rotator 10y and the stator 30. It is accommodated in the formed accommodation space S.

The rotator 10x has almost the same configuration as the rotator 10, but the rotator 10 and the stator 30 rotate relative to each other by sandwiching the fixed side ring plate 51 with the sandwiching portion 12b provided at the lower end of the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12. Can be assembled as possible.

The steering angle sensor 60y constituting the stator 30 is a steering angle sensor having a rotating portion 80 inside, and two sensor portions 63y are provided facing the inner peripheral surface side of the outer peripheral protection portion 62. Except for this, it has the same configuration as the rudder angle sensor 60. The first wall portion 63a is provided on the upper side, and the second wall portion 63b is provided on the lower side.

The rotating portion 80 is a cylindrical body whose inner diameter is equal to the outer diameter of the eccentric absorbing member 40, and the eccentric absorbing member 40 can be fixed inside. Further, a plurality of detection convex portions 81 project from the outer peripheral wall of the rotating portion 80 in the external direction at equal intervals. The detection convex portion 81 is configured to be able to pass between the first wall portion 63a and the second wall portion 63b.

In the rotary connector device 1y configured in this way, the rotator 10 and the stator 30 are assembled so as to be relatively rotatable, and a locking portion (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the sleeve 20 is provided on the steering angle sensor 60. The main stator 50 and the rudder angle sensor 60 are fixed by being locked to a stop (not shown).

An eccentric absorbing member 40 through which the steering shaft 200 (shaft portion 220) is inserted is fixed to the rotating portion 80 provided inside the steering angle sensor 60, and the detection convex portion of the rotating portion 80 is fixed. 81 is arranged so as to insert the sensor unit 63.

When the rotary connector device 1y configured in this way is assembled to the steering shaft 200 (that is, the assembly structure 2y is), the rotary shaft Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the central axis Cx of the rotary connector device 1y are eccentric. Even if there is, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be smoothly transmitted to the rotating portion 80 as the rotation about the central axis Cx as the rotation axis via the eccentric absorbing member 40 through which the steering shaft 200 is inserted.

As described above, the stator 30 provided with the annular fixed side ring plate 51 and the cylindrical outer peripheral tubular portion 52 formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed side ring plate 51, and fixed to the vehicle body, and the annular rotating side ring plate 11y. A storage space formed by the rotator 10y, which is provided with a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder portion 12 formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotation side ring plate 11y and is rotatably assembled to the stator 30, and the stator 30 and the rotator 10. It is composed of an FFC 100 having a conductor housed in S, one end fixed to the stator 30, and the other end fixed to the rotator 10y, so that the steering shaft 200 is inserted through the inner peripheral cylinder portion 12. In the rotary connector device 1y to be mounted, the stator 30 is provided with a rotating portion 80 that rotates with the rotation of the rotator 10 about the central axis Cx of the fixed side ring plate 51 as a rotation center, and is provided with the steering shaft 200. An eccentric absorbing member 40 for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft 200 is provided between the rotating portion 80 and the eccentric absorbing member 40. When the rotation of the shaft 200 is transmitted to the rotating portion 80 as a rotation with the central axis Cx as the rotation axis Rx, so that the rotation axis Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the center axis Cx of the rotation connector device 1 are eccentric. Even so, the rotating portion 80 in the stator 30 can smoothly rotate with the rotation of the steering shaft 200.

More specifically, an eccentric absorbing member 40 is provided between the rotating portion 80 provided in the stator 30 and rotating with the rotation of the rotator 10y about the central axis Cx of the fixed side ring plate 51 and the steering shaft 200. Since it intervenes, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 is converted into rotation about the central axis Cx with respect to the rotating portion 80 via the eccentric absorbing member 40, that is, the eccentricity of the rotating shaft Rx with respect to the central axis Cx is absorbed. , Is transmitted as coaxial rotation.

As a result, even when the rotary shaft Rx of the steering shaft 200 and the central axis Cx in the rotary connector device 1y are eccentric, the rotating portion 80 is rotated as the steering shaft 200 is eccentric to the rotary shaft Rx. It can be smoothly rotated with respect to the stator 30.

Further, the stator 30 is composed of a main stator 50 having a fixed side ring plate 51 and an outer peripheral cylinder portion 52, and a rudder angle sensor 60y which is fixed to the main stator 50 and has a rotating portion 80. The steering angle sensor 60y is provided with a rotating portion 80, and the eccentric absorbing member 40 is provided between the rotator 10 and the rotating portion 80, so that the rotating portion 80 is smoothly rotated as the rotator 10 rotates. Can move.

Further, since the steering angle sensor 60y is configured to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200, the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200 can be accurately detected. Therefore, for example, in a vehicle model in which the irradiation direction of the front light is changed according to the rotation angle of the steering shaft 200, the front light can be accurately irradiated in the irradiation direction.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The fixed body corresponds to the stator 30 and
The rotating body corresponds to the rotator 10 and
The rotation transmission mechanism corresponds to the eccentric absorption member 40,
The first fixed body corresponds to the main stator 50 and
The second fixed body corresponds to the rudder angle sensor 60 and
The connecting member and the resin elastic material correspond to the elastic piece 43,
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and many embodiments can be obtained.

The configuration of the above-mentioned rotary connector devices 1x and 1y is such that the rotation of the steering shaft 200 with the rotary shaft Rx as the rotary shaft is accurately transmitted to the rotator 10 to smoothly rotate the rotator 10, or the steering angle sensor 60 or the like. If it has the effect of transmitting rotation, it can be combined as appropriate.

For example, the rotator 10 in the rotary connector device 1 and the rotary connector device 1x is configured to be rotatably assembled to the stator 30 in cooperation with the sleeve 20, but as shown by the rotator 10y, the annular rotary side ring. Only the rotator composed of the cylindrical rotating-side inner peripheral cylinder portion formed on the inner peripheral edge of the plate 11 and the rotating-side ring plate 11 may be configured.

Further, the stator 30 includes a fixed side ring plate 51 and a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder portion 52 formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed side ring plate 51, and is a stator fixed to the vehicle body. The configuration may include one component of the vehicle body such as a combination switch or a configuration including the combination switch.

Further, the eccentric absorbing member 40 is composed of an outer annular portion 41, an inner annular portion 42, and an elastic piece 43, but this configuration is not always necessary, and for example, as an elastic member instead of the eccentric absorbing member 40. May be configured by combining a resin such as elastic rubber, an elastic member having elasticity by changing its shape such as bending a spring material, a metal plate, or the like, and an elastic member and a non-elastic member.
Further, the shape and configuration of the elastic piece 43 may be appropriately changed.

Furthermore, the elastic piece 43 is composed of a curved portion 43b configured in a partially curved shape and a straight portion 43a configured in a linear shape when the eccentric absorbing member 40 is viewed along the central axis Cx. However, for example, the elastic piece 43 is composed of a hollow circular or polygonal elastic portion, and a plurality of elastic portions are arranged and connected between the outer annular portion 41 and the inner annular portion 42. It may be configured, or may be configured to connect the outer annular portion 41 and the inner annular portion 42 via the above-mentioned elastic portion and other members.
Further, the above-mentioned elastic portions may be arranged side by side along the inner peripheral surface of the outer annular portion 41 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner annular portion 42, or may be arranged along the radial direction at an appropriate position. ..

Further, the steering angle sensor 60 is a steering angle sensor, but is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a combination switch for installing the rotary connector device 1 or a cancel cam for rotating and returning the turn lever to the neutral position.

Further, when the steering angle sensor 60 is used instead of the cancel cam, for example, the rotation of the steering shaft 200 can be accurately transmitted to the cancel cam, so that the turn lever can be accurately returned to the neutral position.

1,1x, 1y Rotating connector device 2 Assembly structure 10 Rotator 11 Rotating side ring plate 12 Inner circumference cylinder part 30 Stator 40 Eccentric absorption member 41 Outer ring part 42 Inner ring part 43 Elastic piece 50 Main stator 51 Fixed side ring Plate 52 Outer cylinder part 60 Steering angle sensor 70 Torque transmission part 80 Rotating part 100 FFC
200 Steering shaft S Storage space

Claims (10)

An annular fixed-side ring plate and a fixed body having a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate and fixed to the vehicle body,
An annular rotating body and a rotating body provided with a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotating side ring plate and assembled so as to be relatively rotatable relative to the fixed body.
Consists of a flexible flat cable having a conductor that is housed in a storage space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body, one end of which is fixed to the fixed body, and the other end of which is fixed to the rotating body. Being done
A rotary connector device mounted so that a steering shaft is inserted into the inner peripheral cylinder portion.
The rotating body is provided with a rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft.
The rotation transmission mechanism is composed of an elastic member, and transmits the rotation of the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the central axis of the fixed side ring plate to the rotating body as rotation with the central axis as the rotation axis. death,
The rotation transmission mechanism
The outer annulus, which is formed in an annulus and is arranged on the outer diameter,
An inner annulus formed in an annular shape and arranged inside the diameter concentric with the outer annulus, and an inner annulus.
It is composed of a connecting member that connects the outer annulus portion and the inner annulus portion and absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner annulus portion with respect to the center of the outer annulus portion.
The connecting member is
It is composed of a plurality of resin elastic materials that radially connect the outer annulus portion and the inner annulus portion.
Rotating connector device. The rotary connector device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation transmission mechanism is provided on the inner circumference of the inner peripheral cylinder portion. The rotating side ring plate is provided with a torque transmission unit connected to a steering wheel mounted on the steering shaft and transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft to the rotating body via the steering wheel.
The rotation transmission mechanism
A request for transmitting the rotation of the steering wheel, which is interposed between the torque transmission unit and the steering wheel and whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the central axis, to the rotating body as rotation with the central axis as the rotation axis. Item 1. The rotary connector device according to Item 1. The fixed body is
The first fixed body provided with the fixed side ring plate and the outer peripheral cylinder portion,
The rotary connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second fixed body is fixed to the first fixed body and is rotatable relative to the rotating body. The rotary connector device according to claim 4, wherein the second fixed body includes a steering angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft. An annular fixed-side ring plate and a fixed body having a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate and fixed to the vehicle body,
An annular rotating body and a rotating body provided with a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotating side ring plate and assembled so as to be relatively rotatable relative to the fixed body.
Consists of a flexible flat cable having a conductor that is housed in a storage space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body, one end of which is fixed to the fixed body, and the other end of which is fixed to the rotating body. Being done
A rotary connector device mounted so that a steering shaft is inserted into the inner peripheral cylinder portion.
The fixed body is provided with a rotating portion that rotates with the rotation of the rotating body about the central axis of the fixed side ring plate.
A rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft is provided between the steering shaft and the rotating portion.
The rotation transmission mechanism is composed of an elastic member, and transmits the rotation of the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric to the central axis to the rotation portion as rotation with the central axis as the rotation axis .
The rotation transmission mechanism
The outer annulus, which is formed in an annulus and is arranged on the outer diameter,
An inner annulus formed in an annular shape and arranged inside the diameter concentric with the outer annulus, and an inner annulus.
It is composed of a connecting member that connects the outer annulus portion and the inner annulus portion and absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner annulus portion with respect to the center of the outer annulus portion.
The connecting member is
It is composed of a plurality of resin elastic materials that radially connect the outer annulus portion and the inner annulus portion.
Rotating connector device. The fixed body is
The first fixed body provided with the fixed side ring plate and the outer peripheral cylinder portion,
It is fixed to the first fixed body and is composed of a second fixed body having the rotating portion, and the second fixed body is provided with the rotating portion.
The rotary connector device according to claim 6, wherein the rotation transmission mechanism is provided between the steering shaft and the rotation portion. The rotary connector device according to claim 7, wherein the second fixed body includes a steering angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft. An annular fixed-side ring plate and a fixed body having a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate and fixed to the vehicle body,
An annular rotating body and a rotating body provided with a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotating side ring plate and assembled so as to be relatively rotatable relative to the fixed body.
Consists of a flexible flat cable having a conductor that is housed in a storage space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body, one end of which is fixed to the fixed body, and the other end of which is fixed to the rotating body. Rotating connector device and
It is an assembly structure of a rotary connector device in which a steering shaft that is inserted through the inner peripheral cylinder portion and rotates integrally with the rotating body is assembled.
The rotating body is provided with a rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft.
The rotation transmission mechanism is composed of an elastic member, and transmits the rotation of the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the central axis of the fixed side ring plate to the rotating body as rotation with the central axis as the rotation axis. death,
The rotation transmission mechanism
The outer annulus, which is formed in an annulus and is arranged on the outer diameter,
An inner annulus formed in an annular shape and arranged inside the diameter concentric with the outer annulus, and an inner annulus.
It is composed of a connecting member that connects the outer annulus portion and the inner annulus portion and absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner annulus portion with respect to the center of the outer annulus portion.
The connecting member is
It is composed of a plurality of resin elastic materials that radially connect the outer annulus portion and the inner annulus portion.
Assembly structure of rotary connector device. An annular fixed-side ring plate and a fixed body having a cylindrical outer peripheral cylinder formed on the outer peripheral edge of the fixed-side ring plate and fixed to the vehicle body,
An annular rotating body and a rotating body provided with a cylindrical inner peripheral cylinder formed on the inner peripheral edge of the rotating side ring plate and assembled so as to be relatively rotatable relative to the fixed body.
Consists of a flexible flat cable having a conductor that is housed in a storage space formed by the fixed body and the rotating body, one end of which is fixed to the fixed body, and the other end of which is fixed to the rotating body. Rotating connector device and
It is an assembly structure of a rotary connector device in which a steering shaft that is inserted through the inner peripheral cylinder portion and rotates integrally with the rotating body is assembled.
The fixed body is provided with a rotating portion that rotates with the rotation of the rotating body about the central axis of the fixed side ring plate.
A rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft to the rotating body or the fixed body is provided between the steering shaft and the rotating portion.
The rotation transmission mechanism is composed of an elastic member.
The rotation of the steering shaft whose rotation axis is eccentric with respect to the central axis is transmitted to the rotation portion as rotation with the central axis as the rotation axis.
The rotation transmission mechanism
The outer annulus, which is formed in an annulus and is arranged on the outer diameter,
An inner annulus formed in an annular shape and arranged inside the diameter concentric with the outer annulus, and an inner annulus.
It is composed of a connecting member that connects the outer annulus portion and the inner annulus portion and absorbs the eccentricity of the center of the inner annulus portion with respect to the center of the outer annulus portion.
The connecting member is
It is composed of a plurality of resin elastic materials that radially connect the outer annulus portion and the inner annulus portion.
Assembly structure of rotary connector device.

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