JPH06243947A - Slip ring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a highly reliable connecting condition by solving influence of external force or vibration. CONSTITUTION:Electrical connection is carried out between an electrically conductive brush member 8 fixed to a movable case member 1 to rotate together with a handle and an electrically conductive ring member 7 fixed to a fixed case member 2. A recessed part 11 to house a coil spring 12 is arranged above the movable case member 1, and the movable case member 1 is kept in a fixed position by a load which is caused in the coil spring 12 and is larger than the electrically conductive brush member 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slip ring device for electrical connection between a steering wheel and a steering column in an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. According to the figure, 28 is a fixed case member fixed to the steering column (not shown) side, and is a conductive ring member 3
0 is stuck. Reference numeral 29 denotes a movable case member, to which a conductive brush member 31 is fixed. The movable case member 29 has a cylindrical portion 32, and the circular hole portion 33 provided in the fixed case member 28 and the cylindrical portion 32 are fitted and kept in a rotatable state. Further, the conductive ring member 30 is pressed and biased by the spring pressure of the conductive brush material 31, and the clearance thereof is the cylindrical portion 3
A claw 34 provided on the shaft 2 regulates the length in the axial direction and keeps it constant. Although not shown, the conductive ring member 30 and the conductive brush member 31 are connected to the respective output terminals and connected to a predetermined system.

The operation of the prior art will be described below. An electric signal from a handle portion (not shown) is transmitted by the electrical connection between the conductive brush member 31 and the conductive ring member 30 to rotate the handle. Along with this, the movable case member 29 also rotates, but the electrical connection is maintained by the contact between the conductive brush member 31 and the conductive ring member 30 during the rotation.

[0004]

However, in the above conventional technique, since the vibration and the external force applied to the movable case member 29 are supported by the conductive brush material 31, the conductive brush member 31 and the conductive ring are caused by the vibration and the external force. There is a problem that the connection between the members 30 becomes unstable, and instantaneous disconnection and chattering easily occur.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an excellent slip ring device which maintains stable electrical connection.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a fixed case member mounted between the steering wheel and the steering wheel and fixed to the steering column side,
A movable case member that rotates together with the handle, a conductive ring member provided in the fixed case member concentrically with the movable case member, and a conductive brush held by the movable case and slidingly contacting the conductive ring member. An elastic member other than the conductive brush member is provided between the member and the fixed case to hold the fixed case member and the movable case member at a constant pressure.

[0007]

According to the present invention described above, by providing the elastic member on the movable case member, it is possible to suppress the application of external force or vibration to the conductive brush material and maintain a stable electrical connection state.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A slip ring device of the present invention will be described with reference to one embodiment of FIGS. According to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a movable case member, which is connected to various switches and airbag systems, which are electric parts (not shown) provided in the handle, by a connector 5 provided on the movable case member, and is rotated together with the handle. Move. The movable case member 1 has a recess 1
A plurality of the rotary shafts 1 are provided concentrically with the rotary shaft, on the back side or both the front and back sides, and a coil spring 12 and a ball 13 for holding the movable case member 1 are housed in the recess 11.

A leaf spring may be used instead of the coil spring 12 and the ball 13. The spring constant and the load of the spring 12 and the leaf spring are set to be larger than the spring constant and the load of the conductive brush material 8. Further, one or a plurality of relay terminals 10 are fixed to the movable case member 1, and one or a plurality of conductive brush members 8 are attached per terminal (per circuit) by rivets 9 or the like by means such as caulking. Has been. 2 is a fixed case member, which is a conductive ring member 7
1 or more are fixed. The fixed case member 2 has screw fastening holes 17 on the steering column (not shown) side.
It is fixed with screws using.

A connector portion 6 is formed on the fixed case member 2, and although not shown, the conductive ring member 7 is connected to a terminal of each connector portion 5,
It is connected to the steering column side (vehicle body side) system.

Reference numeral 15 denotes an outer fixed case member, which is fixed to the fixed case member 2 by means of snap fitting or the like so as to hold the movable case member 1 in the axial direction with the fixed case member 2. The movable case member 1 is rotatably held by being fitted into a circular hole portion 4 provided in the fixed case member 2 by a cylindrical portion 3 provided on the inner periphery thereof. The movable case member 1 is held in the axial direction between the fixed case member 2 and the outer fixed case member 15 by the pressure of the coil spring 12 or the leaf spring.

The operation of the above embodiment will now be described. The movable case member 1 is combined with the steering wheel side by the groove 16 provided in the inner periphery thereof, and when the steering wheel is rotated, the steering column side and the steering wheel side are separated. The electrical connection is maintained by rotating and sliding the conductive ring member 7 fixed to the fixed case member 2 and the conductive brush member 8 fixed to the movable case member 1.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, even if a sudden force is applied from the steering wheel or a vibration on the vehicle side is applied to the entire apparatus, those forces can be attached to the movable case member 1 side. It is supported by the spring 12 or the leaf spring and does not affect the conductive brush 8.

Another embodiment of the slip ring device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 18 denotes a movable case member, which is electrically connected to the internal parts of the handle by a connector 19 provided on the upper part thereof and rotates together with the handle. One or more disk-shaped conductive ring members 20 are fixed to the upper movable case member 18, and the connector 19
Is wired to. Further, the movable case member 18 has a shaft portion 21, and a cylindrical fixed case member 22.
And it is combined with the hole 24 provided in the upper fixed case member 23 and guided in the circumferential direction. Through the screw tightening holes 25 provided in the fixed case member 22, the screw is fixed to the steering column side by screws, and the upper fixed case member 23 is fixed to the fixed case member 22 by means such as snap fitting.

A clip-shaped conductive brush member 26 is fixed to the inner peripheral portion of the fixed case member 22 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is wired to a connector 27 provided on the fixed case member 22. It Further, the clip-shaped conductive brush member 26 is the disk-shaped conductive ring member 2
It is arranged so as to contact the front and back surfaces of 0, and the electrical connection between the fixed case member 22 side and the movable case member 18 side is maintained. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even if external force or vibration is applied to the entire apparatus and the movable case member 18 moves, the clip-type conductive brush member 26 follows it, so that a stable electrical connection state is achieved. To be kept.

[0016]

According to the present invention, in the case where the external force and vibration applied to the movable case member are suppressed by the elastic member, the external force applied to the conductive brush member is mitigated to reduce the electric force between the conductive brush member and the conductive ring member. Stabilize the static connection, suppress the occurrence of so-called momentary interruptions and chattering, and in the case of using the clip-shaped conductive brush member, even if external force or vibration is applied to the movable case member, the clip-shaped conductive brush Since the member follows it, the electrical connection state is stable, and it is possible to provide an extremely reliable slip ring device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a slip ring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional slip ring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Movable Case Member 2 Fixed Case Member 7 Conductive Ring Member 8 Conductive Brush Member 11 Recessed Case Recess 12 Coil Spring 13 Ball 15 Outside Fixed Case Member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A fixed case member mounted between a steering wheel and a steering column and fixed to the steering column side, a movable case member that rotates together with the handle, and the movable case member in the fixed case member. One or more conductive ring members provided concentrically, one or more conductive brush members held by the movable case member and in contact with the conductive ring member, and the conductive brush member between the movable case and the fixed case. A slip ring device which is composed of an elastic member which separately holds the fixed case and the movable case by applying a constant pressure. 2. A cylindrical fixed case member mounted between the steering wheel and the steering column and fixed to the steering column side, a movable case member that rotates together with the handle, and a movable case member held by the movable case member. A slip ring formed by one or more disk-shaped conductive ring members and a clip-shaped conductive brush member having a shape to sandwich the one or more conductive rings held on the inner peripheral portion of the fixed case member. apparatus.