JPH04328071A - Cable reel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly rotate a movable unit by preventing a flexible cable, wound on inner and outer cylindrical parts, from buckling. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of sets of rollers 5a, 5b, connected to both ends of a spring 6, are interposed by holding a predetermined space in a peripheral direction between flexible cables 3, wound in external/internal cylindrical parts 9, 10, to press the above-mentioned flexible cables 3 energized respectively in internal/external peripheral directions of the external/internal cylindrical parts 9, 10 by each roller 5a, 5b. Accordingly, the flexible cables, wound in the external/internal cylindrical parts, are pressed energized almost over the total periphery thereof, so that even in the case of rotating a movable unit in either of a rewinding direction or tight winding direction, the flexible cable is surely delivered to the external or internal cylindrical part side via a reversing part.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cable reel that is applied to automobile steering devices and the like, and which makes electrical connection between a fixed body and a movable body using a flexible cable.

0002

[Prior Art] A cable reel is a device that connects a fixed body and a movable body movably attached to the fixed body with a flexible cable, and rotates like a steering device of an automobile. It is used as an electrical connection means between a finite number of movable bodies and fixed bodies.

[0003] In this type of cable reel, the proportion of the flexible cable in the total cost is high, and the cable reel is designed to reduce the cost by shortening the length of the required flexible cable. is U.S. Patent No. 3,763,
It is proposed in the specification of No. 455.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the schematic structure of the cable reel disclosed in the above patent specification. As shown in the figure, the movable body 10 is cylindrical with respect to the fixed body 100.
1 is rotatably mounted, and a ring-shaped space 102 is defined between the fixed body 100 and the movable body 101.
Flexible cables 103 and 104 are housed inside. These flexible cables 103 and 104 are attached to the fixed body 100.
The space 102 is fixed to the movable body 101 and
The fixed body 10 is led out to the outside of the space 102.
0 and the inner cylinder of the movable body 101 with the winding direction reversed, and a U-shaped reversal part is formed at the position where the winding direction is reversed. Further, in the space 102, a plurality of rollers 105 are provided along the circumferential direction of the space 102.
, 106 groups are arranged, and the flexible cable 10
The inverted portion of the flexible cable 104 is looped around one of the rollers 105 on one side, and the inverted portion of the flexible cable 104 is looped around one of the rollers 106 on the other side.
looped into one of the groups.

In the cable reel configured in this way, for example, when the movable body 101 is rotated clockwise in FIG.
Flexible cables 103, 104 move in the circumferential direction of 02.
The winding state is an unwinding state in which the outer cylinder side of the fixed body 100 is larger. Conversely, when the movable body 101 is rotated counterclockwise, the reversed portions of the flexible cables 103, 104 also move in the same direction, and the flexible cables 103, 104
The movable body 101 is in a tightly wound state with a large amount of winding on the inner cylindrical side. Incidentally, during such tightening and unwinding, the rollers 105 and 106 move in the same direction by receiving force from the reversed portions of the flexible cables 103 and 104.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the cable reel according to the conventional proposal described above, since the winding direction of the flexible cable is reversed between the inner cylindrical part and the outer cylindrical part, the flexible cable Compared to a cable reel in which the inner and outer cylinders are wound in the same direction (wound spirally), the required length of flexible cable can be significantly shortened, reducing costs. can be reduced. In addition, since multiple rollers are arranged between the part of the flexible cable wound around the inner cylinder and the part wound around the outer cylinder, the flexible cable can be wrapped around almost the entire circumference of the ring-shaped space. can be regulated in the radial direction over
Tightening or unwinding operations can be performed smoothly.

However, the dimension between the flexible cable wound around the inner cylindrical part and the flexible cable wound around the outer cylindrical part (dimension indicated by symbol L in FIG. 11) is It varies depending on the winding state of the cable, and the L dimension is maximum when all the flexible cable is wound back into the outer cylinder part on the large diameter side.
When all of the flexible cable is wound tightly around the inner cylinder portion on the small diameter side, the L dimension becomes the minimum. For this reason, even if a plurality of rollers are tightly arranged in a space assuming the minimum L dimension, when the flexible cable is wound back from the inner tube toward the outer tube, the flexible cable is wound around the inner tube. Play occurs between the outermost peripheral portion of the rotated flexible cable and each roller. Therefore, if the movable body is rotated in the unwinding direction in such a state, the flexible cable wound around the inner cylinder part will not be unwound to the reversing part, but will move radially outward (toward the outer cylinder part) on the way. Conversely, when the movable body is rotated in the tightening direction, the flexible cable wound around the outer cylinder is not fed out to the reversing part, and on the way it bulges radially inside (inner cylinder). direction)
In either case, further rotation of the movable body causes this bulging portion to buckle, resulting in damage to the flexible cable.

The present invention has been made in view of the actual state of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide a highly reliable cable reel that prevents buckling of a flexible cable. be.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a flexible cable that is pressed and biased over almost the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder part and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder part. The most important feature is the provision of an elastic member that

0010

[Operation] When the movable body is rotated in one direction, the U-shaped inverted portion of the flexible cable moves in the same direction, so that the flexible cable is wound tightly around the inner cylinder or wound back into the outer cylinder. In this case, the flexible cable wound around the inner cylinder part and the flexible cable wound around the outer cylinder part are pressed in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder part and the outer cylinder part, respectively, by the elastic members. Therefore, even when the movable body is rotated in either the unwinding direction or the tightening direction, the flexible cable is reliably fed out through the reversing part to the outer cylinder part or the inner cylinder part, and the flexible cable is It will not buckle on the way to the end.

[0011]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a partially broken cable reel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the upper case of the cable reel with a part of the upper case omitted, and FIG. 3 is a diagram. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a connecting member provided on the cable reel.

As shown in these figures, the cable reel according to this embodiment includes a lower case 1, an upper case 2 rotatably attached to the lower case 1, both cases 1,
2, a connecting member 4 disposed between the flexible cables 3, and a plurality of rollers 5 and springs 6 held by the connecting member 4. There is.

The lower case 1 includes a bottom plate 8 having a center hole 7 in the center, and an outer cylindrical part 9 erected around the outer periphery of the bottom plate 8.
It has a cylindrical shape with a bottom as a whole. On the other hand, the upper case 2 has a top plate 11 with an inner cylindrical part 10 vertically disposed in the center.
The inner cylindrical part 10 is guided by the center hole 7, and the outer edge of the top plate 11 is guided by the outer cylindrical part 9, so that the lower case 1 is rotatably connected to the lower case 1. 1
A ring-shaped space 12 in plan view is defined by the bottom plate 8 and outer cylinder part 9 of the upper case 2, and the top plate 11 and inner cylinder part 10 of the upper case 2.

The flexible cable 3 is composed of what is called a flat cable in which conductors parallel to each other are laminated with a pair of insulating films, and in the case of this embodiment, a flat cable with five conductors buried is used. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, one end of the flexible cable 3 is connected to a first connector 13 fixed to the outer cylinder part 9, and led out to the outside of the lower case 1 via the first connector 13. ing. On the other hand, the other end of the flexible cable 3 is connected to a second connector 14 fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 10, and led out to the outside of the upper case 2 via the second connector 14. Moreover, the flexible cable 3 is wound counterclockwise from the first connector 13 to the inner wall of the outer cylinder part 9, and is then reversed into a U-shape (hereinafter referred to as the reversed part 3a), and further It is housed in the space 12 so as to be wound clockwise around the outer wall of the inner cylindrical portion 10 and reach the second connector 13 .

The connecting members 4 are comprised of a pair of C-shaped members in plan view, and are disposed in the space 12 so as to face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. Guide grooves 4a extending in the radial direction are formed at constant intervals in the circumferential direction on the opposing inner surfaces of these connecting members 4, and a pair of rollers 5 is inserted into each guide groove 4a via a spring 6. They are arranged so that they can be accessed and exited. Therefore, each roller 5 (hereinafter referred to as 5a) protruding from the outer peripheral edge of the connecting member 4 is elastically biased radially outward, that is, toward the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 9, by the spring 6. Each roller 5 (hereinafter referred to as 5b) protruding from the inner circumferential edge of the connecting member 4 is elastically biased radially inward by a spring 6, that is, toward the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical portion 10. The inverted portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 is looped around the circumferential surface of one end of the connecting member 4.

Next, the operation of the cable reel according to the above embodiment will be explained by taking as an example the case where the lower case 1 is used as a fixed body and the upper case 2 is used as a movable body. First, when the upper case 2 is rotated clockwise from the state shown in FIG.
The flexible cable 3 is moved clockwise by an amount smaller than the amount of rotation, and the flexible cable 3 having a length equal to the amount of rotation is let out from the outer cylindrical portion 9 side and wound around the inner cylindrical portion 10 side. In this case, the inverted portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 presses and moves clockwise while contacting the circumferential surface of one end of the connecting member 4 with a relatively small frictional resistance, and each roller 5a, 5b is moved by a spring 6. Since they are biased by elastic force in the direction of the outer cylinder part 9 and the direction of the inner cylinder part 10, the rollers 5a group move over the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylinder part 9, and the rollers 5b group move over the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylinder part 9. The flexible cables 3 wound around the inner cylinder part 10 are moved clockwise while being held by the connecting members 4, respectively. Therefore, each group of rollers 5a prevents the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylindrical portion 9 from bulging inward in the radial direction, and prevents the flexible cable 3 on the outer cylindrical portion 9 side. The flexible cable 3 is smoothly let out in the direction of the reversing part 3a and wound tightly around the inner cylinder part 10 side.

Contrary to the above, when the upper case 2 is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. and a flexible cable 3 with a length equal to the amount of movement.
is fed out from the inner cylinder part 10 side and rewound to the outer cylinder part 9 side. In this case, the inverted portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 is in contact with the circumferential surface of the other end opposite to the circumferential surface of the connecting member 4 in which the inverted portion 3a is looped, while reversing this. This causes the rollers 5a to move over the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylindrical portion 9.
Since the group b moves counterclockwise on the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical part 10 while being held by the connecting member 4, each group of rollers 5b moves the inner cylindrical part 10.
The flexible cable 3 wound on the inner cylinder part 10 side is prevented from bulging outward in the radial direction.
is smoothly drawn out toward the reversing section 3a and rewound toward the outer cylinder section 9 side.

In the cable reel according to the first embodiment, since the flexible cable 3 is wound in opposite directions around the outer cylindrical part 9 and the inner cylindrical part 10 via the reversible part 3a, the necessary It is possible to shorten the length of the flexible cable 3, which is considered to be
As a result, the total cost can be reduced and it is advantageous for downsizing. Further, the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylindrical portion 9 contacts each group of rollers 5a which are elastically biased by the spring 6, and extends in the direction of the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical portion 9 over almost the entire circumference. Therefore, during the tightening operation, the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylindrical part 9 does not bulge inward in the radial direction, and the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical part 10 similarly does not bulge out inward in the radial direction. The flexible cable 3 comes into contact with each group of rollers 5b that are elastically biased by the spring 6, and is elastically biased toward the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical portion 10 over almost the entire circumference. ,
The flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylinder portion 10 does not bulge outward in the radial direction. Therefore, no matter which direction the upper case 2 is rotated, the rotational force is reliably transmitted to the inverted part 3a of the flexible cable 3, and the flexible cable 3 has a diameter on the way to the inverted part 3a. It is possible to prevent problems such as bulging in the direction and buckling. Furthermore, flexible cable 3
Since the flexible cable 3 and the rollers 5a and 5b are in contact with each other with very small frictional resistance, the flexible cable 3 can be moved smoothly and the tightening or unwinding operation can be performed reliably.

In the first embodiment, the connecting member 4 and the connecting member 4 are connected by bringing the inverted portions 3a of the flexible cable 3 into contact with the peripheral surfaces of both ends of the connecting member 4, respectively.
The case has been described in which the rollers 5a, 5b and the spring 6 held by the rollers 5a and 5b are moved in the circumferential direction following the movement of the reversing section 3a. However, when the upper case 2 rotates in either direction, the reversing portion 3a may come into contact with the sliding body. In this way, the reversible portion 3a does not become far away from the end of the connecting member 4.

FIG. 5 shows a rolling contact roller 15 as the above-mentioned sliding body.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment in which the rolling contact roller 15 is connected via an arm 16 to one end of a connecting member 4, in which the reversing portion 3a is looped. In this case, the reversing portion 3a is connected to the connecting member 4 or the rolling contact roller 15 depending on the rotation direction of the upper case 2.
Since the inverted portion 3 contacts with a small frictional resistance,
The movement of a in the circumferential direction becomes smooth. Moreover, since the rolling contact roller 15 can be swung in the radial direction by the arm 16, when the flexible cable 3 is tightly wound on the outer cylinder part 9 side, it is moved toward the inner cylinder part 10 side. If it is tight on the cylindrical portion 10 side, it swings and deviates toward the outer cylindrical portion 9 side, thereby reliably guiding the reversing portion 3a.

FIG. 6 shows a concave peripheral surface 17 as the above-mentioned sliding body.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment using a curved body 17 having a curved body 17, which is connected by an arm 16 so that its circumferential surface 17a faces one end of a connecting member 4 via an inverted portion 3a. has been done. In this case, the inverted portion 3a and the curved body 17
Although the frictional resistance between the rollers 15 and 15 is somewhat larger than that of the rolling contact roller 15 shown in FIG. can be prevented.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an embodiment in which a plurality of small rollers 18 are used as the above-mentioned sliding body, and these small rollers 18 are pivotally supported by a swinging lever 19 that is T-shaped in plan view. In this case, since the locus of the circumferential surface of each small roller 18 plotted can form a pseudo-concave circumferential surface, even though the rollers 18 having very small frictional resistance with the reversing portion 3a are used, First, move the U-shape of the reversing section 3a to each small roller 18.
can be reliably maintained.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the flexible cable 3 is in direct contact with each roller 5a, 5b, but as shown in FIG. 8, an endless belt 20 is wound around each roller 5a, 5b. Turn the flexible cable 3 and each roller 5
An endless belt 20 may be interposed between a and 5b. In this case, even if the arrangement pitch between the rollers 5a and 5b is set large, the endless belt 20 can prevent the flexible cable 3 from entering between the two adjacent rollers 5a or 5b. roller 5a,
5b can be reduced.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of essential parts showing still another embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the above-mentioned embodiments is that elastic tongues 22 and 23 made of synthetic resin, elastic plates, etc. are provided on the outer and inner surfaces of the C-shaped connecting member 21 in plan view.
A plurality of elastic tongues 22 and 23 are fixed at one end at a constant interval, and the other ends are attached to a flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylindrical part 9 and a flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylindrical part 10. The only difference is that it is brought into elastic contact with the flexible cable 3, and the rest of the structure is the same. Therefore, the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylinder part 9 is independently pressed in the direction of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder part 9 by the elastic force of each elastic tongue piece 22 itself. Inner cylinder part 1
The flexible cable 3 wound around 0 is pressed independently in the direction of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder part 10 by the elastic force of each elastic tongue piece 23 itself, which is almost the same as in the first embodiment. A similar effect can be achieved. Furthermore, in the case of this embodiment, the connecting member 21 and each of the elastic tongues 22, 23 can be handled as an integrated unit, which has the effect of improving assembly workability.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part showing still another embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment, a pair of leaf springs 24 and 25 formed into a C shape in plan view is used There is. These leaf springs 24 and 25 are made of highly elastic metal plates or synthetic resin materials, and one of the leaf springs 24 is formed so that an elastic biasing force that spreads outward is applied, and curled portions 24a are formed at both ends. The other leaf spring 25 is formed so as to apply an elastic biasing force that causes it to contract inward, and curled portions 25a are formed at both ends. Both leaf springs 24 and 25 are arranged in the space 12, and one leaf spring 24 presses the flexible cable 3 wound around the outer cylinder part 9 against the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder part 9. The other leaf spring 25 is a flexible cable 3 wound around the inner cylinder part 10.
is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 10, and the inverted portion 3a is looped around the curled portions 24a, 25b of one of the leaf springs 24, 25. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the flexible cable 3
Although the frictional resistance between the plate springs 24 and 25 becomes somewhat larger, substantially the same effect as in the first embodiment described above can be expected. Moreover, in the case of this embodiment, the leaf spring 24 has a simple shape.
, 25 can prevent the flexible cable 3 from buckling on the outer cylindrical portion 9 side and the inner cylindrical portion 10 side, thereby reducing costs.

In each of the above embodiments, a flat cable was used as an example of the flexible cable 3, but instead, a flexible cable called a round wire cable in which a conducting wire is covered with an insulating tube may be used. In this case, a plurality of round cables may be integrated into a band shape depending on the number of circuits required.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the upper case 1 is used as a fixed body and the upper case 2 is used as a movable body. It is also possible to use 1 as a movable body.

[0028]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
Prevents both the flexible cable wound around the outer cylinder from buckling inward in the radial direction and the flexible cable wound around the inner cylinder from buckling outward in the radial direction. Therefore, regardless of the direction of rotation of the movable body, the rotational force can reliably move the inverted portion of the flexible cable in the circumferential direction, resulting in smooth rotation of the movable body and a highly reliable cable. Can provide reel.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, partially cut away, of a cable reel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view with a part of the upper case of the cable reel shown in FIG. 1 omitted;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view of a connecting member included in the cable reel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing, with a part omitted, an upper case of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing, with a part omitted, an upper case of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view, with a part omitted, of the upper case of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing, with a part omitted, an upper case of a cable reel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of essential parts showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of essential parts showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a cable reel according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Lower case (fixed body) 2 Upper case (movable body) 3 Flexible cable 3a Inversion part 4,21 Connecting member 5, 5a, 5b Roller 6 Spring 9 Outer cylinder part 10 Inner cylinder part 12 Space 15　Rotating roller (sliding body) 16 Arm 17 Curved body (smooth body) 17a Surrounding surface 18 Small roller (smooth body) 19 Swing lever 20 Endless belt 22, 23 Elastic tongue piece 24, 25 Leaf spring

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fixed body, a movable body rotatably attached to the fixed body, and a flexible cable connecting the fixed body and the movable body, the flexible cable being , is housed between an inner cylinder part provided on either one of the fixed body and the movable body and an outer cylinder part provided on the other, and is connected to the inner cylinder through a U-shaped inverted part. In the cable reel, the flexible cable is wound in opposite directions around the outer cylindrical part and the outer cylindrical part, and the flexible cable is wound around almost the entire outer circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical part and the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical part within the space. A cable reel characterized in that an elastic member that presses and biases is arranged around the circumference. 2. The cable reel according to claim 1, wherein a C-shaped moving body is disposed within the space, and the elastic member is held by the moving body. 3. The cable according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of roller groups are provided on each of the inner and outer peripheries of the movable body, and the elastic member is interposed between a pair of rollers. reel. 4. The cable reel according to claim 2, further comprising a sliding body connected to one end of the movable body, the sliding body facing the inverted portion of the flexible cable. 5. The connecting member comprises a pair of leaf springs formed into a C-shape, and among these leaf springs,
2. The cable reel according to claim 1, wherein one of the cable reels is provided with an elastic biasing force that expands outward, and the other is provided with an elastic biasing force that contracts inward.