JPH0565067A - Cable reel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a flexible cable from being overturned and buckling. which is caused by excessive winding tight or rewinding. CONSTITUTION:A flexible cable 3 wound oppositely on an outer cylinder 7 and an inner cylinder 8 is looped at the open end of a moving body 4 having a C-form plan, and tabs 13, 14 are fixed at the inner and outer ends of the flexible cable 3. When a movable member is in excessive rotation, the tabs are hitched between the moving body and the inner or outer cylinder as if it was a stay, and over-rotating of the movable member is stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cable reel which is applied to a steering device of an automobile or the like and which electrically connects a fixed body and a movable body by using a flexible cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cable reel has a fixed body and a movable body rotatably attached to the fixed body, which are connected by a flexible cable. It is used as an electrical connection means between a movable body and a fixed body whose rotation speed is finite.

In this type of cable reel, the ratio of the flexible cable to the total cost is high, and the length of the required flexible cable is shortened to reduce the cost. U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,
No. 223 is proposed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a schematic structure of the cable reel disclosed in the above patent specification. As shown in the figure, the movable body 101 is different from the cylindrical fixed body 100.
Is rotatably mounted, and a flexible cable 103 is housed in a ring-shaped space 102 defined between the fixed body 100 and the movable body 101. The flexible cable 103 is led out of the space 102 in a state of being fixed to the fixed body 100 and the movable body 101, respectively, and its winding direction is changed in the space 102 via a U-shaped inversion portion 103a. It is supposed to be converted. further,
In the space 102, a moving body 104 having a C-shape in plan view is arranged so as to be movable in the circumferential direction, and the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 is provided at one opening end of the moving body 104. It is looped to the roller 105 which is supported.

Here, for example, when the movable body 101 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 6, the reversing portion 10 of the flexible cable 103 is rotated.
3a also moves in the circumferential direction of the space 102, and the flexible cable 1
The winding state of 03 is a rewinding state in which the outer cylinder side of the fixed body 100 is increased. On the contrary, when the movable body 101 is rotated counterclockwise, the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 also moves in the same direction, and the flexible cable 103 is wound around the inner cylinder portion side of the movable body 101 a lot. It will be in a tightly wound state. In addition, at the time of such tightening and rewinding, the moving body 10
4 receives the force from the reversing portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 and moves in the same direction.

According to the cable reel thus constructed, the flexible cable 103 is wound in the movable body 101.
Since the inner cylinder part of and the outer cylinder part of the fixed body 100 are opposite to each other, the flexible cable 103 is wound around the inner cylinder part and the outer cylinder part in the same direction (coiled). Compared with the reel, the required length of the flexible cable 103 can be significantly shortened, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, a movable body 104 having a C-shape in plan view is arranged in the space 102 between the portion of the flexible cable 103 wound around the inner tubular portion and the portion of the flexible cable 103 wound around the outer tubular portion. Since the inverting portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 is looped at the open end of the body 104, the flexible cable 103 wound around the outer cylinder portion or the inner cylinder portion reaches the inverting portion 103a during the tightening or rewinding operation. The moving body 104 swells in the radial direction on the way.
The flexible cable 103 can be prevented by
It can be smoothly extended in the 3a direction.

[0007]

By the way, when the cable reel constructed as described above is assembled to the steering device of the automobile, the movable body 101 is properly arranged so that there is no difference in the amount of rotation in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. It is necessary to assemble, but it is difficult to completely eliminate erroneous assembly, and the movable body 101 may be erroneously assembled in a state where it is excessively rotated in one direction with respect to the neutral position. Here, for example, when the movable body 101 is erroneously assembled so that the amount of rotation of the movable body 101 in the unwinding direction of the flexible cable 103 is reduced, the steering wheel to which the movable body 101 is connected is changed to the flexible cable 103. When the flexible cable 103 is rotated in the unwinding direction by a predetermined amount or more, the flexible cable 103 is inverted and bent in the vicinity of the extending portion of the movable body 101, and conversely, the flexible cable 103 is movable in the winding tightening direction. Body 101
If mis-assembled to reduce the rotation amount of
When the steering wheel is rotated by a predetermined amount or more in this direction, the flexible cable 103 is inverted and bent near the extending portion of the fixed body 100, and in any case, it causes a decrease in connection reliability.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances of the prior art as described above, and an object thereof is to prevent reverse buckling of a flexible cable due to misassembly and to improve connection reliability. To provide high cable reels.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fixed body, a movable body rotatably mounted on the fixed body, and the fixed body and the movable body. And a flexible cable to be connected, the flexible cable,
It is housed in a space 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 side, and the interior part is inserted through a U-shaped inversion part. In a cable reel adapted to be wound around a tubular portion and an outer tubular portion in opposite directions, an annular moving body having an opening is arranged in the space, and at one opening end side of the moving body. The inversion part is looped, and the tongue piece is fixed to a portion of the flexible cable extending from the inner cylinder part or the outer cylinder part, and the flexible cable is rewound onto the outer cylinder part by a predetermined amount or more. The tongue piece is configured to be hooked at the open end of the movable body when the flexible cable is wound around the inner tubular portion by a predetermined amount or more. It is a thing.

[0010]

When the cable reel is assembled to the steering device in a state where the movable body and the fixed body are properly aligned, when the movable body is rotated in one direction by the steering wheel, the flexible cable The U-shaped reversing part moves in the same direction, and the winding state of the flexible cable becomes a tightening state in which the inner cylinder side is increased, and conversely,
When the movable body is rotated in the other direction, the flexible cable is wound in the unwinding state in which the outer cylinder portion side is increased. At the time of such tightening and unwinding, the moving body moves by receiving the force from the reversing part, and the flexible cable wound around the inner cylinder part or the outer cylinder part by this moving body is seated on the way to the reversing part. The flexible cable is prevented from buckling, and the flexible cable is smoothly fed out through the inversion portion.

On the other hand, when the movable body is erroneously assembled so that the amount of rotation of the movable body in the unwinding direction of the flexible cable is reduced, if the movable body is rotated by a predetermined amount or more in this direction, the inner cylindrical portion A tongue fixed to a flexible cable in the vicinity of the movable body is hooked between the open end of the movable body and the inner cylindrical portion like a support bar, and further rotation of the movable body is prevented. If the movable body is misassembled so that the amount of rotation of the flexible cable in the tightening direction of the flexible cable is reduced and the movable body is rotated in this direction by a predetermined amount or more, the flexibility near the outer cylinder is reduced. The tongue piece fixed to the cable is hooked between the open end of the movable body and the outer cylindrical portion like a support bar, and further rotation of the movable body is prevented.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an upper case of a cable reel according to an embodiment of the present invention with a part of the upper case omitted, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tongue included in the cable reel of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views of the cable reel of FIG.

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,
The flexible cable 3 is housed between the two cables, and the moving body 4 is arranged between the flexible cables 3.

The lower case 1 has a bottom plate 6 having a center hole 5 in the center, and an outer cylindrical portion 7 provided upright on the outer periphery of the bottom plate 6.
And has a bottomed cylindrical shape as a whole. On the other hand, the upper case 2 has a top plate 9 having an inner cylinder portion 8 vertically provided at the center thereof. The inner cylinder portion 8 is guided to the center hole 5 and the outer edge of the top plate 9 is guided to the outer cylinder portion 7. By this, the lower case 1
Is rotatably connected to the bottom plate 6 and the outer cylinder portion 7 of the lower case 1, and the top plate 9 and the inner cylinder portion 8 of the upper case 2.
The ring-shaped space 10 is defined by and.

The flexible cable 3 comprises a so-called flat cable in which parallel conductors are laminated with a pair of insulating films. In the present embodiment, a flat cable having five conductors embedded therein is used. .. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer end of the flexible cable 3 has the outer cylindrical portion 7
It is connected to a first connector 11 fixed to and is led out of the lower case 1 through the first connector 11. On the other hand, the inner end of the flexible cable 3 is connected to a second connector 12 fixed to the inner tubular portion 8 and is led out of the upper case 2 via the second connector 12. In addition, the flexible cable 3 is wound from the first connector 11 to the inner wall of the outer tubular portion 7 in the counterclockwise direction.
The teeth are inverted in a letter shape (hereinafter, this is referred to as an inversion part 3a), and further wound in the clockwise direction around the outer wall of the inner cylindrical part 8 to reach the second connector 11, and are housed in the space 10. There is.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a first tongue piece 13 is fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 8, and the first tongue piece 13 is connected to the second connector 12. Flexible cable 3
Is fixed to the inner end of the sheet by means of adhesive or heat fusion.
The first tongue piece 13 has a thin-walled portion 13a at the tip and a base portion 13b that is sufficiently thicker than the thin-walled portion 13a, and the thin wall portion 13a and the base portion 13b are formed on the peripheral surface of the inner tubular portion 8. A notch 8a that matches the shape is provided. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a second tongue piece 14 is fixed to the outer cylinder portion 7, and the second tongue piece 14 is a flexible cable connected to the first connector 11. 3 has a thin portion 14a at the tip and a base portion 14b that is sufficiently thicker than the thin portion 14a.

The moving body 4 is formed in a C shape in a plan view, and is arranged in the space 10 so as to be movable in the circumferential direction thereof.
The inverting portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 is looped at one end of the opening 4a of the moving body 4. The length dimension of the base portion 13b of the first tongue piece 13 is set to be longer than the radial dimension between the inner peripheral surface of the movable body 4 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner tubular portion 8, On the other hand, the base portion 14b of the second tongue piece 14
The length dimension of is set longer than the radial dimension between the outer peripheral surface of the moving body 4 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer tubular portion 7. Further, the total thickness dimension of the base portion 13b of the first tongue piece 13 and the flexible cable 3 to which it is fixed, and the base portion 14b of the second tongue piece 14 and the flexible cable to which it is fixed. The total thickness dimension of 3 and 3 is the opening 4 of the moving body 4, respectively.
It is set longer than the circumferential dimension of a.

The cable reel constructed as described above is
After the lower case 1 and the upper case 2 are properly aligned, that is, after the flexible cable 3 is aligned so as to be fed out in the forward and reverse directions by the same amount, the upper case is attached to the steering wheel of the steering device. 2 is used by attaching the lower case 1 to the fixed member of the vehicle body. When proper assembly is done in this way,
When the upper case 2 is rotated clockwise by the steering wheel from the neutral state shown in FIG. 1, the flexible cable 3
The reversing part 3a of FIG. 3 moves clockwise by a smaller rotation amount than the upper case 2, and the flexible cable 3 having a length equal to the moving amount is unwound from the outer cylinder part 7 side and wound around the inner cylinder part 8 side. Be tightened. In this case, the reversing portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 pushes and moves clockwise while slidingly contacting one end of the opening 4a of the moving body 4, and the flexible cable 3 on the outer cylinder portion 7 side moves the reversing portion 3a. After that, it is smoothly wound around the inner cylinder portion 8 side. The first tongue piece 13 is curved by the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner tubular portion 8 so as to be positioned in the notch 8a, and the inner tubular portion 8 has a substantially continuous peripheral surface without steps. To form.

Contrary to the above, when the upper case 2 is rotated counterclockwise from the neutral state shown in FIG. 1, the flexible cable 3
The reversing part 3a of FIG. 3 moves counterclockwise by a smaller rotation amount than the upper case 2, and the flexible cable 3 having a length equal to the moving amount is paid out from the inner cylinder part 8 and wound around the outer cylinder part 7 side. Will be returned. In this case, the flexible cable 3 wound around the inner tubular portion 8 tries to bulge outward in the radial direction, but is bulged outward in the radial direction by the moving body 4 which is pressed by the reversing portion 3a to move. Therefore, the flexible cable 3 on the inner cylinder portion 8 side is not bent on the way to the reversing portion 3a, and the reversing portion 3 is prevented.
It is smoothly rewound to the outer cylinder portion 7 side through a.

On the other hand, when the upper case 2 is erroneously assembled in a state in which it is pivotally biased in one direction with respect to the neutral position, for example,
When the steering wheel is rotated in this direction when the upper case 2 is misassembled so that the amount of rotation of the upper case 2 in the rewinding direction of the flexible cable 3 is reduced, the flexible cable 3 first causes the outer cylinder portion 7 to rotate. When the steering wheel is further rewound to the side and the steering wheel is further rotated, the base portion 13b of the first tongue piece 13 fixed to the inner end side of the flexible cable 3 moves to the movable body 4 as shown in FIG. It is hooked between one end of the opening 4a and the inner cylindrical portion 8 like a support bar. Therefore, the rotational force of the inner tubular portion 8 in the direction of the arrow acts as a force for compressing the base portion 13b of the first tongue piece 13 from the longitudinal direction, and the base portion 13b is strong against the compressive force, so that the steering wheel rotates. Is stopped and reverse buckling of the inner end of the flexible cable 3 is prevented. Since the total thickness of the base portion 13b and the flexible cable 3 is set to be larger than the dimension of the opening 4a, the base portion 13b does not project to the outside of the moving body 4 through the opening 4a. The stopper function of the tongue piece 13 of 1 is reliable. Also, the base 13
Since the thin portion 13a that is easily deformed is provided at the tip of b, the stress that the flexible cable 3 receives at the connection end with the first tongue piece 13 is relieved.

On the contrary, when the steering wheel is rotated in this direction when the flexible cable 3 is erroneously assembled so that the amount of rotation of the upper case 2 in the tightening direction is reduced, the flexible cable 3 is flexed. First, the sex cable 3 is completely wound around the inner cylinder portion 8 side, and when the steering wheel is further rotated, as shown in FIG. 5, the second tongue piece fixed to the outer end side of the flexible cable 3 is attached. A base portion 14b of 14 is hooked between the other end of the opening 4a of the moving body 4 and the outer cylindrical portion 7 like a support rod. Therefore, the rotation of the steering wheel in the direction of the arrow is stopped by the second tongue piece 14, and the reverse buckling of the outer end of the flexible cable 3 is prevented. Also in this case, since the base portion 14b does not project to the inside of the moving body 4 through the opening 4a, the stopper function of the second tongue piece 14 is reliable, and the flexible cable 3 has the second portion. The stress received at the connection end with the tongue piece 14 is relieved by the thin portion 14a.

The cable reel according to the above embodiment is required because the flexible cable 3 is wound around the outer cylinder portion 7 and the inner cylinder portion 8 in opposite directions via the reversing portion 3a. The length of the flexible cable 3 can be shortened, and as a result, the total cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced. Further, since the moving body 4 prevents the flexible cable 3 from being bent on the way to the reversing portion 3a, the flexible cable 3 can be smoothly fed out through the reversing portion 3a, and tightening and rewinding. The operation can be performed reliably. Further, even if the upper case 2 is erroneously assembled in a state in which the upper case 2 is rotationally biased in either the normal or reverse direction with respect to the neutral position, the first and second tongue pieces 13 and 14 are connected to the moving body 4 with each other. By locking it like a support rod,
Since it is possible to stop the over-rotation of the upper case 2, it is possible to prevent the flexible cable 3 from being inverted and buckled.

In the above embodiment, the flexible cable 3 is used.
Although a flat cable is given as an example, a flexible cable called a round wire cable in which the conductor wire is covered with an insulating tube can be used instead, and in this case, depending on the number of circuits required. Accordingly, a plurality of round wire cables may be integrated into a strip shape.

In the above embodiment, the case where the upper case 1 is used as the fixed body and the upper case 2 is used as the movable body has been described. On the contrary, the upper case 2 is used as the fixed body and the lower case 1 is used. It is also possible to use as a movable body.

Further, in the above embodiment, the moving body 4 is formed in a C shape in a plan view, but instead of this, an annular ring may be used in which a rectangular through hole is provided. It is possible.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the flexible cable can be prevented from being excessively tightened or unwound by the tongue that is hooked on the moving body like a support rod, a cable reel with high connection reliability can be provided. ..

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an upper case of a cable reel according to an embodiment of the present invention with a part of the upper case omitted.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tongue included in the cable reel of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cable reel of FIG. 1 when it is excessively rotated in a rewinding direction.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cable reel of FIG. 1 when it is excessively rotated in a winding direction.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cable reel according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower case (fixed body) 2 Upper case (movable body) 3 Flexible cable 3a Inversion part 4 Moving body 4a Opening 7 Outer cylinder part 8 Inner cylinder part 10 Space 13 First tongue piece 14 Second tongue piece 13a , 14a Thin portion 13b, 14b Base portion

Claims (3)

[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 comprising: ,
It is housed in a space 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 side, and the interior part is inserted through a U-shaped inversion part. In a cable reel adapted to be wound around a tubular portion and an outer tubular portion in opposite directions, an annular moving body having an opening is arranged in the space, and at one opening end side of the moving body. The inversion portion is looped, the tongue piece is fixed to a portion of the flexible cable extending from the inner tubular portion, and when the flexible cable is rewound to the outer tubular portion by a predetermined amount or more, the A cable reel, wherein the tongue piece is configured to be hooked between the open end of the moving body and the inner cylindrical portion. 2. 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 comprising: ,
It is housed in a space 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 side, and the interior part is inserted through a U-shaped inversion part. In a cable reel adapted to be wound around a tubular portion and an outer tubular portion in opposite directions, an annular moving body having an opening is arranged in the space, and at one opening end side of the moving body. The inversion portion is looped, the tongue piece is fixed to a portion of the flexible cable extending from the outer tubular portion, and when the flexible cable is wound around the inner tubular portion by a predetermined amount or more, the A cable reel in which a tongue piece is configured to be hooked between an open end of the moving body and an outer tubular portion. 3. The total thickness dimension of the tongue piece and the flexible cable to which the tongue piece is fixed is set to be larger than the opening of the movable body.
Or the cable reel described in 2.