JPH06302367A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly grasp the number of turns of a movable flat cable, and improve workability for assembly by providing a transparent section on a case for housing the flat cable, and visually recognizing the position identification symbol of the flat cable. CONSTITUTION:A movable flat cable 7 with one end fixed to a turning member 1 and the other end to the winding core 6 of a fixed member, is wound by a plurality of turns around the member 1 and the core 6, and housed in a case, thereby constituting a connector device 120. This case is composed of the first case 2 and the second case 3. Also, the second case 3 is provided with a transparent section 13. According to this construction, the device 120 can be easily adjusted to the neutral position of the cable 7 by visually recognizing via the transparent section 13 a position identification symbol 14 formed on the cable 7 at a position corresponding to the neutral position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector device and is used, for example, in a connector device for electrically connecting a rotating side and a fixed side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 7, the applicant of the present application has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 4-8612 as a connector device used in a vehicle steering device. The connector device 140 includes a rotary shaft 110.
A first fixed case 41 provided around the rotary shaft 110 with a space therebetween, a second fixed case 42 having a hollow core 44 at the center and a hollow interior, and one end of the rotary shaft 110. The other end is fixed to the winding core 44, and the space separating the rotary shaft 110 and the first case 41 and the second
The flexible cable 43 is loosely wound a plurality of times around the winding core 44 in the case 42, whereby the flexible cable 43 is shortened.

[0003]

However, in the conventional device described above, since the flexible cable 43 is loosely wound around the winding core 44 a plurality of times, the connector device 140 is actually used for vehicle steering. When the flexible cable 43 is assembled to the device, the flexible cable 43 needs to be assembled in a neutral state that is not tightly wound around the winding core 44 and is not greatly expanded in the second case 42. Therefore, there is a problem that the assembly work is difficult.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a connector device capable of accurately grasping the number of windings of a flexible cable and improving workability during assembly. It is intended to be provided.

[0005]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a flexible cable having one end fixed to a rotary member and the other end fixed to a fixed member is wound around the rotary member and the fixed member a plurality of times. In a connector device in which these are housed in a case, the flexible cable is provided with position information relating to the number of windings of the flexible cable around the fixing member, and based on this position information. The connector device is characterized by adjusting the number of windings of the flexible cable around the fixing member.

[0006]

With the above structure, even when the connector device is to be mounted on a vehicle steering device, for example,
By grasping the positional information on the number of windings of the flexible cable around the fixing member, which is provided on the flexible cable, the number of windings of the flexible cable around the fixing member can be grasped. The flexible cable can be easily adjusted to the neutral position and the like, and the workability at the time of assembly can be improved, which is an excellent effect.

[0007]

The present invention will be described below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a connector device that connects an airbag device, which is an occupant protection device, and a collision detection device. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a connector device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example in which the connector device is mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle.

In FIG. 3, a steering shaft 20 housed in a casing 21 has a steering 22 at its end and a winding member 1 for the connector device 120 around the steering 22.
When the steering wheel 22 is operated, the winding member 1 mounted around the steering shaft 20 rotates. In the steering wheel 22,
An airbag 24 stored under the pad 25 and an inflator 23, which is a gas generator configured with an ignition device, a gas generating agent, and the like, for deploying the airbag 24 in the event of a vehicle collision are configured. The inflator 23 is electrically connected to the connector device 120 via the first connection cable 8 for connecting the airbag and the first connection terminal 10.

A connector device 120 having a flat cable 7 corresponding to a flexible cable is provided with a second connection cable 9 for circuit connection and a second connection terminal, and an electric power is supplied to a collision detection device (not shown). Connected. Then, the collision detection device and the inflator 23 are electrically connected by the first and second connection cables, the first and second connection terminals, and the flat cable 7.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. In FIG. 3, when a collision of the vehicle is detected by the collision detection device, a collision signal generated by the collision detection is transmitted through the second connection cable 9, the connector device 120 and the first connection cable 8 to the inflator. 23. Then, the inflator 23 generates gas in response to the input of the collision signal, and the air bag 24 into which the gas has flowed in pierces the pad 25 and inflates, thereby protecting the driver from a vehicle collision.

Next, details of the connector device 120 of the present invention will be described. 1A is a horizontal sectional view of the connector device 120, and FIG.
0 is a side view, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a printing example of the position identification symbol in the connector device 120. 1 to 3, a connector device 120 is fixed to a steering shaft 20, and a winding member 1 (corresponding to a rotating member) that rotates with an operation of a steering wheel 22,
A first case 2, which has a smooth inner peripheral surface and is provided around the winding member 1 at a predetermined interval, a flat cable 7, and the flat cable 7 is wound.
The winding core 6 fitted or integrally formed with the case 3 of
(Corresponding to a fixing member), a second case 3 having a smooth inner peripheral surface, which is provided around the winding core 6 at a predetermined interval, and a first case 2 and a second case 3 And a cable passage 5 having walls 4 arranged on both sides to connect the cable outlet.

The flat cable 7 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the flat cable 7 can be seen from the transparent member 13 when the flat cable 7 is in the neutral position.
The position identification symbol 14 "CENTER" is printed on the top. Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, the winding core 6 has a diameter smaller than that of the winding member 1, and the winding core 6 has an outer peripheral surface and the inner circumference of the second case 3. The distance from the surface is relatively large so that the flat cable 7 wound a plurality of times around the winding core 6 can be loosened or tightened around the winding core 6. On the other hand, the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the winding member 1 and the inner peripheral surface of the first case 2 is set such that the flat cable 7 wound around the winding member 1 is
Make sure that the second
It is made relatively small so as to be sent to the case 3 side.

As shown in FIG. 4, the flat cable 7 includes two conductors 7a having a flat plate shape and the conductors 7a.
It is composed of a synthetic resin insulator 7b formed in a flat plate shape so as to cover the periphery of a. One end of the flat cable 7 is electrically connected to the winding member 1 and the other end is electrically connected to and fixed to the winding core 6, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the steering member 22 is arranged so that it remains about one turn around the winding member 1 with the steering wheel 22 turned fully counterclockwise. The conductor 7a is not limited to two.

One end of the first connection cable 8 is electrically connected and fixed to the first connection terminal and the other end of the winding member 1, and one end of the second connection cable 9 is connected to the second connection terminal. ,
The other end is electrically connected and fixed to the winding core 6.
Next, the operation of the connector device 120 having the above configuration will be described. When the steering wheel 22 starts rotating counterclockwise from its neutral position, the winding member 1 rotates counterclockwise in response to the operation of the steering wheel 22, and the flat cable 7 is unwound from the winding member 1 and the cable It is wound around the winding core 6 via the passage 5 and stored in the second case 3. And steering 22
When is fully turned counterclockwise, it becomes as shown in FIG.

On the contrary, when the steering wheel 22 starts to be rotated clockwise from the state where the steering wheel 22 is fully rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1A, the winding member 1 is rotated in accordance with the operation of the steering wheel 22. The flat cable 7 which has begun to rotate in the direction and is loosened around the winding core 6 of the second case 3 is drawn out through the cable passage 5 and is wound around the winding member 1 to be wound up in the first direction. It is stored in Case 2.

Here, when the connector device 120 that operates as described above is to be assembled to the steering device, as shown in FIG. 1B, while the winding member 1 is being rotated, If the position identification symbol 14 indicating the neutral position of the flat cable 7 is visually recognized through the transparent member 13, it can be determined that the position is exactly the neutral position. The workability of can be improved.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the transparent member 13 is provided on the side surface of the second case 3 and the flat cable corresponding to the transparent member 13 when the flat cable 7 is in the neutral position. By providing the position identification symbol 14 on the side surface of the connector 7,
Even when 0 is to be assembled to the steering device, the position identification symbol 14 indicating the neutral position of the flat cable 7 is visually recognized through the transparent member 13 so that the connector can be easily attached to the neutral position of the flat cable 7. Since the device 120 can be adjusted, this can improve workability during assembly.

In the above embodiment, the position identification symbol "CENTER" indicating the neutral position of the flat cable 7 is printed on the flat cable 7. However, in addition to this, for example, it is shown in FIG. Position identifying symbol "END" for identifying such end position 1
It may be 5, and may be a geometric figure instead of a character. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the position of the flat cable 7 may be determined by the cutout portion 16 which is formed by cutting out a part of the flat cable 7.

The installation position of the transparent member 13 is not limited to the side surface of the second case 3, and may be the side surface of the first case 2, for example. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transparent member 13 is provided in the connector device 120 in which the winding member 1 and the winding core 6 have different rotation directions.
Although the example in which the position identification symbol 14 is provided has been described, the rotation direction of the winding member 41 and the winding core 44, which were previously filed by the applicant of the present application as shown in FIG. 7, are the same. It may be applied to the connector device 140.

Further, the above-mentioned connector devices 120, 14
As a connector device other than 0, for example, the connector device 160 shown in FIG. 8 may be applied. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flat cable is completely wound clockwise in another example connector device, and FIG. 9 is a flat cable counterclockwise in the example connector device described above. A horizontal cross-sectional view showing a completely unwound state,
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section in the vicinity of the winding auxiliary member in the connector device 160 as another example.

That is, in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 8 to 10, the connector device 160 is the steering shaft 20.
A winding member 51 that is fixed to the steering member 22 and that rotates with the operation of the steering wheel 22; a first case 56 that is provided around the winding member 51 at a predetermined interval and has a smooth inner peripheral surface; The cable 57, the winding core 53 fitted or integrally formed with the second case 60 for winding the flat cable 57, and the winding core 53.
A second case 60, which has a smooth inner peripheral surface and is provided around the circumference of, with a predetermined interval between the second case 60 and the winding core 53. ,
A winding auxiliary member 52 which is rotatable around the winding core 53 coaxially, and a plate-like spiral which is provided on the winding auxiliary member 52 and generates elastic force by rotation of the winding auxiliary member 52 with respect to the winding core 53. A cable passage 62 having walls 61 arranged on both sides for connecting the spring 55 to the cable outlets of the first case 56 and the second case 60.
It consists of and.

As shown in FIG. 8, the winding core 53 has a smaller diameter than that of the winding member 51, and has an outer peripheral surface of the winding core 53 and an inner peripheral surface of the winding auxiliary member 52. The interval is relatively large so that the flat cable 57c wound around the winding core 53 a plurality of times can be loosened or tightened around the winding core 53. On the other hand, the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the winding member 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the first case 56 is such that the flat cable 57 wound around the winding member 51 does not unfold when being unwound and the second cable is surely provided with a second distance. It is made relatively small so as to be sent to the case 60 side. The winding core 53 is the second
It is arranged almost at the center of the case 60.

The flat cable 57 has the same structure as that of the flat cable 7 described above, and therefore its explanation is omitted.
A wall 61 provided to define the winding member 51 and the winding core 53 and to form a cable passage 62.
Acts as a guide to the first case 56 or the second case 60, and saves a space in which the flat cable 57 is free to move, so that the flat cable 57 between the winding member 51 and the winding core 53. It suppresses the occurrence of buckling.

The winding assisting member 52 is provided with an opening 54, and the winding core 5 is provided through this opening 54.
The flat cable 57c in the winding assisting member 52 that is wound a plurality of times around 3 is fed between the inner peripheral surface of the second case 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the winding assisting member 52,
It reaches the winding member 51. At this time, a part of the flat cable 57 is engaged and fixed to the winding assisting member 52 in the vicinity of the opening 54.

The flat cable 57 wound around the winding core 56 in the winding auxiliary member 52.
c and the number of turns of the spiral spring 55 are the same as those of the winding member 51.
When the winding auxiliary member 52 is rotated by the number of rotations of the winding auxiliary member 52 corresponding to the required number of rotations (for example, the number of rotations of the steering wheel) that has been previously determined,
The flat cable 57c and the spiral spring 55 in 2 are set so as to be properly tightened or loosened in the space inside the winding assisting member 52.

Inside the winding auxiliary member 52, there is provided a plate-shaped spiral spring 55 having one end fixed to the winding core 56 and the other end fixed to the vicinity of the opening 54 of the winding auxiliary member 52. The spiral spring 55 is used by the winding assisting member 5
It is provided along the side surface of the flat cable 57c provided inside the No. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the winding assisting member 52 has a bearing portion 52a provided on the winding assisting member 52 and a protrusion 60a provided on the second case 60 loosely fitted thereto. . As a result, the winding auxiliary member 52 can rotate at a predetermined position with respect to the winding core 56 and the second case 60.

Next, the connector device 16 having the above structure
The operation of 0 will be described. 8 to 10, when the steering wheel 22 is started to be rotated clockwise from its neutral position, the winding member 51 is rotated clockwise in accordance with the operation of the steering wheel 22 and is loosened around the winding member 51. The flat cable thus wound is wound around the winding member 51. Then, the flat cable 57 unwound around the winding assisting member 52 of the second case 60 is pulled out, wound up by the winding member 51, and stored in the first case 56.

Further, when the flat cable loosened around the winding assisting member 52 of the second case 60 is tightened around the winding member 51, the winding assisting member 52 is removed in response to the pulling out of the flat cable 57. Starting to rotate clockwise with the winding core 56 coaxial, the flat cable 57c and the spiral spring 55 in the winding auxiliary member 52 gradually move toward the winding core 56, as shown in FIG.
It will be wound up in.

On the contrary, when the steering 22 is turned clockwise and the steering 22 is started to be turned counterclockwise, the winding member 51 starts to rotate counterclockwise according to the operation of the steering 22. The flat cable 57 is unwound from the winding member 51. Here, the spiral spring 55 in the winding auxiliary member 52 is tightened around the winding member 51 by winding the flat cable 57 around the winding member 51, whereby the winding auxiliary member 52 is rotated and thus is wound around the winding core 56. By the tightening, the counterclockwise elastic force (restoring force) is generated in the spiral spring 55.

Therefore, when the flat cable 57 is unwound from the winding member 51, the anti-clockwise elastic force generated by the spiral spring 55 causes the winding auxiliary member 52 to have the second case 60 defined by the protrusion 60a.
It is rotated counterclockwise at a predetermined position. Then, the flat cable 57 fed into the second case 60 through the cable passage 62 is wound around the winding assisting member 52 and accommodated in the second case 60, and at the same time, the winding assisting member. Flat cable 57c in 52
As shown in FIG. 2, the spiral spring 55 is gradually loosened from the winding core 56.

By thus loosely fitting the bearing portion 52a of the winding assisting member 52 and the protrusion 60a of the second case 60, the winding assisting member 52 has the protrusion 60a.
That is, the flat cable 57 is rotatably provided at a predetermined position of the second case 60, and the flat cable 57 is wound.
When the winding auxiliary member 52 is loosened after being wound tightly, the winding auxiliary member 52 is rotated by the elastic force generated by the spiral spring 55, and the loosened flat cable 57 can be wound around the outer circumference thereof.

Then, the transparent member 13 is provided in the first case 56 and the second case 60 of the connector device 160 configured and operated as described above, as in the above-described embodiment, and the flat cable of the connector device 160 is provided. The position identification symbol 14 may be provided at 57 to adjust the neutral position at the time of assembly as in the above-described embodiment. Here, in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is described as applied to the connector device that connects the airbag device and the collision detection device. However, in addition to the above, for example, a horn switch provided in the steering wheel and You may apply to the connector apparatus for connecting with the speaker provided in the vehicle body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a connector device 120 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a printing example of a position identification symbol in the connector device 120.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example in which the connector device 100 is mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a flat cable 7.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of printing a position identification symbol in the connector device 120.

6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of the position identification symbol in the connector device 120. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a connector device 140 previously filed by the applicant of the present application.
It is a block diagram of.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a state in which a flat cable is completely wound in a clockwise direction in a connector device as another example.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flat cable is completely unwound in the counterclockwise direction in the connector device of the other example.

FIG. 10 shows a connector device according to another example,
It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section of the winding auxiliary member vicinity.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Winding member 2 First case 3 Second case 4 Wall 5 Cable passage 6 Winding core 7 Flat cable 13 Transparent member 14 Position identification code

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flexible cable having one end fixed to a rotating member and the other end fixed to a fixing member is wound around the rotating member and the fixing member a plurality of times, and these are housed in a case. In the connector device, the flexible cable is provided with position information relating to the number of windings of the flexible cable around the fixing member,
A connector device, wherein the number of windings of the flexible cable around the fixing member is adjusted based on the position information. 2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the position information is information indicating a neutral position of the flexible cable with respect to the rotating member and the fixing member.